Another delay for trams to Wolverhampton Railway Station

Posted on Monday 31 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

One to file under the “not really a surprise” category – it has been announced that the West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton Railway Station has been delayed once more with trams now not expected to run until “Spring 2023”. The latest estimate had been Autumn 2022 but due to “unforeseen supply chain constraints” a further delay is now expected – it had originally been hoped it would open in 2020.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 11 Comments

NET performance suffers over a challenging summer

Posted on Monday 31 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

The reliability and punctuality on Nottingham Express Transit fell to its lowest levels for at least a year over the summer as a number of challenges led to issues with service performance. The high temperatures experienced plus supply chain issues are both blamed for the reduction in performance across the network.

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Out and About: Balloons in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 31 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

We return with another instalment of “Out and About” and this time we’re at the seaside!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Out and About | 4 Comments

Trams &: Manchester Metrolink 3031 & bus

Posted on Sunday 30 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Trams &” we head to Manchester as we see one of the M5000s alongside a bus which was operating a Metrolink replacement service in March 2020.

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Metro Flow project reaches halfway point – and remains on schedule

Posted on Sunday 30 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

The project to dual 4.6km of track on the Tyne and Wear Metro in South Tyneside has reached its halfway point with the works remaining on schedule. 3km of new line has now been laid with a further 1.6km to follow over the coming weeks – the project is due to be completed by 4th December.

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NET target Uni students to use the trams

Posted on Sunday 30 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have been attending Nottingham Trent University’s Wellbeing and Safety Fair to talk to students about the unique features that make the tram one of the safest ways to travel around the city. With a tramstop located at the University and student season tickets offering excellent value for money the tram is being marketed as an easy way to get around Nottingham.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 30th October 2022

Posted on Sunday 30 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

We go south for our photos this week as we feature the unique Seaton Tramway:

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In Pictures: 26 makes it two trams for Dudley!

Posted on Saturday 29 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

The Very Light Rail Innovation Centre at Dudley is now home to two West Midlands Metro Urbos3 trams with 26 joining 17 in being moved there for repair work to take place. 26 made the move on Friday 28th October, just three days after 17 had been transported, with Allely’s again being contracted to move the tram.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Around the World in Trams: Vienna 4208

Posted on Saturday 29 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

We make one last stop in Vienna for today’s “Around the World in Trams” – and this time we head to the museum to see one of the trams sent to Europe from New York following World War II.

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Threat of strike action in Nottingham over pay for terminally ill staff

Posted on Saturday 29 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

There could be more strikes on a UK tramway if GMB Union members vote to take action over the treatment of two terminally ill staff employed on Nottingham Express Transit with the union alleging that they could be given pay cuts. If union members vote to take action its expected that there will be strikes on every Saturday leading up to Christmas.

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Man suffers injuries after falling from platform on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 29 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

A man had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries after he fell from the platform at Didsbury Village stop on Saturday 22nd October. The Manchester Evening News reported that the man was leaning against the side of the tram when he fell between a double unit at approximately 1830. A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “At around 18:30 on 22nd October 2022, officers were called to a report of a man who had fallen off the platform at the Didsbury Village Metrolink Stop in Manchester. He received minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.” Metrolink services were temporarily suspended to and from East Didsbury whilst the emergency services were on the scene.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Ashton services start to run to Crumpsall

Posted on Friday 28 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

As many of you will have seen a few days ago, Manchester Metrolink have introduced a temporary timetable for the next few weeks because of the delay in engineering works in Piccadilly Gardens. Originally due to take place this week they have now been delayed until the end of November because of issues with Metrolink’s rail supplier and as a result to ensure the continued safe operation of Metrolink its been necessary to introduce a revised service.

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Supertram fares to be capped at £2 from 1st November

Posted on Friday 28 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Normally when we run a story on fare changes it includes the words “increase” but this time we can report on the introduction of a £2 fare cap on all tram and bus services in South Yorkshire as from 1st November. This is part of Oliver Coppard’s, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, bold plan to tackle the cost of living crisis and comes over two months ahead of national £2 cap on bus journeys due to be introduced between January and March 2023.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 700 & OMO 5

Posted on Friday 28 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Before “Picture in Time” moves on again we have one more photo from September 1984 today.

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In Pictures: Heaton Park Tramway Night Photography event

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 22nd October saw a Night Photography event take place at the Heaton Park Tramway with specially posed scenes including the trams – operational and not operational – as well as a visiting bus in the dark. Manchester trams 765 and 173 featured heavily in the photo opportunities with Manchester bus Daimler CVG6DD no. 4127 also posed alongside. In this pictorial article we take a look at some of the scenes which were able to be captured by photographers who took the rare opportunity to see the tramway after dark.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 3 Comments

In Pictures: New side adverts in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Different tram systems in the UK seem to have different attitudes towards advertising – and how long they keep any ads on their trams. In locations such as Manchester, Edinburgh and on the West Midlands Metro the contract comes to an end and the adverts are quickly removed but in Blackpool it seems to be a far more relaxed affair with a lot of the adverts still carried on the trams believed to be for contracts which have long expired. Indeed, aside from the full vinyl wrap adverts we have seen in the past few years, there has been very little new external advertising added to the trams – but that has recently changed with all trams not in full adverts having received small adverts for the Heart UK heart attack and stroke prevention campaign.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

And extra trams in Edinburgh for rugby internationals too!

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Once again showing its flexibility in operating extra services for big events in the city, Edinburgh Trams will be operating extra services in connection with the forthcoming Autumn Rugby Internationals at BT Murrayfield Stadium.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 17 moves to Dudley!

Posted on Wednesday 26 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Trams will arrive in Dudley in 2024? Wrong! It may not be in service but the first West Midlands Metro tram has already arrived in Dudley with the first built Urbos3 17 being moved on Tuesday 25th October to the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre where it will undergo repairs – this is the first tram to be moved there with a further six expected to follow in due course.

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Spooky goings on in Nottingham!

Posted on Wednesday 26 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit has joined in the Halloween fun this year with some spooky twists on tramstop names! Travellers on the network are being encouraged to spot the fake names and see if anyone can find the “ghoulishly” tricky signs that have recently appeared on the network.

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Extra trams in Edinburgh for Terminal V fans

Posted on Wednesday 26 October 2022 by Gareth Prior

There will be extra late night trams on the Edinburgh Trams network on Saturday 29th October to help get people back from the Terminal V Halloween festival which is taking place at the Royal Highland Centre. Shuttle buses are also being laid on to connect the venue with Ingiston Park and Ride.

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