MANCHESTER HORSE TRAM L53 LAUNCHED
Heaton Park Tramway – Sunday 30th March 2008
By the time you read this the official launch into public service of the unique Manchester Horse Tram L53 will have taken place. The tram features the Eades Patent Reversible truck and has been the subject of a loving 25 year restoration.
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METRO TRAM TO BE NAMED AFTER BILLY WRIGHT
Midland Metro – Sunday 30th March 2008
It has been revealed that a Midland Metro tram is to be named after Wolverhampton Wanderers and England football legend Billy Wright. The Wolverhampton Express and Star ran a competition to select a new name and Billy Wright came out on top with 90% of the vote.
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VAMBAC 11 ON CARDS FOR 2010 BLACKPOOL RETURN
East Anglian Transport Museum – Sunday 30th March 2008
The latest newsletter from East Anglian Transport Museum reveals that they have been approached by Blackpool Transport for the return of Blackpool Marton Vambac 11 to its original home for the 125th Anniversary of the tramway in 2010. In return for the loan it is likely a Boat car will visit East Anglia for the duration. The other Blackpool tram there - Standard 159 - will not be leaving as Blackpool already have their own of this class.
Source: Ian Banks from the newsletter of the East Anglian Transport Museum

TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR METRO REVIEW
Midland Metro – Sunday 30th March 2008
Council taxpayers in the West Midlands are likely to fund a review into the proposed extensions of Midland Metro, after congestion charging was turned down by the local councils. It has been decided that with the withdrawal of the expected funding from government the local Councils will go it alone – and a £2 million study will be needed for this.
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CHILD LEFT BEHIND AT TRAM STOP
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 30th March 2008
A child – believed to have been around 10 years old – was left at the High School tram stop last week after their mother boarded the tram as the doors closed. The tram continued to The Forest as it is NET policy not to stop a tram between stops. A NET spokesman said: “It is NET policy not to stop and open the doors between stops for safety reasons. It is the parents' responsibility to be aware of the whereabouts of their children at all times and we cannot stress this point enough to our passengers."
Source: This is Nottingham

THEY’RE BACK! TRAMS RUN IN BLACKPOOL AFTER LONG WINTER
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 23rd March 2008
The long winter is finally over as trams have started running in passenger service again – although at the moment they are only running Starr Gate to Cabin as works still need to be completed north of here.
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TRAM-TRAINS FOR YORKSHIRE
General – Sunday 23rd March 2008
The Department for Transport have revealed that the trial of tram-trains in the UK will take place on the national rail Penistone Line which links Huddersfield, Barnsley and Sheffield. The trial will commence in 2010 and last for two years.
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TRAMS WILL RUN RAMSEY TO LAXEY AFTER ALL
Manx Electric Railway – Sunday 23rd March 2008
Adrian Earnshaw, the much maligned Tourism and Leisure Minister, has announced in Tynwald that trams will run between Ramsey and Laxey after all this summer. £5 million proposals were put forward which will see trams run on a single line basis between July and September.
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DEAL REACHED FOR TfL TO TAKEOVER TRAMLINK
Croydon Tramlink – Sunday 23rd March 2008
Ken Livingstone has finally got his wish – Transport for London have reached agreement to acquire Tramtrack Croydon Limited for £98 million. Services are to be significantly increased by the end of year (how this will be achieved is not known). Mr Livingstone has been going on about poor the service has been on Tramlink for ages now and has finally got his wish to have more control over what is offered – you would think there was an election coming up or something wouldn’t you? Click here for more on this story

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS CALLED IN OVER BUILDING DAMAGE
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 23rd March 2008
tie have had to call in independent structural engineers after claims were made that the utility diversion work in Leith Walk are causing damage to buildings in the vicinity. It is reported that the Purusha Hairdressers has been affected with a crack along the floor of the salon, cracked tiles, broken windows and shop signs falling off. Flats above the hairdressers are also believed to have been affected.
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NET CANCEL EASTER ENGINEERING WORKS
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 23rd March 2008
Services on Nottingham Express Transit were meant to terminate at The Forest throughout the Easter weekend to allow for the replacement of a crossover, which was causing two much noise at the Royal Centre for the nearby Concert Hall. However, after looking at the weather forecast it was decided to cancel the work. It is now likely the work will take place on the second May Bank Holiday – commencing 24th May.
Source: Nottingham Express Transit

MORE COMPLAINTS OVER TRAM COMPENSATION
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 23rd March 2008
The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce have called for higher levels of compensation for affected businesses during the construction of the tram network in the city. They fear that the Lothian Valuation Board – who assess all claims – are going back on the agreement to increase rebates for shops particularly badly affected.
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MANCHESTER METROLINK NEWS ROUND-UP
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 23rd March 2008
Read on for a brief news round-up from Manchester Metrolink including some new window adverts and a look at the mediacity:uk consultation.
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COLCHESTER CORPORATION TRACKS STILL IN SITU
Tramway Relics – Sunday 23rd March 2008
Tracks all still visible in the old Colchester Corporation tram shed in Essex. The building has been in use by Network Colchester buses in recent years but they are now moving out of the building and so the future of these tramway relics are in doubt.
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WOMAN INJURED AFTER TRAM COLLISION
Croydon Tramlink – Sunday 23rd March 2008
A woman suffered an injured neck after she wrote off her car in a collision with a tram in Lower Addiscombe Road at approximately 1900 on Thursday 13th March. No-one on board the tram was injured. The woman was taken to Mayday Hospital where her condition was described as not serious.
Source: This is Croydon Today

NEW DLR TRAINS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 16th March 2008
On Thursday 13th March the first three of the new trains for the Docklands Light Railway were officially launched by Ken Livingstone, John Armitt and Dean Macey at West India Quay station.
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FRESH BID FOR EDINBURGH PHASE 1B FUNDING
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 16th March 2008
Even before the first rail of Phase 1a has been laid tie are making a fresh bid to get funding in place for phase 1b – before the fixed price of £87 million runs out in Spring 2009. Phase 1b provides a spur from Roseburn to Granton.
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BLACKPOOL TRACKWORK UPDATE – AND TRAMS BACK ON PROM!
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 16th March 2008
Trams have returned to the Prom as testing commences of the new track - Brush 626 was the first to hit the track on Friday 14th March with several others making an appearance the following day. It is looking likely that a service will be operated from Friday 21st March (Good Friday) but only as far as Cabin with trackwork still taking place further – although floodlights have now been fitted with night-time work taking place on the Colas Rail site north of Cabin. Read on for the latest trackwork update.
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METROLINK MEDIACITY:UK EXTENSION PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 16th March 2008
A two day public exhibition is to be held on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th March at The Lowry in Salford Quays for people to find out more about the proposals for a new Metrolink service to mediacity:uk.
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KEN WANTS TO TAKEOVER TRAMLINK
Croydon Tramlink – Sunday 16th March 2008
As part of his re-election manifesto for London Mayor, Ken Livingstone has pledged to take control of Croydon Tramlink and extend it through to Crystal Palace with the addition of further trams.
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DISUSED FREIGHT LINE FOR METRO EXTENSION?
Midland Metro – Sunday 16th March 2008
The disused freight only line from Stourbridge to Lichfield via Walsall could be resurrected to enable the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Midland Metro extension to be firmly on track. This follows the likelihood that the local councils are unlikely to get TIF money because they refuse to back the congestion charging needed as part of this package.
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CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE NEWS ROUND-UP
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 16th March 2008
The latest news from the Crich Tramway Village with particular emphasis on the restorations of Cardiff 131 and LUT 159 along with all the general maintenance work being undertaken on the trams.
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MIDLAND METRO NEWS ROUND-UP
Midland Metro – Sunday 16th March 2008
The latest edition of Tramlines has now been released on the Midland Metro website and now following is the a news round-up of the current developments on the line.
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CAR GETS STUCK ON SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE TRAM TRACKS
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 16th March 2008
A car had to be removed from tram tracks in Sheffield City Centre by the fire service after iot was driven across a bridge closed to cars – accidentaly. The BMW attempted to cross the bridge on Commercial Street at 0630 on Sunday 9th March but got stuck on the ballast and had to be freed.
Source: Sheffield Star

