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| News...February 2004...News...February 2004...News...February 2004...News This Page was last updated Sunday 29 February 2004 |
| This is the new look British Trams Online News Page. You will notice that it has been redesigned and will feature topical photos (new liveries, restored trams etc.) as well as more news from new sources. This page will be the only one which will have a design with the site links at the top of the page and has only happened so we can make use of the whole width of the page for news. Any comments on this redesign will be gratefully received. As before all the news we carry 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 new look page. |
| 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. |
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News In Brief Manchester: 1005 is now named The Railway Mission and 2002 now carries the name Sony Centre Arndale at the A end only. (29/2/04 - Gordon Ferguson) Seaton: There have been new appointments in Devon with Roy Chalkley (Chief Engineer), Rob Gage (strengthening the Engineering team) and Jenny Nunn (Commercial Manager). (29/2/04 - Seaton Tramway ------------------------------------------------- Birmingham: A new public transport forum has been set up in the West Midlands to enable commuters, transport companies and campaigners to air their views. It will be across the board with rail, tram and bus commuters involved. (15/2/04 - icBirmingham.co.uk) Blackpool: Repaint update: Railcoach 679 has left the Paint Shop in the 1980s Fleet Livery, Centenary 647 is now pink as a base for an advert for Tiffany's Hotel, sister 646 has moved to paint shop for new advert and Railcoach 680 has undergone major panelling attention before receiving new advert. (15/2/04 - Paul Turner from UK Trams Croydon: Last weeks trees on the line saw services disrupted until 9.30pm (New Addington branch) and 8.30am on Sunday (Beckenham branch). (corrected 15/2/04 - Croydon Guardian) Manchester: Essential engineering works will see Metrolink services not going between Timperley and Altrincham on Sunday 22 February. A replacement bus service will operate instead. (15/2/04 - GMPTE Nottingham: A man was hit by a tram on Monday 9 February in the city centre today and was taken to the Queens Medical Centre with leg injuries. The man was in his 20s and was crossing near the Theatre Royal when he was struck by a tram along Market Street. This is the second similar incident in the last week. (15/2/04 - This is Nottingham) ------------------------------------------------- Nottingham: Trams are to carry sandbags and iron bollards to see how they perform carrying extra weight. They will be packed with 13.5 tonnes which is the equivalent to nearly 200 passengers. Tests will last around a week. (8/2/04 - This is Nottingham) |
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DARLING TELLS LEEDS TO RETHINK Sunday 29 February 2004 On 29 January Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, met with interested parties in Leeds to discuss the latest on the Leeds Supertram project. During the meeting it emerged that Darling felt that the costs had now become far too high and that there should be a rethink over what Leeds wanted for public transport in the city. Speaking after the meeting Councillor Keith Wakefield (leader of the city council and Chairman of Metro) said "the Secretary of State said today that the level of increased costs was not acceptable and that we should reconsider the scheme together with alternative ways of delivering the same benefits for the money identified. In our presentation we emphasised the transport, economic and regeneration benefits of the existing scheme to Leeds and the whole region and made it clear that the city would not accept anything less than a modern, rapid transport system." He was not impressed by Darling's stance expecially as the higher costs have been known for a year and "this is the first indication that affordability is the issue as opposed to the positive cost benefit ratio of the scheme." He is now calling for all-party support for the scheme and is "urging all partners in the city to show they are not prepared to take 'No' for an answer and to demonstrate their absolute support for the existing scheme." Source: Leeds Supertram MERSEY TRAM COMPROMISE CLOSE Sunday 29 February 2004 The continuing saga of Mersey Tram appears to have reached a compromise which should see the project back on target. It is reported that if it looks like the city centre loop will not be able to be completed in time for the 2008 Capital of Culture status it will not commence construction until 2009. This does not mean, however, that there will be no construction until that date as Mersey Travel lawyers warned that a delay of that length could not only mean the withdrawal of government funding but also the two bidders for the DBOM contract. The compromise would see Mersey Tram Line One turning round at William Brown Street (between St