This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

We actually have some updates over on the main site for you this week as we add a couple more Photo Galleries:

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Welcome to 3119 as 3118 enters service on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

The end of new tram deliveries to Manchester Metrolink is in sight with M5000 3119 arriving at Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 20th August – leaving just one further tram of the current order to make the trip. On the same day that 3119 arrived the previous arrival, 3118, was noted in service (believed to be its first day in passenger action) whilst other changes to the fleet have seen a number of trams lose their yellow spots in favour of rainbow spots ahead of the forthcoming Manchester Pride event.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Metrolink 2CC construction works update

Posted on Friday 19 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Progress is continuing to be made on the “transformation” works on the Manchester Metrolink Second City Crossing (2CC) as preparations for a return for full services through St Peter’s Square on the original city crossing come to a conclusion. No trams have run through the area since the end of June but from the end of August the distinctive yellow trams will once again be seen in service. In this pictorial update we take a brief look at how things looked on Thursday 18th August. Photos from Keith Chadbourne.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

Man dies after being hit by tram

Posted on Friday 19 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

A man in his 50s has died after being hit by a tram close to the David Lane tramstop on the phase one line to Hucknall. The incident happened shortly after 2300 on Monday 15th August and the Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances involved. Nottinghamshire Police are investigating and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have been informed.

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Not long to go – Metrolink getting ready for cross city services once again

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

For first time in 14 months a full Metrolink service is set to run through St Peter’s Square with the transformation works on the original city crossing coming towards a conclusion. It was the end of June 2015 when the line was closed through this key stop and although for much of the period a single line has been open for services there has been major disruption for passengers, no more so than at the start and end of the works which have seen complete closures. Full services are due to resume at the end of August and once again a revised service pattern will be introduced from this time.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

In Pictures: Yorkshire Day at Crich

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Monday 1st August was Yorkshire Day and to celebrate the occasion a low key special event was held at the Crich Tramway Village. All three trams in service on the day were from Yorkshire with Leeds pair 345 and 399 joined by Sheffield 510 whilst fellow Sheffield car 189 was displayed on the Traverser. There was also a visiting coach from Sheffield which travelled down the street to collect disabled passengers. Photos from the day by Hazel Quarmby.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Classic Tour at Crich

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 31st July the latest in the series of car rallies to be held at the Crich Tramway Village took place. This time it was the Nottingham Classic Tour organised by the Carlton and District Motor Club who brought with them a variety of different vehicles which were on display around the Museum site, once again providing unique photographic opportunities alongside the resident trams.

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Chesterfield 7 rides again

Posted on Wednesday 17 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Following some remedial attention to its paintwork, Chesterfield 7 made a belated year debut in passenger service at Crich Tramway Village on 17th August. This was the tram’s first outing since having its First World War recruitment posters and decorations removed, which were carried for much of the 2015 operating season.

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Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

Douglas horse tram set for Wales?

Posted on Tuesday 16 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With the auction of six surplus tramcars from the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway imminent, this development continues to dominate the news as a number of interested parties come forward to inspect the trams and consider potential options for their future. It has come to light that the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway have shown interest in a tram with bulkhead crossbench car 37 believed to be their first choice.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 19 Comments

More details revealed for Douglas Horse Tram sale

Posted on Monday 15 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Following the news at the end of the week that Douglas Borough Council were to make six surplus trams available for sale by auction further details have now been released including confirmation of which six trams will be up for grabs. As mentioned previously any individuals or groups who are interested in purchasing one of the trams are required to show that they are seriously interested in preserving the vehicles and not just to purchase them without a plan.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 4 Comments

An illuminating Bank Holiday ahead

Posted on Sunday 14 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The August Bank Holiday weekend is now looking even more colourful than it did for the Blackpool tramway, with the announcement that the weekend’s heritage tram action will be book-ended by appearances from the illuminated feature cars. On Friday 26th August there will be a rare chance to ride two of them to Fleetwood, whilst on Tuesday 30th they will be out again for the popular annual ‘Ride the Lights’ event.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrates 140 years

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

It was an anniversary which it was feared may be celebrated without any trams running but on Sunday 7th August the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway was the centre of attention on the Isle of Man as 140 years of operation were celebrated. The highlights of the day included a nine tram cavalcade, the use of two horses hauling double decker no. 18 and trams on display outside the depot at Strathallan.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 3 Comments

Horse trams for sale!

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Despite recent positive developments regarding the future of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway – which is currently looking more secure than it has done all year – there remains an unavoidable fact that the current tram fleet is far larger than is required. Bearing this in mind, it has been confirmed that six trams have been declared surplus to requirements and are to be sold at auction later this month.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 9 Comments

Advert livery changes north and south

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Both London Tramlink and Manchester Metrolink have seen some advertising livery changes in the past couple of weeks with the former seeing the application of a new vinyl wrap whilst in Manchester we won’t be thanking Crunchie any more!

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Posted in London Trams, Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Report released into Supertram collision

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

In one of the speedier releases from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch a report has recently been released on the collision at Shalesmoor on Stagecoach Supertram between trams 118 and 120 which took place on 22nd October 2015. The main causes of the collision have been put down as 120 not being “driven in a manner appropriate for the conditions”and of the brakes on the tram not providing the “level of braking the driver expected”.

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Old tram tracks discovered in Nottingham

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

During recent construction works in Nottingham City Centre on Station Street workmen discovered some tram tracks from the original Corporation Tramway. Two tracks side by side curving from Station Street into Carrington Street were found as this photo from Bob Gell shows.

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Track replacement works for NET

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 28th August will see track replacement works take place on Nottingham Express Transit in the David Lane and Cinderhill areas causing a revised service to operate. All services from Clifton South and Toton Lane will only run as far as Wilkinson Street with a replacement bus service running from there to Phoenix Park calling at all stops including Bulwell. Passengers for Hucknall should change at Bulwell for a shuttle tram.

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It must be August…Tramlink closures for track relaying

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

As has become tradition recently August has arrived and London Tramlink services through central Croydon have been suspended to allow for track replacement works to take place. The disruption started from late on Friday 5th August and will be continuing through until Tuesday 16th August. Throughout this period no trams were able to travel along Addiscombe Road between East Croydon and Sandilands with, at various times other sections of the tramway also closed.

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Late night trams for Edinburgh Festival

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Extra tram services will run on Edinburgh Trams for the majority of August to aid passengers travelling back from events including the Festival and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The special timetable started operation on 5th August and will be in use until 29th August with Saturdays seeing a new 0035 departure from York Place to Edinburgh Airport.

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NET delays after protest

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services were severely delayed on Friday 5th August after a group of protestors blocked the tram tracks in the city centre causing the service to initially be suspended between Royal Centre and Old Market Square and then later as far as Nottingham Station. The situation continued to change as the morning progressed and eventually the Phoenix Park route was amended so trams were only running as far as Highbury Vale. The protestors laid on the tracks protesting under the Black Lives Matter banner and were also apparently planning to “shutdown Nottingham”. The protestors – four of whom have since been charged by the Police – were removed later in the morning with tram services resuming from 1115.

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 3 Comments