Passenger satisfaction on the rise across the UK

Posted on Tuesday 24 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Tram passenger satisfaction across the UK has increased once again with the latest figures showing that there is an overall satisfaction of 92% on the UK’s tram networks (excluding London Tramlink). The latest findings have been released by Transport Focus following their annual survey which took place in autumn 2015. Although the picture is mainly positive with the majority of systems where passengers were questioned either improving or staying at the same level there has been a significant decrease on Midland Metro.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Edinburgh Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Driver training starts to Grand Central

Posted on Monday 23 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

There is a chink of light at the end of what seems to have been a very long tunnel with the opening of the Midland Metro extension to Grand Central now seemingly only a week away after the start of driver training. The first driver training runs took place on Monday 23rd May with seven days required for this before a start of passenger operations.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 7 Comments

Another horse tram joins the Crich fleet

Posted on Sunday 22 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As well as being the first horse tram operating day of 2016, Saturday 21st April also witnessed the arrival of the National Tramway Museum’s latest acquisition – another horse tram, this time one hailing from London. The unrestored car was transported from Newton to Crich on this day where it will be subjected to a full condition survey to assess its potential future role in the collection.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 22 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another three Photo Galleries plus add a few more photos to an existing collection:

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams, Manchester Metrolink, National Tramway Museum, West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1002

Posted on Sunday 22 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

We are off to Manchester Metrolink pre-opening for the latest images in our Picture in Time series. It is February 1992 and the tram we are featuring for the second time is 1002.

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In Pictures: Joseph returns to Crich for first horse tram day of 2016

Posted on Saturday 21 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 21st May saw the first Horse Tram Day of 2016 with Joseph returning to the Crich Tramway Village where he was reacquainted with operational horse tram Sheffield 15. This was the first of six planned Horse Tram Days this year.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Dublin Luas update

Posted on Saturday 21 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Work to extend the Luas system through Dublin City Centre has been continuing in recent weeks as show in this latest pictorial update as provided by John Hampton.

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Posted in Dublin Luas | 6 Comments

More disruption on the way for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 20 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

There will be more service changes on Manchester Metrolink this summer with the final stage of works at St Peter’s Square coupled with rail replacement on the Eccles line set to cause disruption for regular travellers. The work will start from Sunday 26th June with a full service across the network not returning until the end of August.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

Call for action to help save Douglas Horse Tramway

Posted on Friday 20 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

At the end of March we were all rejoicing when it was confirmed that the Douglas Horse Tramway would run in 2016 after all with the government stepping in to operate the tramway. However this good news was tinged with the potential bad news that this was for one season only and that there would still need to be discussions over its long time viability. That all seemed fair as it gave time to ensure that the tramway was viable but then in April things moved on with the damaging news that a planning application was being submitted which allowed no provision for tram tracks between the Sea Terminal and Villa Marina.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 2 Comments

Metrolink sees double with second Crunchie advert

Posted on Friday 20 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Following on from the news earlier this week that Manchester Metrolink M5000 3007 had received an all over advert for Cadbury’s Crunchie comes the news that 3001 has now received an identical advert. Once again featuring extensive contravision on the windows 3001 has become the third member of the M5000 fleet to be carrying a vinyl wrap livery concurrently (another first for Metrolink). There can be little doubt that all over adverts are now part of Manchester Metrolink, at least for the time being anyway.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

Now that’s how you travel from wedding!

Posted on Friday 20 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

With the opening of the Wedding Chapel in Blackpool it hasn’t been an unusual sight of seeing people travelling to or from their wedding by tram but now Blackpool isn’t the only place where people have travelled from their wedding by tram with a tram hired by a couple in Sheffield to get from the ceremony to reception.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Now that’s how you travel from wedding!

Flexity 015 stars on Coronation Street

Posted on Thursday 19 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

After a filming session on 11th April, scenes shot in Blackpool were aired on ITV’s long-running soap opera Coronation Street on Monday 16th May. This included a brief appearance by Flexity 015 which was used for a stunt which almost saw a young character knocked down after running onto the tram tracks.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Blackpool Standard 143 under assessment

Posted on Thursday 19 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The appearance of Blackpool Standard car 143 in the Body Shop at Rigby Road last September for the tramway’s 130th anniversary weekend created much interest, particularly as it was suggested that this may be the first step towards a return to service for this tram. Having spent the winter period in the Body & Fitting Shop, a thorough assessment of 143 has been undertaken to determine what work needs to be carried out so that it can run.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 719 & Brush 622

Posted on Thursday 19 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

A fairly modern image for you tonight for the latest installment of Picture in Time as we once again head up to the Blackpool Tramway and catch a pair of trams running along Lord Street in 2009 – Balloon Car 719 and Brush Railcoach 622.

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Sheffield tram-train project delayed again

Posted on Wednesday 18 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

It’s not been a great couple of days for the UK’s tram systems with the BBC breaking the news that the Sheffield tram-train project has now been delayed following hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that the Midland Metro Grand Central extension opening was also being delayed. This time Network Rail have seemingly pulled the plug on the planned early 2017 opening stating that this date is not possible and that a “thorough review” would be undertaken before a new date could be announced.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 8 Comments

Delay for Grand Central Midland Metro extension

Posted on Tuesday 17 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro services through to Grand Central will not open to the public on Sunday 22nd May after all with further work required before passengers will be able to travel on the extension from Bull Street. The decision has been taken by Centro “following extensive safety checks”.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 16 Comments

Night Train to Starr Gate

Posted on Monday 16 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the success of the recent launch tour of Blackpool Balloon 723 as a warm-up to the most recent ‘gold’ operating weekend, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have announced another exciting evening event to start the next Bank Holiday weekend in fine style. This will feature the Western Train 733+734, offering an unusually early chance to ride on this Blackpool icon this year.

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Thank Crunchie…it’s 3007!

Posted on Monday 16 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Having only had around three non standard liveries in the first 24 years of operation Manchester Metrolink really does seem to have caught the advertising livery bug in 2016 with M5000 3007 the latest to receive a vinyl wrap livery. The tram debuted on 15th May in its new livery which advertises Cadbury’s Crunchie.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 15 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

The main site has been updated once again with a further three Photo Galleries for your viewing pleasure:

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

Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 6

Posted on Sunday 15 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

We go black and white for today’s Picture in Time image as we are heading to the North Wales coast for an image of Great Orme Tramway 6 over 50 years ago.

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Posted in Great Orme Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment