Brierley Hill Metro extension progresses

Posted on Monday 12 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

The currently unfunded West Midlands Metro extension between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill continues to progress with the next stage of the project now underway. This is seeing utility investigation works take place along the proposed route which will help to confirm the locations of existing services ahead of the construction of the new tram lines.

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Altrincham line suspended after van ploughs onto Metrolink

Posted on Monday 12 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

One man suffered serious injuries with another man also injured after a van ploughed through a brick wall close to the Brooklands stop early in the hours of Monday 12th November. Fortunately it happened before Metrolink services were running for the day but it did mean that the service could not start immediately whilst the van was removed and damage to the overhead was repaired.

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Extra funding announced for Metro fleet maintenance

Posted on Sunday 11 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

An extra £900,000 in funding is to be invested by Nexus into the ongoing maintenance of the current fleet of the Tyne and Wear Metro to try and attempt to improve reliability of the nearly 40 year old year vehicles.

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Heaton Park to mark end of the season with special event

Posted on Sunday 11 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Heaton Park Tramway are to celebrate the end of another successful season with an extra special event on Sunday 18th November – the End of Season Gala. A late addition to the events calendar for 2018 this will be an ideal opportunity to take a look at all five of the usual operational fleet, although only three are set to run in passenger service but it will include the chance for some rare after dark tram rides through the park.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 11 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Another couple of Photo Galleries have been added to the website this week:

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Early bird tickets to be piloted on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 10 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

A new cheaper early and late ticket is to be launched for travel on Manchester Metrolink in an attempt to help tackle congestion on Greater Manchester’s road. The tickets – which will only be available as a pilot until Christmas at the present time – will be available from Monday 12th November and will be valid for travel before 0730 and after 1900, Mondays to Fridays only.

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Around the World in Trams: Lille 17

Posted on Saturday 10 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our world tour we land in France with a view of a tram from Lille.

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TfL give update on RAIB recommendations progress

Posted on Saturday 10 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

It is now two years since the tragic derailment at Sandilands on London Tramlink which saw seven people die as a result of the tram coming off the rails as a result of it overspeeding. On the anniversary of the tragedy Transport for London have given an update into progress on the 15 recommendations the RAIB made in their full investigation report with some local politicians and those affected by the incident having recently been criticising the perceived lack of progress to improve safety on the network.

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The wait goes on for Preston – now funding is sought

Posted on Friday 9 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

It seems to be one of those stories which keeps on coming around – the return of trams to Preston in the form of the proposed Trampower project. With the plans for a short demonstration line seemingly having stalled again with no apparent progress on the construction works Preston Trampower are now seeking partners to fund the £25 million project – described as the “last part of the jigsaw”.

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Passenger satisfaction up on NET

Posted on Friday 9 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

A new survey undertaken on behalf of Keolis, operators of Nottingham Express Transit, has shown that 96% of passengers are satisfied with the service – this is a major increase on other recent surveys which have had a lower sample size (although there can be many variables for these differences of course).

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In Pictures: Talk Talk adverts for M5000s 3040 & 3088

Posted on Friday 9 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

They just keep coming, those vinyl wraps on trams in Manchester! The latest sponsor to advertise on the trams is Talk Talk with not one but two of the M5000 trams receiving new vinyls this week. As usual both trams retain standard fleet livery at each end with the advertising vinyls then added to the remainder of the tram. Using a black base colour the big difference on this advert is the lack of use of contravision! Yes, that’s right the advert has kept the windows clear with signwriting and pictures only on the bodyside. Whether this change extends to any other future advertising contracts is probably pretty doubtful but at least its a change on two trams!

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In Pictures: 399 206 joins the Tram Train fleet

Posted on Thursday 8 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve covered previously the fleet of seven Citylink Tram-Trains now in service on Supertram are split into two sub-fleets: the Tram-Train fleet and the conventional system fleet. The plan is that four trams will have the Tram-Train wheel profile with the remaining three being having wheels fitted to operate on the conventional tramway. Unfortunately, all good plans and all that have seen these plans changed as 399 204 is out of service following its collision and derailment last month which has left the Tram-Train flee down one vehicle. As a result 399 206 has now joined the Tram-Train capable fleet joining 399 201, 399 202 and 399 203 as being available to operate the service between Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate.

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Birkenhead 20 and the Trawler on tour for British Trams Online

Posted on Thursday 8 November 2018 by Andrew Waddington

On Wednesday 7th November, the British Trams Online tour of the Blackpool tramway took place, taking two very different trams around the coastal system. This acted as a farewell trip for Birkenhead 20 which was making its final appearance before heading home to the Wirral, whilst illuminated Trawler 737 was also used to offer a full system tour to participants.

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 201

Posted on Thursday 8 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to Nottingham for today’s edition of Picture in Time with a view of one of the vinyl wrap adverts carried on the trams.

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Luas passengers remain satisfied with service

Posted on Wednesday 7 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Despite problems with reliability experienced since the opening of the cross city extension last December the vast majority of passengers on Luas remain satisfied with the service according to a recent survey conducted on behalf of the National Transport Authority.

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In Pictures: A day at the Heaton Park Tramway in October

Posted on Wednesday 7 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

We haven’t covered the Heaton Park Tramway for a while but we remedy that here with a small selection of images taken at what is the only true preserved tramway in the UK on 21st October. On the day of Trevor Hall’s visit Hull 96 was forming the passenger service whilst Blackpool 623 was in use on a Driver Experience. Both trams are included below and we also take a look at Blackpool 619 and Stockport 5 which remain out of service undergoing some much needed work which hopefully see them ready and raring to go in the future to give even more variety in the operating fleet.

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In Pictures: Metro services return to South Shields

Posted on Tuesday 6 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Tyne and Wear Metro services returned to South Shields on Sunday 4th November following the conclusion of the latest stage of works in connection with the £21 million new transport interchange, due to open in 2019. All services had been terminating at Chichester for the previous five weeks and now for the next six months platform 2 at Chichester will not be served by any trains.

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Picture in Time: Leeds 180

Posted on Tuesday 6 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another change in Picture in Time as Blackpool takes a rest with Tuesdays now set to see other traditional trams featuring. And in the first instalment we are off to Crich for a view of a long standing member of the operational fleet – Leeds 180.

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Strike action on the way for Edinburgh Trams?

Posted on Monday 5 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams services could be disrupted in the lead up to Christmas after the results of the consultative ballot into potential industrial action were released by the Unite union. As we reported a few weeks ago this ballot was undertaken as a result of what has been described as the unjust use of disciplinary procedures by management and although it gives the union it doesn’t give the legal right to strike with a further ballot required for this. The results of this consultative ballot saw 83% of drivers in favour of striking.

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Armed Forces to travel free out of uniform on Metrolink

Posted on Monday 5 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have reaffirmed their Armed Forces Covenant which will allow members of the Armed Forces to travel for free on Metrolink out of uniform. Regular or reserve members can travel for free after 0930 Mondays to Fridays and all day on weekends, Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day as long as a military identification card is carried.

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