Boat Cars to enjoy workshop time in San Francisco

Posted on Friday 25 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Of all UK tram types there is one which has spread its wings to the most diverse locations in the world – the Blackpool Boat Car. As well as the three in Blackpool and one at Crich, the United States of America is home to a further four with probably the two most high-profile being in San Francisco. The two San Francisco trams are 228 and 233 (latterly 603 and 605) and there is positive news to report on both which will see workshop attention to make sure they are both available for use with Muni recognising the popularity of the trams with the public.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams, Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Boat Cars to enjoy workshop time in San Francisco

Overhead woes for Metrolink and Supertram

Posted on Friday 25 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

It seems that the past few days haven’t been the best for overhead line equiment on UK tramways as both Manchester Metrolink and Stagecoach Supertram have seen major disruption as a result of damage requiring significant repairs. Metrolink’s problems were at Whitefield on Wednesday 23rd March with those on Supertram at Valley Centertainment starting late on Thursday 24th March.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Overhead woes for Metrolink and Supertram

Picture in Time: Seaton Tramway 8

Posted on Friday 25 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

“Picture in Time” today is again in Devon at the Seaton Tramway where we take a look inside Riverside Depot at one of the tram’s which wasn’t in service on 28th August 1995.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Seaton Tramway 8

Office of Road and Rail launch prosecution over Sandilands tram derailment

Posted on Thursday 24 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) have confirmed that they are to prosecute Transport for London (TfL), Tram Operations Limited (TOL) and tram driver Alfred Dorris after a detailed and thorough investigation into the tragic accident at Sandilands in November 2016 which saw seven people die after a tram came off the rails.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Office of Road and Rail launch prosecution over Sandilands tram derailment

More repairs confirmed for Urbos3 trams as West Midlands Metro remains suspended

Posted on Thursday 24 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

There is no end in sight to the suspension of services on the West Midlands Metro with repairs now being confirmed as required on the withdrawn Urbos3 trams after detailed bodywork inspections were completed. The service was suspended (this time) on Saturday 19th March to allow for these inspections to take place and now they have it is known what repairs are needed to allow the trams to safely return to action.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Works this April

Posted on Thursday 24 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

The next set of engineering work on Stagecoach Supertram are to take place this April. The Blue and Purple routes will see revised services in operation on both Sunday 3rd April and over the complete Easter Weekend: 15th to 18th April.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Works this April

In Pictures: Metrolink 3136 into service

Posted on Wednesday 23 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

The latest Manchester Metrolink M5000 to enter service is 3136 with the tram being seen carrying passengers for the first time on Saturday 19th March 2022.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Metrolink 3136 into service

Major recruitment drive for Edinburgh Trams Customer Service roles

Posted on Wednesday 23 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams have launched a major new recruitment campaign to appoint Customer Service and Ticketing Assistants on both the current line from the Airport to city centre as well as the extension to Newhaven when that opens in 2023.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Major recruitment drive for Edinburgh Trams Customer Service roles

Luas Engineering Works: 26th & 27th March

Posted on Wednesday 23 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

There’s more engineering works on the way for Luas with the Red line being affected this time around – the works see no trams between Blackhorse and Heuston over the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas | Comments Off on Luas Engineering Works: 26th & 27th March

No trams on West Midlands Metro again as more cracks found

Posted on Tuesday 22 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its happened again. Just three months after services resumed on the West Midlands Metro they have been suspended again with further cracks – in a different location to the previous cracks – discovered on the original Urbos3 trams. Services were pulled part way through Saturday 19th March – and that was a reduced service in itself with tram availability having reduced to such an extent that it was only possible to run between Wolverhampton St George’s and Bull Street.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Railcoach 279 returns to Rigby Road

Posted on Tuesday 22 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Rigby Road Depot is home to a “pointy ended” English Electric Railcoach once more with the Fylde Transport Trust’s 279 having made the short trip across Blackpool on Thursday 17th March 2022 to allow for the last stages of its restoration to take place. The tram had been away from Rigby Road since 2018 during which time excellent progress has been made on its restoration by the FTT but it has now reached the stage where any further work needs to be undertaken at Rigby Road which is what will happen in the coming months.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Edinburgh Trams set to return to St Andrew Square by end of month

Posted on Tuesday 22 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Now here’s a turn up for the books – construction works set to be completed on time to allow for Edinburgh Trams to run between West End and St Andrew Square again from the end of March! Although no exact date has been mentioned, there is enough confidence to suggest that the works at York Place in removing the old tramstop and connecting the tram tracks between old and new together are progressing sufficiently to allow for the resumption of services into the heart of the city once more.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Edinburgh Trams set to return to St Andrew Square by end of month

In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven works at Ocean Terminal

Posted on Monday 21 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Last time we featured the construction works on the Trams to Newhaven project in Edinburgh we took a look at what had been happening at the city centre end of the line so this time it makes sense to head along Leith Walk and to Ocean Terminal to see what has been happening there in recent weeks.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven works at Ocean Terminal

West Midlands Metro name Charity of the Year

Posted on Monday 21 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Wolverhampton based Compton Care has been named as Charity of the Year by the West Midlands Metro meaning that the organisation will benefit from a wide range of fundraising events.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on West Midlands Metro name Charity of the Year

Trams &: London Tramlink 2559 & bus

Posted on Monday 21 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this latest instalment of “Trams &” we are off to South London as we take a look at a tram running on the Tramlink system along with the distinctive sight of a red London bus.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Trams & | Comments Off on Trams &: London Tramlink 2559 & bus

Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Rossall Square

Posted on Sunday 20 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Stop by Stop” we come to the final of the trio of stops with Rossall in their name – its Rossall Square.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Rossall Square

Final planning application submitted for new Dudley Transport Interchange

Posted on Sunday 20 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

A new £24 million Dudley transport interchange has moved a step closer after a final planning application was submitted earlier this month. It will be built on the current bus station site and will see bus and tram services linked.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Final planning application submitted for new Dudley Transport Interchange

Out and About: The long-standing temporary Birmingham City Centre terminus

Posted on Sunday 20 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its back to the West Midlands Metro for this latest edition of “Out and About” as we feature what was at the time a temporary terminus at Bull Street.

Continue reading →

Posted in Out and About, West Midlands Metro | 8 Comments

Have your say on British Trams Online!

Posted on Sunday 20 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

British Trams Online has been on the internet for over 19 years now and there is very nearly no room at the inn! We have now filled over 95% of our available webspace and although there is the option to upgrade to have even more space I’ve made the decision that we will start to clear some of the older material in the Photo Galleries. This means that later this year (when this happens is yet to be confirmed as it depends on when we start to really run out of space – its all down to the number of items on the website as opposed to the size of them and every photo page in a gallery actually is 2 items as the photo and webpage are separate) we will start to remove the older galleries starting off with those that remain from 2010. I don’t believe that these older galleries are regularly viewed and with our “Picture in Time” specials a lot of those photos may reappear again in the future anyway! We are also taking this opportunity to launch a quick survey – read on for more on this.

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on Have your say on British Trams Online!

Heaton Park Tramway get ready for a new season

Posted on Saturday 19 March 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few weeks we have seen various heritage tramways get back up and running for another season and one of the next to welcome its first passengers for 2022 will be the Heaton Park Tramway – and they will be starting things off with a party! The first trams of the year will be running on Sunday 3rd April with a much delayed special event to celebrate their 40th birthday with it being titled 40th(+2) Birthday.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park Tramway get ready for a new season