In Pictures: HMS Blackpool and Balloon 717 moved into Rigby Road workshop

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

With Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours currently looking at a phased reintroduction, with Illumination Tours due to start in October 2025 in time for Lightpool, a start has been made on the first part of the work needed. This has necessitated a move around of exhibits in the Exhibition part of Tramtown at Rigby Road Depot (the former Fitting Shop) which also doubles as the workshop.

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Work continues on Gateshead 10 at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

The long-running overhaul of Gateshead 10 at Beamish is continuing with further progress being made as the tram edges ever closer to returning to service – for the first since 2016.

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Wednesbury tram depot expansion costs increase

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have agreed to provide additional funding for the expansion of the West Midlands Metro depot at Wednesbury. Costs have gone up by more than £7.65 million to £76 million.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3104 goes to the Airport

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

It seems at the moment that barely a week goes by without there being another new advertising livery on Manchester Metrolink and so it is again with 3104 receiving a new wrap for Manchester Airport. The tram was first seen with its new advert on 18th August 2025.

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Oporto 273 makes it 14 passenger trams for 2025 at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Oporto 273 has become the fourteenth passenger tram to have been used at the Crich Tramway Village in 2025 following the conclusion of a truck overhaul.

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Collisions on NET leads the latest operational report

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Its been six months since the Greater Nottingham Light Rail Transit Authority last met and in that time there seem to have been plenty of collisions between trams and other road vehicles, majorly impacting the ability of the network to operate the normal timetable. This led to a temporary timetable running on the network with a lower frequency (now withdrawn) and the latest operational report gives more details of the collisions which have necessitated this.

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Telford Town Tramway to be officially reopened on 24th August

Posted on Tuesday 19 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Telford Town Tramway at the Telford Steam Railway will be officially reopened by Tim Dunn, historian and television presenter, on Sunday 24th August during the railway’s 1940s Weekend. The 2 foot gauge tramway – operated by a steam tram loco and carriage – has been out of action since 2019 but after a major restoration of the loco it is now ready to operate once again.

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NET to return to more regular frequencies

Posted on Tuesday 19 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit are planning to reintroduce their higher frequency timetable from the start of service on Wednesday 20th August 2025. NET had been running a temporary timetable since 25th June 2025 as a result of a shortage of trams but with sufficient repairs having been made to the fleet it is now possible to reintroduce the full service once again.

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Major events to impact Metro services on 22nd August

Posted on Tuesday 19 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Anyone planning to use the Tyne and Wear Metro on Friday 22nd August is being advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to plan ahead with a number of major events taking place in Newcastle and Sunderland. These will lead to Metro trains being busier than usual and crowd control measures will be in place to manage queues, including temporary station closures at West Jesmond and Ilford Road from 1500.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Balloon 708 gets company during Sandtoft Gathering

Posted on Monday 18 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

We take another trip to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft to see the only fully intact tram on site – Blackpool Balloon 708. As we have featured fairly extensively the tram has been acquired by the Museum to become an eventual Play Tram, but for now is just on display and this has been an isolated existence. But during the Gathering it got a bit of company!

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Three more new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro delivered

Posted on Monday 18 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

What’s better than received two new trains? How about receiving three?! That is what happened in the early hours of Friday 8th and Saturday 9th August when for the first time, Stadler sent three of their new trains being built for the Tyne and Wear Metro to northeast England.

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Stop by Stop Edinburgh Trams: Bankhead to Airport – Edinburgh Park Station

Posted on Monday 18 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another trip to Edinburgh as “Stop by Stop Edinburgh Trams” continues, we now reach an interchange stop at Edinburgh Park Station.

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Out and About 2025: Nottingham Express Transit – July 2025

Posted on Sunday 17 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Out and About” we take a trip to Nottingham Express Transit, now in its 22nd year of operation.

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Events keep coming to Crich!

Posted on Sunday 17 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we come towards the end of the school summer holidays, the family orientated events at the Crich Tramway Village are still happening regularly with two more to come before the end of month. The Bank Holiday weekend will be the perfect opportunity to go down to the woods as the popular Teddy Bears’ Picnic returns, and then just a week later its Pirate Day!

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Agenda announced for UKTram and LRSSB Light Rail Summit 2025

Posted on Sunday 17 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

The annual Light Rail Summit returns to Birmingham on 25th September 2025, and this major event for sector leaders has now announced its agenda for a packed day of discussion knowledge-sharing and networking.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 17th August 2025

Posted on Sunday 17 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

We take a trip to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow to take a look at some of the exhibits to be found there:

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In Pictures: TSO projects progress at Crich

Posted on Saturday 16 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

As is well known restoration projects at the Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum, would not be possible if it was not for external funding. The recent restoration of London County Council 1 was funded by the London County Council Tramways Trust, whilst many others (including Newcastle 102 and now Blackpool pair 298 and 645) have only happened thanks to funding from the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation (TSO). In this update from the TSO they explain the recent progress which has been made in the Workshop at Crich, and also provide details of how you can help these and projects in the future come to fruition by becoming a member.

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Around the World in Trams: Schoneiche Rudersdorf 28

Posted on Saturday 16 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

“Around the World in Trams” is back in Berlin as we feature another of the trams which operates on the Schoneiche Rudersdorf line.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3089 yellow again

Posted on Saturday 16 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

Recently we have seen several short-term advertising contracts come to an end on Manchester Metrolink, but this time we bring news of a longer-term ad being removed. The advert on 3089 had been in place for a year but has now come off again to see it back into the usual fleet livery of silver and yellow.

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Coventry City Council celebrate the success of the Very Light Rail demonstration

Posted on Saturday 16 August 2025 by Gareth Prior

With the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle now having moved to Alcester for the next stage of its development, and plans being progressed for a longer demonstration line in the future, Coventry City Council have been reflecting on the success of the initial demonstrations runs. Running in May and June 2025 this saw a 220 metre line built in Greyfriars Road and Queen Victoria Road with good feedback provided by those lucky enough to secure a ticket to ride.

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