First new train for Southend Pier arrives

Posted on Tuesday 26 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Southend Pier Railway has received the first of the new trains set to enter service on the UK’s longest Pier, with work now underway on commissioning and training. Until that is completed the trains built in 1986 will continue to run the service.

Continue reading →

Posted in Southend Pier Railway/Tramway | Comments Off on First new train for Southend Pier arrives

Robin Hood multi-operator fares to increase

Posted on Tuesday 26 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Multi-operator fares across Nottingham using the Robin Hood Card – which is valid for travel on Nottingham Express Transit – will see their first increase since April 2019 on Sunday 31st October to reflect recent changes to individual operator prices.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Robin Hood multi-operator fares to increase

In Pictures: Work nearly completed in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Monday 25 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As October enters its final week the work to complete the West Midlands Metro track relay and Eastside junction installation is rapidly coming towards an end with most of the tarmac now down and attention turning towards the finishing touches – including line painting to make it clear what sort of vehicle should be going where! In addition in this article we take another trip out onto the further Eastside extension to see what has been happening since we took a look at the work in Gallery 975.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Work nearly completed in Birmingham City Centre

In Pictures: Preparation work underway at Wilko’s

Posted on Monday 25 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

After what has seemed to be several weeks with very little progress on construction work for the Blackpool Tramway extension up at the former Wilko’s site, recently there have been slight changes with contractors hard at work in preparation for further work and concrete now laid around the tracks on the curve.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Preparation work underway at Wilko’s

Trams &: Oporto 196 & Steam Locomotive

Posted on Monday 25 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s a trip to Beamish again for this latest edition of “Trams &” as we take a look at one of the fleet of trams in operation and finding a steam locomotive on its way around the tramway circuit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Trams & | Comments Off on Trams &: Oporto 196 & Steam Locomotive

Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Anchorsholme Lane

Posted on Sunday 24 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today we reach Anchorsholme Lane on our northbound journey on the Blackpool Tramway.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Anchorsholme Lane

And on it goes… Douglas Prom works to miss early November deadline

Posted on Sunday 24 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

This article was updated following publication on 26/10/21.

When is a deadline not a deadline? When its in connection with the redevelopment of Douglas Promenade it would appear! After the previous September deadline was missed (which was a revised deadline anyway) it was said that all construction works on the Prom should be completed by 3rd November 2021, but reports in the local press have now confirmed that this date will also be missed – and its some tram works which will go on beyond the deadline.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 3 Comments

West Midlands Metro propose increase in penalty fares

Posted on Sunday 24 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Currently if you are caught on the West Midlands Metro without a ticket you are liable to a penalty fare of £10 but if proposals to increase it are agreed the cost could increase 10 times with a new amount of £100 currently under discussion.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on West Midlands Metro propose increase in penalty fares

Trams suspended from North Pier to Fleetwood after car crashes into barrier

Posted on Sunday 24 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

It wasn’t a good start for the tram service in Blackpool on Thursday 21st October with no trams able to run any further north than North Pier until around 0800. The problem was that a car had crashed into the barriers at Gynn Square at around 0540 and while the Police and other emergency services were involved in sorting this out it wasn’t possible for any trams to pass the scene. With no trams running beyond North Pier, Blackpool Transport arranged a replacement bus service for those wishing to travel between North Pier and Fleetwood.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Trams suspended from North Pier to Fleetwood after car crashes into barrier

Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Midlands get cash boost in budget

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

In a pre-announcement from next week’s budget, it has been confirmed that several city regions in England are to receive billions of pounds to help improve public transport – including investment in trams and light rail. The funding package will go to Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City region, South Yorkshire, West of England and Tees Valley, although from a tram/light rail point of view its just the usual suspects who will benefit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Little change in Tyne and Wear Metro performance

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Ever since we started these little updates on the Tyne and Wear Metro – taken from posters put up at stations on the network – there has usually been a fair amount of change either in comparison to the previous four weeks or the same period 12 months ago. But this time there is a minimal change when compared to the last period – and it’s a positive change too!

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Little change in Tyne and Wear Metro performance

Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 304

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have a quick visit to Innsbruck in Austria for this edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 304

More engineering work coming on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we wait for news of a reopening date for services through Birmingham City Centre after the three month closure to allow the Eastside extension junction to be installed and track to be relaid on Bull Street and Corporation Street, it has now been announced that there will be further engineering works taking place this November – at Jewellery Quarter and between Bilston Central and The Crescent.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on More engineering work coming on the West Midlands Metro

In Pictures: Double destination displays for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

If you’re travelling by tram in Edinburgh there is no excuse for not knowing where the tram is going now as they have recently introduced the use of not only the electronic destination displays but also a destination board in the lower section of the cab window. Its understood that the reason for this new innovation is that those intending passengers who were standing close to the tram were not looking up at the destination display and so its been decided to add these manual boards as well to ensure everyone knows just where they are going!

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Double destination displays for Edinburgh Trams

Metrolink Engineering Works: October & November

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

There are more engineering works due to take place on the Manchester Metrolink network affecting services at the end of October and during November. There will be two further sets of work taking place – the Eccles line will be suspended on Sunday 31st October with works moving onto the Altrincham line on Sunday 28th November.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink Engineering Works: October & November

Picture in Time: Luas 4009

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We move forward a bit in time for this week’s modern tram “Picture in Time” image as we continue our look at the Luas system in Dublin.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Luas 4009

Duke of Gloucester officially launches Newcastle 102 after restoration

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

HRH Duke of Gloucester was on hand at a special members day at the Crich Tramway Village on Wednesday 20th October to drive Newcastle 102 out of the Workshop to re-launch it after its Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation funded restoration. Although not quite ready for a full return to service – with more testing to come – this was a significant step in the return to service for 102 which is sure to be a popular addition to the operating fleet at Crich.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Duke of Gloucester officially launches Newcastle 102 after restoration

Metrolink 3131 enters service

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

What is about the day after we run an article on Manchester Metrolink’s M5000s saying so-and-so hasn’t entered service yet?! We recently reported on the delivery of 3132 to Queen’s Road Depot on 16th October and said at the time how 3131 had yet to enter service – well now it has!

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink 3131 enters service

Five Metro trains to be made available for community groups

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Local communities are being asked to put their proposals forward for new uses for five of the original Metrocars which will be withdrawn from service on the Tyne and Wear Metro network from 2023. Nexus are looking for creative and innovative ideas about how an old train could be transformed into a vibrant public asset with community groups and not for profit organisations to put forward their proposals which will be considered before decisions are made on where to pass the trains to.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Works start at city end of Leith Walk

Posted on Wednesday 20 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The next significant stage of tram construction works in Edinburgh have now got underway with a new worksite created at the city end of Leith Walk which will, in time, see the existing line to York Place connected with the full Trams to Newhaven project. Work got underway over the weekend of 9th/10th October and there has already been progress made on initial works.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Works start at city end of Leith Walk