Edinburgh Trams service frequency increases

Posted on Friday 29 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams services in the morning and evening peak will now run every 5 minutes following a successful – and unpublicised – trial earlier in July. The new timetable was officially introduced from 26th July and will see trams running every 5 minutes between 0730 and 0930 and 1630 and 1830 – an extra three return journeys in both peaks.

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Astrotrams arrive in Manchester

Posted on Friday 29 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

The past week has seen a number of trams on Manchester Metrolink transformed into Astrotrams as part of the City of Science Festival. Externally the trams don’t look very different with just small window vinyls saying #astrotram but internally it is a different story! The ceilings of the trams have been filled with astronomy facts and interactive triggers and customers who download the free SciMan app can play augmented reality videos, bringing science to life. Passengers at stops have also been treated to intergalactic facts from Professor Brian Cox.

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Midland Metro Birmingham City Centre closure for engineering works

Posted on Friday 29 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just two months after the much delayed opening of the Midland Metro Birmingham City Centre extension to Grand Central (New Street Station) there are to be three weekends of closures for engineering works! No details of just what engineering works are needed after such a short period of time seem to have been released but over the weekends of 30th/31st July, 6th/7th August and on Sunday 14th August all trams will terminate at Snow Hill with passengers wanting the City Centre told to walk once again.

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Farewell to the Fylde for Centenary 643

Posted on Tuesday 26 July 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As expected, Blackpool Centenary car 643 has now departed the storage yard in Fleetwood where it has resided for the last few years, having been sold to a learning disability school in the Midlands for further use. The tram left the Fleetwood docks on Friday 22nd July bound for a railway maintenance facility, also believed to be in the Midlands although its exact whereabouts have not been revealed.

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Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 11 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool Standard 40 launched back into service

Posted on Tuesday 26 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Standard 40 was officially relaunched into service on Tuesday 26th July with special guest Bryan Lindop and Bob Mason from Blackpool Transport on hand to celebrate the return of this ever popular tram at the home of the National Tramway Museum – Crich Tramway Village.

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Book Review: ‘Regional Tramways – Yorkshire and North East of England’ by Peter Waller

Posted on Monday 25 July 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The above title (which is admittedly a bit of a mouthful!) is the second in a new series of volumes describing tramways in Great Britain, primarily those which existed between the years of 1945 and 1962. The style of presentation is, as one might expect, similar to the Scotland title which was reviewed a little while ago here: http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=14721

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 24 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have another three Photo Galleries for you this week:

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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway future secured for at least two more years

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Following a lengthy debate and proposed amendments Tynwald agreed this week that Isle of Man Railways will continue to operate the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway for a further two years (in 2017 and 2018) whilst a further and more detailed case is prepared by the Department of Infrastructure for the long-term future of the tramway. The original proposal discussed was to see no initial commitment for the relaying of the full length tramway as part of the Promenade reconstruction works but an amendment made during the debate saw a commitment to the full relaying of a single track tramway all the way from the Sea Terminal to Derby Castle.

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Event Preview: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2016

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

The annual Manx Heritage Transport Festival takes place on the Isle of Man between Wednesday 27th and Sunday 31st July with the usual mix of transport action across the island. As usual the event features the Isle of Man Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway extensively and for the first time in many years the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will also feature with varied trams in service. What follows is a list of all events taking place during the event not just those with a tram connection as we are sure there are many of you who head to the Isle of Man for the whole transport experience and not just the trams!

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399 204 arrives in Sheffield

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Having waited so long between the first and second tram-trains to arrive in Sheffield the deliveries have now definitely accelerated with 399 204 the latest to arrive following the long journey from Spain. The tram – which is unsurprisingly the fourth of the seven vehicles being constructed by Vossloh primarily for the tram-train pilot to Rotherham Parkgate but also to increase capacity on the existing network – arrived at Nunnery Square in the early hours of Tuesday 19th July. It will now undergo commissioning ahead of a start on testing and driver training and then an eventual entry into service.

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 2 Comments

Another arrival on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 16th July saw the latest M5000 arrive in Manchester with 3118 the tram being delivered. The 118th of the 120 trams currently on order 3118 was soon moved into the workshops where commissioning started ahead of mileage accumulation and then an entry into service. Only two more to go…

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Overhead problems caused major disruption for Midland Metro

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro services have been disrupted this week following an overhead line problem in the West Bromwich area. Despite original reports suggesting that this was weather related Midland Metro have since said the problems were not caused by the heat. The problems started from 1730 on Tuesday 19th July with a full service not able to resume until Thursday 21st July once repairs had been fully completed.

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Tram derailed in collision with ambulance

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

There were major delays for Nottingham Express Transit on Thursday 21st July following a collision between an ambulance and tram on Wilford Road which saw the tram suffer a minor derailment. Four people were treated for minor injuries, including the ambulance crew.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Seaton Tramway July 2016

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

The most southerly tramway in the UK also operates on the smallest gauge and is of course the Seaton Tramway in Devon. In this pictorial update we take a look at the tramway during July including a look behind the scenes at Riverside Depot where we see the latest progress in the conversion of 17 into an enclosed saloon tram. Photos from Keith Chadbourne.

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Can you help? Equipment required for Guernsey no. 3

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have previously reported on the sole surviving tram from Guernsey which has remained stored on the island waiting for a brighter future. Well now we can report that there is a brighter future for no. 3 which will be restored to non-operational condition on Guernsey although before that can happen the volunteers in involved are looking for some equipment to complete the work.

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Edinburgh Trams Inquiry costs continue to soar

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

The BBC have this week reported that the cost of the Public Inquiry into the Edinburgh Trams project has now gone beyond £3.7m. The Inquiry was called by the SNP led government to see what went wrong with the project for the final line to cost so much more and to be completed a lot later than planned but since being called for in 2014 the Inquiry has also, ironically, been taking a long time with spiralling costs.

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Man seriously injured after leg becomes trapped between tram and platform

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

A man has suffered serious injuries after his leg became trapped between a tram and the platform at St Werburgh’s Road tramstop. A report in the Manchester Evening News states that the man was running for the last tram of the day in the early hours of Thursday 21st July when he became trapped with the tram then dragging him along the platform before coming to a stop. He was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester Metrolink now investigating the incident.

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In Pictures: Rotherham Parkgate works progress

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Despite no further news coming out of Network Rail as to when they will be able to complete the work enabling the tram-train service to start construction works are continuing as these views taken on 19th July at Rotherham Parkgate show. Photos courtesy of Stuart Cooke.

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In Pictures: Metrolink Eccles line work

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

No trams have been running on the Eccles line of Manchester Metrolink since the end of June to allow for the first major rail replacement work on this branch since it opened to the public. In this pictorial update from the camera of Keith Chadbourne we take a look at the scene on 6th July.

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Mobility scooters are go on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Saturday 23 July 2016 by Gareth Prior

Mobility scooters are to be permanently allowed on Edinburgh Trams following the successful completion of a trial period. Class 2 mobility scooters will be allowed on board Edinburgh Trams from 1st August 2016 provided that the user has a valid permit. Holders of Scottish National Entitlement Card (SNEC) or Disabled Person’s Blue Badge parking permit can apply for the permit and a full assessment will be made of scooters before the permit can be issued.

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 2 Comments