Trams &: Edinburgh Trams 273 & cruise ship

Posted on Sunday 5 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

“Trams &” goes to Edinburgh as we see one of the trams running on the Newhaven extension along with a visiting cruise ship.

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KeolisAmey Metrolink win Operator of the Year at Global Light Rail Awards

Posted on Sunday 5 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The annual Global Light Rail Awards took place in London on 1st October 2025 and once again a wide-range of organisations and individuals were recognised for their achievements over the past year. Although the awards remain global once again it was the UK who were celebrating in many of the categories, including KeolisAmey Metrolink who were named Operator of the Year.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, Edinburgh Trams, London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | Leave a comment

Blackpool Transport named Tram Operator of the Year at Transport Awards

Posted on Sunday 5 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

It is most certainly awards season in the transport sector with two major ceremonies recently taking place. One of those with the National Transport Awards which as the name suggests covers all aspects of transport in the UK with one of the categories being “Tram Operator of the Year”.

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Nexus’ Poetry Day competition is back

Posted on Sunday 5 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

For the fifth year, Nexus are to run a poetry competition, launched on National Poetry Day once again. Both experienced poets and those who are new to poetry are encouraged to submit their entries and the lucky winners will get to see their work displayed on the Tyne and Wear Metro network.

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Another Stadler train enters service on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 4 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The regular churn of new trains entering service on the Tyne and Wear Metro is continuing with 555 031 the 19th of the Stadler built units to carry passengers for the very first time. It was used for the first time on Monday 22nd September 2025.

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Around the World in Trams: Rostock 21

Posted on Saturday 4 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Our German stay in “Around the World in Trams” continues during October and this time we go back in time and across to East Germany for another excellent selection of evocative photos taken in 1975 by Donald Brooks.

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NET to run trial of more frequent evening services

Posted on Saturday 4 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

There will be more frequent services in the evening on Nottingham Express Transit for a trial one-month period. Originally put in place during the recent Goose Fair the same enhanced evening service will continue for a month from Monday 6th October following customer feedback.

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LRSSB to move towards greater independence

Posted on Saturday 4 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) have outlined plans which are set to help it meet the future needs of the light rail sector in the UK. This will see the organisation move towards greater independence and stronger sector participation in the LRSSB board.

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In Pictures: First new DLR train enters service

Posted on Friday 3 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The new era of trains on the Docklands Light Railway is upon us following the entry into service of 209 on Tuesday 30th September 2025. Part of the Inneo family of vehicles from CAF the class is designated as B23 on the DLR (following on from tradition where the B signifies the main depot of Beckton and 23 the year, yes they are late entering service!).

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Power failures cause problems in London and the northeast

Posted on Friday 3 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Two completely separate power failures caused problems for light rail systems in the UK in late September with both the Tyne and Wear Metro and London Trams impacted. Both were reported at their respective depots but whilst for the Metro they managed to start services within a few hours it was a very different story on London Trams.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 701

Posted on Friday 3 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of “Picture in Time” coming from Blackpool.

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More Tyne and Wear Metro scrappings

Posted on Thursday 2 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

We have now reached 35 of the original Tyne and Wear Metro trains have been scrapped (or at least sent for scrapping) with another two having recently been transported to J Denham Metals in Shildon for “recycling”.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams engineering works September 2025

Posted on Thursday 2 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

For three days at the end of September 2025, Edinburgh Trams was split into two as essential engineering works took place on the points at West End (Shandwick Place). No trams ran between Haymarket and Picardy Place on Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th and Monday 29th September to allow the works to take place and in this article we take a look at some of the temporary arrangements in place.

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New LRSSB podcast looks at work of confidential safety hotline

Posted on Thursday 2 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The latest edition of the LRSSB’s “Let’s Talk Light Rail” podcast has been released and highlights the increasingly important role of an independent organisation that enables light rail employees to report their safety concerns without fear of repercussions.

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In Pictures: Heritage trams move down to Starr Gate

Posted on Wednesday 1 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The much anticipated temporary return of heritage trams to operation in Blackpool moved a further step forward in late September when the chosen pair of trams for Illumination Tours during the Lightpool Festival this October took place. Both Balloon 717 and Frigate 736 were moved as part of further testing and can now be found residing at Starr Gate Depot.

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In Pictures: A return to fleet livery for West Midlands Metro 51

Posted on Wednesday 1 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The University of Wolverhampton wrap on West Midlands Metro 51 is no more with the vinyls having been removed from the tram during September 2025. Following the removal of this advert the tram is now running in full fleet livery once more.

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Fatigue monitoring system moves to next stage of testing

Posted on Wednesday 1 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

A workplace fatigue monitoring system, which has been many years in development, is set to move to the next stage of operational testing as the project progresses. You may remember talk of FOCUS+ which had been tested on systems such as Edinburgh Trams and now this technology has been further developed and is known as BaselineNC. It is this latest development which will move to the next stage of testing.

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In Pictures: Trams return to Wolverhampton St George’s!

Posted on Tuesday 30 September 2025 by Gareth Prior

Its been a long-time coming but Monday 29th September 2025 finally saw the return of passenger services to Wolverhampton St George’s as for the first time in its history the West Midlands Metro has three terminus stops.

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UKTram sign Memorandum of Understanding with Rail Forum

Posted on Tuesday 30 September 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another step forward in the strengthening collaboration across the transport sector has recently been demonstrated following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UKTram and Rail Forum. This was signed at the Rail Forum AGM where the shared goals of the two organisations were highlighted.

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New Metro trains inspire drag artist on Ru Paul’s Drag Race

Posted on Tuesday 30 September 2025 by Gareth Prior

Over time you hear that this has inspired that but we think this may be a new one as the new Metro trains currently being introduced into service on the Tyne and Wear Metro have apparently inspired a drag artist appearing on the latest series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race for the design of their new dress!

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