Plans announced for trams in Leicester – if the Conservatives win local elections

Posted on Monday 18 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s a type of story that springs up every now and then across the UK – proposals to build a new tramway to help traffic congestion. This time around it’s Leicester which is considering the proposals but it isn’t the ruling Labour Party who are involved but rather the Conservatives – a party who currently have the grand total of one councillor!

Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Around the World in Trams: Palermo 02

Posted on Sunday 17 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

We move on this week to Italy as we visit the system on the island of Sicily operating around Palermo. Only just over three years old the network is the second to run in the city following on from the first which closed in 1947.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Palermo 02

Season’s start on the MER and at Crich

Posted on Sunday 17 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

A sure sign that Spring has almost sprung is the return of more tramways for another season of operation – Saturday 16th March saw two more lines start their 2019 season, those at Crich and on the Manx Electric Railway.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Season’s start on the MER and at Crich

Tram derailed after collision with bus in Dublin

Posted on Sunday 17 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Nine people suffered injuries after a tram was derailed in a collision with a bus in Dublin City Centre in the early morning of Saturday 16th March. Both vehicles suffered major damage in the incident which saw the front section of the tram come off the rails following the impact with the bus.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas | Comments Off on Tram derailed after collision with bus in Dublin

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 17 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

This week we feature photos of battery trams now operating in West Midlands Metro:

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Canal tunnel reopened as Birmingham Westside works continue

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Work on the West Midlands Metro Birmingham Westside extension are continuing at a pace with the Broad Street Canal Tunnel reopening on Thursday 14th March – two days ahead of schedule. This is all part of the second phase of this extension which will link Grand Central with Hagley Road, Edgbaston which is due to open in its entirety in 2021.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Canal tunnel reopened as Birmingham Westside works continue

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2546

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another all over advert carried on one of the trams of Croydon Tramlink in the early days of the system features as the latest image in Picture in Time today.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2546

Details announced for 2019 Manx Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may still only be March but that doesn’t mean it is too soon for details of what will be happening at the 2019 Manx Heritage Transport Festival to be announced. Traditionally one of the earliest events of the year to actually release full details the 2019 Festival takes place between Wednesday 24th and Sunday 28th July and although it isn’t such a significant year for the Manx Electric Railway that doesn’t mean it won’t be included!

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Details announced for 2019 Manx Heritage Transport Festival

Punctuality up, reliability down on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest performance statistics of Manchester Metrolink have been released ad whilst the figures remain fairly consistent they have shown an increase in punctuality with a small decrease in reliability. These figures relate to two four week periods from 9th December 2018 to 5th January 2019 and 6th January to 2nd February 2019.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Punctuality up, reliability down on Metrolink

2019 NET Community Hero tram named

Posted on Friday 15 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

One of the recent traditions on Nottingham Express Transit around its anniversary is the naming of a tram after a Community Hero with Citadis 222 the tram reserved for this honour. The 2019 renaming took place on Friday 15th March with the lucky recipient being David Stewart OBE, a local head teacher and Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on 2019 NET Community Hero tram named

Planning application submitted for tram marquee in Douglas

Posted on Friday 15 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Whilst we still don’t quite know when the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway may start running in 2019 (25th April is still the nominal date announced but is subject to change depending on progress on the Prom reconstruction works) plans are currently continuing for a service to operate at some point in the year, including a planning application for a temporary marquee to be put up to house the horse trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Comments Off on Planning application submitted for tram marquee in Douglas

London Tramlink strike set for 28th March

Posted on Friday 15 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

ASLEF have confirmed that they are instructing their members to go on strike on Thursday 28th March in a dispute over the latest pay offer made to staff on London Tramlink. As we reported earlier this month a ballot was called over a pay offer of 3.2% for each of the next three years and following this ballot there has been an overwhelming majority of ASLEF members who are favour of taking industrial action.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on London Tramlink strike set for 28th March

Box 40 enters service at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 14 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Thursday 14th March was a momentous day for Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 as it entered service at Beamish – becoming the third tram to run on four different tramways in UK tram preservation. 40 is unlikely to be used on a daily basis just yet with this use in passenger service part of its testing and commissioning period.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Box 40 enters service at Beamish

It’s a yes! Trams will go to Newhaven after approval given to extension

Posted on Thursday 14 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s the news we have been waiting for – Edinburgh Trams will be extended to Newhaven via Leith Walk after councillors at a full council meeting on Thursday 14th March voted in favour of the £207.3 million project going ahead. The 2.8 mile extension will continue the current line beyond the terminus at York Place (which will be removed and replaced by a new stop at Picardy Place) to Newhaven with first trams due to run in public service in 2023.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 6 Comments

Picture in Time: Seaton 19

Posted on Thursday 14 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another of the trams converted for operation on the Seaton Tramway from an original first generation tramway is no. 19 – which started off life on the local Exeter Corporation Tramways system.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Seaton 19

In Pictures: More from Talbot Square

Posted on Wednesday 13 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

With much of Talbot Road now reopened whilst we all wait for the tramway extension to open – which as we have reported many times won’t be for quite some time as we still await the demolition of Wilkinson’s and construction of tramway terminus – attention is now being concentrated at the Promenade end of the route on both the platform at Talbot Square and also as the tracks meet the existing tramway.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: More from Talbot Square

In Pictures: New signage on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 13 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few months a number of new signs have appeared along the reserved track sections of Edinburgh Trams aimed at improving safety with new Temporary Speed Restrictions now put in place at all pedestrian crossings on these sections following on from the fatality in 2018 when a man was hit by a tram.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: New signage on Edinburgh Trams

NET get on the publicity machine as it reaches its 15th anniversary

Posted on Wednesday 13 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

In recent months local media have been reporting on what they see as the frequent service disruption on Nottingham Express Transit but now as the network celebrates its 15th anniversary the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee have been told that it is a “world-class network to be proud of”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on NET get on the publicity machine as it reaches its 15th anniversary

More overhead problems in the West Midlands

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Coming hot on the heels of the previous disruption, Sunday 10th March saw further delays for passengers on the West Midlands Metro with overhead problems seen between Priestfield and Wednesbury Parkway causing shuttle services to operate until repairs could be undertaken.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on More overhead problems in the West Midlands

Wakebridge to act as terminus as Crich gets ready for new season

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Over this winter the big project at the Crich Tramway Village has been to relay the track at Glory Mine but unfortunately it has now been confirmed that the work isn’t going to be completed in time for the start of the 2019 season with trams set to terminate at Wakebridge during March. Crich is due to open for the first time this year on Saturday 16th March.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Wakebridge to act as terminus as Crich gets ready for new season