Out and About: Blackpool Tramway – February 2024

Posted on Monday 10 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

A visit to the Blackpool Tramway is the subject of this edition of “Out and About”.

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Trams &: Blackpool 31 & buses

Posted on Sunday 9 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

We have another edition of “Trams &” today and we go back to the ever popular location in this series of Beamish – somewhere always likely to provide you the chance to capture a tram with another form of transport.

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Via Marton – new Blackpool tram book from Brian Turner now available!

Posted on Sunday 9 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Renowned Blackpool Tramway expert Brian Turner is back with another book on the popular system – and as everyone with an interest in the tramways of the Fylde Coast knows this is usually a sure sign of quality so it looks set to be a popular addition to any bookshelf! “Via Marton” concentrates on the Marton route with plenty of photos taking a journey along the tram route.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Events this week…

Posted on Sunday 9 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

It’s a week of openings as we finally get to see the Blackpool North Station extension opens whilst over in Manchester it’s the first operating weekend of 2024 for the Heaton Park Tramway.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Seaton Tramway | 6 Comments

What’s New on British Trams Online? 9th June 2024

Posted on Sunday 9 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Off to London for some photos from the Docklands Light Railway this week:

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In Pictures: More advert liveries seen in Manchester

Posted on Saturday 8 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

No sooner do we report on various adverts being removed on Manchester Metrolink trams then there is a whole host of more added – including some of those very trams we said were now back in fleet livery! 3024, 3061, 3116 and 3118 have all got new vinyls – three of them had only just gone back to fleet colours whereas we also have a first timer.

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Around the World in Trams: Ostrava 1510

Posted on Saturday 8 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

We continue with “Around the World in Trams” as Ostrava, Czech Republic is still our location.

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Edinburgh Trams celebrate a year of success for the Newhaven extension

Posted on Saturday 8 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Friday 7th June saw Edinburgh Trams celebrate another anniversary – this time exactly a year since public service started operating on the 3 mile line to Newhaven. Over the past 12 months it has provided a huge boost to the city for both locals and tourists alike.

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Heaton Park Tramway announce special events for 2024

Posted on Saturday 8 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

We may still be a week or so away from the operating season getting underway on Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway but they are already planning for the rest of the year with an announcement of a series of events.

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In Pictures: Taylor Swift gets a wrap in Edinburgh

Posted on Friday 7 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Ahead of her concerts taking place at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this weekend, Taylor Swift is making her mark on Edinburgh Trams and its not the fact that lots of fans will be taking the tram to get to the gigs! 276 has received a new vinyl wrap advert for her latest album in what is a very plain black design.

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Boost for trackworkers safety with new virtual reality software

Posted on Friday 7 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Another boost for the safety on the UK’s light rail systems is set to be seen after the launch of new virtual reality software for anyone working on or near tram tracks. The Virtual Track Awareness software aims to built on the success of a similar hazard perception system employed during tram driver training.

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Picture in Time: Sunderland 100

Posted on Friday 7 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Its another edition of “Picture in Time” with another trip to Crich although we’re moving forward into the late 1980s.

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

In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 42 returns to service

Posted on Thursday 6 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro 42 has returned to service following repairs to accident damage. The tram was back in action on 5th June 2024 having last been in service in September when it was involved in an accident with an unmarked Police car.

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In Pictures: Back to fleet livery for trams in Manchester

Posted on Thursday 6 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

For a lot of 2024 livery changes in Manchester have tended to be new adverts being applied but recently its been the reverse as expired adverts have seen their vinyls ripped off to leave the trams in standard fleet livery once again.

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Edinburgh Trams have made a loss of over £40 million figures reveal

Posted on Thursday 6 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

It has been revealed in local media in the Scottish capital that Edinburgh Trams has made a net loss of £44 million since the original line opened at the end of May 2014. The loss is mainly down to borrowing costs with the construction of the tramway and an operating profit has only been seen in two years according to the figures held at Companies House.

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In Pictures: Two more trams fitted with ODAS cameras – including the return to service of 007

Posted on Wednesday 5 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

All Flexity2 trams in Blackpool now have ODAS cameras fitted after the final two returned to service with the equipment fitted within a few days of each other at the end of May 2024. First to return to action was 018 on 26th May and this was followed on 31st May by 007 – the latter of these had been out of service since being hit by a Land Rover on New South Promenade which led to it being derailed.

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In Pictures: First ticket machines installed on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Wednesday 5 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few months engineers have been installing wiring and cabling at stops across the West Midlands Metro network in preparation for the addition of ticket machines and now we have the very first machine in place at Bradley Lane.

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Operation Coastwatch returns to tackle anti-social behaviour on the Metro

Posted on Wednesday 5 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

Nexus in partnership with Northumbria Police and North Tyneside Council have launched another year of Operation Coastwatch. This will see extra patrols along the North Tyneside coast throughout the summer in a bid to tackle disorder and anti-social behaviour.

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In Pictures: Ryde Pier Tramway 2 in action on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Posted on Tuesday 4 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

We’ve featured Ryde Pier Tramway 2 on these pages but when it was static and on display at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, but on Sunday 19th May it came out of its usual display area and was used on special shuttles giving a rare chance to ride on this vehicle which dates from 1927.

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Final bridge for Metro extension set to be installed – with a nod to the past

Posted on Tuesday 4 June 2024 by Gareth Prior

June will see the installation of a bridge across Birmingham New Road which eventually see trams on the West Midlands Metro extension to Dudey and Brierley Hill. This will be the final purpose built structure for phase one of the line and it will also have a little nod to the past as it will receive signwriting as seen on the old structure which was removed late last year.

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