Heritage Tramways – updated list of operating dates

Posted on Monday 21 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

As more areas of society continue to be opened up we thought it was time for another summary of which heritage tramways are currently operating and why. This list should (if I’ve remembered everywhere!) include details of all operating heritage tramways in the British Isles and now includes those which have not yet announced their reopening plans. As always, any errors or omissions please let us know through the usual channels.

Beamish

Tramway due to resume operation from Saturday 4th September

The museum itself remains open but timeslot tickets should be booked in advance. Transport wise a circular bus service is running daily along with the Pockerley Waggonway. The Colliery Railway operates on selected dates.

When the tramway reopens it is planned that a “Circular Tour” type service will run starting and finishing at Fouldbridge (adjacent to the tram depot) with no intermediate journeys available. It is anticipated Blackpool 31 will be primarily used as its seating layout is best suited to maximising social distanced passengers. If circumstances/resources allow additional services may also be offered.

Birkenhead Heritage Tramway

No details have yet been announced of its reopening

Black Country Living Museum

The tram service has yet to resume although the museum is open to visitors with pre-booked tickets.

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours

First Heritage Tours ran on Saturday 29th May

A mixture of tours are now running with full details of these available on the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours website at https://blackpoolheritage.com/. This include “Promenade Tours” (North Pier/Tower-Little Bispham-Pleasure Beach-North Pier/Tower) and “Coastal Tours” (North Pier/Tower-Fleetwood-Pleasure Beach-North Pier/Tower) along with themed tours such as “Evening Tours”. Illumination Tours return from Saturday 4th September.

Crich Tramway Village

Reopened from Monday 12th April

The museum is currently open Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays). Usually 3 trams are in service each day the museum is open but tram rides need to be booked at Admissions and there is no guarantee on busy days more than one ride will be available. This is currently the plan until Thursday 15th July.

Subject to government guidelines from Saturday 17th July to Sunday 5th September Crich will be open daily with the Friday closure resuming again from Monday 6th September until Sunday 31st October. Exact measure which will be in place during these periods will be announced later.

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

No details have yet been announced for its reopening

East Anglia Transport Museum

Reopened from Sunday 18th April

Now open every Sunday until 24th October. Also open on all Bank Holiday Mondays throughout this period, Tuesdays from 20th July to 31st August, Thursdays from 20th May to 28th October and Saturdays from 3rd July to 28th August, 25th September and 30th October.

Covid restrictions will remain in place until further notice but tram, trolleybus and railway services will operate on all opening days.

Great Orme Tramway

Reopened on Monday 21st June

Services will run 7 days a week at a 20 minute frequency although with special measures in place including limited capacity on board each tram. No pre-booking is required.

Heaton Park Tramway

Reopened from Saturday 5th June

Running between 1200 and 1700 on Saturdays and Sundays until further notice. Currently Blackpool 623 and Stockport 5 are the trams available for passenger service with Hull 96 being used for Tram Driving Experience duties.

Trams start and finish at Lakeside with all passengers having to alight upon returning to allow sanitising of the tram before the next trip. No cash is accepted with contactless payments available on the trams.

Manx Electric Railway

Resumed operation from Saturday 22nd May

Now running on selected dates until Sunday 18th July (later dates in the season have yet to be annoucned). Services will run every Saturday and Sunday during this period plus Fridays 2nd, 9th, 16th July.

Timetable C will operate on all these dates requiring 4 sets and including 8 end to end trips plus an additional Derby Castle-Laxey return trip late afternoon.

The Isle of Man currently remains closed to non-island residents. This is due to change from 28th June when anyone from the UK, Ireland or the Channel Islands who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (meaning you have had both doses of the vaccination within the common travel area and two weeks have passed since the second dose) will be allowed to enter the Isle of Man. As the whole COVID situation is ever changing you are strongly advised to check before visiting though in case of any amendments to this regulation.

Seaton Tramway

Reopened from Monday 12th April

Open daily until Sunday 31st October 2021. The Blue timetable (trams every 20 minutes 1000-1700) is running until Friday 23rd July. The Red timetable (with trams every 15 minutes) will then operate until Saturday 4th September. It’s then back to the Blue timetable until Tuesday 28th September with the season ending with the Yellow timetable (every half hour).

The Covid restrictions in place in 2020 will remain for the time being. This includes face coverings, limited capacity on trams etc.

Snaefell Mountain Railway

Services resumed from Saturday 29th May

Now running on selected dates until Sunday 18th July (later dates in the season to be announced at a later date). Services will run every Saturday and Sunday during this period plus Fridays 2nd, 9th, 16th July.

Timetable C will operate on all these dates with half hourly services from Laxey to the Summit.

The Isle of Man currently remains closed to non-island residents. This is due to change from 28th June when anyone from the UK, Ireland or the Channel Islands who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (meaning you have had both doses of the vaccination within the common travel area and two weeks have passed since the second dose) will be allowed to enter the Isle of Man. As the whole COVID situation is ever changing you are strongly advised to check before visiting though in case of any amendments to this regulation.

Statfold Barn Railway

The Tramway first ran for this year on Saturday 12th June

The Statfold Barn Railway now operates on selected dates throughout 2021.

Summerlee

Museum reopened on Monday 26th April

The museum is open 7 days a week and admission remains free but pre-booking is required. To book a slot please visit https://summerlee-museum-of-scottish-industrial-life.arttickets.org.uk/?t=1618590558605.

Trams will be running on all days subject to the usual caveats.

Volk’s Electric Railway

Services resumed on Saturday 29th May

Trains run as follows:

Mondays and Thursdays: 1130 to 1715

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 1030 to 1715

Saturdays and Sundays: 1030 to 1815

Due to its location the railway does sometimes have to suspend operation in poor weather.

All the above information has been provided in good faith but is subject to last minute change. If planning to travel to any tramway you are strongly advised to check directly with the organisation first.

This entry was posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Black Country Living Museum, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, Crich Tramway Village, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway. Bookmark the permalink.