George's Hall and the Walker Art Gallery) with the proposed loop serving Lime Street, Queen Sqaure, Pier Head, Albert Dock and Paradise Street being left until 2009. Neil Scales the Chief Executive of Mersey Travel is however adamant that there will be no disruption for 2008 and is puzzled over David Henshaw's (Chief Excutive of the city council) stance especially as two development projects in the city centre are not scheduled for completion until mid 2008. It is now hoped that this compromise can be completed soon, but not until Mr Henshaw returns from holiday. Source: icLiverpool BLOW FOR SUPERTRAM EXTENSION PROPOSALS Sunday 29 February 2004 South Yorkshire PTE (SYPTE) bosses have been dealt a blow by the lack of reponse to their recent public consultation exercise with only 2% of the 215,000 leaflets distributed being returned. Despite this seemingly poor reponse SYPTE bosses are saying that it appears there is strong support for extensions within Sheffield and to Rotherham. The biggest approval appears to have gone to the line to Rotherham Parkgate (64%) and Dore (54%) but there seems to be major opposition to the Ranmoor extension (24%) and it was even worse for Hellaby with just 15% of repondents in favour of having the tram running through their area. These findings were quickly seized upon by anti Supertram campaigners with David Chapman, a Ranmoor resident, saying "We carried out our own survey with 830 leaflets, and had half of them back - with most thinking the tram a silly idea. Most of those who have bothered to respond to the official questionnaire in the area have said as much as well." Despite the poor response to the leaflet exercise Roy Wicks, Director General of the SYPTE, said that it had been a worthwhile exercise as it "accurately reflects what the communities were saying." Speaking about the results Mr Wicks said "I admit that for the routes out to Ranmoor and the routes to Hellaby the results were mixed. Those are the sorts of things that we need to feed in, alongside the costs of the scheme and the wider benefits they bring to the districts, to enable the SYPTE and district councils to consider and make a decision in the early summer." Source: Sheffield Today & BBC News Online CORNBROOK TO BECOME PROPER METROLINK STATION Sunday 29 February 2004 Currently Cornbrook station on Manchester Metrolink can only be used by passengers wishing to change from the Altrincham branch to the Eccles branch but under new proposals this will soon be changed. It now looks likely that work will commence within the next few months to enable people to alight from trams and get off the station with new office developments currently taking place in the area. 18 months ago a working party was set up consisting of transport chiefs, police, city council and Manchester Ship Canal company to see what could be done with the station which was deteriorating and was developing into a white elephant. They have now decided on the plan of action which will include a new footpath to the station, resurfacing the nearby roads and putting in a turning circle for passengers to be dropped off, putting up new signs, installing CCTV on the station approach and installing new lights to help passengers feel safe. Source: Manchester Online NAMES REVEALED FOR NET Sunday 29 February 2004 As previously reported Nottingham Express Transit intend to name all 15 of their Incentro trams when the system opens in 9 days (as I write this). So far 13 names have been chosen and this includes 5 after local unsung heroes chosen by readers of the Nottingham Evening Post. Famous names chosen include Sir Jesse Boot (founder of Boots), Lord Byron (poet), William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army), Bendigo Thompson (bare-knuckle fighter) and Robin Hood (took from the rich and gave to the poor). Three of the unsung heroes have been revealed as being Mavis Worthington (Homestart volunteer), Dinah Minton (co-founder of head injuries support charity Headway) and the late Erica Beardsmore, who helped to put pride back into Hyson Green. All of the names will be put on a plaque on the front of the cabs of the trams and the full list of 15 is due to be revealed before Line One opens. Source: This is Nottingham METROLINK SERVICES DISRUPTED Sunday 29 February 2004 Yesterday (Saturday 28 February) saw part of the Metrolink system closed after the Bridgwater Canal burst its banks in Sale in the early hours. The water went onto the tram lines near to Dane Road station and Serco Metrolink decided they would have to shut the tramway between Altrincham and Old Trafford in both directions. A Metrolink official said "it has caused a few problems. We have put on three buses in the meantime.". It is not known when the line will be able to be used again. Source: Manchester Online LIVES LEFT IN LIMBO OVER NET LINES 2 AND 3 Sunday 29 February 2004 The Nottingham Evening Post has this week reported in two separate articles about the confusion being created by the wait for where Lines 2 and 3 of NET will