NEW BUS LINK FOR PHOENIX PARK
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 16th March 2008
A new £500,000 bus link will launch on 3rd October linking Broxtowe to Phoenix Park via Nuthall, Kimberley, Awsworth and Cossall. The T1 Phoenix Flagship will be operated by Veolia Transport and run half hourly between 0625 and 2000 and hourly after then. Part of the funding has come from Tesco and British Land.
Source: This is Nottingham

106 RETURNS TO SERVICE AFTER REFRESH
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 9th March 2008
The sixteenth tram to undergo its refresh on the Stagecoach Supertram system - 106 - has now re-entered service in the now standard Supertram livery – replacing the advertising scheme it used to carry. 123 has now been withdrawn for a start to be made on its own refresh.
Source: South Yorkshire Supertram

MIDLAND METRO 07 IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Midland Metro – Sunday 9th March 2008
Following its special run last week 07 has now entered revenue earning service on Midland Metro – its first passenger runs for over eight years! In fact many passengers are believed to have remarked that they must have a new tram as it looks and feels so new inside!
Source: Michael Averill

REPAINTS IN BLACKPOOL
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 9th March 2008
Repaints are now taking place in Blackpool as the start of the 2008 season nears. Already undergone attention this winter have been Balloons 711 (Metro Coastlines Dark Green & Yellow) and 717 (original Green & Cream) and now further Balloons are seeing attention.
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CHAOS & DISRUPTION? NOT HERE SAY WEST END TRADERS
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 9th March 2008
Traders in the West End area of Edinburgh are saying that they have seen business pick up after a quiet start to the period of the closure of Shandwick Place – seemingly contrary to all the “fears” (helped in no small part to the local media) that there would be severe chaos and disruption due to the tram construction works.
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CENTRO: METRO PLAN STILL ON TRACK
Midland Metro – Sunday 9th March 2008
Centro have revealed that plans for the extensions of Midland Metro are still very much on track, despite recent rumours that they may abandon the line to Five Ways – instead preferring to terminate the extension at New Street station.
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BLACKPOOL TRACKWORK LATEST
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 9th March 2008
The deadline is approaching fast – and the work is also seeing rapid progress, but will the contractors be handing over the tramway in time (Monday 17th March is needed for drivers to be refreshed on driving trams)? Read on to find out the latest progress.
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NEXT PHASE OF EDINBURGH TRAM WORK ANNOUNCED
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 9th March 2008
Tie have revealed the next stage of the construction of the Edinburgh tram project which will see the utility diversion work move on to Constitution Street, Leith from the end of March. As is usual when an announcement like this is made more complaints have come out from residents, businesses and the like.
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DELAYS ON THE DLR
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 9th March 2008
Your very own webmaster made a visit to the Docklands Light Railway on Thursday 6th March and several failed trains caused delays during the day. Around midday a set failed at Canning Town which meant services to both King George V and Tower Gateway were severely affected. Then around an hour later a second set was suffering problems at Limehouse on the way to Tower Gateway (78+07) – it left Limehouse but the rear unit did not get out of the platform before stopping. It eventually managed to crawl its way to Tower Gateway but not before it delayed other Bank and Tower Gateway bound services. At Limehouse queues were seen forming outside the station. 78+07 were later seen out of service stabled in one of the platforms at Tower Gateway.
Source: Gareth Prior

BLACKPOOL TRAVELCARDS RISE
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 9th March 2008
The prices of travelcards from Blackpool Transport went up from Sunday 2nd March. A one-day travelcard will now cost an adult £5.95, child £5.45 and senior citizen/disabled £5.45. The 3, 5 and 7 day versions have also gone up to £15, £21 and £23 respectively for adults. Further details can be found at the link below.
Source: Blackpool Transport

MORE ON TRAM-TRAIN PLAN FOR BLACKPOOL
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 9th March 2008
Further details have this week been revealed on the ambitious plans to introduce tram-trains on the railway line from Blackpool South to Preston and onto the current tramway around Pleasure Beach. But as Sir Peter Hall – in charge of planning for the scheme – has revealed these details some local rail user groups have come out against the plan.
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ACCIDENTAL DEATH VERDICT IN MAN HIT BY TRAM IN NOTTINGHAM
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 9th March 2008
The first person to be killed by a tram in Nottingham – 23 year old Matthew Dear – died because of an accident according to the inquest held this week. Mr Dear was hit by the tram in Fletcher Gate on 6th October 2007 as he did not see it coming. The tram was travelling at approximately 11mph at the time and the tram driver was exonerated by the coroner who said she could do no more than she had.
Source: This is Nottingham

