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| News...August 2004...News...August 2004...News...August 2004...News This Page was last updated Wednesday 1 September 2004 |
| All the news carried on these pages is done so in good faith and the source is always quoted, normally with hyperlinks. If you have a correction to give us on a news story or have any additional news that can be added do not hestiate to email us . We are grateful for those people who have given us permission to use their images and news on this page. |
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For all previous news pages click here to go to the new News Index page which provides links to news dating back to September 2002. Photos on this page: Blackpool Ex-Railcoach 678 showing off its new all over advert for Radio Wave on 30 July 2004. (added 1 August 2004) Blackpool Centenary 642 in a revised advert for Mecca Bingo on 23 August 2004. (added 29 August 2004) |
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News In Brief Blackpool: Balloon 702 has been released from the Paint Shop in the 1970s Green and Cream livery, ready for the 70th Anniversary celebrations. Coronation 660 has replaced it in the Paint Shop as part of its major overhaul. (1/9/04 - Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups Blackpool_Transport) Croydon: The Beckenham Junction line on Tramlink re-opened on Friday, one day earlier than was planned. This followed the extensive track replacement undertaken. (1/9/04 - Unofficial Croydon Tramlink) Manchester: 1008 is the latest tram to be out shopped in the revised white and blue livery, having being spotted at the depot last week. Our correspondent also reports that 1010 has not been noted for a while and reading between the lines this may be the latest tram to undergo the mid-life refurbishment. (1/9/04 - Gordon Ferguson) Manchester: Tram services were disrupted on Wednesday 1 September as the Manchester leg of the Tour of Britain cycle race was due to conclude at the Urbis Centre in the city centre. Trams were expected to be suspended between Piccadilly and Victoria between 3pm and 4pm whilst the race finished, although timings may have changed depending on the finish time of the race. (1/9/04 - Manchester Metrolink) ------------------------------------------------- Manchester: Not much to report as regards the “Get Back on Track” campaign during the past week with only one article posted on their website. However this article went out to prove how Metrolink kept running during floods in the areas whilst roads saw heavy disruption. Manchester’s Lord Mayor has also been the latest to through his support behind the campaign by signing the book of support at the Town Hall. (29/8/04 - Manchester Online) Nottingham: There is to be a radio debate on the proposed extensions to NET on Wednesday 1 September at 7.30pm. The event is to be an all ticket event with the organisers trying to get an even balance of pro and anti campaigners. Nick Palmer, MP for Broxtowe, and Councillor Mick Warner are confirmed at attending along with a representative from NET. It will broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham the following morning at 10am. (29/8/04 - This is Nottingham) ------------------------------------------------- Blackpool: Centenary 642 has now returned to service a new light blue livery for Mecca Bingo. This becomes at least the fourth different livery style for this sponsor in recent years. (25/8/04 - Alan Robson) Liverpool: The latest figures for the Line 2 Public consultation released this week have seen over 50,000 people visiting the website and 4,000 people attending the exhibitions being held across the region. (25/8/04 - icLiverpool) ------------------------------------------------- Beamish: After last months collision between two trams at the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish the HSE have announced that they believed there had been a breakdown in safe working practices, but were satisfied that there would be no repeat. The director of the Museum, Miriam Harte told BBC News Online that they would learn from the incident to ensure trams operated safely in the future. (23/8/04 - BBC News Online) Nottingham: Last week as part of the BBC ican campaign there were two articles looking at the proposed Lines 2 and 3 of NET. One was in the anti camp whilst the other looked at it from a positive viewpoint. No new information was included but the articles can be seen here and BBC News Online) ------------------------------------------------- Blackpool: Ex-Towing Railcoach 680 has had its all over advert for Central Pier completed and the tram was back in service during last week. (8/8/04 - Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups Blackpool