actually go. It appears that people on Farnborough Road, Clifton and Chilwell Road, Beeston may lose their homes and businesses but that they can not yet get compensation. As the plans are still at a relatively early stage NET can not compulsory purchase any property, this can only be done after the Transport and Works Act has gone through and it looks likely the line will be built. In Clifton people who were originally told that their homes would be safe have now discovered that they are in the way of the proposed tram line and that there is nothing they can do yet as the TWA Application has not yet gone to the government. The alignment of the route down Farnborough Road has had to be changed because the original one would have taken the line too close to power lines behind the properties. However one couple had recently built an extension to their house and received their completion certificate just a few days before a letter arrived from NET telling them their home was likely to have to be demolished. NET have confirmed that the early estimates of only a few properties needing to be demolished for the extension in Farnborough Road were likely to be wrong and that as many as 20 to 25 homes and businesses would be affected. Similar problems are also being seen in Beeston with many businesses likely to have to go to make way for the NET extension and again people are not too happy about it especially as they claim they have received nothing official from NET about the alignment of the route meaning they would loose their business. If everything goes according to plan trams could be running on these routes by 2009. Source: This is Nottingham MERSEY TRAM FEUD CONTINUES Sunday 22 February 2004 As reported last week there is a growing feud between the council and Mersey Travel executives over the opening date of Mersey Tram. Members of the city council were concerned that the construction of the system would overrun and cause disruption during the 2008 Capital of Culture, which is to be held in the city. A letter was sent out by David Henshaw (Chief Executive of the city council) to local MPs, council and opposition leaders and key local organisations including Liverpool Vision which outlined his concerns over whether the project would be able to be completed in time. And now there has been a warning from Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Mersey Travel, that the government could withdraw the £170 million already awarded for the project. He said "this is a straight forward system. We are here to help the city for 2008. It is not in our interests to leave the city centre in a mess." Also outraged at the letter is Peter Millea, a councillor and representative on Mersey Tram, who did not receive the letter or even know that it was to be sent out. He said "I'm amazed and surprised at the lengths the chief executive has gone to. He did not fully involve myself or ask for my opinions. I'm disgusted that I was not even given a copy of this letter. I will be asking questions of the leader of the council and the chief executive. "I will also be raising this at the executive board on Friday. I am fed up of being a piggy in the middle and having the finger pointed at me at this committee. I am a public transport user and no-one wants to see the tram succeed more than me." It seems to be agreed that there is no chance that the construction of Line One can be delayed until after 2008 as by then the government will have withdrawn the money and there will be little chance of getting another chance. Source: icLiverpool BRISTOL TRAM SCHEME THROWN INTO DOUBT Sunday 22 February 2004 The proposed tram schem in Bristol has been thrown into fresh doubt after both Labour and Conservative councillors called into the question the funding needed. Both sides have said that the budget agreed by the council earlier this month (with a 5.9% council tax rise and sponsored by the Lib Dems) can be improved upon for the people. The Labour councillors have proposed a 3.8% council tax rise, no cuts in services and a £1.5 million saving by not progressing with the tram project. Meanwhile on the Conservative side they want a 4.4% council tax rise with further savings made by not progressing further preparatory work on the tram project (the funding rom government is reliant on this work being done). Source: BBC News Online NET EMERGENCY EXERCISE A SUCCESS Sunday 22 February 2004 Yesterday (Saturday 21 February) saw the first emergency exercise on NET in preparation for the opening early next month. "Exercise Gordon" took place on tram 207 at Cinderhill and involved the fire brigade with a "fire" on board the tram. The exercise also involved volunteers on the tram and those on baord enjoyed a ride from Wilkinson Street-Phoenix Park-Cinderhill-Station Street-Wilkinson Street. The fire brigade were on site within 8 minutes of the call that the tram was on "fire". There are to be further emergency exercises before opening both today and next Saturday. Source: Stephen Parascandolo NET ANNOUCES