Manchester Metrolink Then & Now: Ayres Road

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

“Then & Now” moves away from the Manchester Airport line this week and we instead head onto the South Manchester line (although Airport line trams do also traverse the section we feature here).

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West Midlands Metro bus and tram fares to increase

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

Joint tickets covering travel on the West Midlands Metro and local bus services are to increase in cost from Monday 3rd July. The rise comes because bus fares are increasing from that date with West Midlands Metro keen to point out that their fares have not increased and its not their fault!

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In Pictures: Cameras, cameras everywhere you turn on Blackpool’s Flexity2 trams

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year we reported on the news that Blackpool’s fleet of Flexity2 trams are being fitted with a new safety system – Obstacle Detection Assistance System (ODAS). This new Alstom system has involved the fitting of cameras in the tram cabs with three just below the destination screen in those trams fitted so far, but now some trams are receiving a fourth camera.

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New combined tram and bus tickets to cut the price of travel in Manchester

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

In three months time Greater Manchester’s much vaunted Bee Network will start operation. This sees more local control of public transport with the centrepiece being bus franchising and the plan for cheaper and more affordable transport. Overall the Bee Network will eventually include all public transport in the region with the gradual build up in the coming years.

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20 returns to service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its been a few weeks since we’ve seen a tram enter or re-enter service on the West Midlands Metro but Thursday 29th June was an important day in the history of Urbos3 20 as it retuned to service for the first time since undergoing repairs at Dudley.

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Around the World in Trams: Rome 7011

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

Starting this week the location for our “Around the World in Trams” series is Rome in Italy and firstly it’s a bit of a “Picture in Time” vibe as we are going back to 1964.

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Edinburgh Trams wins at Scottish Transport Awards

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

There has been plenty to celebrate for Edinburgh Trams over the past few weeks. Firstly, the long awaited extension to Newhaven opened and now they have won at the Scottish Transport Awards in the Public Transport Operator of the Year category.

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Light Rail summit looks at how Very Light Rail can transform the industry

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Campaign for Better Transport have recently run a “Better Transport Week”, calling for improvements to the UK’s public transport system. As part of this they hosted a Light Rail summit a the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre, Dudley where the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme was a hot topic with discussions on how it could transform the entire light rail industry.

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In Pictures: New full vinyl wrap for Edinburgh Trams 270

Posted on Friday 30 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

When Edinburgh Trams 270 received an advert for Breitling in February 2023 it made history as the first tram in the city to carry a full vinyl wrap advert. And now four months on and it is now carrying the second full vinyl wrap advert following the removal of that advert in favour of a brightly coloured as for Camera Obscura & World of Illusions.

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Tram and car collision on Metrolink’s Ashton line

Posted on Friday 30 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services to Ashton-under-Lyne were suspended for just over an hour on Friday 23rd June after a car and tram collided on Droylsden Road.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 673+683

Posted on Friday 30 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

We take another trip to the Blackpool Tramway for this latest edition of “Picture in Time” today.

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Tram-Trains for the Fylde Coast?

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Could we be seeing a new tram-train service linking Preston and Fleetwood? That now seems the most likely way the long-closed railway line to Fleetwood could be reopened if a letter sent to local MP, Paul Maynard, by Transport Minister Huw Merriman is to believed. This not only opens up the tantalising prospect of a rail service between Poulton-le-Fylde and the outskirts of Fleetwood but then a connection to the current Blackpool Tramway to give access to Fleetwood Town Centre.

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NET to be official travel partner for World Masters Hockey European Championships

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

With the Nottingham Hockey Centre being conveniently located alongside the Nottingham Express Transit line to Toton Lane, the network is well placed to transport spectators to the forthcoming World Masters Hockey European Championships and with that in mind NET have become the official travel partner for the event.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh 273 gets revised ads

Posted on Wednesday 28 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams 273 has obviously got a taste for Heverlee Lager as having advertised the beverage since October 2021 it has now received new adverts – for the same firm in a revised design. In fact 273 loves a bit of alcohol having previously advertised the Johnnie Walker Join the Pact campaign – which are its only two previous adverts!

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Potential of light rail systems highlighted by Restore your Railway initiative

Posted on Wednesday 28 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Over recent years it has seemed that the chances of a new light rail system being opened have been less and less with high costs and a lack of interest from central government of all persuasions. But the recent “Restore your Railway Initiative” by the Department for Transport has seen various schemes revisited and reviewed for practicality and economic impact with many now in a “good place” for future development.

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In Pictures: Track maintenance works start on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve recently reported the last weekend of June and first weekend of July are seeing maintenance works take place on the West Midlands Metro which will hopefully eradicate some temporary speed restrictions which have been in place. Services are continuing to operate whilst the work takes place but at a reduced frequency.

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In Pictures: Tram track found in Sheffield

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

As regular readers of British Trams Online will be aware under the road surfaces in many UK towns and cities there is tram track lurking. Track which hasn’t been used in anger for many, many years but was just covered over following the abandonment of the tramway to be forgotten. But there are times when this track is rediscovered when roadworks take place and the latest such location is in Sheffield where there are power cable works taking place.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 261 receives new Scottish Rugby adverts

Posted on Monday 26 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Edinburgh Trams system has for a long time had a connection with rugby, with Murrayfield Stadium being served on the original route and several trams over the years carrying adverts for Scottish Rugby, who call Murrayfield their home. One tram which has had a long association with the sport is 261 having carried two adverts in the past and it has now completed a hattrick with a new design applied which is promoting the forthcoming summer internationals.

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Out and About: Heading out on Stagecoach Supertram

Posted on Monday 26 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another edition of “Out and About” and Sheffield is again our location.

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Manchester Metrolink Then & Now: Mauldeth Road West

Posted on Sunday 25 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Staying on the Manchester Airport line of Metrolink for today’s edition of “Then & Now” as we take a look at another section of street running on that line.

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