HORSE TRAM TO LAUNCH AT HEATON PARK
Heaton Park Tramway – Sunday 2nd March 2008
On Sunday 30th March at the Heaton Park Tramway a major achievement will be celebrated with the official launch of Eades Reversible Horse Tram L53, with a special first tram ride being offered with special tickets on sale.
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REVEALED: THE POOR STATE OF THE MER
Manx Electric Railway – Sunday 2nd March 2008
It has been revealed this week just how poor a state parts of the Manx Electric Railway between Laxey and Ramsey are currently in – and why Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw was forced into announcing that there would be no service in 2008 on this section. Now the question that needs answering is why was the track allowed to get into this state?
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07 MAKES METRO DEBUT AS RUTH KELLY PAYS A VISIT
Midland Metro – Sunday 2nd March 2008
It what seems to be 07’s debut in public after its refurb and relivery and after many years out of service in use as a Christmas Tree at the depot, Ruth Kelly paid a visit to Midland Metro as a briefing in respect of the proposed extensions to the current Birmingham to Wolverhampton line
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PLAN REVEALED FOR TRAMS TO JOIN BLACKPOOL & PRESTON
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 2nd March 2008
Fancy catching the tram from Blackpool to Preston? Well that is the plan that was revealed this week in the Blackpool Gazette as the area becomes the latest to latch onto the tram-train idea (or “hybrid” tram as the article puts it). Regeneration experts are keen for the area to bid for European funding to put the project in action.
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NEXT STAGE OF TRAM WORK COMMENCES AS COMPLAINTS CONTINUE
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 2nd March 2008
The next stage of the construction work for the Trams for Edinburgh project has now commenced as complaints have continued over the disruption it will cause and has already caused. Indeed, The Scotsman lead with the story headlined “Five months of hell in city centre as tram work steps up”.
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BLACKPOOL TRACKWORK UPDATE
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 2nd March 2008
With time rapidly running out for the completion of the trackwork to enable trams to run at Easter, major progress has been noted at all worksites this week. Read on to find out more.
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DLR IMPROVEMENT WORK UPDATE
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 2nd March 2008
A new regular feature on the British Trams Online News Page is a look at the improvement work on the Docklands Light Railway. As the DLR gears up for three car train operation there will be a lot of engineering works – mainly over the weekends – taking place and on the first Sunday of each month we will give you a rundown of the next batch of works.
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BORIS “A FAN OF TRAMLINK”
Croydon Tramlink – Sunday 2nd March 2008
Ahead of the official launch on Monday 3rd March of his transport policies in his bid to be London Mayor, Boris Johnson, the Conservative candidate has said that he is a huge fan of Croydon Tramlink. The Croydon Advertiser reports that Mr Johnson would back the Coulsdon and Streatham extensions of Tramlink and would also like to see a route from Croydon to Richmond.
Source: This is Croydon Today

MIDLAND METRO TIMETABLE CHANGE ON MONDAY
Midland Metro – Sunday 2nd March 2008
Just a reminder that as from Monday 3rd March 2008, Midland Metro will be introducing a revised timetable. The headlines from the new timetable are an earlier start with the first tram now leaving both ends at 0515 and on a Saturday night the last through tram from Birmingham and Wolverhampton will now depart at midnight. During the main part of the day Mondays to Saturday trams will now run every 6-8 minutes. Further details can be found on the Midland Metro website (link below).
Source: Midland Metro

EDINBURGH ALSO INTERESTED IN “TRAM-TRAINS”
Edinburgh – Sunday 2nd March 2008
There seems to be something in the water in the UK regarding “tram-trains” at the moment as now Edinburgh seems to be expressing a desire to introduce them. If the plan went ahead it would see them operate on a future South Sub commuter service. Cllr Paul Godzik, councillor for Meadows and Morningside, said: “It is clear from Network Rail's submission to the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee that capacity at certain points on the route is the key barrier to this proposal proceeding. Tram-trains could be a possible solution and I hope they will be investigated thoroughly."
Source: The Scotsman