SIX TRAMS CONFIRMED FROM CRICH FOR BLACKPOOL 2010 CELEBRATIONS?
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 20th December 2009
The latest issue of Contact – the newsletter of the Tramway Museum Society – confirms the six trams they will be loaning to Blackpool for the 125th anniversary celebrations in September next year. They are Blackpool 40, Johannesburg 60, London County Council 106, Blackpool 167, Oporto 273 and Leeds 399.
Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society
MER TO LAUNCH ULTIMATE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Manx Electric Railway – Sunday 20th December 2009
The Manx Electric Railway are following in Blackpool’s footsteps by launching the Ultimate Driving Experience which gives enthusiasts the chance to drive a tram during April and May 2010.
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EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY WITH THEIR TRAM CONTRIBUTION
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 20th December 2009
Edinburgh City Council have raised two thirds of their £45 million contribution towards Line 1 of the project to return trams to the city – although £21 million of this is believed to be through a loan.
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PERMISSION GIVEN FOR MIDLAND METRO DEPOT EXPANSION
Midland Metro – Sunday 20th December 2009
Sandwell Council has approved plans which will see the Midland Metro depot at Wednesbury expand in a £13 million project. 15 extra jobs will be created as the depot is expanded to allow longer trams to be accommodated as the system extends.
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METROLINK EAST DIDSBURY LINE PREPARATION WORK BEGINS
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 20th December 2009
Work to prepare for the extension of the Manchester Metrolink network from Chorlton to Didsbury has begun in south Manchester. This extension is due to be built as part of the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and will be added to the line currently being built from Trafford Bar to Chorlton’s St Werburgh’s Road which is due to open in spring 2011.
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SUPERTRAM GOES ALL CHRISTMASSY
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 20th December 2009
Supertram have got into the festive spirit with seasonal stickers added to the trams and Father Chritsmas even putting in some shifts driving! Click below for some photos.
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NO MORE NET INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN 2009
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 20th December 2009
The ongoing dispute between the Nottingham Tram Consortium and the GMB union over pay and conditions on the NET system is continuing but is has been confirmed no further action will be taken before the new year. A planned ban on overtime was suspended earlier this week just before it was due to commence.
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BUS/VAN COLLISION CAUSES SUPERTRAM DISRUPTION
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 20th December 2009
A collision between a First South Yorkshire bus and a van at the junction of Commercial Street and Haymarket in Sheffield City Centre at 0915 on Monday (14th December) caused disruption for Supertram with the inbound track blocked just beyond the Ponds Forge tram stop.
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CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE NEWS ROUND-UP
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 20th December 2009
This months round-up features news on London United Tramways 159, Blackpool 167, Leeds 180, MET 331, the crane wagon and flat wagon obtained from Croydon Tramlink, progress on the trackwork at Town End and a start being made on the Exhibition Hall.
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LTT TRAM UPDATE
Lancastrian Transport Trust – Sunday 20th December 2009
Read on for the latest restoration progress on Lancastrian Transport Trust owned trams Standard 143, Railcoach 279 and Brush 287.
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LTT REVEAL EVENTS FOR 2010
Lancastrian Transport Trust – Sunday 20th December 2009
The Lancastrian Transport Trust have announced details of their events program for 2010 including two depot open days (at their Brinwell Road premises in Blackpool) on Sunday 11th April and Sunday 31st October. In addition on Saturday 26th June there will a tram event (details to be finalised) followed by the annual Totally Transport on Sunday 27th June. With trams unable to run between Pleasure Beach and Starr Gate it is planned that for Totally Transport the site will be extended in front of Pleasure Beach. A number of LTT events will also take place between 23rd and 29th September as part of the 125th tramway anniversary week.
Source: Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups: Blackpool_Transport
LEGAL CHALLENGE TO WPL ABANDONED
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 20th December 2009
A proposed legal challenge to the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) by businesses in Nottingham has been abandoned because they have been advised even if they were to win the case the government could just get it overturned anyway.
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EDINBURGH TRAM LINE 3 BACK ON THE AGENDA?
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 13th December 2009
It has been reported that the proposed line 3 of the Edinburgh Tram Project – which was axed due to a lack of funds after the rejection of congestion charging in the city - could be back on the agenda to help improve transport in the south of Edinburgh. The line would link Princes Street with the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the so-called “BioQuarter”.
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150 NOT OUT! EVENT ADDED AT CRICH FOR 2010
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 13th December 2009
The special events program at the Crich Tramway Village has been amended since we originally reported on it a few weeks ago. On Monday 31st May (the day after Enthusiasts Tram Event) there is now an event entitled “150 Not Out” which will celebrate 150 years of trams in Britain (replacing the previously advertised “Commonwealth Day”). Full details of Crich’s events for 2010 can be found on the official website – link below.
Source: Crich Tramway Village
MORE WOE FOR TIE AS WORKMEN RETURN TO PRINCES STREET
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 13th December 2009
Workmen are having to return to Princes Street to repair sections of the road which has broken up following the return of traffic. Critics have accused the workmen of doing a “rush job” after areas of the road surface around the tram lines started to break up with buses travelling over them.
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CHELTENHAM TO GLOUCESTER TRAM PLAN BACKED BY GCHQ
Cheltenham-Gloucester – Sunday 13th December 2009
A plan for a tram to link Cheltenham and Gloucester has been backed by GCHQ, who believe it would be a positive for their staff. The proposals would see a tram link the two towns and would be powered by hydrogen generated from the county’s household rubbish. Councillors have already met with Lord Adonis – Transport Secretary – to discuss the issue.
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TRAINING COURSES FOR CYCLISTS IN EDINBURGH
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 13th December 2009
Tie are to conduct special training courses for cyclists in Edinburgh city centre following complaints they couldn’t cycle down Princes Street following the installation of the tram lines.
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BOAT 605 BECOMES THE TENTH TRAM IN THE LTT COLLECTION
Lancastrian Transport Trust – Sunday 6th December 2009
The Lancastrian Transport Trust have confirmed that Boat 605 has become the tenth tram in their collection having acquired it from Blackpool Transport. 605 was still in service during the 2009 illuminations but will now be considered withdrawn from the serviceable pool with a move to the LTT’s Brinwell Street depot expected in the future.
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TWO BIDDERS FOR NET PHASE TWO
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 6th December 2009
It has been revealed that two consortia have been shortlisted to construct phase two of Nottingham Express Transit and then operate and maintain the complete system including the current line from Nottingham to Hucknall and Phoenix Park. The two consortia are Arrow Connect (the current incumbents) and Tramlink Nottingham (who include local bus operator Trent Barton).
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MARTON BOX 31 TO GET REPAINT
Beamish Tramway – Sunday 6th December 2009
Blackpool Marton Box 31 is to receive a repaint into “something approximating” its Blackpool Works livery (green and ivory) during this winter – the tram was of course works car 4/754 for 50 years before restoration back to a passenger tram at Beamish. The tram will then appear at Beamish’s April gala before returning to the Workshops for another repaint, this time back into its Red, Teak and White livery (as currently carried). It is still planned that 31 will be heading back to Blackpool to take part in the 125th anniversary celebrations in September with a Boat Car heading in the other direction.
Source: Beamish Transport Blog
STANDARD 143 RESTORATION MOVES FORWARD
Lancastrian Transport Trust – Sunday 6th December 2009
The restoration of Standard 143 is continuing with great leaps forward continuing to be made. The end staircases are being rebuilt and the tram is now fully re-glazed with toughened safety glass. The wiring of the tram has commenced, circuit breakers and controllers have been fitted and the interior is essentially complete. 143 is expected to be one of the stars of the 125th anniversary celebrations in Blackpool in September 2010.
Source: Lancastrian Transport Trust
TRAM OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
Tram of the Year 2009 – Sunday 6th December 2009
The shortlist for the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2009 has been announced and I think it would be fair to say the three trams involved have really picked themselves! In alphabetical order they are: Blackpool Illuminated Western Train 733+734, Cardiff 131 and Manchester Metrolink 3001. To vote either visit the Home Page or the Tram of the Year page (where details of why they have been shortlisted are included). Voting remains open until Sunday 24th January 2010.
METROLINK NEWS ROUND-UP
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 6th December 2009
The tram decorated for Christmas as mentioned in last weeks update is 1001 which has now lost the name System One (a photo of the tram is available by clicking on the link below). Meanwhile 1026 has received the orange LED destination equipment and new ticket machines have been installed at Market Street and Victoria although are not yet in use.
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BECKTON THREE CARRIAGE WORKS CONTRACT LET
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 6th December 2009
The contract for work to enable three car trains to operate on the Beckton branch of the Docklands Light Railway has been let to Taylor Woodrow. Worth £10 million the contract will see work commence this month and be completed by the end of 2010.
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WORK ON NEW METROLINK DEPOT PROGRESSES
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 6th December 2009
Some tracks and the shell of the main workshop at the new depot for Manchester Metrolink at Trafford Bar have now been put in place as work continues apace. Officials from the GMITA, GMPTE and Mpact-Thales toured the site of the depot to see how it was progressing this week.
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ARROW LIGHT RAIL ACCOUNTS OVERDUE
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 6th December 2009
It has been reported that the accounts of Arrow Light Rail Ltd – the consortium who operate Nottingham Express Transit – are overdue. The records for 2008 were due to be submitted by 30th November at Companies House but this deadline has not been met. A spokesman from Arrow said: “They have been approved and will be filed within days. The reason for the delay is that we have been waiting for advice and feedback on a tax issue that only applies to companies like ours because of the complicated nature of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme."
Source: This is Nottingham
BUS DRIVER JAILED FOR TRAM COLLISION
London Tramlink – Sunday 6th December 2009
The bus driver involved in the collision between a bus and a tram in central Croydon back in September 2009 causing the death of a man has been jailed to four years in prison for death by dangerous driving. Raouf Mraidi was sentenced in his absence at Croydon Crown Court having not been seen since 21st November. He was also banned from driving for five years which was extended indefinitely until he completes an extended driving test.
Source: Croydon Guardian