In Pictures: Another wire in Blackpool!

Posted on Friday 30 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

After most of the first four weeks of the installation of overhead on the Blackpool Tramway extension seemed to be pretty slow progress it suddenly seems to be all systems go now! After yesterday’s update where we saw the first actual overhead wire – as opposed to span wire – in place it has now been joined by a second wire with this on the south curve inbound line.

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Another bridge to go up on Brierley Hill Metro extension

Posted on Friday 30 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

A second new bridge is to be installed on the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill as work on the infrastructure for the line – to be opened in 2023 – continues. This bridge will be in Coneygree Road, Tipton and comes after the old structure was demolished in 2020.

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Picture in Time: Paisley 68

Posted on Friday 30 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The next location for our non-Blackpool Traditional Trams “Picture in Time” series is Crich with a selection of photos which were taken on 27th August 1979 – August Bank Holiday Monday.

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Lockdown Walks: Blackpool Balloon 717

Posted on Friday 30 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Lockdown Walks” we are heading to Blackpool as we take a look at a heritage tram in service.

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In Pictures: First overhead installed at Talbot Square

Posted on Thursday 29 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Since we’ve started these regular updates on the overhead installation on the Blackpool Tramway extension up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station its been a case of taking a look at the span wires which have been put up each night – until now! The first actual overhead wires for the extension have now been installed with those on the inbound south curve having recently appeared. This latest update takes a look at that wiring as well as popping up to the old Wilko’s site too.

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Coly Trail guide launched in Seaton Tramway, Colyton Grammar and Colyton Heritage Centre partnership

Posted on Thursday 29 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

In the latest community partnership for the Seaton Tramway a new leaflet guide – “Coly Trail” – has just been launched for visitors to the town. The partnership includes the tramway, Colyton Grammar School and Colyton Heritage Centre and is part of the National Lottery Heritage Funded  “Travels through Heritage and the Axe Valley” project.

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“Stourbridge Dasher” service gets backing from officials and the public

Posted on Thursday 29 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

A proposed passenger service using a Very Light Rail Vehicle between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill – known as the “Stourbridge Dasher” – has received the backing from local politicians and the public in a recent survey. Pre Metro – operator of the current Stourbridge Shuttle service between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge – have made the proposal and say it is both perfectly feasible and would make the lives of locals easier.

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Lockdown Walks: West Midlands Metro 25

Posted on Thursday 29 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

For this edition of “Lockdown Walks” we head out into central Birmingham again for a look at the West Midlands Metro.

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Two more trams commissioned for service at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 28 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Throughout the operating season so far at the Crich Tramway Village extra trams have gradually been commissioned for service to take into account the changing weather conditions and increasing visitors to the museum. And with the school summer holidays now in full swing the past few days have seen a further two trams enter service – Sheffield 74 and Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331.

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In Pictures: 270 latest to regain adverts in Edinburgh

Posted on Wednesday 28 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The ranks of the advert free tram in Edinburgh has reduced again with 270 the latest to receive adverts – its first advert since March 2020. The advert is for Multrees Walk, an upmarket pedestrian precinct which links Harvey Nichols on Saint Andrew Square to the St James Quarter.

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Free travel for children on the Metro!

Posted on Wednesday 28 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Children under 11 will be able to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro and Shield Ferry for free when accompanied by a fare paying adult. Up to three children will be able to travel with an adult in an extension of the policy which was first introduced at weekends in January 2020.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 120

Posted on Wednesday 28 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its back to Sheffield for this edition of “Lockdown Walks” as we feature a tram which carries most people’s favourite livery on the Supertram network.

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In Pictures: Crowds use trams to get to Tramlines (just not on the way back!)

Posted on Tuesday 27 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The weekend of Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th July saw the return of the Tramlines festival to Sheffield. Having been cancelled in 2020 for pretty obvious reasons the festival took place again in 2021 and with it taking place at Hillsborough what better way to get to it than tram? A normal service operated throughout all three days until the evening when staff shortages meant that no trams went beyond Shalesmoor with festival goers instead advised to find alternative means to get home. As we reported at the end of last week this was a late change to the plan as originally it has been planned for extra trams to leave from Leppings Lane after the event each night but the driver shortages meant this wasn’t possible. Stuart Cooke with the photos.

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In Pictures: A trip up to Blackpool North tram terminus

Posted on Tuesday 27 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest pictorial update on the construction of the Blackpool Tramway extension up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station we concentrate on recent progress up at the former Wilko’s site. Photos from Peter Dockerty.

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Seaton and Crich join “Love your Railway” nationwide campaign

Posted on Tuesday 27 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Both the Seaton Tramway and Crich Tramway Village have signed up to the “Love Your Railway” campaign which aims to raise awareness of heritage railways (and tramways!) across the UK. Running over the six week school summer holiday period between 26th July and 5th September the campaign is being spearheaded by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and will shine a spotlight on not only the important work heritage railways do with regards to conservation, education and research but also highlight how they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of reduced capacities and income.

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Lockdown Walks: West Midlands Metro 22

Posted on Tuesday 27 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Lockdown Walks” is back once more as we head into Birmingham City Centre for images taken at the current city centre terminus – Library.

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In Pictures: Napier University advert on Edinburgh Trams 269

Posted on Monday 26 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The latest new advert on Edinburgh Trams has been applied to 269 with the tram losing its full standard fleet livery to allow the vinyls for Napier University to be added. As with all adverts in Edinburgh its in the standard format – full height on sections three and five, above window ads only on the remainder of the tram.

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Supertram reduce service frequency on Yellow route

Posted on Monday 26 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

With Stagecoach Supertram suffering from driver shortages as a result of staff having to self-isolate following instructions from NHS Test and Trace a temporary revised timetable has had to be introduced on the Yellow route as from Monday 26th July.

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Tram availability leads to service reduction on Metrolink

Posted on Monday 26 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

This article has been updated since original publication.

Manchester Metrolink has been running a mainly Sunday service across the network on Monday 26th July because of tram availability problems. A 12 minute service – mainly using single trams – was in operation on all core lines with the intermediate services not in service.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Oporto 273

Posted on Monday 26 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have a taste of Portugal in this edition of “Whatever Happened To?” as we feature Oporto 273 which was another of the passenger trams running during Crich’s Tramathon in June 2005.

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