SHUNT AT CRICH TO RELEASE JOHN BULL
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 19th July 2009
In order to release John Bull - the New South Wales steam tram locomotive – from its normal home in the “early trams” exhibition of the Exhibition Hall to prepare it for its visit next month to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry a shunt was undertaken on Saturday 18th July. Click below to view a few photos from the shunting.
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FREQUENT BUSES TO OPERATE DURING ALTRINCHAM & ECCLES LINE CLOSURES
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 19th July 2009
GMPTE have confirmed that frequent buses will operate through August to replace trams on both the Altrincham and Eccles lines, which will be closed for overhead line maintenance and general track alterations.
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TRACKWORK SEES TRAMLINK SERVICE ALTERATIONS
London Tramlink – Sunday 19th July 2009
Trackwork in Croydon town centre will see Tramlink services altered in late July and early August. The work will commence from Thursday 23rd July and sees three distinct periods: Thursday 23rd to Friday 31st July, Monday 3rd to Monday 10th August and Tuesday 11th to Monday 31st August.
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ART AUCTION FOR HEATON PARK TRAMWAY
Heaton Park Tramway – Sunday 19th July 2009
Following last Sunday’s (12th July) event at the Heaton Park Tramway – details on the new Heaton Park Tramway website here - an art auction of six original Ashley Best paintings are now available for auction, to raise money for the tramcar restoration fund.
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OLD TRAFFORD METROLINK STOP TO BE RE-MODELLED
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 19th July 2009
Trafford Council have approved plans to remodel Old Trafford Metrolink stop at the cost of £1.8 million. It is hoped the changes to the stop will make it easier and more comfortable for passengers to use at the busiest times.
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CITY COUNCIL PLEDGE TO GO IT ALONE ON NET PHASE TWO
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 19th July 2009
Nottingham City Council have decided to go it alone on the phase two extension of Nottingham Express Transit, following the withdrawal of support from the Conservative led County Council. Councillors from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted to carry on with the project whilst Conservative councillors abstained.
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CONSULTATION STARTED FOR METRO WOLVERHAMPTON LOOP
Midland Metro – Sunday 19th July 2009
The public consultation for the Wolverhampton loop Midland Metro extension has been launched with people asked for their views on the plans for which a business plan is currently being prepared by Centro in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council.
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GMPTE DENY CITY CENTRE TRACKWORK IS BEHIND SCHEDULE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 19th July 2009
The GMPTE have denied that the Metrolink track replacement work in Manchester City Centre is running behind schedule but that it will not be completed until November – the date that was originally agreed with the contractor. However, the initial publicity about the works suggested it would be finished two months earlier in September.
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LEITH WALK TRAM WORK PLAN AGREED
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 19th July 2009
Tie have agreed to carry on with their original plan for work on Leith Walk which will see it being carried out for the next two years – having rejected and idea which would have seen more disruption but for less time. The news has been met with agreement from most businesses and residents in the area.
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LATEST METROLINK PERFORMANCE FIGURES RELEASED
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 19th July 2009
The latest performance figures of Manchester Metrolink are now available on the GMITA website and were presented to the committee for approval on 17th July 2009. The report covers periods 13 and 1 from Monday 30th March to Sunday 31st May 2009. Read on for a summary of the report.
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ROAD CHANGES CONSIDERED TO KEEP MOTORISTS OFF VIADUCT
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 19th July 2009
Nottingham City Council road safety officials have been investigating ways to ensure motorists stop travelling onto the tram viaduct leading to the Station Street terminus in the city centre. However, although they are investigating changes to the road layout they believe the current situation is adequate to prevent the issues.
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ENJOY SUMMER IN THE CITY WITH METROLINK
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 19th July 2009
A range of special offers and discounts are being offered to Manchester Metrolink passengers throughout July to encourage people to travel by tram and enjoy summer in the city. GMPTE has teamed up with a number of city centre businesses to offer great incentives to leave their cars at home and take the tram instead.
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TRAM ATTACK WOMEN SENTENCED
London Tramlink – Sunday 19th July 2009
The three women involved in an attack on ticket inspectors onboard a tram in Croydon town centre in October 2008 have been sentenced. Natalie Reid was sentenced to four months in jail suspended for two years, a four month curfew order, 140 hours of unpaid community work and was ordered to pay £300 compensation and £70 court costs. Saffi Walker was given a four month curfew order, ordered to pay £200 in compensation and £200 court costs. Natasha Kilby-Whelan was also handed a four month curfew order, ordered to pay £150 in compensation, £200 court costs and undertake 100 hours unpaid work for breaching an existing conditional discharge.
