NET Citadis 222 becomes Sam and Amy

Posted on Wednesday 14 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

The regular namings of the new Citadis trams on Nottingham Express Transit has continued with the latest example to receive a name being 222. The tram was named Sam and Amy at Clifton South on Monday 12th October as part of a joint campaign between NET and local radio station Gem 106 which is taking place over the next few months to promote the expanded network. Sam and Amy are the award winning breakfast show presenters on Gem 106.

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More winners revealed from Light Rail Awards

Posted on Wednesday 14 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Following on from our report last week about the annual Light Rail Awards Manchester Metrolink – or more precisely Transport for Greater Manchester – have now confirmed that they too won two awards on the night and were highly commended in a third category. The two winning categories were for Project of the Year (over 50m euros) and Best Customer Initiative with a highly commended in the Project of the Year (under 50m euros).

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

Balloons by night

Posted on Tuesday 13 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As the illuminations season progresses and the nights become darker earlier, the potential number of illumination tours being operated in Blackpool grows. Saturday 10th October was a high point for the year so far with an impressive total of six different trams being used on tours, with the Balloon cars proving to be especially popular choices of late. Meanwhile the use of modified ‘B Fleet’ Balloons in normal service on a daily basis continues, generally utilising staff before they take out illuminated cars later in their shift.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Snaefell Mountain Railway 1 & 2

Posted on Tuesday 13 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

We are back across the Irish Sea on the Isle of Man for today’s Picture in Time image as we head to Laxey for an image of two of the trams used on the Snaefell Mountain Railway back in 1992.

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Posted in Picture in Time, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 1 Comment

Hull 96 returns to service

Posted on Monday 12 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Two years of painstaking work undertaken largely by a small team of volunteers came to a satisfactory finale on Sunday 11th October, when Hull 96 was officially launched back into service at the Heaton Park Tramway. The tram had operated for several years in its later guise as Leeds 6 in a plain grey livery, including a three year stint of operation at Beamish Museum, and more recently it has received extensive renovation work resulting in it now looking better than it had at any previous time since being preserved.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 9 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 11 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another Photo Gallery from a special event with our coverage from the Wirral Bus and Tram Show:

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Picture in Time: Midland Metro 09, 15 and 06

Posted on Sunday 11 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

We are back on Midland Metro for the latest edition of Picture in Time for a view taken during the initial testing period and we see three trams all in one photo – 09, 15 and 06.

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Posted in Picture in Time, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

3105 arrives and 3104 enters service on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 11 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Once again as the latest M5000 is delivered to Manchester the previous arrival enters service with Saturday 10th October being the milestone date this time around. 3105 was the tram to be delivered on the back of the low loader having made the journey from mainland Europe whilst on the same day 3104 was first noted in service being used on the Rochdale to Ashton-under-Lyne service.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Illuminated Trawler 633

Posted on Friday 9 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

This weeks Blackpool offering in Picture in Time continues our look at some of the Illuminated trams which have operated over the years with a view of the latest tram feature car to be constructed – Trawler 633 (as it was when this photo was taken)

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Edinburgh Trams named Operator of the Year at Light Rail Awards

Posted on Friday 9 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

The annual Light Rail Awards have taken place this week in London and the big winner of the night turned out to be Edinburgh Trams which walked away with the prestigious Operator of the Year accolade. Other systems to win awards included Nottingham Express Transit and the Manx Electric Railway.

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Edinburgh Trams inquiry starts

Posted on Friday 9 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

After months of preparation and debate the inquiry into the Edinburgh Trams project has opened with the first of the preliminary hearings taking place although it will be some time before any witnesses are called to give evidence. The Chairman of the inquiry is Lord Hardie and at the hearing he revealed that officials are now looking at six million documents related to the project showing the sheer scale of the inquiry.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Leeds 602 legacy rejected – again!

Posted on Friday 9 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A recent announcement that the decision by the Board of Management at the Tramway Museum Society to reject a substantial donation to enable the restoration of the unique Leeds 602 was being reviewed, had been met with approval by the many enthusiasts who had felt that the original decision was a highly questionable one. Sadly however, the review has now been concluded and the outcome remains the same as before – the money for 602 will not be accepted and the tram will be conserved in its current form, rather than returned to running order.

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Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Opinion | 17 Comments

Delays after collision between car and tram on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 9 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

It was a case of “what again?” as passengers wishing to travel to Manchester Airport during the Thursday 8th October evening rush hour faced delays after a collision between a car and a tram at Shadowmoss. The collision took place shortly after 1700 and although no injuries were reported on either vehicle damage was suffered to both car and tram and Metrolink services were suspended between Wythenshawe Town Centre and the Airport. Services resumed through to the Airport from approximately 1900.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 8 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

So just where and when can you enjoy a ride on a traditional tram in the British Isles over the next week or so? Well this weekend sees another special event (for the fifth weekend in a row – well done if anyone has attended all five!) with the Heaton Park Tramway having a Hullova Day with the relaunch into service of Hull 96 (Sunday 11th October). Elsewhere the main operating season may be coming towards an end – just where has this year gone?! – but there are still 11 other tramways in England, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales where you can go can for a ride…

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Hull 96 launch preparations underway

Posted on Wednesday 7 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

At Heaton Park in Manchester, final preparations are well underway for the return to service of Hull 96. As has often been mentioned on this website, the tram has been under overhaul for many months which has become the most extensive work undertaken on this tram since it was preserved, and all this hard work should pay off very soon when the car is launched into public service on Sunday 11th October.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 5

Posted on Tuesday 6 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Its back to Wales for our latest “Picture in Time” as we are on the Great Orme for a view of no. 5 in 1968.

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Snow Hill terminus set to close

Posted on Tuesday 6 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 24th October will be the last chance to catch a tram from the original Birmingham Snow Hill terminus on Midland Metro with the line from there to St Paul’s being closed from the start of service the following day to allow for the connection of city centre extension to the current line. It will take around six weeks for this work to take place and when the line reopens trams will be diverted onto the new line and in an unexpected move will run to the new stop at Bull Street and not just onto the viaduct to the new Snow Hill stop.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Sheffield 264 update: three become one

Posted on Tuesday 6 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The major overhaul of Sheffield 264 at Beamish Museum reached a landmark this month, when the three main components which make up the tramcar were finally reunited. The upper deck, lower deck and truck have all been tackled separately but have now been brought back together as this project progresses towards completion.

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Urbos 3 36 starts testing

Posted on Tuesday 6 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

36 – the penultimately delivered Urbos 3 – has now started testing across the Midland Metro network leaving just two further examples of the 21 strong class of trams to start the commissioning process on the mainline. The tram was first seen out on Monday 28th September and has since made regular forays out of the depot at Wednesbury.

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Travel on NET for just £1 all day on Sunday 11th October

Posted on Tuesday 6 October 2015 by Gareth Prior

Anyone who hasn’t been to Nottingham yet for a ride on the two new lines to Clifton and Chilwell will have the perfect excuse on Sunday 11th October when a full days travel will cost £1! Trams will run on the new lines up to every 10 minutes throughout the day with the tickets available from all tram stop machines.

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments