Blackpool North Station extension “hold-up” claims denied

Posted on Friday 9 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The plans for trams to run to Blackpool North Station are still progressing as expected Councillors have been told despite claims to the contrary. At a recent council meeting, Cllr Tony Williams – who to give him his credit has been a staunch opponent of the tram plans for quite some time and doesn’t seem to be giving up any time soon – has claimed that Wilkinson’s new store will not be ready until 2020 which he has said will mean the new tramstop will not be able to be built in time for an opening of the line in 2019.

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RAIB release urgent safety advice after buggy drag incident

Posted on Thursday 8 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The aftermath of the buggy drag incident on Nottingham Express Transit in December is continuing with the RAIB finding it necessary to release urgent safety advice to all tram operators in the UK. This is advising that tram drivers should conduct checks before setting off that nothing is trapped in tram doors and not just relying on the door interlock system.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 6 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 663

Posted on Thursday 8 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

One of the most popular trams to have featured in our archive photo series is Blackpool Coronation 663 and in today’s edition it is included again with an image dating from July 1972.

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In Pictures: Sunderland Point tram update

Posted on Wednesday 7 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Back in January we included a story on a tram body which had been featured in a special Lune Tube film with the suggestion that it was an old Bradford tram although there was some debate that it may have actually originated from Bury. We have recently been contacted by Derek Redmond who cycled over to see the tram in 1960 and has provided us with more details, including some photos.

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Around the World in Trams: Kirnitzschtal 2 with trailer 22

Posted on Tuesday 6 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

We resume our world tour of trams with a trip to Germany where we take a look at the Kirnitzschtalbahn which is in the Saxony region.

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In Pictures: Crumpsall works progress

Posted on Monday 5 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we reported in January the footbridge over the tracks at Crumpsall has been removed as part of the stop upgrade works taking place to allow services from the Trafford Park line to turn there from 2020 as well as making a much more pleasing environment for passengers waiting for trams. In this pictorial update we take a look at the stop following the bridge removal.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 4 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

It is finally time for our first proper main site update of 2018 as we bring you two new Photo Galleries:

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 12

Posted on Saturday 3 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

The early days of the South Yorkshire Supertram are featured in today’s Picture in Time.

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First track laid on Trafford Park line

Posted on Friday 2 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Showing that things never seem to stay still on Manchester Metrolink the first track has now been laid on the Trafford Park line – ahead of its scheduled opening in 2020. The first track was laid at Parkway Circle with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Sean Anstee, Leader of Trafford Council, and Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, all on hand for the usual photographic opportunity.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

In Pictures: First Gold event of 2018 in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours kicked off 2018 in splendid style on the weekend of 27th & 28th January, with a special ‘Gold’ weekend featuring a regular service to Starr Gate and a larger than usual number of heritage tours operating to Fleetwood as well. Six trams ran on both days, and what follows is a brief summary of the action from that weekend.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 762 & Balloon 712

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are back in 1987 for this latest archive view from Blackpool as we take a look at two trams operating on the Prom during the main summer season.

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Douglas 1 heads to Laxey as preparations continue for MER 125 events

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

It may still be seven months away but preparations are already underway for the Manx Electric Railway 125 events which take place between 1st and 8th September. One of the early highlights looks set to be the unique operation of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 1 at Laxey Station on the MER – and in preparation the tram was taken to Laxey earlier this week for a test run!

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In Pictures: Metrolink Airport services extended to Victoria

Posted on Wednesday 31 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 28th January saw the introduction of a new timetable on Manchester Metrolink, the main highlight of which was the extension of services on the Manchester Airport line from Deansgate-Castlefield to Victoria (except for the early bird services). These services run via the original city crossing via Market Street and finally bring passengers from the Airport directly into the city centre.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

In Pictures: New advert for Edinburgh Trams 271

Posted on Tuesday 30 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

We’ve become used to bringing you news of adverts for C R Smith in Edinburgh but now a second commercial sponsor has come to the fore in the Scottish capital with Qatar Airways now advertising on 271. As has become the norm in Edinburgh the advert only features full height adverts on the third and fifth sections with the other sections of the tram only featuring adverts above the windows.

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Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

Posted on Tuesday 30 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The chances are if you have visited the East Anglia Transport Museum over the past few decades you will have enjoyed the sight of London Transport HR/2 1858 operating along the museum’s tramway. But in this edition of Picture in Time we take a look at the tram during restoration at the Carlton Colville site in 1973.

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RAIB launch investigation into buggy drag on NET

Posted on Monday 29 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The RAIB have confirmed that they are to undertake a full investigation into an incident on Nottingham Express Transit which saw an empty pushchair trapped in the doors of a tram and dragged along between two stops. The incident happened on Friday 15th December 2017 but news of it has only just been released at the start of the RAIB investigation.

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Details released for Rush Hour on the Railways

Posted on Sunday 28 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The first special event of 2018 on the Isle of Man will once again be Rush Hour on the Railways which takes place over the Easter weekend between Friday 30th March and Monday 2nd April. This four day “celebration of Isle of Man Railways” will have events mainly across the Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway with the highlight for tram enthusiasts likely to be an intensive service on the MER on 1st April.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2531 & 2546

Posted on Saturday 27 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

A double helping of trams in adverts for you in this edition of Picture in Time as we head back to the year 2000 and Croydon Tramlink.

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In Pictures: Triple tram hire in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 26 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

One week ahead of the first public running day for Blackpool’s heritage trams in 2018, a particularly interesting private hire took place for an enthusiast’s birthday, utilising three different trams across the day. Most noteworthy of all was the inclusion of what was almost certainly the first ever January working by a Boat car!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Birmingham Westside extension works carry on

Posted on Friday 26 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Birmingham Westside extension of Midland Metro will move into its next phase of construction from Monday 29th January which will see Broad Street closed to all but buses, taxis and service vehicles for the long-term. This extension is due to open in two phases between 2019/20 and 2021 and will see trams running through Centenary Square to Edgbaston, extending from the current Grand Central terminus.

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