Author Archives: Gareth Prior

A Ratchet Car to return on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Friday 3 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

It has been announced that a Ratchet Car is to be restored back to working order on the Manx Electric Railway with no. 14 having recently been moved back to the Derby Castle Sheds where the work will be undertaken. … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 4 Comments

Manchester Metrolink Performance Update

Posted on Friday 3 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

It is time once again for us to take a look at the latest performance statistics of Manchester Metrolink. This time a further two periods are under review: Period 10 – Monday 5th January to Sunday 1st February and Period … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Manchester Metrolink Performance Update

Trams reach Toton Park and Ride terminus

Posted on Thursday 2 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

Trams have now run on the entire Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two extensions following the arrival of the first tram at the Toton Park and Ride site on the Chilwell line during the night of Wednesday 1st April. This comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Trams reach Toton Park and Ride terminus

Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 2 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

It is time once again for our weekly round-up of just when and where you can go for a ride on a heritage tram. This week sees Blackpool, Crich, the East Anglia Transport Museum and the Manx Electric Railway enjoy … Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Going for a ride…

Passengers remain satisfied with the UK’s tramways

Posted on Wednesday 1 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

Transport Focus – formerly Passenger Focus – carried out the second annual Tram Passenger Survey in Autumn 2015 and the results have recently been released showing that 90% of those questioned remain satisfied with the overall tram service with passengers … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Edinburgh Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Picture in Time: Gateshead 5

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” heads back to Crich and we feature a tram which is currently withdrawn from service. That tram is Gateshead 5.

Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Glasgow 488 restoration continues

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Another restoration which we don’t feature too often on these pages is that of Glasgow 488 which is currently undergoing extensive work at the Boston Lodge workshops of the Ffestiniog Railway. Recent progress has seen work coming to an end … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Glasgow 488 restoration continues

Midland Metro services return to Wolverhampton

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Friday 5th September. That was the last time that Midland Metro ran services through to Wolverhampton St George’s. But now almost seven months later trams are finally once again running the complete length of the tramway following the completion of … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Manchester Metrolink 3097 arrives

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we reported at the weekend the 97th M5000 for Manchester Metrolink was delivered to Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 28th March. 3097 arrived on the back of a low loader around midday having made the trip from mainland Europe … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Croydon Town Centre Easter blockade starts

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

On Saturday 28th March a 16 day blockade of the Croydon loop started with no trams running between Reeves Corner and East Croydon (with the closure extended through to Sandilands over the Easter weekend). Although the main purpose of the … Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Croydon Town Centre Easter blockade starts

In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram 2015 rail replacement works commence

Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

The 2015 programme of rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram commenced on Saturday 28th March. The first phase of works this year – known as Area 5 – is on the stretch between Infirmary Road and Hillsborough with the first … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram 2015 rail replacement works commence

In Pictures: A new season at Crich

Posted on Monday 30 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we reported at the weekend the 2015 season at the Crich Tramway Village kicked off on a damp Saturday 28th March with Blackpool Brush 630 operating the first service. This first day also saw fellow Blackpool car Standard 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 5 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 29 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you a further two Photo Galleries again from some of the more modern systems operating in the UK:

Posted in Site News | 3 Comments

Metrolink welcome M5000 3097 as 3096 enters service

Posted on Saturday 28 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

The last couple of days has seen further movement on the Manchester Metrolink M5000 front with the latest arrival touching Metrolink metals for the first time with the previous arrival carrying passengers for the first time. The vehicles involved this … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink welcome M5000 3097 as 3096 enters service

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 707

Posted on Saturday 28 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

On the day that heritage tram operations return to Blackpool for another season we head to the north west coast for our latest edition of “Picture in Time”. This time the date is 31st August 1993 and we feature Blackpool … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 707

Glasgow 1245 restoration continues

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

The restoration of Glasgow 1245 – a 1937 built Coronation car and reputed to be the last tram in Glasgow – is continuing at Summerlee with recent progress seeing the completion of the restoration of the tram’s motors.

Posted in Summerlee Museum Tramway | 11 Comments

Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s the “big return” this week as both Blackpool and Crich re-open for the first time in 2015 along with the Snaefell Mountain Railway whilst it is also the time for both Beamish and Seaton to commence daily opening. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Going for a ride…

Man arrested after driving car onto tracks at Manchester Central

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

A 26 year old man has been arrested for drink driving after he drove his car onto the Metrolink tracks on the ramp outside the Manchester Central convention centre. The car was driven onto the tracks at around 2100 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Edinburgh Trams fares to rise

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Less than a year after opening it has been announced that some fares on Edinburgh Trams are to increase from 19th April. Although the majority of fares will be increasing from this date it has been confirmed that the £1.50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 3 Comments

Supertram services change for the Queen

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting Sheffield on Thursday 2nd April and as a result Supertram services will be altered from the start of service until approximately 1330. These changes are in addition to the alterations which will be … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Supertram services change for the Queen