In Pictures: Urbos 100s enter service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Friday 17 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

We saw earlier this week that with the return to action of the West Midlands Metro on Wednesday 15th December came the entry into service of not one, not two but three of the newer Urbos 100 trams. As with the existing Urbos3 trams these vehicles were also built by CAF in Zaragoza, Spain but are of a slightly revised – and presumably improved – design with a number of differences both easily and not so easily discernable!

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Passenger numbers rise on NET but still down on pre-pandemic levels

Posted on Friday 17 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

The latest “Performance and Progress Update” for Nottingham Express Transit has revealed that although passenger numbers have seen an increase in recent months it still remains at only 60% of pre-pandemic levels.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 641

Posted on Friday 17 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Our Blackpool edition of “Picture in Time” is this week featuring an image taken during 2010 and showing the very first of the Centenary Cars.

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Out and About: A different angle in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 17 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Out and About” we are featuring the Blackpool Tramway as we go for a different angle on the Promenade.

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15 Years Apart: Stagecoach Supertram 110

Posted on Friday 17 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s a case of from one fleet livery to another in today’s edition of “15 Years Apart”.

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In Pictures: Blackpool single-line working switches sides as more wires go in

Posted on Thursday 16 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its been another couple of days of interest in Blackpool with the single-line working between North Pier and Cabin finally matching the description on the Blackpool Transport website (at least for a day anyway!) whilst a couple more feeder wires have been installed in Talbot Square and up at Wilko’s.

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Nexus help out with maintenance at Beamish!

Posted on Thursday 16 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Every so often the two sides of tram and light rail in the UK come together – we’re talking about the heritage and the modern as Nexus have recently helped out with some maintenance at Beamish. Staff from the Tyne and Wear Metro conducted a safety critical inspection of the tramway at Beamish as part of a scheme where workers at Nexus can do a day’s voluntary work in the community.

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Pay deal accepted – strikes off in Nottingham

Posted on Thursday 16 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

The threat of further strike action on Nottingham Express Transit has been averted after members of the GMB Union accepted the latest pay offer. Negotiations have been ongoing for several months and one day of strike action was taken during November but after an improved offer was tabled all further strikes have now been cancelled.

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They Ran in 2021: Seaton Tramway 8

Posted on Thursday 16 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

This edition of “They Ran in 2021” heads down to Devon as we visit the Seaton Tramway.

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15 Years Apart: Blackpool Balloon 700

Posted on Thursday 16 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

And its Blackpool again for today’s edition of “15 Years Apart”. There have been changes over the past years for the subject of today’s article too.

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In Pictures: Services resume on West Midlands Metro – including the debut of new trams!

Posted on Wednesday 15 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last night, Wednesday 15th December saw the return of passenger service on the West Midlands Metro for the first time in over a month and not only did we see some of the repaired Urbos3 trams in action but it was also the day of the debut with three of the Urbos 100s being used for the very first time.

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Wirral Heritage Tramway suspends tram services again

Posted on Wednesday 15 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Having only just resumed operation after the eventual lifting of Covid restrictions by the local Council it has now been announced that the Wirral Heritage Tramway will not be running again until essential repairs to the track are completed. The tramway had only run for the first time since March 2020 over the weekend of Saturday 20th November and Sunday 21st November before this decision was made.

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Trams to Newhaven consultants bill goes over £3 million

Posted on Wednesday 15 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

It has been revealed that the City of Edinburgh Council spent £3.3 million on consultants for the Trams to Newhaven project in the 2020/21 financial year – a figure which has attracted criticism for its scale. In total over £10 million was spent on consultants on a variety of projects in the Scottish capital.

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Out and About: From a bus on Princes Street

Posted on Wednesday 15 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today in “Out and About” we return to Edinburgh City Centre as we take a look at one of the 27 strong fleet of trams from the top deck of a bus.

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15 Years Apart: Oporto 273

Posted on Wednesday 15 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

A tram which comes from abroad but has now made Crich its home is the feature of this latest edition of “15 Years Apart”

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West Midlands Metro services to resume Wednesday 15th December

Posted on Tuesday 14 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

After 31 days without any service at all West Midlands Metro services will resume from the start of service on Wednesday 15th December. It will only be a phased return with trams running between Wolverhampton St George’s and Bull Street (the line through Birmingham City Centre to Library will follow later) every 10 minutes but at least it’s a start for normality to return on the West Midlands Metro.

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In Pictures: More trackworks at North Pier equals single-line working

Posted on Tuesday 14 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Single line-working between North Pier and Cabin has resumed this week as further trackworks take place at North Pier on the points leading into Talbot Square and the Blackpool North Railway Station extension. The work – and service change – is due to take place between Tuesday and Thursday this week, although, as has been the case throughout this work, that is subject to late change.

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Christmas comes to the Tyne & Wear Metro!

Posted on Tuesday 14 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Two Tyne & Wear Metro stations in Newcastle and Sunderland have had a festive makeover with the iconic yellow and black Metro cubes gaining a touch of Christmas sparkle. The station cubes at Monument and Park Lane Interchange have received the additions to bring festive cheer to passengers using the network again.

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They Ran in 2021: Blackpool Boat 236

Posted on Tuesday 14 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another edition of “They Ran in 2021” today and in this article we are off to the Crich Tramway Village to take a look at an ever popular tram.

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15 Years Apart: London Tramlink 2538

Posted on Tuesday 14 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

This edition of “15 Years Apart” again features a modern tram as we take a trip to South London and the Tramlink system.

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