In Pictures: Progress continues on Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we return to Edinburgh to view recent progress on the Trams to Newhaven project we head to the area around Ocean Terminal. In this update we see more track going down in this section including on the recently constructed ramp which takes the tramway up to Lindsay Road. John Hampton with the pictures.

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New report urges support for Britain’s light rail systems to aid city region’s COVID recovery

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another new report has just been released which urges the government to continue support to not only protect current light rail systems in Britain but also to expand them with the aim that this will help to aid city regions’ recovery from the COVID pandemic. “Leading Light: What light rail can do for city regions” has been produced by Steer Group for the Urban Transport Group and it states that light rail in Britain is instrumental in supporting economic growth, promoting social inclusion and achieving environmental gains in the urban areas they serve.

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Strikes cancelled on Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The threat of strike action on Manchester Metrolink is over for the foreseeable future after a new two year pay deal was accepted by members of Unite the Union. This brings to an end the pay dispute which had started when KeolisAmey Metrolink offered a 1% pay rise over 15 months, described as “pitiful” by the union.

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In Pictures: Newcastle 102 starts testing

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We’ve recently seen one Newcastle tram made available for service again – 114 at Beamish after a protracted motor overhaul – and now another one is on the road to return. This time we are talking about Newcastle 102 which has been in the Workshops at Crich for over three years and is now in the final stages of its major overhaul.

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New book looks back at 40 years of the Metro

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A local author has written a new book on the Tyne and Wear Metro which celebrates 40 years of the network after he was inspired by his late father who worked as an engineer on the project. “The Tyne and Wear Metro” is written by Colin Alexander and published by Amberley Books.

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WM5G to showcase benefits of 5G technology at Birmingham Tech Week 2021

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands 5G (WM5G) – the company who brought the UK’s first 5G enabled tram to the West Midlands Metro – are set to showcase their expertise and the benefits that 5G innovation can bring to the transport sector during Birmingham Tech Week 2021. The event takes place from Monday 11th October to Friday 15th October and is a festival of digital, technology and innovation.

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In Pictures: Tarmacking continues in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As the project to relay the tracks along Bull Street and Corporation Street along with the installation of the new junction to the Birmingham Eastside extension continues to come to a close we take another look at recent progress. More tarmac has gone down surrounding the newly laid track as the project reaches the finishing stage.

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Newcastle 114 cleared for return to service

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Beamish once again have five trams available for service with Newcastle 114 now commissioned for use following testing after the refitting of its overhauled motors. Its not known whether it has yet carried any passengers and the weather may not be the type you expect open toppers to be used regularly but it is now available for service once more.

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New digital radio system for Blackpool Transport

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

All of Blackpool Transport’s modern trams and buses are set to enjoy a major radio upgrade utilising a brand new digital radio system. Being designed by North West communications specialist TES Communication Solutions the upgrade will see the transport operator move away from conventional analogue radio technology to a modern and sophisticated digital system.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Centenary 644 in a sticky situation…

Posted on Monday 11 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Back in January 2012, Blackpool Centenary 644 became the first of the class to leave Rigby Road Depot permanently as part of the great tram sale following the tramway’s upgrade. Its new owners were a long-term sponsor on the tram, Farmer Parr’s Animal World in nearby Fleetwood, who acquired it for display and possible conversion into a children’s play area. Now almost 10 years later and the tram has found itself in a sticky situation – or a situation where it is now plastered in stickers at any rate!

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Punctuality down and reliability up in latest Metrolink performance figures

Posted on Monday 11 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The performance figures for Manchester Metrolink are now being released quarterly as opposed to every four weeks and the latest quarter – covering the period between 27th June and 18th September – has shown that although punctuality has fallen since the last quarter reliability has increased.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – GMJ

Posted on Monday 11 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

And so we come to the 28th and final part of this, the third, series of “Whatever Happened To?” where we have been taking a look at all the trams and works vehicles which ran on the mainline during the 2005 Tramathon at the Crich Tramway Village. In this part we feature a vehicle which can’t by any stretch of imagination be considered a tram but has still been a vital member of the fleet at Crich over the years, we are talking about small diesel locomotive GMJ.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Norbreck North

Posted on Sunday 10 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we continue merrily on our way northbound in Blackpool we reach the only stop to have opened after the initial opening of the Blackpool Tramway. It is Norbreck North.

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Brierley Hill extension works move to Duncan Edwards Way

Posted on Sunday 10 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Work on constructing the West Midlands Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill will be stepping up over the next few months with off peak lane restrictions to be introduced in Dudley on Duncan Edwards Way from late October until early November.

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More than five million contactless journeys made on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 10 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

More than five million journeys have now been made on Manchester Metrolink using the pay-as-you-go contactless system which was originally launched in July 2019 and then enhanced this September following the launch of the Bee Flex Weekly. Any passenger with a contactless bank card can now touch in and out on Metrolink platforms knowing they will never pay more than a seven day travel pass without the need to download an app or buy a paper ticket.

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Event Review: Blackpool Tramway Anniversary Weekend

Posted on Sunday 10 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Over the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September all eyes were on the Blackpool Tramway with a weekend of events to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the tramway with it celebrating 136 years of operation in 2021. The weekend would see the return of hop-on, hop-off heritage tours, behind the scenes depot tours at the newly christened Tramtown and withdrawn trams on display on Blundell Street and the depot fan. Read on for a diary article on what happened, starting on Friday 24th September.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 10th October 2021

Posted on Sunday 10 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Our delayed photos from the Blackpool Anniversary Weekend are added as part of this week’s main site update:

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In Pictures: Work starts on tarmacking in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Saturday 9 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we enter October – the month when the Birmingham City Centre track relaying is due to be completed – further good progress is being made on the work with attention now being turned towards putting the top surface on surrounding the tracks. This should be the final stage of the track relay and hopefully once all this is completed with any luck tram services along Corporation Street and onto Library on the Birmingham Westside extension can resume ahead of the final stage of the extension opening before the end of the year. Mark Cufflin with the latest photos.

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New draft strategy for light rail in UK revealed at Edinburgh UKTram Summit

Posted on Saturday 9 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

“A Light Rail Strategy for the UK” – a new draft strategy promoting the benefits of light rail – was one of the highlights of the Light Rail Summit held in Edinburgh during September with it set to be presented to ministers at the Department for Transport later this year after further consultation within the light rail sector. The strategy aims to persuade government officials of the benefits of investing further in light rail across the country and comes with a new video to support the message too.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam 664

Posted on Saturday 9 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We’re starting to see a bit of a theme with this series of photos from Amsterdam as we feature another scrapped tram in this edition.

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