In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 at Transport Festival

The Llandudno Transport Festival took place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend with Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society’s replica tram no. 7 one of the star exhibits once again. It had been planned to offer hauled rides on board the tram along the route of the former tramway but unfortunately this was not possible due to heavy rain meaning the route was not suitable. Nevertheless the group still had a number of interested visitors with some able to visit the top deck of the tram for a small donation of £1. Photos taken on Sunday 3rd May by Stuart Cooke.

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Supertram rail replacement works move on to Area 6

The first phase of rail replacement works this year on Stagecoach Supertram will be completed on Saturday 9th May and a normal tram service will then run on Sunday 10th May ahead of the next phase commencing on Monday 11th May. This phase will see works concentrated in the city centre and are due to take place until Wednesday 3rd June.

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Cars take on trams in Manchester – twice in a week

The past week has seen two significant collisions between cars and trams on the Manchester Metrolink system – once on the Eccles line with the second incident taking place on the line to Manchester Airport. The first incident happened at Exchange Quay with collision number two occurring on Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 715

We go a bit more up-to-date than of recent with our Picture in Time feature today as we take a look at Blackpool Balloon 715 back in 2008.

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A blast from the past at Heaton Park

An old operating practice is set to return on the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester on Saturday 9th May, when due to an event taking place in the park, trams will terminate at the location often referred to as ‘Old Lakeside’. This was the former tramway terminus before the short extension across the road to the boating lake was opened a few years ago.

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Heritage trams stretch their wheels even more!

The good news keeps coming from Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram team, who have continued to make improvements to the service that is offered by the traditional tram fleet remaining in Blackpool. Their latest amendment concerns the blue timetable, whilst a seperate announcement has revealed that heritage trams will be running to Starr Gate for the first time this year on Sunday 21st June.

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Going for a ride…

It’s Thursday evening which means it is once again time for us to round-up just when and where you can enjoy a ride on a heritage tram in the UK. The main highlight over the next seven days is the return of the horse trams to Douglas from Monday 11th May – a season we didn’t expect to see…

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B Fleet Balloons run on split service in Blackpool

As reported previously, filming for a new feature film in Blackpool is causing chaos for the town’s transport services, with disruption to the tramway over three consecutive days, with a partial closure of the promenade enforced between 0700 and 1500. Whilst the return of the unpopular split service was no doubt cursed by the travelling public, it did have one positive side for tram enthusiasts – the use of members of the ‘B Fleet’ in ordinary passenger service.

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Picture in Time: Dudley, Stourbridge & District Electric Tramways 5

The latest tram to feature in our “Picture in Time” series is Dudley, Stourbridge & District Electric Tramways 5 a tram which for many years was the mainstay of the service at the Black County Living Museum but in more recent times has been sent to Wales for an extensive restoration.

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A golden May Day in Blackpool

The second spell of operation for Blackpool’s newly improved heritage tram service occurred over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, providing enthusiasts, tourists and local residents alike with another chance to enjoy a large number of historic trams in action together. Experience and feedback gained over Easter had been used to make a few tweaks to the gold service which ran on two of the three days, with detailed timetables published in advance to help visitors get the best out of the six car heritage service.

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This week on British Trams Online

We have a bumper update for you this Bank Holiday weekend with six new Photo Galleries, updates to another gallery and updates to several Fleet Lists:

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Tramlink welcome the first of the second batch of Variotrams

London Tramlink are now the proud owners of seven Stadler Variotrams following the delivery of the first of second batch of the trams at the Therapia Lane Depot. 2560 was delivered during the early hours of Monday 4th May having made the journey from Stadler’s plant in Berlin, Germany.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1003

As we continue our Picture in Time series today we are back on Manchester Metrolink with the featured tram being a vehicle which has been in the news recently – 1003.

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram Rail Replacement update

The first phase of rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram for 2015 is now drawing to a close with only a few days now left before it should be completed. In the lead up to the end concentration has been moved to the section of track just before Shalesmoor stop where approximately 200 yards of rail was in the process of being replaced at the end of April. Photos showing some of the work are provided courtesy of Stuart Cooke.

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More new adverts appear in Blackpool

Two more members of Blackpool’s modern Flexity2 class have recently received new advertisements, although unlike the recent treatment of car 016 these are merely side panel banner adverts rather than full vinyl wraps. Both cars 005 and 013 now feature advertising for ‘Stayblackpool.com’ on one side only, whilst retaining their previous adverts on the opposite side.

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In Pictures: A day of ups and downs in the Crich workshop

Saturday 2nd May might have been the first day of a new three day event at Crich Tramway Village entitled ‘Bands at Crich’, but arguably the most important events of this day actually took place in the workshop and the depot yard. On this date the overhaul of Liverpool 869 took a major step towards completion, whilst two other trams were lifted for attention.

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Welcome back 715!

The May Day Bank Holiday weekend got off to a fantastic start in Blackpool on Saturday, with the return to service of Balloon 715 following workshop attention. The tram had last run on the tramway on 6th November 2011 on hire to the Fylde Tramway Society – and therefore it was highly appropriate that its return was marked with another tour for the same organisation.

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More Urbos 3s enter service on Midland Metro

The last week of April has seen a further two Urbos 3 trams enter service on Midland Metro bringing the total number of this class of tram available for service to 13. The latest two trams to enter service have been 28 and 29 with the former being seen for the first time on Tuesday 28th April and 29 on Wednesday 29th April. The continued improvement in reliability of the CAF built trams does of course have a knock on effect for the outgoing T69s with only four now available for service and only used sparingly.

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Plans to be revealed for new Seaton Terminus

Friday 8th May will give members of the public their first chance to see the plans for the new Seaton Tramway terminus with a public exhibition taking place at Seaton Town Hall between 1200 and 1600. The contemporary design is set to replace the Edwardian style ticket office built in 1996 and should be completed by spring 2016.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Marton Vambac 15

Today our latest Picture in Time image goes back to Blackpool with a view of a tram which is no longer in existence – Marton VAMBAC 15.

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