New trams to go on show in city
A new Midland Metro tram, part of a £40 million new fleet, will go on show to the public this weekend.
People in Wolverhampton will get chance to climb on board on Saturday.
The Urbos 3 tram will be at the St George's tram stop between 9am and 3pm.
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.
Centro lead member for rail and Metro, Councillor Roger Horton said: "The existing Metro service is already very good but these new trams, with their 21st century technology and modern, spacious design, will improve things still further.
"They are quieter, smoother and generally more comfortable than the existing trams but this Saturday's event will give people a chance to come and see for themselves."
The trams are being made by Zaragoza-based CAF and is a third bigger than the existing trams.
They can carry 210 passengers rather than the current 156.
Frequency will also be increased to six minutes throughout the day rather than eight minutes, leading to a 40 per cent increase in capacity.
Bosses claim this will help ease overcrowding.
A Metro extension is currently being created between Snow Hill and New Street stations in Birmingham.
The extension, which will eventually see St George's Wolverhampton linked up with the city's train station, is expected to create more than 1,300 jobs.
It is expected the number of passengers using the Metro will increase from five million to eight million a year.
