In Pictures: Rotherham Central tram-train construction

Posted on Wednesday 27 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we continue to limp towards a start of the tram-train pilot between Sheffield and Rotherham (currently pencilled in for opening at some point in 2018) work is progressing at various locations on construction. One such location is Rotherham Central railway station where current work has been progressing on the low-level platform required for the tram-trains. This pictorial update shows recent work, photographs courtesy of Mike Haddon.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Rotherham Central tram-train construction

Shortlist unveiled for 2017 Global Light Rail Awards

Posted on Wednesday 27 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Tramways from across the British Isles are up for awards at the 2017 Global Light Rail Awards with the winners due to be named at a glittering ceremony on 4th October in London.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on Shortlist unveiled for 2017 Global Light Rail Awards

RAIB release report into Supertram pedestrian fatality

Posted on Wednesday 27 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

On 22nd December 2016 a pedestrian, who had just alighted from a tram at Woodbourn Road, was struck by a tram in Sheffield tragically suffering fatal injuries as a result. Following a 9 month investigation the RAIB have now released their report into the incident, including recommendations on how to try and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future across the UK’s tram systems.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on RAIB release report into Supertram pedestrian fatality

Picture in Time: Wootton Electric Tramway

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

A bit of a change with today’s edition of Picture in Time as we head down in scale for a view of the portable Wootton Electric Tramway.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Wootton Electric Tramway

In Pictures: Urbos 3 18 returns – with batteries now included!

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Friday 22nd September saw the return to Midland Metro of Urbos 3 18 complete with batteries installed on the roof. This is the first of the trams to be fitted with batteries in preparation for forthcoming sections of line which will be constructed without overhead.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Urbos 3 18 returns – with batteries now included!

In Pictures: 277 gains C R Smith vinyls

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The C R Smith advertising vinyls have continued their takeover of Edinburgh Trams with 277 the latest tram to receive its own unique version. This time around the locations are from Lochmaben to Dunfermline with Robert the Bruce the connection here.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: 277 gains C R Smith vinyls

In Pictures: 26 leaves for repairs – Part Two!

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The second half of Midland Metro’s Urbos 3 26 departed Wednesbury Depot for Wolverton Works on Thursday 21st September where it will be reunited with its other half for repair work to take place. The tram had derailed at the depot back in the summer with the damage severe enough to require it to be sent away for repairs.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: 26 leaves for repairs – Part Two!

Outline business case approved for Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

As expected the City of Edinburgh Council have approved the Outline Business Case to extend the trams down Leith Walk and to Newhaven, although a final decision on whether to go-ahead with the project will not be made until autumn 2018. What the approval does mean though is that a comprehensive tendering process can be started to find potential contractors for the extension.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Outline business case approved for Edinburgh Trams extension

Metrolink fare increases set to phased over three years

Posted on Tuesday 26 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

In probably one of the least surprising pieces of news we have reported on recently Manchester Metrolink fares look set to see a phased increase over three years rather than a single large increase in January 2018. You may remember that earlier this year a public consultation was undertaken by Transport for Greater Manchester asking Metrolink travellers for their opinions on how the fares should go up and unsurprisingly the majority of respondents have plumped for the gradual increase.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink fare increases set to phased over three years

Services suspended on the Snaefell Mountain Railway

Posted on Monday 25 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

All services have been suspended on the Snaefell Mountain Railway with immediate effect as investigations and rectification work in light of the runaway tram incident earlier this year continue. The runaway incident took place at the start of August and although there was a previous suspension of the line services had resumed but in order to concentrate all efforts in ensuring that the system is as safe as it can be the decision has been taken not to run any further journeys until further notice.

Continue reading →

Posted in Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Services suspended on the Snaefell Mountain Railway

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2533

Posted on Saturday 23 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time heads to Croydon as we feature one of the many advertising liveries to have been carried on Tramlink since it opened to the public. This is 2533 in an ad for Nescafe.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2533

A Brush car birthday bonanza!

Posted on Friday 22 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s now annual tramway anniversary event (well who says you can’t celebrate 132 years of operation!?) got off to an impressive start on Friday 22nd September, which was dubbed ‘Brush car Friday’. As this year’s event will heavily feature the Brush Railcoach class in honour of their 80th anniversary year, it was decided to put all four operational cars of this type in the spotlight with a special running day as a warm-up to the main event to be held on 23rd & 24th September.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on A Brush car birthday bonanza!

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 672+682

Posted on Thursday 21 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Back to the Metro Coastlines years of the Blackpool Tramway today as we feature popular Twin set 672+682 at a time when they carried the garish Orange and Yellow Line 1 livery in 2005.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 672+682

In Pictures: Midland Metro 26 heads off for repairs

Posted on Thursday 21 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

In recent months there have been two notable absentees running on Midland Metro – 18 which went off to Spain in January for the fitting of batteries and 26. It was not known why 26 hadn’t been used since June but this has now become obvious as half of the tram departed Wednesbury Depot on the back of a low loader on Wednesday 20th September for repair to take place.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Midland Metro 26 heads off for repairs

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Wednesday 20 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have a midweek update for you this week and there is one main item – photos from Crich!

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Birkenhead 7 to return to the limelight

Posted on Wednesday 20 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Shortly after the Birkenhead tramway’s big event to mark 60 years since Liverpool’s last tram, there was more exciting news from the Wirral with the confirmation that Birkenhead 7, a large double-deck horse car, is to move to the tramway for display next month following a lengthy period of storage off display.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | Comments Off on Birkenhead 7 to return to the limelight

Birkenhead tramway marks 60 years since Liverpool’s last tram

Posted on Wednesday 20 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 16th September, the much-hyped event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closure of Liverpool’s dearly loved tram system was held at the Birkenhead tramway. In fact, the annual anniversary had already been marked two days earlier with the Mayor of Liverpool attending, Liverpool 245 running in passenger service and a number of talks and presentations.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | Comments Off on Birkenhead tramway marks 60 years since Liverpool’s last tram

Picture in Time: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 34 & 1

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today our archive photo series heads across to the Isle of Man for a view taken at the Strathallan terminus of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway in August 1992 on a wet day which necessitated the use of an enclosed saloon.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 34 & 1

Final preparations for Brush car birthday celebrations

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of the Blackpool tramway anniversary event this coming weekend, Blackpool’s operational Brush Railcoaches are now being prepared for their starring role over the weekend, in recognition of their 80th anniversary year. This has included the arrival of visiting car 630 whilst the major renovation of pioneer 621 is now almost complete.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Final preparations for Brush car birthday celebrations

In Pictures: Citylink Charity Tour

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 17th September saw a charity tram tour on Stagecoach Supertram featuring the most extensive use of a Citylink tram yet with 399 202 (the same tram as used on Thursday’s inaugural runs) traversing the entirety of both the Blue and Yellow routes. The tour was all in aid of Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital Charity with anyone wishing to travel asked to donate whatever they felt appropriate with buckets available on board.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Citylink Charity Tour