New track design for Coventry Very Light Rail unveiled

Posted on Saturday 9 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A new design of track – described as a breakthrough design – has been unveiled for use on the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme with the aim of driving down costs associated with the installation of urban light rail. Coventry City Council and WMG, University of Warwick showcased the new design at the end of September as the Coventry Very Light Rail project took a further step forward.

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KeolisAmey Docklands and Blackpool Tramway win big operator accolades at Global Light Rail Awards

Posted on Friday 8 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Taking place on 6th October, the Global Light Rail Awards recognise excellence and innovation in light rail across the world, although many of the candidates and winners do come from within the UK and the ceremony also takes place in London. The big winners at the 2021 event were KeolisAmey Docklands (Operator of the Year) and the Blackpool Tramway (Most Improved System) although many other UK systems were also celebrating on the night with recognition for their achievements over the past 12 months.

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Metrolink strikes suspended again

Posted on Friday 8 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A normal Sunday service will run across the Manchester Metrolink network on Sunday 10th October with the planned strikes suspended again after a fresh pay offer was made during continued negotiations. The day had been set to see a severely reduced service on the Altrincham and Trafford Park lines only to support the Manchester Marathon but Metrolink will now be running a normal service on all lines.

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Luas Engineering Works: Red Line – October 2021

Posted on Friday 8 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The engineering works on Luas in Dublin keep on coming! This time it’s the Red Line being affected with overhead line works seeing a change to early morning services for a week  before further works follow over the weekend of 16th and 17th October.

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Picture in Time: Luas 4003

Posted on Friday 8 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Picture in Time” we are again featuring Dublin’s Luas tram system with another couple of images of one of the Alstom built trams.

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In Pictures: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway construction update

Posted on Thursday 7 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Seemingly competing with the Blackpool North Railway Station tramway extension for how long can it possibly take to complete, work on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway has been continuing over the summer months on the Isle of Man with tracks being laid on the final section as far as Broadway. In this latest pictorial update we have a look at the scene in early October on Central Prom and towards the Sea Terminal. Geoff Pickles provides the pictorial side of the article.

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Arts Council England grant will see art projects across West Midlands Metro extension in Dudley

Posted on Thursday 7 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Dudley Council are celebrating after being awarded a £96,000 grant from Arts Council England which will enable the design of art projects across the Metro track and at stops in Dudley borough. The money will be used to set-up the “Art Track Metro Art Programme” and will support commissioning competitions for artists to design physical works, artistic residencies, community engagement programme and an opportunity for the public to see design proposals in an exhibition next spring.

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Nexus launch new Pop Card for 19-21 year olds

Posted on Thursday 7 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Anyone aged between 19 and 21 who travels on the Tyne and Wear Metro will now be able to get discounted travel following the launch of a new Pay As You Go product – Pop19-21. This card is aimed at students and all young people in that age bracket and will offer a 30% discount on every journey made.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 44 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Wednesday 6 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The seventh of the initial batch of eight Urbos 100 trams for the West Midlands Metro network is now safely tucked up in its new home with 44 being delivered to Wednesbury Depot on Wednesday 6th October.

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Emergency engineering works and strike to cause Metrolink disruption this weekend

Posted on Wednesday 6 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

If you’re wanting to travel on Manchester Metrolink this coming weekend (9th/10th October) there will be significant disruption on the network with emergency engineering works at Deansgate-Castlefield on Saturday 9th meaning there will be no cross city services from that direction until 1500 while the previously announced strike action will see a very limited service running throughout Sunday 10th October.

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Community leaders back Metro Flow project

Posted on Wednesday 6 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Council leaders and traders in South Tyneside have given their backing to the Metro Flow project which will see sections of the Tyne and Wear Metro track doubled allowing for an increase in frequency and thus capacity to help get the region moving as they come out of Covid. The £103 million project was confirmed in August with £95 million coming from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and also allows for the purchase of an extra four trains bringing the total of the Stadler built units to 46.

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Nottingham Contactless introduced for travel on NET

Posted on Tuesday 5 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit has become the latest tram operator in the UK to offer full contactless payments for travel with the introduction of “Nottingham Contactless”. This now means that anyone who wishes to purchase an adult single or day ticket can now do so by simply tapping their debit/credit card or mobile device with apple of Google pay at the start of their journey on the green validators located on all platforms.

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New modelling tool can predict demand for tram stops and lines

Posted on Tuesday 5 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A new and innovative tool for forecasting demand for public transport stops and stations could be set to revolutionise the way new tram and light rail systems are developed in the future according to the UK Tram Centre of Excellence.

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Direct Debit gives £5 saving on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 5 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Anyone buying a Adult Metro Only Direct Debit Monthly pass for the first time – or the first time in at least three months – can now enjoy an extra £5 saving as part of a  new offer from West Midlands Metro. The offer has been introduced as more people are starting to return to work in the office following the lifting of Coronavirus restrictions to ease the cost burden in the short-term.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3130 enters service

Posted on Monday 4 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are now just down to one new M5000 to enter service on Manchester Metrolink with 3130 entering service at the end of September/start of October. This is now the tenth of the new batch of trams being built for additional capacity on the network to enter service.

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Welcome to Tramtown!

Posted on Monday 4 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The plans for a Visitor Centre at Rigby Road Depot in Blackpool are continuing to progress and we have a name for the attraction – Tramtown. The new name was unveiled during the Anniversary Weekend events in Blackpool on Saturday 25th September with the first of a new series of behind-the-scenes tours taking place on both days of the weekend. These tours will continue on Wednesdays for the rest of the year (up to and including 15th December) giving a glimpse of the past as well hearing about future plans for the Visitor Centre.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Sheffield Works 330

Posted on Monday 4 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another Works Car not currently commissioned for service features in this edition of “Whatever Happened To?” as we view Sheffield Works 330 which also made it out onto the mainline during Crich’s 2005 Tramathon.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Norbreck

Posted on Sunday 3 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Stop by Stop” continues today as we work our way north on the Blackpool Tramway with Norbreck the next stop.

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Metrolink strikes back on after union members reject pay offer

Posted on Sunday 3 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

There will be major disruption on Manchester Metrolink later this month after Unite the Union confirmed their intention to strike over the continued pay dispute. It had appeared that the dispute had been resolved during September following a revised pay offer after negotiations between the two sides but despite Union officials recommending this was accepted by members it has now been rejected leading to planned strikes on 10th, 15th, 18th and 24th October.

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Maintenance works in Edinburgh City Centre

Posted on Sunday 3 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The last week of September has seen essential maintenance works taking place in Edinburgh City Centre with reports in the Edinburgh Evening News revealing that this is to replace track sealant as well as repairs to degraded concrete surrounding the tracks. No tram services have been affected by the works with much taking place overnight although there have also been road closures during the day to allow the work to be completed.

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