Birkenhead, Douglas and Seaton celebrate wins at Heritage Railway Association Awards

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

The annual Heritage Railway Associate Awards – held with a lavish ceremony – have seen two tramways in the British Isles celebrating. The Seaton Tramway in Devon, the Isle of Man’s Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society were rewarded for work in 2018.

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Government call for new light rail solutions?

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we saw earlier this month, Jesse Norman MP, Transport Secretary, visited Birmingham for a special ceremony to lay the first track on the Birmingham Westside extension and whilst there took the opportunity to launch a call for evidence to seek views on the potential for light rail and “other rapid transit solutions” in English towns and cities. The consultation – which will be open until May – states that it is looking to “build on the popularity of light rail” with one of the aims to see if there are any issues preventing new schemes from getting off the drawing board. Just quite what another consultation might mean is unclear at this time.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Photos this week come from overseas as we bring you something a little different from our norm:

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More details released for Tramlink line closures

Posted on Saturday 9 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last month there will be some forthcoming closures on London Tramlink to allow for work to take place in connection with the replacement of Blackhorse Lane bridge over the Beckenham Junction/Elmers End lines whilst further track work will also take place in the same are during March.

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Picture in Time: Tyne & Wear Metro 4086

Posted on Saturday 9 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Concluding our series of images from days gone by of the Tyne and Wear Metro we feature an image today showing that not everything goes according to plan with a double unit in trouble.

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New report states only 68% of Metro trains on time at end of 2018

Posted on Saturday 9 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

The continuing travails of passengers wanting to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro has hit the headlines in the area again with a new report stating that only 68% of trains were on time in November and December. The concerns of how poorly the service continues to operates is very much in Nexus’ sights with the operator of the network saying they will be taking all steps to improve the reliability.

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Plans for tram-trains to Glasgow Airport abandoned

Posted on Saturday 9 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

We last heard news on the plan for a tram-train service to link Glasgow City Centre and Glasgow Airport back at the end of 2016 but now it has been reported that the Scottish Government have decided to abandon the plans as they consider it would detrimentally affect other rail services in the area. The last we had heard was that local councils were in favour of the plan but they have now been told there will be no support from the government bringing an end to hopes for improved transport to the airport.

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First tracks laid in Victoria Square

Posted on Friday 8 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

The first tracks of the Birmingham Westside extension of West Midlands Metro have been laid as progress on the first phase of this line continues ahead of an opening later in 2019. The tracks were laid in a special photo opportunity ceremony attended by Transport Minister Norman Jessop MP in Victoria Square.

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Controversy guaranteed – Edinburgh Trams extension costs increase by a quarter

Posted on Friday 8 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

It was almost inevitable it would happen but the Final Business Case (FBC) for extending the Edinburgh Trams line to Newhaven via Leith Walk has confirmed that the estimated cost will now be £207m (including contingency) up from the previous estimate of £165m. Despite this increase the City of Edinburgh Council have said it remains affordable, is self financing and would not divert funds from other Council services. Nonetheless the news is going to be met with dismay from many in the city who are still angry about the initial project and awaiting for answers from the inquiry.

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In Pictures: Three tram Tuesday at Beamish

Posted on Friday 8 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 5th February saw three trams in action at Beamish – albeit only one was in normal passenger service. With some snow still lying on the ground following the recent snowfall that didn’t deter the use of open toppers with the service car being Blackpool Marton Box 31 with Newcastle 114 in use on driver training. The third and final tram out was Oporto 196 which was on a special with a teddy bear and lots of small children on board! Trevor Hall took advantage of his Unlimited ticket once again and provides us with the below photos.

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In Pictures: 36 gets partial relivery – including adverts

Posted on Thursday 7 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Up until now West Midlands Metro’s Urbos3 trams have been devoid of external advertising but that has changed with 36 receiving adverts for the new My Metro app – along with a bit of the new blue livery on the ends. The result is a bit of hotchpotch as the tram now includes new livery, old livery (minus the magenta) and adverts but it is certainly something a bit different!

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In Pictures: Tyne & Wear Metro Engineering Work

Posted on Thursday 7 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

There was planned engineering work on Tyne & Wear Metro on Sunday 3rd February which saw the line shut between Heworth and Jarrow and from Heworth to Brockley Whins. As is usual during works like this a replacement bus service was out on over the affected sections to ensure prospective passengers could still get around. Trevor Hall captured the below images of some unusual moves.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1195

Posted on Thursday 7 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

The second of three trams to be captured on camera just before scrapping in Glasgow in November 1962 is the feature of Picture in Time today.

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In Pictures: A new advert for Edinburgh 251

Posted on Wednesday 6 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Well that didn’t last long did it! After around a week advert free Edinburgh Trams 251 has once again succumbed with a new design for Edinburgh Live being applied.

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In Pictures: Manchester 765 arrives at Beamish

Posted on Wednesday 6 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Manchester 765 arrived at Beamish on Wednesday 6th February following its lengthy journey from the Heaton Park Tramway. The tram was soon offloaded and moved onto road 3 in the depot where it will reside whilst it receives attention to its bearings before it is fully prepared for service.

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37 returns to service with batteries

Posted on Tuesday 5 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

37 has become the latest battery fitted tram to enter passenger service on West Midlands Metro with it making its first revenue earning runs on Tuesday 5th February. It had last run in service back on 22nd November 2018 before being withdrawn to allow installation of the batteries with recent weeks seeing the tram being thoroughly tested.

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Man suffers serious injuries after being hit by tram

Posted on Tuesday 5 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

A man in his 30s suffered severe injuries after he was hit by a tram on Manchester Metrolink on the railway style section between Pomona and Cornbrook on Friday 25th January. The man was hit by tram at around 2330 with Police saying he had suffered serious but not life threatening injuries. The tram was heading towards Manchester City Centre and as a result of the incident services were suspended on the Eccles line for around an hour whilst the emergency services were on scene.

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In Pictures: Manchester 765 heads for Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 5 February 2019 by Andrew Waddington

On the morning of Tuesday 5th February, Manchester 765 left the Heaton Park Tramway to make its way by road to the North East. As announced previously, the tram is one of two – the other being Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 – to be loaned to Beamish Museum in time for the Great North Steam Fair in April, and in the case of 765 it is due to remain there until the end of June.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 641

Posted on Tuesday 5 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

From the first Jubilee last week to the first Centenary Car this week as we continue our archive photo series with another image taken in Blackpool.

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In Pictures: Latest images from North Station extension

Posted on Monday 4 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Work on the extension of the Blackpool Tramway along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station is continuing ahead of the delayed reopening of the Promenade road. As we have reported previously the Prom road was due to reopen during January after the completion of the connection of the old and new tracks but snagging works has meant this has been delay into February. Nevertheless good progress continues to be made on the extension – for all but the final approach to the new terminus where Wilkinson’s remains firmly in the way.

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