Transport) DLR: Buses replace trains between Blackwall and Beckton on the weekends of 7/8 and 14/15 August owing to essential engineering works. All other routes were scheduled to run normally. (8/8/04 - Docklands Light Railway) Sheffield: Fears that tram drivers could have gone on strike over pay have been averted after there was a near unanimous acceptance of the deal offered by bosses at Stagecoach. There is currently a strike being carried out by First bus drivers in the area which has become the longest continuous bus strike for 30 years. (8/8/04 - Sheffield Today) ------------------------------------------------- Birmingham: Another Midland Metro tram has been named this time after John Stanley Webb who wrote several books on the subject of trams including one on the trams of the Black Country. The naming ceremony was attended by Tony Depledge, President of the Light Rail Transit Association, Councillor Judith Rowley of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, Mr Webb's cousin Raymond Petty and niece Susan Hird. (1/8/04 - This is Birmingham) Manchester: As previously reported 1012 and 2003 are in the new livery and have now also returned to service. 1012 has also received the name Catherine Hallett. (1/8/04 - Gordon Ferguson) Manchester: Metrolink services will be disrupted on 1, 8 and 22 August as the M62 is being widened. There will be no trams from Trafford Bar to Altrincham with buses being used instead. (1/8/04 - Manchester Metrolink) Nottingham: The first tram on NET has been fitted with CCTV as an experiment which could see further tram following if a success. Cameras will be mounted at each end of the tram and also throughout the interior with a total of 8 in the tram. It will cost £150,000 to fit the whole fleet with CCTV. (1/8/04 - This is Nottingham) Portsmouth: After the rejection of the SHLRT scheme £3 million has been released for other projects in the city. One of the first schemes to gain from this is some new superloos by Clarence Pier in Southsea! (1/8/04 - Portsmouth Today) Southport: The opening of the new tram on Southport Pier has been delayed until at least October. The delays have been put down to last minute design changes. (1/8/04 - icLiverpool) ------------------------------------------------- |
| As kind of promised there is now an update here of the news so far this week. There have been no big news stories so all the news is in the In Brief box on the left hand side of the screen. This is now the last update until the week commencing Monday 20 September. The reason for this is that your webmaster is going on holiday for a fortnight. On the next site update not only will the news pages be updated but there will also be a report and photos from my holiday in Blackpool. If you do happen to see me in Blackpool do come and say hello and tell me how much you love BRITISH TRAMS ONLINE! I will be the one with a camera and notebook looking at the trams! Gareth 1/9/04 |
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Blackpool Centenary 642has received paint shop attention to receive a new advert for Mecca Bingo. This time the tram has been finished in a sky blue colour. The style for Mecca Bingo becomes at least the fourth different scheme for this sponsor. Who can forget the two bears on the roof of Railcoach 678 in the 1990s? This photo shows the tram at Cabin on 23 August 2004. Photo: Alan Robson |
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INCREASE IN LIGHT RAIL JOURNEYS IN THE UK Sunday 29 August 2004 The number of journeys undertaken on the UK’s light rail lines during the past 12 months has increased by almost 5%. The figures run on the financial year and as such they include only a few weeks of service on Nottingham Express Transit. There are seven systems included in the figures (see below for the table) and these do not include Blackpool. The past year has seen a major decrease here with 18% fewer journeys made, but this has been put down to the system shutdown due to the major track replacement. The table below shows that each and every system has enjoyed a percentage increase with the largest increase being enjoyed on the Stagecoach Supertram where journeys have increased by 7% to 12.3 million. There were also increases of above 5% on the DLR (6.0%), Croydon (5.9%) and Midland Metro (5%). The increases on the Tyne and Wear Metro (3.4%) and Manchester Metrolink (0.5%) were less significant though. The figures also reveal that in the past year Croydon Tramlink has overtaken Manchester Metrolink for passenger journeys for the first time with 19.8 million passenger journeys enjoying Tramlink and just 18.9 million on Metrolink. The most popular system for passenger journeys remains the DLR, despite the fact that 4 systems have longer route kilometres.
