Blackpool Tramway to close as West Midlands Metro announces reduced services

Posted on Wednesday 25 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway is to temporarily close from Sunday 29th March as further service restrictions are introduced in the UK as a result of the continuing Coronavirus pandemic. It has also been confirmed that the West Midlands Metro will become the last of the UK’s tram systems to operate a reduced service with a temporary timetable now due to run from Monday 30th March.

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In Pictures: Livery changes in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Usually when we report on mass livery changes in Edinburgh it’s a result of new advertising contracts but this time there are four further trams which have recently lost their ads in favour of standard fleet livery. 251 (American Express), 261 (Standard Life), 263 (American Express) and 270 (American Express) are all now back in the standard white, madder, black and grey livery following the expiry of their advertising contracts. With the Coronavirus hitting the country it could be that it be a while before we see any new adverts applied.

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Don’t travel advice given across UK

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Following on from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address on Monday 23rd September public transport should only be used in the UK for essential travel with several transport networks reiterating this fact in statements. It has also now been confirmed that a reduced service will be running on Nottingham Express Transit – leaving just the West Midlands Metro who haven’t yet reduced their service.

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Still Standing! Darwen Steam Tram turning circle

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

A lot of the remnants we have featured in this series have been old tram depots or fixtures and fittings on buildings where overhead has once hung. But this time we will be taking a look at some surviving track in Darwen, Lancashire now preserved for posterity.

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In Pictures: Metrolink’s Trafford Park line opens

Posted on Monday 23 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the current ongoing Coronavirus crisis the opening of the latest Manchester Metrolink extension – and likely to be the last for some time as there are now no construction works continuing – opened to the public on Sunday 22nd March. A far more low-key opening than any other recent line opening for obvious reasons passenger loadings were very low on the first day with people heeding the social distancing warnings and only taking essential journeys on public transport.

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More service reductions across the UK

Posted on Monday 23 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

As government advice for social distancing and to travel only if essential continues further service reductions have been introduced on light rail systems across the UK. The Tyne and Wear Metro have further reduced their timetables whilst a revised service is also now running on the Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, Dublin Luas, Edinburgh Trams, London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on More service reductions across the UK

Trams in Video: Luas Green line – July 2007

Posted on Sunday 22 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks we are back with videos of trams, courtesy of Bob Hodges, and for the first edition of the return we head to Dublin for footage from the Green line. Filmed in July 2007 at a time when the route ran from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford – of course, both ends of the line have since been extended.

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NET delays after car flips at Gregory Street

Posted on Sunday 22 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Services to Toton Lane on Nottingham Express Transit were disrupted on Sunday 15th March after a car flipped over adjacent to the island platform stop at Gregory Street. The incident occurred at around 1230 and led to no trams able to run between Meadows Way West and University Boulevard for around an hour whilst the emergency services dealt with the situation.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 22 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Off to the United States again for a collection of photos from a type of line we don’t often feature on British Trams Online this week:

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In Pictures: T68 1023 heads off to Crewe

Posted on Saturday 21 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

In a report which seems like a lifetime ago but was actually only at the end of January(!) we brought you news that a T68 was about to go on public display at the Crewe Heritage Centre and become the first modern tram in the UK to become a museum exhibit and now on Thursday 19th March, Manchester Metrolink 1023 has made that very trip!

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Around the World in Trams: Melbourne 273

Posted on Saturday 21 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

This evening its time for another photo from Melbourne.

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Car on the tracks delays Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 21 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its come to something when its nice to report on a car on the tracks in Manchester – at least its not about Coronavirus I guess! The latest incident happened on Saturday 14th March between Sale Water Park and Barlow Moor Road on the Manchester Airport line. The car became stuck on the tracks shortly after 1100 with Metrolink services only running from Sale Water Park to Manchester Airport whilst the car was removed from the tracks.

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More service restrictions due to Coronavirus pandemic

Posted on Friday 20 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its been another day of announcements of service reductions on the UK’s tram systems with the Blackpool Tramway now confirming trams will run to a reduced frequency as a result of reduced demand and to ensure a reliable service can be maintained.

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Heritage organisations start to shut down after latest government advice **updated 20th March**

Posted on Friday 20 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

The situation with closures and changes to openings of heritage tramways and museums continues to change rapidly as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to make itself felt. It is inevitable, sensible and understandable that these decisions have to be made and the below list gives all the details as know at the moment. At a time when government advice is that we should be exercising social distancing and only undertake essential travel it is no surprise that these decisions are made and hopefully the situation will improve in the coming months. This is likely to be the last regular update as practically everywhere has now announced their temporary closure but we’re keep you updated.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Black Country Living Museum, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, London Transport Museum, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway | 1 Comment

Peak time travel pass restrictions lifted as more Coronavirus measures in place across the UK

Posted on Thursday 19 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Since their introduction concessionary passes for use on buses and some trams have seen a limit on their use during morning peak times but in light of the current Coronavirus pandemic it has now been announced that this will be waived in many locations. On top of this more measures have been confirmed across the UK to try and combat the spread including enhanced cleaning regimes, automatic opening of doors and reduced timetables.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 717

Posted on Thursday 19 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its off to Blackpool in 1984 again for today’s “Picture in Time” and in this instalment we are taking a look at another of the iconic Balloon cars.

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In Pictures: Shadow running underway on Trafford Park line

Posted on Wednesday 18 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Monday 16th March saw the start of shadow running on Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park line ahead of its planned public opening on Sunday 22nd March. As we’ve seen in the past Shadow Running operates in the week or so leading up to the start of public services to make sure that the timetable runs as it should and that absolutely everything infrastructure wise can cope with what is planned.

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Another season underway on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Wednesday 18 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Friday 13th March saw the start of another season on the Manx Electric Railway with services operating timetable B – requiring three car sets which in the case for the first day was three single motors.

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Tyne and Wear Metro first to announce reduced timetable in wake of Coronavirus

Posted on Tuesday 17 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

With new recommendations for reducing non-essential travel and the idea of more people working from home Nexus have announced that a reduced timetable will be in operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro for the foreseeable future. In making these changes they become the first light rail system in the UK to announce a service reduction.

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Still Standing! Newcastle Corporation Tramways Wingrove Depot

Posted on Tuesday 17 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

We are heading to the northeast for today’s look at remnants of old tramways still in situ with Newcastle Corporation Tramways old Wingrove Depot featuring.

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