25th Anniversary emblem unveiled on Metro trams

The eye-catching emblem celebrating 25 years since the return of trams to the West Midlands has been officially unveiled today (Thursday, May 30) by the region’s mayor and the talented primary school girl who designed it.

Nine-year-old Pargunn Kaur Birring, from Wattville Primary School in Birmingham, was invited to the West Midlands Metro for a special ceremony to help mark the momentous milestone in the network’s history, and to be among the first to see her artistic skills displayed on the side of a tram.

In the run-up to the tramway’s anniversary, primary school youngsters were invited to participate in a competition to develop a design celebrating the landmark anniversary that could be used on trams and Metro merchandise.

With over 200 entries submitted, Pargunn fought off stiff competition to scoop the top prize, including a VIP tour of the depot with the head teacher and art director from her school. During the visit, Metro Managing Director Sophie Allison presented Wattville Primary School with a cheque for £500.

“As well as congratulating Pargunn and her school on submitting the winning entry, we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the competition,” Sophie said.

“The designs we received reflected the connection that the Metro has with the communities we serve and, as we look forward to further expansion, we understand that young people will have a vital role in our future success.

“At the same time, this special anniversary offers the opportunity for everyone to reflect on the benefits the Metro has delivered for the West Midlands over the past quarter of a century.”

During his first official visit to the depot since being elected, Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Pargunn thoroughly deserves this – she’s a talented artist and has a bright future ahead of her – it is a fantastic design and makes a striking addition to our trams for the 25th-anniversary celebrations. I look forward to seeing the emblem while out and about on the Metro network.

“The Metro plays a key role in the communities it serves so we are delighted to welcome Pargunn, her family and teachers from Wattville Primary School to see for themselves the work that goes into keeping the trams running, ferrying thousands of passengers a day between Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham.

“It is an integral part of our public transport system and that is why we are busy extending the line into new areas like Dudley and Digbeth.”