Development of Very Light and Ultra Light Rail technology could help transform connectivity across the UK

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The ongoing development of Very Light and Ultra Light Rail technology has the potential to transform connectivity in small and medium sized UK cities across according to experts from the sector. At a recent summit in Manchester, Colin Robey, from the UKTram Centre of Excellence, said that the sector needs a new mindset that embraces all potential forms of light rail if it is to compete with other modes of transport.

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Posted in UKTram | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Work continues on tram repairs in Dudley

Posted on Monday 14 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

During the last full week of October 2022 we saw the movement of two of West Midlands Metro’s Urbos3 trams to the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley for repairs to take place. Of course, these are repairs to the bodyside panels after cracks were discovered during route inspections which led to the complete suspension of services for several months earlier this year (and also in late 2021).

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

New safety campaign launched around Metrolink this Christmas

Posted on Monday 14 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

You can’t get away from the C word – Christmas is coming and with more people expected to be travelling on Manchester Metrolink approaching and over the festive period a new safety campaign has been launched by Transport for Greater Manchester. The Mind the Tracks campaign will be promoting a range of safety messages encouraging safe behaviour around the Metrolink network and highlighting unsafe actions which could put you at risk.

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Out and About: Three tram service at Beamish

Posted on Monday 14 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The location for our latest trip “Out and About” is Beamish with photos taken on a sunny October day which saw three trams in service.

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Trams &: Blackpool Flexity2 003 & bus

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The location for today’s edition of “Trams &” is the Blackpool Tramway as we head to the northern outpost of the system at Fleetwood to see one of the modern Flexity2 trams alongside one of Blackpool Transport’s buses.

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Metro performance falls, increases and then falls again

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

We haven’t taken a look at performance on the Tyne and Wear Metro for a few months (the last time we reviewed it was at the end of May 2022) but the posters have continued to be put up at stations over the past five months or so. Since the 89% highs of May there has been a fall since and although there have been fluctuations it has remained fairly consistent and remained over 80% throughout.

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In Pictures: The FTT’s Twin Motor Car 671 continues to go cream

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The North West Museum of Road Transport in St Helens is home to the Fylde Transport Trust’s Twin Motor Car 671 with the tram arriving there on 18th April 2021. It’s the only tram currently located at the museum (although follows in the footsteps of other trams such as Blackpool Coronation 304 to have spent time there). When arriving there it was in the Line 1 Metro Coastlines Green and Yellow livery but with the news that it would receive a repaint into the original all cream livery. Work on this repaint is now underway with much of the modern-day livery now having been removed.

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Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 2 Comments

What’s New on British Trams Online? 13th November 2022

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

This week on British Trams Online photos come from the Docklands Light Railway:

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Stoke want to join the Very Light Rail revolution with new plans revealed

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

There was a time a few years ago where stories about various towns and cities across the UK wanted a tram network to help alleviate congestion, and in the vast majority of cases nothing has happened since the initial “ambitious plans” were announced. Although these stories have become less regular recently you still get the odd one with the latest city to join the bandwagon being Stoke-on-Trent.

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Around the World in Trams: Dijon 1003

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Around the World in Trams” we remain in northeast France for another image from Dijon.

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In Pictures: Gateshead 10 back at ground level

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The major overhaul on Gateshead 10 (Grimsby & Immingham 26 as it was last time it ran) at Beamish has continued to make progress over the last few weeks. The tram is now back at ground level – albeit not yet back on its bogies – with lots of work going on to return the tram to operational fleet.

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Plans unveiled for Tyne and Wear Metro extension to Washington

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

If plans for a new line serving Washington are adopted the Tyne and Wear Metro could see its first extension since 2002 when trains first reached Sunderland and South Hylton. The proposals would see a new line built between Pelaw and South Hylton – you may be thinking “hold on? Don’t they already run between those places?” and you’re right but this would be an alternative route travelling via Washington, which is said to be the fourth largest town in the country without access to a railway line.

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In Pictures: Crowds moved by Edinburgh Trams for the rugby

Posted on Friday 11 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 5th November was the second of Scotland’s Rugby Union Autumn Internationals at BT Murrayfield and like the previous week an enhanced service was in operation on the trams network with a service running up to every 3 minutes in the lead-up to and following the match. This week there seemed to be no complaints from people using the tram either. In this pictorial article we take a look at some of the sights around the city centre as fans made their way to the match. Photos from Roy Calderwood.

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Passenger numbers continue to go up on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 11 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The continued recovery of passenger numbers travelling on Manchester Metrolink has been seen in recent months with the third week of October said to have featured the highest number of passengers on the trams since before the pandemic hit in March 2020.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 16 & 7

Posted on Friday 11 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another instalment of “Picture in Time” as we stay on the Isle of Man for another June 1977 image.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

All change! Balloon 710 to return to Rigby Road and not head to Sandtoft after all

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

Back at the start of October it was confirmed that Blackpool Balloon 710 would be heading to Lincolnshire where it would become a children’s play are the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. But it appears a month is not only a long-time in politics but also in the heritage transport sector! For it has now been announced that it will not be going to Sandtoft after all but will be heading to home to Rigby Road where it is to go on static display at the burgeoning Tramtown attraction.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Gyle Santa Express returns to Edinburgh Trams for 2022!

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re used to seeing Santa specials on various heritage railways and the like but its not often that the big man gets to travel on board modern transport – but he will get the chance in Edinburgh on two days at the start of December as the Gyle Santa Express returns to Edinburgh!

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First phase of Birmingham Westside extension wins environmental awareness award

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The first phase of West Midlands Metro’s Birmingham Westside extension between Grand Central and Library has won an award for environmental awareness in construction. The team from the Midland Metro Alliance – who are building the extensions to the network on behalf of Transport for West Midlands – were presented with the award at the Highways UK expo in Birmingham at the start of November 2022 (almost three years after the line opened!).

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Winter Transport Festival brings an end to another year on the MER

Posted on Wednesday 9 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

It may seem that is has only just started but the Manx Electric Railway has now stopped running for another year with the last services operating on Sunday 30th October. But before it ended there was still time for another special event with the Winter Transport Festival taking place giving people another excuse to enjoy the best that the MER can offer (as well as the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway which played a full part in the event – the first time its been able to be a major part of a special event since 2019).

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New pay offer for Tramlink drivers – further ballot to come

Posted on Wednesday 9 November 2022 by Gareth Prior

The ongoing pay dispute on London Tramlink has taken another turn with a new pay offer made by Tram Operations Limited (operator of the network) with the ASLEF Executive Committee now recommending its members accept the offer.

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