East Anglia Transport Museum to increase opening in 2015

Posted on Saturday 10 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

The East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville is to open for more days in 2015 with, for the first time, the Museum open until the end of October. The first chance to visit the Museum – the only place in the UK you can enjoy rides on not only trams but also trolleybuses and on a railway in one place – will be on Wednesday 1st April with all opening days now seeing the site open to the public between 1200 and 1630.

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In Pictures: Crich interlaced track relay

Posted on Saturday 10 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

This winter the major infrastructure project at the Crich Tramway Village has seen the relaying of the interlaced track through the Bowes Lyon Bridge. As these photos, provided by Keith Chadbourne, show the main track relay has been completed and attention is now being turned towards the time consuming task of relaying the granite setts to complete the traditional scene.

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In Pictures: London Tramlink January 2015

Posted on Saturday 10 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

A small selection of photos taken of trams on the Wimbledon branch of London Tramlink at the start of January 2015. We see trams at both ends of the branch – just before Wimbledon station and also just as the track changes from reserved railway style running to on street operation. Photos courtesy of Tony Sullivan.

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Midland Metro T69s continue to hang on

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

2015 has started and despite rumours during last year that the T69s would all have been withdrawn by the start of the year with the Urbos 3s having completed their takeover Midland Metro services are still being dominated by the original Italian built vehicles with up to seven being out on a daily basis.

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In Pictures: London Tramlink 2542’s new advert livery

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last weekend London Tramlink CR4000 2542 received a new advertising livery for Turkish Airlines shortly before Christmas and now with thanks to Irvine Cresswell we bring you images of the tram in action on 6th January.

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Testing continues on NET Phase Two

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

As 2015 starts further testing has commenced on the Phase Two extension of Nottingham Express Transit with the first tram movements taking place into the centre of Clifton overnight on Wednesday 7th January. As with all previous first test runs this is initially done at walking pace to check that everything is in order before further test runs will be taken, eventually in daylight hours.

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In Pictures: 3013 and 3093 in action on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

We reported last weekend about 3093 becoming the latest M5000 to enter traffic on Manchester Metrolink whilst 3013 has taken its first tentative steps ahead of a return to service with initial testing being undertaken around Queens Road Depot. And now, with thanks to David Simpson, we can illustrate these very two LRVs.

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RAIB investigation into Tramlink derailment starts

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

Further information has been released by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) into the derailment of London Tramlink CR4000 2544 at Mitcham Junction on Monday 29th December 2014 at 2355.

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Kimberley feasibility study back on track

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

Late in 2014 it seemed as though the hopes for extending Nottingham Express Transit to Kimberley were fading following Broxtowe Borough Council’s decision not to provide funding towards a feasibility study. However just three weeks after the vote at a full Council meeting it was taken to the table again – this time with a completely different outcome!

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In Pictures: Manchester Metrolink T68s wait at Trafford

Posted on Friday 9 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

Although it had originally been expected that the last unclaimed Manchester Metrolink T68 and T68As would have left Trafford Depot by the end of 2014 as 2015 dawned there are still three of the vehicles remaining in Manchester. These are T68s 1020 and 1023 and T68A 2001 and at the time of writing they are in the yard at Trafford waiting for their final fate. There also remain two more of the original LRVs in Greater Manchester with 1003 now at Queens Road ahead of a move for use by the local Fire service and preserved 1007 still at Trafford for the time being.

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A happy heritage new year for Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 7 January 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Just days into the new year, and three members of the Blackpool heritage fleet have already been observed out and about on the tramway, having ended 2014 relatively late on Sunday 28th December. This once again highlights how fears that traditional trams would become a rare sight on the promenade have proved unfounded, and reminds us of the increasing popularity of private hires involving the heritage stock.

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Increased horse power for Crich

Posted on Tuesday 6 January 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Another attempt to provide additional interest to visitors to Crich Tramway Village on non-event days for 2015, will see a horse car service operate on a number of dates this year. This will utilise the 1874-built Sheffield 15, the first tram to have carried passengers at the museum, which is due to operate on six days during the peak summer season.

