What’s New on British Trams Online? 5th December 2021

Posted on Sunday 5 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have one small collection of photos added this week as we return to Crich:

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Site News | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 5th December 2021

In Pictures: Work continues on the expansion of the East Anglia Transport Museum

Posted on Saturday 4 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Out of the limelight in East Anglia the volunteers at the East Anglia Transport Museum have been working hard over the past few months as the major expansion of the museum continues. This will eventually not only see an extended tramway but also a longer trolleybus route and railway line with the recently acquired land being put to good use.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Work continues on the expansion of the East Anglia Transport Museum

In Pictures: Blackpool Flexity2 017 fitted with cameras

Posted on Saturday 4 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

A bit of news to report from Blackpool on the Flexity2 trams is that 017 (one of the two add-ons to the original fleet of 16 Bombardier built trams) has recently received a set of cameras in the cabs. These were originally fitted to sister tram 018 but with this vehicle still out of service following accident damage earlier this year they have now been moved into 017.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Blackpool Flexity2 017 fitted with cameras

Around the World in Trams: Melbourne Scrubber Car 8

Posted on Saturday 4 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

This edition of “Around the World in Trams” again returns to the Ballarat Tramway Museum to view a preserved works car.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Melbourne Scrubber Car 8

Metrolink launch Open for Christmas campaign

Posted on Saturday 4 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we’re now in December everything is geared towards the countdown to Christmas and with Manchester open for Christmas this year Metrolink have launched a new “Open for Christmas” campaign encouraging people to travel using the tram to enjoy days out with friends and family.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink launch Open for Christmas campaign

Out and About: Edinburgh City Centre

Posted on Saturday 4 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another returning photo series which will appear on and off during our December celebrations is “Out and About” which heads to Edinburgh in this edition. With many trams across the UK carrying advertising in some form or another one of the tricks is to try and see whether you can get the tram alongside whatever it is advertising.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams, Out and About | Comments Off on Out and About: Edinburgh City Centre

Strikes set to return to NET after pay offer rejected

Posted on Friday 3 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

There look set to more strike affecting Nottingham Express Transit after it was confirmed by the GMB Union that their members had rejected the 11% increase offered over a three year period. The news was met by disappointment by Nottingham Express Transit who are now braced for further disruption although at this stage no new strike dates have been set by the union.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Strikes set to return to NET after pay offer rejected

In Pictures: Frog leaps in at Talbot Square as more wiring takes place at Wilko’s

Posted on Friday 3 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve been bringing you regular updates from the construction work  in Blackpool along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station over the past few months we have mentioned on several occasions that there was still a frog to be installed at Talbot Square – but now we don’t need to keep saying that as it is now in place! Elsewhere on the project there has been more wiring up at Wilko’s with 3rd December seeing the crossover wires being installed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Frog leaps in at Talbot Square as more wiring takes place at Wilko’s

Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 762

Posted on Friday 3 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

This week our Blackpool edition of “Picture in Time” is heading back to August 2007 where we take a look at one of the brighter all over adverts seen on the Blackpool Tramway during this period.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 762

15 Years Apart: Blackpool Brush 631

Posted on Friday 3 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of our “Then and Now” series “15 Years Apart” we return to Blackpool for a look at one of the trams which is now part of the Heritage Fleet.

Continue reading →

Posted in 15 Years Apart, Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on 15 Years Apart: Blackpool Brush 631

In Pictures: Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre update

Posted on Thursday 2 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its been a while since we last took a look at the Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley but we remedy that in this article as we see the site (in the snow!) with plenty of construction progress having been made since we last featured it.

