In Pictures: Tram-train construction works

Posted on Friday 10 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

There has been a fair bit of negativity surrounding the tram-train pilot recently following the news that Network Rail would not be able to meet the already revised opening date of early 2017 for services to Rotherham Parkgate but despite that there is some progress to show on the line. In this pictorial update Stuart Cooke has been looking at the Network Rail metals on the way to Rotherham where some progress can now be seen.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 4 Comments

Blackpool Council promote tramway extension plan

Posted on Thursday 9 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Council have recently released a new brochure giving details of the plans for the much-discussed extension of the tramway to serve the North Station, via Talbot Road. This includes some very convincing mock-up images showing Flexity trams in the town centre, giving a tantalising glimpse of what is to come!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 21 Comments

Copse Road depot consigned to history

Posted on Thursday 9 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst many aspects of the Fylde coast’s tramway heritage are now being preserved for the enjoyment of future generations, it is sad to report that one very notable item has recently been lost. Copse Road Depot, the only such building in Fleetwood, is currently being demolished, after serving as the home of the Fleetwood Car Centre for many years after ceasing to house trams back in the 1960s.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

Tram & light rail passenger numbers reach record levels

Posted on Tuesday 7 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

The tramways and light railways of England have never been so popular (well since records began in 1983, we would expect that in the heyday of the trams the number of passengers was much higher!) with record passenger numbers carried on the eight systems combined in 2015/16. 252 million passenger journeys were made on the Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, London Tramlink, Manchester Metrolink, Midland Metro, Nottingham Express Transit, Stagecoach Supertram and Tyne and Wear Metro an increase of 5.8% from the previous year.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Tram & light rail passenger numbers reach record levels

Edinburgh Trams hits 5 million passengers in its second year

Posted on Tuesday 7 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It is not only the tramways of England who are celebrating an increase in passenger numbers as north of the border on Scotland’s only tramway in Edinburgh the magical 5 million barrier has been hit for the first time with 5.38m passengers carried in the second full year of operation – an increase of 9.3%.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Tramlink drivers to go on 48 hour strike

Posted on Tuesday 7 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that London Tramlink drivers will go on strike for 48 hours on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th June as the dispute over pay intensifies. As we previously reported ASLEF members voted in favour of going on strike (a 100% mandate on an 80% turnout) over the 2.6% pay offer on the table and the dates they will go on strike have now been publically announced.

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Posted in London Trams | 5 Comments

In Pictures: Birthday Boating

Posted on Monday 6 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The demand for private hires involving Blackpool’s heritage trams continues to increase with one particularly interesting hire taking place on Saturday 4th June. On this date, Boat 227 was hired by an enthusiast for a novel birthday celebration and operated a full system tour, including two historic runs to Starr Gate.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 5 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just the two Photo Galleries for you this week as we head back in time to the horse tram era and also are right up-to-date with the latest extension to open in the UK:

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Posted in Crich Tramway Village, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Balloon versus Taxi

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The number of accidents involving trams and motor cars in Blackpool seems to have escalated recently, with at least three such incidents in May alone. The latest mishap occurred on Saturday 28th May, involving a member of the heritage fleet – Balloon 715.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 13 Comments

In Pictures: Edinburgh Gateway construction works

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Construction works of the new Edinburgh Gateway transport interchange which will see both a railway station and tram built open by the end of 2016 are continuing. In this pictorial update from John Hampton we take a look at recent progress whilst we also find the tram mock-up now situated at Edinburgh Airport.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 2 Comments

Fallen tree causes NET services to be disrupted

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services between Cator Lane and the University of Nottingham were suspended for almost a day after a tree fell onto the line. The disruption happened from the morning of Tuesday 31st May with a full service not able to resume until 0700 the following morning. The tree caused some damage to the overhead wires and although the offending tree was removed during the afternoon of Tuesday 31st May repairs and safety checks meant it wasn’t possible for a service to resume immediately.

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Fallen tree causes NET services to be disrupted

Now its Midland Metro’s turn for a car on the tracks

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Ahead of the grand opening of the extension to Grand Central (New Street Station) Midland Metro services were disrupted after the disease of cars getting stuck on tram tracks found its way to the West Midlands. In this incident on Sunday 29th May a Peugeot 207 got stuck next to crossover at Snow Hill Station. For those who don’t know the area this was quite a feat for the car driver as it means they managed to drive their car for some distance beyond Bull Street onto the grassed track and then beyond the new Snow Hill stop! Services were terminated at St Paul’s from the start of service for approximately three hours whilst the car was removed from the tracks. The driver was reported to be helping the Police with their inquiries.

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Metrolink overnight parking trial a success

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

The trial overnight parking scheme at selected Manchester Metrolink stops could now be made permanent following the success of the trial period with 84% of respondents to a survey in favour. The trial started in December 2015 with passengers able to leave their cars at 15 tram stops on Friday and Saturday nights provided they were collected by 12pm the next day.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

LCC 106 confirmed for Carlton Colville event

Posted on Friday 3 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that London County Council 106 is to be one of the star exhibits at the forthcoming London Event taking place at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville over the weekend of 9th and 10th July. The tram is, of course, normally based at the Crich Tramway Village and will be going for a strictly limited period which will see it arrive shortly before the event and leaving almost immediately following.

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Posted in Crich Tramway Village, East Anglia Transport Museum | 11 Comments

In Pictures: Snow Hill opens to the public

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just two days after passenger services were inaugurated to Grand Central (New Street Station) on Midland Metro’s Birmingham City Centre extension came the opening of another stop with the new stop at Snow Hill welcoming its first passengers on Wednesday 1st June. The stop – which replaces the former terminus inside the railway station – was not quite completed in time for the opening day but with the finishing works now significantly progressed it is now possible to alight at the stop.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

In Pictures: Triple M5000 on Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

You wait ages for a tram to turn up and then three arrive at once! On Sunday 29th May M5000 3066 failed whilst operating on the Airport line and in order to get the tram back to depot it was decided to sandwich it between 3080 and 3061 creating the incredibly rare sight of three trams running together. Steve Kemp captured the threesome at Sale Water Park.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

Extra Stadler trams for Tramlink

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been reported that Transport for London have exercised an option to order a further two Stadler Variobahn’s for the Tramlink network – bringing the total number of this type of tram to 12. The news was confirmed as part of the TfL 2016-17 budget recently presented to the London Assembly alongside other enhancements for the Tramlink network.

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Posted in London Trams | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Metrolink Second City Crossing update

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

With the initial Birmingham City Centre extension now opened on Midland Metro our attention is now once again turned towards Manchester Metrolink as we look forward to the next UK tram system extension. The extension in question is, of course, the Second City Crossing (2CC) with construction works continuing at a pace with a lot of track now down and in some places the finished road surface has also been laid. Keith Chadbourne went out investigating the latest progress on Thursday 2nd June.

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In Pictures: The Western Train on tour

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 27th May, a special evening tour was operated by Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, acting as a ‘warm-up’ for the Gold service running over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. This utilised the illuminated Western Train 733+734 which performed a rare full-length journey from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, with a very rare move thrown in for good measure!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Boating to Starr Gate

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Visits by Blackpool’s open Boat cars to the tramway’s southern terminus at Starr Gate have been quite rare for many years, but in the past week two of the three cars which remain at Blackpool have graced this location with their presence. Unfortunately one of these appearances ended in disaster but thankfully, the second was far less eventful!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Boating to Starr Gate