Southend Pier Railway closed for 12 weeks

Posted on Sunday 26 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Is it a railway or is it a tramway? Either way it has been announced that the rail mounted vehicle which operates along the UK’s longest pier in Southend is to be out of action for up to 12 weeks due to essential maintenance work on the pier structure.

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Posted in Southend Pier Railway/Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Beside the Seaside at Crich

Posted on Sunday 26 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Having firmly established itself as a major part of the special event calendar at the Crich Tramway Village, Beside the Seaside took place at the home of the National Tramway Museum between Saturday 28th May and Sunday 5th June this year. Once again Blackpool trams took centre stage of the majority of the event although at times other popular trams also saw use with fine weather at times seeing trams such as Glasgow 1068 and London County Council 106 brought out to play. In addition to the usual tram service (which on some days saw more than the standard three trams in use) there were lots of family based activities including a fun fair on site. Hazel Quarmby recorded these views for us.

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117 down, 3 to go!

Posted on Sunday 26 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 25th June saw the latest delivery of a tram to Manchester with 3117 arriving in the usual lunchtime slot. With the delivery of the tram to Queen’s Road Depot just three more of the current order of M5000s remain to make the journey from mainland Europe and at the current rate of delivery it looks set to be August for the final arrival.

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Council executive approve Blackpool North tramway extension

Posted on Friday 24 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Despite a delay a few weeks ago Blackpool Council’s executive have now approved plans for the extension of the tramway to North Station. The executive met this week and agreed to proceed with the plans which will now move forward to full council who will also have to agree before an application is submitted to the government for a Transport and Works Act Order.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Armed forces to enjoy free travel on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 24 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have announced that members of the Armed Forces will be able to enjoy free travel on the Metrolink network during Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25th June and for every day thereafter. Any in-uniform service personnel or reservist will be able to travel for free on production of their military pass in the future whilst on Armed Forces Day any veteran will also be able to travel for free (by producing their Veteran’s badge and ID card).

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Go ahead for Wolverhampton Midland Metro extension

Posted on Wednesday 22 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

In recent years all talk of extensions to Midland Metro has been concentrated on the southern section in Birmingham but all that is set to change with government approval now given for extending the line to Wolverhampton Railway Station. Preparatory work is due to start later this year with the first passengers set to be carried in 2019.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Simca Club UK National Meeting at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 22 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 19th June saw another car rally take place at Crich with the Simca Club attending for their National Meeting 2016. A large number of cars were on display once again intermingling with the trams running in service. In addition to the trams in public service Blackpool 167 was in use on an Ultimate Tram Driving Experience and Cardiff 131 was on conductor training. Photos provided by Hazel Quarmby.

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Event report: Heritage trams to Starr Gate

Posted on Monday 20 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Once part of the Totally Transport event held annually on Blackpool’s New South Promenade, the operation of a special heritage tram service to Starr Gate has become an established part of the tramway events calendar in June. This year two days were allocated for this event, and despite some setbacks, a number of interesting ‘firsts’ ensured that an enjoyable weekend was had.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 19 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Two more Photo Galleries for you this week as we return after a week’s break:

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Nottingham’s latest Nurse of the Year unveils name on tram

Posted on Saturday 18 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Aprille Jones, Nottingham’s latest Nurse of the Year, has unveiled her name on the side of Citadis 220 in a ceremony at Wilkinson Street Depot. Aprille works in theatres recovery at the Queens Medical Centre and received the most public votes in the 2016 Nurse and Midwife of the Year Award of which Nottingham Express Transit is a sponsor.

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The Hovertram is coming home!

Posted on Thursday 16 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

All four of Blackpool’s iconic 1960s Illuminated Feature Cars are set to be reunited on their home tramway following the announcement that the Hovertram is to make the move back to the north west following almost 10 years away. The Hovertram is currently owned by the North East Electrical Traction Trust and is stored at their premises in Sunderland but as part of an agreement it is now going to head home, initially on a 20 year lease.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 20 Comments

MER trailer 58 overhaul approaches completion

Posted on Tuesday 14 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

On 7th July 2015 Manx Electric Railway trailer 58 of 1904 was involved in a serious derailment at Laxey which had led many at the time to suggest it may never be repaired and that it would join the ranks of the withdrawn trams on the MER. Fast forward to less than a year later and 58 has returned to service being pressed into use during the TT event although this is just a temporary return for now.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Glossop Vehicle Enthusiast Club Rally at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 14 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 12th June saw the visit of another car enthusiast group to Crich with the Glossop Vehicle Enthusiast Club the latest to hold a rally at Crich with their vehicles mingling with the trams. Unfortunately the day was met with rain but despite this a number of cars visited adding some extra and unusual photo opportunities for those visitors who braved the weather. Photos from Hazel Quarmby.

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Strikes ended in two capital cities

Posted on Monday 13 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Positive news to report from both Dublin and London where proposed strikes have now been cancelled following new offers from management. Both Luas in Dublin and London Tramlink were involved in disputes over pay but recent fresh offers have now seemingly brought to an end strike action which for those in London hasn’t even ever began.

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Posted in Dublin Luas, London Trams | 3 Comments

The Hilton Hotel’s heritage hire

Posted on Monday 13 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Wednesday 8th June, the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool hired three trams from the heritage fleet for an evening private hire. With a large party of people to transport, the trio of green and cream liveried Balloon cars – 715, 717 and 723 – were selected for use on what was an atmospheric misty evening.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Heritage trams to Starr Gate on 18th & 19th June

Posted on Monday 13 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The next weekend of enhanced heritage tram operation in Blackpool will be on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June. This is a very special event as it will see traditional trams running to and from Starr Gate in passenger service. Previously this was done in conjunction with the Totally Transport event but when this was cancelled in 2015, the Starr Gate heritage service ran anyway – and this year it has been expanded to run on two days instead of just one!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Heaton Park to commemorate the Somme centenary

Posted on Sunday 12 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

A national commemorative event to mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, when 19,240 allied forces lost their lives in the initial assault, will be held in Manchester in July, and Heaton Park will be playing a major role in recognition of the large number of soldiers from Manchester and the North West who perished. The tramway will be heavily involved in the events on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd July.

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Your chance to visit LCC 1 at Garmendale

Posted on Sunday 12 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With the restoration of the framework of London County Council 1 currently being tackled by Garmendale Engineering for the National Tramway Museum, the opportunity is being taken to invite members of the public to view the tram (or what is left of it at present!) in this location and see the progress made so far. Places will be limited for this special open day being held on Saturday 18th June, and entry is for pre-booked ticket holders only.

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More Manchester T68s to enter preservation?

Posted on Friday 10 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have released a statement concerning the future of three of the withdrawn T68s stored at the Trafford Park depot on the Metrolink system. It is already well known that the MTMS plan to acquire car 1007 and it is currently stored awaiting a future move to the Heaton Park Tramway. Although it must be stressed that no firm plans are in place yet, it seems increasingly plausable that two other Metrolink trams may also be preserved.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

In Pictures: 17 resumes testing on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 10 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Despite having been in the West Midlands since October 2013 the very first of the Urbos 3 trams, 17, has yet to enter passenger service and indeed has made very few public appearances save for some testing in July 2014. However this has now changed with the tram being seen out and about on the extended Midland Metro network over the past few days.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments