Around the World in Trams: Strasbourg 2036

Posted on Saturday 11 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

The next stop on our world tour is Strasbourg in France – a city with three main classes of tram still operating.

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In Pictures: Back to fleet livery for Blackpool 001 and 011

Posted on Saturday 11 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

After several years of bemoaning the fact that once an advert is added to a modern Blackpool tram it seems to be there to stay until its replaced there has been a development recently as two of the four Flexity2 trams carrying all over adverts have lost them and returned to full fleet livery. The trams concerned are 001 and 011.

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TfGM launch new “Tram Aware” campaign

Posted on Saturday 11 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester are urging motorists to “be tram aware” when they are driving close to Manchester Metrolink tracks as a part of a new safety campaign. Footage of recent road traffic collisions has been released to back up this campaign with 91 car v tram collisions reported between April and December 2022 – the majority of which were down to motorist error.

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In Pictures: 31 goes fully blue – and loses its Cyrille Regis vinyls in the process

Posted on Friday 10 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

If you regularly read our news stories on the West Midlands Metro and the gradual repairs and return to service of the Urbos3 trams you’ll have seen the mention of the plain white panels and the application of new vinyls. As time has gone on more of the repaired trams have returned to the full house style (the plain white panels are where they have been replaced as part of the repair work) and one of the latest is 31, although unfortunately, at the same time it has lost its special Cyrille Regis MBE vinyls.

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Chance to see behind the scenes on the Isle of Man this Easter

Posted on Friday 10 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Whilst the big transport events for 2023 will come later in the year (to help celebrate 130 years of the Manx Electric Railway and 150 years of the Isle of Man Steam Railway) the year will start with a small selection of events over the Easter Weekend. Whilst not of the same level as seen in recent years with Rush Hour on the Railways a regular fixture in the calendar the year there will still be the chance to see behind the scenes and to get behind the handles on the MER.

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 18

Posted on Friday 10 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

We are back with another edition of “Picture in Time” today as we return to Sheffield for another photo taken in 1995 in the early days of the Supertram system.

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Balloon 710 returns to Rigby Road

Posted on Thursday 9 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Possibly the most famous Blackpool tram to the general public, Balloon 710, has returned to Rigby Road Depot where it will become an exhibit at the Tramtown visitor attraction. The tram made the short move from outside storage at Wyre Dock on Wednesday 8th February 2023.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 9 Comments

Solent Sky Tram Event 2023 details confirmed

Posted on Thursday 9 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

2023 is a key year for a couple of the trams under the auspices of the Southampton Tram Project and to help them celebrate their special birthdays there is to be a special event at the Solent Sky museum in June again this year. Having taken place last year, the Solent Sky Tram Event 2023 will be taking place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June 2023.

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West Midlands Metro 2022 charity of year set to benefit from fundraising

Posted on Thursday 9 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Compton Care – who were named as the 2022 West Midlands Metro charity of the year – are to benefit from a donation of just over £1,000 after a series of events organised to support one of the region’s leading palliative and end of life care charities.

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Blackpool 619 to be officially launched back into service 26th March

Posted on Wednesday 8 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Shortly before Christmas 2022 a tram returned to service at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway which hadn’t been used since 2017. Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 was a surprise return to service during the Lightopia event but with its re-entry happening with no fanfare it is now planned for it to have an official relaunch with this set to take place on Sunday 26th March.

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In Pictures: Supertram Middlewood shuttle

Posted on Wednesday 8 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

If you’ve been concentrating on the news page this week you will have seen that there has been disruption for Stagecoach Supertram services between the city centre and Middlewood/Malin Bridge. It all started on Monday 6th February when Citylink 399 207 was declared a failure on West Street and following its rescue back to depot the line remained closed with track repairs required.

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Southport Pier Tramway tracks to be removed

Posted on Wednesday 8 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

The tracks once used by the Southport Pier Tramway are to be removed – some ten years since the tram last ran along the Pier. Despite the fact that the tram was suspended in 2013 the rails have been left in place but now with the decking being relaid the chance is being taken to remove them once and for all.

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Isle of Man timetables and operating dates confirmed for 2023

Posted on Tuesday 7 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Full timetables and operating dates for the four railways and tramways operated by Isle of Man Transport have now been confirmed. It will be a special year on the island as the Steam Railway (granted not in our remit) is celebrating 150 years of operation and the Manx Electric Railway (definitely in our remit!) reaches 130 years – plus it will be the first full season of running for the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway since 2019 (although still on a reduced length of line).

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Seaton Tramway triumphs with two awards at Devon Tourism Awards

Posted on Tuesday 7 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its starting to become a bit of a habit for the Seaton Tramway. Every time they go to an awards ceremony they come home with more accolades and that is exactly what happened on 2nd February as they secured two more prestigious awards at the Devon Tourism Awards.

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In Pictures: Work continues in Dudley Town Centre

Posted on Monday 6 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

This latest pictorial update heads to Dudley Town Centre where we take a look at recent progress around Castle Hill which has been the first location on the West Midlands Metro extension to Dudley (and eventually Brierley Hill) to have tracklaying completed. Andy Walters provides the images.

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Tram breakdown leads to severe Supertram disruption

Posted on Monday 6 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

This article has been revised since original publication. Last update was Tuesday 7th February at 1945.

There has been severe disruption to services on Stagecoach Supertram since Monday 6th February after a tram broke down on West Street which also caused damage to the track. No trams were initially able to run between Cathedral and Shalesmoor from around 0830 until the end of service of Monday 6th February before a limited shuttle service was introduced between University and Middlewood on Tuesday 7th February.

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Trams &: Blackpool 31, Sheffield 264 & horse drawn carriage

Posted on Monday 6 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

We return to “Trams &” for the next few weeks and today we are off to Beamish for a couple of trams and a horse drawn carriage.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Trams & | 1 Comment

Stop by Stop: Nottingham Express Transit: Hucknall & Phoenix Park – Basford

Posted on Sunday 5 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

We return to “Stop by Stop” as we view images taken at each stop on a UK tramway and this is the start of the final leg of our journey on Nottingham Express Transit. Last time out (mid-February 2022) we had got as far as Wilkinson Street as we headed towards Hucknall and Phoenix Park and now its onwards with Basford our first call.

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Kids go free on Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours this February Half Term

Posted on Sunday 5 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Not sure what do with the kids during the February Half Term holiday? The team at Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have an idea for you as they will once again be running Promenade and Coastal Tours on select dates and what’s more kids go free when accompanying a paying adult – as long as its pre-booked online.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 5th February 2023

Posted on Sunday 5 February 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its a double helping of photos to start the month off – photos from January and another of our “20 Photos of…” series:

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