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Manchester Metrolink T68 Thread

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northernrail

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Hey all,

Here is a thread to keep on top of the T68’s.
Mainly for the withdrawals but im sure anything else T68 related can come under this….

Just for starters on the withdrawn and soon to be withdrawn trams, already withdrawn are 1001, 1004, 1005, 1008, 1011 and 1018.
There are rumors that 1006, 1007, 1010, 1015, 1019 and 1020 are to be the next to go.
1006 and 1010 were noted in the workshop late today so maybe they have been withdrawn now?
 
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317666

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Shame to see them going, they're probably one of my favourite second-generation trams. I'm guessing 1003 is the only one in the new livery (with adverts), now they're being withdrawn they won't bother repainting any others?
 
34D

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Is there a planned class withdrawal date, any plans for a special, etc?
 
bluegoblin7

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317666 said:
Shame to see them going, they're probably one of my favourite second-generation trams. I'm guessing 1003 is the only one in the new livery (with adverts), now they're being withdrawn they won't bother repainting any others?
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1003 is, I believe, actually only a vinyl wrap, though I could be wrong there. It was certainly reported as such when it first appeared, though it could just be the advert on the side of it. I would doubt any others to be treated now that full withdrawal is in progress.

34D said:
Is there a planned class withdrawal date, any plans for a special, etc?
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Manchester77 said:
All TfGM has said 2014.
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Correct - 2014 has been confirmed by TfGM. No details have been released as yet about some form of 'farewell' trip, although I believe that plans may well be afoot. Likewise, nothing has yet been mentioned about preserving one, but never say never.

1010 has become the latest to be withdrawn this week by the way. That means that, so far, 8 have been withdrawn, with a further four to follow in the immediate future. There will then be a (probably short) hiatus allowing for the additional vehicles to be constructed to allow for full replacement, when the remaining twenty T68 and T68as will be disposed of.
 
Manchester77

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MCR247

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I wouldn't say it's worn off I'd just say it's had an unvinyled cover put on
 
bluegoblin7

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Manchester77 said:
1003 has a vinyl applied with advertising. The current vinyl advertises the film 'war horse' play on at the Lowry. Previously it had the Christmas markets advertising lievry.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=85681179&postcount=11756
^^^^ initial vinyl

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uktransportimages/7208739306/
^^^^
Current vinyl. As you can see the yellow vinyl has worn off the coupling devices cover
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That does not necessarily mean that the yellow livery is also a vinyl and, indeed, with the advert being changed it strongly suggests that it isn't a vinyl, unless the (extremely unlikely) scenario is that it is, in fact, a vinyl on a vinyl. This was my point in the previous thread, though I do understand the full thing to be a vinyl... if you're still with me. Never mind. I think we all agree that 1003 does, in part, wear a vinyl. It is just unlikely that TfGM would revinyl the entire car for the advert when there are no longer plans to retain any T68s.

However, I wouldn't say that the yellow has worn off the coupling cover. If that were the case there would likely still be some traces of the vinyl. As it is, it's completely unscathed - more than likely another was just fitted.
 
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Will be a Vinyl like the one temporarly used for the Politanlink one. Wouldnt be surprised though if it didnt stick properly to the glossy plastic coupler covers and they decided to take it off when it started peeling. It does have some scratches with what looks like white underneath (though it could be yellow).
 
317666

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With a bit of luck, Bombardier will do their usual trademark of delivering things late, thus giving the T68s a bit longer than two more years! It really seems a waste withdrawing the T68-a trams too, as they'll only be 15 years old in 2014.
 
Manchester77

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But the T68As haven't been that reliable. They can't run as doubles, one of them (2001 I think) has effectively been rebuilt and even then it's had failures. Also if Metrolink are going for a uniform fleet then keeping 6 trams would be a bit of a waste of man power on trams that'll have a shorter life. 2006 is out atm following a failure. They haven't been that successful. Having said this I understand you point about age and it does seem a shame but at the end of the day keeping a fleet of 94 M5000s and 6 T68As seems a bit silly.
Hopefully I'd like to see either 1007 or 1010 preserved (1007 first tram to run, 1010 the one the queen went in when she opened it
 
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Their sisters the T69's (not exactly the same model but shared lineage) are being withdrawn in Birmingham too, the same model as the T69's is used in Norway where it had a host of problems (though mostly due to cold weather).
 
northernrail

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Manchester77 said:
But the T68As haven't been that reliable. They can't run as doubles, one of them (2001 I think) has effectively been rebuilt and even then it's had failures. Also if Metrolink are going for a uniform fleet then keeping 6 trams would be a bit of a waste of man power on trams that'll have a shorter life. 2006 is out atm following a failure. They haven't been that successful. Having said this I understand you point about age and it does seem a shame but at the end of the day keeping a fleet of 94 M5000s and 6 T68As seems a bit silly.
Hopefully I'd like to see either 1007 or 1010 preserved (1007 first tram to run, 1010 the one the queen went in when she opened it
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Personally for me its 1001, being the first tram on the city streets with the SPV.

