In Pictures: West Midlands Metro Black Country line update

Posted on Thursday 29 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this month we brought you the news that the leader of Dudley Council had announced the first phase of the Black Country line as far as Flood Street, Dudley would be open on 28th August 2026. The extension has been much delayed and the official word from the Midland Metro Alliance still remains “as early as possible in 2026” (which lets be honest could still be 31st December!) with some work still required to complete construction, including joining the line up at Tipton Junction with the current Birmingham-Wolverhampton line. In this pictorial update, Andy Walters has provided permission for this set of photos to be published showing how things were on 24th January 2026.

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South Yorkshire Supertram Engineering Works: Saturday 31st January 2026

Posted on Thursday 29 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

There will be additional engineering works on the South Yorkshire Supertram network affecting services after 2200 on Saturday 31st January. With the works due to take place at Shalesmoor both the Blue and Yellow routes will be running revised services.

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Edinburgh Trams team volunteer to help with tree planting

Posted on Thursday 29 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

A team from Edinburgh Trams spent some time before Christmas volunteering with the Borders Forest Trust to help plant trees near Moffatt, as part of the Trust’s efforts to re-wild the Scottish Borders.

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Funding confirmed for substation works at Heaton Park Tramway

Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

If all goes according to plan the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester should be running again this summer, following the news that Manchester City Council have awarded £400,000 of funding for the essential substation repairs to be completed. Yes, we have a positive news story about heritage trams in the UK!

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East Anglia Transport Museum announce 2026 events

Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

The East Anglia Transport Museum walked away with the “Museum/Heritage Tramway of the Year” at the recent British Trams Online Tram of the Year Awards and they aren’t ones to be resting on their laurels with their 2026 events programme having already been announced.

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Restoration work starts on Whitley Bay footbridge

Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Major restoration work has started on an historic Metro footbridge in North Tyneside as part of the Metro Asset Renewal Programme. It will be restored to its former glory and is part of the multi-million pound renewal scheme at Whitley Bay station which saw its canopy restored in 2025.

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In Pictures: Another revision of ad for Edinburgh Trams 251

Posted on Tuesday 27 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

A new year and another revision of the advert for St James Quarter on Edinburgh Trams 251 can be reported. This is at least the tenth different advert the tram has carried for the shopping centre located close to the Picardy Place tramstop, although to be honest it’s a bit difficult to keep up!

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NET return to usual timetable after end of trial

Posted on Tuesday 27 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have now resumed operating their usual timetable (as from Monday 26th January 2026) after the conclusion of the trial (originally introduced for the Goose Fair last October) which had seen an enhanced evening frequency offered, with a slightly lower frequency during the main part of the day.

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Another LRSSB podcast discusses steps towards greater independence

Posted on Tuesday 27 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

The second release of 2026 for the “Let’s Talk Light Rail” podcast has been released where the LRSSB team discuss plans for the future governance of the organisation.

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Two more Metrocars go for scrap

Posted on Monday 26 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Another week and another two Metrocars have headed off to be scrapped as the programme continues at a pace. The latest two to go are 4008 and 4045 – both of which were still able to move under their own power!

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Colas Rail UK secure new contracts for West Midlands Metro extensions

Posted on Monday 26 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Colas Rail UK have had a long-term relationship with the Midland Metro Alliance as their principal contractor and they have now been awarded further contracts to help the continued expansion of the West Midlands Metro network.

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15 Years Apart: Seaton Tramway 11

Posted on Monday 26 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

We go “15 Years Apart” again with two images of a tram – one taken in 2010 and the other in 2025.

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Out and About: West Midlands Metro – December 2025

Posted on Sunday 25 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

We head back to December 2025 for this latest edition of “Out and About”.

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Line closure for Tyne and Wear Metro in February

Posted on Sunday 25 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro’s Asset Renewal Programme will be continuing for five days in February, with a line closure between Shiremoor and St James from Monday 16th to Friday 20th February.

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Metrolink Ashton line suspended after car abandoned on tracks

Posted on Sunday 25 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

The tram service between Piccadilly and Ashton-under-Lyne was suspended for a couple of hours on the morning of Sunday 18th January after a car was abandoned on the tracks at New Islington.

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End of August for trams to Dudley?

Posted on Saturday 24 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro services to Dudley (Flood Street) could be running by the end of August, if an update at a Dudley Council committee meeting is to be believed. During the meeting, Cllr Patrick Harley (Leader of the Council) have the date of “28th August” as when the service would start running, although there has been no official word from Transport for West Midlands that this will be the case.

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Around the World in Trams: Oporto 216

Posted on Saturday 24 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

We’re back to Europe for this latest “Around the World in Trams” as anything goes January continues!

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 24th January 2026

Posted on Saturday 24 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

We return to Crich’s Tram Weekend in September 2025 for an alternative selection of photos in this week’s main site update:

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More hopes for South Yorkshire tram-train expansion

Posted on Saturday 24 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Hidden amongst the details of the Northern Powerhouse rail announcement (the headline of which is the plan for a new Manchester to Liverpool railway line) were some positive signs for trams across the north of England as well. Although, as always seems to be the case nothing is funded or indeed fully planned.

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Another special offer on NET tram travel

Posted on Saturday 24 January 2026 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have launched another special offer on one of their season tickets with the six-month Student Season Ticket having been reduced by £85 to make tram travel even more affordable.

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