Author Archives: Gareth Prior

UKTram Centre of Excellence advances tramway design and skills development

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

The UKTram Centre of Excellence have met again to review progress on several technical and strategic projects. The latest focus was on tramway design guidance and developing skills and apprenticeship pathways for the light rail sector.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3117 goes to the movies again as 3107 becomes second BRIT tram

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink 3117 has received another new advertising livery with it receiving vinyls for the new Disney Pixar film, Hoppers. Considering this is only the second film released in cinemas to be advertised with a full wrap in Manchester it … Continue reading →

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MER to ride to the rescue during bus strike!

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We often hear about bus replacement services to cover for trams, but how about a tram replacement service to cover for buses! Well, that’s exactly what looks set to happen on the Isle of Man with the Manx Electric Railway … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 7 Comments

Picture in Time: Leeds 180 & Blackpool Electric Locomotive

Posted on Friday 20 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

It is that time of the week again when we dip into the archives for an edition of “Picture in Time”, and we continue to feature some photos taken at Crich during 1984.

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Bus and tram collide in Nottingham

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 20/02/2026, including photos There has major disruption to services on the Nottingham Express Transit line to Toton Lane on Thursday 19th February after a bus and tram collided on Inham Road, with the tram derailed and the road … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 5 Comments

West Midlands Metro engineering works overrun

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 20/02/2026 Delays to services on the West Midlands Metro have been the order of the day on Thursday 19th February 2026 after the overrunning of engineering works. These works – which had only due to take place for … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

Colin Robey appointed Honorary President at UKTram

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Colin Robey has been appointed as an Honorary President of UKTram to recognise his exceptional and longstanding contributions to not only the organisation but also the wider light rail sector. He has spent over 60 years working in heavy and … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams and the 6 Nations

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We’ve written it before and we will probably write it again in the future – one of the big benefits of having a tram system in Edinburgh is that when there are big events taking place at Murrayfield Stadium large … Continue reading →

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New book now out! On Top o’t’ Job by Chris Thornburn

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

You may recall late last year how we mentioned a forthcoming book based on the recollections of former student conductor on the Leeds trams in the mid-1950s, and well-known tram enthusiast, Chris Thornburn. And now the book has been published … Continue reading →

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TfGM to start feasibility study on going underground

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

With the Metrolink network in Manchester City Centre expected to reach capacity on the surface, plans to go underground have been part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for a while. Whilst the construction of tunnels is currently unfunded and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

A trip to… Manchester Metrolink’s Ashton line

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

In this pictorial article we see the results of a walk by Keith Chadbourne along part of Ashton New Road, which is served by trams on Manchester Metrolink’s East Manchester Line to Ashton-under-Lyne.

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Volk’s Electric Railway dates announced for 2026

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

As February starts to quickly run away from us its time to start looking ahead to the spring, and that usually means heritage lines start to wake up again. That will include the Volk’s Electric Railway in Brighton and they … Continue reading →

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Supertram joins Women in Transport

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

South Yorkshire Supertram have announced that they have become corporate members of Women in Transport, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gender equality across the transport industry and empowering women to maximise their potential.

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In Pictures: Behind the Scenes at Starr Gate Depot

Posted on Monday 16 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

One of the big stories on the modern Blackpool Tramway so far in 2026 has been the introduction of a temporary timetable whilst repairs take place to the Flexity2 trams, the first 16 of which are now approaching the 14th … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Full Metro running challenge completed by fundraiser

Posted on Monday 16 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

Paul McDougal has completed his epic challenge of running the route of the whole Tyne and Wear Metro network – with it taking him just 18 hours and 30 minutes to complete it. Paul, 35, lives in Vietnam now and … Continue reading →

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15 Years Apart: Nottingham Express Transit 205

Posted on Monday 16 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

We have another outing in our “15 Years Apart” series as we feature a tram as it was in 2010, and then again in 2025. And this time we are going back to Nottingham Express Transit.

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Out and About: West Midlands Metro – February 2026

Posted on Sunday 15 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Out and About” we head to the West Midlands Metro again.

Posted in Out and About, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Market engagement started for DLR Thamesmead extension

Posted on Sunday 15 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

It may not have been given the full go-ahead yet but in preparation for spades going into the ground Transport for London have started preliminary market engagement for the DLR extension to Thamesmead. This is the first step in finding … Continue reading →

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: April 2026

Posted on Sunday 15 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

More engineering works in Manchester Metrolink have been announced with two Sundays in April set to alterations on the Ashton-under-Lyne line to allow track repair works to take place.

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555 034 enters service on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 14 February 2026 by Gareth Prior

After a busy few weeks of trains going for scrap and new trains being delivered, the past seven days have been far quieter on the Tyne and Wear Metro. But that’s not to say that nothing has happened as we … Continue reading →

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