Great Western Coffee Shop

From the Express and Star (https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/birmingham/2018/02/22/midland-metro-tram-fleet-sold-for-scrap--but-two-are-set-for-new-journey/)

Electric rolling stock scrapped at just 20 years old ... seems such a shame.  Would love to have seen some lightweight knitting put up so that they could (perhaps) have run on the Thames Valley branches where speed is not of the essence, and in each case they could be isolated from heavy rail when carrying passengers.

Perhaps is a bit optimistic.

Every TV branch station would have required major modification, lowering all platforms, to accept these trams. Signalling systems would need changing. Then there's the staff training. That'll go down well with commuters - more disruption as another rolling stock type is introduced to the TV. And then the suitability of the trams. Speed may not be high on the branches but 43 mph max trams would struggle to match current timings. Then passenger comfort. Just 56 seats, versus around 170 in a two car Turbo.

Not the right solution by a long way for TV branches.

Indeed - and I'm sure that if they had been the right solution, someone would have spotted how the jigsaw pieces come together and at least suggested fitting them in.   But if asking "what if" 5 times about different things brings 4 replies of "don't be silly" and one "yes - hadn't though of that - what a good idea" then it's worth asking!

Not even 20 years, only 16: 1998-2014 according to that story. Perhaps we could have had them in Bristol for Mayor Marvin's Marvellous Metro?  :D

Yep - I worded what I wrote carefully - withdrawn after just 16 years in service, stored for 4 years so now 20 years old.