START DATE OF 9 MARCH Sunday 15 February 2004 It is now less than a month to go until the opening of Nottingham Express Transit with a date of Tuesday 9 March 2004 now set, subject to HMRI approval. This date is around a month earlier than was originally envisaged in the revised schedule for opening Line One. The commencement of public services will be preceded on 8 March by a 'Tram Celebration Day' which will provide people with a sneak preview of what to expect from the trams. This Celebration Day is likely to include trams bringing councillors from both ends of the line, the laying of a commemorative slab in the Old Market Square and a civic reception with Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling also invited. Then on the first day of public services trams will start to leave the Wilkinson Street depot at around 6am before making their way to the 3 termini of the system where they will pick up the first paying customers of a new era of transport in Nottingham. Arrow Light Rail's Project Director, Mike Casebourne commented that they were "delighted to be in a position to start public services a month sooner than forecast late last year. The trams and infrastructure have proved their reliability, the drivers have shown their capability to run to timetable and the public are now used to the trams being part of city life." His comments were added to by Neil Bates, Executive Director of Nottingham Express Transit who was also delighted "that the project is finally coming to fruition. This is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved in the project and the opening of the system next month will be recognised in both a local and national context as a superb public transport facility which sets Nottingham well ahead of many other cities and up there with major conurbations such as Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham." * This news has caught British Trams Online a little 'on the hop' as there were plans for a 3 part article on Nottingham and trams over 3 consecutive months. This should still happen although it will be in a much shorter time scale. Also now online is the Nottingham Express Transit fleet list in the Fleet List section. Finally anyone who is likely to attend the opening days events feel free to write a small report for us or even provide photos! Source: This is Nottingham, Nottingham Express Transit, BBC News Online & Nottingham City Council MAJOR DELAY FOR MERSEY TRAM? Sunday 15 February 2004 Liverpool City Council have been told by Mersey Travel bosses that there is no guarantee that Line One of Mersey Tram will be completed in time for the city's City of Culture status in 2008. This has led Councillors to fear that the year could see massive roadworks in the city , something they are very keen to avoid. The trams should have been up and running by September 2007 according to the original timetable but latest estimates have said that the first trams could only start testing in December 2007 with April 2008 a more likely start date for public services. A senior council source told the Liverpool Echo "the spectacle of empty trams running around the city centre while there are thousands of tourists and visitors looking for ways to get around is unthinkable." Despite these fears a spokesman for Mersey Travel said "we have told the government we would be up and running by September 2007 and the scheme is still on track to meet that target. There is always going to be a certain amount of delay but as far as we are concerned the Merseytram will be operating a passenger service in January 2003." But at a recent Council meeting concerns were raised that Mersey Travel had not actually given these guarantees to councillors and that it might be necessary for a delay in construction of the tram Line 1 until after 2008 although they were anxious to show their support for the proposals. Source: icLiverpool METRO EXTENSION GETS SUPPORT SHOCK Sunday 15 February 2004 The much criticised Midland Metro extension through Edgbaston and Harborne to Bartley Green has finally received some support, from the Harborne Society. The Secretary of the Society, Phil Stokes said "We welcome the initiative in principle, even though we realise that many possible conflicts have to be resolved such as bus routes, bottlenecks, trees and other environmental concerns. Many people have forgotten that Harborne had a public railway for more than 60 years. Everyone would have a right to comment further at a public inquiry." However there is of course still some who are anti the extension with Councillor Peter Hollingworth saying "the idea of two tram tracks in either Richmond Hill Road or Metchley Lane is ludicrous." Source: icBirmingham NOISE TESTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN NOTTINGHAM Sunday 15 February 2004 28 sites in Nottingham are to see noise tests undertaken following complaints received from residents over the disturbance the Nottingham Express Transit trams are causing. It has led bosses at NET to saying that double glazing may be required for homes, at the expense of the tram company. Of the 28 locations 6 are places where residents have complained with the remainder being in public places such as the Old Market Square. The main noise worries appear to be at the Noel Street junction where two lines diverge and it is this junction which is the cause of the majority of the complaints. Some local residents have spoken to the Nottingham Evening Post saying that the noise and vibrations have recently got so bad that tiles have fallen down off the roof and that the problem isn't only the trams on the track but is also partly the use of the bell at the junction. The other main area for concern is in Cinderhill where fencing has recently been erected to help protect from the noise. Despite these noise concerns the Nottingham Tram Consortium have said that they have only received 25 complaints about the noise in the past year. Mike Casebourne, Project Director, said "we're pretty sure we're going to wind up insulating half a dozen properties near the Noel Street crossing and a couple of homes where Noel Street joins Gladstone Street." The cost would be around £16,000. Source: This is Nottingham METRO CONSULTATION SEES LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST AS ROUTE CHANGES ANNOUNCED Sunday 8 February 2004 The consultation period of the proposed extensions to the Midland Metro network in Birmingham and the surrounding area has been hit by an apparent lack of public interest. Almost 100,000 brochures outlining the proposals were distributed to homes which could be affected by the extensions but of these only 2,117 of the questionnaires at the back have been returned so far to Centro. This is despite several high profile campaigns being conducted by groups not wanting to see the Metro come through their localities. The findings of the consultation period were presented by Centro on Monday 2 February to a meeting of the West Midlands PTA at which the apparent apathy from the locals led the PTA to criticise the whole process of the consultation. Councillor John Lines (Conservative, Bartley Green) said "the consultation has not helped promote the Metro system. In my ward a consultation meeting was held on the same night as a ward sub committee meeting. The consultation meeting was empty." In response to the poor turnout Tom Magrath, projects director of Centro, said that "these type of consultations have been known to get one per cent responding", meaning that the 2% response for this consultation was considered a minor success. Needless to say the lack of response on the consultation has not stopped campaigners against extensions with Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart again weighing in on the debate who has now written a formal objection to a Metro route through her constituency. She claims that she is getting a picture of great hostility to the extension and that most people won't realise it is a problem until the line is running outside their homes. This does sound a little contradictory to me as if there is such great hostility surely they would realise before the line has actually been built? At the same meeting of the PTA it was agreed that Option A of the proposal to Wednesfield would not be progressed with. Centro had received a 255 signature petition from residents of March End Road objecting to the plan, which would have seen 2 homes demolished and 22 other houses having their gardens built upon. A spokesman for Centro said "the consultation process aimed to gauge the views of residents. Following this consultation Wolverhampton City Council has taken it on board and is feeding its responses into the process." Source: icBirmingham PEDESTRIAN HIT BY TRAM IN NOTTINGHAM Sunday 8 February 2004 The second accident within a week happened on NET on Wednesday 4 February when a man was hit by a tram as he crossed a city centre street. The man was crossing over the Upper Parliament Street and Market Street junction just after 5pm when he was struck by tram 201. The man suffered cuts and bruises but declined the offer of a trip to the hospital and he walked away from the incident after treatment on the scene. An investigation has now been launched. Source: This is Nottingham MORE TIME FOR MERSEY TRAM BIDS Sunday 8 February 2004 Further to last weeks announcement that M-Tram (Mitsubishi, MTR and Serco/Nedrail) and Keolis/PB were on the final shortlist for the DBOM contract for MerseyTram it has now been revealed that they are to be given more time to prepare their final and best offers. They will now have until September to submit the bids (instead of April) and an announcement should be made in November or December (delayed from June). Neil Scale, Chief Executive and Director General of Mersey Travel, said that "it gives the bidders more time to put a better bid in which seems sensible. They both have pretty big teams working on their bids and if we did Lines 1 and 2 separately it means they would have to stand their teams down." It is hoped