Author Archives: Gareth Prior

Trams &: Blackpool 006 & bus

Posted on Sunday 28 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Trams &” we are in Blackpool as we take a look at a tram and a bus on the extension to North Station during testing of that line.

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City of Edinburgh Council set to back plans to further extend tram system

Posted on Sunday 28 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

When there was a change in administration on the City of Edinburgh Council earlier this year as Labour became the controlling party you could have been forgiven if you thought that was the end of proposed tram extension in the … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Telford Steam Tramway

Posted on Sunday 28 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

A line which gets very little mention on these pages is the unique Telford Steam Tramway which runs on a 2 foot gauge at the Telford Steam Railway in Horsehay, Shropshire. The line is now a circular route and has … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments

Balloon 715 to bow out

Posted on Saturday 27 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

The Fylde Transport Trust’s popular Balloon Car 715 is to be withdrawn from service following a mutual decision between Blackpool Transport and the owners of the tram. The tram has not undergone any significant workshop attention for many years and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 7 Comments

Around the World in Trams: Berlin 3015

Posted on Saturday 27 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to Germany for the next batch of photos from around the world as we visit the Oldtimer Museum Rugen.

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Emergency overhead line repairs on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 27 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

The recent period of hot weather has been the cause of damage to the overhead line on the Tyne and Wear Metro which will necessitate the closure of part of the Tyne and Wear Metro from Tuesday 30th August. The … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 257 receives Leonardo advert

Posted on Friday 26 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams 257 has quickly moved on from its Edinburgh Napier University advert as after just a month it has now received a contract for Leonardo, a aerospace and defence and security systems manufacturer.

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Picture in Time: Seaton Tramway 6

Posted on Friday 26 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

“Picture in Time” heads to Devon for the next few weeks as we visit the Seaton Tramway, starting off in 1992.

Posted in Picture in Time, Seaton Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Update from West Midlands Metro extension in Wolverhampton

Posted on Thursday 25 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

The next extension due to open on the West Midlands Metro is the short (0.7lm) line to Wolverhampton Railway Station. As with the last extension to Edgbaston Village the opening of this line is much delayed but in the last … Continue reading →

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New tram timetables in Blackpool for the Illuminations

Posted on Thursday 25 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Trams in Blackpool will be running to a new timetable from Sunday 28th August as Blackpool Transport prepare for the annual illuminations by running more regular trams in the evening than during the daytime.

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Passenger numbers on UK tramways bounce back – but still below pre-pandemic levels

Posted on Wednesday 24 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Passenger numbers on all tram and light rail systems in the UK have bounced back to their highest levels since before the pandemic but are still a long way short of numbers which were carried in 2019/20 according to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, Edinburgh Trams, London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, Tyne and Wear Metro, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Passenger numbers on UK tramways bounce back – but still below pre-pandemic levels

London Tramlink Engineering Works start

Posted on Wednesday 24 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re a little late to the party with this one, but services on London Tramlink are currently suspended between Wimbledon and Therapia Lane whilst rail replacement works take place.

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Tick, tock! Clock returns to Leith Walk

Posted on Tuesday 23 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

A historic clock dating from 1857 has been returned to Leith Walk following 15 years of storage and an extensive restoration. The clock was removed back in 2007 during construction works for the original tram project and with works on … Continue reading →

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Tram allocations announced for Blackpool Bank Holiday Vintage Weekend

Posted on Monday 22 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Please note there have been changes to the plan since this was originally published. The below article has now been updated with the new details (we did see subject to the usual caveats, its just we didn’t expect them to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Previews | 17 Comments

Out and About: West Midlands Metro 42

Posted on Monday 22 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

We are off “Out and About” again today and its another trip to the West Midlands Metro.

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Trams &: Stagecoach Supertram 118 & bus

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Trams &” we are off to South Yorkshire as we see another bus alongside a tram at the Halfway terminus on Supertram.

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Metro’s oldest ever driver retires after 40 years service

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Richard Neesham, Tyne and Wear Metro’s oldest ever driver at 75, has retired about over 40 years of service on the network. He started his job on the Metro in 1981 shortly after the system opened and despite the 3am … Continue reading →

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 21st August 2022

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

We have two sets of photos this week as we look back into our inbox at what we’ve missed over the past few months!

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, Site News | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 21st August 2022

In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams Spotify adverts – and then there were two!

Posted on Saturday 20 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

Last time Spotify advertised on Edinburgh Trams they took out a contract on two trams – and they’ve done exactly the same again! In addition to 260, as reported last week, 263 is also carrying identical adverts.

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Around the World in Trams(ish): Bom Jesus do Monte Funicular

Posted on Saturday 20 August 2022 by Gareth Prior

It’s a little bit different for “Around the World in Trams” as instead of a traditional tram or light rail system we feature a funicular which operates in Portugal.

Posted in Around the World in Trams | 3 Comments