Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 6+51

Posted on Friday 18 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We go into the archives again for “Picture in Time” as we remain on the Isle of Man for this latest edition.

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New advert in Edinburgh as tap on, tap off payment system to be trialled

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 18/4/25 with additional photos.

Final tests are set to get underway on a “Tap on, Tap Off” payment system on the Edinburgh Trams network as the operator seeks to make it even easier to pay for travel. The system is in the final stages of testing and a launch date will be announced soon to allow the public to get the benefits of using their contactless payment method to pay for travel. As part of the publicity for the launch 271 has received a new full wrap.

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Leeds 345 returns to service at Crich

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Since the Crich Tramway Village started their 2025 season all the trams which had run in service had also been seen in action during 2024. But that all changed on Wednesday 16th April when Leeds 345 was part of a two tram service – its first passenger use since 2022!

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Sector-wide training systems adopted by tram operators

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Four tramways across the UK are adopting an integrated learning management system, which it is hoped will help to achieve the aims of a sector-wide approach to light rail training and development. Trials are already underway in Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh with Blackpool due to go live later this year.

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In Pictures: 3061 receives latest advert in Manchester

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink M5000 3061 has become the latest tram on the network to carry advertising vinyls with a new design applied for Allied World. This marks a return to advertising for the tram having lost its last wrap in December 2024.

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RailAdventure UK to drive Coventry Very Light Rail demonstration line

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Coventry City Council have confirmed that they have contracted RailAdventure UK to drive the Very Light Rail vehicle on the city centre demonstration line when it starts operating this summer. The tests are set to get underway during May and June and the appointment of RailAdventure UK means an experienced company in rail operation will be involved, and they will be using a father and son team to do it!

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AI technology to improve tram crossing safety project moves forward

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

A project that is embracing AI technology to improve safety at tramway crossings is to move forward to the next stage of development as part of a partnership between the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) and Starling Technologies.

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Two more new trains arrive for Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

555 010 and 555 011 have become the sixteenth and seventeenth of the new trains being built for the Tyne and Wear Metro to arrive in northeast England. The two trains came exactly the same way as the previous fifteen with them being transported all the way by rail, including a trip through the Channel Tunnel.

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In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7 out again

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 5th April marked the latest occasion that Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 made a public appearance. This was an additional run for the one-time Bournemouth 126 and saw it “run” between Penrhyn Bay and West Shore Llandudno in the company of ex-Crosville bus SC12.

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More Metrolink improvement works to come

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

There may currently be major renewal works taking place on the Manchester Metrolink network affecting services running via Market Street and Shudehill (which continue until Wednesday 23rd April) but that is just one part of the major investment to be seen on the network this year with several other periods of work announced so far this year, up until the start of June.

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In Pictures: More from Beamish as trams return to service

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we reported earlier this month, trams are now running again at Beamish following the conclusion of the trackworks in the 1900s Town (alongside other infrastructure works on the overhead). Wednesday 2nd April was the first day back for the trams and they have been running every day since – Beamish is now back to daily opening until the end of October 2025 – with four different tramcars having operated so far this year. In this pictorial article we take a look at the trams in action over a couple of days in early April. Trevor Hall paid a visit.

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West Midlands Metro to trial discount on tram travel to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

For a two month period, starting from 10th April, hospital staff, patients and their families will be able to enjoy at least a 12% discount on tram travel when going to the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, which is just a short-walk from the West Midlands Metro stop at Bull Street.

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Old(er) and New – Manchester Metrolink: Piccadilly Gardens

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

“Old(er) and New” moves on to a third (and probably final) system for the next few weeks as we take a look at Manchester Metrolink. The idea of the series remains the same – we take a look at an older tram and a newer tram at more or less the same place on the network and for Metrolink that means T68/T68As and M5000s.

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Trams &: Manchester Metrolink 3115 & train

Posted on Sunday 13 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We take another look at a tram and another form of transport in this edition of “Trams &”.

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In Pictures: Trolley woes for MER Tunnel Car 5

Posted on Sunday 13 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Occasionally things don’t quite go according to plan on tramways across the British Isles and that was the case on Thursday 10th April for the Manx Electric Railway with the final departure of the day from Ramsey suffering and ending up being cancelled.

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Cutty Sark DLR station to close to solve ongoing escalator problems

Posted on Sunday 13 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

The DLR station at Cutty Sark – on the Lewisham line – will be closed to passengers from 31st May until spring 2026 to allow for the complex replacement of escalators. Four new state-of-the-art and more energy-efficient escalators will be installed, replacing the existing ones which have become increasingly unreliable and had to be taken out of use.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 13th April 2025

Posted on Sunday 13 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

This week its time for Part 2 of our collection from Manchester Metrolink in mid-March:

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In Pictures: More trams come and go on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 12 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Ah, where would we be without the constant movement of West Midlands Metro trams? Its certainly a way to keep everyone on their toes as trams seem regularly go for road tips, whether that be to Dudley for repairs or Worksop where some have been stored for the past 18 months or so. We now have another update, including photos, with trams going to and from Dudley the main focus.

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Around the World in Trams: Riga 30362

Posted on Saturday 12 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “Around the World in Trams” continues its look at trams running in Riga.

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Seaton 10 tops the mileage charts for March

Posted on Saturday 12 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve entered April its time to look back at March and see which trams were out on the tracks at the Seaton Tramway during the month, courtesy of the monthly update newsletter the tramway produces and sends to subscribers.

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