that by delaying the process the public inquiry will be out of the way and Line 2 will already be approved and so a joint bid for both lines can be submitted at the same time. Source: icLiverpool THE LATEST FROM BLACKPOOL Sunday 8 February 2004 The state of the Balloon car underframes is starting to cause concern after 70 years of service and it looks likely that 704, 708, 715, 716 and 717 may all be out of service for 2004 with underframe defects. Rebuilt Balloon 718's all over advert for City Sightseeing has been added to with advertising now added to the previously plain red ends. The paint shop also continues to see plenty of tram activity with Balloon 712(see picture) now finished in its 1960s fleet livery and Railcoach 679 and Centenary 647 now being treated. Work also continues apace with the Illuminated Warship 736 which was last reported to be in the Electrical Compound for further work and the tram is to feature an air conditioning unit. On the track work north of Thornton Gate the majority of the ballasting has now been completed and sleepers are stacked Westbourne Road in readiness for laying out. The tram service has of course been adapted for the closure with just 5 trams now required for operation. Don't forget the only way you can get monthly news in much more depth on the Blackpool Tramway is by becoming a member of the Fylde Tramway Society where you will receive a copy of the Fylde Tramway News. You also get the chance to attend monthly meetings and regular tram tours in the resort. For more details visit the FTS website (details above). Source: Fylde Tramway News & Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups Blackpool Transport |
| Balloon 712 shows off its new 1960s Fleet Livery paint job in the depot on 5 February 2004 alongside Twin Car 681+671. Photo: Alan Robson |
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MERSEY TRAM: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO Sunday 1 February 2004 Friday (30 January) saw MerseyTram move another step closed when Mersey Travel whittled their shortlist down to just 2 consortia. Mersey Travel made detailed studies of the bids received and have chosen the M Tram and Keolis/PB consortia to go on to the next stage of the process. During this month they will both receive additional information from Mersey Travel and then will have to put forward their best and final offers. Chief Executive and Director General of Mersey Travel Neil Scales said "We have spent a great deal of time and effort evaluating these bids against some very strict criteria. I am delighted to have two first class proposals with which to continue to the final stage. " He also revealed that they are hopeful that the green light will be given for Lines 2 and 3 by the Department for Transport within the next 2-3 months. Source: Mersey Travel DLR TO SUBMIT CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT Sunday 1 February 2004 The Docklands Light Railway are planning to, by the end of this month, submit a Transport and Works Act Order application for its £130 million capacity enhancement project. The main thrust of the plan will see some viaducts needing to be strengthed and platforms lengthed and once completed, in around 2009, the project will enable three car trains to run between Bank and Lewisham. The DLR is now starting to inform local people of how the project will look with leaflets being distributed and meetings held in the locality of the proposed changes. Source: Docklands Light Railway WEATHER AND CROYDON TRAMLINK Sunday 1 February 2004 With the whole of the UK being struck this week by severe weather Croydon Tramlink has not escaped. Of course in the middle of the week the south of England was affected by snow although on the whole Tramlink managed to cope well with the blizzards. But there was a derailment in the early evening on Wedensday 28 January when 2534 was going into the workshop and one of the bogies managed to jump the points where two tracks diverge. The wheels went over the curved points blade and into the ballast and it proved too serious for it to be rerailed by the Tramlink team. A team from London Underground had to be called to rerail the tram but that was not due to be done until this morning (1 February) meaning that the main depot entrance was blocked for several days. Moving on to yesterday (31 January) and the gale force winds battering the area and at around 10.10am trees fell onto the tracks bringing the wires down in two places. For 10 minutes all trams were ordered to a stand whilst the situation was assessed. One of the trees was down on the westbound side near to Lloyd Park where it had actually landed on the overhead although not broken it. The second tree came down at Blackhorse Lane again on the westbound track and it pulled the wires down just as a tram was travelling on this section. The tram managed to pull down the overhead snapping the wires and has caused other damage in the area. Whilst services were disrupted a shuttle was run from Harrington Road-Beckenham