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New destination blinds for heritage trams

Posted on Monday 5 January 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Thanks to an incredible act of generosity by an enthusiast, efforts are now being made to further improve the authenticity of the appearance of Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet. Twin set 272+T2 have recently received new destination blinds, with further trams expected to follow in the near future.

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Trams on TV

Posted on Monday 5 January 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The last few months of 2014 saw a higher than average number of high-profile appearances on television by vintage trams, with trams from Blackpool, Crich and Heaton Park all being thrust into the spotlight. All of these were on BBC1 programmes and all provided welcome exposure and/or finance towards the preservation movement.

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Midland Metro T69 book – can you help?

Posted on Sunday 4 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

Before Christmas we ran an appeal for information and photos for inclusion in Andrew Coward’s latest book – a tribute to the Midland Metro T69s, which are due for withdrawal within the next few months. Following on from this Andrew is now trying to find out roughly when 01, 02 and 03 were withdrawn from service.

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M5000 3093 enters service

Posted on Sunday 4 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

2014 finished with the operational Manchester Metrolink M5000 fleet at 92 examples following the entry into service of 3093. This LRV was first used in passenger service on Christmas Eve, running on the Airport line, and has now joined the non-ATS/VRS fleet based at Trafford Depot. All M5000s in Manchester have now run in service at some point with the only member of the class not currently operational being long-term absentee 3013. But it shouldn’t be too long before we see the unlucky thirteenth back on the mainline as it has now emerged from the workshops following rebuilding and has seen initial testing around Queens Road Depot.

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New advert for Tramlink 2542

Posted on Saturday 3 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

There are now three CR4000s (and four trams in total on Tramlink) in advertising liveries following the release of 2542 shortly being Christmas in a vinyl wrap ad for Turkish Airlines. The advert is almost completely red with the usual advertising slogans and a picture of a plane rather unsurprisingly. Oddly the nose cones have been left clear of vinyls and remain in lime green. This is the second all over advert carried by 2542 following on for a yellow based livery for Amey for two years from 1999.

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Snow causes problems for Stagecoach Supertram

Posted on Saturday 3 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

Snow – it looks nice and is lovely when you don’t have to go anywhere but it can also cause major travel chaos and that is exactly what happened on Stagecoach Supertram after a 4” snow fall starting on Boxing Day in South Yorkshire meant services were severely affected. With staff members unable to get into work, frozen points and the problem of motorists abandoning their vehicles on the tracks Saturday 27th December proved to be a difficult day for Supertram but despite these setbacks a service was operated across all of the network by the end of the day, with the exception of the Purple route to Herdings Park.

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Derailment on London Tramlink

Posted on Saturday 3 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink CR4000 2544 derailed late on Monday 29th December on the approach to Mitcham Junction causing the service to be suspended between Mitcham Junction and Belgrave Walk. Full details of the incident are not yet known but from a photo published on the Croydon Guardian website it appears that the derailment occurred when the track splits from single to double line. The tram came off the rails shortly after midnight (so in fact it happened on Tuesday 30th December) and a full investigation was immediately launched. Unfortunately it would appear that there was a delay in this being started as the tram remained in situ at Mitcham Junction overnight and through until shortly after 1500 when it was returned to Therapia Lane Depot having been rerailed. Throughout the disruption a shuttle bus was in operation from Mitcham Junction to Morden Road with a one tram service from Wimbledon to Belgrave Walk (every 30 minutes) and a normal 7/8 minute frequency from Mitcham Junction to New Addington.

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Metro extension to New Cross back on the cards?

Posted on Saturday 3 January 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest Wolverhampton City Council city centre action plan has seemingly revived plans for a Midland Metro extension to serve New Cross Hospital. Originally on the table as part of the Five Ws line (which would have connected Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, Willenhall, Walsall and Wednesbury) the plans had seemingly been abandoned but the plan from Wolverhampton City Council, which is looking ahead to the 2015-2026 period, is looking at whether the idea of running trams to New Cross is feasible.

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