The figures next year are expected to show an even larger increase as there will be a full year of Nottingham Express Transit to count as well as the hoped for general increases on other systems. Responses to the figures have also started to come in with spokesman Phil Bateman of Midland Metro saying: “Whilst the growth may be seen to be modest it is still beneficial and those customers that use the Metro love the ability of being able to use it. We can expect to see further increases in passengers as more homes and industrial developments start to spring up alongside the line over the next years." Meanwhile the only other system to give the press their response so far has been the Stagecoach Supertram in Sheffield with Roy Wicks, Director General of the South Yorkshire PTE saying: “A 4.9 per cent increase throughout the country is of course encouraging, but for us to have exceeded that with an increase of seven per cent clearly demonstrates how successful the system has been in Sheffield.” Source: Department for Transport, icBirmingham & Sheffield Today TRANPORT BOSSES APPROVAL FOR SUPERTRAM EXTENSIONS Sunday 29 August 2004 It is expected that transport bosses in South Yorkshire will give the go-ahead next week for the extension plans of the Stagecoach Supertram. A report is due to go before the South Yorkshire PTA at the start of the week which will recommend approval for lines to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and from Meadowhall to Rotherham. Once this approval is rubber stamped the next stage will see the PTE submitting a formal bid for funding to the government. Director General of the South Yorkshire PTE, Roy Wicks told the Sheffield Star: “We believe that the major benefits that this scheme will bring to Rotherham, Sheffield and South Yorkshire make this a robust and realistic proposal. There has been much discussion with our colleagues in the district councils in recent months and further public consultation, and I am pleased with the support for the extensions so far." The hope is that they will receive a decision from the government by next spring. Source: Sheffield Today ATTACK ON BOARD TRAM IN CROYDON Sunday 29 August 2004 Police have released CCTV pictures this week of a gang who boarded a tram in Croydon and attacked two men in an attempt to find them. The attack happened at around 8pm on Sunday 18 July at George Street, Croydon when the group of approximately 30 men boarded the stationary tram. Details of the incident have only now been released because the two men who were attacked never came forward to report the crime, but fortunately the tram involved was one which has been fitted with CCTV. Tramtrack Croydon Ltd are now offering a reward of £1,000 for any information leading to a prosecution. Charles Tomlinson, Head of Safety for Tramtrack said: “A number of other passengers who weren't involved were very clearly shaken up by the incident. We are very keen to catch and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime." Pictures from the CCTV are available here and anyone with any details should ring the British Transport Police on 020 7983 7255 quoting reference LSRR00026338. Source: icSouthLondon IMPROVED NET TIMETABLE ANNOUNCED FOR SEPTEMBER Wednesday 25 August 2004 As had been mentioned soon after NET started services an improved timetable and revised fares will be introduced as from Monday 6 September. The improved service will see trams running every 6 minutes during the off peak as opposed to the 7.5 minutes currently. Services during the Saturday peak will also be increased to every 6 minutes whilst on Sundays the main part of the day will be increased from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes. The fare structure will also be simplified with two zones of travel introduced. Adult fares will now be 80p between the Royal Centre and Station Street with £1.10 now for all other journeys. This does unfortunately though mean there are increases for some trips although day and weekly tickets remain unaffected. The marketing manager for NET said about this news: “We are very encouraged by the initial usage figures for NET and are pleased to be able to offer more trams, more often after only six months in operation.” Source: This is Nottingham WOLVERHAMPTON 49 RESTORATION COMPLETED AT DUDLEY Monday 23 August 2004 The restoration of Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways 49 at the Black Country Museum near Dudley has been completed and the tram is now in service for the first time in preservation. The tram is an open top double decker and is the first double decker to operate at the Black Country Museum in its history. It was withdrawn from service in its original life as far back as 1924 when the town converted to trolleybuses. After withdrawal it ended up at a funeral directors where it was used as living quarters for 50 years until 1976 when it was purchased by local enthusiasts from the Black Country Museum for £100. It has since been involved in a painstaking 25 year restoration which has now been completed and will see the tram in operation (weather permitting) every day until 31 August. Ian Walden, director of the Museum said: “Many of our buildings and exhibits have interesting stories behind them, but none can claim to have such a strange former life. The finished article is exactly as it would have been in Wolverhampton at the start of the previous century." Source: icBirmingham MIDLAND METRO TO PAY COMPENSATION OUT Monday 23 August 2004 Residents who live near to the Midland Metro line in Western Avenue, Tipton are to receive compensation for the high noise levels caused by the tramway. Some of the residents claim that the noise is so high that at times they can hear the passenger announcements on board the trams. The decision was announced after a letter was sent to local MP Adrian Bailey (Labour, West Bromwich East) from Altram (Midland Metro operator). In the letter Dr Peter Howarth, the Chief Executive, said that he had “no intention of avoiding obligations set out in the Land Compensation Act". However Altram have also said that only a few residents are to receive the compensation and many of these will not get the amount they have asked for. Source: BBC News Online METROLINK GET BACK ON TRACK CAMPAIGN CONTINUES Monday 23 August 2004 Things are still dying down with the campaign to get the “Big Bang” of Manchester Metrolink back on track with only 3 articles posted on the Manchester Evening News website last week. Among those backing the tram plan this week were Manchester City fans who were asked their views on transport links to the City of Manchester Stadium on the opening day of the Premiership season. Local MP Tony Lloyd said: “Manchester City fans and people across Greater Manchester are fully in support of this campaign. This is a modern stadium and it deserves to have modern transport links. The Metrolink would be perfect for fans who wanted easy access to the stadium from their homes.” Also showing their disappointment to the news have been the developers behind a proposed Ski Centre close to the Trafford Centre. Although a line to the Trafford Centre was not part of the Phase 3 plans it had been hoped by Peel Holdings that they could contribute a large sum of money for a short stub extension off the Eccles line. However last week it was confirmed that Alistair Darling’s ruling effectively meant the end to this plan as well. The final article of the week was about the book of protest opened at Manchester Town Hall as reported on last week on BRITISH TRAMS ONLINE. It appears that this has also been popular and people are signing the book in numbers. Source: Manchester Online OUTRAGE AS TRAM LEAVES 6 YEAR OLD STRANDED IN CROYDON Sunday 15 August 2004 A 6-year-old girl was left stranded at the Gravel Hill tram stop after she got off the tram whilst her parents remained on board the tram. The incident happened as the El-Bishlawi family were alighting from the tram and 6-year-old Lauren got off first. But then the doors started to shut as her mother was getting off with the pram with their younger child. As an instinctive move she pulled the pram back and the doors shut with Lauren on the platform. The tram started to pull off from the stop and the emergency lever was pulled so it then stopped. The driver went down the tram to investigate but he allegedly refused to open the doors saying that it was against regulations. Luckily for the family someone else had got off the tram and they drove Lauren to the next stop to meet her distraught parents. Mr El-Bishlawi said: “I couldn't believe what was happening. It was complete bedlam on the tram. Everyone was shouting and swearing at the driver to stop but he did nothing." The family are now seeking legal advice. Roger Harding, Operations Manager for Tramtrack Croydon said: “We are very very concerned about the distress this has caused the family. We have looked at the incident on CCTV because this was one of five trams fitted with cameras. This matter is now the subject of an investigation. We have ensured that all our drivers have been re-instructed with the same instruction they were given a couple of years ago in terms of how they should address these sort of circumstances." Source: icSouthLondon METROLINK “BIG BANG” REJECTION LATEST Sunday 15 August 2004 Things have died down a bit in the Get Back on Track campaign being led by the Manchester Evening News in the past week however there have still been a handful of articles. The man who is behind £520 million worth of developments throughout Greater Manchester has written to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown accusing them of lacking joined up thinking. Ken Knott is the Chief Executive of Ask Developments who have recently unveiled plans for a £260 million development at Sportcity including a casino, ice rink and themed swimming pool. He said: “Take the Metrolink away and you reduce the confidence of investors and occupiers. They are already in disadvantaged areas and we are fundamentally wounding these projects." Mr Knott is hoping that his letter will help persuade the government to reconsider their decision. He added: “They think they