Seaton Tramway’s 2020 Tramathon recognised at HRA Awards

Posted on Friday 30 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another week and another award for the Seaton Tramway! This time their Tramathon Live Appeal held in June 2020 has been rewarded at the Heritage Railway Association Awards held virtually on Wednesday 28th April.

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Renewal of Supertram remains priority for Sheffield City Region

Posted on Friday 30 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Dan Jarvis, the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, has gone on record as saying one of his priorities remains securing the future of the Supertram network and that this remains more important than even considering any future expansion. It has been known for some time that major works for its renewal will be needed from 2024 – coincidentally the same year that Stagecoach ‘s contract to operate Supertram expires – and the Mayor has said he remains in constant dialogue with the government over securing funding.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1245

Posted on Friday 30 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

This edition of “Picture in Time” is heading back to the 1960s as we take a look at a well travelled tram which over the years has gone from Glasgow down to England and then back to Scotland again – its Glasgow 1245.

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In Pictures: Up high on the Heaton Park Tramway

Posted on Thursday 29 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Last week we saw the hard work going on at the Heaton Park Tramway at ground level and now in this latest article we go up high to see some more of the preparation works for the new season which are underway.

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Edinburgh Council confirm £2 million budget for their defence as tram inquiry

Posted on Thursday 29 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another recent article in the Edinburgh Evening News on the subject of the controversy of the Edinburgh Trams project has seen the Council forced to confirm that they budgeted £2 million for the “external legal advice” in their defence at the Edinburgh Trams Inquiry.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Toton Lane line – Gregory Street

Posted on Thursday 29 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Stop by Stop” we are in Nottingham as we continue a trip on the Toton Lane line. This time we take a look at Gregory Street.

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West Midlands Metro 39 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Wednesday 28 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

The first of 21 new trams to cater for the ever expanding West Midlands Metro network has arrived at Wednesbury Depot. 39 was delivered to the depot on Wednesday 28th April having set out from Spain earlier in the week and will now start the initial commissioning process before it enters service, likely to be later in 2021.

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TfGM launch new “Tram Aware” campaign

Posted on Wednesday 28 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

With an increase in traffic levels on the region’s roads, Transport for Greater Manchester have launched a new campaign in which they encourage motorist to be “tram aware”. Between April 2019 and March 2021, 122 road traffic collisions were recorded between motorists, cyclists or pedestrians and trams and now TfGM are determined for awareness to be raised to reduce this number even further.

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Still Standing! Witton Lane Tram Depot, Birmingham

Posted on Wednesday 28 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Still Standing” we take a look at a surviving depot in the West Midlands which was for a time a transport museum but has more recently become the home of a nightclub!

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In Pictures: London Transport 1622 returns to the rails

Posted on Tuesday 27 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Having last run in service during 2016, all being well 2021 should see a return to service of London Transport 1622 at the Crich Tramway Village with the tram making a brief appearance out on the mainline on Saturday 24th April – the start of the commissioning process.

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In Pictures: Continued developments at Ocean Terminal

Posted on Tuesday 27 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Work on the construction of the Edinburgh Trams extension to Newhaven is continuing at what appears to be a good pace and in this latest pictorial update we take a look at recent developments around Ocean Terminal. With a major shopping centre and tourist attractions – such as the Royal Yacht Britannia – in the area this looks set to be one of the busiest stops on the new line and recent work here has been concentrating on the installation of a crossover as well as the start of work on the platform. John Hampton made the trip to record the latest progress.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink trackwork

Posted on Tuesday 27 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are again on the way to Croydon Tramlink for this edition of “Picture in Time” as we feature an image of trackwork underway on the system a few years after opening.

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In Pictures: M5000s 3122 & 3123 out on mileage accumulation

Posted on Monday 26 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

A few days ago we brought you pictures as the first of the new batch of M5000s for Manchester Metrolink was used in service for the first time since Christmas and now the next two are on the road to being introduced with both 3122 and 3123 undergoing mileage accumulation on the Bury line. The two operated as a coupled double unit for runs from Queens Road Depot on the Bury line on Friday 23rd April are our intrepid photographer was out and about again to capture these images.

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All change at Rossall School as Trailer 687 now selected for the move

Posted on Monday 26 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

They say a week is a long time in politics and so it seems a couple of weeks is a long time in tram preservation! After reports came out that Rossall School were preparing to take on Blackpool Balloon 710 from the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust to cosmetically restore it and display within the school grounds it would now appear that there has been a change of mind and Twin Trailer 687 has been selected again. Maybe 710 failed the entrance exam to the independent school?!

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Blackpool 167

Posted on Monday 26 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today “Whatever Happened To?” continues its look at those trams which operated during the Crich Tramway Village Tramathon on 12th June 2005 and this time we have reached Blackpool 167.

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Updated list of Heritage Tramways planned operation for 2021

Posted on Monday 26 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

This is the latest list of when you can enjoy a ride on a heritage tram across the British Isles in 2021. Updated up to and including Monday 26th April this list only includes those tramways which have announced an opening date for 2021 and is correct to the best of our knowledge. If you notice any errors or omissions please let us know and we will correct.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway | 1 Comment

Trams in Video: Belgian Coastal Tramway 125th Anniversary Parade 2010

Posted on Sunday 25 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

2010 was a year of Parade’s as it wasn’t just the Blackpool Tramway celebrating their 125th anniversary as the Belgian Coastal Tramway also commemorated the same birthday. Included in this video is not only the Belgian Coastal Tramway but also the diesel tram to the Grottes de Han and the Vicinal Discovery Centre in Thuin.

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Archaeological investigations continue in Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 25 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

While for many reading the website the most interesting thing about the Trams to Newhaven project will be what comes at the end ff it – i.e. an operating tram line in 2023! – there is also some interest to be found during the initial construction phase, especially with the continued archaeological investigations. As part of these works forensic artists have started to reconstruct the faces of remains uncovered to give an insight into what life was like in Leith and Edinburgh up to 700 years ago.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 104

Posted on Sunday 25 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

This latest “Lockdown Walks” is on the way to Hillsborough in Sheffield with another view of a tram running on the Supertram network during the latest period of lockdown.

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Ticket Inspectors return to Edinburgh Trams ahead of Scottish Covid restrictions easing

Posted on Sunday 25 April 2021 by Gareth Prior

Monday 26th April is the next key date for the easing of Covid restrictions in Scotland (Scotland is on a different roadmap out of restrictions to England) and although there will be a bit more freedom at the current time there will be no increase in services on Edinburgh Trams. One change on board the trams, however, is the return of Ticket Inspectors.

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