European Light Rail Congress 2026 programme announced

Posted on Sunday 22 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

The full agenda for the European Light Rail Congress 2026, which takes place in Tenerife on 11th and 12th March, has been confirmed by organisers Mainspring. The congress will bring together senior leaders, operators and technical specialists to examine sustainability, operational efficiency and asset management.

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Tyne and Wear Metro: deliveries completed!

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

All 46 of the new Stadler trains have now been delivered to the Tyne and Wear Metro. The final three units were delivered in the early hours of Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February 2026 – just one week short of exactly three years since the first of the trains arrived from Switzerland.

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Around the World in Trams: Istanbul 813

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of “Around the World in Trams” and we feature the system in Istanbul again.

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Moomins coming to Seaton Tramway!

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

The latest themed experience on the Seaton Tramway this year will see the Moomins heading to Devon with a week long Moomin Summer Adventure taking place.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 21st February 2026

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We go into the archives to 2008 for some views from Nottingham Express Transit this week:

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Picture in Time, Site News | 1 Comment

UKTram Centre of Excellence advances tramway design and skills development

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

The UKTram Centre of Excellence have met again to review progress on several technical and strategic projects. The latest focus was on tramway design guidance and developing skills and apprenticeship pathways for the light rail sector.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3117 goes to the movies again as 3107 becomes second BRIT tram

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink 3117 has received another new advertising livery with it receiving vinyls for the new Disney Pixar film, Hoppers. Considering this is only the second film released in cinemas to be advertised with a full wrap in Manchester it may, or may not, be a surprise to find out that the tram is the same one as the last film was advertised on!

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MER to ride to the rescue during bus strike!

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We often hear about bus replacement services to cover for trams, but how about a tram replacement service to cover for buses! Well, that’s exactly what looks set to happen on the Isle of Man with the Manx Electric Railway getting ready to run earlier than planned owing to a planned strike on Bus Vannin which starts on Saturday 21st February 2026.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 7 Comments

Picture in Time: Leeds 180 & Blackpool Electric Locomotive

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

It is that time of the week again when we dip into the archives for an edition of “Picture in Time”, and we continue to feature some photos taken at Crich during 1984.

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Bus and tram collide in Nottingham

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 20/02/2026, including photos

There has major disruption to services on the Nottingham Express Transit line to Toton Lane on Thursday 19th February after a bus and tram collided on Inham Road, with the tram derailed and the road closed to allow a rescue and repair operation to take place.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 5 Comments

West Midlands Metro engineering works overrun

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 20/02/2026

Delays to services on the West Midlands Metro have been the order of the day on Thursday 19th February 2026 after the overrunning of engineering works. These works – which had only due to take place for just over two days – were mainly concerned with the connection of the current Birmingham-Wolverhampton line connected with the new Black Country Line to Dudley (initially) but also saw further work take place at West Bromwich Central and Winson Green.

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Colin Robey appointed Honorary President at UKTram

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Colin Robey has been appointed as an Honorary President of UKTram to recognise his exceptional and longstanding contributions to not only the organisation but also the wider light rail sector. He has spent over 60 years working in heavy and light rail, including nearly 20 years at UKTram. During this time he’s shaped strategy, development, governance and professional standards.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams and the 6 Nations

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We’ve written it before and we will probably write it again in the future – one of the big benefits of having a tram system in Edinburgh is that when there are big events taking place at Murrayfield Stadium large crowds of people can be moved in a short time. And so it was again on Saturday 14th February when Scotland’s first home match in the 2026 6 Nations took place, against the “auld enemy” England. Roy Calderwood with the photos.

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New book now out! On Top o’t’ Job by Chris Thornburn

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

You may recall late last year how we mentioned a forthcoming book based on the recollections of former student conductor on the Leeds trams in the mid-1950s, and well-known tram enthusiast, Chris Thornburn. And now the book has been published so you can secure your copy of this unique look at how things were working on the trams.

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TfGM to start feasibility study on going underground

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

With the Metrolink network in Manchester City Centre expected to reach capacity on the surface, plans to go underground have been part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for a while. Whilst the construction of tunnels is currently unfunded and a fair way in the distance, TfGM are attempting to get ahead of the game by starting an early feasibility study into the viability of their construction.

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A trip to… Manchester Metrolink’s Ashton line

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

In this pictorial article we see the results of a walk by Keith Chadbourne along part of Ashton New Road, which is served by trams on Manchester Metrolink’s East Manchester Line to Ashton-under-Lyne.

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Volk’s Electric Railway dates announced for 2026

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

As February starts to quickly run away from us its time to start looking ahead to the spring, and that usually means heritage lines start to wake up again. That will include the Volk’s Electric Railway in Brighton and they have recently announced some significant dates for 2026.

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Supertram joins Women in Transport

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

South Yorkshire Supertram have announced that they have become corporate members of Women in Transport, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gender equality across the transport industry and empowering women to maximise their potential.

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In Pictures: Behind the Scenes at Starr Gate Depot

Posted on Monday 16 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

One of the big stories on the modern Blackpool Tramway so far in 2026 has been the introduction of a temporary timetable whilst repairs take place to the Flexity2 trams, the first 16 of which are now approaching the 14th anniversary of their entry into service (let’s not forget that Nottingham Express Transit’s original trams had already gone through the first of their two mid-life refurbishments by this time), ahead of the main summer season. Podbaba Transport was afforded the opportunity to see behind the scenes at the depot whilst this work took place and has been kind enough to provide us with some photos inside the depot.

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Full Metro running challenge completed by fundraiser

Posted on Monday 16 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Paul McDougal has completed his epic challenge of running the route of the whole Tyne and Wear Metro network – with it taking him just 18 hours and 30 minutes to complete it. Paul, 35, lives in Vietnam now and returned home to the northeast to complete the challenge, all in aid of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA).

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