Glimpse into the future of Midland Metro trams

Hundreds of people visited Wolverhampton to catch a glimpse of the tram of the future, which was parked up in the city centre. more

The Urbos 3 tram, which is part of a £40million new fleet, was stationed at St George's tram stop at the weekend and regular users flocked to have a look around the space-age styled vehicles.

Alan and Mary Tully, from Ettingshall, said they were very impressed with the new-look trams.

Mr Tully, 68, said: "I think the new trams are very impressive and they look beautiful.

"We use the trams about five or six times a week when we go shopping or out socialising. The spaciousness of the new trams is phenomenal."

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Work being carried out to allow the new, wider trams to run on the track will mean no trams will enter the city centre for five months, which Mr Tully said may cause a problem for commuters.

He added: "I think it will be a bit of an inconvenience for commuters who use it every day, but for people like us it won't be too bad.

"It will be worth it in the long run because it is going to look fantastic.

"I think people will come from all over to look at it because it is something new."

The first of the Spanish-built trams will start running between the city and Birmingham Snow Hill later this summer.

A new 21 strong fleet will replace existing trams over the following months.

Ashley Robinson, 18, from Langley Green, said he was also impressed with the spaciousness the new trams offered.

The Sandwell College student said: "I don't travel on the trams that often but when I leave college, the current trams are always packed.

"I think they are really spacious which will hopefully mean they aren't too crammed.

"A lot of cities have trams that look like this so it's good that the Midlands will have one too."

Marie Matthews, a public relations manager at Centro, was on hand to talk to members of the public who visited the tram.

She said: "We have had about two or three hundred people just in the morning alone and we haven't had any negative comments at all, it has been very positive.

"Some people have said there aren't many seats, but there are the same as in the old ones, it just looks like there are less because of all the extra space."

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