ECCLES LINE TO SEE SERVICE INCREASE
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 30th September 2007
The North West Development Agency have agreed to fund a package of improvements which will see services between Cornbrook and Salford Quays increased to every six minutes during peak periods.
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BALLOON 713 REVEALED IN CONSERVATIVE ADVERT
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 30th September 2007
Balloon 713 has been released from the Blackpool Tramway workshops and into service in a new all over advert for the Conservative Party, who hold their annual conference in the resort this coming week. The tram remains white below the lower saloon windows with trees and sky vinyls above that.
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LIVERPOOL CLAIM THEY NEED TRAM NOW MORE THAN EVER
Merseytram – Sunday 30th September 2007
In the last few weeks Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Merseytravel, has claimed that Liverpool needs a tram now more than ever – and with parliamentary powers to build the line open until 2010 they have still not given up hope.
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BLACKPOOL TRAMWAY CLOSURE DATES REVEALED
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 30th September 2007
It has been confirmed that the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway will close in its entirety from 5th November until Easter 2008 (Good Friday is 21st March). This is to enable significant track work to take place and involves the stretch between Manchester Square and Central Pier and as such no trams can get out to play.
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NEW PIDs START TO BE COMMISSIONED
Midland Metro – Sunday 30th September 2007
The new Passenger Information Displays being installed across the Midland Metro network have started to be commissioned. Those installed between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Wolverhampton St Georges are working, although not yet 100% reliable (see photos by following link below to see what we mean).
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LIB DEMS CRITICISE SHEFFIELD RAPID BUS PLANS
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 30th September 2007
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the plans for a new rapid bus system between Sheffield and Rotherham, claiming that the buses would actually be more expensive than the tram plan thrown out a few years ago by the government.
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1022 GETS NAME BACK
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 30th September 2007
Metrolink 1022 has been reunited with its name stickers for Poppy Appeal.
Source: Gordon Ferguson

COUNCIL SET UP TRAM BUDGET COMMITTEE
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 30th September 2007
Edinburgh City Council have set up a special committee to keep an eye on the cost of the tram system in the Scottish capital. The Council will have to pay any extra money on top of the funding allowed from the Scottish Government.
Source: The Scotsman

DfT ACCUSED AT CONFERENCE OF TRYING TO KILL TRAMS
General – Sunday 30th September 2007
Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley, has accused the Department for Transport of being “anti-tram” at a fringe meeting during the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth. He claims that the DfT’s attitude is a major factor in delays to improving and implementing tram networks in the UK.
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PASSENGERS PRAISE METROLINK TRACK RELAY
Manchester Metrolink – Tuesday 25th September 2007
The Bury Times have reported that passengers using the tram on the Bury line have praised both the track relay and the cleanliness of trams, saying how much smoother journeys are now.
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EARL TO BE AXED IN FAVOUR OF TRAM CONNECTION
Trams for Edinburgh – Tuesday 25th September 2007
The Transport Scotland government agency looks set to advise Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, that the controversial Edinburgh Airport Rail Link should be axed – in favour of a connecting tram line from a proposed station at Gogar.
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GMPTA CALL FOR FREE TRAVEL FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN
Manchester Metrolink – Tuesday 25th September 2007
Cllr Roger Jones – Chair of the GMPTA – has gone to the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth looking to get free travel for both students and school children on the regions buses, trams and trains – saying it is the next logical step after senior citizens.
Source: Manchester Evening News

