Around the World in Trams: Melbourne 671

Posted on Saturday 13 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its not just trams which used to run on the Ballarat tram system which feature at the museum as shown in today’s image which is one of the ubiquitous Melbourne W class of trams.

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Another night of TravelSafe action on Metrolink’s Bury line

Posted on Saturday 13 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Metrolink staff and Greater Manchester Police officers were joined by local councillors on Wednesday 3rd November for another TravelSafe Partnership operation on the Bury line to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour to give passengers the confidence to travel safely.

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All West Midlands Metro services suspended from Saturday 13 November until further notice

Posted on Friday 12 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

In recent weeks we’ve been wondering when trams may return from Bull Street to Library and when we may see the extensions to Edgbaston Village and Wolverhampton Railway Station open, but the question to ask about the West Midlands Metro now is when will any trams run again? It was announced on Friday 12th November that there would no trams running at all on the complete line from Saturday 13th November – until further notice. Once again it would seem to be an issue with the cracks which were discovered earlier in the year with additional repairs now required.

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In Pictures: More wiring work at the old Wilko’s site

Posted on Friday 12 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another day and another update from Blackpool where we take a look at recent progress on the construction work being undertaken for the extension of the tramway to Blackpool North Railway Station. In this update we again head up to the old Wilko’s site where there have been more span wires installed on the newly erected overhead poles whilst the line ears are now also being installed. Meanwhile, there is also progress with further concreting being done at the terminus.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 22

Posted on Friday 12 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Picture in Time” is returning to the Isle of Man for today’s image from the past.

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In Pictures: Poppies return to Blackpool’s Flexity2s

Posted on Thursday 11 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

We saw recently how trams in Sheffield were again carrying Poppies ahead of Remembrance Day/Sunday later this month and now we feature a second tramway in the UK doing likewise with all Flexity2s currently running in Blackpool also seen with them from the start of November. Whereas the poppies in Sheffield are carried externally, in Blackpool they are carried inside the cab positioned in the bottom left hand corner at both ends. Tony Armitage with the photos.

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In Pictures: Another two tram service at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 11 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 30th October was another busy day for Beamish’s trams with a two tram service in operation around the current horseshoe(ish!) line available. As it was the end of October and the weather was end of October like the two trams chosen for service were Sunderland 16 and Sheffield 264. In this small article we see those trams in service as well as taking a quick peek inside the depot at those not needed for service on the day.

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Metrolink services to change for Remembrance Sunday events

Posted on Thursday 11 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Metrolink services through Manchester City Centre on Sunday 14th November will be amended from the start of service until approximately 1230 to allow for the Remembrance Sunday events to take place with no interruption. No trams will run via Exchange Square during this period with services running from East Didsbury to Rochdale diverted onto 1CC with a few other changes also necessary during the events.

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In Pictures: The next Urbos100 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 10th November saw the eighth – and for now final – Urbos100 tram delivered to West Midlands Metro’s Wednesbury Depot with 45 arriving on the back of a low loader at approximately 1120. The tram made the trip from CAF’s plant in Zaragoza, Spain entering the UK at Bristol before making the final leg of its journey via road.

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In Pictures: And now span wires start to go up at Wilko’s

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another day and another pictorial update from Blackpool where the construction of the Talbot Road extension is continuing with good progress having been made in the past couple of weeks. After yesterday’s look at the work where the overhead poles were being erected, the latest update shows the stringing of span wires at Wilko’s. Tony Armitage paid a visit on 10th November for these shots.

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Metrolink passenger numbers hit 70% of pre-pandemic levels

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The recovery of passenger numbers on Manchester Metrolink has continued over the past few months with the latest figures showing that it has now reached over 70% of pre-pandemic levels. With much of the recovery being seen in the leisure market, Sunday 10th October saw the busiest Sunday in Metrolink history with passengers heading to the Manchester Marathon.

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In Pictures: Poles go up at Wilko’s

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The excellent progress which we have seen over the past couple of weeks on construction works in connection with the Blackpool Tramway extension along Talbot Road to a new terminus at Blackpool North Railway Station has been continuing with attention now turning towards the installation of overhead poles on the former Wilko’s site.

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Pre-purchased tickets popular for Rugby fans getting to Murrayfield

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

With Scotland’s national rugby team currently in the middle of their Autumn Internationals held at Murrayfield Stadium – easily accessible on Edinburgh Trams with a tramstop right outside the entrance – a trial allowing special Rugby Return tickets to be pre-purchased is proving to be a success.

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Drone technology in use to aid Metro maintenance work

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro have recently started to use drone technology to help maintain the network with drones providing a live video-feed to an operator, who then uses special software with more accuracy than the human eye to identify any potential issues.

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In Pictures: More new adverts in Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The end of October was a busy time for new adverts in Edinburgh as following quickly behind 269’s “Scotland. Let’s do net zero” design have been two further adverts. This time it’s the turn of 257 and 273 which have received adverts for Ocean Winds and Heverlee Lager respectively.

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Where to get a ride on a heritage tram – November 2021

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The main operating season for many heritage tramways across the British Isles may now be over but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy a ride anywhere as there are still various locations which are continuing to run. Read on to find out more details.

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Trams &: Sheffield 189 & bus

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Trams &” is again having a Sheffield theme for this latest edition of the series showing a tram and another vehicle as its another trip to Crich’s “Best of Sheffield” event in May 2014.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Central – Nottingham Station

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

We return to Nottingham Express Transit for our next set of “Stop by Stop” as we feature the 13 stops which are in the “central area” of the tramway between Nottingham Station and Wilkinson Street. And we start off with Nottingham Station.

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In Pictures: Testing and training continues in Birmingham City Centre – but no sign of a date for the resumption of services

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

When the first tram ran on test on 28th October along Corporation Street to make sure all was well with the relaid track on the West Midlands Metro it was thought that it would be a matter of days before we would see the resumption of public services between Bull Street and Library. However, the process of fully commissioning the line and ensuring all drivers are signed off for the route has been continuing over the past week and a bit and as yet there has been no announcement of when a full service to Library will resume.

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3016 derails in Rochdale

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services in Rochdale Town Centre were disrupted from the evening of Friday 5th November after M5000 3016 derailed on the points leading to and from the terminus. As a result no services were able to run between Rochdale Railway Centre and Rochdale Town Centre whilst a rescue operation for the tram was initiated.

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