Monthly Archives: June 2016

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on In Pictures: Glossop Vehicle Enthusiast Club Rally at Crich

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 … Continue reading →

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, … Continue reading →

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. … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Your chance to visit LCC 1 at Garmendale

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 … Continue reading →

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. … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

Hello 3116 as 3115 enters service

Posted on Friday 10 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

We’re nearly there! The 116th M5000 for Manchester Metrolink was delivered to Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 4th June with 3116 arriving leaving just a further four trams before the order for 120 trams is concluded. Meanwhile the previous arrival … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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:

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 13 Comments