T68 refurb

[umontu]

(Another Metrolink thread, maybe we should get our own forum.)

When are the T68's going for their refurbs and repaint?
Anyone know? Wikipedia says it was from "????-2010" and "2010-2016"

Wanting to see the new livery.

 

[WatcherZero]

Theyve already had a small mid life refurb over the last couple of years, adding the CCTV cameras to replace pop out mirrors, interior and exterior destination displays, replacing headlights with LED's and a few reliability improvements, they are also on their second livery though only a minor change which was done a few years earlier.

The second mid life refurb which would be essentially replacing the entire interior, relivery and some more mechanical/electrical improvements is being constrained by the council cuts reducing available funding. They have authorised the temporary taking apart of one tram this summer to gauge the fleets structural condition, corrosion level of the solebars. Once thats done they will know how much the work will cost and be better able to authorise it.

 

[umontu]

Ah cheers for that WatcherZero.

 

[WatcherZero]

If you want to read more, the original refurb presentation is this

http://www.transportforgreatermanch.../download/3176/item_7_metrolink_refurbishment

And the latest update was this

http://www.transportforgreatermanch...61/item_9-metrolink_tram_refurbishment_update

 

[umontu]

Once again thanks

 

[12CSVT]

It'll be interesting to see if tram 2001 is refurbished, considering it hasn't worked for several years.

 

[WatcherZero]

It has reportedly had the first set of upgrades recently. They are still trying to return it to service and the latest plan involves replacing its old point-to-point spaghetti wiring with backbone trunk data cables from the new bombardier trams. The problem has been that after being repaired from a collision years ago the traction motors were electromagnetically interfering with the control wiring and causing the emergency brakes to randomly activate and they had been unable to locate and prevent the exact source of the interference, so new strategy EM shielded cables.

 

[northernrail]

What the new livery is supposed to look like.



Something similar to this i guess

 

[umontu]

View attachment 5504
What the new livery is supposed to look like.


View attachment 5505
Something similar to this i guess

Interesting that the one in Corrie got repainted, I'm assuming vinyls were used, why couldn't that tram have stayed in them? (Besides the wrong number and the "Politanlink" name.

 

[northernrail]

There getting refurbished first and then painted, i supose its incas it gets scratched during refurb.

and yes it is vinyls

 

[umontu]

Anyone looking for a bigger picture of the tram should look here btw.

Looks better than the photoshop one in the stuff Watcherzero posted imho.

 

[MCR247]

Doesn't suit them at all though. Mainly 'cos of the lights at the front, they should change them for more modern ones! Seriously, liveries should be made to suit the trams, not the other way round

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The original livery is much better looking, full stop!

 

[WatcherZero]

It was dark when that photo was taken I imagine the yellow doesnt look so much like Custard with proper light balance.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I recently spent some time in Manchester and after a couple of hours watching and riding 30xx trams, I can assure you that the new livery looks even worse in daylight than it does in that picture!

 

[umontu]

I recently spent some time in Manchester and after a couple of hours watching and riding 30xx trams, I can assure you that the new livery looks even worse in daylight than it does in that picture!

I'm not a fan of yellow, it attracts wasps, is hard to see against white etc. But this isn't too bad. I've seen worst colour schemes than the 30xx trams.

 

[WatcherZero]

Im pleased to say that after four years 2001 is now back in service from Tuesday 7th June (after shadow service test running last week) which means for the first time in ages every single tram (except 3014 on without backwards compatible signalling) are available for service at the same time.

 

[northernrail]

Don't supose we know its diagrams???

 

[northwichcat]

Theyve already had a small mid life refurb over the last couple of years, adding the CCTV cameras to replace pop out mirrors, interior and exterior destination displays, replacing headlights with LED's and a few reliability improvements, they are also on their second livery though only a minor change which was done a few years earlier.

