UK’s first 5G connected tram helps to win award at Connected Britain Awards 2021

Posted on Monday 27 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

You may recall earlier this year that West Midlands Metro Urbos3 35 became the UK’s first 5G connected tram and now that initiative has helped West Midlands 5G (WM5G) win at the recent Connected Britain Awards 2021.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Sheffield 510

Posted on Monday 27 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “Whatever Happened To?” features a tram which has been regularly in the operational fleet at Crich in recent years but at the 2005 Tramathon was confined to a static display role at Wakebridge.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Sandhurst Avenue

Posted on Sunday 26 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this article we continue our way along the Blackpool Tramway with “Stop by Stop” now arriving at Sandhurst Avenue.

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Criticism over Trams to Newhaven pavement designs

Posted on Sunday 26 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Campaigners from Living Streets Edinburgh have criticised the Trams to Newhaven project over what they describe as “hopeless” pavement designs with their width said not to meet the required standard. They claim that there are 11 different sections of pavement totalling over 250m which do not meet the Council’s own policy – although for their part the Council have said these are only recommendations and aren’t possible in all areas.

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West Midlands Metro joins Workwise scheme offering free travel to new workers

Posted on Sunday 26 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Anyone resident in the West Midlands who has just gained a new job could benefit from free bus, tram and rail travel to work as part of a new scheme. Workwise has seen Transport for West Midlands team up with local transport operators to offer two four-week tickets free, then a third four-week ticket at a 50% discount from the standard price on selected bus, tram and nnetwork travel passes.

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Over 1.2 million journeys made using Metro’s Pop blue card

Posted on Sunday 26 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Introduced by Nexus in 2018, the Pop Blue smartcard for travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro has proved to be very popular with more than 1.2 million journeys recorded. The idea of the introduction of the card was to give more affordable travel for young people aged 16-18 with trips costing just £1.

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In Pictures: Trams return to Beamish Town Centre

Posted on Saturday 25 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Since trams returned to service at Beamish on 4th September they have only been able to run to the outskirts of the town with a temporary terminus provided at Town East, but all that has now changed with Wednesday 22nd September seeing trams running actually into the “town centre” with different stops provided for setting down and picking up.

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Fewer staff required to self isolate but staff retention and recruitment remain challenge to UK tram operators

Posted on Saturday 25 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

“This service has been cancelled because of staff shortages”. Anyone who has attempted to travel on the UK transport network in recent weeks and months probably can’t help but be aware of the challenges all transport operators – whether that be tram, bus or train – have been suffering in being able to fully crew their advertised services. Staff shortages came to a head in the summer before the track and trace self-isolation rules changed with some operators – including Manchester Metrolink – having to introduce temporary timetables to run a guaranteed level of service. UK Tram’s HR Group have recently reported that there has now been an improvement in staff absences but there does still remain a challenge over staff retention and recruitment and this is leading to further service disruption with the most high-profile system being affected now being Blackpool.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam H9 to the rescue!

Posted on Saturday 25 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our 1983 views from Amsterdam we feature a tram rescue.

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Wirral Transport Show returns Sunday 3rd October – without operating trams

Posted on Saturday 25 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

With the Wirral Heritage Tramway in Birkenhead still unable to operate, the return of what used to be called the Wirral Bus and Tram Show but for 2021 will be known as the Wirral Transport Show will be a bit different to how it once was but just because trams won’t be running doesn’t mean they won’t be involved!

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Out and About: Edinburgh Trams from above at the Airport

Posted on Saturday 25 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Out and About” we feature Edinburgh Trams as we take an aerial view at the Airport.

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First section of track installed outside Wolverhampton Railway Station

Posted on Friday 24 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Trams should be running on the West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton Railway Station by the end of the year after the first sections of track were laid outside the station – the final section which needs to be completed having been deferred during the station redevelopment works. This significant milestone was, of course, the ideal opportunity for another local dignitary photo opp with Mayor the West Midlands Metro, Andy Street amongst those who visited the worksite.

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In Preview: Blackpool Anniversary Weekend – 25th and 26th September

Posted on Friday 24 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve reported previously the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September will see a special Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours event take place including the return of hop-on/hop-off tours for the first time since March 2020. There are also pre-bookable depot tours, trams on displays on Blundell Street, a shop tram and heritage bus tours too. This short preview hopefully gives you a bit more information of what is happening during the weekend.

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More Luas Green line engineering works: 2nd and 3rd October 2021

Posted on Friday 24 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

There will be further engineering works on Dublin’s Luas Green Line over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd October 2021 with the section between St Stephen’s Green and Beechwood closed throughout.

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Picture in Time: Luas 4012

Posted on Friday 24 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

We head across the Irish Sea to Dublin for the next few editions of our modern tram themed “Picture in Time” series with the Luas system featuring.

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In Pictures: First working party to Metrolink 1023 at Crewe

Posted on Thursday 23 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Back just as the first lockdown was being introduced in March 2020 Manchester Metrolink 1023 was transferred from storage at Metrolink’s Trafford Depot to the Crewe Heritage Centre where it was planned to be the very first modern UK tram to be displayed in preservation. Enter the pandemic and although 1023 had arrived at its new home and was visible from passing trains on the West Coast Main Line it wasn’t possible to make it a little more presentable – but that has all changed with the first working party from the Manchester Transport Museum Society recently visiting Crewe.

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Plans for four more West Midlands Metro extensions unveiled

Posted on Thursday 23 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have approved bids to the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund and Bus Service Improvement Plan fund at a recent board meeting which could see up to four new West Midlands Metro extensions built as part of a £2 billion investment in public transport in the region over the next five years.

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In Pictures: Progress slows at Wilko’s in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 23 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

It may have been a few weeks since we had our last update from tram construction works at the former Wilko’s store site in Blackpool but that’s mainly because progress has somewhat slowed in laying the tracks and fixing them into position. When we last reported from the site we mentioned that all track was now down – including the final section just before the actual terminus – and that is still the position we are in with further concrete still be poured to complete the track laying side of the project.

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In Pictures: Rails continue to go down in Corporation Street

Posted on Wednesday 22 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

The past week has seen further progress on the track relaying project in Birmingham City Centre with rails continuing to be laid along Corporation Street ahead of a planned reopening of the line to Library in the next month or so. The closure of the line beyond Bull Street has been in place since 24th July but now some two months later and we should be on the home straight to a full tram service running again soon.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 22nd September 2021

Posted on Wednesday 22 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have a bumper Photo Gallery for you this week as we feature images from Crich’s Tram Day at the weekend:

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