What's New on British Trams Online?

Photos
Photos this week feature the Beamish Transport Festival. Taken by Ryan Birchall this photos features the final weekend of the event which had the theme "Power from the Past". Three trams features as well as plenty of other transport!

* All new photo collections added to the site in 2026 can be found on the Photo Gallery Index.

Fleet Lists
This week there are updates this week to the Beamish Tramway (photo links), East Anglia Transport Museum (photo links), Edinburgh Trams (photo links), Long Marston (photo links),Manchester Metrolink (advert removed and photo links), Manx Electric Railway (Crossbench 16 into service), National Tramway Museum (photo links) and West Midlands Metro (photo links) Fleet Lists. There are also updates to the Manchester Metrolink (advert removed and photo links) Advert Lists.

* All our Fleet Lists can be found through the Fleet Lists Index.

In the News
The big news this week is without a doubt the arrival of the first tram into Dudley as testing of the West Midlands Metro Black Country line gets underway. After several days of tests on the first part of the line, Wednesday 24th June 2026 saw the very first tram - 44 - reach Dudley Town Centre and onto the terminus at Flood Street. This is just the start of testing, commissioning and training needed before the line will open to the public but at least its a start (eventually)! Also this week we have featured photos of Blackpool 762 in use at Crich, trams running alongside lions in Sheffield, trams in service in Edinburgh and a Bank Holiday trip to the East Anglia Transport Museum. Meanwhile, we have seen another update on the plan to re-extend the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal which will now be voted on at Tynwald's July session.

* For all the latest News and our regular photo series head to the News & Features page.

We hope you enjoy this week's update!

Gareth - 27th June 2026



Picture of the Week: West Midlands Metro 44

Wednessday 24th June 2026 saw a major milestone recorded in the return of trams to Dudley with the first test tram on the Black Country line of West Midlands Metro taking place. The slow speed tests saw Urbos100 44 used along the complete length of the line marking the first time a tram had run on the streets of the town since 1930. This photo shows 44 turning from King Street into Flood Street (which is as far as the line will go as part of phase one). Plenty of Midland Metro Alliance staff watch on as the tram takes the curve gently.
Photograph by Andy Walters