Out and About: Service ends for a day on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 5 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today “Out and About” is going to the West Midlands Metro as we see the last tram of a day returning to depot.

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Manchester Metrolink Then & Now: Hardy Lane

Posted on Sunday 4 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today we start a new series, “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now”. In this series we will be taking a look at sections of the Metrolink route before the tracks were laid and more recently after services had begun. With thanks to Keith Chadbourne for providing the images the first part of this series will be on the Manchester Airport line.

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Crane dismantled at old Wilko’s site in Blackpool…

Posted on Sunday 4 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

At the start of this year we ran an article on the “race” to extensions opening in Blackpool, Edinburgh and on the West Midlands Metro. Over recent months we’ve had regular updates from Edinburgh (opening 7th June) and the West Midland Metro (work taking place ahead of opening) but what of Blackpool? It has been very quiet, but the start of June has seen a crumb (and just a crumb!) of potential good news…

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Metro drivers give thumbs up to new trains

Posted on Sunday 4 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Two of the Tyne and Wear Metro drivers involved in the testing of the new Stadler trains have given a resounding positive reflection on the quality of the trains. John Doughty and Chris Mongan were there on the first tests on 10th May and were amazed at the quality and performance they saw.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 4th June 2023

Posted on Sunday 4 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

We head to the Isle of Man for this week’s set of photos:

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In Pictures: 57 enters service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 3 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

The number of trams available for service on the West Midlands Metro continues to increase with 57 the latest Urbos100 to carry passengers for the first time – although its debut in service didn’t quite according to plan all down to a broken down bus! As 57 makes its first moves in revenue earning service it can also be reported that another of the Urbos100s – 53 – has returned to action having not been seen much after its initial debut.

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Around the World in Trams: Gothenburg 419 & 424

Posted on Saturday 3 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today “Around the World in Trams” remains in the Swedish city of Gothenburg as we continue our look at some of the trams in service back in 2011.

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Blackpool to host recruitment day for new tram staff

Posted on Saturday 3 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Transport have announced they are to hold a Recruitment Open Day at Starr Gate Tram Depot on Friday 16th as they seek to fill more positions both on the tramway and the buses. They’re recruiting for PCV Drivers, Trainee PCV Drivers, Tram Drivers and Seasonal Conductors with this day available to find out more about the roles.

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Trams to Newhaven project wins award

Posted on Saturday 3 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

It hasn’t even welcomed its first passengers yet but the Trams to Newhaven project is celebrating after winning an award at the 2023 GO Excellence Awards. It has won in the Infrastructure or Capital Projects category at the Go Excellence in Public Procurement Awards in recognition of how all elements of the project needed to be considered, coordinated and inputted jointly by all members of the project team.

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Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle to be displayed at MotoFest

Posted on Friday 2 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

The public will get their first chance to see the future of public transport in Coventry at the MotoFest event with the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle, simulator and first track all set to be on display. The MotoFest celebrations take place between Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th June and the Very Light Rail project will be taking centre stage for the first time.

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Haymarket Metro station becomes exit only

Posted on Friday 2 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

After several weeks of issues with the escalators at Haymarket station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, Nexus have made the decision that the station will temporarily become exit only. Although a major programme of refurbishment work has recently been started on the escalators they have become increasingly unreliable recently and taking this into account the decision has been made to make this temporary change for the next fortnight.

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Picture in Time: Tyne & Wear Metro 4001

Posted on Friday 2 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

For the last time in this series we head back to the Tyne and Wear Metro for another photo of one of the original Metrocars in service – and it doesn’t get more original than this!

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Derby 1 makes a surprise return to Crich!

Posted on Thursday 1 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

“Trams which leave Crich to go to storage at Clay Cross never get seen again”. Or at least that’s what some people will have you believe and was heard on more than one occasion when it was announced in 2021 that Derby 1 was to be moved from the Crich Tramway Village to off-site storage to make room for Blackpool 298 which was due to start its restoration. But now less than two years later and the Derby tramcar has been on the move again and is back at Crich.

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Trams on TV!

Posted on Thursday 1 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

What’s that saying about London buses? You wait ages for one to turn up and then three arrive? Well, the same could be said of trams on television as the past week or so has seen not one, not two but three different programmes on free to air channels in the UK featuring trams – some more than others!

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New mural at Chorlton shows the famous tram cat

Posted on Thursday 1 June 2023 by Gareth Prior

Batman – known as the “Chorlton Tram Cat” – has been immortalised on new mural installed at the Manchester Metrolink stop. The colourful piece of artwork has been commissioned by the civic society Chorlton Voice and was formally unveiled on Tuesday 30th May.

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50 makes it 16 Urbos100s in the West Midlands

Posted on Wednesday 31 May 2023 by Gareth Prior

May has been a very busy month on the West Midlands Metro with trams being delivered, trams re-entering service and trams entering service for the first time. And the last day of the month was determined to go out with a bang as it saw another Urbos100 delivered – the 16th of the 22 trams currently on order.

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Edinburgh Trams break records for passenger numbers

Posted on Wednesday 31 May 2023 by Gareth Prior

On its ninth birthday (trams started running on 31st May 2014) Edinburgh Trams have announced that they have just enjoyed their busiest ever days thanks to Harry Styles! And all this comes before the network expands by almost 3 miles with the Trams to Newhaven extension due to open on 7th June giving more opportunities for travel by tram in the city.

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Crich get ready for an action packed summer

Posted on Wednesday 31 May 2023 by Gareth Prior

Thoughts are already starting to turn towards the summer at the Crich Tramway Village with another varied selection of special events taking place to keep the whole family entertained.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3061 flies away with a new advert

Posted on Tuesday 30 May 2023 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink 3061 has recently received its third all over advert with vinyls for Pegasus Airlines having been applied over its standard fleet livery.

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Power problems cause suspension of Blackpool Tramway

Posted on Tuesday 30 May 2023 by Gareth Prior

Bank Holiday Monday in Blackpool. Its going to be busy, right? Especially with the sun shining after what seems to have been a very long period with grey overcast clouds. And when its busy in Blackpool you want the tramway to move people along the Prom. Unfortunately, on Monday 29th May this wasn’t possible to start the day as power supply problems meant there were no trams at all running to start the day – covering both the modern Flexity2 trams and the planned Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours Enhanced Weekend.

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