In Pictures: 27 & 26 return to the West Midlands Metro – in an unusual place!

Posted on Wednesday 25 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Over the years on British Trams Online we have featured the delivery or collection of many trams – some of them heritage trams, some of them modern vehicles. Almost every time these have been in or just outside depots so we think that this one is a bit of a change as West Midlands Metro Urbos3s 27 and 26 have been returned to the system  with the unloading taking place on Bilston Road!

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In Pictures: Gosforth Depot infrastructure works start

Posted on Wednesday 25 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week as well as the construction of a new depot and associated buildings at the Tyne and Wear Metro depot at South Gosforth there is also the necessity for some infrastructure works at the entrance to the site. This required a line closure over the weekend of 21st and 22nd January (and a further closure on 11th/12th February) and as we see in this pictorial update from Trevor Hall this enabled work to take place on the overhead.

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DLR to create shunting vehicle from withdrawn vehicles

Posted on Tuesday 24 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few years there have been a small number of units on the Docklands Light Railway which have not been operational and now with the impending arrival of a new fleet of trains (being built by CAF) these are considered surplus to requirements and they were expected to be scrapped once stripped for spares. However, there has now been a development in this regards as from the three which had been withdrawn one good vehicle is to be made from them and it is to be used as a shunting vehicle for when the new trains do arrive.

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Dudley’s Castle Hill to reopen to two-way traffic after completion of Metro works

Posted on Tuesday 24 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

The latest milestone on the West Midlands Metro extension to Dudley (and maybe Brierley Hill) was reached on Monday 23rd January with the reopening of Castle Hill in Dudley Town Centre after the completion of main works in this area. This has seen double track laid in readiness for services to begin in 2024.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 267 gets another advert

Posted on Monday 23 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its all change on the advert front for another tram in Edinburgh with 267 recently receiving new vinyls advertising Tennent’s Lager. This is a return to alcohol for the tram having previously advertised the Johnnie Walker visitor attraction and replaces a short-lived contract for Christmas shopping and dining at the St James Quarter.

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More essential works for West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 23 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

There will be another period of service change for the West Midlands Metro as more essential engineering works will be taking place. This time it will affect Birmingham City Centre services during the evening of Sunday 29th January.

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Out and About: Manchester Metrolink – Airport: August 2022

Posted on Monday 23 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

We are “Out and About” in Manchester today as we head back to August to see a couple of views taken at the Manchester Airport terminus.

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The Number 20: London Tramlink 2537

Posted on Sunday 22 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today we have another edition of “The Number 20” and its London Tramlink where the next entrant comes from.

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Performance percentage decreases again on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Sunday 22 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

The last operating four week period of 2022 (and into early 2023) was not a great one for the Tyne and Wear Metro with performance reducing significantly. It was down by 7% from the previous four weeks and a large 17% from the same four weeks in 2021/2.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 22nd January 2023

Posted on Sunday 22 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

This week we take a look back at 20 winners of the Tram of the Year contest in our latest set of photos:

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Old Gosforth Depot closes to mark end of an era for Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

It may be being replaced by a new facility on the same site but its been an end of an era for the Tyne and Wear Metro as the old depot at Gosforth closed its doors for the final time. Home to the Metro for the past 43 years – and in use for 100 years in total – it is being replaced as part of a £70 million redevelopment with Stadler now moving their maintenance teams to the new facility.

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Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 310

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its back to Innsbruck today on what was a lovely sunny late summers day in 2022.

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Edinburgh Trams overhead line works rearranged

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

It has been announced that the planned connection of the overhead wires between the current line to York Place and the future extension to Newhaven on the Edinburgh Trams network are to be rearranged. Originally due to take place at the end of January they will now be taking place during mid-February.

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Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Works: Sunday 29th January

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

Essential engineering works on Sunday 29th January will see an early curtailment of services on Stagecoach Supertram’s Blue and Purple routes between Sheffield Station and Halfway/Herdings Park. Services will run as normal until 2100 after which no trams will run on these sections until the start of service the following day.

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In Pictures: 17 back at Wednesbury and on driver training!

Posted on Friday 20 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

The first of the Urbos3 trams which departed the West Midlands Metro depot at Wednesbury for repairs in Dudley has returned – and its already been commissioned for use again with it being noted out on driver training! The tram in question is the first of the class, 17, which had had been absent from Metro metals since October 2022.

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Gosforth Depot works to see Metro line closures

Posted on Friday 20 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

As work continues on the £70 million redevelopment of Gosforth Depot on the Tyne and Wear Metro there will be two weekend line closures in January and February to facilitate further works. Stadler will be replacing track, overhead lines and signals at the eastern end of the depot site during this work to prepare it for the arrival of the first new trains, which are due to be delivered from this winter.

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 03

Posted on Friday 20 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

We remain in Sheffield for this latest “Picture in Time” and as we continue our way through the photos taken during this visit we move up one number in the fleet as its no. 03 which captured the photographers attention.

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In Pictures: First new advert of 2023 in Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 19 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

We’re still in that part of the year when we can claim “firsts of 2023” and that includes a first new advert of the year for Edinburgh Trams. And it’s the lowest numbered tram which gets this accolade as 251 is now carrying ads for Hello Fresh.

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Dinosaurs invade Seaton again!

Posted on Thursday 19 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

After a sell out event in 2022 the Dinosaur Adventure Show will be returning to the Seaton Tramway this February! Featuring Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Chris Roberts, known as Ranger Chris, this event will see dinosaurs roaming around the crowd during four 90 minute performances at Seaton Station.

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Major investment to Beamish Tramway infrastructure

Posted on Wednesday 18 January 2023 by Gareth Prior

The tramway at Beamish is currently undergoing a programme of upgrade work to ensure that it remains safe and operational in a year that will see it celebrate its 50th anniversary. Beamish have recently appointed a new Transport Infrastructure Manager and he had developed a programme of work which will take place over this winter and spring period.

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