Continue reading →

Posted in Very Light Rail | Comments Off on In Pictures: Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre update

In Pictures: Just another day at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 2 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Beamish – The Living Museum of the North – continues to be open five days a week up until the Christmas holidays which while it reduces chances to see the trams in operation still gives plenty of opportunities! One tram a day tends to be in service on the restricted service with the completion of maintenance works on the section of the tramway between Foulbridge and the Town passed the Events Field still needed before a full service can resume.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Just another day at Beamish

Cut price return tickets available to Blackpool Town Centre

Posted on Thursday 2 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

From now until the start of January Blackpool Transport are offering anyone travelling on their trams and buses into Blackpool Town Centre a special reduced price return ticket for just £2.50. The tickets must be purchased through the Blackpool Transport app but will allow you to travel from any location on the Blackpool Transport network as long as your journey ends or starts in the town centre for this special price.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Cut price return tickets available to Blackpool Town Centre

15 Years Apart: Glasgow 22

Posted on Thursday 2 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its another edition of “15 Years Apart” today (there will be other photo series during our birthday celebration month they just haven’t been written yet!) as we take a look at another tram in 2006 and 2021.

Continue reading →

Posted in 15 Years Apart, Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on 15 Years Apart: Glasgow 22

In Pictures: Single-line working in Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 1 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve mentioned in passing several times over the past week or so, welding work in Blackpool at North Pier has meant that single-line working has been scheduled to take place on the section of tramway between North Pier and Cabin for “up to six days”. In yesterday’s attempt the single-line working was not in place with normal working on this part of the tramway but another attempt to capture it on Wednesday 1st December was more successful as we see in this article. Photos from Tony Armitage.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Single-line working in Blackpool

First bodyshell completed for Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains

Posted on Wednesday 1 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

A significant milestone has been reached in the new train fleet for the Tyne and Wear Metro with the very first bodyshell having been completed at Stadler’s factory in Switzerland. One of 46 new trains being built by Stadler as part of a £362 million deal to completely renew the fleet now that the first bodyshell has been completed it paves the way for the seats and other internal features to be installed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on First bodyshell completed for Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains

Trams to Newhaven to start prep work for building fixings installation

Posted on Wednesday 1 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

They were once known as rosettes and in first generation tramway days they could be of a very elaborate design but the more prosaic term being used by the Trams to Newhaven project in Edinburgh is “building fixings”. We are talking of the small piece of equipment which will be used in places on the extension to support the overhead wires and preparation works are about to get underway for this work to take place.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Trams to Newhaven to start prep work for building fixings installation

15 Years Apart: Blackpool Rebuilt Balloon 707

Posted on Wednesday 1 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its British Trams Online Anniversary Month! That’s right 1st December 2021 marks 19 years since this website launched on the internet and as we have done over the past few years that means during December we will be bringing you bonus content with additional photo series running on the News & Features page – the first of these returning series is “15 Years Apart” which as the name suggests shows photos of a tram in 2006 and again in 2021, some have changed a lot, some have changed barely at all!

Continue reading →

Posted in 15 Years Apart, Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Advent Calendars are now live!

Posted on Wednesday 1 December 2021 by Gareth Prior

Advent starts today and you know what that means – the return of the British Trams Online Advent Calendars! Once again we have two versions for you to choose from – or even choose both! – Traditional Trams and Modern Trams. All photos included were taken during 2021 and we will be uploading new images the night before so no early peeking! What will feature in this year’s Advent Calendars? Who knows (even I don’t know yet!) maybe it will be your favourite behind window 24? To access the Advent Calendars just follow the links above!

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on Advent Calendars are now live!

First phase of Tyne and Wear Metro Gosforth Depot completed

Posted on Tuesday 30 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The first phase of the redevelopment of Gosforth Depot on the Tyne and Wear Metro has now been completed which will allow further demolition work to get underway as the project continues. The £70 million project is being undertaken by Stadler as part of their contract which includes the construction of a new fleet of trains along with both their and the current fleets maintenance. Eventually there will be a state of the art modern facility at Gosforth which will house the 46 new trains to be built in Switzerland.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on First phase of Tyne and Wear Metro Gosforth Depot completed