I thought the mid-life refurbishment was supposed to include replacement seats, which only one unit got.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Doesn't suit them at all though. Mainly 'cos of the lights at the front, they should change them for more modern ones! Seriously, liveries should be made to suit the trams, not the other way round

The trams Manchester has is a bit like Berlin and Potsdam - two different tram networks within the Greater Berlin area. The Berlin trams are more modern and have a yellow livery. The Potsdam trams are older and a more boxy model and have a white livery with a bit of green. I don't think the yellow would suit the Potsdam trams or the white with green livery suit the Berlin tram.

Berlin tram: http://www.berlinculture.co.uk/images/06/Berlin-tram-system.jpg
Potsdam tram: http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/13/139722-a-potsdam-tram-potsdam-germany.jpg

In fact after a bit of searching it looks like the old Berlin trams were similar to the Potsdam trams and were yellow, which I don't look as good in yellow as the new Berlin trams: http://www.ifimages.com/photos/TGpTYB2eQ2ZezUyB8x9FRnZi6c/author-702/Germany-Berlin-city-tram.jpg

 

[WatcherZero]

The 1007 has 2xxx seating which was done almost a decade ago, they experimented with a different facing seats layout but didnt like it and reinstated the old forward facing seats but as the original seating supplier was not around anymore they used the seating supplier for the 2xxx series.

What may be confusing you is they will have had effectivley two mid life refurbs, the first called 'Special projects modifications' is the cctv mirrors, internal and external pids, covered bogies and couplers, speed probes, reliability improvements and a few other minor things has been running for the last 4 or so years and is almost complete with only about 5 first series and 4 second series not recieved it yet. Its been done in stages and more mofications and improvements have been developed as the programs gone on and been added which is why its taken so long. The second is called the 'Mid life refurb' and is a thorough mechanical and electrical overhaul replacing the key components such as obsolete circuit boards, reconditioning of the bogies and structural frames, interior panelling and seats. This is about to start this year.

 

[northernrail]

Last Wednesday the first tram i saw was 2001 so i went in the opposite direction i was supposed to be traveling and got a ride on it.

Whats the deal with these Air Conditioning Cabs,
For a while it was only 1008 and 1025 that had them but over the last few months 1001, 1008, 1014, 1025 and 2001 have them fitted??
are these part of the refurbs

 

[WatcherZero]

Part of the winterisation of the fleet modifications instigated after the severe winter Christmas 2009 and almost as severe 2010, their HVAC units, combined heating, ventillation, air conditioning. Drivers reportedly complaining the cabs are too cold in winter and too hot in summer.

Few other winter modifications going on including protecting the traction motors from salty slush which causes shorts and to the air compressors which dont function as well in cold weather.

 

[northernrail]

and has 1021 returned after its derailment??

 

[jonesy3001]

Anyone looking for a bigger picture of the tram should look here btw.

Looks better than the photoshop one in the stuff Watcherzero posted imho.

The corrie crash tram lol

 

[Stonesourscotty]

I Rode 2001 on Saturday on the Bury Line has the Moquette been redone inside or has it realluy just hardly been used? was a very good ride though...

 

[northernrail]

and has 1021 returned after its derailment??

To answer my own question, yes it has.

 

[futureA]

TFGM have now decided they want to (and have the means to) replace all the t68's with m5000's. A batch of 12 m5000's will be ordered very soon to replace 12of the t68's like for like.
The second batch will be ordered as soon as funding is worked out, but as a 'plan b', provisions will also be made to refurbish the remaining t68's if required.

http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/13_tfgmc_minutes_16_9_11.pdf

 

[MCR247]

Played!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/13_tfgmc_minutes_16_9_11.pdf

One small part of this report refers to a Metroshuttle service for Oldham when the Metrolink reaches there. So small that I nearly missed it.

 

[WatcherZero]

Mmm yes, Councillors asking if TfGM could run one when the Metrolink arrives, doesnt seem to be a firm proposal yet. TfGM has a standing arrangement that if a Council wants one they will contribute half if the Council pays the other half and asked for any Councils to request a service last year but Councils are pretty cash strapped at the moment and none took them up on the offer.

At the moment Manchester has three routes while Bolton and Stockport each have one, and theres the sibling Salford Quayslink which has a flat fare and free for Salford students.