In Pictures: Testing continues on NET Phase Two

Posted on Saturday 23 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

For the first time in a while daytime testing has not been extended in the past week (mainly because it is already running on both lines in their entirety!) and trams are starting to become a more regular occurrence to both the Toton Park and Ride site and Clifton South termini. There is still some work to be completed before consideration can be given to starting public services and over the next few weeks there is due to be some remedial works which will lead to temporary road closures. Photos of the latest testing are provided by Bob Gell.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 645

Posted on Friday 22 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” is in Blackpool once again with a view of Centenary Car 645 taken in 1993.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

As it is Thursday evening it is time for us to bring you a round-up of just when and where you can enjoy a ride on a heritage tram in the UK over the next week or so. This weekend is, of course, Bank Holiday weekend which means it is time for another batch of enhanced heritage tram operation in Blackpool with the Gold timetable in action on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th May. Keeping with the seaside theme the Crich Tramway Village start their Beside the Seaside event on Saturday 23rd May (continuing until Sunday 31st May) whilst on Wednesday 27th May there is a charity 24 hour Tramathon at the Seaton Tramway. And don’t forget the rest of the UK’s heritage tramways which although they may not have special events are still offering rides – go on you know you want to Go for a ride…

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Warrington 2 becomes Warrington 28

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The future of Warrington 2 has now been decided by members of the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, who voted to decide whether the car should be reconstructed as a fully enclosed car, or with open balconies, at an Extraordinary General Meeting held earlier this year. As well as determining the finished appearance of the tram, it was also agreed that it would be renumbered and will henceforth be known as Warrington 28.

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Blackpool Brush car 626 sold by Merseytravel

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Following many months of speculation, information has now reached us that Merseytravel have finally sold Blackpool Brush Railcoach 626 which was removed from its long-term resting place at the Pacific Road complex on the Birkenhead heritage tramway earlier this month. Unfortunately, hopes that 626 would enter preservation have now been dashed; instead it has been bought by Peel Holdings for possible use in connection with local development plans.

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Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 8 Comments

A colourful weekend beckons for Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Provisional plans for the heritage tram output in Blackpool over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend have now been revealed, with a loose theme of colours being apparent. The four-car service on the Saturday should be worked entirely by green and cream liveried trams, whilst the following two days are expected to feature a mix of green, red and brown trams on the now familiar ‘gold’ service consisting of six trams.

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St Peter’s Square closure start date confirmed

Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have confirmed that the Metrolink line through St Peter’s Square will be closed completely for 10 weeks starting on Sunday 28th June as part of the major transformation works at this stop. This will be the first stage of the 14 month project which will see a newly enlarged tramstop constructed with platforms for both the current city centre line and the Second City Crossing due for completion in 2017.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 5 & 45

Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Our latest instalment of “Picture in Time” heads into the middle of the Irish Sea for a visit to the transport enthusiasts mecca of the Isle of Man.

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I’ll have a 99 please!

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink are now the proud owners of 99 Bombardier built M5000s following the delivery of 3099 to Queens Road Depot on Saturday 16th May. Following the usual route across mainland Europe from Bombardier’s plant in Bautzen via ferry to Hull and then across the Pennines to Manchester 3099 arrived at its new home around lunchtime. It was then unloaded and moved into the workshops where it will be commissioned, final livery details applied and undergo mileage accumulation works before entering service. The next delivery will of course be a major milestone…

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

We bring you two further collections of photos as part of our site update this weekend with images coming from London Tramlink and the Crich Tramway Village:

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1004

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today in our “Picture in Time” series we are heading back to Manchester for some pre-opening view of T68 1004.

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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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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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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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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