Manchester Metrolink T68 trams in new yellow livery ?

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does anyone have any news on this or has a policy decision been made to do this ?

 

[northwichcat]

One tram has been painted in the new livery for advertising purposes. The others won't be.

At the end of last year Metrolink were planning to fast track the withdrawal of the T68s and already this year there's been major disruption on at least 3 occasions caused by a failed T68.

However, the T68 withdrawal causes a capacity issue while Mossley Street remains open as doubled up M5000s can't call there.

 

[tom1649]

One tram has been painted in the new livery for advertising purposes. The others won't be.

At the end of last year Metrolink were planning to fast track the withdrawal of the T68s and already this year there's been major disruption on at least 3 occasions caused by a failed T68.

However, the T68 withdrawal causes a capacity issue while Mossley Street remains open as doubled up M5000s can't call there.

Good, the yellow livery doesn't suit the T68s at all.

Will the T68s be sold for further use abroad or scrapped?

Surely the failure rate of them is down to lack of maintenance rather than age. If it is age perhaps they need to be overhauled.

 

[northwichcat]

Will the T68s be sold for further use abroad or scrapped?

As they were specially built for using BR infrastructure, opposed to being a standard tram they will be unsuitable for almost all tram systems abroad without very expensive modifications.

Surely the failure rate of them is down to lack of maintenance rather than age. If it is age perhaps they need to be overhauled.

Metrolink seem to be blaming AnsaldoBreda for the trams not lasting as long as the shelf life. While the counter argument seems to be Metrolink have cut corners on maintenance to reduce costs.

 

[WatcherZero]

The Government reduced the original order quantity specification so theyve never had enough for long maintenence periods without affecting service, during the Special Projects Modification Program only one (briefly two) were out of service at any time leaving most of the maintenence to be performed at weekends with them required to be back in service again on Monday. Then of course most of the parts (especielly circuit boards but also the traction motors) are no longer manufactured so theyve been forced into reconditioning parts that should have been replaced or backwards engineering parts from defunct suppliers. Theyve been upgraded but not had the proper mid life comprehensive refurbishment due at 15 years, their now 20 years old.

They cant really afford a full like for like replacement and the t68a are 5 years younger so what you will probably see will be the worst performing taken out of service and dissambled, their parts used to keep the remaining ones in service longer.

 

[martinsh]

Will the T68s be sold for further use abroad or scrapped?
.

Or even transferred to the Leeds - Harrogate line ?!

 

[northwichcat]

Or even transferred to the Leeds - Harrogate line ?!

It would need overhead electrics that would be non-standard voltage compared to the other lines out of Leeds and York. They would also not be allowed to run on the same lines or cross lines used by proper DMUs and EMUs as they are trams not tram-trains. You'd also need 4 trams to make the same capacity as a 3 car 144. So there are actually more constraints than using cascaded LU stock.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

One tram has been painted in the new livery for advertising purposes.

I suppose the advertising revenue generated would have paid for this "one-off" example.

 

[WatcherZero]

Policy is full body adverts will be permitted on the T68's to help fund their renewal/replacement but wont on the M5000's as they believe the full body adverts used heavily elsewhere diminish the professional and tidy appearance of a uniform fleet livery.

 

[tom1649]

At least the T68s have a decent number of seats. It's all very well having to stand on an M5000 if you're only going a few stops, but if you're travelling all the way out to Bury I can't see it being much fun.

 

[12CSVT]

I wouldn't be surprised if one of the T68s will end up at Heaton Park museum

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

However, the T68 withdrawal causes a capacity issue while Moseley Street remains open as doubled up M5000s can't call there.

What is the current situation with the stop at Moseley Street ?

 

[Nym]

What is the current situation with the stop at Moseley Street ?

Still there obscuring Crispy Creme...

 

[northwichcat]

What is the current situation with the stop at Moseley Street ?

TfGM have said the stop will remain in use until live running boards are operational. That was because one of the criticisms of closing the stop was that all Altrincham trams call there but they alternate between Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

TfGM have said the stop will remain in use until live running boards are operational. That was because one of the criticisms of closing the stop was that all Altrincham trams call there but they alternate between Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street.

Was not a "mindful to close" decision made by those at the very top at ministerial level not so very long ago at the end of the consultation period of the proposed closure of the Moseley Street stop. Has any appeal on grounds of operational requirements been submitted by TfGM ?

 

[northwichcat]

Has any appeal on grounds of operational requirements been submitted by TfGM ?

TfGM can stop doubled up trams at Moseley Street - they just have to be 2xT68s so for what operational reasons can they object to keeping the stop open? If it's just they have to diagram T68s and M5000s differently then wouldn't Northern be able to object to using 142s on the same basis?

 

[WatcherZero]

I dont think they object too much, the delay is due to Thales and the signalling, they made a public concession pledge they wouldnt close it until the station boards were up in the square, theyve recieved permission to close it after displaying the closure notice for a month (which theyve now done), so they could close it tommorow if they wanted, their under no obligation except their own to keep it open.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I understand that TfGM have put a link on their Media Centre website to the matter of the Mosley Street stop which also allows you to download the ORR closure ratification norice dated 7th October 2011 signed by Brian Kogan.

 

[ValleyLines142]

1003 is the T68 in the yellow livery. Saw it at Market Street on an Altrincham service about two weeks ago.

 

[dggar]

1003 is the T68 in the yellow livery. Saw it at Market Street on an Altrincham service about two weeks ago.

It has been in that livery since the run up to Xmas. :roll:

 

[ValleyLines142]

It has been in that livery since the run up to Xmas. :roll:

I think it looks alright actually.

 

[156441]

1003 is the T68 in the yellow livery. Saw it at Market Street on an Altrincham service about two weeks ago.

It has been in that livery since the run up to Xmas. :roll:

It's a new livery from the xmas markets one actually. It's now in a blue 'war horse' livery.

 

[WatcherZero]

Rather its advertising an exhibition at Imperial War Museum North rather than the film itself.