Monthly Archives: February 2020

£15 billion plan unveiled to improve rail travel in West Midlands

Posted on Monday 10 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Where would we be without grand transport “visions”?! The latest region to reveal their vision is the West Midlands with current Mayor, Andy Street, unveiling a £15 billion plan for improvement to the Metro and rail network by 2040. A … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Snaefell Mountain Railway 2

Posted on Sunday 9 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

For one final time in this batch we head to the Isle of Man and the Snaefell Mountain Railway during 1979.

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T68A 2001 scrapped

Posted on Sunday 9 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Following swiftly after T68 1020 met its end at the hands of the scrapman, T68A 2001 has also now been scrapped on site at Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Depot. 2001 was reduced to scrap metal on Wednesday 5th February.

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In Pictures: Track relay progress at Crich

Posted on Sunday 9 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the Crich Tramway Village opening again for another season in a little over four weeks good progress continues to be made on the major winter maintenance work – the relaying of the double track from Victoria Park/Bandstand up to … Continue reading →

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 9 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

There are construction photos from Birmingham now added to the website:

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Significant fall recorded in tram passengers on the Isle of Man

Posted on Saturday 8 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

After the past few years have seen increases in passenger numbers on the Isle of Man’s main tramways and railways, 2019 has seen a significant fall in all three tramways with just the Steam Railway seeing a rise. Many reasons … Continue reading →

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 415

Posted on Saturday 8 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We are staying in Potsdam for this week’s overseas tram image and it is another Siemens Combino featuring.

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Birmingham Eastside extension close to approval

Posted on Saturday 8 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

A few weeks ago when we reported on the awarding of the Transport and Works Act Order for the West Midlands Metro Birmingham Eastside extension what was apparent was the complete lack of acknowledgment from Transport for West Midlands that … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Oporto 196 and Sheffield 264 at Beamish

Posted on Saturday 8 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We already know that the early part of 2020 will see the withdrawal from service of Oporto 196 at Beamish but before then it is still available for use and on Tuesday 4th February it was out on driver training … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Bradley Lane Park and Ride opens

Posted on Friday 7 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may be late – originally due to open in summer 2019 – but the latest Park and Ride site on the route of the West Midlands Metro at Bradley Lane is now open for business. The barriers were removed … Continue reading →

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NET back “Please offer me a seat” badge campaign

Posted on Friday 7 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have become the latest organisation in the city to back the recently launched “Please offer me a seat” badge campaign in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Transport. As seen on many other public transport … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Trackless tram plans on the agenda for Liverpool

Posted on Thursday 6 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Could trams finally return to the streets of Liverpool? They could if plans currently being discussed come to fruition but rather than having track and overhead to operate they would be trackless trams operated by batteries with rubber wheels and … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 6 Comments

The continuing travails of the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Thursday 6 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It must be a pretty draining experience trying to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro at times. Its well known that the infrastructure and trains on the network are ageing but these are combining on a very regular basis … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Busy times at Fleetwood Ferry

Posted on Thursday 6 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back to Blackpool for today’s archive image as we feature not one, not two, not even three but four trams at Fleetwood Ferry.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

Progress made on restorations in Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 5 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

This winter has already been a busy one at Rigby Road Depot’s heritage tram workshops with Boat 230, the Frigate and the Western Train all already seeing attention. In addition the major restoration of Balloon 704 is continuing and there … Continue reading →

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New advert carried in Nottingham for Pythian Club

Posted on Wednesday 5 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest centre advert to be carried on a tram in Nottingham – it seems that the days of full vinyl wraps on Nottingham Express Transit have come to an end for now – is for the Pythian Club, an … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Metrolink 1020 scrapped at Trafford Depot

Posted on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

There is now one fewer intact Manchester Metrolink T68 after 1020 was scrapped on site at Trafford Depot. As we reported last week the tram had recently been moved from its long-term resting place in the sidings at Trafford Depot … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Douglas Promenade reconstruction budget includes no funding for tramway signals

Posted on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that as part of the budget for the reconstruction of Douglas Promenade – which includes the relaying and partial re-siting of the horse tramway – no allowance was made for signalling. The item was discussed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 1 Comment

Still standing! Weaste Depot track, Eccles

Posted on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Although there is still plenty of tram track buried under road surfaces across the country to see old track still on the surface is rarer but look carefully enough and will still find some. A location included in this is … Continue reading →

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Trams to Newhaven give overview of works for next month

Posted on Monday 3 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest update from the Trams to Newhaven project team has given details of the planned works for the next month with Leith Walk, Ocean Drive and Constitution Street all the scenes of enabling, preparation and utility diversion work.

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