Source: Croydon Guardian
FAREWELL TO FLEETWOOD EVENT ANNOUNCED
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 12th July 2009
As it is widely expected that 2009 will the last year of traditional trams running regular services through the streets of Fleetwood to the terminus at the Ferry, the Lancastrian Transport Trust have announced plans for a special event over the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November – the final weekend of the season. The event will take the form of tram tours over both days featuring a wide variety of trams.
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1012 RETURNS TO SERVICE AFTER MODIFICATIONS
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 12th July 2009
1012 has returned to service with modifications to enable “universal running” (i.e. it can now travel on the Eccles branch). The tram now features coupler guards amongst other features. Click on the link below and you will be taken to a photo of the tram in its new state.
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METROLINK TRACK UPGRADE WORK UPDATE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 12th July 2009
The work to upgrade the track in Manchester City Centre continues with further sections now in progress. The work is now expected to continue until late October/early November.
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WORK STARTS ON EDINBURGH TRAM BRIDGE
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 12th July 2009
Work has started on the construction of a bridge to take the tramway across the main railway line to Glasgow. The bridge is located near Edinburgh Park station and will enable trams to cross the railway line. Structural beams are starting to be installed in the deck of the bridge as work progresses on the process of returning trams to the streets of the Scottish capital.
Source: The Scotsman
SHEFFIELD TRACKWORK CANCELLED
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 12th July 2009
On Sunday 28th June there was scheduled to be trackwork on the Supertram network but this was cancelled due to forecast poor weather conditions (which didn’t materialise in the end). It is believed the work scheduled to take place involves replacing track on the approach to the delta junction on Park Square roundabout.
Source: Stuart Cooke
PLANS FINALISED FOR BUS SERVICES DURING OLDHAM LOOP LINE CLOSURE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 12th July 2009
Plans have been finalised over bus services which will run once the Oldham loop line closes at the start of October for conversion to Metrolink operation. First Manchester have made significant changes to their network to support passengers who usually travel by train including the enhancement of current services and new additional services.
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CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE NEWS ROUND-UP
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 12th July 2009
The latest news from the Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum. This months round-up includes news on Cardiff 131, LUT 159, Blackpool 166, Leeds 180, Leeds 345 and London Transport 1622.
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NOW TIE COME UNDER EXPENSES MICROSCOPE
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 12th July 2009
Following MPs and then staff at the BBC the latest organisation to face media scrutiny over their expense claims have been staff involved in the Edinburgh Tram Project at tie. The Edinburgh Evening News have reported that £43,000 has been spent on flights, £20,000 on hotels and £30,000 on food, travel and other costs.
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SUPERTRAMLINK IMPROVEMENTS ANNOUNCED
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 12th July 2009
From Monday 20th July a limited number of additional stopping points are to be introduced to the SupertramLink bus route which links the Middlewood tram stop to Stocksbridge. New stops are to be made in Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side to make travelling easier for people living along the route. Further details can be found at the link below.
Source: Stagecoach Supertram
STARR GATE TRAM DEPOT GIVEN GO-AHEAD
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Friday 3rd July 2009
Blackpool Council have approved the plans for the new tram depot to be built at Starr Gate as well as the proposed heritage tram centre at the same location – despite complaints from local residents that the scheme was inappropriate for the area as it is too large and will de-value their homes.
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NET STAFF TO BE BALLOTED FOR STRIKE ACTION
Nottingham Express Transit – Friday 3rd July 2009
NET tram operating staff have been issued by ballot papers to vote for strike action by the GMB Union over the pay deal from April 2009. The Nottingham Tram Consortium (NTC) offered a pay freeze due to the current economic climate and this was rejected with the GMB demanding a 5% pay increase.
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NEW FOOTBRIDGE INSTALLED IN DROYLSDEN AS PART OF METROLINK WORKS
Manchester Metrolink – Friday 3rd July 2009
On Saturday (28th June) a new footbridge was lifted into place over Manchester Road near to Droylsden Library as part of the work to widen the road for the Metrolink extension.
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