Douglas horse trams set to run for 500 metres to start season

Posted on Thursday 9 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

It now seems that when the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway starts services for 2019 it will only be running for 500 metres between Derby Castle and Switzerland Road. It is still expected that the service will kick off in mid-late May once training of the horses has concluded.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Comments Off on Douglas horse trams set to run for 500 metres to start season

Picture in Time: Aachen 1010

Posted on Thursday 9 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Staying on the Isle of Man for this week’s Traditional Tram archive photo we feature a tram which was never purchased to operate on the island but was used to provide parts to update the equipment on the Snaefell cars.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Aachen 1010

Tramlink strike called off

Posted on Wednesday 8 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the proposed strike on London Tramlink, due to take place on Thursday 9th May, has been called off. The industrial action had been called as a result of the latest pay offer from Tram Operations Limited (TOL), the operators of Tramlink, and would have been the third 24 hour strike since the dispute started. Talks have started between the TOL and ASLEF to bring a full resolution to the dispute and these will be continuing this week. It currently remains unclear whether the strike also due to take place on Thursday 23rd May will still go-ahead.

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Tramlink strike called off

In Pictures: No service for the Volk’s Electric Railway on a Bank Holiday Monday

Posted on Wednesday 8 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Bank Holidays, a day when the Great British public like to do something with family, maybe head off to the coast to see what’s on offer. For those heading to Brighton it may include a walk down the pier, a trip up the i360 or maybe even a ride on the historic Volk’s Electric Railway for its 1.2 mile length between Palace Pier and Black Rock. Well, not on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May, they couldn’t as track repairs meant there was no service operated at all.

Continue reading →

Posted in Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: No service for the Volk’s Electric Railway on a Bank Holiday Monday

Collision in Laxey

Posted on Wednesday 8 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Manx Electric Railway Tunnel Car 6 was involved in a collision with a car in Laxey as it was heading north to Ramsey on Monday 6th May. The incident happened at the junction of Mines Road and Dumbell Terrace shortly after departure from Laxey Station at approximately 1410. This location is a non-signalled crossing and is the second of two crossings for northbound trams in close proximity. It isn’t known exactly what happened in this instance but photos from the scene showed that there was damage to the front steps of the tram and to the left-hand side of the car. No injuries were reported at the scene with the BBC describing the tram as “full of passengers” and then going on to say there were 14 on board! After the Police attended the scene and started an investigation the line was reopened through the area, around one hour later.

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Western Train out and about for latest Blackpool Gold weekend

Posted on Tuesday 7 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

In recent years a tram not often seen in use for public tours outside of the illumination period is the Western Train but on Saturday 4th May – as part of the latest Blackpool Gold heritage timetable – the tram was in use, initially on a Private Hire for the Fylde Tramway Society and then a couple of public trips. With seven other heritage trams also in action on this day (Balloon 713 was a temporary replacement for Boat 227 in the morning but the open car did run in the afternoon) there was plenty for both enthusiasts and the general public although passenger loading were a little sparse, possibly not helped by the Fylde Tramway Society convention weekend. Trevor Hall captured the following photos.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Western Train out and about for latest Blackpool Gold weekend

In Pictures: Works continues on Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Tuesday 7 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

The next part of the West Midlands Metro system which will open will be phase one of the Birmingham Westside extension which will travel from the current Grand Central terminus to Centenary Square via Victoria Square. New stops will be provided at both of the Squares although work on the construction of these doesn’t appear to have yet got underway. What is underway though is the laying of track from the former end of the line in Stephenson Street up the steep incline of Pinfold Street and into Victoria Square. The following images show the current state of affairs on the extension which is due to open at the end of 2019.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Works continues on Birmingham Westside extension

Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 641

Posted on Tuesday 7 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

We stay in Fleetwood for this week’s Blackpool Tramway archive image but this time we head back in time a bit further to the 1980s for a view of Centenary Car 641.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 641

In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7 on parade

Posted on Monday 6 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

As has become traditional every May Day Bank Holiday weekend the North Wales coastal town of Llandudno holds a Victorian Extravaganza which amongst other events includes a number of vintage vehicles on display with the centrepiece being a special parade on all three days of the event. Taking place at midday on each day amongst the vehicles involved in 2019 was once again the replica Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 with the faithful Matador lorry pulling the tram around the town. Kevin James captured the following images of 7 on the move.

