Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 123

Posted on Saturday 26 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have another edition of “Lockdown Walks” for you today as we head off towards Meadowhall for another view of Stagecoach Supertram.

Continue reading →

Posted in Lockdown Walks, South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 123

English Light Rail journeys for 2020/21 see dramatic fall

Posted on Friday 25 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

In possibly not the most shocking news of the year the latest light rail data released for the Department for Transport has shown a drastic fall in passenger journeys with an overall decrease of 69% ranging from 57.4% on London Tramlink to 81.8% on Nottingham Express Transit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, Tyne and Wear Metro, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on English Light Rail journeys for 2020/21 see dramatic fall

Evening operation on the Volk’s Electric Railway this summer

Posted on Friday 25 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

In normal circumstances come 1830 (at the latest) the trains on the Volk’s Electric Railway will all be tucked up in the depot after a hard day running along Brighton seafront, potentially missing out on increased revenue from holidaymakers wanting some evening entertainment. But in recent years the volunteers of the Volk’s Electric Railway Association have stepped in to operate an evening service – and 2021 will be no different with four dates now announced for this running.

Continue reading →

Posted in Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on Evening operation on the Volk’s Electric Railway this summer

NET Event Ticket available for travel to COVID vaccinations

Posted on Friday 25 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

The NET Event Ticket – which gives discounted return travel for £2.50 – is to be made available for anyone travelling to get their COVID-19 vaccination at either The Forest Recreation Ground or Queen’s Medical Centre over the weekend of 26th and 27th June. Usually only available in conjunction with events at the Royal Centre or other locations around the city this one weekend only offer is in place to help those travelling for vaccinations to easily get there.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on NET Event Ticket available for travel to COVID vaccinations

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 703

Posted on Friday 25 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

This latest edition of “Picture in Time” is in Blackpool as we go back over 25 years to view one of the iconic Balloon cars.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 6 Comments

In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 41 the latest new tram to arrive

Posted on Thursday 24 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 23rd June 2021 saw the fourth of the new batch of trams for West Midlands Metro arrive at Wednesbury Depot. 41 was delivered to the depot having made the now familiar journey from Spain to the UK, landing in Bristol before it was transferred by road to the West Midlands.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Another update from Wilko’s

Posted on Thursday 24 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

The former Wilko’s site in Talbot Road, Blackpool remains a hive of activity as preparations continue for what we’re all waiting for – the laying of track to the all new tramway terminus which its hoped will first see passengers in 2022. In this latest pictorial update we take a look to see what has been happening during the week of 21st June – and you can see some of the progress which has been made.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Toton Lane line – Cator Lane

Posted on Thursday 24 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

We return to our journey along the Toton Lane line of Nottingham Express Transit and reach the stop at Cator Lane for this edition of “Stop by Stop”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Toton Lane line – Cator Lane

In Pictures: More B fleet usage in Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 23 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

It appears that the future for Blackpool Transport’s B fleet Balloons may be a bit brighter as after last weekend’s usage of three of the sub-class they were back out again over the weekend of Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th June. Once again they were running top deck closed as they only had one conductor assigned but it is still a positive step for these trams which have rarely been used for their intended purpose.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Supertram’s Citylink 399 205 back in service

Posted on Wednesday 23 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve mentioned a few times before during the pandemic, with reduced frequency services being operated on many tramways in the UK there have been some trams which haven’t been seen in service for some time. This has seemed particularly prevalent on Stagecoach Supertram and included Citylink Tram-Train 399 205 which had been out of service for at least four months – that was until Thursday 17th June!

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram’s Citylink 399 205 back in service

Still Standing! Manhole cover in Atherton

Posted on Wednesday 23 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

After 78 editions we come to the end (for now?) of our “Still Standing” series as we take a look at old tramway infrastructure still in situ, even if it was being used for something very different to its original purpose. Throughout this series  we have featured buildings, track, poles, rosettes and even section boxes nowhere near a tramway route but this is a first – it’s a manhole cover! Located in Atherton, Greater Manchester the history of its ownership can clearly be seen.

Continue reading →

Posted in Still Standing! | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool Standard 40 returns to service at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 22 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

It has been another busy week in the Workshops at Crich with another tram being commissioned for passenger service as progress continues on the ongoing restoration projects. Blackpool Standard 40 is the tram which has now re-entered service while London County Council 1 and Newcastle 102 have seen progress on their respective restorations. This pictorial article not only sees updates on these three but also a few other trams running at Crich recently.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Blackpool Standard 40 returns to service at Crich

In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven Project at McDonald Road

Posted on Tuesday 22 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

In less than two years time trams should be running along the Edinburgh Trams extension to Newhaven but before then there is lots of construction work to be completed along the route. With the route split up into different sections and the “one spade” approach good tangible progress can be seen in various locations showing just what all that disruption is about. In this short pictorial update we are at the city centre end of the line close to the future McDonald route stop.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven Project at McDonald Road

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink T68

Posted on Tuesday 22 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks our modern tram edition of “Picture in Time” will be heading back to Manchester Metrolink as we take a look at some of the original trams in action.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink T68

New adverts on Manchester Metrolink

Posted on Monday 21 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its been a long time since we last saw a new advert on a tram in Manchester but much like a London bus you wait so long for one that two come at once! The first new adverts since last November have recently been noted with 3070 and 3102 both receiving their very first vinyl wraps.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on New adverts on Manchester Metrolink

Tyne and Wear Metro gets £1.66 million extra support from DfT

Posted on Monday 21 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

Nexus, operators of the Tyne and Wear Metro, have announced that they have received a further £1.66 million in funding from the government which will help services to be sustained until 19th July. The previous funding package, announced in March, had been for 11 weeks but with this period now expiring the extra funding was needed to allow a full service to continue to run while passenger numbers remain at low levels.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Tyne and Wear Metro gets £1.66 million extra support from DfT

Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon – Leeds 602

Posted on Monday 21 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today “Whatever Happened To?” reaches probably the most controversial tram of this current series. Leeds 602 was running in service at the time but has since become a high-profile member of the statis display within the Great Exhibition Hall.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, Whatever Happened To? | 1 Comment

Heritage Tramways – updated list of operating dates

Posted on Monday 21 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

As more areas of society continue to be opened up we thought it was time for another summary of which heritage tramways are currently operating and why. This list should (if I’ve remembered everywhere!) include details of all operating heritage tramways in the British Isles and now includes those which have not yet announced their reopening plans. As always, any errors or omissions please let us know through the usual channels.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Black Country Living Museum, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on Heritage Tramways – updated list of operating dates

Trams in Video: Prague – Afternoon peak at Palmovka Grand Union Junction

Posted on Sunday 20 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

We return to Prague again for this edition of “Trams in Video” as we spend 11 minutes at Palmovka. This is another of the busy intersections on the network and we again see trams of many different types going about their usual business of transporting locals and tourists across Prague.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams, Trams in Video | 2 Comments

Coming Soon: Zoom presentations featuring the tramways and railways of the Isle of Man

Posted on Sunday 20 June 2021 by Gareth Prior

Come 15-18 months ago and if someone said to you Zoom you would probably think about your camera lens and getting closer to whatever you were taking photos of! But throughout the pandemic many of us have learnt all about Zoom with its meeting software being very useful as face to face became remote to remote! As well as meetings it can also be used for presentations and at the start of July there will be the chance for readers of British Trams Online to join rehearsals of  Power Point presentations which will be looking at the tramways and railways on the Isle of Man – with a twist!

Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments