Are you looking for an escape from new and imaginative ways of using up the leftover Turkey, rubbish television, family arguments during the Christmas and New Year period? Well fear not for all of the UK’s operating tramways will be operating a service throughout the period (with the exception of Christmas Day or in the case of Blackpool Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day) so there is an escape out there for you! This round-up gives brief details of exactly what service each of our tramways and light rail systems will be offering so you can still enjoy some tram action as another year draws to a close.
Blackpool Tramway
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal Saturday service until 1900 then departures from Starr Gate at 1900, 1915, 1945, 2015 returning from Fleetwood Ferry at 2000, 2015, 2045 and 2115
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: NO SERVICE
Saturday 27th December to Tuesday 30th December: Presumed normal service (no details provided on Blackpool Transport website)
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Normal Saturday service until 1900 then departures from Starr Gate at 1900, 1915, 1945, 2015 returning from Fleetwood Ferry at 2000, 2015, 2045 and 2115
Thursday 1st January 2015: NO SERVICE
Details of full services available @ http://www.blackpooltransport.com/
Docklands Light Railway
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal weekday service until 1600 then off-peak service to 1930. From 1930 an evening service will operate until last service at 2300.
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: A 10 minute frequency will operate between 0830 and 2330
Saturday 27th to Tuesday 30th December: Normal service
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: A normal weekday service until 1930.From 1930 a 10 minute frequency will operate with free travel available between 2345 and 0430 on 1st January.
Thursday 1st January 2015: A 15 minute frequency will operate until 1000 after which a Saturday service will run.
Further details available @ http://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/festive-travel
Edinburgh Trams
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Saturday service
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: Sunday service
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th December: Normal service
Monday 29th December: Saturday service
Tuesday 30th December: Saturday service until 1800. Trams will only run Airport to West End Princes Street from 1800 until close of service.
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Saturday service between Airport and West End Princes Street only.
Thursday 1st January 2015: Sunday service. Until 1000 trams will only run Airport to West End Princes Street.
Friday 2nd January 2015: Sunday service
Further details available @ http://edinburghtrams.com/news/christmas-new-year-services-2014-15
London Tramlink
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal weekday service until 1800. Then a 15 minute service will run West Croydon-Beckenham Junction, West Croydon-Elmers End and Wimbledon-New Addington until 2000. After which frequencies reduce to every 25 minutes to Elmers End and Beckenham Junction and every 20 minutes New Addington-Wimbledon until end of service.
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: Sunday service
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th December: Normal service
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th December: Saturday service
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Saturday service. A special all night service will operate: Wimbledon-Beckenham Junction at 0057 and then every 30 minutes until 0700, Wimbledon-New Addington at 0112 and every 30 minutes until 0642, Beckenham Junction-Wimbledon at 0121 and every 30 minutes until 0621, 0650 and 0720 (West Croydon only), New Addington-Wimbledon at 0135 and every 30 minutes until 0635.
Thursday 1st January 2015: Sunday service
Friday 2nd January 2015: Saturday service
Further details available @ http://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/festive-travel
Manchester Metrolink
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal weekday service with last trams leaving city centre at 2100.
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: Saturday frequency but with Sunday start and finish times. Extra trams will run on Altrincham and East Didsbury lines.
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th December: Normal service (extra trams will run on Ashton-under-Lyne line on 28th December serving Etihad Stadium)
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th December: Saturday frequency but with last trams leaving city centre at midnight.
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Saturday frequency with last trams leaving city centre at 0100 on 1st January.
Thursday 1st January 2015 – New Years Day: Saturday frequency with Sunday start and finish times. Extra trams will run on Ashton-under-Lyne line serving Etihad Stadium).
Further details available @ http://www.metrolink.co.uk/Documents/14-1767%20Christmas%20Services%202014%20A1.pdf
Midland Metro
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal service
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: 15 minute Sunday service commencing at 0830 and running until 1800.
Saturday 27th to Wednesday 31st December: Normal service
Thursday 1st January 2015 – New Years Day: Sunday service
Further details available @ http://nxbus.co.uk/the-metro/information/christmas-and-new-year-service-arrangements-2014-12-05
Nottingham Express Transit
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Normal service
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: Sunday service
Saturday 27th to Tuesday 30th December: Normal service
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Normal weekday service until 0015 on 1st January then trams depart Station Street at 0100, 0130, 0200, 0230.
Thursday 1st January 2015 – New Years Day: Sunday service
Further details available @ http://www.thetram.net/news/1/Christmas-Tram-Times-2014/
Stagecoach Supertram
Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Saturday service until last departures from city centre between 1800 and 1830 and last trams into city centre from termini at approximately 1900.
Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day: NO SERVICE
Friday 26th December – Boxing Day: Special service between 0700 and 2000. Yellow route every 20 minutes, special Blue route between Halfway and Meadowhall via Catherdral every 20 minutes. No trams will serve either Malin Bridge or Herdings Park.
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th December: Normal service
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th December: Saturday service
Wednesday 31st December – New Years Eve: Saturday service until last departures from city centre between 1800 and 1830 and last trams into city centre from termini at approximately 1900.
Thursday 1st January 2015 – New Years Day: Special service between 0900 and 1800. Yellow route every 30 minutes, special Blue route between Halfway and Meadowhall via Catherdral every 30 minutes. No trams will serve either Malin Bridge or Herdings Park.
Friday 2nd January 2015: Saturday service
Further details available @ http://www.supertram.com/xmas2014.html
* All information has been provided in good faith but you are strongly advised to check with the relevant operator before attempting to travel over the Christmas and New Year period.