Author Archives: Gareth Prior

In Pictures: Extension works continue in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re back off to Edinburgh today as we take another look at extension works on the Edinburgh Trams system. With trams sent to be running to Newhaven in little over a year (as long as they remain on schedule!) good … Continue reading →

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Busiest Sunday ever for Metrolink!

Posted on Saturday 9 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the past couple of years we’ve run numerous stories on low passenger numbers, reduced services and the like as the restrictions of the pandemic hit home so it makes a very nice change to report that Sunday 3rd April … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Busiest Sunday ever for Metrolink!

West Midlands Metro services to resume by the end of May?

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

It looks like there will be no service on the West Midlands Metro until the end of May as repairs to the trams continues at Wednesbury Depot. The news that it will take over two months between initial suspension and … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Great Orme Tramway and Volk’s Electric Railway get ready for reopening

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We’re about to see some more heritage lines carry their first passengers for the year with both the Great Orme Tramway and the Volk’s Electric Railway set to reopen for another season of operation. The Great Orme Tramway will be … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 705

Posted on Friday 8 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at another set of shots Donald Brooks took in the early September of 1976 in Blackpool as “Picture in Time” continues.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Heaton Park Tramway celebrates 40 years (and a bit more!)

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The pandemic has meant many things have been put on hold, and that has included celebrations of many types. Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway had originally been due to celebrate their 40th anniversary at the end of March 2020 but just … Continue reading →

Posted in Event Reviews, Heaton Park Tramway | 4 Comments

Good news from Manchester as punctuality and reliability increase

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The latest data released by Transport for Greater Manchester has shown that both punctuality and reliability on Manchester Metrolink has increased in the latest quarter. Covering the period 12th December 2021 to 5th March 2022 punctuality has now reached 88.9% … Continue reading →

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Latest Edinburgh Trams “Tramtastic” award winner hailed as a lifesaver

Posted on Thursday 7 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Stuart Mearns, Assistant Engineering Manager at Edinburgh Trams, has become the latest recipient of a “Tramtastic” award after he administered first aid to a member of the public involved in a collision with a train at Edinburgh Gateway.

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In Pictures: Trams return to York Place – passengers don’t!

Posted on Wednesday 6 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Monday 28th March saw the return of trams to York Place as services on Edinburgh Trams started to run between West End and St Andrew Square again. Trams had stopped running beyond West End on 10th February to allow work … Continue reading →

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Still no trams to Halfway as Glossop Road issue fixed on Supertram whilst trams return to Fleetwood Ferry

Posted on Wednesday 6 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Trams on Stagecoach Supertram can now run between Cathedral and Shalesmoor after the damage caused by a bus colliding with an overhead support pole was fixed but there is still no end in sight to thee overhead issues on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Out and About: Jasper Carrott in action on the WMM

Posted on Wednesday 6 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another edition of “Out and About” as we head onto the West Midlands Metro – pre-suspension obviously – for another shot of a tram in service.

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Testing and commissioning starts to Edgbaston

Posted on Tuesday 5 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Its been rare lately to have a positive news story from the West Midlands Metro but for once we can report on one as the first tram has reached Edgbaston Village on the second phase of the Birmingham Westside extension. … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Metrolink 3138 delivered to Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 5 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

M5000 enters service to mean everything has run in service again and then the next one arrives seems to be a familiar pattern which has once again been repeated. Coming just a few days after 3137 entered service on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Split of final round of pandemic light rail support confirmed

Posted on Tuesday 5 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Last month it was confirmed that bus and light rail operators in the UK would be sharing £150 million of additional funding – the last set of pandemic related funding to help services to continue whilst passenger numbers recover. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, Tyne and Wear Metro, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Problems on Supertram

Posted on Monday 4 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The start of April has not exactly been the smoothest for Stagecoach Stagecoach Supertram as there has been major disruption to services with overhead problems in the Dontesk Way and Glossop Road areas causing issues. The Donetsk Way issue has … Continue reading →

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Blackpool to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with tram parade

Posted on Monday 4 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s heritage trams are to take centre stage over the Platinum Jubilee weekend with a parade due to take place on Thursday 2nd June. Described as the “largest tram parade the resort has ever staged” around a dozen trams will … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Out and About: A temporary terminus in Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 4 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

As we saw in February, the long-standing city centre terminus of Edinburgh Trams at York Place was closed permanently to allow for extension works to take place which meant that between 10th February and 27th March trams temporarily terminated at … Continue reading →

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Heathfield Road

Posted on Sunday 3 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

“Stop by Stop” continues on the Blackpool Tramway as we reach Heathfield Road.

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Trams repairs continue but no clues on a service return but testing set to start to Edgbaston

Posted on Sunday 3 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

It has now been over two weeks since tram services on the West Midlands Metro were suspended and despite work having commenced on the replacement of the panels where the cracks were found there is no news yet of when … Continue reading →

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Out and About: Trams in Sheffield

Posted on Sunday 3 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We are back with another edition of “Out and About” today as we visit Sheffield for photos of a couple of trams not in standard fleet livery.

Posted in Out and About, South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Out and About: Trams in Sheffield