are saving money but there are many programmes costing millions and millions of pounds which could be affected by this. This transport decision seems to have been taken in complete isolation." Elsewhere this week the head of the newly merged super University in Manchester, Professor Alan Gilbert, has also pledged his support to the Get Back on Track Campaign. In a letter to the government he says: “The creation of the University of Manchester is a higher education project of unprecedented scale for the whole of the UK, but is profoundly dependent on the continued impetus toward civic and infrastructural regeneration in Manchester. Can I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider the government's position on Metrolink, and urgently to discuss with the passenger transport authority and the city council how to take this successful system forward." Professor Gilbert is offering to meet Alistair Darling or his staff to discuss his comments in detail. Finally from Manchester for this week a book of support is available to sign in Manchester Town Hall from tomorrow (Monday 16 August). Deputy Council leader Jim Battle told BBC News Online: “We anticipate a great deal of interest from local people. We felt a book of support was a natural step.” Source: Manchester Online & BBC News Online BLACKPOOL TRAMWAY NEWS UPDATE Sunday 15 August 2004 On the repaint front Centenary 642 has been transferred to the Paint Shop for a start to be made on a new all over advert for its current sponsor, Mecca Bingo. Balloon 702 is also undergoing paint attention to receive the 1970s Green and Cream fleet livery style so it can take part in the 70th Anniversary celebrations. Other trams involved in works attention during the past month has included Balloon 713 which is progressing in the Body Shop and the Fylde Tramway News reports that the tram will receive one of the Metro Coastlines liveries when completed. Coronation 660 also sees work continue with the body of the tram now repanelled and a new saloon floor has been fitted. The Unimog 939 has now returned to Blackpool after modifications being made elsewhere whilst it is expected that the forthcoming winter trackwork will be the section of track between South Pier and Manchester Square. Birse are again expected to be involved. Don’t forget the only way to receive full monthly news on the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway as well as features and the chance to attend monthly meetings and regular tram tours is to join the Fylde Tramway Society. For more details see here or here. Source: Fylde Tramway News CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE NEWS UPDATE Sunday 15 August 2004 The exciting news is that Blackpool Brush 298 is to be moved from the Mode Wheel Workshop in Salford to the Museum over the winter. It is believed that the main reasoning behind this decision is Health and Safety matters. Following its transfer it is expected that the work will be completed in the Crich workshops with the funds available from the project. The current big restoration project is of course Leeds 345 and progress is still being made with this in the workshops with completion being hoped for by April/May next year. The tram has now been virtually completed electrically and the lifeguards have also been fitted. Blackpool Toastrack 166 has seen its trucks and the traction motors being more or less completed with the controllers now being dealt with. Sheffield 510 has been withdrawn from service after suffering a broken main truck leaf spring which has been sent away for repairs. To get full news about the trams and operations at Crich why not join the Tramway Museum Society? For more details click here or here. Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society CROYDON TRAMLINK NEWS UPDATE Sunday 15 August 2004 As previously reported on these pages the major engineering works on Croydon Tramlink has now commenced. The work is quite major with around 1km of track and sleepers removed in both directions from around Arena Junction to Harrington Road. The trackbed is being excavated and this has shown that some areas of the trackbed are in a sorry state. The worst area is near to the Pitch and Putt at Harrington Road where it appears there is almost no foundations at all. The latest progress has seen the area of work nearest to Harrington Road being levelled in preparation for the application of fresh ballast and then track. It is also reported that the revised tram service being operated with the 8 minute frequency on the Wimbledon line is working well. This service now sees 11 trams running and this has aided the operation of the service with new passing points also introduced. Still on the subject of engineering work the single line into Wimbledon will be closed on Sunday 5 September for cabling work to be carried out. For a more detailed look at the engineering work and all the latest news on Croydon Tramlink visit Stephen Parascandolo’s Unofficial Croydon Tramlink website. Source: Croydon Tramlink HEATON PARK UPDATE Sunday 15 August 2004 We have recently received an update on what is happening at the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester. The service continues to be provided by Manchester 765 and Hull 96 with the tramway currently being operated in two halves due to slight track damage. They are however hoping that this will be repaired in winter. The restoration of Eades Horse car L53 continues apace. The beginnings of the staircase is now in place and the upper deck knifeboard seats are more or less in place. The car is expected to be ready for next summer. The tramway operates every Sunday until the end of September 1.30 - 4.30 and tickets are just 60p for adults and 30p for children to ride all afternoon!! Source: John Whitehouse - Traffic Manager MANCHESTER “BIG BANG” CAMPAIGN GOES ON Sunday 8 August 2004 The campaign to get the “Big Bang” on Manchester Metrolink back on track has continued apace this week, although there have been just the seven articles appear on the Manchester Online website. The Manchester Evening News are now backing the local business leaders and councillors in their bid to hold a series of rallies in Oldham, Rochdale, Ashton under Lyne and finally in Manchester city centre. It is hoped that local people will come out in force to support these rallies and to show their support for continuing to push for Metrolink extensions. It is planned to hold the big rally in the city centre on 17 September. At the same time as planning these rallies the Greater Manchester PTE (GMPTE) are looking at ways they could make savings on the plans and putting in a fresh bid for funding. Chris Mulligan the Director General of the GMPTE said: “There are two parts to this campaign. One is our side getting as much support and publicity for the campaign as possible. The second part is looking at the reasons the Secretary of State put forward for turning down the scheme - affordability, value for money and the need to look at different options. We are putting together a submission directly addressing those concerns and outlining options like more innovative financing and how we can trim costs." It is planned to put this submission to government on 20 September. Elsewhere in Manchester this week business bosses are being urged to write to Alistair Darling to show their support for the extensions. It is hoped that these letters will show the government how crucial the new larger Metrolink would be to the future of the areas particularly as renewal and regeneration have recently started. Last weekends Lord Mayor’s Parade in the city centre also saw a pair of Manchester Evening News vans with the campaign logo and wording “Sign the Petition in the Manchester Evening News” on the side. In addition the coupons which have been printed in the newspaper were also being handed out to people at the Parade. The GMPTE have launched a page on their website which enables you to download a campaign pack and you can find it here. It gives you the logos they have designed and other ideas you could use for the campaign. Finally from Manchester this week, Michael Howard, leader of the Conservative party has jumped onto the bandwagon and pledged his support for the “Big Bang”. Mr Howard told the Manchester Evening News: “This is the latest example of how badly this government has let down the people of Manchester and the north west. This is an important project to improve the quality of life for local people. The Conservatives will look at imaginative ways to see how we can put right Labour's failure to deliver." Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat Transport spokesman John Thurso said: “Liberal Democrats believe that the decision to axe the funding for Metrolink was the wrong one." There may yet be serious political ramifications over the decision to axe the Metrolink extensions as it is reported that several of the Greater Manchester Labour MPs fear that they may loose their seats at the next general election, due probably in the spring. That is unless there is a remarkable u-turn by Labour before then saying they “listened to the people”. Source: Manchester Online & Greater Manchester PTE MERSEYTRAM LINE 2 A HIT WITH PUBLIC Sunday 8 August 2004 Since the public consultation for Line 2 of MerseyTram was launched last month there have been nearly 20,000 hits on the official website and 3,200 people have visited the exhibitions being held. And those people who have been responding to the plans have been largely positive with 8 out of 10 giving support for the line to be built. The Chair of the Merseytram Committee, Councillor George Howard said: “The consultation is going from strength to strength. We want views about the plans from people on the ground. It is going to be their tram in the end, so we need to hear what they think about it. I am really pleased we have had such a positive response so far.” The funding for Line 2 is not yet in place but MerseyTravel bosses are hopeful that they will get a decision by the end of this year, although it remains to be seen whether it will be positive following last months controversial decisions elsewhere in the UK. They are