Around the World in Trams: Oranjestad Streetcar, Aruba

Posted on Tuesday 6 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

An usual tramway is featured in this series today as we head to the only tramway in the Caribbean on the Dutch island of Aruba which features hydrogen cell technology.

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Website downtime & continuing issues **Update 6th March 2018**

Posted on Monday 5 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

British Trams Online is now more or less back to where we were on Sunday evening. 123 Reg – our hosting company – have now confirmed that the problem was a “hardware failure” which caused lots of websites to be taken offline. They were able to restore the website back to the state it was in early August 2017 with anything since then our responsibility to get back online (as apparently they don’t have a back-up server with the information contained since that date). All areas of this website excluding these news pages should now be back but if you notice any ommisions please let us know and we will endeavour to add them back to the site. Unfortunately because of the nature of the news pages which are based on an external Word Press blog we are unable to easily restore a previous version. Although all the news is back online the photos which accompany all stories from around 3rd August 2017 until the weekend are not available. We will try and re-add some of the photos as and when (for some of the stories it is more vital than others as the Picture in Time series for one is rather pointless without the photo) although this is likely to take some time – if you have any particular story you would like to see the photos on please let us know and we will try and prioritise those. Sorry for the disruption in our service to you and thanks for bearing with us whilst we work through these problems.

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30,000 carried on Edinburgh Trams during major snow disruption

Posted on Sunday 4 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

Just how crucial Edinburgh Trams has become to the public transport offering in the Scottish capital has been laid bare during the so-called “Beast from the East” with over 30,000 passenger journeys recorded over just a three day period. After running throughout the worst of the snow with a reduced service a full service was able to resume from the start of Saturday 3rd March thanks to staff working through the night to help clear tracks and platforms of snow.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 4 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

Snow is the theme of this week’s main site update as we feature two new Photo Galleries of trams running in the white stuff:

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Trams return in Dublin – but still not a full service

Posted on Saturday 3 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

The effects of Storm Emma are still being felt in Dublin with a third day of interrupted services on Saturday 3rd March although at least some trams are now running on the Red line.

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 210

Posted on Saturday 3 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

It’s a fairly recent image for today’s Picture in Time as we feature a view of Nottingham Express Transit 210 in 2013.

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Tram and car in collision in Nottingham

Posted on Saturday 3 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

A tram and a car collided in Wilford on Tuesday 27th February causing delays to services on Nottingham Express Transit. The collision happened close to the Wilford Toll Bridge at approximately 1500. No injuries were reported with the tram removed at 1630 and the car around 15 minutes later. During the disruption trams were unable to run between Queen’s Walk and Wilford Village.

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In Pictures: Midland Metro 18 breaks daylight cover for first time

Posted on Friday 2 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

Having arrived back in the UK from its battery fitting on 22nd September Midland Metro Urbos3 18 now seems to have started daylight testing and driver training ahead of an eventual entry into service; when it does it will be the first battery operated tram to run in service in the UK. Its first appearance this week saw it conveying a group of local councillors on a battery operated trip and it has also been shunting around the depot as preparations for its entry into service continue.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Luas to make decision on weekend services on Saturday morning

Posted on Friday 2 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

The snowy and windy weather conditions are still affecting the British Isles with Luas still the worst affected tramway with no services still able to run on the entire network. It has now been confirmed that the shutdown will continue into the morning of Saturday 3rd March although there is a light at the end of the tunnel beyond that.

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Concerts to cause more chaos in Blackpool this summer

Posted on Thursday 1 March 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Despite the disruption it causes to the Blackpool tramway, Blackpool Council remain determined to host events on the Tower Festival Headland site, with even more set to be held in summer 2018. This will no doubt result in the tramway being split in two, with some trams operating between Starr Gate and Tower, and others between North Pier and Fleetwood – leaving a section in between with no service at all!

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Edinburgh hit by heavy snow – trams offer free all night service!

Posted on Thursday 1 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

It might not have escaped your notice but the majority of the UK is currently being hit by heavy snow causing disruption as people try to carry on with their daily routine. One of the most severely affected areas of the country has been Edinburgh – included in the red warning zone – but despite this a tram service has continued to run including an extra all night service for free!

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Luas services suspended due to weather

Posted on Thursday 1 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

Whilst tramways within the UK have managed to continue to operate a service – albeit reduced in some places – it hasn’t been the same story in Dublin with Luas being suspended from midday on Thursday 1st March and not currently expected to resume a service until Saturday 3rd March at the earliest.

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Snow! Disruption on some English tram systems

Posted on Thursday 1 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

Whilst both Edinburgh and Dublin have been hit by heavy snow which for the latter involved a complete service shutdown the situation hasn’t been quite as severe in England. On the whole it has been calmer although as Thursday 1st March progressed Manchester Metrolink started to see more disruption across the network.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 761

Posted on Thursday 1 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

The first of two one person operated trams rebuilt in Blackpool’s own workshops is the feature of Picture in Time today as we take a look at Jubilee 761.

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Luas win at The Green Awards

Posted on Wednesday 28 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Dublin’s Luas tram system is celebrating having been recognised at The Green Awards which look for the extraordinary contribution and commitment companies make towards growing a greener future in Irish business. Winning The Green Transport Award Luas was recognised thanks to its part in the movement towards more sustainable transport modes in Dublin. The judges said that Luas “represents less air pollution, less noise and less vibration from road traffic”.

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In Pictures: New look depots at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 27 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

With the majority of work on the depot upgrade works at Crich Tramway Village now completed – only the new doors remain to be fitted – we are taking the opportunity to give readers a sneak preview of the new and improved depots before the attraction re-opens for visitors on 17th March. These pictures come courtesy of Peter Whiteley who was working at the museum when he captured these images on Saturday 24th February.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Friends of 40 tour to feature Standard 147

Posted on Tuesday 27 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The annual Friends of 40 tour in Blackpool will be a bit of departure in 2018 as instead of using Box 40 it is planned to use Standard 147 (subject to the completion of work on tram which includes a full repaint Rigby Road). The tour will take place on Saturday 21st April with tickets now available for £28.50, which includes lunch and a guest speaker.

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Around the World in Trams: Aigle-Leysin Railway

Posted on Tuesday 27 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Switzerland is the location for this week’s photo from overseas as we take a quick look at one of the units operating on the Aigle-Leysin Railway.

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In Pictures: Trams on the traverser at Crich

Posted on Monday 26 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

The end is in sight for the depot refurbishment work at Crich Tramway Village, with the building work now essentially complete and only the main shed doors remaining to be finished. This has allowed several trams to be moved back to their normal storage positions with yet another major shunt-around taking place on Saturday 24th February.

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DLR to launch “Adopt a Station” initiative at Poplar

Posted on Monday 26 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Station adoption has become a regular feature on the national railway network and now the Docklands Light Railway are to trial a similar scheme with the first station to be selected being Poplar. The “Adopt-a-Station” initiative was launched on 15th February and is designed to help communities, schools and businesses make the most of their local station.

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