Another train into service as more go for scrap on the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

It has been another busy week of fleet changes for the Tyne and Wear Metro as once again we have seen one of the new Stadler built units enter service as more of the original Metrocars have left the network for the last time for scrapping.

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In Pictures: Update from Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve reported regularly on these pages, there have been no trams running at Beamish since early January to allow for major trackwork to take place. The bulk of the work has been undertaken by external contractors on the curve leading to and from the 1900s town (at the east end by the 1950s town) and the pleasing news to report now is that this is starting to come towards the end. In this article we also take a look at some of the trams stabled around the depot and depot yard. Trevor Hall provides the photos.

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Autonomous Trackless Trams to be tested at Teesside Airport

Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Plans for the introduction of autonomous trackless trams in the Tees Valley region of England are progressing with a pilot set to take place at Teesside Airport later this year. Tees Valley Combined Authority had previously agreed an autonomous public transport project as part of their £1 billion transport plan in January 2024 and this is hoped to be the first step in achieving this ambition.

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In Pictures: Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle under test

Posted on Monday 31 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

We recently brought the news that construction work is now underway on track in Coventry City Centre for a demonstration line for the Very Light Rail project. Aimed to start running this summer, having the track is one thing but what is going to be operating on it we hear you ask? This article seeks to show that as the demonstrator vehicle has recently been testing at Dudley’s Very Light Rail Innovation Centre.

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New café at Crich Tramway Village to be officially opened

Posted on Monday 31 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

If you happened to visit the Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum – last year you probably can’t have helped but notice the construction work going on to replace the former Tea Rooms with an all new café. The work has now been completed and on Saturday 5th April Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, will be visiting to officially open the facility.

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Old(er) and New – West Midlands Metro: Priestfield

Posted on Monday 31 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

We continue with “Old(er) and New” with another edition from the West Midlands Metro with one of the original fleet and one of its replacements at the same place.

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Trams &: West Midlands Metro 28 & bus

Posted on Sunday 30 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another edition of “Trams &” as we go to Birmingham for a photo of a tram on the West Midlands Metro network and a bus operated by National Express West Midlands.

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Man charged after noxious substance released on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 30 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

A 31 year old man from Manchester has appeared in court charged with four counts of administering noxious substances with intent and three counts of causing a public nuisance following incidents on board trams in Manchester.

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Metro teams up with schools to bring Bulls in the City

Posted on Sunday 30 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

With the West Midlands Metro being a sponsor of the forthcoming Bulls in the City Art Trail, they have launched an exciting project where they are calling on local primary schools to help to design a bull! The trail – similar to other trails seen across the country, including Blackpool last yar who ended up with Elmer Tram! – will see 40 vibrant, larger than life bull sculptures take over the city, all in the name of charity with funds going to the Birmingham Hospice.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 30th March 2025

Posted on Sunday 30 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

This week we have the first of a two part selection of photos from Manchester Metrolink:

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In Pictures: More adverts arrive in Manchester

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

‘Tis the season for new adverts it would appear! After a quite few months of very few new adverts, Manchester Metrolink have really gone for it with new vinyl wraps. After recent ads on 3091 for Prosecco and 3031 for Soccer Aid, the past few days have seen a further three trams receive wraps – 3081, 3097 and 3119.

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Around the World in Trams: Nice 021

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

We have one final photo from Nice in “Around the World in Trams”.

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New enhanced Blackpool Tramway timetable to launch 6th April

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

A new timetable will be introduced onto the Blackpool Tramway from Sunday 6th April in what is being described as the launch of a new era for the trams. Whilst the new timetable will mean a lower frequency of trams running from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, the overall frequency on the tramway will increase to departures every 10 minutes from each end during the day.

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Can you help locate a former Portsmouth horse tram?

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

We have been contacted by an individual who is trying to research some of more obscure aspects of railway history on the Isle of Wight – and this includes the mystery of a former horse drawn tramcar from Portsmouth. Can anyone help shed any light on this?

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 261 receives new advert

Posted on Friday 28 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

The latest advert on the Edinburgh Trams network has recently been applied to 261 with the tram entering service with new vinyls for National Galleries Scotland. This is the eleventh different ad that 261 has carried, although several of these have been revised ads for the same sponsor.

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West Midlands Metro fares to increase below inflation again in 2025

Posted on Friday 28 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

It has been announced that the price of travelling on the West Midlands Metro will increase from 7th April 2025. The increase will be an average of 3.2%, with fares set to go up by between 10p and 30p.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 761

Posted on Friday 28 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Just before we change location on “Picture in Time” again we have time for one final photo as we move on from the snow of Fleetwood.

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Restoration of Manchester 173 underway

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Exciting news from the Heaton Park Tramway where it has been confirmed that restoration work is underway on returning double-deck open topper Manchester 173 to service. When the work is completed – over the next few years – it will mark the first use in service of the tram in almost a century and, obviously, its first ever use in preservation.

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In Pictures: Driver training in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we wait confirmation of the new timetable on the Blackpool Tramway – expected to see improved frequencies on the core section of the tramway – behind the scenes preparations continue and that includes the all important driver training. One of the trams usually seen in use for training is 001 (with an additional seat provided in the cab) and that was out on Saturday 22nd March as seen in this pictorial article. Peter Dockerty is the photographer.

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Dogs on trams trial starts in Sheffield

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Dogs are now being allowed to travel on-board Sheffield’s Supertram system following confirmation of the start of a pilot by Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard. This comes after the conclusion of a public consultation when out of 10,600 responses 75% were in favour of the change.

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