Surprise! Another tram arrives on Metrolink

Posted on Tuesday 12 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Monday 11th April saw a bit of a surprise turn up in Manchester as the latest M5000 was delivered – not only coming just over a week since the last delivery but also a rare midweek delivery. 3139 was the tram that caught us by surprise (we were going to say everyone by surprise but we presume Metrolink were expecting it to arrive!).

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More disruption for Supertram as overhead repairs still to be finished, Network Rail signalling problems and Police Van collision all contribute

Posted on Tuesday 12 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re not sure how many mirrors Stagecoach Supertram have broken recently but it seems the bad luck keeps on coming with the past few days seeing more disruption – including the ongoing disruption on the Blue route to Halfway. In addition to those overhead problems there has been a signalling fault on Network Rail preventing the Tram-Train service to running to Rotherham Parkgate and to compound matters on Monday 11th April a Police Van collided with 121 on Middlewood Road.

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In Pictures: Stops get a sign of services coming soon

Posted on Tuesday 12 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its all gone a little bit quiet on the extension front in Blackpool since the first trams ran along Talbot Road to the new terminus close to Blackpool North Railway Station and its likely that there won’t be much more to report on for a while with the terminus remaining in the middle of a building site. One thing to report on though is the adding of name signs to the stops along the route.

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Norwich 39 up for sale on Facebook Marketplace!

Posted on Monday 11 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’ve seen something similar happen before but amongst the mattresses, tables, children’s toys and bricks (free bricks no less!), Facebook Marketplace sometimes throws up a bit of surprise. The surprise this time is the body of Norwich Electric Tramways no. 39 which is being sold for £5,650.

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202 receives new advert as NET back campaign to protect women and girls

Posted on Monday 11 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit 202 is now carrying adverts as part of their backing for a new initiative driving home a powerful message about protecting women and girls from sexual violence. Led by Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry the “A-Z of Consent” message is part of a project aiming to increase the safety of women and girls in the city and reduce violence.

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Out and About: Back to West End in Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 11 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

This latest edition of “Out and About” returns to Edinburgh as we take another look at what was going on at the temporary West End terminus in February.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Lindel Road

Posted on Sunday 10 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

This is another edition of “Stop by Stop” with our journey continuing northbound on the Blackpool Tramway towards Fleetwood Ferry.

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Metro bridge in North Tyneside to be replaced in £3 million project

Posted on Sunday 10 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

This summer is set to see a major Metro bridge replaced as part of a £3 million project which will also create space for better bus links and road freight to North Shields Fish Quay. The Tanners Bank bridge is located on the Metro line between Tynemouth and North Shields and will be replaced during a 14 day line closure in July.

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For Sale! OO-scale tram layout

Posted on Sunday 10 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Does anyone want an OO-scale tram layout? We have been contacted by contributor Geoff Pickles who is looking to dispose of his model tram layout as he is no longer able to maintain it and is now looking to dispose of it. Read on for more details and photos of what is on offer.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 10th April 2022

Posted on Sunday 10 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Just the one set of photos this week as we head to the Heaton Park Tramway’s 40th(+2) Birthday Celebrations:

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Tramlink drivers to be balloted for industrial action

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

ASLEF members on London Tramlink are to be balloted with a view to starting industrial action over a pay dispute. Drivers are currently subject to a pay freeze with the previous pay deal having expired six months ago and Tram Operations Limited (TOL), operators of the network, having yet to bring a new deal to the table.

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Around the World in Trams: Uetlibergbahn 2

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We are again at the Lucerne Transport Museum for this edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

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In Pictures: Extension works continue in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re back off to Edinburgh today as we take another look at extension works on the Edinburgh Trams system. With trams sent to be running to Newhaven in little over a year (as long as they remain on schedule!) good progress continues to be made on installing the track and constructing the platforms.

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Busiest Sunday ever for Metrolink!

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the past couple of years we’ve run numerous stories on low passenger numbers, reduced services and the like as the restrictions of the pandemic hit home so it makes a very nice change to report that Sunday 3rd April was the busiest ever Sunday on Manchester Metrolink! Over 114,000 passenger journeys were recorded with numbers driven by the Manchester Marathon – rumours that Heaton Park Tramway’s 40th(+2) birthday celebrations which took place on the same day helped to push numbers to the record level cannot be confirmed though!

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West Midlands Metro services to resume by the end of May?

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

It looks like there will be no service on the West Midlands Metro until the end of May as repairs to the trams continues at Wednesbury Depot. The news that it will take over two months between initial suspension and a resumption in services has come in the latest official update on the West Midlands Metro website.

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Great Orme Tramway and Volk’s Electric Railway get ready for reopening

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re about to see some more heritage lines carry their first passengers for the year with both the Great Orme Tramway and the Volk’s Electric Railway set to reopen for another season of operation. The Great Orme Tramway will be first out the blocks with trams set to run from Saturday 9th April with the Volk’s Electric Railway following two days later.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 705

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at another set of shots Donald Brooks took in the early September of 1976 in Blackpool as “Picture in Time” continues.

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In Pictures: Heaton Park Tramway celebrates 40 years (and a bit more!)

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The pandemic has meant many things have been put on hold, and that has included celebrations of many types. Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway had originally been due to celebrate their 40th anniversary at the end of March 2020 but just days before the country went into the first lockdown and so all plans were put on hold. Little did anyone know at the time but the celebrations would be delayed for a full two years with the 40th(+2) birthday event finally being able to take place on Sunday 3rd April; this was also the first day of the 2022 operating season.

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Posted in Event Reviews, Heaton Park Tramway | 4 Comments

Good news from Manchester as punctuality and reliability increase

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The latest data released by Transport for Greater Manchester has shown that both punctuality and reliability on Manchester Metrolink has increased in the latest quarter. Covering the period 12th December 2021 to 5th March 2022 punctuality has now reached 88.9% whilst reliability is at 97.6%.

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Latest Edinburgh Trams “Tramtastic” award winner hailed as a lifesaver

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Stuart Mearns, Assistant Engineering Manager at Edinburgh Trams, has become the latest recipient of a “Tramtastic” award after he administered first aid to a member of the public involved in a collision with a train at Edinburgh Gateway.

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