The Reindeer names of Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Sunday 23 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

In the lead up to Christmas 2018 Edinburgh Trams not only put some Christmas decorations up on their trams but also went to the effort of naming some of the trams after Santa’s reindeer! Trams seem to have received two names – one at each end – and although we don’t have a complete list in the interests of the Christmas spirit below we include details of those noted!

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September Review – Crich: No. 12 – Sheffield 510

Posted on Sunday 23 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we have another one of the operational trams at Crich in images. This is currently the only operational electric tram from Sheffield in the national collection and it is of course Sheffield 510 complete with its special Last Tram livery.

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2018 – Thanks for the memories!

Posted on Sunday 23 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

As is traditional as we approach the Christmas and New Year period we look back at the previous year to have a brief review of just what happened over the last 12 months. We’ve said it many times before that this year has been more of a slow and steady year rather than spectacular (with one or two exceptions) but that doesn’t mean that nothing has happened – far from it!

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 23 – Shunting at Derby Castle sheds

Posted on Sunday 23 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are heading up to Derby Castle Sheds to view some trams being shunted around the yard at various times during the events week (and beyond!). And its not only MER cars being moved…

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 23 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Our final main site update of 2018 brings another couple of Photo Galleries:

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Posted in Docklands Light Railway, Manchester Metrolink, Site News | 1 Comment

Christmas and New Year services 2018/19

Posted on Saturday 22 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Turkey gets boring, you’re fed up with yet more repeats on the television and being confined to barracks with the family is starting to get a bit irritating – but what are you going to do? How about going out for some riding and photography on your local tramway or light rail system? Well, if you are so inclined you can find below details of the planned services on each system in the British Isles. For the 2018/19 period there is an improvement in service on West Midlands Metro whilst on Stagecoach Supertram with the national rail network being more or less closed on Boxing Day this means that the Tram-Train service will not run again until 27th December. Meanwhile it is pretty much business as usual across the British Isles, which means that there will be no trams at all in Blackpool on Boxing Day or New Year’s Day in addition to Christmas Day with the Prom bus service considered enough to cater for those wishing to travel. Read on to find out about the planned services…

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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, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Christmas and New Year services 2018/19

September Review – Blackpool: No. 11 – Balloon 719

Posted on Saturday 22 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Another B fleet Balloon for you today as we return to Blackpool’s September Spectacular for our latest photos from September’s tram events. The tram in question is 719.

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Very Light Rail progresses in the West Midlands

Posted on Saturday 22 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

One of the complaints about developing light rail projects in the UK is the large costs involved causing many local authorities to think twice but a new project currently under development in the West Midlands could change all that with the concept of Very Light Rail. It is planned that the first vehicle will be ready by spring 2019 whilst plans are also being developed for the first route, which looks set to be in Coventry.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 22 – Another look at MER trailers

Posted on Saturday 22 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Once again today we are featuring the Manx Electric Railway trailer as we take a look at three of the lesser used fully enclosed trailers.

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Support remains strong for retention of Supertram

Posted on Friday 21 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year we reported a new consultation looking into the future of Supertram which was asking local residents and businesses whether they supported the overall retention of the network. The background to this was the major investment needing in the coming years to keep the infrastructure running whilst also funding a fleet of new trams to replace the original Siemens-Duewag vehicles. With the consultation now closed it is pleasing to report that 88% of those who responded are in favour of the renewal and modernisation of the system.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Nice one Cyrille! Another tram naming set to score on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Friday 21 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

2019 will see another naming of an Urbos 3 tram on the West Midlands Metro with the late West Bromwich Albion legend Cyrille Regis set to be honoured by the accolade. This will just be the third of the CAF built trams to receive a name and comes after rumours for some time that the striker would be so honoured.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

September Review – Crich: No. 11 – Blackpool 762

Posted on Friday 21 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Another Blackpool tram in today’s look at Crich’s Simply Trams event – and a tram, or to more precise its livery, that continues to divide opinion amongst enthusiasts. It is of course Blackpool Jubilee 762 which carries an all over advert for Nickelodeon Land at the Pleasure Beach.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 21 – Don’t forget the Snaefell Mountain Railway!

Posted on Friday 21 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Of the three tramways on the Isle of Man the Snaefell Mountain Railway was the one which didn’t participate too much in events (save for the three no. 1s at Laxey on 2nd September) but that doesn’t mean we are going to completely ignore it!

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Progress made on Glory Mine relay

Posted on Thursday 20 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Whilst Crich Tramway Village may have closed to the public at the start of November that doesn’t mean that everyone has packed up and gone home – far from it! The big winter project this year is the relaying of track at Glory Mine, which will also see the stub track reinstated with overgrown foliage set to be removed to facilitate this.

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All day tickets on Supertram to increase from January

Posted on Thursday 20 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The latest tramway to confirm fare rises from January is Stagecoach Supertram although in this case the majority of fares are unaffected with mainly TravelMaster tickets – allowing travel across the South Yorkshire region – going up although the Tram only Dayrider is also set to see an increase.

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 10 – Rigby Road Depot line-ups

Posted on Thursday 20 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

As well as the chance to display trams on Blundell Street the opportunity was also taken for some line-ups of trams on the depot fan within the confines of Rigby Road Depot. Visible from outside the depot gates – with a bit of peeking through the wire fence and gates anyway – several trams not often seen in the open featured over the two days.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 20 – More Wagons in action

Posted on Thursday 20 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are taking another look at some of the Wagons and Vans of the Manx Electric Railway out on the mainline over the anniversary events week.

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Problems for Metrolink after damaged pantograph

Posted on Wednesday 19 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services on the Bury line were delayed on Wednesday 19th December after a tram suffered a damaged pantograph. The tram involved was 3010 with the damaged pantograph having to be removed at at Shudehill with the power needing to be isolated for this to happen.

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Edinburgh Trams delays after car and tram collide

Posted on Wednesday 19 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Tram services on Edinburgh Trams between Edinburgh Park Station and the Airport were suspended for around three hours on Wednesday 19th December after a collision between a car and a tram close to Gyle Centre. The driver of the car suffered minor injuries with no reported injuries on board the tram.

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September Review – Crich: No. 10 – Stephenson Place

Posted on Wednesday 19 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

During events like Simply Trams Stephenson Place often provides some excellent photographic opportunities with the trams queuing up for their turn to move forward to the loading stop and this event was no different. In today’s retrospective we turn our attention to these queues.

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