Final tram departs from Vienna to complete fleet

Metrolink’s 120th tram, Bombardier, has embarked on its European journey to Manchester to complete the fleet

Metrolink’s 120th tram has embarked on its European journey to Manchester to complete the fleet.

The new vehicle departed from the Vienna depot of manufacturer Bombardier on Tuesday (27 September) night.

Tram 3,120 marks the last of the current order of the stylish and much more reliable ‘M5000’ model – almost seven years since Tram 3,001 went into service on the Eccles line on 16 December 2009.

The introduction of the M5000 model lead to significant improvements in service reliability when they started to replace the older fleet of T68 trams, the last of which was retired in 2014.

Following its delivery, the tram will be kitted out with its Greater Manchester style livery before making its first run out on the system.