Author Archives: Gareth Prior

Line 4 starts operation in Croydon as 2554 is unveiled in new livery

Posted on Tuesday 26 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson was in Croydon on Monday 25th June to officially launch the new Line 4 service between Therapia Lane and Elmers End with new Variotram 2554 also present in a vinyl wrap livery for Croydon. … Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Metrolink services to Oldham start

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Last week on British Trams Online we reported that subject to the successful completion of testing services on the new Manchester Metrolink line to Oldham would start on Wednesday 13th June and that is exactly what happened when at 0524 … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

NET 211 celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this week we reported on the latest progress of turning Blackpool Brush 290 into a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tram for the 2012 Blackpool Illuminations, but that will not be the first tram in the UK to receive a special … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on NET 211 celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Testing starts on East Manchester line

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Even before trams had started passenger service on the Oldham line testing commenced on another piece of the expanding Manchester Metrolink jigsaw on Monday 11th June – the East Manchester line between Piccadilly and Droyslden.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Work starts on Midland Metro City Centre extension

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

A start has been made on the utility diversion works in Birmingham City Centre for the extension of Midland Metro between Snow Hill and New Street railway stations, with Norman Baker, Transport Minister, on hand to start the work! This … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Work starts on Midland Metro City Centre extension

Mitcham double-tracking update

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work on double tracking the section of London Tramlink between Mitcham and Mitcham Junction is nearing completion with this weekend seeing the last announced closure of the line in this location. Track laying is now well underway following the fitting … Continue reading →

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Next stage of Edinburgh tram works set to start

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Further road closures and traffic diversions are to put into place from this weekend in Edinburgh as the next stage of tram construction works commence. Broughton Street is to be closed as its junction with Picardy Place whilst York Place … Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Sunday 24th June

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Further engineering works on Manchester Metrolink will see services suspended between Bury and Crumpsall all day on Sunday 24th June. A replacement bus will be put into operation between these two locations calling at all stops with a Metrolink ticket … Continue reading →

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NET bridge over railway station to be named Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge

Posted on Saturday 16 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

The Oberburgermeister of Karlsruhe has been in Nottingham this week to officially name the new bridge which will connect the current Nottingham Express Transit system with the phase two extensions across the railway station. The bridge will be named the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on NET bridge over railway station to be named Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge

Diamond Jubilee Brush makes progress

Posted on Tuesday 12 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work to turn Blackpool Brush 290 (ex-627) into a special Diamond Jubilee tram for display at the 2012 Blackpool Illuminations is continuing at HM Prison Kirkham with the old advertising livery for Coral Island Buccaneer Bar rapidly disappearing under an … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | Comments Off on Diamond Jubilee Brush makes progress

Metrolink’s Trafford Depot opens for business

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

As from Tuesday 5th June the second Manchester Metrolink depot at Trafford was formally opened for operational staff which means that the first time some of the serviceable fleet is now based there for passenger use. Since the depot was … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

Flexity2 015 arrives in Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Less than a day after the latest delivery of a new tram to Croydon it was the turn of  Blackpool to be receiving a delivery with 015 becoming the penultimate Flexity2 to be in the resort. 015 arrived during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Works to start on depot extension works at Wilkinson Street

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work is to start on extending the depot complex at Wilkinson Street in Nottingham to create more storage space for the extra trams currently on order from Alstom for the Phase Two extensions of Nottingham Express Transit. The work will … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Works to start on depot extension works at Wilkinson Street

Glasgow 1245 restoration commences

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

A tramway we don’t often feature on British Trams Online is the heritage line at Summerlee but this week we can bring you news that the restoration of Glasgow 1245 has now commenced with the body being raised and the … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram Jubilee Bank Holiday Engineering Works

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Further track replacement works took place on the Stagecoach Supertram network on Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th June with the road crossing inbound just below the City Hall tramstop tackled this time around. The site was totally enclosed with padding … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram Jubilee Bank Holiday Engineering Works

Queen to visit Nottingham – tram services to be affected

Posted on Saturday 9 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

The Queen is to visit Nottingham City Centre on Wednesday 13th June and between 0500 and 1200 all trams on NET will terminate at Royal Centre, not serving Old Market Square, Lace Market or Station Street. Trams are due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Deliveries completed! 2559 becomes sixth and final Variotram to arrive in Croydon

Posted on Friday 8 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few months there have been four UK tram systems receiving deliveries of new vehicles but that number will now drop to three as all six of the Variotrams for London Tramlink have now arrived at the Therapia … Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps to open Wednesday 13th June

Posted on Friday 8 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the Manchester Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps will open to passengers from the start of service on Wednesday 13th June, subject to the usual provisos of the satisfactory completion of testing in time. This will … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

First trams carry the Olympic Flame on the Isle of Man

Posted on Sunday 3 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

The involvement of trams in the carrying of the Olympic Flame has now started with the Douglas Horse Tramway and Manx Electric Railway both used as it visited the Isle of Man as part of its relay across the British … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on First trams carry the Olympic Flame on the Isle of Man

Variotrams enter “proper” service

Posted on Sunday 3 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

Since Friday 30th March when the first of the Stadler built Variotrams – 2554 – entered passenger service the new London Tramlink trams have only been used as “service extras” as drivers become familiarised with the different vehicles. That was … Continue reading →

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