1006 and 1010 definetly withdrawn.
 
BestWestern

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WatcherZero said:
Their sisters the T69's (not exactly the same model but shared lineage) are being withdrawn in Birmingham too, the same model as the T69's is used in Norway where it had a host of problems (though mostly due to cold weather).
Click to expand...

What are they replacing them with in Brum?
 
bluegoblin7

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Not yet reported, 1015 and 1019 have both now been withdrawn from service, on September 20th and 27th respectively.

Full list:
1001 - 07/08/12
1004 - 16/05/12
1005 - 22/06/12
1006 - 30/08/12
1008 - 14/06/12
1010 - 02/09/12
1011 - 18/04/12
1015 - 20/09/12
1018 - 09/08/12
1019 - 27/09/12

J
 
12CSVT

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I'd imagine tickets for a T68 farewell tour would be very limited as there are only 82 seats per tram.

Are T68s cleared for all routes ?
 
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12CSVT said:
I'd imagine tickets for a T68 farewell tour would be very limited as there are only 82 seats per tram.
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That means 164 for a doubled up pair, which isn't an uncommon site at peak times.

martin2345uk said:
No they can't be used on the Oldham line..
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The original T68s also can't be used on the Eccles line but the newer T68As with a different type of coupler can be.
 
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bluegoblin7

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jcollins said:
The original T68s also can't be used on the Eccles line but the newer T68As with a different type of coupler can be.
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All T68s but 1018, 1019, 1020 and 1021 can be used on the Eccles line, having recieved the modifications for 'Universal Running', i.e. have been given guards over the front end couplings.

1018 and 1019 have both been withdrawn, whilst 1020 and 1021 are expected to follow soon, so this probably wouldn't be an issue.

From what I understand, discussions for a farewell tour are already underway, but, of course, there aren't really ay details confirmed!
 
northernrail

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bluegoblin7 said:
All T68s but 1018, 1019, 1020 and 1021 can be used on the Eccles line, having recieved the modifications for 'Universal Running', i.e. have been given guards over the front end couplings.

1018 and 1019 have both been withdrawn, whilst 1020 and 1021 are expected to follow soon, so this probably wouldn't be an issue.

From what I understand, discussions for a farewell tour are already underway, but, of course, there aren't really ay details confirmed!
Click to expand...

1021's got no problem, Shes been modified.
 
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Yesterday it seemed like the majority of T68s in service were in double formation and almost every tram not doubled up was a M5000. The Old Trafford depot now seems to see a lot of T68s sitting there out-of-service when previously it saw a number of M5000s sat there.

I thought yesterday evening at first glance I saw a T68 joined up to a M5000 but then realised it was the yellow T68 and not a M5000.

There seems to be a new automated announcement on the M5000s which says something along the lines of "We apologise for the delay this is because we are currently stopped at a red signal. We expect to start moving again shortly."
 
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A completely idle thought (which I am sure that someone will blow up!).

Given that the T68s are designed for use with high platforms, and the fact that they (and the similar T69s used on the West Midlands Metro, which potentially offers another supply of spare parts etc) are being withdrawn, would they not be ideal for at least short term use/experimentation to prove/disprove the "tram/train" concept at minimum cost?
 
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Wolfie said:
Given that the T68s are designed for use with high platforms, and the fact that they (and the similar T69s used on the West Midlands Metro, which potentially offers another supply of spare parts etc) are being withdrawn, would they not be ideal for at least short term use/experimentation to prove/disprove the "tram/train" concept at minimum cost?
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The T68s are not permitted to travel on lines where heavy rail trains are present.

We know tram-trains work - look at examples in Europe. We don't however, know all the costs and constraints associated with building and running suitable vehicles for the UK network.
 
northernrail

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jcollins said:
Yesterday it seemed like the majority of T68s in service were in double formation and almost every tram not doubled up was a M5000. The Old Trafford depot now seems to see a lot of T68s sitting there out-of-service when previously it saw a number of M5000s sat there.

I thought yesterday evening at first glance I saw a T68 joined up to a M5000 but then realised it was the yellow T68 and not a M5000.

There seems to be a new automated announcement on the M5000s which says something along the lines of "We apologise for the delay this is because we are currently stopped at a red signal. We expect to start moving again shortly."
Click to expand...

Thats "The Book"....the dirvers have been given a book recently that tells them the official announcements to make to passengers in all kinds of delays.

1020 has now been withdrawn, its had its nameplates taken off and should move to Old Trafford Depot soon, im not sure what the next T68's to go will be, although rumours say that 1007 shoulnt be too far away, saying that it was supposed to be third or fourth to go...1009/22 are rumoured to be next to go......
 
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