As I’ve starteds my new job recently, I’ve also had to change the way I travel in the morning and evening.
On the plus side, I don’t have to through Birmingham City Centre each day. On the down side, I have to take a bus and a tram.
Wait… Birmingham has a tram? Indeed it does – the Midland Metro.
Tram at Jewellery Quarter station- Image – Muggins, off the iPhone
The tram runs between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton along the old Great Western railway alignment. Whilst it hasn’t been the great successes some had hoped it to be, it provides a normally reliable service every 8 minutes between the two cities.
Now the is one nice thing about the tram, it goes like hell (with quick acceleration allowing it to quick 45mph on the fast sections), covering the distance between stops I need to about 15 minutes flat.
Which beats 45 minutes on the bus!
However, I ran into a problem on Thursday – when there was a power issue with the tram network out cold on the segment I needs.
So of course, it was back on the busses, with a 45 minute ride to the city centre – an extra half hour.
Earlier on today, I contracted Midland Metro and explained to them the situation – and privately resigning myself not to hear a thing for a few weeks (well, most of us have plenty of experience with these forms, never expecting to hear a thing again.
So I was I shock when I got a message from Midland Metro apologising from the problems, and a complete refund of £4.40.
I’m often quick to criticise, but this was good quick service recovery – some I’ve seen less and less of.
Top marks to Midland Metro for a quick response and resolution.
I believe I have been on that tram. I nearly lost my 12 year old daughter at Telford when she didn’t realize the rest of us were getting off.