Continue reading →

Posted in Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society | Comments Off on In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7 on parade

In Pictures: Douglas Prom redevelopment continues

Posted on Monday 6 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we have reported over the winter (and before with the eternal debates over exactly what form it would take) Douglas Promenade is currently being redeveloped which as far as this website is concerned involves a significant amount of work securing the future of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. With the track being relaid – using rail obtained from the abandoned Merseytram project across the water in Liverpool – this first stage is seeing a like for like replacement as far as Villa Marina although there is a slightly wider gap between the two tracks and the quality of the track would, in theory, enable the Manx Electric Railway to extend further into Douglas. In this pictorial update Geoff Pickles provides us with the latest images of both the trackwork and also the start of work to erect a new marquee to house the trams at Derby Castle.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 2 Comments

New report looks for major transport revolution in Glasgow

Posted on Monday 6 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Could Glasgow be the second Scottish city to enjoy the benefits of a light rail type transport system? If ambitious plans revealed in a new report come to fruition it could although it wouldn’t come cheap with the complete package of transport improvement proposed said to come to £10 billion. Described as a Metro network it would link Glasgow City Centre with the Airport – similar plans have recently been rejected as not feasible – going via Renfrew, Braehead and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Worksite cleared in Talbot Square – but more snagging works to come

Posted on Monday 6 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s a case of good and bad news for the Blackpool North Railway Station extension of the Blackpool Tramway. Firstly, the major worksite at Talbot Square has now been cleared of all equipment showing off the new layout here in full for the first time but then on the flip side Blackpool Council have announced that there will be some further temporary road closures to come to allow for remedial work to take place along Talbot Road.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Worksite cleared in Talbot Square – but more snagging works to come

Around the World in Trams: Giardinetti Railway 834

Posted on Sunday 5 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

This week we have one final image from the Giardinetti Railway in Rome.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Giardinetti Railway 834

In Pictures: Supertram track replacement work update

Posted on Sunday 5 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Good progress continues to be made on the major rail replacement project on Stagecoach Supertram with the worksite now having moved onto the inbound line along Middlewood Road from Dykes Hall Road to Leader Road, between the stops at Hillsborough Park and Leppings Lane. Stuart Cooke with the latest pictorial update.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram track replacement work update

FTT give an update on their trams

Posted on Sunday 5 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

With four trams undergoing active projects the Fylde Transport Trust are certainly busy at the moment and updates have recently been given by the group on all four of these trams. The trams are, of course, Standard 143, Railcoach 279, Coronation 304 and Balloon 715.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | Comments Off on FTT give an update on their trams

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 5 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

We have photos from the Tyne and Wear Metro as part of this week’s main sute update:

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News, Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Support high for linking Sutton to London Tramlink

Posted on Saturday 4 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

In late 2018 Transport for London launched a consultation into proposals to improve transport connections between the boroughs of Sutton and Merton which could include an extension of London Tramlink. The results have now been revealed and have shown that 81% of those who responded to the survey were in favour of using trams to improve transport in the area with only 40% backing the bus rapid transit option.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Support high for linking Sutton to London Tramlink

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1004

Posted on Saturday 4 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another early image from Manchester Metrolink features in the latest edition of Picture in Time.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1004

In Pictures: A windy day at Crich

Posted on Saturday 4 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

Trams may now be running through to Glory Mine again at Crich – with passengers still unable to alight there whist the work is completed – but it was a different story on Saturday 27th April when the effects of Storm Hannah were felt at the museum meaning that it wasn’t deemed wise for trams to travel between Wakebridge and Glory Mine. This is an exposed section of track on the operating line and when the weather does its worst it isn’t that uncommon for trams to be curtailed at Wakebridge until it abates. Trevor Hall visited the museum on this normal Saturday with the following photos taken on the day.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: A windy day at Crich

Full service finally resumes on Metro

Posted on Saturday 4 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

It took four days but finally a full service has resumed on the Tyne and Wear Metro following the conclusion of repairs to the overhead at Chillingham Road. Trains started running between St James and Wallsend – the last section without a service – from around 1600 on Friday 3rd May.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Full service finally resumes on Metro