Timed to coincide with yesterday, Wednesday, 8th March being International Women’s Day, a West Midlands Metro Urbos 100 tram was named after the late Theresa Stewart, who during the 1990s, was Birmingham City Council’s first and so far only woman leader.

This is the second tram in Metro’s fleet to have been named in her honour, as a previous tram that bore her name was withdrawn from service in 2015 when the fleet was renewed and has since been scrapped.

The current tram named Theresa Stewart followed a request from Birmingham City Council’s current leader, Cllr Ian Ward.

Theresa Stewart, who died in 2020, had a long and distinguished career in local politics.

She led Birmingham City Council from 1993 to 1999, was the Lord Mayor of Birmingham for the year 2000-2001, was a member of the Passenger Transport Authority, which was the Transport for West Midlands (TfWMs) predecessor organisation, and played a crucial role in lobbying Government for funding for the West Midlands Metro line during the 1990s.

Theresa Stewart was a great advocate and campaigner for women’s equality and representation, including founding the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service to support women. Her name was unveiled on the tram by her proud daughters Selina and Lindsey, who were accompanied by their husbands Philip Hunt and James Wells and their children and grandchildren.

Selina, speaking on behalf of her family, said: “We are delighted that Transport for West Midlands is naming a tram for Mum. This honours the commitment she always had to public transport as a politician and also as an individual. She used public transport all of her life as neither she nor our Dad had a car and she appreciated how important buses, trams and trains are for people in general but particularly for women and children.”

Theresa Stewart follows in the footsteps of comedian Jasper Carrott, rocker Ozzy Osbourne, and footballer Cyrille Regis in having a West Midlands Metro tram named after them, while last week, renowned Black Country-based developers Roy and Don Richardson were similarly honoured.

The people of the West Midlands will have the chance to help choose the next person to have a tram named in their honour.

Cllr Ward, who is also West Midlands Combined Authority portfolio lead for transport, said: “Theresa Stewart left behind a wonderful legacy in Birmingham, having dedicated her life to public service. I am delighted that Birmingham will now have a tram bearing her name, and that her legacy will continue in this unique way. To be announcing this on International Women’s Day is fitting, as Theresa was a trailblazer who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of women in Birmingham.”

Naming the tram on International Women’s Day after such a well-respected equality campaigner has also been welcomed by Anne Shaw, executive director of Transport for West Midlands, and Sophie Allison, the first woman to lead West Midlands Metro.

Sophie said: “Light rail is traditionally a male-dominated sector, but it now offers a wealth of career opportunities for women, and many are already enjoying success in very senior roles. In our own team, we have women represented in all departments, and they come from a diverse mix of backgrounds.”