TheTrams.co.uk - trams and light rail in the UK

Metrolink : Trams

Metrolink operates 32 trams, built in two batches by Italian manufacturer Ansaldo. Numbers 1001–1026 are the original Phase One 'T68' cars and 2001–2006 are Phase Two 'T68a' cars built for the Eccles extension. In appearance the two batches are very similar, though the Phase Two cars carry a revised livery and have dot matrix destination displays rather than blinds. The Phase Two cars also have retractable couplers, and the couplers and bogies are covered. This is necessary for operation on the Eccles line, where there is considerable shared-use street running. Some Phase One trams have been modified in this way.

The trams may be coupled together, and rush hour services regularly use two trams.

Most of Metrolink's Phase one routes were converted from heavy rail routes, and inherited railway standard height platforms. Because of this, Metrolink cars are high-floor. The city centre platforms have a high-floor section the length of one tram, and the remaining part of the platform is lower: when trams are coupled together, and the second tram will, at city centre stops, operate retractable steps which allow pasengers to use the lower section of the platform.

The trams have two carriages, articulated in the centre, and are 30m (98ft) long. The top speed is 50mph, but the trams operate within road speed limits when running on-street. Each tram is accessible for wheelchair users.

Passenger capacity is 86 seated and 122 standing. Trams are one-person operated —there is a driver, but no conductor, with passengers buying tickets from machines at the tram stops.

The system uses 750vDC overhead power supply with single wire pantograph current collection.

Fleet list

Last updated: 9^th October 2007

Thanks to Christopher Gallagher for some of the details below
Click on tram number for pictures

T68 (Phase One) cars (1992)

Tram number	Name	Livery
1001		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1002		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1003		New Metrolink
1004	The Robert Owen	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1005 §	The Railway Mission	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1006		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1007	Sony Centre Arndale	Phase 2 Metrolink
1008		New Metrolink
1009	Virgin Megastores	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1010 §		New Metrolink
1011		New Metrolink
1012		New Metrolink
1013	The Grenadier Guardsman	New Metrolink
1014	The Great Manchester Runner	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1015 §	Burma Star	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1016		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1017	Bury Hospice	New Metrolink (yellow line)
1018		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1019		New Metrolink
1020	Lancashire Fusilier	New Metrolink
1021	Sony Centre Arndale	Original Metrolink
1022	The Poppy Appeal	New Metrolink
1023		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1024		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1025		New Metrolink (yellow line)
1026	The Power	New Metrolink (yellow line)

§ Phase 1 unit modified with concealed couplers and skirts to operate over Eccles extension

T68a (Phase Two) cars (1999)

Click on tram number for pictures

Tram number	Name	Livery
2001	The Joe Clarke OBE	Phase 2 Metrolink
2002	Sony Centre Arndale	Phase 2 Metrolink
2003	Traveller 2000	New Metrolink
2004	Salford Lads Club	Phase 2 Metrolink
2005	WHSmith West One	Phase 2 Metrolink (yellow line)
2006	Sony Centre Arndale	Phase 2 Metrolink

Liveries:

Original Metrolink = white with dark grey skirt, turquoise stripe at base of body
Phase Two Metrolink = as original livery plus turquoise doors
New Metrolink = as original livery, plus torquoise doors, a turquoise stripe at the top of the body and orange lines separating the turquoise stripes and the white body
'yellow line' = variation of the New Metrolink livery where the the lower of the two orange lines (at door sill level) is replaced with a yellow line; or a variation of the Phase Two Metrolink livery with a yellow line added at this point on the vehicle

Ancillary vehicles

Metrolink also operate a small number of ancillary vehicles, which include the following:

Registration number	Type	Livery
N983 YNC	Ford Transit	White with Metrolink logos
V685 FRB	Toyota Hilux	White
V466 FVM	Ford Ranger	White with Metrolink logos
X445 RSS	Ford Transit	White with Serco logos
-	Shunter	Metrolink
-	San Francisco Muni tramcar No. 1326	San Francisco Muni
L253 HKK	Multicar with lifting platform	White with Metrolink fleetnames
SO02 NUJ	Citroën Berlingo	White with Serco logos
R75 KBM	Ford Transit - hi-top, long wheelbase	White with Metrolink logos
SM51 WDY?	Citroën Berlingo	White with Serco logos
SG51 XLD	Ford Transit	White with Serco and Metrolink logos
NA54 LGW	Ford Transit	White
N981 YNC	Ford Transit	White with Metrolink logos
NG04 RTX	Ford Transit flatbed
?	Ford Transit flatbed	White
NG04 EOJ	Ford Transit flatbed	White
BG04 ZSJ	Ford Transit Connect	White
NG05 CJO	Ford Transit Connect	White
NJ06 JWW	Ford Transit	White
KR04 FUM	Mercedes Benz Sprinter	White
BD53 VDK	Ford Transit hi-top	White, Metrolink logo on rear door
?	Ford Transit hi-top	White
N983 YNC	Ford Transit	White with Metrolink logos
V685 FRB	Toyota Hilux	White
V466 FVM	Ford Ranger	White with Metrolink logos
X445 RSS	Ford Transit	White with Serco logos
-	Shunter	Metrolink
-	San Francisco Muni tramcar No. 1326	San Francisco Muni
L253 HKK	Multicar with lifting platform	White with Metrolink fleetnames
SO02 NUJ	Citroën Berlingo	White with Serco logos
R75 KBM	Ford Transit - hi-top, long wheelbase	White with Metrolink logos
SM51 WDY?	Citroën Berlingo	White with Serco logos
SG51 XLD	Ford Transit	White with Serco and Metrolink logos
NA54 LGW	Ford Transit	White
N981 YNC	Ford Transit	White with Metrolink logos
NG04 RTX	Ford Transit flatbed
?	Ford Transit flatbed	White
NG04 EOJ	Ford Transit flatbed	White
BG04 ZSJ	Ford Transit Connect	White
NG05 CJO	Ford Transit Connect	White
NJ06 JWW	Ford Transit	White
KR04 FUM	Mercedes Benz Sprinter	White
BD53 VDK	Ford Transit hi-top	White, Metrolink logo on rear door
?	Ford Transit hi-top	White