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!

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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.

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In Pictures: Trams resume normal service in Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 30 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 30th November has seen a normal tram service resume in Blackpool after they were given permission to proceed past the Metropole Hotel following the structural damage it suffered during Storm Arwen over the weekend.

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Luas start recruitment for new tram drivers

Posted on Tuesday 30 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Dublin’s Luas tram system has started a recruitment drive for more drivers to start from early January 2022. They are also looking to create a panel for future opportunities. Operators of the line, Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd., are looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about keeping Dublin moving and providing quality public transport for passengers on Luas.

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In Pictures: Delays continue on Tyne & Wear Metro and in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 29 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Storm Arwen may now have blown away but its after effects are still being felt with both the Tyne and Wear Metro and Blackpool Tramway in particular seeing ongoing disruption as at the evening of Monday 29th November. Whilst things are improving on the Metro for Blackpool there remains no service north of North Pier with now the Metropole Hotel found to have suffered structural damage during the storm.

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Two years down, less than two to go for Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Monday 29 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

November 2021 marks the two year point of the start of construction works for the Trams to Newhaven project which will, unsurprisingly, see the Edinburgh Trams line extended to Newhaven. With trams still on target to start operation in spring 2023 we are now over halfway through the construction period and to mark that milestone the project team have been looking back at the progress they have already made.

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Trams &: Nottingham Express Transit 216 & bus

Posted on Monday 29 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Trams &” we are off to the East Midlands as we feature a image at one of Nottingham Express Transit’s termini with a tram joined by another bus.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Central – Royal Centre

Posted on Sunday 28 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Stop by Stop” carries on our journey on Nottingham Express Transit today and we take a look at the Royal Centre stop.

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Man taken to hospital after being hit by tram at Little Bispham

Posted on Sunday 28 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

A man in his 60s was taken to hospital on Thursday 25th November after being hit by a tram on the Blackpool Tramway at Little Bispham. The incident occurred at around 1820 with tram services being suspended until approximately 2200 whilst the emergency services were on the scene.

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In Pictures: Tram on a ferry!

Posted on Sunday 28 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

No, its not a low budget remake of the Hollywood blockbuster Snakes on a Plane! As we have reported extensively over the past few months the new batch of M5000 trams for use on Manchester Metrolink are being delivered at regular intervals from mainland Europe and we have pictured several of the arrivals as they turn up at their final destination in Manchester. But how do they get to the UK from mainland Europe? On board a ferry that’s how!

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 28th November 2021

Posted on Sunday 28 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Photos this week come from Stagecoach Supertram back in September:

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In Pictures: NET 212 receives a new advert

Posted on Saturday 27 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s the return of the full vinyl wrap advert in Nottingham with Incentro 212 having received an advert for “Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028”. The new advert features extensive use of contravision on the windows (as in every passenger window is covered) and is publicising the campaign to make the city of Nottingham the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2028.

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Storm Arwen causes major disruption across the north of the UK

Posted on Saturday 27 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The first major weather related disruption of the autumn/winter 2021/2 period has now happened with Storm Arwen causing major issues for several light rail and tram systems in the north of the UK – the Tyne and Wear Metro seeing a complete service suspension whilst there have also been delays and other disruption seen in Blackpool, Manchester and Sheffield.

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Around the World in Trams: Ballarat Horse Tram 1

Posted on Saturday 27 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its time to head back to the Ballarat Tram Museum as we feature a horse car.

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Temporary revised timetable from 29th November on Blackpool Tramway

Posted on Saturday 27 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Tram services on the Blackpool Tramway will operate to a revised timetable for up to six days from Monday 29th November – but this has nothing to do with the continued staff shortages and regular service cancellations as there is due to be single-line working owing to track works at North Pier.

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In Pictures: Pantograph fitted to cherry picker in Talbot Square

Posted on Friday 26 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Blackpool Tramway extension along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station is now at a stage where although there is work continuing to take place its not obviously apparent as a lot of it is checking of overhead alignments and the like. To aid this work one of Pod-Trak cherry pickers has now been fitted with a pantograph.

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Change to operating dates for Summerlee

Posted on Friday 26 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Scotland’s only operating heritage tramway at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life is to see some changes to its operating dates over the next six weeks or so with various festive activities taking place at the museum preventing its operation.

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Picture in Time: Snaefell Mountain Railway 3

Posted on Friday 26 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Picture in Time” our visit to the Isle of Man takes us away from the Manx Electric Railway and on to the Snaefell Mountain Railway.

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In Pictures: Trams testing on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 25 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Whilst there is still no end in sight of the cessation of passenger services on the West Midlands Metro there has been a very small glimmer of hope for their return as trams have been noted out on test this week – both the original batch of Urbos3s and the newer Urbos 100 trams.

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Metrolink 3133 enters service

Posted on Thursday 25 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

And then there were none! No M5000s currently in Manchester which have yet to enter service that it is with 3133 carrying passengers for the first time on Wednesday 24th November. The tram was allocated to the Bury to Piccadilly service for its first day of service.

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