Edinburgh Trams Opens

Posted on Sunday 1 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Finally! 57 and a half years since Edinburgh Corporation Tramways closed their last route and eight years since the long and drawn out construction period begun the new Edinburgh Trams network has welcomed its first fare paying passengers. At 0500 on Saturday 31st May a packed tram departed Gyle Centre for York Place in Edinburgh City Centre starting a new chapter in tramway history in Scotland as the country can once again say that they have an operating street tramway and the Summerlee Heritage Tramway is no longer the only tramway in Scotland.

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Edinburgh Trams Countdown: Network officially launched

Posted on Friday 30 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams has been officially launched ahead of the start of public services on, well if you’ve been reading this website over the past couple of days you should know by now but just in case you don’t know yet, Saturday 31st May at 0500. Edinburgh residents were joined by Cllr Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, Keith Brown, Transport Minister in the Scottish Government and other key people involved in delivering the new service for a special tram trip.

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Edinburgh Trams Countdown: The Route & Trams

Posted on Friday 30 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

So just where will Edinburgh Trams be going? And what about the trams in the fleet, what are they? Well if they are questions you have wanted to ask but haven’t this is the place to find the answers!

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Edinburgh Trams Countdown: Timetabling & Ticketing

Posted on Friday 30 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

It is nearly time to welcome trams back to the streets of Edinburgh (Saturday 31st May at 0500 is the first public service don’t forget!) and as part of our countdown to the opening we provide you with a quick guide to the services due to run and tickets valid for use on the trams.

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Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 30 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again when we provide a round-up of when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. After a hectic few weeks across the country things are starting to calm down a back with the only major event being the end of “Beside the Seaside” at Crich (last day: 1st June) although there will also be an intensive service on the Manx Electric Railway with timetable F in operation as the island is inundated with visitors for the TT races.

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In Pictures: Another big shunt – Heaton Park style

Posted on Friday 30 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Some unusual and fantastic scenes were created earlier this week at the Heaton Park Tramway’s new Lakeside terminus, when a large shunting opportunity created an impromptu photo opportunity featuring an incredible six trams! The movements saw several operational cars appear, along with recent arrivals Manchester 173 and Blackpool Balloon car 702.

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Blackpool’s heritage trams return home

Posted on Thursday 29 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Thursday 29th May, a large number of historic tramcars graced Blackpool’s promenade, just a few days after the most recent spell of operation for the heritage fleet. This time however, the cars were not available for the public to ride on, but were instead being transferred back home to Rigby Road depot, having resided at Starr Gate for several weeks due to ongoing access issues with the old tram shed.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Balloon 711 launched at Crich

Posted on Thursday 29 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Balloon 711 has become the latest tram to run at the Crich Tramway Village following its launch on the first day of the “Beside the Seaside” event on Saturday 24th May. The weather on this day was certainly not the weather you would want when visiting the seaside (although it probably was typical UK Bank Holiday weather!) with rain for most of the day but the sun did put in an appearance as the day drew to a close.

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Edinburgh Trams Countdown: A History of the project

Posted on Thursday 29 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

At 0500 on Saturday 31st May it will be the start of a new era for public transport in the Scottish capital as the first public passenger service leaves Gyle Centre for the city centre. It may have seemed like it has been a long road (and let’s be honest it has been!) but finally after the best part of six years of construction trams will be running in Edinburgh once again and hopefully the public will see just what all the fuss has been about.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit 219 goes on show

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 25th May with the Milk Race, a cycling race, taking place in Nottingham City Centre Nottingham Express Transit services from Hucknall and Phoenix Park were turned short at Royal Centre. As well as the fairly rare use of the crossover at Royal Centre to regain the correct track on departure the chance was also taken to display one of the new Alstom Citadis trams at the Royal Centre stop with NET staff on hand to answer questions as members of the public had their first chance to get on board.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams make final preparations

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Saturdays 17th and 24th May information events were held at St Andrews Square tramstop on Edinburgh Trams to give members of the public the chance to see inside a couple of trams and to ask questions about the impending opening of the line including details of ticketing and timetabling.

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Metrolink T68 1019 says goodbye to Manchester

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Wednesday 21st May the latest Metrolink T68 departed Manchester for scrapping in South Yorkshire when 1019 made the now far too familiar journey on the back of a low loader.

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The Leeds 602 Debate: An open letter to the Tramway Museum Society Journal

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

The following has been received by British Trams Online and is an open letter to the Tramway Museum Society Journal regarding the decision not to restore Leeds 602. It is written by Jim Soper, a senior member of the Tramway Museum Society, who was responsible for building the Red Lion and the Bowes Lyon Bridge and has authored the extensive Leeds Transport books. It is produced in its entirety.

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Charity Tramathon on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

A group of volunteers are to take part in a “Tramathon” on Manchester Metrolink to raise money for the Delamere Charitable Trust, a local special educational needs charity. The event, due to take place on Thursday 29 May, will see the group of fundraisers travelling across the whole Metrolink network calling at each destination along the 48 miles of track.

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A fond farewell for Manchester Metrolink’s T68s

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May was a milestone day in the history of Manchester’s public transport, and indeed the history of British trams in the general, as it marked the final operation of one of the original batch of light rail vehicles purchased to inaugurate the Metrolink system. The T68 class are generally considered to have been the first modern trams to run in the UK, and after just over two decades, their time of serving the people of Manchester came to an end on this day with a special enthusiast tour.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 14 Comments

Funding boost takes Beamish into the ‘fifties!

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, made a very exciting announcement on 27th May 2014, confirming that a bid for finance from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been successful. The hugely popular open-air museum has been awarded an initial grant of £603,800 to progress its plans to create a new 1950s-themed area as part of a massive proposed expansion planned to be implemented over the next 12 years.

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The cat that got the tram!

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The recent Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw a diverse range of events taking place at tramways across the country, and the Seaton Tramway in Devon was not to be left out. On Bank Holiday Monday 26th May, Seaton 12 was unveiled in a brand new livery during an extravagant ceremony at the Seaton terminus. Although the tram has retained its familiar red livery, this has been used as the basis for advertising vinyls to promote the well-known national charity, Cats Protection.

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Boating concludes the Blackpool Bank Holiday

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After two days of rather changeable, and at times very wet, weather conditions, the third and final day of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw a vast improvement in the weather at Blackpool, allowing open trams to dominate the heritage service. Originally no heritage trams were due to run on this day, so it was extremely fortunate that an anonymous local businessman generously offered to fund their operation for what turned out to be the most successful day of the whole weekend!

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In Pictures: Blackpool Pantograph cars reunited

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday 25th May, once again saw a three-car heritage service operating in Blackpool with visiting ‘Pantograph’ car 167 once again stealing the show. The opportunity was also taken to operate the illuminated Western Train 733+734 on this day, due to 734 being created from ‘Pantograph’ car 174 and still bearing a close resembelance to its original appearance. This allowed for a very rare photo opportunity to be set up with the duo being posed side by side, which was arguably the highlight of the whole weekend!

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In Pictures: Blackpool Brush car 634 arrives in the North East

Posted on Monday 26 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Friday 23rd May saw yet another tram arrival at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum at Washington, near Sunderland. As reported previously, the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust have arranged a long-term loan deal involving privately owned Blackpool Brush Railcoach 634, and on this day the tram made the long journey by road from Northamptonshire to its brand new home. Although many Blackpool trams have resided in the North East over the years – some permanently, others for short visits – 634 has become the first Brush car to move to this part of the country.

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Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments