Update on the Trawler

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The overhaul work on Blackpool’s illuminated Trawler 737 is continuing to make good progress. The tram has been residing in the Paint Shop for the last few weeks, and its repaint is now virtually complete with the car now looking immaculate again in its familiar black, white and red livery.

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Boating in February!

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The second ‘Winter Gold’ heritage tram running weekend in Blackpool took place over the weekend of 27th & 28th February, once again putting a fine selection of historic trams to work on the tramway. For many, the highlight – and certainly the most unusual event of the weekend – was the surprise use of Open Boat 230 on both days, surely the earliest in a year that a Boat car has ever been used in public service!?

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s award winning heritage trams!

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours were presented with a special trophy at the Blackpool Civic Trust Awards, held on the evening of Friday 26th February in the Paradise Room at the Pleasure Beach. This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the incredible progress that has been made in the last twelve months to develop the heritage trams as one of Blackpool’s most valuable attractions, much of which has been achieved by dedicated volunteers.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2546

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to Croydon for today’s Picture in Time image as we head back to opening day in 2000 of the line to New Addington with a photo of one of the trams which received an all over advert at the time.

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Two more old friends return to Blackpool

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 26th February, Blackpool Brush car 634 made its much anticipated return home to Rigby Road. The tram, which has been donated to the Blackpool Heritage Trust after being privately preserved in 2009, is now back in Blackpool as a permanent addition to the heritage tram fleet – but it wasn’t the only one to come home, as the same day also saw its old friend Trailer 681 return to the fold following a period of outside storage in Fleetwood.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Farewell T69 06

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

The movement of the remaining T69s from Midland Metro’s depot at Wednesbury has now begun with 06 the first to take the trip to Long Marston. The tram became the first of the Italian built trams to depart since October 2014 when it left Birmingham on Friday 26th February with Allellys once again providing the low loader.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Three charged over St Werburgh’s incident in July 2015

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Three people have been charged over the incident on 3rd July 2015 which saw a tram severely damaged and caused a derailment at St Werburgh’s Road. The awful incident took place at around 2330 when a group of men were involved in a scuffle with another passenger on the platform. The problem then escalated when the group of men walked along the side of the tramway throwing stones through the windows. The three men charged – a 21 year old man and two 17 year old boys – will appear in Manchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday 1st March charged with violent disorder and criminal damage over £5,000.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

NET name employee of the year

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Ben Knowles – a tram driver – has been named Employee of the Year on Nottingham Express Transit. Ben – who has been with NET since March 2014 but only qualified as a driver in November 2015 – was recognised having created training materials for a group of tram ambassadors.

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Revised plans for Bradley Lane Midland Metro Park and Ride

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Centro are inviting members of the public to comment on revised plans for a Park and Ride site alongside Bradley Lane Midland Metro stop. The original plans were subject of a consultation in 2015 and after analysing feedback a slight revision has been made. This will now see access to the car park from Belmont Street instead of Bradley Lane. The development would also see three football pitches and a junior pitch built. More details of the plans can be seen at http://www.centro.org.uk/projects/in-development/bradley-lane-park-ride/.

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Sheffield’s Tram Train stretches its wheels

Posted on Wednesday 24 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

The UK’s very first tram train arrived in Sheffield on 30th November and since that time commissioning and testing has gradually been increased. A few weeks ago 399 201 (to give its full Network Rail number of just 201 for Supertram purposes) started to run from the depot at Nunnery Square through to Meadowhall outside of normal service hours but now over the past couple of days it has started to be tested on the street sections of Supertram into the city centre.

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In Pictures: Bluebird restoration continues

Posted on Wednesday 24 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

The Crich Tramway Village may be closed to visitors at the moment but that hasn’t meant it has been all quiet behind the scenes. The workshop continues to be a hive of activity with the main concentration continuing to be the major restoration of London County Council 1.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 7 Comments

Urbos 3 19 returns to service

Posted on Wednesday 24 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Urbos 3 19 has returned to service on Midland Metro following the completion of accident repairs. The tram has been absent since August 2015 having been involved in a collision with a van close to Wolverhampton St George’s.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Liverpool 43

Posted on Wednesday 24 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Today tucked away in the Wirral Transport Museum at Taylor Street in Birkenhead on display Liverpool 43 is a tram which has found itself in various different locations over the years. In today’s Picture in Time we remember a time when it was displayed at Port Sunlight.

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A fitting farewell for 147

Posted on Monday 22 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Standard car 147 is set to travel to Beamish Museum shortly for a loan period which is expected to last for much of 2016, but before it departs the tram will enjoy one final outing on its native tracks. The car is due to appear as part of the heritage output on Saturday 27th February before being prepared for its first road journey since 2000.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 21 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have a couple more Photo Galleries for you this week in our latest main site update:

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1023

Posted on Sunday 21 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

We head back to the familiar territory of Manchester Metrolink for the next instalment of our archive photo series Picture in Time as we take a brief look at T68 1023 with photos from 1992.

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New Street testing to take place on 23rd April

Posted on Friday 19 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

In what must surely be the slowest tramway construction project in history it has been announced that crucial overnight testing of Midland Metro to New Street will take place on 23rd April – four months after it has been hoped the line would open to the public. No date for the line to actually open to passengers hasn’t been announced but it would seem that it will not be before May now.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 20 Comments

Freezing fog halts Metrolink

Posted on Friday 19 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services were suspended during the morning rush hour of Thursday 18th February between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale Town Centre due to freezing fog. Rain overnight had left moisture in the air which then froze overnight leaving ice on the overhead wires preventing trams from picking up a reliable power source. Passengers on the affect section were advised to either use bus or rail services whilst the issue was rectified. It is not known whether ice breaker trams were run during the night to try and prevent this problem.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 10 Comments

NET wins environmental award

Posted on Friday 19 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Trams Limited – the operator of Nottingham Express Transit – are celebrating having received the prestigious ISO 14001 Environmental Management accreditation. This is an internationally recognised certificate which measures green standards in the workplace. The company also have accreditations in occupational health and safety and quality management.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 634

Posted on Wednesday 17 February 2016 by Gareth Prior

A tram that has been in the news in recent weeks is Blackpool Brush 634 as a result of its forthcoming return to its home tramway and it is that tram which is the latest to feature as part of Picture in Time.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 11 Comments