CAF TRAMS FOR EDINBURGH
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 23rd September 2007
Tie have made a formal recommendation to Edinburgh City Council that CAF should provide the fleet of trams for the tram line. CAF have beaten better know opposition in Alstom from the final shortlist – and many have expressed surprise at the decision which has been put down to the cost.
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DLR WINS AGAIN AT NATIONAL RAIL AWARDS
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 23rd September 2007
Serco Docklands – the operator of the Docklands Light Railway – are celebrating after winning their seventh consecutive award at the National Rail Awards, this time for London and South East Commuter Operator of the Year.
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DON’T MISS IT: CRICH ENTHUSIASTS DAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2007
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 23rd September 2007
Next Saturday (29th September) sees the annual Enthusiasts Day at the Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum, where there are opportunities to access parts of the museum collections not normally open to the public.
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GOOSE FAIR TO SEE ENHANCED NET SERVICE
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 23rd September 2007
As usual Nottingham Express Transit are to run enhanced services during the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the 2007 Goose Fair, held in the first week of October. This will see trams running at a 6 minute interval during the day and evening for the event held at The Forest recreation ground.
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BLACKPOOL & NOTTINGHAM COMPETE FOR UK BUS AWARD
General – Sunday 23rd September 2007
The 2007 UK Bus Awards again have a Street Transit category and both Blackpool and Nottingham are up for the award alongside the Kent Fasttrack Bus Rapid Transit system. This is the second year in succession that Blackpool and Nottingham have been nominated with last years winner Stagecoach Supertram not even on the 2007 list.
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NEW HOPE FOR UK LIGHT RAIL
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 23rd September 2007
A business leader from Manchester has claimed that congestion charging could be a new hope for trams and light rail in the UK – with funding for lines coming from this source as opposed to traditional government funding.
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MORE WORK PLANNED ON DLR
Docklands Light Railway – Sunday 23rd September 2007
Investment Programme Works are due to take place over the weekend of Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October between Westferry and King George V/Beckton and on the Sunday from West India Quay and Stratford.
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TRAMS MAGAZINE NO. 38 OUT NOW!
Trams Magazine – Sunday 23rd September 2007
The Autumn 2007 issue of Trams Magazine is out now! Read on for what you can expect in issue number 38 of the popular magazine on both the Blackpool Tramway and the Manx Electric Railway.
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TRAMLINK SERVICES AFFECTED BY BOMB ALERT
Croydon Tramlink – Sunday 23rd September 2007
A suspicious package at the NLA Tower in East Croydon saw services on Tramlink disrupted whilst the building and the Post Office building were evacuated on Thursday 20th September. Services were not running through East Croydon station with a 200 metre exclusion zone being put into place, they were presumably terminating at Sandilands and somewhere on the Croydon loop.
Source: icCroydon

TRAMWAY DISRUPTED BY HOTEL FIRE
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 23rd September 2007
The Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway was suspended for a time on 17th September following the major fire at the Manor Hotel close to Foxhall Square. Tragically a 39 year old man died as a result of the fire. It is not known for how long the disruption occurred with the fire taking place around 0300, a time when trams are not exactly at their most frequent.
Source: Blackpool Gazette

SEATON TRAMWAY NEWS ROUND-UP
Seaton Tramway – Sunday 23rd September 2007
A brief news update from the Seaton Tramway with news focusing on the “pink tram” aka 08.
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TEENAGE BOYS GUILTY OF TRAMSTOP MURDER
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 23rd September 2007
Two teenage boys – both aged 14 at the time of the incident – have been found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of murdering Colin Greenwood at Middlewood tramstop back in April. The boys had denied murder but the jury disagreed and they are to be sentenced on 5th October.
Source: Sheffield Star

TRAMS RETURN TO BURY
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 16th September 2007
The Manchester Metrolink line to Bury reopened in its entirety on Thursday 13th September with smooth journeys promised following the major track replacement work undertaken since the end of May. Amongst some of the first passengers to enjoy the return were local MPs David Chaytor and Graham Stringer.
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TRAMS FOR SWANSEA?
Swansea – Sunday 16th September 2007
Cllr Rob Speht, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Swansea, has launched a campaign to bring trams back to the city’s streets. He believes that reintroducing trams would help to solve the major congestion problems being felt in the Welsh city.
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STRONG SUPPORT REVEALED FOR CROSS RIVER TRAM
Cross River Tram – Sunday 16th September 2007
The results of the consultation for the Cross River Tram were revealed this week by Transport for London – and they showed that there is strong support from all boroughs that the tram would travel in: Camden, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark.
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1019 RETURNS TO SERVICE IN REVISED LIVERY
General – Sunday 16th September 2007
1019 has returned to service in the revised livery following its mid-life refurbishment whilst 1016 and 1026 have both lost their “names”.
Source: Gordon Ferguson

