In Pictures: Snow Hill opens to the public

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just two days after passenger services were inaugurated to Grand Central (New Street Station) on Midland Metro’s Birmingham City Centre extension came the opening of another stop with the new stop at Snow Hill welcoming its first passengers on Wednesday 1st June. The stop – which replaces the former terminus inside the railway station – was not quite completed in time for the opening day but with the finishing works now significantly progressed it is now possible to alight at the stop.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

In Pictures: Triple M5000 on Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

You wait ages for a tram to turn up and then three arrive at once! On Sunday 29th May M5000 3066 failed whilst operating on the Airport line and in order to get the tram back to depot it was decided to sandwich it between 3080 and 3061 creating the incredibly rare sight of three trams running together. Steve Kemp captured the threesome at Sale Water Park.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

Extra Stadler trams for Tramlink

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been reported that Transport for London have exercised an option to order a further two Stadler Variobahn’s for the Tramlink network – bringing the total number of this type of tram to 12. The news was confirmed as part of the TfL 2016-17 budget recently presented to the London Assembly alongside other enhancements for the Tramlink network.

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Posted in London Trams | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Metrolink Second City Crossing update

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

With the initial Birmingham City Centre extension now opened on Midland Metro our attention is now once again turned towards Manchester Metrolink as we look forward to the next UK tram system extension. The extension in question is, of course, the Second City Crossing (2CC) with construction works continuing at a pace with a lot of track now down and in some places the finished road surface has also been laid. Keith Chadbourne went out investigating the latest progress on Thursday 2nd June.

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In Pictures: The Western Train on tour

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 27th May, a special evening tour was operated by Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, acting as a ‘warm-up’ for the Gold service running over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. This utilised the illuminated Western Train 733+734 which performed a rare full-length journey from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, with a very rare move thrown in for good measure!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Boating to Starr Gate

Posted on Thursday 2 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Visits by Blackpool’s open Boat cars to the tramway’s southern terminus at Starr Gate have been quite rare for many years, but in the past week two of the three cars which remain at Blackpool have graced this location with their presence. Unfortunately one of these appearances ended in disaster but thankfully, the second was far less eventful!

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Midland Metro Grand Central extension opens

Posted on Wednesday 1 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

The latest section of Midland Metro opened to the public on Monday 30th May with trams now running through to Grand Central. This is the last section of the originally envisaged Birmingham City Centre extension although with further extensions to follow it will not be the last time that we enjoy a route opening on the network.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 19

Posted on Monday 30 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Across the Irish Sea we go to the Isle of Man for today’s installment of Picture in Time. We head back over 50 years to 1963 and find Winter Saloon 19 in action along with a trailer.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 677+687

Posted on Saturday 28 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have a double dose of images today for our latest installment of Picture in Time as we head back to Blackpool and take a look at Twin Car 677+687 in action in 1981.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

In Pictures & Video: 37 named Ozzy Osbourne

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

As expected Ozzy Osbourne was in Birmingham City Centre on Thursday 26th May to unveil his name on the side of the newest of the Urbos 3 trams, 37. The ceremony took place at the new stop on Corporation Street with Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, and Cllr Roger Lawrence, the chairman of Centro ITA, also present.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

A night of trouble on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 25th May was a night which proved to be a bit troublesome for passengers attempting to travel on Manchester Metrolink with four incidents causing problems – on a night when scores of people were trying to get to the Etihad Stadium to watch Bruce Springsteen. There were two collisions involving trams, a car finding its way onto the tracks and technical problems which all combined to cause delays on the network.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

Decision delayed for Blackpool North tramway extension

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Council’s executive committee have delayed their approval for the North Station tramway extension so they can examine the proposals in more detail. It had been expected that the committee would be recommending to the full council that a formal application is submitted to the Department for Transport but at their most recent meeting they instead decided to give themselves some more thinking time.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Latest Luas strikes cancelled

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Two four hour strikes due to take place on Dublin’s Luas network on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th May have been cancelled to allow talks to take place in an attempt to find an end to the pay dispute which has been engulfing the system for several months. Transdev – operators of Luas – and SIPTU – the Union whose members voted to go on strike back in February – were invited to discussions at the Labour Court. Strikes due on 8th, 9th and 10th June are still due to take place at the time of writing.

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Tramlink to be added to Tube map

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

The next edition of the iconic Tube map is to include London Tramlink routes for the first time when it is released next month. The Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and even the Emirates Air Line have featured on the map for some time but this will be first time that a tram service have been featured on the map, available for free at most Underground stations.

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Book Review: ‘Regional Tramways – Scotland’ by Peter Waller

Posted on Friday 27 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

‘Regional Tramways’ is a new series of books by Peter Waller which aims to cover the history of tramway operations on all systems which existed across the British Isles, or at least as many as possible. The first two volumes have already appeared so far this year, with the first of these detailing the various Scottish tramway systems.

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Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

Very important pictures preserved in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 26 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As well as preserving a large number of historic Blackpool tramcars, the Blackpool Heritage Trust is also keen to ensure that other items of relevance to the town’s rich tramway history survive for future generations. A recent and noteworthy addition to their collection of artifacts has been the entire collection of drawings of Blackpool trams by Ian Stewart, which he has very generously donated to the Trust.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

London trams get stripped

Posted on Thursday 26 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Despite the temporary departure of London County Council 1 from Crich Tramway Village to receive specialist repairs to its body frame by a specialist firm, the sight of a heavily stripped London tramcar in the museum’s workshop remains with the recently acquired North Metropolitan horse car now being dismantled. Having only arrived at Crich on Saturday 21st May no time was wasted in its deconstruction and within a few days it was barely recognisable!

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 7 Comments

Midland Metro Grand Central extension will open Monday 30th May

Posted on Wednesday 25 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has now been confirmed that the Midland Metro extension to Grand Central via Corporation Street will open on Monday 30th May once the seven day period of driver training is successfully completed. As you will no doubt be aware the short extension further into Birmingham City Centre was originally due to open at the end of 2015 but delays in construction led to a new dates of 22nd May being announced which was subsequently delayed further for further works to take place.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

399 202 arrives in Sheffield

Posted on Wednesday 25 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Sheffield is now the proud home of two tram-trains following the arrival of 399 202 on Tuesday 24th May. The vehicle was delivered one piece (unlike the recent arrivals for Midland Metro) and has now been unloaded and moved into the workshops at Nunnery Square where its long road to entering service will now progress.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 9 Comments

Drivers vote for strike action on London Tramlink

Posted on Wednesday 25 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

It is disappointing to have to report that more drivers on a tram network have voted for strike action in a dispute over their pay with ASLEF members on London Tramlink in favour following a recent vote. Tram drivers are reported to earn approximately £36,000 which ASLEF claim is less than those doing “similar jobs in other parts of the industry”.

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