More integrated transport on the way for Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 19 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

There could be a revolution in integration for public transport around Edinburgh if recommendations for the reform of Edinburgh’s Transport Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEOs) are accepted by the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. It is said the changes would deliver a more efficient, better integrated public transport offering while retaining the identities of the much-loved transport companies.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on More integrated transport on the way for Edinburgh

Seaton Tramway confirmed as a Quality Assured Attraction

Posted on Thursday 19 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Seaton Tramway has won yet another award with the tramway accredited as a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction. One of Visit England’s assessors visited Seaton Tramway in August and made the recommendation of the accreditation which has now been confirmed and adds to the awards the tramway has won over the past year or so.

Continue reading →

Posted in Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Seaton Tramway confirmed as a Quality Assured Attraction

In Pictures: Latest from Blackpool’s construction

Posted on Wednesday 18 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

We again head to the Fylde Coast in this article as we take a look at recent progress on the construction of the Blackpool Tramway extension along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station. As we’ve come to expect there are two areas of work – down at Talbot Square where overhead wiring is being installed and up at the former Wilko’s site where there is tracklaying for the final section of tramway towards the terminus.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Latest from Blackpool’s construction

Tram runs again at Beamish!

Posted on Wednesday 18 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its been a long-time coming but Tuesday 10th August 2021 the first tram ran at Beamish since March 2020 as the testing/commissioning process for the tramway steps up a gear. Oporto 196 was the chosen tram to run on part of the tramway line with all movements taking place before the museum opened to the public.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | Comments Off on Tram runs again at Beamish!

New timetable for the Illuminations on the Blackpool Tramway

Posted on Wednesday 18 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

With Blackpool’s Illuminations started to shine once more from Friday 3rd September a new timetable will be introduced on the tramway to allow resources to be more concentrated in the busier evening period. As usual on the Blackpool Tramway the new timetables will be introduced slightly ahead of the illuminations with the first operation being on Sunday 29th August.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on New timetable for the Illuminations on the Blackpool Tramway

In Pictures: Work continues in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Tuesday 17 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The progress being made on the track relaying in Birmingham City Centre has continued to be good over the past few days with the new track bed now extending further along Corporation Street towards the tramstop and onto the curve to Grand Central. Of course, this good progress doesn’t mean we are about to see trams running through the city centre again any time soon as it won’t be until October at the earliest with work needed on connecting the new Eastside extension at Lower Bull Street ahead of reopening of the current line. In this latest update we take a look at both Corporation Street and Bull Street as well as seeing initial work on the junction.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

In Pictures: More track goes down in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 17 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest construction update we again head north of the border to Edinburgh as we take a look at recent progress on the Trams to Newhaven project. We’ve recently heard that a concrete shortage is threatening to delay the project (although the official word is that this will have no impact on the final opening date) but despite that good progress is continuing to be made to the naked eye. John Hampton took a trip to Ocean Terminal for this update.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: More track goes down in Edinburgh

Fares to rise on NET from 30th August

Posted on Tuesday 17 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Day tickets on Nottingham Express Transit will increase by between 10p and 20p from 30th August 2021 as part of a delayed annual fare increase which had been due to be introduced in 2020 but was put back because of Covid.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Fares to rise on NET from 30th August

In Pictures: M is for West Midlands Metro 19

Posted on Monday 16 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another commercial advertising contract has come to an end on the West Midlands Metro with 19 losing its vinyls for Mark’s Electrical but rather than those we have seen recently it hasn’t gone straight into fleet livery as it has now become the second internal advert tram using the “M is for…” slogan.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: M is for West Midlands Metro 19

Summer Tramlink engineering works

Posted on Monday 16 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

This article has been updated since original publication.

School summer holidays usually means one thing for London Tramlink – engineering works! And so it is the case again in 2021 with no service through central Croydon to allow for rail replacement works. The closure began on Monday 16th August and will continue through until Friday 27th August.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Summer Tramlink engineering works

Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Southampton 45

Posted on Monday 16 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

It was the tram that in effect started the Tramway Museum Society and it is the last car which ran in passenger service during the 2005 Tramathon. Today “Whatever Happened To?” features Southampton 45.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Whatever Happened To? | Comments Off on Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Southampton 45

Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Gynn Square

Posted on Sunday 15 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of “Stop by Stop” on the Blackpool Tramway with our northbound trip now arriving at Gynn Square.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Gynn Square

3128 enters service on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 15 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Manchester Metrolink network – now working a reduced timetable because of staff shortages – has now welcomed a further tram into service with 3128 entering service on Monday 9th August 2021.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 4 Comments

In Pictures: A spot of trolley trouble for Boat 600

Posted on Sunday 15 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

With Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours currently running daily tours during the summer school holidays there are usually one or two heritage trams out on Blackpool Prom each day. They may normally run without any issue transporting their paying customers either on a Promenade Tour to Little Bispham or a Coastal Tour to Fleetwood occasionally there are faults such as we see in the attached photos when Boat 600 had a spot of trolley trouble.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: A spot of trolley trouble for Boat 600

Trams to Newhaven project warns of concrete shortages

Posted on Sunday 15 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

In their fortnightly project update the Trams to Newhaven team have warned that there may have to be a change to the current plan for construction as a result of a nationwide concrete shortage. Despite this issue they have confirmed that they still expect the project to be completed both on time and within budget.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Trams to Newhaven project warns of concrete shortages

Hop on, hop off heritage tours to return in Blackpool for Anniversary Weekend

Posted on Saturday 14 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s a weekend which is penciled in to the diaries of many a Blackpool tram enthusiast at the start of the year and its back for 2021! The Anniversary Weekend – which will see the tramway celebrate 136 years – will be taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September 2021 and although at a smaller scale than events up to 2019 should still have plenty of tram action to keep you entertained!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

What’s New on British Trams Online? 14th August 2021

Posted on Saturday 14 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Our main site update this week includes photos from the Isle of Man and Blackpool (its different sets of photos but is the same places as last week!) along with our usual Fleet List updates:

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Site News, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 14th August 2021

Manx Electric Railway service report: 30th July to 1st August

Posted on Saturday 14 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

With the Mini Manx Heritage Transport Festival taking place between Friday 30th July and Sunday 1st August this is a report on the output on the Manx Electric Railway during this period along with details of the Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway courtesy of David Mee.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway service report: 30th July to 1st August

Around the World in Trams: Prague 8312

Posted on Saturday 14 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

And its time to return to Prague again for this latest edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Prague 8312

New track starts to be laid in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Saturday 14 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Over the first couple of weeks of the project to relay tracks in Birmingham City Centre – along with installing the junction between the current city centre line and the forthcoming Birmingham Eastside extension – our updates had shown the removal of track and the old track bed. But now in this latest update we see some positive progress with the first new track down and the track bed further along the line also being put down. Mark Cufflin with the pictures.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on New track starts to be laid in Birmingham City Centre