Monthly Archives: February 2020

In Pictures: Tyne and Wear Metro Maintenance and Renewable Skills Centre under construction

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

When the old South Shields Metro station was closed it was announced that the site would be used as the centrepiece of a new Maintenance and Renewable Skills Centre. With a budget of £8.4 million the new centre will be … Continue reading →

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Our main feature this week comes from Croydon with photos from London Tramlink:

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Steam to return to the MER as part of 2020 Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

No sooner do we report on the Rush Hour on the Railway events then Isle of Man Transport release the details the Manx Heritage Transport Festival taking place between 29th July and 2 August! Alongside many of the usually popular … Continue reading →

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 412

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our look at the tram operating the German city of Potsdam we once again feature a Siemens Combino in action.

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First track laid at Five Ways underpass

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We saw in our recent Photo Gallery and now Transport for West Midlands have written a press release about it! The first sections of track have now been laid in Five Ways underpass as the project to build the second … Continue reading →

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Driver training underway on Trafford Park line

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the new Trafford Park Manchester Metrolink extension due to open in around two months – only April has been publicly announced so far – a sure sign that a public service is coming has been seen with the start … Continue reading →

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TfL back extending Tramlink to Sutton – but need the funding

Posted on Friday 14 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It’s a proposal which seems to have been talked about for a long time but could we finally see London Tramlink extended to Sutton? The full results of the 2018/19 consultation into the plans have now been revealed by Transport … Continue reading →

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Police and Crime Commissioner visits Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Friday 14 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuiness, has visited the Tyne and Wear Metro to see how it is kept safe and secure for passengers while also pledging to get tough with anti-social behaviour on the network.

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Peter Cushing named new Midland Metro Alliance Director

Posted on Friday 14 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Peter Cushing, former Metrolink Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, has been named as new Director of the Midland Metro Alliance, replacing Alejandro Moreno who had been in the role since 2016. Mr Moreno is returning to parent company Colas … Continue reading →

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Metro points in central Newcastle replaced in single weekend

Posted on Thursday 13 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Two sets of track point switches between Haymarket and Monument stations in central Newcastle have been replaced as part of the ongoing Metro: all change modernisation programme. The work took place over a single weekend and saw the 40 year … Continue reading →

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Winter Gold weekend cancelled

Posted on Thursday 13 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

With more stormy weather forecast for this week Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have taken the sensible decision to cancel the planned Winter Gold weekend. Storm Dennis is due to menace the UK with a severe weather warning in place for … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 702

Posted on Thursday 13 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

After last week’s mystery – thanks to everyone who solved the conundrum of exactly the trams were in the photos! – we are on firmer ground regards the tram for this week’s archive Blackpool tram image!

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Crich and VERA recognised at HRA Awards

Posted on Wednesday 12 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The annual Heritage Railway Awards took place in Birmingham on Saturday 8th February and two systems we regularly features on these pages were recognised – both the Crich Tramway Village and the Volk’s Electric Railway Association. and amongst the nominees … Continue reading →

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Contracts signed for new Metro fleet

Posted on Wednesday 12 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Nexus and Stadler have officially signed the contracts for the delivery and maintenance of a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro. 42 new trains will be supplied up until 2024 to replace the current fleet, which … Continue reading →

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NET first in UK to receive prestigious assets standard

Posted on Wednesday 12 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit are celebrating once again after becoming the first tramway in the UK to receive a prestigious international standard. Nottingham Trams Limited, as the operator of NET, have been awarded the catchy sounding ISO 55001:2014 (Assets) certification which … Continue reading →

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Storm Ciara causes disruption across UK

Posted on Tuesday 11 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

“Storm of the Century”, named Ciara in the alphabetical naming sequence used by the Met Office in recent years, has seen severe disruption for UK tramways with not only strong winds but heavy rain leading to service changes. Blackpool, Edinburgh, … Continue reading →

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Strathallan Depot to be officially opened as part of Rush Hour on the Railways

Posted on Tuesday 11 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The first of two big general transport events on the Isle of Man for 2020 will see the official opening of the new Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Depot at Strathallan. Rush Hour on the Railways takes place over the Easter … Continue reading →

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Still standing! Tram rosettes in Horwich

Posted on Tuesday 11 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Some of the remnants of first generation tramways are more difficult to spot than others but probably the most common remains can be seen on the side of various buildings around the UK with the rosettes which the overhead span … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams move the crowds for the rugby

Posted on Monday 10 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

One of the major benefits of having a modern tram system in Edinburgh is its ability to move large crowds of people in quick succession, which is especially useful when there is a big event at Murrayfield Stadium. One of … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Inside the Workshop at Crich

Posted on Monday 10 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Crich Tramway Village may be closed to visitors over the winter period but that doesn’t mean that nothing is going on – far from it! We’ve already recently seen the track renewal north from Victoria Park but away from … Continue reading →

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