In Pictures: Work continues on the Birmingham Eastside extension

Posted on Wednesday 12 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

After the flurry of activity during the second half of 2021 – mainly to install the junction with the existing city centre line at Bull Street/Corporation Street – we’ve been a bit quiet on the construction works in connection with West Midlands Metro’s Birmingham Eastside extension but there has been some work continuing as we see in this latest progress update from the camera of Ken Jones.

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Edinburgh Trams driver receives “Tramtastic” award for preventing antisocial behaviour

Posted on Wednesday 12 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Richard Anderson, tram driver for Edinburgh Trams, has been recognised for his outstanding customer service skills in the company’s internal “You are Tramtastic” award scheme. He was praised for helping a colleague deal with a group of youngsters who were behaving antisocially on a tram, remaining calm throughout and staying onboard until the youths dispersed.

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Out and About: In central Edinburgh

Posted on Wednesday 12 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

“Out and About” is back today with another photo taken recently on a UK tramway – this time its Edinburgh.

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Sheffield 264 tops the tram mileage charts at Beamish again

Posted on Tuesday 11 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Whilst 2021 was once again anything but a normal year for the Beamish Tramway (or let’s be honest the world!), the trams did run for around a quarter of the year (starting from the beginning of September through until the end of the year) and still managed to clock up the mileage during that period. For the second year running the figures showed that Sheffield 264 was the hardest working tram accounting for almost 50% of the nearly 4,000 miles covered by the fleet at the museum.

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New competition announced to name NET’s Community Hero Tram

Posted on Tuesday 11 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit’s Community Hero Tram is set to return this March after NET teamed up with Nottinghamshire Live to launch a competition to find a new Community Hero who deserves the accolade of their name on a tram travelling around the network. Citadis 222 was previously designated the Community Hero Tram but hasn’t had a new name since March 2019 so this March will see its first name change for three years.

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They Ran in 2021!

Posted on Tuesday 11 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

As 2021 is now over its time to round off things with this last “They Ran in 2021” article giving what we believe to be the complete picture of all heritage trams that ran in service during the year. As always this is the picture as we believe it and if you know or any additions or notice any errors please contact us (contact details at the bottom of the article).

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, Crich Tramway Village, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on They Ran in 2021!

Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Tramway Society launch 2022 Appeal

Posted on Monday 10 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

The Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Tramway Society – owners of replica Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 – have launched a new appeal for 2022 as they continue to try to cover their costs, with the past couple of years seeing a massive reduction in events to allow for normal fundraising.

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Works move on for Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Monday 10 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

As we enter 2022 there is expected to a be a lot more construction work taking place in Edinburgh in conjunction with the Trams to Newhaven project. This year should see the majority of construction works completed ahead of the line being handed over for testing and then eventual operation in the first half of 2023. But before we reach that milestone the first month of the year will see a couple of new worksites established.

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Trams in Video: The Trams of Soller Mallorca

Posted on Monday 10 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “Trams in Video” heads to Spain as we feature the popular Soller Tramway with runs for just over 3 miles between Soller and Port de Soller. With its heritage vehicles it has proved to be popular with tourists for many years and we take a look at those running in service on a fine sunny day.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Central – Noel Street

Posted on Sunday 9 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Our journey on Nottingham Express Transit as part of “Stop by Stop” now reaches the interesting single line loop through Hyson Green.

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Metrolink patronage hits 76% of pre-pandemic levels before falling again

Posted on Sunday 9 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

The headline news from the latest Manchester Metrolink Service Report – as due to be presented to a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in mid-January – is that during the last week of November passenger numbers reached 76% of pre-pandemic levels – the highest levels that had been recorded since the start of everything. However, since then and the introduction of the government’s “Plan B” restrictions patronage has once again fallen on the network.

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Winners announced for British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2022!

Posted on Sunday 9 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Voting is over, votes have been checked with multiple votes removed and we have our winners of the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2022 contest! In truth it hasn’t been a close contest with winners in all four categories getting roughly 50% of the total vote but at the end of voting we can congratulate Manx Electric Railway 2, Manchester Metrolink 1023, the Crich Tramway Village and the Winter Manx Heritage Transport Festival on winning the accolades for this year!

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 9th January 2022

Posted on Sunday 9 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

We start off 2022 quietly as the photos added this week are those from our two Advent Calendars:

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In Pictures: New advert for Metrolink 3115

Posted on Saturday 8 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Not previously reported on these pages – and we’re not sure when it was first applied – is a new advert on Manchester Metrolink M5000 3115. This is the first full advert to be carried by the tram which is the 44th of the M5000s to have now carried an advert.

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TfL funding settlement extended to 4th February 2022

Posted on Saturday 8 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

The ongoing saga of government funding to Transport for London has seen the current funding settlement extended through until 4th February 2022. The original settlement was due to expire on 17th December 2021 (which itself had been extended) but after further information was supplied by the Mayor of London, the Department for Transport have now agreed to extend this on the same terms with the understanding that a new deal will be signed ahead of this latest expiry.

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Blackpool Transport fares to rise from 16th January

Posted on Saturday 8 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

It is the season for fare increases it would seem! New fares will be introduced across the Blackpool Transport network – including the trams – from Sunday 16th January and for anyone buying a single ticket on board the tram there will be a significant 50p increase from £2.10 to £2.60 – still excellent value if travelling all the way from Starr Gate to Fleetwood but no so much if you’re going from Pleasure Beach to South Pier!

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Out and About: Back in Edinburgh City Centre

Posted on Saturday 8 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

This trip “Out and About” is returning into Edinburgh City Centre as we take a simple view of a tram running along Princes Street.

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Centenary 643 looking for a new home

Posted on Friday 7 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Following the upgrading of the Blackpool Tramway many of the traditional trams were sold on for further use and this included three which have since found new homes at schools. But that number is set to reduce as Centenary 643 is now looking for a new home with it deemed surplus to requirements at Brooke School in Rugby where it has been for just over five years.

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Ambitious plans for 7,000 new homes in Edinburgh could provide major boost to the trams

Posted on Friday 7 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

A major new housing development between Ingliston and Gogar adjacent to the original Edinburgh Trams line could provide a major boost to passenger numbers on the city’s tram network in the coming years. It is planned that the 205 acre site in West Edinburgh could have 7,000 new homes as well as commercial and community facilities constructed as part of a £2 billion project.

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Luas Engineering Works in January 2022

Posted on Friday 7 January 2022 by Gareth Prior

Both the Green and Red lines on Dublin’s Luas network will be affected by engineering works over two weekends in January although on both occasions it won’t see services disrupted all day but will see later start and earlier finish times.

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