New Metrolink book to be launched

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

A new book celebrating the 25th anniversary of Manchester Metrolink is to be launched this weekend. Metrolink: The First 25 Years by Mark Ovenden looks at the complete history of the system including the history of the creation of the line and a look at the trams that run the service.

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MER to finally resume service

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

After Storm Ophelia hit the western part of the British Isles it seemed that normal services would resume on both Luas and the Manx Electric Railway from Wednesday 18th October. However although Luas was back to normal after its hiatus it proved not to be possible for the MER to run with damage to the overhead having to be repaired.

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Preparation work for Blackpool North extension will start in 2017

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has now been confirmed that works on the Blackpool Tramway extension up Talbot Road to Blackpool North railway station will start in 2017 although little progress will be tangible this year with the works only set to be preparation works.

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In Pictures: More progress on Sheffield Tram-Train project

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another pictorial update from South Yorkshire as work continues on construction for the Tram-Train pilot which will eventually link the Stagecoach Supertram network with the UK national rail network; hopefully starting a new era in public transport in this country. In this update we take a look around Rotherham to see just how far construction has come recently.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloons

Posted on Thursday 19 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Having gone 30 years into the past last week, this week we go even further back in time as we have an image taken 50 years ago in the summer of 1967.

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2CC to be used for Altrincham-Bury services on 22nd October

Posted on Wednesday 18 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

One of the benefits of the Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing (2CC) is to be seen again on Sunday 22nd October with extra services running via the line because of engineering works on Mosley Street.

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In Pictures: Volks Electric Railway returns

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we reported at the weekend the Volks Electric Railway resumed services on Saturday 14th October after over a year of inaction as a result of the “Saving Volk’s” refurbishment project. Although works are not sufficiently advanced to allow trains to run along the complete line they are now able to run between Aquarium and Halfway with volunteers from the Volks Electric Railway Association assisting with crewing.

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Ophelia does her worst causing Luas and MER suspensions

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Services on both Luas and the Manx Electric Railway were hit by ex-Hurricane Ophelia at the start of the week with no trams able to run for large periods of time, firstly due to safety fears and then because of damage.

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In Pictures: 255 and 269 make it 15 and 16 C R Smith trams

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Two further trams can now be seen in C R Smith vinyls on Edinburgh Trams with both 255 and 269 in service with their new look. For 269 the vinyls include an image of an Edinburgh Tram although whether it is 269 is unclear!

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1017

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Continuing with the Glasgow theme of last week’s Picture in Time today we feature a tram from that system which has remained north of the border – Glasgow 1017.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 15 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have another couple of Photo Galleries added to the site this week:

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Picture in Time: Midland Metro 08

Posted on Saturday 14 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In today’s Picture in Time we are once again in the West Midlands for a view from Midland Metro with T69 08 the feature vehicle.

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Volks Electric Railway set to return to service

Posted on Saturday 14 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

By the time you read this article the Volks Electric Railway should be back in operation with a limited service to be run between Aquarium and Halfway as the Heritage Lottery Fund backed regeneration project starts to come towards a conclusion. The new Visitor Centre was opened on Friday 13th October – obviously not unlucky in Brighton in this instance! – and following test runs along the line a public return to service was due from 1030 on Saturday 14th October.

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Old Midland Metro track donated to Black Country Living Museum

Posted on Friday 13 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Track replaced as part of the major relaying project on Bilston Road is set to enjoy a second life with 100 metres of rail having been donated to the Black Country Living Museum. Although at the end of its operational life for extensive use on a modern tramway the track still has plenty of life in it for the museum tramway and is set to be used as part of the museum’s expansion plans.

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In Pictures: Rotherham Central tram-train works

Posted on Friday 13 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

It’s not just the West Midlands where construction work is ongoing as there is also progress on the delayed tram-train pilot between Sheffield and Rotherham. In this photo update we take a look at the latest progress at Rotherham Central on both the low floor platform and installation of overhead.

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In Pictures: Bilston Road rail replacement works

Posted on Friday 13 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

We now know where some of the old track from Bilston Road is going (see other story tonight on the Black Country Living Museum’s donation) but what of the ongoing project to replace the track to allow Midland Metro services to run back through to Wolverhampton? With the project now entering its final two months (having started back on 11th June) good progress continues to be made and the Midland Metro Alliance continue to report that all is on target for a completion before Christmas. This latest pictorial shows the current state of play.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 643

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In today’s edition of Picture in Time we take our regular peek into the past of the Blackpool Tramway with this image of Centenary 643 dating from 30 years ago in 1987.

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Sisk awarded Blackpool tramway extension contract

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

John Sisk has been awarded the lucrative contract to construct the greatly anticipated extension of the Blackpool tramway up Talbot Road to serve North Station. This is the latest positive news to suggest that this development is very much a live project, with press releases indicating that construction work is expected to start in early 2018.

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North Station extension works to commence this year?

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Very little has been heard about the planned extension of the Blackpool tramway off the promenade to North Station up Talbot Road of late – but it appears that this may be about to change. An announcement made by Blackpool BID on 11th October appeared to indicate that work would be starting on the construction of the extension imminently, although oddly this since appears to have disappeared!

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B Fleet appear in service – but not much!

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Compared to last year, Blackpool’s ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars have not seen a great deal of use so far during the 2017 illuminations. Whereas 2016 saw the trams kept busy with a mix of stage carriage work and illumination tour duties, little of either has been recorded this year with the exception of recently repainted 718 which has been one of the first choice cars for lights tours.

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