Category Archives: General

Northampton have become the latest town in the UK to throw their hat into the mass transit ring with proposals for a system being considered as part of the Northampton Area Transport Strategy 2026 to 2036.

When you think of the Blackpool Boat Car in the United States of America you would probably immediately think of San Francisco, which is now home to three of the class. But it isn’t the only place you can see … Continue reading →

Earlier this year we saw a surviving tram from the Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company return to the rails following an overhaul. It may no longer be operating as a tram as such but as a piece of hauled rolling stock … Continue reading →

Now obviously in 2026 you can’t take the tram to Edinburgh Zoo (Balgreen is the closest stop on the modern tram network and that is around a mile away) but back in the days of the original tram network it … Continue reading →

Having made mention earlier this year in a transport plan that they were considering introducing a tram network in the area, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council are now continuing to explore plans, whilst also giving no guarantees that it … Continue reading →

Brian Turner, author of many books mainly on the tramways of the Fylde Coast, has passed away after a short illness.

Although most eyes of modern light rail connecting Dudley is on the West Midlands Metro extension currently under test (ahead of a planned opening later this year), there is also another proposal which would see Stourbridge and Dudley linked. Promoted … Continue reading →

The answer to that question for many reading this website is probably yes! But that is also the name of a forthcoming national event which is aimed at accelerating light rail and mass transit delivery across the UK. It will … Continue reading →

Back in 2019 we featured a tramcar trailer which had been moved to a proposed new museum, Steamworks in Southwold, now four years on and we revisit that location to see ex-Charleroi trailer no. 7 now sitting on rails again … Continue reading →

The reopening of the Saltburn Cliff Tramway has moved a step closer after the specially made carriages to operate the service were delivered to the short line in Saltburn-on-the Sea in the Tees Valley, northeast England.

Most of the time when we write about trams in Birmingham it is very much all about the modern West Midlands Metro system. But it shouldn’t be forgotten that the city centre is also home to a survivor of the … Continue reading →

Its been 90 years since trams last run in Bournemouth (since when its even changed counties!) but could then return? A new 10-year growth strategy is currently being developed by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and as part of … Continue reading →

The call for evidence of the Government’s Mass Transit Taskforce is now open. The Taskforce was announced last month and the call to evidence s inviting views on how to tackle the barriers to the quick and efficient delivery of … Continue reading →

The weekend of 6th and 7th June 2026 saw a special event held at Queens Road Depot in Manchester to help celebrate its 125th anniversary. Whilst trams left for the last time in 1938, the structure has remained in transport … Continue reading →

The Workington Transport Heritage Trust (WTHT) are the proud owners of the lower deck of the last surviving Carlisle tram and have made an appeal for more volunteers to help with its restoration. Their big aim is that it would … Continue reading →

This is the latest entry into the ongoing saga of how modern roadworks expose history beneath the road surface – and for this website that of course means first generation tram tracks! This time we’re off to Greater Manchester where … Continue reading →

An undergraduate studying at the University of Lincoln is currently completing a dissertation which is looking at how the public views the role of light rail in areas such as economic development, regeneration, and modal shift, alongside wider attitudes towards … Continue reading →

Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex (close to Clacton) is not exactly somewhere a lot of enthusiasts will think of as somewhere which has a lot of association with trams but you would be wrong as it is home to a number of … Continue reading →

It is probably no surprise to many of you reading these words on British Trams Online that there are many, many obstacles in the way of new tram and light rail systems being constructed across the UK. And that has … Continue reading →

Have you ever wondered what happened for towns and cities across the UK to turn their backs on trams so quickly during the 20th century? A new book by freelance journalist Mick Hamer is a searing expose of a campaign … Continue reading →