UTILITY DIVERSION WORK IN EDINBURGH DELAYED
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 16th September 2007
The first stage of utility diversion work in Ocean Drive, Leith has found some unidentified pipes – leading to delays of six weeks in the work at this location. However, tie have said that this delay will not have an overall effect on the construction timetable. The work should have been completed this week but will not now be finished until October.
Source: The Scotsman

STAGECOACH PROMISE METROLINK IMPROVEMENTS
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 16th September 2007
With the Bury line of Manchester Metrolink now having reopened (the reopening occurred on Thursday 13th September) Stagecoach have control of a full operational system for the first time – despite having been in charge of the operational and maintenance side of things for two months. And Andy Morris, Managing Director of Stagecoach’s light rail operations, has promised passengers of the system they will see improvements with the trams.
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CHANCE TO QUESTION RUTH KELLY
General – Sunday 16th September 2007
Got a burning question about transport policy from the Department for Transport – and particularly with regards to trams? Will now is your chance to ask the main lady – Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Transport – about transport issues on the government’s website. The live webchat will take place on Thursday 20th September at 1000. You can put your questions to her in advance by following the link below (which will also be the link for the webchat).
Source: Department for Transport

SCOTT’S HEAVY HAULAGE BOSS HONOURED BY CRICH
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 16th September 2007
Bryan Scott – the boss of Derbyshire Heavy Haulage firm Scott’s Heavy Haulage – has been awarded honorary membership of the Tramway Museum Society for helping the Museum move trams and other heavy equipment for over 10 years.
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HOW DO TRAM HORSES RELAX? GO FOR A SWIM OF COURSE!
Douglas Horse Tramway – Sunday 16th September 2007
Stevie the Douglas tram horse has been off injured recently with an abscess in his hoof. In order to improve his health – and to get him back into operation for next season – he has been having a swim in the sea to help cure the problem
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CONSERVATIVES URGED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT CONFERENCE
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 16th September 2007
Politicians attending the forthcoming Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool at the end of this month are being urged to use the resorts trams and buses, as the green agenda of leader David Cameron is pursued.
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NOTTINGHAM TRAM ASSAULTS UP
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 16th September 2007
New figures revealed this week have shown that physical assaults on the Nottingham Express Transit system have risen slightly in the first seven months of this year.
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CARDIFF 131 MOVES TO CRICH
Crich Tramway Village – Tuesday 11th September 2007
As briefly reported at the end of last month Cardiff 131 has arrived at the Crich Tramway Village to be prepared for its restoration in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Crich site being home of the Tramway Museum Society.
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ROCKET TO RETURN TO THE TRACKS?
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Blackpool Council’s Illuminations Department are in negotiations with the Lancastrian Transport Trust and Blackpool Transport to get the Illuminated Rocket 732 back onto the rails as a mobile illuminated tableaux.
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SUPERTRAM 118 BACK AFTER REFRESH
South Yorkshire Supertram – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Supertram 118 has returned to service on the South Yorkshire Supertram system following its mid-life refresh. It was first noted in service on the Yellow route by our correspondent on Thursday 30th August. The tram is in the blue based Stagecoach livery.
Source: Ian Willoughby

SECOND METRO PINK TRAM IS 07
Midland Metro – Tuesday 11th September 2007
It has been confirmed that the second pink tram spotted a few weeks at the Wednesbury depot of Midland Metro is indeed 07. This tram has been out of service for many years following a collision with a steel lorry, and has been in use as a “Christmas Tree” since this time.
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BURY LINE ON TRACK FOR 13TH SEPTEMBER OPENING
Manchester Metrolink – Tuesday 11th September 2007
The work on the Bury Metrolink line is on schedule and it will be reopening to the public on Thursday 13th September, following six long weeks of bus replacement on services serving stations along this section.
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NO WINTER MER SERVICE PLANNED
Manx Electric Railway – Tuesday 11th September 2007
There is to be no winter service on the Manx Electric Railway this winter because of a £1.6 million track renewal scheme. 3 and a half miles of track will be replaced on the priority areas on both the Douglas-Laxey and Laxey-Ramsey sections. It is also reported that health and safety concerns may cause winter services full stop being abandoned in future years.
Source: Isle of Man Today & Isle of Man Guide

