What’s New on British Trams Online? 23rd May 2026

Posted on Saturday 23 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Its a Bank Holiday weekend and that means only one thing – a double dose of photos as we go overseas and have another retrospective look at some heritage trams in action:

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Posted in Around the World in Trams, Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Heaton Park Tramway, Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time, Site News | Leave a comment

Government announce new Mass Transit Taskforce

Posted on Saturday 30 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

It is probably no surprise to many of you reading these words on British Trams Online that there are many, many obstacles in the way of new tram and light rail systems being constructed across the UK. And that has also now been recognised by the government who have announced the creation of a Mass Transit Taskforce who will be making recommendations to help remove barriers to the delivery of new schemes.

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NET name their 2026 Charity of the Year

Posted on Saturday 30 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

As with many organisations across the UK, Nottingham Express Transit have a charity of the year with the aim of supporting them through various fundraising activities. They have now announced that the charity to benefit in 2026 will be Nottinghamshire Mind.

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In Pictures: Beamish Festival of Transport

Posted on Friday 29 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Over the years transport events at Beamish have evolved as a result of changing expectations and costs involved in their organisation. In 2026 it has become a nine-day long Festival of Transport which has included the Fares Please! bus event as well as Power from the Past over the May school half term holiday. Trevor Hall provides us with some images from both the event and shortly before it.

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More double trams for Great Manchester Run

Posted on Friday 29 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 31st May will see the Great Manchester Run take place in, perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchester with thousands of runners, spectators and visitors expected in the area to participate in and watch the race. With the usual “prepare in advance” warning Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmed to help people get to the starting line there will be additional double trams out on Metrolink.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 6

Posted on Friday 29 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

We move on once again for “Picture in Time” and this time we find ourselves on the Isle of Man for more images from the past. We start off in 2002 on the Manx Electric Railway.

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In Pictures: New advert on Metrolink 3104

Posted on Thursday 28 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Its been a quiet few weeks of new adverts on Manchester Metrolink but as May starts to come towards a close that has changed with not one but two new adverts seen. That includes an all new design for 3104 whilst 3092 has become the second tram to advertise Starling Bank.

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West Midlands Metro service cut in two

Posted on Thursday 28 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

There has been major disruption on the West Midlands Metro for over a day with a tram having been left at Dartmouth Street awaiting “specialist recovery”. West Midlands Metro’s website and social media accounts described it as a broken-down tram.

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Supertram launches new Community Programme

Posted on Thursday 28 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

South Yorkshire Supertram have launched a new Community Ambassador Volunteer Programme, a corporate social responsibility initiative designed to support the continued improvement of the tram network whilst also strengthening connections with communities across the region.

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In Pictures: Loganair advertise on Edinburgh Trams 253

Posted on Wednesday 27 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which seems to have advertised C R Smith for a very long time has a new look with 253 now carrying a full wrap for Loganair. The change of advert came earlier in May 2026, bringing an end to over eight years of its previous advert.

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New book: The Great Tramway Conspiracy by Mick Hamer

Posted on Wednesday 27 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Have you ever wondered what happened for towns and cities across the UK to turn their backs on trams so quickly during the 20th century? A new book by freelance journalist Mick Hamer is a searing expose of a campaign that falsely smeared trams as obsolete and led to first generation systems being almost completely wiped off the transport map.

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Mixed-Use Railway group launch new online platform

Posted on Wednesday 27 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Mixed-Use Railway (MUR) is a cross-industry initiative which aims to promote a more integrated and flexible approach to rail development with members from across the rail and light rail sectors. As part of the initiative they have recently launched a new online platform (which is hosted by UKTram) to explore how different rail modes can work together more effectively.

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Winter Saloon 20 returns to service

Posted on Tuesday 26 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Thursday 21st May 2026 saw a return to service on the Manx Electric Railway with Winter Saloon 20 being used for the first time since it was withdrawn for overhaul at the end of the 2024 season.

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Woman taken to hospital after being hit by tram in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 26 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

A 19-year-old woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a tram on Leith Walk at around 0850 on Sunday 24th May 2026. The collision happened between the McDonald Road and Balfour Street stops close to Shrubhill House student accommodation.

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UKTram go to two industry events as the growing role of light rail is highlighted

Posted on Tuesday 26 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Representatives from the industry body UKTram have recently been involved in two major industry events where they helped to highlight the growing role of light rail as part of an integrated transport network. The events provided valuable opportunities to engage with organisations involved in infrastructure, engineering, operations, innovation, and regional transport development.

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Luas 5037 returns to service

Posted on Monday 25 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Correction 27/5/26: 5037 entered service on 21st May 2026 not 22nd May 2026.

Luas 5037 – the tram which was severely damaged by a fire during the November 2023 Dublin riots – has returned to service on the Green line, less than three years after it was set on fire.

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Metro control room upgrade completed

Posted on Monday 25 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

The £8.8m project to upgrade the Tyne and Wear Metro control room at Gosforth has been successfully completed. It now has some of the most advanced technology in the railway industry and has involved the complete renewal of a system which manages key parts of Metro’s infrastructure, including the high voltage power supply.

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Old(er) and New – West Midlands Metro: Black Lake

Posted on Monday 25 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Old(er) and New” we stay on the West Midlands Metro to take a look at an original tram in service and then a newer tram in action at the same location on the network.

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They’ve Run in 2026 – Meet the Trams: National Tramway Museum – Blackpool & Fleetwood 40

Posted on Sunday 24 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

“Meet the Trams” continues with a review of those tramcars which have run in passenger service during 2026 at the National Tramway Museum. And this time around we take a look at Blackpool & Fleetwood 40.

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Balloon 717 takes part in Dementia Action Week

Posted on Sunday 24 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Balloon Car 717 has been out on Blackpool Promenade again, this time being hired by Trinity Hospice for a special trip as part of Dementia Action Week. It was out to provide a nostalgic trip along the seafront for a group of Fylde coast residents who live with dementia.

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Tyneside mum seeks to become first woman to run the Metro route

Posted on Sunday 24 May 2026 by Gareth Prior

Over the years we’ve reported on how various people have run the complete 65 mile route of the Tyne and Wear Metro network in a single day and the latest to attempt the feat would be the first woman to do so. Alice Townend, 53, will be attempting the run over the weekend of 8th and 9th August in support of Women’s Street Watch.

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