also waiting to hear the results of the Line 1 Public Inquiry which finished earlier this year. If everything goes according to plan initial works could start as early as next year on Line 1. Source: icLiverpool & Mersey Travel WARRINGTON 2 MOVES TO BIRKENHEAD FOR RESTORATION Sunday 8 August 2004 On Sunday 24 July Warrington 2 was moved from St Helens to the Taylor Street depot in Birkenhead for a start to be made on its restoration to operational status. The restoration is to be undertaken by Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (MTPS) members on the tram which was rescued by Alan Pritchard 30 years ago. It has become the last ever tram to leave St Helens Tram depot which is now home to the St Helens Transport Museum. Pictures of the removal of the tram from St Helens and its arrival at Birkenhead can be seen here. Source: MTPS CROYDON TRAMLINK NEWS UPDATE Sunday 8 August 2004 In order to be able to more accurately record passengers using Tramlink automatic passenger counters are to be fitted at the entrance to each and every tram. 2531 has been fitted with this equipment first as a test to see it is a success. It is thought that the data will not only be able to used to show whether extra capacity is needed on Tramlink but will also be able to tell the control room how busy a particular tram is and so if it is late running they can decide whether it should be turned short. However it has been reported that some of the tests have not proved successful with equipment problems. The Centrale stop saga continues and has now been completed although of course trams will not be stopping there for the foreseeable future, for the latest “progress” see ”> here. On Friday 2 July there was a collision between 2533 and a rubbish collecting van on George Street in Croydon. It is not clear what happened in the incident but there were two scrape marks on the side of the tram and the van was shunted around 20-30 yards along the road. There were no serious injuries reported. Source: Unofficial Croydon Tramlink NEW CLEANING CONTRACT FOR MIDLAND METRO Sunday 8 August 2004 Following recent criticism that the Midland Metro route is starting to look untidy General Manager Fred Roberts has announced that a new contract has been signed starting from 1 September. He said: “The company has been mindful of the need to improve the regular clearing of rubbish and litter at some of the stops. We hope that there will be a noticeable change in cleaning standards when the new contract that has been specified starts on the 1st September. We have been operating a rail vehicle late at night, after the service has finished. Which has been spraying the tracks to reduce weed growth and hence stop the seeds, before they have chance to be blown along the track and germinate.” Source: Midland Metro |
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Blackpool Ex-Towing Railcoach 678 has finally seen its all over advert for Radio Wave completed and this is the black, pink and white design captured at Cabin on 30 July 2004. Photo: Alan Robson |
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AND THE DEBATE GOES ON IN MANCHESTER… Sunday 1 August 2004 The past week has only seen the 14 articles from the Manchester Evening News make it onto the Manchester Online website about the “betrayal” from the government on the Metrolink expansion. This week their “Get Back on Track” campaign has continued and they have reported that over 5,000 of the coupons (mentioned in our News Special last week) have been returned pledging support for the “Big Bang”. It was also made easier to pledge support this week as people can now text their name and postcode to 83105 with calls costing 25p plus the standard messaging rate. The MEN also claim that the story has seen one of their largest ever responses with comments being posted on their website from not only the UK but also from as far a field as Malta and the United States. Many of the comments they have received concentrate on how Manchester has been betrayed by the Labour government and how London and the south always get the money for everything whilst the north has to suffer. Other developments this week in the campaign have seen “big” names joining the fight including two actors from Coronation Street, Beverley Turner (Formula One presenter), ex-footballers Peter Barnes and Dennis Tueart and possibly really crucially comedian Bernard Manning. Other local names have also given their support from the business world. There will also be a fleet of planes with the message on their sides soon after bosses at Thomas Cook Airlines pledged their support for the campaign. All 15 planes based at Manchester Airport are to have the campaign logo on the outside and inside with spokesman Shaun Robinson saying: “We are backing the campaign because we believe Metrolink is good for the airport and good for the local economy." There has also been almost unanimous support from the local MPs who were quizzed by the MEN and those who could be contacted said they both supported the campaign and would do everything they could to get the