FIRMS LINE UP FOR NET OPERATING CONTRACT
Nottingham Express Transit – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Major transport firms from across Europe are lining up to bid for the operating contract for the combined Line 1, 2 and 3 Nottingham Express Transit – with the current deal with Arrow Consortium being ripped apart to ensure a single operator is looking after the entire network.
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SNP TOLD TO FIND FUNDING FOR EXTRA TRAM LINES
Trams for Edinburgh – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Margo MacDonald, the Independent Lothians MSP, has urged the SNP led Scottish Government to find extra funding now for further lines on the Trams for Edinburgh network, claiming it makes sense to do so now rather than spend money on half a sysyem.
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NET PUBLIC INQUIRY TO LAST SIX WEEKS
Nottingham Express Transit – Tuesday 11th September 2007
The Public Inquiry into the proposed extensions of NET to serve Clifton, Beeston and Chilwell is likely to last six weeks and will follow the objections to the route in order, according to Robert Barker – the man charged with chairing the inquiry.
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COUNCIL WILL HAVE COMPLETE SAY ON TRAM LAYOUT
Trams for Edinburgh – Tuesday 11th September 2007
It is reported that Edinburgh City Council will have the complete say on any proposed road layout changes because of the forthcoming tram system, with any objetions being considered by the Council before they decide whether to go to an independent inquiry – which they have the right to completely ignore.
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DLR HITS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Docklands Light Railway – Tuesday 11th September 2007
On Friday 31st August 2007 the Docklands Light Railway reached 20 years of service to the east end of London. The very first train left Tower Gateway station for Island Gardens on 31st August 1987 and ever since the UK’s most reliable railway has been serving the area with major expansion seen in routes and services offered.
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NATIONWIDE SEARCH LAUNCHED FOR NEW TRAM TEAM
Manchester Metrolink – Tuesday 11th September 2007
The GMPTE have launched a nationwide search for a team of 20 employees to oversee the high profile expansion of the Metrolink network. The first stage of recruitment has just been launched and the GMPTE are advertising for these positions in a wide range of national publications.
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BLACKPOOL & FLEETWOOD TRAMWAY NEWS UPDATE
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Tuesday 11th September 2007
A general news update from the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway including updates on the progress of the overhaul of Balloon 717 and restoration of Western Train 733+734.
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CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE NEWS ROUND-UP
Crich Tramway Village – Tuesday 11th September 2007
The latest update from the National Tramway Museum including news on LUT 159, Glasgow 22, LCC 106, Liverpool 869 and London Transport 1622.
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MANCHESTER METROLINK NEWS ROUND-UP
Manchester Metrolink – Tuesday 11th September 2007
All the latest news from the trams on the Manchester Metrolink network from the last few weeks.
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APPEAL FAILS FOR TRAMLINK STABBER
Croydon Tramlink – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Sandra Jean Bell, 44, who carried out a frenzied knife attack on a 14 year old girl in August 2006 and was sentenced to an indefinite sentence of imprisonment of public protection (IPP) – in effect she will not be released until she can prove she poses no serious public danger – has lost her appeal for a less severe sentence. Lord Justice Hughes dismissed the appeal saying: “The sentencing judge concluded that she posed a present and possibly increasing danger to any who might cross her path. In our judgement, there was sufficient material before the judge to allow him to conclude that there was a risk of serious harm to the public.”
Source: Croydon Guardian

SUPERTRAM DISRUPTED AFTER POLICE RAID
South Yorkshire Supertram – Tuesday 11th September 2007
Tram services on Wednesday 29th August were disrupted temporarily when police boarded a tram at Park Grange Road and ordered a man to leave. Five Police cars were on the scene when the man – who Police alleged was acting suspiciously with a holdall – was asked to leave the tram and he was then searched.
Source: Sheffield Star