Author Archives: Gareth Prior

Side by Side: Blackpool Twin Car 272+T2 & Works Brush 259

Posted on Monday 20 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Today we go “Side by Side” and a trip to Rigby Road Depot in Blackpool is in order.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Side by Side | 3 Comments

Out and About 2025: West Midlands Metro – August 2025

Posted on Sunday 19 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

We start to go “Out and About” again and the first location is the West Midlands Metro.

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Positive public response to tram-train plans for Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 19 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Could Edinburgh get a tram-train line as well as its already established conventional tramway? If campaigners have their way it could with the South Suburban railway being considered for reopening as a tram-train line. A recent public meeting held at … Continue reading →

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UKTram represent light rail at ORR event

Posted on Sunday 19 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

UKTram Managing Director, James Hammett, was proud to recently represent the light rail sector at the annual Office of Rail and Road (ORR) annual stakeholder event. “A Year in Rail and the Track Ahead” was held on 17th July 2025 … Continue reading →

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New mural unveiled in Metro underpass

Posted on Sunday 19 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro underpass at Wallsend has been transformed thanks to a new mural. The design has been created by mural and graffiti artist Mark One87 after a series of community workshops with Richardson Dees Primary School, Move … Continue reading →

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More new Metro trains carry their first passengers

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

There have been a further three of new trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro which have entered service since our last update, bringing the total number used so far up to 22.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 18th October 2025

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Two more sets of photos this week with London Trams and West Midlands Metro the subjects this time:

Posted in London Trams, Site News, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 18th October 2025

Around the World in Trams: Rostock 59

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

We have another edition of “Around the World in Trams” and we stay back in 1979 over the other side of the wall in East Germany.

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Contactless payments coming to West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro is set to be latest tram network in the UK to offer the opportunity to “Tap In” and “Tap Out” to pay for their travel with the start of the installation of validators on tramstop platforms.

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Public support for Cork Luas revealed in first consultation report

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Plans to bring trams to the Irish city of Cork have moved a step further with the results of the initial public consultation having been released. These results show that there is support for Cork Luas with many of those … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Views of the Birmingham Eastside extension

Posted on Friday 17 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The first phase of the Birmingham Eastside extension as far as Millennium Point (by the Clayton Hotel) is set to be the next UK tram extension to open with the expectation that passengers will be able to travel onto it … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Views of the Birmingham Eastside extension

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 719

Posted on Friday 17 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

We return to “Picture in Time” as we feature another 1979 image from Blackpool.

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In Pictures: Illumination Tours start in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 16 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 15th October 2025 saw the first Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours to run for 10 months with the start of a brief return for the Lightpool Festival. Illumination Tours using two trams (one per night) will now run Wednesday-Sunday until … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

NET Works: No trams to Phoenix Park Sunday 19th October morning

Posted on Thursday 16 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Emergency works are to take place on Nottingham Express Transit between 0600 and 1300 on Sunday 19th October meaning no trams will be able to operate to Phoenix Park during this period.

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New tram book coming soon as former tram conductor in Leeds details his experiences

Posted on Thursday 16 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Chris Thornburn has been passionate about preserving tramway heritage for the best part of 70 years. In his tenth decade, he has written what appears to be a unique and irreplaceable contribution to British tramway literature – his forthcoming book … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 277 gets its first full advertising wrap

Posted on Wednesday 15 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

The last numbered tram in the Edinburgh Trams fleet, 277, has received its very first full wrap (as opposed to the more regular partial designs) with Scottish Rugby returning with their first advert since the vinyls were removed from 260 … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Blackpool Tramway 014 returns to fleet livery

Posted on Wednesday 15 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

It will no longer be Wednesday every day in Blackpool as the full vinyl wrap for the Netflix series has now been removed from 014. The tram is now back in full fleet livery (for the first time since 2012!), … Continue reading →

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South Yorkshire Supertram Engineering Works: 26th to 31st October 2025

Posted on Wednesday 15 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

This year’s engineering works on the South Yorkshire Supertram network aren’t over just yet with a further six days announced for the forthcoming school October half-term holidays. Both the Blue and Yellow routes will be impacted by the works which … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Another tram-train escapes the depot on testing!

Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

If you’ve been following our updates on the daylight testing of the new Citylink tram-trains in South Wales you’ll likely have noticed that the variety of vehicles being used has been rather limited – in fact up until recently only … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiff Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Another tram-train escapes the depot on testing!

Another Mayoral Combined Authority dip their toes into the light rail water

Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2025 by Gareth Prior

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have appointed Peter Cushing as a new Light Rail Commissioner as part of their ambitions for better connectivity and to get the region moving again. The appointment doesn’t mean that any light rail vehicles will … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments