In Preview: Totally Models in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 21 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Just four weeks after the last Gold weekend in Blackpool its time for another two days of intensive heritage tram action with the added bonus of the Totally Models event at Rigby Road Depot. With 12 different trams from six different classes in service over the two days plus a heritage bus service (using 6 buses), trade stalls and model layouts there should be plenty to keep you occupied if you head to the Fylde Coast this weekend!

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In Pictures: 275 makes it two EE trams in Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 20 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

We’ve already shown you pictures of Edinburgh Trams 267 is in its latest advert for EE’s 5G network and now it’s a case of seeing double on the streets of the Scottish capital as 275 has received an identical advert! Once again featuring the EE house colours of turquoise and yellow the advert debuted during mid-June and replaces standard fleet livery on this tram which had lost its C R Smith advert during May.

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In Pictures: More old tram track discovered in Sheffield

Posted on Thursday 20 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

It seems that if you like to see rediscovered tram track then the place to be at the moment is Sheffield as hot on the heels of the track found in Blonk Street more roadworks has seen further sections uncovered at Fitzalan Square.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 812

Posted on Thursday 20 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today our dip into the archives stays in Crich for a view of a regular performer in service – Glasgow 812.

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English Light Rail journeys on the up again

Posted on Wednesday 19 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

After last year’s blip, when there was a small decrease in light rail journeys in England, the latest figures have shown that once again there has been an increase with a grand total of 272.4 million journeys recorded on the eight qualifying systems – an increase of 1.9%. All systems with the exception of London Tramlink and Stagecoach Supertram saw increases with the largest percentage rise being on Manchester Metrolink (6.1%), although for some systems it was a very marginal rise.

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Outline details announced for Tramtastic at Heaton Park

Posted on Wednesday 19 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 7th July sees the main tram-only event of the year at the Heaton Park Tramway with the usual mix of trams in service and static trams on display set to be offered. Tramtastic will see trams running in service between 1100 and 1730 and will also include a five tram parade in the afternoon.

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Another award for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 19 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams has been rewarded for managing to increase the number of passengers using the service to the Airport with an award at the Scottish Transport Awards.

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And then there were three! Nexus announces final shortlist for new trains

Posted on Tuesday 18 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Nexus have announced the final shortlist of three firms who will be asked to submit best and final offers to supply a fleet of new 42 trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro with delivery due from the end of 2021. The three companies are all firmly established in supply rail vehicles across not only the UK but also the world. They are CAF, Hitachi and Stadler.

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In Pictures: Trams in action at Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 18 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 15th June saw a Morris Car Rally take place at Beamish which gave some extra photo opportunities alongside the operating trams. A three car service was running on this day which included three resident double deckers: Sunderland 16, Blackpool 31 and Sheffield 264. Leo Dembry visited on the day and has provided us with the following pictures.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 705

Posted on Tuesday 18 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

We head back 50 years or so for the next few weeks of our Blackpool archive photo series for some images of a bygone era on the Fylde Coast, starting off with the first of the Balloon Cars to be scrapped.

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In Pictures: Just a normal day at Crich

Posted on Monday 17 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

As enthusiasts we tend to concentrate on the big events at heritage tramways with lots of trams in service, rare moves etc. but for the majority of the year it’s a far more sedate and calm affair. Take Crich as an example, most of the year sees a two or three tram service with the occasional other move to keep the paying visitors entertained. In this pictorial article we take a look around the museum on Friday 14th June when there was a two tram public service plus Oporto 273 out for driver training. We also take a look at Bluebird in the Workshop. Keith Chadbourne with the photos.

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Trams to Newhaven project look at support for businesses during construction phase

Posted on Monday 17 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

With approval having been given for the Edinburgh Trams extension to Newhaven the project team and now turning their attention to the support package which will be offered to businesses along the route during construction. To this end a new survey has been sent out finding out what “business as usual” look like today so that the support package can be properly scaled to try and reduce the obvious disruption construction will cause as much as possible.

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Record passenger numbers for Metro as the Spice Girls hit Sunderland

Posted on Monday 17 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Spice Girls have been the cause of many things over the years and their latest claim to fame is they were the reason for record passenger numbers of the Tyne and Wear Metro for a concert at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light for their concert held on 6th June. There were an extra 16,000 passenger journeys on the night which generated record revenue from ticket sales for a concert there.

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Around the World in Trams: Rio de Janeiro 116

Posted on Sunday 16 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Our world tour stays in South America this week for another image from the system in Rio de Janeiro.

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In Pictures: New advert for Metrolink 3066

Posted on Sunday 16 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink M5000 3066 has received a new advert livery with a pleasing on the eye design for the Clean Air Greater Manchester campaign. Featuring a sky blue base the colour seems to go nicely with the standard fleet livery colours and we are sure many reading this website will also be glad to hear that it is devoid of vinyls on the windows meaning not only is it clean air for Greater Manchester but also clean views through the windows!

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams get 5G – on an advert anyway

Posted on Sunday 16 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

With Manchester Metrolink being the tramway of Vodafone (four trams in full vinyl wraps) it would appear that Edinburgh Trams is the tramway of EE with a new advert for that company’s 5G network now adorning 267. However, whilst Vodafone advertise on Metrolink because they provide the on-tram Wi-Fi this is just a pure advertising contract.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 16 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

There are a duo of new Photo Galleries for you this week:

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In Pictures: Latest on Supertram rail replacement project

Posted on Saturday 15 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

Work on Area Two of this year’s rail replacement project on Stagecoach Supertram is now well underway with the current worksite now being on the outbound track from Bamforth Street stop to Burnaby Street. This is a longer section that most of the other sites so far this year and it did slightly overlap with work on the other track although access for road traffic into the city was maintained throughout. Stuart Cooke with the photography for us.

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Picture in Time: Luas Citadis 301 interior

Posted on Saturday 15 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

We remain in Dublin again for this week’s modern tram archive image – this time though we don’t look outside a tram but rather feature the interior.

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Metro line closure ahead as part of final preparations for new South Shields Interchange

Posted on Saturday 15 June 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro is currently enjoying a high level of investment with existing infrastructure being upgraded, new trains on the way over the next few years whilst a £21 million project at South Shields will see a new terminus station for the network at an all new transport interchange. It has now been confirmed that this will open on Sunday 4th August but not before a four week closure of the line to South Shields to allow for works on the new station to be completed.

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