government to change their mind (from all political parties.) Finally on the campaign front the Greater Manchester PTE have this week launched a “Get Our Metrolink Back on Track” campaign. They are also collecting names to go onto a petition to be sent to the government. In addition they have unfurled a banner at the town hall to show their support for the continuation of Metrolink. Source: Manchester Online FUTURE OF WHOLE METROLINK IN DOUBT? Sunday 1 August 2004 The Manchester Evening News have also reported this week that they have discovered some of the £200 million spent on the preparation works for the “Big Bang” had been taken from the budget for maintenance on Phase 1 and 2. In a presentation to the civil servants from the Department for Transport on Wednesday (28 July) transport bosses said: “If no investment is made in the present system it will fall apart. Significant reductions in service levels and part-route closures are inevitable." Councillor Roger Jones, chairman of the GMPTA, said: “We need around £95m just to renew the existing lines, which are now ageing. Phase one is 12 years old now and we have almost no spare capacity. We've got one or two trams spare whereas in continental Europe they have got at least a dozen. We have an ageing fleet and a limited number of spare trams and in rush hour we already can't get enough people into the trams because they're so popular. I think personally if we do not get some resolution of that in the next six months, the public would notice a deterioration and we would have to somehow reduce services." However at the meeting in London these transport bosses were told that there was little chance of Alistair Darling changing his mind about giving funding for Metrolink. The Manchester Evening News apparently understand that the government effectively sees no future for light rail, this is despite the fact that the GMPTE have submitted figures that show Metrolink is more economic than other forms of public transport. Source: Manchester Online METROLINK WINS IN RACE TO WORK Sunday 1 August 2004 In order to prove their point the Manchester Evening News set a challenge to three of their reporters to get from Bury to Manchester during the rush hour. One used the tram, one the bus and the final one went by car. David Ottewell boarded a tram at 8.35am and was at the offices of the MEN at 9.14am meaning he had completed the journey in 39 minutes at the cost of £3. Fellow reporter Paul Britton used his car and he also left Bury at 8.35am arriving 50 minutes later at the offices at 9.25am with the cost coming to £5. Finally Neal Snowdon took the bus from Bury departing at 8.42am. He complained that the journey seemed to take a very long time and is quoted as saying: “First, the M.E.N. photographer's car cruised past us effortlessly, followed by just about every other vehicle on the road bar the milk float. And that was parked.” By the time he had got off the bus and walked to the MEN offices the total journey time had been 55 minutes. Source: Manchester Online COUNCILLOR SAYS FIGHT FOR NET EXTENSIONS SHOULD STOP Sunday 1 August 2004 Councillor Richard Jackson, Nottinghamshire County Council for Chilwell, has this week called on the City and County Councils to stop developing plans for Lines 2 and 3. Councillor Jackson said: “NET are not going to get Government funding, they should drop these plans today.” His comments are of course coming in the light of the governments rejection of all light rail schemes in the UK last week following escalating costs and the Treasury’s spending review. The current estimated cost of the extensions is currently £300 million. Source: This is Nottingham TRAM POSTER FORCED OFF THE RAILS Sunday 1 August 2004 Nottingham Express Transit have had to remove a poster which it was claimed was misleading people. The poster said “Chill out. That’s 2 million fewer cars on the road” and appeared a month after the line opened earlier this year. But the anti group Environment not Trams complained claiming that managers could not back up this claim. The Advertising Standards Authority agreed that it may well be misleading and after discussions between the two parties the Nottingham Tram Consortium agreed to withdrawn the advertisement. The ASA said that they had received only one complaint from a member of the public. Source: This is Nottingham WHAT NOW FOR MIDLAND METRO EXTENSIONS? Sunday 1 August 2004 There are fears in Birmingham that the future of city centre extensions may be in jeopardy because the control of the West Midlands PTA has been wrestled away from Birmingham city Council. The new Chairman of the WMPTA is Councillor Gary Clark, a Conservative from Walsall and insiders say that the control on the PTA is now very much anti-Birmingham. Speaking after his appointment he was non-committal over the proposed city centre extension (the over or under ground debate continuing) and said: “I certainly want to see the 5Ws route go ahead as quickly as possible. We will be holding a meeting with Birmingham and we don't want to make any rash decisions." Source: icBirmingham |