Author Archives: Gareth Prior

In Pictures: London trams in the Crich workshop

Posted on Tuesday 24 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

As reported extensively over the past few weeks the workshops at the Crich Tramway Village have become very London dominated with London Transport 1 now entering for a start to be made on its extensive restoration whilst Metropolitan Electric Tramways … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: London trams in the Crich workshop

Manchester Airport line to open early – very early!

Posted on Sunday 22 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

A line which was due to open to the public in summer 2016 is set to welcome its first passengers before this year is out it has been confirmed by Transport for Greater Manchester. The Manchester Metrolink extension to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 16 Comments

Passengers on the up again across England

Posted on Sunday 22 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

The Department for Transport have released their annual light rail statistics and once again they have shown that more passengers than ever before in the “modern era” have been carried. 227 million passenger journeys were recorded on the 8 systems … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Midland Metro 14 says goodbye to Birmingham

Posted on Sunday 22 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

As reported earlier this week 14 became the first of the T69s to depart Midland Metro when it left on the back of a low loader bound for Long Marston where it will eventually be used for testing for UK … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Douglas Horse Tramway stables to be sold off?

Posted on Sunday 22 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Councillors in Douglas have agreed to sell off the horse tram stables at Summerhill and progress with plans to develop the Strathallan depot to include room for not only the trams but also the horses. It is proposed that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 8 Comments

Blackpool Transport “simplify” fares

Posted on Sunday 22 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Last September we ran a story about Blackpool Transport “simplifying” their fares and now just nine months down the line the fares are once again being simplified. Obviously simplified actually means increasing! To make things easier, for passengers and drivers/conductors … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Blackpool Transport “simplify” fares

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 20 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again when we provide a round-up of when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. After a few quiet weeks the next 7 days should see … Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Heritage Trams this week

So Long, Farewell Midland Metro T69 14

Posted on Tuesday 17 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

It was another historic date for second generation trams in the UK on Tuesday 17th June with Midland Metro T69 14 becoming the first of the class to leave Wednesbury. As rumoured at the weekend 14 has left and it … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 8 Comments

Five month closure for Midland Metro to Wolverhampton

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

It was announced back in March that £5 million had been awarded to replace the tracks on Bilston Road in Wolverhampton on Midland Metro and it has now been revealed that this work will last for five months from July … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 8 Comments

Another Metrolink T68 leaves for the scrapman

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

1006 has become the seventh T68/T68A to depart Manchester for pastures new – in that we mean it has left to go for scrapping in Rotherham. The LRV was loaded onto the back of the low loader late on 12th … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Midland Metro Urbos 3 on display in Wolverhampton

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

The second chance for members of the public to a take a close look at one of the new Midland Metro Urbos 3 trams took place on Saturday 14th June when 20 was displayed at Wolverhampton St George’s.

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Midland Metro Urbos 3’s continue their testing

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

The testing and driver training on the Midland Metro CAF built Urbos 3 trams is continuing most days with a number of drivers now able to drive the vehicles. On the sunny evening of 12th June both 19 and 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Public consultation set to be launched for Trafford Park Metrolink line

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Plans for a Metrolink extension to Trafford Park are set to go forward to a major public consultation, provided that the TfGM Committee give their approval at a meeting on Friday 20th June. The line would leave the current network … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 4 Comments

Heritage trams this week

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again when we provide a round-up of when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Another quiet week is on the horizon with just the usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Heritage trams this week

Nottingham Express Transit 209 & The Milk Race

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

You may remember a few weeks ago that Nottingham Express Transit’s 209 carried an advert for The Milk Race, a major cycling race taking place in Nottingham City Centre during May. Whether by accident or design 209 is named Sydney … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Nottingham Express Transit 209 & The Milk Race

Enhanced Supertram service for Tour de France

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

For the first time the Tour de France will start in Yorkshire (yes we know its not exactly in France but never mind!) and on Sunday 6th July it will pass directly through Sheffield before ending at the Motorpoint Arena. … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 2 Comments

Another bridge named in Nottingham

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Following on from the naming of the Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two bridge over the railway station as the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge it has been announced that a second iconic bridge is to be named. A steel bowstring bridge which … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Another bridge named in Nottingham

New security measures to help prevent equipment theft from Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 15 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have teamed up with Greater Manchester Police to introduce new cutting edge measures to prevent and tackle the theft of equipment from the Metrolink network. All too frequently we have to report on another theft of … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on New security measures to help prevent equipment theft from Metrolink

In Picture: Midland Metro Urbos3 on test

Posted on Tuesday 10 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

Testing and driver training of the Midland Metro CAF built Urbos 3 trams has stepped up a notch recently with evening runs of the trams a regular occurrence. One such occasion was on the evening of 5th June when Mike … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Tram DVDs now available

Posted on Tuesday 10 June 2014 by Gareth Prior

A new DVD on Manchester Metrolink has just been released by Great Eastern Transport Films with footage of the system from early 2014 featured. Mark Ellis visited Manchester on four dates (27th January, 12th February, 31st March and 1st May … Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment