Tynwald approve funding for Douglas Prom reconstruction

Posted on Thursday 20 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The future of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway should be secure for now after Tynwald approved funding for the £20.73 million reconstruction of Douglas Promenade which will include tracks for the horse trams all the way between Derby Castle and the Sea Terminal. The decision comes after several years of debate and the constant changing of plans and was almost approved unanimously at the July sitting of Tynwald.

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New operator starts on Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 20 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

There has been a changing of the guard at Manchester Metrolink with KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) officially taking over from RATP Dev Metrolink as the new operator of the UK’s largest tram network. The new contract will run for up to 10 years and has seen the appointment of a new Managing Director.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 671+681

Posted on Thursday 20 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of Picture in Time for you today and it is Blackpool day again! This time we take a look at the lowest numbered Twin Car, 671+681.

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In Pictures: Bluebird’s restoration progresses

Posted on Wednesday 19 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The major project in Crich’s workshop is currently the full restoration of London County Council 1 – or Bluebird if you prefer – with the work continuing to progress as this major project reaches another crucial stage. The two decks of the tram are now as one once again with Bluebird currently resting on jacks to allow further work to take place.

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In Pictures: Crich Edwardian Event

Posted on Wednesday 19 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th July saw the annual Edwardian Event at Crich Tramway Village with over 1,000 visitors attending at some point over the weekend. As well as the usual re-enactors – including a visit from Oscar Wilde – and a talk on the Manchester Corporation Tramways World War I Memorial Plaque there was an intensive tram service in operation which, on the Saturday, included the latest visit of Joseph to take Sheffield 15 for a spin between Town End and the depot crossover. Hazel Quarmby provides the pictures.

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Record-breaking heritage service to Fleetwood!

Posted on Tuesday 18 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Something really rather special happened on the Blackpool tramway on Saturday 15th July 2017 with relatively little fanfare, when an enhanced heritage service operated as part of the Fleetwood ‘Tram Sunday’ weekend. Normally, Tram Sunday itself is the main event of the weekend but arguably the Saturday was even better for tram enthusiasts, with the most frequent heritage tram service to Fleetwood since 2009!

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In Preview: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2017

Posted on Tuesday 18 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Manx Heritage Transport Festival will be taking place between Wednesday 26th and Sunday 30th July and once again the event will feature special events across the Isle of Man’s many railways and tramways. Highlights on the Manx Electric Railway will extensive use of recently repainted trams and an intensive service on Sunday 30th July featuring 12 trams in use. Read on for details of what to expect during this five day spectacular.

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Picture in Time: Seaton Tramway 7 & Mobile Shop 01

Posted on Tuesday 18 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today’s Picture in Time image comes from the Seaton Tramway and features two trams which although remain in Devon to this day remain stored in Riverside Depot.

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Blackpool Brush car 623 relaunched in style!

Posted on Monday 17 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Following its recent return to Blackpool on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway for its 80th anniversary year, Brush Railcoach 623 has now entered service back on its original home tramway for the first time since November 2009. The tram was officially launched back into service with an evening outing for enthusiasts on Friday 14th July, and it was then used on heritage service over the next two days.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 16 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

One new Photo Gallery for you as part of this week’s main site update:

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Picture in Time: Midland Metro 01

Posted on Saturday 15 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time is heading to Midland Metro and the tram we feature is very first T69 built and delivered for the system – 01.

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Centenary Car looks for a new home **updated**

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

When the traditional Blackpool Tramway closed a number of trams were sold and left their home of many years for new lives. Whilst the majority went on to preservation groups or private individuals looking to restore them to their former glories several Centenary Cars found new uses. This included two which ended up at Caravan Parks – the first of these was 643 which has since moved on and is now returned to school whilst 645 has remained at the Windy Harbour Holiday Park. Until now that is, as the owners of the caravan park have now decided that 645 is surplus to requirements and are looking to offload the tram.

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Latest Douglas Prom plans to go to Tynwald

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The redevelopment of Douglas Promenade is in the news again with the plans agreed in principle back in January now requiring full approval from Tynwald. The main headlines for supporters of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway are that twin tracks in the centre of the road would be retained between Strathallan and Castle Mona Avenue with a single track – on the seaward side of the road – then constructed from there to Peveril Square, close to the Sea Terminal.

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In Pictures: NET 210’s livery of many colours

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

It looks as though another new advertising livery is on the way in Nottingham – either that or NET are trialling a new dazzle livery! – with Incentro 210 currently running in a multi coloured vinyl wrap livery. It doesn’t currently carry any signwriting but does feature contravision on the windows and there appear to be no clues as to who are trying to advertise on the tram. This is the first time that 210 has run in non-fleet livery.

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In Pictures: Armstrong Siddeley Rally at Crich

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The latest classic vehicle rally to visit the Crich Tramway Village was the Armstrong Siddeley Rally which was on site on Saturday 8th July. The day also saw the sun make an appearance which saw a complete open top service in the hands of Blackpool 166, London County Council 106 and London United Tramways 159. Photos from Hazel Quarmby.

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More tram shortages in Sheffield leads to further Purple route disruption

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The ongoing saga of tram shortages on Stagecoach Supertram – the sooner the Citylink trams are cleared for entry into service the better – has reared its ugly head again with the Purple route once again feeling the brunt of these issues. As from Friday 14th July – and this time until further notice rather than a set end date – a revised service will be introduced for trams to and from Herdings Park.

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Work set to start in Wolverhampton

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The much anticipated short Wolverhampton City Centre Midland Metro extension is getting closer with works set to start shortly. The first tracks for the extension are due to be installed once a survey is undertaken with traffic management to be put in place from Bilston Street to Market Street for the duration of the work – it is expected that the work will take five months to complete.

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Utility diversion works under way on Trafford Park line

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Those of you who looked at last week’s Photo Galleries would have seen some photos from the Trafford Park extension of Manchester Metrolink where the first work has now started on construction. This first stage is the diversion of various utilities and having experience of this work across the expanded network a collaborative approach will once again be taken with up to 40 ducts and pipes relayed for electricity, water, gas and telecommunications by one contractor within each joint utility trench.

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Car v trams in Croydon and Blackpool

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The last few days have seen further incidences of trams being involved in collisions with cars in both Croydon and Blackpool. The latter system also saw a car abandoned on the tracks close to Cleveleys

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Edinburgh Trams Service Change: Sunday 16th July

Posted on Friday 14 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams services will only run between Edinburgh Airport and West End Princes Street for a few hours on Sunday 16th July because of a street parade in connection with the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. The last full route service from the Airport will depart at 1240 with a return from York Place at 1322. Services will then run Airport to West End only until 1533 from the Airport and 1614 from York Place (at the latest, services may resume earlier).

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