Metrolink SPV departs

Posted on Thursday 22 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink 1027 – the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) built in 1991 – has left Greater Manchester for the last time. Having not been used out on the network since 2019 and barely even around the depot since 2022, the vehicle (and its matching wagon) had become surplus to requirements and was offered for sale in a sealed bid auction last year. With negotiations now concluded it has a new home and left Queens Road Depot for the last time on the back of a lorry during the evening of 20th May 2025.

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Mott MacDonald appointed as consultants for Clyde Metro – but trams seem to be ruled out

Posted on Thursday 22 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

The Clyde Metro proposals are moving to the next stage with Mott MacDonald appointed to provide consultancy services on certain aspects of the plans. At the same time an article in the Glasgow Times seems to confirm that the idea of it being a tram system has been ruled out with the preference being for a Metro network. However, all this is more theory at the moment with the proposals still at a very early stage.

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Full details announced for more Supertram improvement works

Posted on Thursday 22 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

South Yorkshire Supertram services will not run between Cathedral and either Malin Bridge or Middlewood for seven days during the May Half Term week with the latest set of improvement works confirmed as taking place on Langsett Road in Hillsborough.

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In Pictures: Coventry Very Light Rail Vehicle welcomes its public at Dudley

Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

One of the highlights of the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) Family Fun Day at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley was the chance for the public to get their first rides on the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle. This was the first chance for the public and likely to be the only chance to do so at Dudley with the vehicle set to move to Coventry shortly for the on-street tests to take place there later this month and in June. Photos of the vehicle in action come from Mark Hambly.

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The Seaside returns to Crich

Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

You can’t get anywhere in the UK much more landlocked than Crich but for a week each year that doesn’t stop the seaside coming to the Crich Tramway Village and the Seaside Fun event is back again for the May Half Term week between Saturday 24th and Friday 30th May.

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Discounted tram travel for Birmingham Pride

Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Birmingham Pride takes place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2025 and once again West Midlands Metro will be offering discounted travel for ticket holders.

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In Pictures: Views of the continued restoration of Brighton 53

Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we reported a few weeks ago, there was a chance to see recent progress on the restoration of the last remaining Brighton Corporation Tramways passenger tramcar during an open weekend at the Brighton Tram 53 Society’s base in Sussex. In this article we see some images taken during that Open Weekend showing how the work to return the tram to working order is progressing. Graham Clifford with the photos.

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ToTo goes live in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

A new era in paying for travel on the Edinburgh Trams network has launched with the “Tap-on, Tap-off” (being called “ToTo”, complete with dog mascot) solution going live on Monday 19th May 2025. It now means passengers just have to tap their contactless payment method before boarding the tram and again after getting off with the system then deducting the correct amount.

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New videos released to showcase new Metro trains

Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

A series of videos which help passengers on the Tyne and Wear Metro get to know all about the new trains which are currently being introduced onto the network. The films show members of the Metro fleet project team explaining the modern features of the trains.

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In Pictures: The 1960s comes to East Anglia Transport Museum

Posted on Monday 19 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

The latest special event to take place at the East Anglia Transport Museum was a 1960s weekend with the museum transported back 60 years on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025. With the sights and sounds of the swinging 60s, all the usual museum attractions were also on offer and, of course, that includes the trams! Bryan Grint captured these images on the first day of the event.

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Busy night on the cards for Metrolink

Posted on Monday 19 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

What do Bruce Springsteen, Kylie Minogue and Kevin de Bryne all have in common? They are all due to appear in Manchester on Tuesday 20th May – with 100,000 people expected in the city centre to attend concerts at Coop Live and the AO Arena as well as Manchester City’s final home match of the season against Bournemouth (which will also be club legends Kevin de Bryne’s last home appearance). All in all it will combine to a very busy night for transport in the city, especially Metrolink.

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Stop by Stop London Trams: New Addington line – New Addington

Posted on Monday 19 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

“Stop by Stop” returns and we’re back on the London Trams network. Having previously taken a look at the stops on the Beckenham Junction and Elmers End lines for the next seven weeks we’ll be taking a look at the stops on the New Addington line and we start at the terminus.

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Manchester Metrolink Then & Now: St Peter’s Square

Posted on Sunday 18 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few years one of the most popular photo series we have run has been “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now” – and its back for the next few weeks! In this series we take a look at the same location before or during construction of Metrolink and once the trams have started running. Thanks to Keith Chadbourne for these latest images as we see a few more locations.

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London Trams to celebrate 25 years

Posted on Sunday 18 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

On 10th May 2000 modern trams returned to the streets of London for the first time in almost 48 years with the opening of the then Croydon Tramlink network. Now branded as London Trams the network continues to link Wimbledon to Croydon and out to New Addington, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End, and with 2025 being the 25th anniversary Transport for London are marking the occasion.

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Teenager taken to hospital after being hit by tram in Nottingham

Posted on Sunday 18 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries sustained after being hit by a tram in Nottingham City Centre on Thursday 15th May. The boy was hit at around 1000 with emergency services quickly on the scene to treat his injuries.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 18th May 2025

Posted on Sunday 18 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

This week there are photos from the Isle of Man:

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Blackpool heritage trams to return in October!

Posted on Saturday 17 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

It’s the news that many people have been waiting for – Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are to return to action in October as part of the Lightpool Festival, and will then tours will continue to run for the remainder of the illuminations season.

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Around the World in Trams: East Berlin 218 007-8

Posted on Saturday 17 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of “Around the World in Trams” which once again comes from East Berlin, Germany.

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Extra trams to be run for Robbie Williams concert in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 17 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Robbie Williams isn’t a bad guest to perform on your birthday is he? The pop legend will be performing at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday 31st May 2025 – which also just happens to be Edinburgh Trams’ 11th birthday! With large crowds expected to be going to the concert there will be extra trams in operation, and it will also be the first big volume test of the new ToTo payment system.

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Supertram reaches 10 million journeys under public control

Posted on Saturday 17 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) have announced that since the South Yorkshire Supertram network returned to public control in March 2024 10 million passenger journeys have been recorded. This figure was reached at the start of May 2025 in a little over 13 months since Stagecoach’s operation came to an end.

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