In Pictures: Yes, its another advert on Edinburgh Trams!

Posted on Friday 1 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sometimes you just have to be grateful to Edinburgh Trams for providing us with news to report on! The number of trams in standard fleet colours continues to reduce with now only three remaining following the application of a new advert on 254. The advertiser this time around is Parabola who are developing a new “community and architectural exemplar” (no, we don’t have a clue either!) at Edinburgh Park, completing the development at this location.

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Ratchet Car 14 restoration approaches a conclusion

Posted on Friday 1 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

The extensive restoration of Manx Electric Railway “Ratchet” 14 is continuing a pace with the car still on target to be completed in time for September’s MER 125 event (1st to 8th September if you’ve forgotten the dates!).

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In Pictures: Latest phase of Supertram track renewal starts

Posted on Thursday 31 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

The first phase of the 2018 track renewal works on Stagecoach are now underway with track on the Yellow route between Hillsborough and Middlewood due to replaced in the period until mid-June. Starting on Saturday 26th May all Yellow route trams are being diverted to Malin Bridge with replacement buses running between Hillsborough and Middlewood.

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In Pictures: Old tram track found in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 31 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

As work continues on preparation for the construction of the short extension of the Blackpool Tramway up Talbot Road to North Station some long buried tram track has recently been discovered as these photos from Glyn Hill show.

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Picture in Time: Sunderland 100

Posted on Thursday 31 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

We go black and white again for this instalment of Picture in Time although they are fairly modern images showing Sunderland 100 on one of its first test runs and also later when it received an advertising livery.

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In Pictures: Brush 630 returns to service at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 30 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 has returned to service at Crich – just a few days after it had returned from its winter break in Blackpool. 630 was rostered for service on Sunday 27th May during the Beside the Seaside event, its first use at Crich since Tram Day on 16th September 2017.

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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 42 back on the Prom

Posted on Wednesday 30 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Toastrack 42 is back in service following the completion of its major overhaul/refurbishment at the Manx Electric Railway’s Derby Castle shed. It ran in service for the first time on Wednesday 30th May showing off its new paintjob in the more traditional red and yellow colour scheme instead of the previous red and blue scheme.

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In Pictures: Sheffield 513 goes all the way at Carlton Colville

Posted on Tuesday 29 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Since arriving at the East Anglia Transport Museum Sheffield 513 had been unable to travel the full length of the line because of its large wheelspan meaning the track alignment was too sharp for the tram to negotiate to reach the Woodside terminus. But work on realigning the loop – located just before the end of the line – over the winter period now means that when 513 runs in service it can give visitors a full ride as per the other trams in the fleet. Bryan Grint provided us with the below photos showing 513 at the terminus.

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In Pictures: First Boat to Fleetwood of 2018!

Posted on Tuesday 29 May 2018 by Andrew Waddington

It may seem hard to believe, but we have just enjoyed TWO warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekends in May! Blackpool in particular was blessed with glorious weather both times and naturally this has made the intensive heritage service all the more enjoyable. Whilst the May Day weekend was marred by a lack of serviceable open top trams, the Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw Boat 600 take its rightful place on the promenade, and it certainly stole the show!

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2548

Posted on Tuesday 29 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we go back to before Croydon Tramlink started to operate public services with a photo taken during the testing and commissioning period.

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A brighter future for Standard 143

Posted on Monday 28 May 2018 by Andrew Waddington

After a wait of many years, positive steps are finally being taken towards getting the long-term restoration of Blackpool Standard 143 completed. The tram remains in the ownership of the Fylde Transport Trust (formerly the Lancastrian Transport Trust) – however, this organisation has now agreed a long-term loan arrangement for this tram to ensure that its restoration is completed soon, allowing it to operate again in Blackpool.

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In Pictures: A normal day at Beamish

Posted on Monday 28 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

A tramway which hasn’t been featured much recently on British Trams Online is that which transports visitors around Beamish: The Living Museum of the North. Since Blackpool Standard 147 returned to the northwest the tramway has relied on the home based fleet to operate the service and on Wednesday 16th May three trams were in use: Newcastle 114, Oporto 196 and Sheffield 264. This pictorial shows two of these trams captured on the camera of Alasdair McFarlane.

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Fare increases on the way in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 27 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

This is another of those “certainties in life” posts – fares on Blackpool Transport’s trams and buses are to go up from Sunday 3rd June with an increase in operating costs being used as justification for their change. From this date all single fares will go up by 10p whilst there will also be changes to saver tickets although the cheapest way to travel will be using the Mobile App.

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New warning light in Laxey

Posted on Sunday 27 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

As part of a continued programme of attempting to improve road safety around the Manx Electric Railway new flashing amber lights have now been installed in Laxey. The new system warns road users of oncoming trams approaching from the direction of Ramsey at the Green’s Garage level crossing on the A2 Ramsey Road. The crossing is said to involve an awkward angle for drivers travelling south to see trams approaching from the same direction.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 719

Posted on Saturday 26 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Staying in the early 1990s Picture in Time continues with this photo taken at Bispham.

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New zonal fares set to be introduced on Metrolink?

Posted on Saturday 26 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are currently considering what are being described as “radical changes” to fares and ticketing on Manchester Metrolink which would see a new simpler, flexible four zone system introduced across the network. This is said to be a way to deliver easy to understand and better value fares for millions of passengers in a similar way to the zonal system in London.

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In Pictures: Progress continues on new look Seaton terminus

Posted on Friday 25 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

The ambitious opening date of Easter may have been and gone but work is continuing on the construction work at Seaton on the all new modern terminus as preparations for the return of services the full length of the line start to come towards a conclusion. No opening date has yet been set for trams to run into Seaton once again but it is expected to take place sometime in the summer.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Friday 25 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

A small and early update for you this week:

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More batteries now being fitted on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 25 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

The third Urbos3 tram to be fitted with batteries is 36, which is currently having the work completed on site at Wednesbury Depot. Eventually all of the trams will be fitted in preparation for future sections of the network which will be constructed without overhead, although battery operation will also be used on the current line for a short section.

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In Pictures: Now you can spot the difference with 111 and 118!

Posted on Thursday 24 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

When the adverts for Pretty Little Thing.com were applied to two trams on Stagecoach Supertram it was a case of which one is which with the only difference being the fleet numbers. But for now at least it is easier to spot the difference as 111 has now received black doors instead of the original orange – it remains to be seen whether 118 will follow suit or not.

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