MERSEYTRAM TO SEEK NEW FUNDING
Merseytran – Sunday 29th November 2009
Merseytravel have been given permission by leaders of Councils on Merseyside to go to the government for fresh funding for the stalled Merseytram project. Councils from the region including the five Merseyside councils and Halton agreed to allow Merseytravel to ask government for funding for £450 million to allow the project to go-ahead. It was originally abandoned in 2005 when the Labour government withdrew funding citing spiralling costs. The original line would have run between Kirkby and Liverpool and would have been running by 2008.
Source: BBC News Online
TORIES BID TO GET WORKPLACE PARKING LEVY THROWN OUT
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 29th November 2009
David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, has put forward an Early Day Motion in Parliament to ensure the Workplace Parking Levy does not the go-ahead. The WPL would see firms in Nottingham with more than 10 parking spaces charged for the privilege and the monies raised are planned to go towards the expansion of Nottingham Express Transit.
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EASIER INTERCHANGE AT DLR LIMEHOUSE
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 29th November 2009
The new £1.9 million footbridge linking the Docklands Light Railway and c2c railway stations at Limehouse has now opened, making it easier for thousands of passengers to transfer between stations.
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CHRISTMAS COMES TO METROLINK
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 29th November 2009
A special Christmas vehicle is to operate on the Metrolink network over the festive period. The LRV will be decorated with snowflakes, holly and presents and will be in service until 5th January.
Source: Bury Times
MAIDENHEAD TO HIGH WYCOMBE LIGHT RAIL PLAN HANDED BOOST?
Maidenhead-High Wycombe – Sunday 29th November 2009
Ambitious plans to reconnect Maidenhead and High Wycombe with a new light rail service may have been handed a boost after transport bosses at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead called on Network Rail to electrify the Marlow, Bourne End and Cookham line. It is hoped that if this was done the plan for the light rail line would be boosted as costs would fall.
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DLR CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF THE LEWISHAM LINE
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 29th November 2009
The Docklands Light Railway has this week celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Lewisham line. The extension to Lewisham was officially opened on 22nd November 1999 and has carried approximately 80 million passengers in this time.
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KIMBERLEY NET CAMPAIGNERS TO ATTEND PARLIAMENTARY LIGHT RAIL GROUP
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 29th November 2009
Campaigners from the Kimberley, Eastwood and Nuthall Tram Action Group (KENTAG) are to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group on Light Rail to disuss their proposals for Nottingham Express Transit to the towns. Andy Cooper, Chairman of KENTAG, is to attend on 8th December.
Source: This is Nottingham
LATEST METROLINK PERFORMANCE FIGURES RELEASED
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 29th November 2009
The latest performance figures of Manchester Metrolink are now available on the GMITA website and are due to be presented to the committee for approval on 4th December 2009. The report covers periods 4, 5 and 6 from Monday 27th July to Sunday 18th October 2009. Read on for a summary of the report.
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RICHARD JEFFREY SET TO TAKE NEW EDINBURGH TRANSPORT ROLE
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 29th November 2009
Richard Jeffrey – Chief Executive of tie – is set to be announced as Chief Executive of Transport Edinburgh Limited (TEL) – the company who will be in charge of ensuring the city’s transport network is fully integrated. The Managing Director of Lothian Buses – Ian Craig – is also due to be confirmed as a director of TEL.
Source: The Scotsman
CROYDON BUS-TRAM COLLISION TRIAL STARTS
London Tramlink – Sunday 29th November 2009
The bus driver involved in the bus and tram collision in central Croydon in September 2008 has gone on trial charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Rouaf Mraidi is alleged to have gone through a red traffic light causing the bus to collide with a tram and for a 28 year old man to fall from the bus in between the two vehicles. Mr Mraidi has pleaded not guilty to the charge and the trial continues at Croydon Crown Court.
Source: Croydon Guardian
BRUSH 634 MOVES TO PRESERVATION
Rushden Transport Museum – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Blackpool Brush 634 departed its home of over 70 years on Monday 9th November 2009 to embark on its new life in preservation. The tram was loaded onto a low loader alongside the Fitting Shop wall at the Rigby Road Depot during the morning before being transported to its new home at the Rushden Transport Museum in Northamptonshire. Click below for some photos of the tram during loading and for photos of the tram upon arrival in Northamptonshire click here for the official Rushden Transport Museum website.
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METROLINK RETURNS TO MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Metrolink services returned to Manchester City Centre from Monday 2nd November – as scheduled – following the completion of the major trackwork which had seen the lines closed since April. As well as major track relaying the St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens stops have also been redeveloped.
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TRAMS FOR ST ALBANS & WATFORD RAILWAY LINE?
St Albans-Watford – Sunday 22nd November 2009
The Secretary of State for Transport, Andrew Adonis, announced at the end of October that there are plans to convert the current national rail line between St Albans and Watford to tram operation – with a more regular service.
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STANDARD 147 HELPS TO RAISE £850 FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Blackpool Transport have helped the BBC Children in Need appeal by raising £850 by running Standard 147 along the Promenade on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. The tram was driven by Santa Claus and he had two of his elves along to help out on the day. For a couple of photos of the tram – and Santa! – click below.
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DLR B2009 UNIT UPDATE
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Further units of the B2009 Docklands Light Railway stock have recently been seen in service across the network. The latest trains to be seen have been 130, 131, 132 and 134. Previously the following units had been seen either in service or in the sidings at Poplar: 125, 126, 127, 128 and 129.
Source: Brian Elvidge
CRICH USED BY BBC FOR FILMING OF NEW DRAMA
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 22nd November 2009
The Crich Tramway Village was used by the BBC on Sunday 15th November to film scenes from a new drama A Passionate Woman penned by Kay Mellor and starring Billie Piper, Sue Johnston and Alun Armstrong. Leeds 180 was used during filming as the Museum was converted into 1950s Leeds!
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NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR TRAM TICKETS BUT NO ONBOARD TICKETING?
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Bosses at the Edinburgh Tram Project are planning for the use of new technology which will see tickets paid for by the swipe of a credit card whilst the use of cash on board the trams seems unlikely
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NET 201 RECEIVES NEW ALL OVER ADVERT
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 22nd November 2009
NET 201 has received another new all over advert, this time for Nottingham Contemporary - a new gallery in the city. This livery replaces the vinyl wrap for the 5th Anniversary of NET and becomes the trams fifth different all over advert.
Source: This is Nottingham
DROP-IN EVENTS FOR METROLINK’S OLDHAM & ROCHDALE LINES
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Drop-in sessions for people wishing to find out more about the extensions of the Manchester Metrolink to Oldham and Rochdale are now taking place with 12 planned for the coming weeks.
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CONTRACTORS WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT TO COMPLETE PRINCES STREET
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Contractors working on the Edinburgh Tram Project have been working through the night during November in order to ensure the work on Princes Street is completed in time for it to be returned to the City on Saturday (28th November).
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NEW SUPERTRAM ONLY TICKET LAUNCHED
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 22nd November 2009
A new tram only megarider ticket has been launched to Stagecoach in South Yorkshire’s rang of online tickets. Three new tickets have been launched which are only available at www.buymegarider.com, these are: 4 week tram only megarider at £42, 13 week tram only megarider at £131 and a 52 week tram only megarider at £495. All tickets bring a significant reduction in tram/bus megariders and are not available for use on any bus service including the Supertram Link service.
Source: Stagecoach Supertram
METROLINK 1020 COMMEMORATES ARMISTICE DAY
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Metrolink LRV 1020 ran on the Metrolink network with poppies attached as part of the Armistice Day commemorations in the city centre. Vinyl poppies were added below the windows and on the corner window pillars. The LRV ran like this between Friday 6th and Wednesday 11th November in support of the Royal British Legion’s annual appeal. Along with 1022 the tram also displayed poppy wreaths in the driver’s front window. 1020 is named Lancashire Fusilier after the regiment who were originally formed on 5th November 1688 and have been involved in the American War of Independence, the Napoleonic Wars and both World Wars.
Source: GMPTE & Gordon Ferguson
TRAM WORK EMBARGO PLANNED FOR LEITH OVER CHRISTMAS
Edinburgh Tram Project – Sunday 22nd November 2009
tie have agreed to suspend work on the Edinburgh Tram Project in Leith for an extended four week period following pleas from businesses in the area. It has originally been planned that work would be suspended for a fortnight immediately surrounding Christmas but it is now likely work will end at the end of this month and not resume until 4th January 2010.
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METROLINK NEWS UPDATE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Click below for a news update on general goings on across the Metrolink network – including LRVs which have recently undergone attention in the workshops, new names, new window adverts and a brief update on the new LRVs.
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LONDON TRAVELWATCH FEARS FOR CRYSTAL PALACE EXTENSION
London Tramlink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
London Travelwatch – a passenger watchdog – have expressed their fears that the currently “delayed” extension plans for London Tramlink to Crystal Palace may never get built unless funding is allocated from the government in the near future.
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MORE CAR PARKING AT METROLINK STATIONS?
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
More car parking spaces could be provided at Manchester Metrolink stops including Whitefield and Radcliffe as part of the £1.5 billion improvement plan for the next 10 years by the GMPTE. The plans remain at an early stage according to a GMPTE spokesman.
Source: Bury Times
ACTION GROUP MEET TO DISCUSS NET EXTENSION TO KIMBERLEY
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 22nd November 2009
The Kimberley, Eastwood and Nuthall Tram Action Group (KENTAG) met on Thursday (19th November) to discuss plans to extend Nottingham Express Transit from Phoenix Park through to those towns. The group would like to see trams heading towards them as part of the proposed phase 3 expansion of NET.
Source: This is Nottingham
BROKEN DOWN TRAM CAUSED METROLINK DELAYS
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Further delays were experienced on Manchester Metrolink on Friday 6th November after a tram broke down at Brooklands on the Altrincham line. Services from Altrincham into Manchester were affected with delays of at least 30 minutes experienced. Tram tickets were valid on service 263 from Arriva.
Source: Manchester Evening News
METROLINK DELAYS AFTER CABLE THEFT
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Minor delays were experienced on Manchester Metrolink on Thursday 12th November after a section of copper cable was stolen between G Mex and Cornbrook. The theft caused vehicles to have to slow on the approach to Cornbrook and also caused signals to go red.
Source: Manchester Evening News
BODY FOUND ON METROLINK – NOT BEING TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
A body was discovered on the Bury Metrolink line on Monday 16th November causing services to be part suspended whilst an investigation was underway. Following a post mortem the death is not being treated as suspicious although it is believed the woman may have been hit by a tram but it is unclear when it happened. The incident occurred near to Crumpsall.
Source: Manchester Evening News
METROLINK DELAYS AFTER POWER FAILURE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 22nd November 2009
Minor delays were experienced on Metrolink services between Bury and Victoria during the morning of Tuesday 17th November after a power failure. During the disruption tram tickets were being accepted on the First Bus 135 service.
Source: Bury Times
POOR PUBLICITY FOR BT AFTER DISABLED GIRL REFUSED ENTRY ONTO TRAM
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 22nd November 2009