Lost Trams: Glasgow 1274

Posted on Monday 11 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another of the UK trams at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine is the only Scottish representative abroad – Glasgow Coronation 1274. As with Leeds 526 this tram is stored in the car barns at Seashore having never been used in service since arriving in September 1963.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 10 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have another two Photo Galleries for you this week, along with our usual updates:

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 202

Posted on Saturday 9 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time heads to Nottingham for another archive image of Nottingham Express Transit, this time dating from 2005.

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Lost Trams: Leeds Feltham 526

Posted on Saturday 9 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

At the end of traditional tram operation in many cities of the UK a number of trams were preserved and exported to the United States of America with the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine becoming home to four trams – from Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds/London and Liverpool. Of these we have recently seen that Blackpool Standard 144 is being worked on with a view to returning it to service but what of the other three? In this edition of our occasional Lost Trams series we take a look at one of only three Feltham trams still in existence – Leeds 526/London Transport 2085.

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All change for Seaton from 18th September

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has now been confirmed that the old Victorian style terminus at Seaton will be used for the last time on Sunday 17th September with work to redevelop the site starting the following day. Tram services will continue until the end of October although for those starting their journeys at Seaton it will start with a shuttle bus to Riverside Depot where after a behind the scenes tour trams will continue through to Colyton.

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Next phase of Midland Metro expansion starts

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had there been confirmation of Government support for the Midland Metro Edgbaston extension than work on the next phase commenced with one of Birmingham’s most iconic statues being lifted out of Victoria Square. Iron: Man, created by Anthony Gormley, was standing in the direct path of the extension and will be placed in store before returning to a new position in Victoria Square.

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Consultation started to remove ticket machines on Tramlink

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

An eight week consultation has been launched on plans to make London Tramlink completely “cashless”. The proposal would see all existing cash ticket machines removed from tramstops with passengers asked to use Oyster or go contactless instead.

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Edinburgh Trams Inquiry public hearings start

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The long awaited public hearings of the Edinburgh Trams Inquiry have now started with the first two weeks due to hear evidence from various councillors and council officials. The hearings will only be taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and are expected to take several months to conclude. They will be used to help Lord Hardie come to a conclusion on the project.

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Over 1300 “incidents” reported on Isle of Man’s Railways in six years

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Following a recent Freedom of Information request it has been revealed that there have been 1,352 “safety related incidents” reported on Isle of Man Railway’s since October 2011. These figures include occurrences on the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway as well as the Isle of Man Steam Railway and range from incidents with road traffic through to the more major and high profile incidents.

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In Pictures: St Chad’s lift and stairs opened

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

For well over a year we have been following the story of the lack of access from the Midland Metro stop at St Chad’s (or Snow Hill as originally named) with the only way to get to the stop to walk along the tramway from Bull Street. As a result the stop has become fairly poorly used (even though it is close to the mainline station at Snow Hill). A lift and stairs have been under construction for some time and at the start of September they were finally opened to the public meaning you can now get down to street level and then into Snow Hill station.

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Man hit by tram in Nottingham

Posted on Friday 8 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

A man was hit by a tram close to Gregory Street tramstop at approximately 0815 on Thursday 7th September suffering serious, although not life threatening, injuries. Nottingham Express Transit are investigating the incident. The incident caused NET services were unable to run between Meadows Way West and University Boulevard for just over an hour.

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Bonus Liverpool’s Last Tram event for Birkenhead announced

Posted on Thursday 7 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It has been well documented that the Birkenhead heritage tramway will be holding a special event to mark 60 years since the closure of Liverpool’s tram system on Saturday 16th September. However, a more modest event has now been announced for Thursday 14th September as well – this being the actual date of the tramway closure, which it was felt should not pass by unnoticed.

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Tram-trains to debut in passenger service this month!

Posted on Thursday 7 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Its the news that fans of UK light rail have been waiting for – Britain’s first tram-trains are set to make their debut in passenger-carrying service on the Sheffield Supertram network on Sunday 17th September! The units will be operating a special extra service on the blue and yellow routes on this day, with all proceeds raised from their operation being donated to charity, giving further good reason to go along and sample them for the first time.

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In Pictures: A detailed look at Supertram 111

Posted on Thursday 7 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

We reported earlier this week that Stagecoach Supertram Siemens Duewag 111 had undergone a makeover courtesy of IKEA to celebrate the imminent opening of a new superstore from the Swedish company at Carbrook tramstop. As well as enjoying an external vinyl wrap livery the tram has also undergone quite an interior transformation as these photos from Stuart Cooke illustrate.

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In Pictures: 270 receives its C R Smith vinyls

Posted on Thursday 7 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The C R Smith advert vinyls are continuing to be applied to trams in Edinburgh with the latest to be so adorned being 270. The theme of this tram is from Fraserburgh to Finnieston with two very different types of crane being used to illustrated the graphics!

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloons 700 & 706

Posted on Thursday 7 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have two celebrity Balloon Cars for today’s Picture in Time image as we head back to 2004 for a view of 700 and 706.

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In Pictures: Supertram 111 gets an Ikea makeover

Posted on Tuesday 5 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

With a new Ikea superstore due to open close to the Stagecoach Supertram stop at Carbook on 28th September one of the Siemens Duewag trams has received a complete makeover – both inside and out! The tram in question is 111 which has now lost its long term vinyls advertising East Midlands Trains for a new light blue wrap.

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 5 & 4

Posted on Tuesday 5 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

We are heading up the Great Orme in Llandudno for this edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at the two trams which have operated the lower section of the route ever since it opened in July 1902.

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Edinburgh Trams extension agreed “in principle”

Posted on Monday 4 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Trams could be running to Leith and Newhaven in 2022 following an agreement “in principle” by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. Meeting on Monday 4th September some concerns were expressed over the plans and the expected disruption along Leith Walk but despite these the plan was voted through. However, this is not the final go-ahead with this not coming until 2018, by which time it is hoped that the Inquiry into phase one will have released a report to allow lessons to be learned for the extension.

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Tramlink drivers threaten industrial action

Posted on Monday 4 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Strikes could be on the way for London Tramlink with drivers reportedly considering the action because of the proposed introduction of new devices into the cabs which are hoped to detect if a driver has fallen asleep. Members of the Aslef union are to be balloted with anger being expressed as drivers have not been consulted on the new devices.

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