Author Archives: Gareth Prior

UKTram’s first OLE training course takes place

Posted on Saturday 25 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The end of March and start of April 2026 saw UKTram support the delivery of the first Light Rail and Tramway Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) training course in Crewe. The three day course gave hands-on training combined with theoretical learning, … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Starling Bank return with a new advert on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 24 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

Starling Bank are one of those businesses who obviously think advertising on Manchester Metrolink works as they have recently returned with a new contract – the third time they have advertised on the trams. On the previous two occasions it … Continue reading →

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More outings coming up for Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7

Posted on Friday 24 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Tramway Society have more plans to get out with tram no. 7 – and the first one will be tomorrow! They are also offering the chance for new members to enjoy a ride on the … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 11

Posted on Friday 24 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

We return to Blackpool once more in this latest set of photos for our “Picture in Time” series and we are back in October 1979 for these shots with Donald Brooks again our guide.

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Bury tram top-deck moves to Heaton Park Tramway

Posted on Thursday 23 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The Heaton Park Tramway are now custodians of yet another part of Greater Manchester tramway history with the arrival of the top-deck of Bury Corporation Tramways 7. This is the only surviving part of a Bury tram and has most … Continue reading →

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April 2026

Posted on Thursday 23 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The next set of engineering works on the Manchester Metrolink network will be taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2026, impacting services on the Ashton-under-Lyne line.

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Another networking event discusses the future of light rail

Posted on Thursday 23 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

There is no doubt that there is a lot of discussion continuing to take place around the UK and Ireland over the future of light rail, with the latest happening in Dublin where professionals from the sector got together to … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: An update from NELSAM

Posted on Wednesday 22 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year came the news that the North East Land Sea Air Museum (NELSAM) in Sunderland were the new owners of all the trams on their site following the transfer of ownership from the North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust … Continue reading →

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South Yorkshire Supertram Engineering Works: 2nd to 4th May 2026

Posted on Wednesday 22 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The next set of engineering works on the South Yorkshire Supertram network have been announced, and will be taking place over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend in the Attercliffe area.

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Another successful year for the Stourbridge Shuttle

Posted on Wednesday 22 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

2025/6 has been another successful 12 months for the Stourbridge Shuttle with over 576,000 passengers carried on the short-line between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town. Using two Parry People Mover vehicles, the line was an early adopted of technology we … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Blackpool 634 and Sheffield 513 in service at Carlton Colville

Posted on Tuesday 21 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

In our early season coverage of the East Anglia Transport Museum we saw a lot of Amsterdam 474 and London Transport 1858 in service, but so far in 2026 there have actually been four trams which have carried passengers. In … Continue reading →

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West Midlands Metro seek views on the names of their routes

Posted on Tuesday 21 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

As most reading these pages will be well aware, the West Midlands Metro is currently in a period of expansion with the next extension – to Dudley – due to open later in 2026. As part of their plans for … Continue reading →

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Industry seminar to take place on future of UK urban transport

Posted on Tuesday 21 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

RailEl (formerly the Permanent Way Institution) will be hosting a seminar on 14th May 2026 at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds which will be discussing the future of urban transport. UKTram will be one of the organisations attending the … Continue reading →

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Two go for scrap as one enters service on the Metro

Posted on Monday 20 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

There has been a gap of a few weeks since we last had an update of changes to the fleet on the Tyne and Wear Metro but after a brief pause the past week has seen another couple of the … Continue reading →

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National Tramway Museum win funding from Arts Council England

Posted on Monday 20 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The National Tramway Museum have recently been awarded £492,880 of funding through the Arts Council England Museum Estates and Development Fund. This money will be used towards improvements for the Great Exhibition Hall, described as being at the heart of … Continue reading →

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Old(er) and New – Manchester Metrolink: Cornbrook

Posted on Monday 20 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

We go to Cornbrook in this latest edition of “Old(er) and New”.

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They’ve Run in 2026 – Meet the Trams: National Tramway Museum – Leeds 345

Posted on Sunday 19 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Meet the Trams” we take a look at another tram which ran on the first day of the 2026 operating season at the National Tramway Museum. That tram is Leeds 345.

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Recruitment for new role the first step towards trams running at Summerlee again

Posted on Sunday 19 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

North Lanarkshire Council are again (for at least the third time) advertising a job which if filled should see the tramway at Summerlee reopening, with the expectation that the sound of steel wheel on steel rails could be heard again … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Blackpool Balloon 708 on display at Sandtoft

Posted on Sunday 19 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft reopened for the 2026 season in early April, and as well as providing the chance to catch-up with the trolleybuses (operating and on display), the museum also remains the home of Blackpool Balloon 708.

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Metro timbers donated to Stephenson Steam Railway

Posted on Sunday 19 April 2026 by Gareth Prior

Already home to the currently only preserved Metrocar – 4001 – the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside is set to enjoy more donations from the Tyne and Wear Metro which will used in the railway’s Woodland Walk. Logs from … Continue reading →

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