Tram-Trains start testing in South Wales

Posted on Saturday 19 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

After what has seemed like a long wait, the first of the class 398 Citylink Tram-Trains due to be introduced on South Wales Metro services from the end of this year have started testing. 398 005 was the first of the units to be tested in mid-April with the programme expected to continue over the next few months.

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Around the World in Trams: Riga 30743

Posted on Saturday 19 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We go “Around the World in Trams” again with another photo taken in Riga, Latvia.

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In Pictures: Supertram Easter trackworks at Hillsborough underway

Posted on Saturday 19 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

This Easter weekend (Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April) sees more trackwork taking place on the South Yorkshire Supertram. The main work will be taking place around Hillsborough Interchange but as the weekend progresses its also planned that more work will be completed further along Middlewood Road towards the Yellow route terminus at Middlewood. In this article we take a look at some of the work, courtesy of Stuart Cooke, being undertaken at Hillsborough on day one of the weekend.

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In Pictures: Manchester City Centre trackworks update

Posted on Saturday 19 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we approach the last few days of the closure of Manchester Metrolink’s original city crossing between Piccadilly Gardens and Victoria we return to the area to see some recent progress on the trackworks. These aerial views are taken from the Arndale Centre car park and look down as new track is laid.

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LUAS Cork public consultation opened

Posted on Friday 18 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Up until now there has only been one modern tram system in Ireland but that could all change in the future if plans to introduce a network to the city of Cork get the go-ahead. The plans have continued to be developed over the past few years and a consultation has now been launched – it will be open until Monday 9th June 2025.

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FOI request shows nearly a collision a week on Metrolink with other vehicles

Posted on Friday 18 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Information request as reported in the Manchester Evening News has shown that during 2024 there was nearly a collision a week between other road vehicles and trams on Metrolink. In total there were 51 reported collisions – an increase from 39 in 2023.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 6+51

Posted on Friday 18 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We go into the archives again for “Picture in Time” as we remain on the Isle of Man for this latest edition.

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New advert in Edinburgh as tap on, tap off payment system to be trialled

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 18/4/25 with additional photos.

Final tests are set to get underway on a “Tap on, Tap Off” payment system on the Edinburgh Trams network as the operator seeks to make it even easier to pay for travel. The system is in the final stages of testing and a launch date will be announced soon to allow the public to get the benefits of using their contactless payment method to pay for travel. As part of the publicity for the launch 271 has received a new full wrap.

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Leeds 345 returns to service at Crich

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Since the Crich Tramway Village started their 2025 season all the trams which had run in service had also been seen in action during 2024. But that all changed on Wednesday 16th April when Leeds 345 was part of a two tram service – its first passenger use since 2022!

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Sector-wide training systems adopted by tram operators

Posted on Thursday 17 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Four tramways across the UK are adopting an integrated learning management system, which it is hoped will help to achieve the aims of a sector-wide approach to light rail training and development. Trials are already underway in Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh with Blackpool due to go live later this year.

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In Pictures: 3061 receives latest advert in Manchester

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink M5000 3061 has become the latest tram on the network to carry advertising vinyls with a new design applied for Allied World. This marks a return to advertising for the tram having lost its last wrap in December 2024.

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RailAdventure UK to drive Coventry Very Light Rail demonstration line

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Coventry City Council have confirmed that they have contracted RailAdventure UK to drive the Very Light Rail vehicle on the city centre demonstration line when it starts operating this summer. The tests are set to get underway during May and June and the appointment of RailAdventure UK means an experienced company in rail operation will be involved, and they will be using a father and son team to do it!

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AI technology to improve tram crossing safety project moves forward

Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

A project that is embracing AI technology to improve safety at tramway crossings is to move forward to the next stage of development as part of a partnership between the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) and Starling Technologies.

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Two more new trains arrive for Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

555 010 and 555 011 have become the sixteenth and seventeenth of the new trains being built for the Tyne and Wear Metro to arrive in northeast England. The two trains came exactly the same way as the previous fifteen with them being transported all the way by rail, including a trip through the Channel Tunnel.

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In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7 out again

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 5th April marked the latest occasion that Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 made a public appearance. This was an additional run for the one-time Bournemouth 126 and saw it “run” between Penrhyn Bay and West Shore Llandudno in the company of ex-Crosville bus SC12.

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More Metrolink improvement works to come

Posted on Tuesday 15 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

There may currently be major renewal works taking place on the Manchester Metrolink network affecting services running via Market Street and Shudehill (which continue until Wednesday 23rd April) but that is just one part of the major investment to be seen on the network this year with several other periods of work announced so far this year, up until the start of June.

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In Pictures: More from Beamish as trams return to service

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we reported earlier this month, trams are now running again at Beamish following the conclusion of the trackworks in the 1900s Town (alongside other infrastructure works on the overhead). Wednesday 2nd April was the first day back for the trams and they have been running every day since – Beamish is now back to daily opening until the end of October 2025 – with four different tramcars having operated so far this year. In this pictorial article we take a look at the trams in action over a couple of days in early April. Trevor Hall paid a visit.

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West Midlands Metro to trial discount on tram travel to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

For a two month period, starting from 10th April, hospital staff, patients and their families will be able to enjoy at least a 12% discount on tram travel when going to the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, which is just a short-walk from the West Midlands Metro stop at Bull Street.

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Old(er) and New – Manchester Metrolink: Piccadilly Gardens

Posted on Monday 14 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

“Old(er) and New” moves on to a third (and probably final) system for the next few weeks as we take a look at Manchester Metrolink. The idea of the series remains the same – we take a look at an older tram and a newer tram at more or less the same place on the network and for Metrolink that means T68/T68As and M5000s.

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Trams &: Manchester Metrolink 3115 & train

Posted on Sunday 13 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We take another look at a tram and another form of transport in this edition of “Trams &”.

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