In Pictures: The next Stadler arrives in Croydon

Posted on Thursday 22 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink welcomed the third of the second batch of Stadler Variotrams on the morning of Sunday 11th October with 2562 arriving on the back of a lorry following its journey from Germany. Four Stadler trams are on order for Tramlink with just one further example due to make the trip across Europe although 2556 is also currently in Germany undergoing repairs with its return awaited. None of the second batch – 2560 and 2561 – have yet to enter service.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 22 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Have you been thinking where and when you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tram over the next week or so? If so you have come to the right place as this is your one stop round-up of the all the heritage tramways in the British Isles. The 2015 operating season is coming towards an end but with Half Term upon us it means Blackpool will enjoy daily operation of the heritage trams whilst over at Crich it is the Starlight Spectacular including special lighting effects. Read on to find out all the details from across the country…

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A trio of Balloon car treats

Posted on Thursday 22 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

For any readers who are getting bored of reading about how the Blackpool tramway continues to surprise and delight us in the modern age and why we love this system so much – this article might be one to skip! Wednesday 21st October was yet another example of a non-event day in Blackpool when traditional trams provided some treats for enthusiasts and members of the public alike, proving yet again that the upgrade has failed to remove the ability of the tramway to throw up many unexpected highlights.

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Stockport 5 moves back to Middleton Road

Posted on Wednesday 21 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Stockport 5 has taken another step forwards towards being returned to service at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, being extracted from the back of the Lakeside Depot and transferred to the tramway’s original Middleton Road Depot on Tuesday 20th October. The protective tarpaulin, employed to shield the tram from the unwanted attentions of the depot pigeons, has also been removed ahead of work resuming on repairs to the upper deck flooring.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1100

Posted on Tuesday 20 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

A tram which hasn’t run in service since 1976 and has been stored out of public view for almost 10 years is today’s Picture in Time image – Glasgow 1100, part of the national collection.

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Supertram prepare for depot open day

Posted on Tuesday 20 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

It is only a few days until the centrepiece of Stagecoach Supertram’s 21st anniversary celebrations with a Depot Open Day taking place at Nunnery Square Depot on Sunday 25th October – with free entry! Highlights look set to be the unveiling of a tram in a special livery and the chance to take a tram ride through the tram wash.

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NET Citadis 235 named David Clarke

Posted on Tuesday 20 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

And the namings keep on coming on Nottingham Express Transit with 235 the latest Citadis to receive a name. The tram now carries the name David Clarke, who is the captain of the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team, and was named in a ceremony on Tuesday 20th October. There are now 14 of the Citadis trams named (following the removal of Julie Poulter from 216) of which five are named after sporting legends in the Nottingham area.

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‘Princess Alice’ set to retire

Posted on Tuesday 20 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have confirmed that the unique open-top Blackpool Balloon car, ‘Princess Alice’ 706, will be withdrawn from service at the end of the 2015 illuminations season. The tram has operated for three decades since it was restored as an open-top car and is now due for workshop attention again, so will be retired until resources are available to carry out this work.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 18 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

We have a further two Photo Galleries as part of this week’s main site update with images coming from the Seaton Tramway and Midland Metro:

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1015

Posted on Sunday 18 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

The fifteenth of the T68s to be built for Manchester Metrolink is the latest tram to feature in our Picture in Time series. We take a brief look at the history of 1015 accompanied with an image from August 1992.

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Blackpool Balloon 716 – an appeal for information

Posted on Saturday 17 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

I have recently been contacted with a request for up-to-date information on the whereabouts of Blackpool Balloon 716. The last I had heard about this tram, it was standing in a scrapyard in Perth, Scotland awaiting a decision on its fate, with at least one possible preservation bid having been suggested. Since then nothing has been heard of relating to this tram – so we are appealing to the readers of British Trams Online to contact us if you know anything about what has happened to 716.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Illuminated Rocket 732

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back into the depths of Rigby Road Depot for today’s Picture in Time image as we continue our review of the illuminated tram fleet. The tram which caught the eye of our photographer today is the iconic Illuminated Rocket 732.

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Four shortlisted to operate Metrolink

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink could once again have a new operator from 2017 with the contract to operate and maintain the network up for grabs. Four companies have been shortlisted with current incumbent RATP Dev joined by KeolisAmey, National Express and Transdev now being invited to submit a tender for the contract.

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More namings in Nottingham

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Two more Alstom Citadis trams have received in Nottingham with mathematicians Ada Lovelace and George Green the latest inspirational figures to be honoured. A joint ceremony took place at Wilkinson Street Depot on Wednesday 14th October with local schoolchildren given the task of unveiling the names.

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Disruption for Metrolink after major city centre fire

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services between Victoria and Piccadilly Gardens were suspended at the start of this week following a major fire alongside the tramway on Balloon Street leading to concerns about the safety of the building. The Hanover Tower, formerly the CWS building, on Corporation Street caught light on the night of Monday 12th October leading to a couple of days of disruption for Metrolink travellers.

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General support for Tramlink Dingwall Road loop

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

The results of the latest round of consultation for the proposal to construct a new loop line in Croydon Town Centre has been released with over three quarters of those who responded being in support of the line. The extension would leave the current line heading westbound at George Street running along Dingwall Road and then onto Landsdowne Road where a new stop would be constructed. Trams would then rejoin the current line on Wellesley Road enabling them to return east.

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And another award for Metrolink’s Airport line

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Three awards in four weeks isn’t too bad is it? Well that is exactly what has happened for the Manchester Metrolink extension to the Airport which is now celebrating the award for Major Civil Engineering Project of the Year (over £50m) at the British Construction Industry Awards.

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Crich win at the Derbyshire Heritage Awards

Posted on Friday 16 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Award season is continuing with the latest organisation to be rewarded being Crich Tramway Village who were given awards at the recent Derbyshire Heritage Awards. The awards were in the Young People in Heritage category and were for Excellence and for the Young Persons Development Programme.

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In Pictures: Hull 96 on test

Posted on Thursday 15 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Hull 96 may have now entered service at the Heaton Park Tramway – but we are now moving very slightly back in time to eight days before the launch took place, when the immaculate tram completed its first test run along the full length of the tramway since restoration work began. The date was Saturday 3rd October, and we are pleased to bring you some images of 96‘s first test runs on this rather foggy day.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 15 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

We again turn our attention to just when and where you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tram in the British Isles and for the first time in what seems like ages there is no special event to look forward to this weekend. But as we are sure you are aware just because of that it doesn’t mean there isn’t anywhere you can go for a ride…

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