NET Phase Two testing extended to complete length of both lines

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

It has been another week of key milestones for the Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two project with the extension of daytime testing not once but twice in as many days. Beeston was reached for the first time in daylight hours on Thursday 14th May with the Toton Park and Ride terminus reached the following day.

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In Pictures: Sheffield 15 runs again at Crich

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

In 2015 rather than horse tram operation at Crich being restricted to just the Edwardian Weekend (plus during the Sheffield event last year) a number of Horse Tram Days are being held with the first of these taking place on Wednesday 13th May. Once again the operational horse car at the home of the National Tramway Museum is Sheffield 15 and on this first day of operation it operated alongside open cars Blackpool 166 and Glasgow 1068.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

Coronation Street object to Metrolink extension

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

In 2010 several residents of Coronation Street tragically died when a Metrolink tram came off the viaduct in a major disaster for the 50th anniversary of the soap. And now five years on Coronation Street and Metrolink are set to clash again with the ITV soap objecting to the plans for the Trafford Centre extension as they feel the current route would severely disrupt filming at their new set in Salford Quays.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 11 Comments

In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram rail replacement works move on to city centre bridge

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

The next phase of rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram commenced on Monday 11th May as expected with the first area affected being the track across the Park Square bowstring bridge. These views, courtesy of Stuart Cooke, show the start of the work which includes special ducting being placed alongside the rails to aid drainage.

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NET services altered for Milk Race again

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 25th May Nottingham Express Transit services from Phoenix Park and Hucknall will be terminated at Royal Centre with replacement bus services from there to Station Street as a result of the Milk Race taking place in the city. The Milk Race will see a number of cycling superstars competing and part of the route on this day will head through Nottingham City Centre. It is planned that normal services will be resumed by 2000.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 1

Posted on Friday 15 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” is going black and white with a view in central Blackpool of the onetime saviours of the Blackpool Tramway – OMO Car 1.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Blackpool Jubilee 761 – a brighter future?

Posted on Thursday 14 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

It has been announced by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust that they are currently in negotiations with Blackpool Transport which could see the Trust’s Jubilee car 761 remain at Rigby Road Depot for the foreseeable future and return to service as part of the heritage fleet from 2016.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 14 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s time once again to take a look at just where you can go for a ride on a heritage tram in the UK in the next few weeks. This week the main highlight looks set to be taking place at the East Anglia Transport Museum where they are holding a 1940s weekend on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May and then the following weekend it is the next Bank Holiday which means more fun at various tramways…

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Posted in Going for a ride | 1 Comment

Blackpool seeking to expand the tram fleet?

Posted on Wednesday 13 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of construction work for the branch line off the promenade to North Station, expected to be started in 2017, thoughts are now beginning to turn towards the expanding of the Blackpool tram fleet. It is understood that Blackpool Transport are keen to purchase two more Flexity trams in order to cope with the anticipated requirement for additional rolling stock to operate the core service when the short extension opens.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 15 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Electric Locomotive

Posted on Tuesday 12 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

The subject of “Picture in Time” today is probably one of the stranger “trams” preserved as part of the national collection – the Blackpool Electric Locomotive. To anyone today the locomotive is well known in its green livery but back in 1990 it was still carrying a red livery.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

Southampton 45 is not a horse tram!

Posted on Tuesday 12 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Southampton 45 has become the latest tramcar from the National collection to be moved into the Exhibition Hall at Crich Tramway Village, following its retirement from active duties late last year. The tram has moved into a space vacated by the musuem’s operating horse tram Sheffield 15 which is set to carry its first passengers of the year on Wednesday 13th May, ahead of an increased number of running days during 2015.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 8 Comments

Tramlink 2546 celebrates 15 years of the system

Posted on Monday 11 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink is 15 years old. The first line – from New Addington to central Croydon – was officially opened on Wednesday 10th May 2000 and over the past 15 years the network has gone from strength to strength with 32 million passengers now carried each year. To celebrate the 15th anniversary CR4000 2546 has been adorned with a few vinyls showing how passenger numbers have grown since inception (and where they are estimated to be in another 15 years) and also a 15th anniversary logo. Still in the standard fleet livery of Lime Green, Blue and White the tram is now in service on the network commemorating the anniversary.

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Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

In Pictures: More outings for Blackpool’s ‘B Fleet’ Balloons

Posted on Monday 11 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Filming for a major feature film on Blackpool promenade was finally completed on Friday 8th May, bringing to an end the period of disruption for the town and its public transport services. As we have reported previously, the requirement for a small number of Flexity trams for filming duties led to some of the little-used ‘B Fleet’ running in ordinary service and what follows is a summary of their use during the week.

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More trams emerge from hibernation at Crich

Posted on Monday 11 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As the operating season progresses, the number of trams being made available for use at Crich Tramway Village has continued to increase. So far this year, records show that a very credible eighteen tramcars have run in passenger service at the museum, with London United Tramways 159 being the most recent to re-enter service following a winter lay-off.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 6 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 10 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

After last week’s bumper update we just have the one Photo Gallery for you this week with images from the mini Blackpool day at Heaton Park welcoming Blackpool 280 to the operating fleet:

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 12

Posted on Sunday 10 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Our modern tram “Picture in Time” feature this week moves across the Pennines to the South Yorkshire Supertram system with a couple of views of 12 taken in 1995.

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Daytime testing reaches Clifton terminus

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Trams are now running on the whole Clifton line during daylight hours following the latest extension of testing on the Phase Two extension of Nottingham Express Transit. Previously testing and driver training on this line was only running as far as Silverdale but this extension means that NET are able to increase the amount of driver training being undertaken as preparations continue ahead of a public opening later this year.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Calling all southern tram enthusiasts!

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Over the years practically all of the operating heritage tramways have developed in the Midlands and north of England but if a small group of enthusiasts’ ambitious plans come about all of that could be about to change! With the exception of the narrow gauge Seaton Tramway in Devon there are no operational tramways in the south but the area does have a rich history of trams particularly in Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon, Southampton and Cardiff (yes, the last one isn’t in England but you get the idea!) and the idea of this project is to draw attention to that and to develop a major tourist attraction for the area.

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Posted in General | 1 Comment

Latest plans for Douglas Promenade revealed

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

The Douglas Horse Tramway is to be moved onto the Promenade walkway as part of plans for the redevelopment of the area it has been confirmed. The latest – and presumably hoped for final – plans show that the twin track tramway in the centre of the road will be moved as had been expected and it is now seems this will not be on the road although at some stage it will have to cross the road to reach the Strathallan terminus.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 2 Comments

24 hour charity Tramathon to take place at Seaton

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Trams will run on the Seaton Tramway for 24 hours non-stop as part of a charity Tramathon on Wednesday 27th May. Starting at 1300 on Wednesday 27th May a special tram will depart the Seaton terminus for Colyton on the hour every hour until 1200 on Thursday 28th May; all in aid of charity.

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