Junction and there is a Sandilands-Wimbledon service. A full account of yesterdays events incluiding pictures can be found here. Source: Unofficial Croydon Tramlink FLEETWOOD TRAM SUNDAY IS SAVED!!! Sunday 1 February 2004 Following the meeting arranged for the start of last week (see separate news story) it has been confirmed that the Fleetwood Tram Sunday event will go ahead as planned in 2004. The meeting at the North Euston Hotel in Fleetwood attracted 25 offers of support but chairman of the event Ian Johnstone warned that they had to see the reality of the volunteers as they had, at previous meetings, been given similar promises but had not seen the people again afterwards. At the meeting Mr Johnstone revealed that the event had just become far too big for the seven strong committee with help needed with vehicle organisation, placing stalls, health and safety and fund raising. Source: Blackpool Today MAN INJURED IN ACCIDENT ON NET Sunday 1 February 2004 A man has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm after his van collided with a tram at the Vernon Road/David Lane crossing in Basford on Thursday (29 January) at approximately 11.30am. The crossing does have barriers but they are only used when a train uses it and not trams. The tram involved in the incident suffered only minor damage and the driver was unhurt with most of the damage caused to the van. The road was closed whilst the area was cleared of any debris as part of the well rehearsed emergency procedures. It has been emphasised that this incident should not see any further delays to the opening of NET Line 1. Meanwhile there is fresh controversy over Lines 2 and 3 with the news that the Arrow Consortium could be paid up to £100,000 for a second opinion over whether they make commerical sense. Aroow, of course, are the company involved in Line 1. The consultancy fee would come out of the money the government have already given in order to prepare for these proposed line. Both pro and anti tram groups have expressed their concerns over the money being spent on essentially getting a second opinion on this. Source: This is Nottingham & BBC News Online LIVERPOOL 245 UNLIKELY TO GO TO MTPS Sunday 1 February 2004 It now appears that the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society will not be acquiring Liverpool 245 from the National Museum and Galleries Merseyside after contractural difficulties. The MTPS are now going to turn their attentions to Warrington 2 and a working Lisbon car. Other news from the MTPS sees the former Dundee Trailer 2 coming to a completion of its conversion into a waiting room. Source: MTPS EDINBURGH SUMBIT BILLS TO SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT Sunday 1 February 2004 At the end of last year (only just reported here because the press release has only been put on the website in the last few days) the City of Edinburgh council submitted two bills to the Scottish Parliament for lines 1 and 2. The bills were due to be presented to Parliament at the start of this year along with the supporting documentation after which there will be a statutory 60 day objection period. Members of public will be able to view the Private Bills a variety of ways including on the Scottish Parliament's website and at the City of Edinburgh's council chambers. The bills will give permission for lines in the North and West of the city. Source: Tram Time, Edinburgh, BBC News Online METROLINK STRIKE OFF Sunday 1 February 2004 The strike that was scheduled for yesterday (31 January) on Manchester Metrolink has been cancelled following the meeting of the TUC Disputes Committee. Speaking on the Official Manchester Metrolink website Managing Director Phil Smith said "we are clearly very pleased that the TUC Disputes Committee has agreed on a way forward." It meant that yesterday saw a full Saturday service instead of the planned reduced service involving double units on the Altrincham and Bury routes. The next step is for there to be more talks on union recognition on Metrolink. Source: Manchester Metrolink & BBC News Online EDGBASTON CONTINUE THEIR FIGHT AGAINST METRO Sunday 1 February 2004 It would seem the affluent (house prices in the region of £750,000) area of Edgbaston in Birmingham and set against having the Midland Metro route extended into their area. The local MP, Gisela Stuart (Labour, Edgbaston) has now put forward her objections to the plan and has also accused Centro of making mistakes during the recent public consultation period. She claimed that improvements in the local bus network should be done at a preference over the Metro extensions. The consultation period has recently been extended after flaws were discoverd in it and recommendations of lines to be taken forward and now due to be given by Centro to the Passenger Transport Authority in early March. Meanwhile the Metro seemed to cope well with the snow suffered across the country last week with extra services being provided as people changed from their cars. Source: icBirmingham |