Tramlink drivers to go on 48 hour strike

Posted on Tuesday 7 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that London Tramlink drivers will go on strike for 48 hours on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th June as the dispute over pay intensifies. As we previously reported ASLEF members voted in favour of going on strike (a 100% mandate on an 80% turnout) over the 2.6% pay offer on the table and the dates they will go on strike have now been publically announced.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 5 Comments

In Pictures: Birthday Boating

Posted on Monday 6 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The demand for private hires involving Blackpool’s heritage trams continues to increase with one particularly interesting hire taking place on Saturday 4th June. On this date, Boat 227 was hired by an enthusiast for a novel birthday celebration and operated a full system tour, including two historic runs to Starr Gate.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 5 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just the two Photo Galleries for you this week as we head back in time to the horse tram era and also are right up-to-date with the latest extension to open in the UK:

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Balloon versus Taxi

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The number of accidents involving trams and motor cars in Blackpool seems to have escalated recently, with at least three such incidents in May alone. The latest mishap occurred on Saturday 28th May, involving a member of the heritage fleet – Balloon 715.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 13 Comments

In Pictures: Edinburgh Gateway construction works

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Construction works of the new Edinburgh Gateway transport interchange which will see both a railway station and tram built open by the end of 2016 are continuing. In this pictorial update from John Hampton we take a look at recent progress whilst we also find the tram mock-up now situated at Edinburgh Airport.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 2 Comments

Fallen tree causes NET services to be disrupted

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services between Cator Lane and the University of Nottingham were suspended for almost a day after a tree fell onto the line. The disruption happened from the morning of Tuesday 31st May with a full service not able to resume until 0700 the following morning. The tree caused some damage to the overhead wires and although the offending tree was removed during the afternoon of Tuesday 31st May repairs and safety checks meant it wasn’t possible for a service to resume immediately.

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Fallen tree causes NET services to be disrupted

Now its Midland Metro’s turn for a car on the tracks

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

Ahead of the grand opening of the extension to Grand Central (New Street Station) Midland Metro services were disrupted after the disease of cars getting stuck on tram tracks found its way to the West Midlands. In this incident on Sunday 29th May a Peugeot 207 got stuck next to crossover at Snow Hill Station. For those who don’t know the area this was quite a feat for the car driver as it means they managed to drive their car for some distance beyond Bull Street onto the grassed track and then beyond the new Snow Hill stop! Services were terminated at St Paul’s from the start of service for approximately three hours whilst the car was removed from the tracks. The driver was reported to be helping the Police with their inquiries.

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Metrolink overnight parking trial a success

Posted on Saturday 4 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

The trial overnight parking scheme at selected Manchester Metrolink stops could now be made permanent following the success of the trial period with 84% of respondents to a survey in favour. The trial started in December 2015 with passengers able to leave their cars at 15 tram stops on Friday and Saturday nights provided they were collected by 12pm the next day.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

LCC 106 confirmed for Carlton Colville event

Posted on Friday 3 June 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that London County Council 106 is to be one of the star exhibits at the forthcoming London Event taking place at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville over the weekend of 9th and 10th July. The tram is, of course, normally based at the Crich Tramway Village and will be going for a strictly limited period which will see it arrive shortly before the event and leaving almost immediately following.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum, National Tramway Museum | 11 Comments

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Metrolink Second City Crossing update

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!

Continue reading →

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!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Boating to Starr Gate

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments