In Pictures: Metrolink Second City Crossing works

Posted on Saturday 14 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Works to construct the Manchester Metrolink Second City Crossing (2CC) which will increase capacity through the City Centre whilst providing a secondary route for trams running across the city are continuing as show in this photo update provided by Steve Kemp.

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In Pictures: Return of the Douglas Horse Tramway

Posted on Friday 13 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

A couple of days ago we belatedly reported on the return of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway for 2016 and now with thanks to the Friends of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway we can bring you a pictorial update of their return.

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Seaton Tramway on a bus!

Posted on Friday 13 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

All over advertising liveries on trams are often a contentious issue for many enthusiasts but this is a story with a difference as we are featuring an advert on a bus of a tramway! The tramway in question is the Seaton Tramway and the bus is a 1980 Bristol VR open top bus which is operated by Mendip Mule and will be used as part of a unique tram and bus offer this summer.

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And the strikes goes on

Posted on Friday 13 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Despite hopes that there may be gave been an end to the strike action on the Luas tram system in Dublin drivers have once again taken action this week – with more strike days to come in the coming weeks.

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‘Bluebird’ flies away

Posted on Thursday 12 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The heavily stripped body shell of London County Council 1, alias ‘Bluebird’, left Crich on Thursday 12th May for a short road journey to Ilkeston. There, specialist engineers are to undertake expert repairs on the framework to remove the accumulated corrosion and ensure that it will be fit for many more years of service as restoration of this unique tramcar gets underway.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 722

Posted on Thursday 12 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

It’s back to Blackpool and the year is 1972 as we return to our Picture in Time series for a couple of images of Balloon car 722.

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Trams versus cars in Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Manchester Metrolink has become the UK tram system with the highest number of tram versus car incidents in recent years, but the Blackpool tramway seems to be catching up with an alarming increase in the regularity of such incidents so far this year. This has included two accidents within a few days of each other during May, both of which caused little damage but lots of disruption to long-suffering tram passengers.

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In Pictures: L&CBER 7 at the Llandudno Transport Festival

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

The May Day Bank Holiday Weekend saw the annual Llandudno Transport Festival at Bodafon Fields with the Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society’s replica tramcar no. 7 once again one of the star attractions.

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In Pictures: 3115 arrives in Manchester with 3114 entering service

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

The expansion of the Manchester Metrolink fleet has continued with 3115 now in the city with the previous arrival – 3114 – also now having carried its first passengers. With 3115 arriving it now means that there are only five M5000s remaining to be delivered of the current order.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

Douglas Horse Tramway is back!

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

[Apologies for the delay in this story appearing] It was a day that for what appeared to be a very long time earlier in 2016 didn’t look happening but Saturday 30th April saw the return of the Douglas Horse Tramway for its 140th anniversary season. A two tram service was in use on that first day with 44 and 45 the chosen pair.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 1 Comment

The end of San Francisco trams in the UK?

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

In the early part of the 21st century two San Francisco Muni trams made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean for a hoped for new life in the UK but that hope now appears extinguished with news reaching us that the last remaining car – 1226 – has now been scrapped in Derby.

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New timetable for Midland Metro from Sunday 22nd May

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

The opening of the full Birmingham City Centre extension to Grand Central (New Street Station) on Sunday 22nd May will see the introduction of a new timetable for Midland Metro with the promise of trams running every 6 minutes during peak times and 8 minutes during the bulk of the day Monday to Friday.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 9 Comments

Another van v tram collision on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 3rd May saw the latest instalment of van v car on Manchester Metrolink when a white van collided with M5000 3076 on Manchester Street, Oldham. It is believed that the van jumped a red light and that the driver of the vehicle fled the scene straight afterwards.

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A day of woe for Metrolink **updated with photos**

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

[Apologies for the delay in this story appearing] Manchester Metrolink had another day of woe on Saturday 30th April with services disrupted by two incidents – just five days after the major suspension of all lines following a systems failure in the Trafford Control Centre.

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Stagecoach Supertram service change: Sunday 22nd May

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Passengers heading for Herdings Park on Stagecoach Supertram’s Purple route are advised that trams will be terminating at Gleadless Townend from the start of service until 1500 to allow South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to undertake a training exercise. Purple route trams will continue to run from Meadowhall to Gleadless Towend (via Cathedral) as per the normal Sunday timetable with a replacement bus service continuing through to Herdings Park. Normal services will resume from 1500.

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Nottingham Express Transit service change: Sunday 15th May

Posted on Wednesday 11 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services will run to a split timetable on Sunday 15th May between 0930 and 1130 due to the Asda Foundation 10K run. To enable runners to pass through Old Market Square all services from Hucknall and Phoenix Park will terminate at Royal Centre with those from Toton Lane and Clifton South only running as far as Nottingham Station. Normal Sunday frequencies will operate during this period with a normal service in action before and after the disruption.

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Adverts on the way for Edinburgh?

Posted on Monday 9 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

It’s a story we’ve run before but it does now appear that adverts are set to appear on Edinburgh Trams in the future with JC Decaux starting a campaign to find companies who want to advertise on the 27 strong fleet of trams. A statement has recently been posted on networking site Linkedin starting the race to see just which company will have the historic first advert on a tram in the Scottish capital.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 3 Comments

May Day Bank Holiday Balloons in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 2 May 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The May Day Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool saw three more days of intensive heritage tram operation, with six trams scheduled to operate on each day of the long weekend. With a pretty grim weather forecast, the tram output was naturally dominated by enclosed cars with the Balloons out in force, particularly on Monday 2nd May when three green and cream liveried examples were out together, bringing back fond memories of the recent past.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Midland Metro 11

Posted on Sunday 1 May 2016 by Gareth Prior

Probably the most popular livery to ever be carried on a Midland Metro tram features in our latest installment of Picture in Time as we take a look at T69 11 whilst it was carrying its Birmingham Corporation inspired colour scheme.

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Posted in Picture in Time, West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Balloon 723 re-launched **updated with photos**

Posted on Saturday 30 April 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The latest addition to the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours operational fleet was unveiled at a special event on Friday 29th April. Although Balloon 723 had returned to use last year, it was only used occasionally due to its shabby external appearance; however, following a complete repaint it is now ready to take on a full-time role as a heritage tram and is expected to see regular use this season for the first time since 2011.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments