45 at LibraryCAF Urbos 100 no 45 in CBSO all over advert livery approaches Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 11.2.24 The West Midlands Metro opened in 1999 and originally ran from Wolverhampton St Georges to Birmingham Snow Hill and was operated by 16 AnsaldoBreda built T69 trams, which were similar to the T68 trams which originally operated on the Manchester Metrolink.   The T69 fleet were withdrawn by 2015 and replaced by a fleet of 21 CAF Urbos 3 trams, more of these trams were ordered with future expansion planned.   In 2015, the line was extended from Snow Hill to Grand Central (New Street).   The next extension from Grand Central to Library opened in 2019, however this section did now have OHLE and required the trams to be retrofitted with batteries to operate on this section.   

A fleet of 21 CAF Urbos 100 trams were ordered for future extensions and entered service from 2021, however at this point there were a number of CAF Urbos 3 trams withdrawn for repair after cracks were discovered in the frames and later with panel issues.   The line was further extended from Library to Edgbaston Village in 2022.   At the Wolverhampton end of the line, an extension to Wolverhampton station opened in 2023 allowed for a second branch in the city. 

Future extensions are in progress with a line from Wednesbury to Waterfront Merry Hill (and eventually on to Brierley Hill) and in the city centre a branch from Bull Street to High Street Deritend (eventually to Sollihull)

I was on a family holiday down to Birmingham and spent some time riding on and photographing the trams on the West Midlands Metro.   Having 4 days in the area, I managed to photograph a number of trams in the City Centre as well as riding them between Library and Wednesbury.   I found that it was mostly CAF Urbos 100 trams that were out (numbered 40 and above) and only 1 CAF urbos 3 (28) seen over the few days.  There are a number of decent photography spots within the city centre, especially in the area around the Library and City Hall.   I would recommend a visit!

47 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro Blue liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 47 is seen at Library working on battery power, with a service to Wolverhampton station 10.2.24	45 at LibraryCAF Urbos 100 no 45 in CBSO all over advert livery pauses at Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 11.2.24
45 at Bull StreetCAF Urbos 100 no 45 in CBSO all over advert livery departs Bull Street with a service to Wolverhampton Station 11.2.24	49 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 49 pauses at Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 11.2.24
52 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 52 arrives at Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 11.2.24	52 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 52 arrives at Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 12.2.24
28 at Bull StreetWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 3 no 28 is seen at Bull Street with a service to Edgbaston Village 12.2.24	47 at Bull StreetWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 47 departs Bull Street with a service to Edgbaston Village 12.2.24
41 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 41 departs Library with a service to Wolverhampton Station 11.2.24	56 at LibraryWest Midlands Metro liveried CAF Urbos 100 no 56 departs Library with a service to Edgbaston Village 12.2.24