Article updated 7/5/26 with addition of photos
Blackpool Balloon 717 became the first heritage tram to run on the tramway with passengers since the end of the 2025 Illuminations (in very early 2026) on Sunday 3rd May 2026 when it ran a private (and popular!) tour for the Fylde Tramway Society.
South Yorkshire Supertram have become the first tram operator in the UK, and one of a select few across the world, to introduce the Optibus software platform. This will enable Supertram to streamline operations, improve time management, and enhance convenience for operational staff and engineers.
There are now just three Blackpool Flexity2 trams which are out of service following the return to action of 006 on Friday 1st May 2026.
The monthly Seaton Tramway newsletter has again been released and as always it gives us details of which trams have run during the previous month. And with the season starting to really ramp up its probably no surprise that the three biggest capacity trams lead the way.
Over the years its not been uncommon to see or hear of cars driving onto tram tracks, and now West Midlands Metro have renewed their warnings to motorists who may be putting themselves and others at risk by doing so.
Once an event being advertised on a tram in many places across the UK has happened it’s very quick that it is removed, and so is the case again on Edinburgh Trams. 277 had been advertising Scottish Rugby and specifically the big Women’s 6 Nations match against England which was held at Murrayfield in April but that has now been stripped and replaced by a new full wrap for Vision Scotland.
The latest meeting of the UKTram Heritage Tramways Committee saw recent updates shared and opportunities explored to strengthen engagement with visitors.
We have another edition of “Old(er) and New” for you here as we take another look at a couple of images – one showing one of Manchester Metrolink’s original T68 trams and one showing one of the newer M5000s in (more or less) the same location.
We continue to “Meet the Trams” which have run in service at the National Tramway Museum during 2026 and the next tram to feature is Blackpool 40.
Blackpool Council have started a consultation where they are seeking the views of the public on whether a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) should be introduced on the tramway.
Staff working for Nexus – operators of the Tyne and Wear Metro as well as the Shields Ferry, some bus services and interchanges – have managed to raise £6,900 for James’ Place after a year of fundraising activities.
The Light Rail Operators Committee (LROC) at UKTram have named their new leadership after Steve Mabey announced his intention to step down from the Chair role. Graham Fitzgerald from Transdev Ireland will be the new Chair with Trevor Stocker (current at South Yorkshire Supertram) taking on the Vice Chair role.
In this latest pictorial article we take a brief look around the National Tramway Museum to see what was happening on Monday 27th April 2026. As well as seeing trams out on the mainline we also see the Workshop from above as well as views inside the Great Exhibition Hall. Keith Chadbourne with the photos.
With it being a Bank Holiday weekend we have bonus photos with two collections coming from two of our regular series:
We change locations again in “Around the World in Trams” and this time we head over to the United States of America with May being San Francisco month.
Manchester Metrolink 3117 is the latest tram to have seen expired advertising vinyls removed with it now back in the standard silver and yellow (not forgetting the spots!) fleet livery.
Representatives from UKTram have recently visited Voestalpine Turnout Technology UK Ltd in Harworth where they have gained insight into the latest developments in switch and crossing (S&C) technology and quality assurance processes.
For the first time in 2026 we feature some photos here taken on the Isle of Man. Geoff Pickles is the photographer who has captured these images which feature both the Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway on 26th April 2026.
Following on from receiving funding from Arts Council England which will go towards improvements in the Great Exhibition Hall, the National Tramway Museum have announced that they have been awarded £210,610 through the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund
Another photo comes from Blackpool in October 1979 and this time we’re at Bispham.
