Workshop takes centre stage at Crich’s Tram Day

Posted on Wednesday 22 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

It was the return of the main enthusiast event of the year at the Crich Tramway Village on Saturday 18th September with a one day spectacular to showcase the operational fleet and for some rare photographic opportunities. During this year’s event the chance was taken to let the Workshop take centre stage with not only three photo line-ups in the depot yard showing the current, winter and future Workshop programmes but also a couple of trams which have recently been in the workshop were seen out on the mainline under test ahead of their returns to service.

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In Pictures: Reserved area for conductors on Supertram reduced

Posted on Wednesday 22 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Last year as one of the measures to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus and to provide on-board conductors to have an area away from passengers one end of the trams on the Stagecoach Supertram network was cordoned off to passengers. But now with extra passengers being carried on the network this area has been reduced with just one set of four seats reserved.

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In Pictures: Wootton Tramway arrives in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 21 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Back in last August we reported about the Heaton Park Tramway’s latest acquisition – the Wootton Tramway, a 7 ¼” gauge portable tramway which had been seen around the country at events for many years. Donated to the Manchester Transport Museum Society by the late Howard Burford, it had remained in storage on the Isle of Wight until it was possible for volunteers from the MTMS to collect it – and that time was in early September when a group headed south to bring the trams to their new home.

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Metrolink strikes suspended after improved pay offer

Posted on Tuesday 21 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

The planned strikes on Manchester Metrolink – the first of which would have taken place this coming weekend, 25th and 26th September – have been suspended after what has been described as a much improved pay offer following talks between KeolisAmey Metrolink and Unite the Union. The revised offer will now be voted on by union members with the strike action suspended until this result is known.

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Supertram services disrupted following death of man after stabbing

Posted on Tuesday 21 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

A man has died in hospital after being stabbed in Sheffield City Centre on Friday 17th September. The incident occurred on High Street after the incident at 1630 leading to all tram services through the area being suspended and revised services being put in place.

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In Pictures: Trams in the sun at Beamish

Posted on Monday 20 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Now that trams are running seven days a week, and with schools back after the summer holidays, the opportunity to see them in operation in relaxing and quiet surroundings at Beamish is back. Still with one tram a day working from by the tram depot at Foulbridge to the east end of the Town via the Entrance and Pockerley this has once again added an extra attraction to Beamish and at least means visitors don’t have to worry about walking for too far round the museum. In this article Trevor Hall returns to Beamish on a sunny Thursday 16th September 2021.

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In Pictures: Utility diversion works continue in Dudley

Posted on Monday 20 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

It may be two years before trams are likely to start running on the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill but work is well underway on the project now, albeit at that early stage where it just looks as holes are being dug although there is still progress being made. In this latest pictorial update we head into Dudley where utility diversion work has been taking place and is now entering the next stage of construction.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Leeds 345

Posted on Monday 20 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

This time in “Whatever Happened To?” we feature a tram which was reaching the end of its major restoration although hadn’t quite made it with its return to service not being until the following year. Here we see Leeds 345 to see what has happened to it over the intervening years.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Bispham

Posted on Sunday 19 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another edition of “Stop by Stop” as we are again on the Blackpool Tramway with our northbound journey now reaching Bispham.

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In Pictures: Progress made at Very Light Rail Innovation Centre, Dudley

Posted on Sunday 19 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Think trams or light rail in Dudley and you are most probably going to think about the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill but away from that project there is also the construction of the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre, which saw its test track officially opened in May 2021.

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Passenger numbers continue to increase on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 19 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

It has been revealed that passenger numbers on Manchester Metrolink have now reached 50% of pre-Covid levels during the week while weekends are seeing between 60% and 70%. This confirms the trend seen on public transport elsewhere in the UK where leisure travel is now more popular than travel for work.

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Penalty fare to increase on NET from 1st October

Posted on Sunday 19 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Anyone found travelling without a valid ticket on Nottingham Express Transit from 1st October will be liable to a new penalty fare amount with it increasing from £50 to £70. Its hoped that this increase will help to further reduce the amount of ticketless travel.

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IKEA returns with new advert on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 18 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

The latest new advert on a Manchester Metrolink M5000 marks the return of an advertiser with IKEA back after an almost two year gap. The new advert is being carried on 3069, which itself is also returning to a vinyl wrap after three years.

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Trams to Newhaven moves on to city end of line

Posted on Saturday 18 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Since work began on the Trams to Newhaven project there has been one significant section which has been conspicuous by its absence – the part of the line closest to the current line at York Place. But this is set to change in October with work due to commence between London Road and York Place on Monday 11th October – the first of three phases of work.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam 896

Posted on Saturday 18 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

We stay in Amsterdam for this latest edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

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Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway to continue running until October

Posted on Saturday 18 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

After a successful season of operation for locals and tourists alike it has been confirmed that services on the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway will continue to run five days a week until the end of October.

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Out and About: Trams running through Sheffield City Centre

Posted on Saturday 18 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Out and About” today heads back into Sheffield City Centre as we take a look at some more of the trams of Supertram in action.

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RTC on Bilston Road sees pregnant teenager taken to hospital with life threatening injuries

Posted on Friday 17 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Over the years there have been several collisions on Bilston Road in Wolverhampton between trams and cars with the latest one on Thursday 16th September seeing a pregnant teenager in the car having to be taken to hospital with life threatening injuries. The teenage driver of the car, who also required hospital treatment, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

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Leeds 180 and Blackpool Western Train return to service

Posted on Friday 17 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

The past few days have seen two old favourites return to the rails – one at Crich and the other up in Blackpool. While at Crich it was a tram which ran last year for the Blackpool tram it was a return to service for the first time since the tail end of 2020. The two trams which we’re talking about are Leeds 180 and the Blackpool Western Train.

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Luas Engineering Works: Red line during September

Posted on Friday 17 September 2021 by Gareth Prior

Owing to essential engineering works on Luas’ Red line over the coming days there will be changes to services between Friday 17th and Monday 20th September. Services will mainly run as normal but there will be early finishes and late starts to the usual timetable.

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