Edinburgh Trams nominated for National Transport Award

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams have been nominated in the Rail Operator of the Year category at the National Transport Awards, which take place later this year. Those nominated in this category have been shortlisted based on performance, reliability, passenger growth, customer satisfaction and initiatives to improve service.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 3 Comments

Blackpool Boat 233 inaugurates the E Line

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Boat car 233 has finally started its operating career in the USA, almost two years after departing its country of origin. The tram has been undergoing some modifications since arriving in America and has also repainted in its original green and cream livery, eradicating the minty shade of cream it wore at Beamish Museum during its brief stint of service there in 2012-13. However, 233 has not yet entered regular passenger service but is being used for crew training on a regular basis.

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Swansea tram rescued for restoration

Posted on Tuesday 4 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

A tram which has been exposed to the elements for nearly 90 years has been rescued by the Amman Valley Railway Society (AVRS) with the long-term plan being the full restoration of the tramcar. The Swansea tram has been in use as a poultry shed since 1927 in the Black Mountains but forthcoming redevelopment works have meant that it has needed rescuing before it is lost forever.

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Posted in Amman Valley Railway Society | 11 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 607

Posted on Tuesday 4 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Considering when I turned over all three of my tram calendars for August I was met by a photo of a Blackpool Boat Car what better excuse do I need to include more views of a Boat for today’s Picture in Time feature? This time we are featuring 607 during its loan spell of operation at Crich in the mid 1980s.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

Bolton 66 meets the mayors

Posted on Monday 3 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 31st July, the two heritage trams in service in Blackpool on the regular blue timetable were joined by Bolton 66 which was used to convey a private party, including two Mayors. The tram initially ran from Rigby Road depot to North Pier before heading south to the Pleasure Beach, where the guests disembarked to enjoy a visit to the theme park’s miniature railway before returning to the depot.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1009

Posted on Sunday 2 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

As usual Sunday’s Picture in Time features a modern tram and this week we are heading to Manchester Metrolink with an image of T68 1009 in 1992.

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Snaefell Mountain Railway to celebrate 120th anniversary

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

21st August 1895 saw the first public runs of a new railway on the Isle of Man – the Snaefell Mountain Railway. Now 119 years and 364 days later the Railway will be celebrating its 120th anniversary with a series of events taking place on Thursday 20th August 2015.

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Lost Trams: Seaton 7

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

OK so its not really that lost – we know exactly where it is, at the back of the Seaton Tramway depot – but the latest tram to feature in our Lost Trams series is Seaton Tramway’s no. 7 which has spent the past eight years out of service with currently no plans in sight for it to carry passengers once again.

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Metrolink delays after car gets stuck on Airport line

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

It seems that some motorists in Greater Manchester are never going to get the hang of reserved tram track as another car got stuck on the tracks at Barlow Moor Road on Friday 31st July causing delays for Metrolink services once again. The car managed to find its way on the tracks shortly before 1300 leading to all services between Cornbrook and Manchester Airport being suspended for almost an hour and a half as the vehicle was removed.  Photos on the Manchester Evening News website show that the car managed to get some way along the reserved track passing several No Entry signs on posts and also the “Tram Only” lettering on the road surface.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Supertram Selfie competition announced

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

To mark the 21st anniversary of Supertram in 2015, operators Stagecoach have teamed up with artist Pete McKee for a unique project which will see four users of the tram network immortalized in the artist’s unique style. To be involved in this project all you need to do is to take a selfie on a tram or at a tramstop and email it to competition@supertram.com by Monday 17th August. Each image should include either one or two people and the lucky winners will be contacted for further images and permission for their use.

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Enjoy Supertram services on a Sunday for just £1

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram have announced that on all Sundays in August you will be able to purchase an all day unlimited travel ticket for just £1. Valid on all tram services, replacement bus services and the Supertram Link bus services the £1 ticket will be available from the onboard conductors on Sundays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th August.

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Picture in Time: Pleasure Beach loop

Posted on Friday 31 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time is back in Blackpool as we take a look at Pleasure Beach loop in 1993, a time when it was not uncommon to see a large number of trams waiting to form specials along Blackpool Promenade. It may only be 22 years ago but once again things have changed in a relatively short time frame so let’s all get nostalgic once again.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

Final testing set to start on NET Phase Two

Posted on Thursday 30 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

One of the last hurdles to overcome before the long awaited extensions of Nottingham Express Transit open to the public is set to start on Friday 31st July with news that final testing is due to commence. This period of testing will be full shadow running when the trams will run along both the Chilwell and Clifton lines to the timetable but without passengers between Nottingham Railway Station and the new termini.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 30 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Welcome back to our latest look at just when and where you can go and enjoy a ride on a traditional tram in the British Isles over the next seven days or so. Over on the Isle of Man at the moment the Manx Heritage Transport Festival is in full swing (until Sunday 2nd August) and on Friday 31st July there is a rare chance to get a guaranteed look at no. 4 on the Seaton Tramway as it is out for Pirate Day. Looking slightly further ahead the next special event takes place at the Crich Tramway Village between Monday 3rd and Sunday 9th August with WW2 Home Front and of course there are plenty of other tramways who although they don’t have special events are still running and will gladly welcome anyone who wants to go for a ride…

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Picture in Time: Grimsby & Immingham 20

Posted on Wednesday 29 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today in our “Picture in Time” series we are heading back more than 50 years ago to 1963 with a view of Grimsby & Immingham 20 on the day it arrived at Crich. Of course we now know this tram better as Gateshead 5.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Progress on Hull 96

Posted on Monday 27 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a while since we provided an update on progress with the restoration work being undertaken on Hull 96 at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, so to rectify this here are a few images showing some of the recent work which has been carried out. After seemingly months of having various bits taken off it, it is pleasing to see many fittings are now being put back on and the tram is looking much more presentable again as a result.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 26 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you three more Photo Galleries as we conclude our Scottish tram trilogy and also take in some photos from Crich as well:

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M5000 3102 arrives on Manchester Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 26 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Deliveries of the Bombardier built M5000s to Manchester Metrolink are continuing with 3102 the latest to arrive at Queens Road Depot on Saturday 25th July. The tram made the now very familiar trip across mainland Europe and then ferry via Rotterdam and Hull before heading across England to Manchester arriving in its usual lunchtime slot. 3102 will now be commissioned into service and undergo mileage accumulation before it can join the operational fleet with its sisters.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 06

Posted on Sunday 26 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today the tram to feature as part of our “Picture in Time” series is South Yorkshire Supertram 06 which is seen in the city centre shortly after the system opened in 1994.

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It’s almost time: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2015

Posted on Saturday 25 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

The annual Manx Heritage Transport Festival takes place between Wednesday 29th July and Sunday 2nd August with the usual mix of events on the Isle of Man Steam Railway and of more interest to us on this website the Manx Electric Railway with a few other events taking place across other areas of the island as well. Since we last gave you an update on the event on British Trams Online there have been some changes and additions and what follows is a complete list of what is happening and when across the island.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 3 Comments