Rare recording of BBC radio adaptation of The Hobbit found during Metro upgrade works

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

When maintenance crews are involved in engineering works across the UK they are probably well used to finding weird and wonderful things which have been buried for years as they’re lost by passengers. But even so the latest discovery on the Tyne and Wear Metro is probably more unusual as a set of cassettes featuring a BBC Radio adaptation of The Hobbit has been found during recent work on the network.

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UKTram LREG meet again in Cardiff

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

The latest meeting of UKTram’s Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG) took place on 12th and 13th February 2026 in Cardiff. This session brought together sector engineers and supply chain representatives to share updates and explore learning across light rail systems.

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NET’s Managing Director shares advice to inspire future female transport talent

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Whilst the UK transport industry is still dominated by men, there has been a 4% rise in female representation in the sector workforce since 2023. And on International Women’s Day, Sarah Turner, Managing Director of Nottingham Express Transit, has shared her advice to hopefully inspire more female talent into the sector.

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Another week – two more trains go for scrap and one into service on the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

And repeat! The past seven days have seen more changes to the available Tyne and Wear Metro train fleet as we have once again seen two head off for scrap whilst one of the new Stadler trains has entered service.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam 784

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

“Around the World in Trams” now moves on for the next month and this time we return to Amsterdam.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 7th March 2026

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Photos in this week’s update come from Manchester Metrolink in late February 2026:

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Three adverts removed in Manchester

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Late February and early March has been a period for stripping vinyls in Manchester it would seem as no fewer than three trams are now back running without adverts. The trio of trams back in yellow and silver are 3076, 3081 and 3107.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

A new old name for Crich

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Crich Tramway Village is no more but don’t get worried its not another heritage tramway closing as it has gone through a closed season rebrand and will now be marketed as the National Tramway Museum.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

Could Douglas Bay Horse Tramway get back to the Sea Terminal?

Posted on Friday 6 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

We have probably been here before, but there now seem to be new hopes for a full reinstatement of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal. And if a motion for the work is approved at Tynwald it has been suggested that work may finally commence in 2027.

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Over 10,000 dog journeys recorded on Supertram

Posted on Friday 6 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

More than 10,000 dog journeys have been recorded on South Yorkshire Supertram since the change on policy to allow them on-board trams was introduced.

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Picture in Time: Vienna 4225 & Glasgow 1115

Posted on Friday 6 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Today we have another outing for “Picture in Time” and Crich is still the subject.

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In Pictures: Work finally underway at Birmingham Snow Hill

Posted on Thursday 5 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Its been over ten years since the last tram served it and in the intervening decade it has just stood there as a reminder of where the then Midland Metro used to terminate, but finally work is now underway on dismantling Birmingham Snow Hill.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

New DLR trains to remain out of service until the summer

Posted on Thursday 5 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Transport for London are anticipating that the new trains for the DLR will be reintroduced into service by the summer, after strong progress has been made in investigation, testing and assurance work. The CAF built trains were all withdrawn from service in late 2025 after a single occurrence of one of those in service stopping past its intended stopping point, and since then investigations have taken place to find the cause and a solution.

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UKTram Heritage Tramway Committee meet to review progress

Posted on Thursday 5 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

The most recent meeting of the UKTram Heritage Tramway Committee took place online at the end of January 2026, as updates were given across several priority workstreams supporting the safe and sustainable operation of heritage tramways.

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In Pictures: Blackpool 143 arrives at its new home

Posted on Wednesday 4 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week, the Fylde Transport Trust’s Blackpool Standard 143 has a new home following its move to the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville, Suffolk. This move is part of a loan agreement which will see the team at the museum complete repairs to the tram (which failed in September 2019 with a motor fault and hasn’t carried passengers since) and then it will be completing mileage accumulation in service.

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Passenger numbers increase on Isle of Man Railways

Posted on Wednesday 4 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

2025 was another year of increasing passenger numbers on Isle of Man Railways with all four lines (Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway) seeing more use than the previous year. Overall passenger numbers across all the heritage lines were up by 4.5% when compared to 2024, helping to show the importance of the rail network from both residents and visitors.

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UKTram to host online session in March: “Trade and trams: delivering light rail together”

Posted on Wednesday 4 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

UKTram will be bringing together members of the Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG) and the supply trade for an online Trade and Trams session focused on shared learning, engineering insight and practical experience from across the light rail sector.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 58 gets a Peaky Blinders makeover and a new name

Posted on Tuesday 3 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro 58 has a new wrap and its first ever name with it now promoting Peaky Blinders following a special unveiling ceremony in Centenary Square on 2nd March 2026. The tram is now named Steven Knight (after the creator of the hit TV series, which has now spawned a film) and will be carrying the vinyls for the next 12 months.

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Phase two of Coventry Very Light Rail underway

Posted on Tuesday 3 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

Colas Rail UK has begun work on Phase 2 of Coventry’s Very Light Rail (CVLR) programme. This will see a new 800 metre double track demonstration line built between Coventry Railway Station and Coventry University Technology Park.

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Plans for new ramp at Radcliffe Metrolink stop

Posted on Tuesday 3 March 2026 by Gareth Prior

A new ramp providing step free access to the Manchester Metrolink stop at Radcliffe has been recommended for approval by Bury Council. The ramp would provide a third entrance to the stop for passengers and would give direct access to the eastern platform from Spring Lane and Church Street West.

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