In Pictures: Another unexpected visitor the workshops at Crich

Posted on Saturday 15 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

A few days ago we featured a photo in the workshop at the Crich Tramway Village of a tram which isn’t seen very often anywhere but the depots when Sheffield 189 paid a visit for photos of its underneath to be taken. This was on Sunday 2nd April, but it wasn’t the only unusual visitor on that day as Blackpool 49 was also briefly in the workshop.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Another unexpected visitor the workshops at Crich

In Pictures: Supertram Citylink 399 206 back in service

Posted on Friday 14 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Recent months, going back as far as the middle of last year, has seen availability of the Citylink vehicles operating on the Stagecoach operated Supertram network at an all time low. Both 399 205 and 399 206 have been out of service for some time but this is about to change with 206 already back in use while 205 has been seen out on test.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram Citylink 399 206 back in service

Anti-social behaviour operation in North Tyneside extended

Posted on Friday 14 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Operation Maple – an anti-social behaviour operation that resulted in fantastic results in its first year – is to be extended for a further year in North Tyneside. The scheme resulted in  30% reduction in anti social behaviour during 2022 and its hoped that its continuation will see similar results this year.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Anti-social behaviour operation in North Tyneside extended

Picture in Time: Blackpool 49, 607 & 710

Posted on Friday 14 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” continues its look at photos from the past at Crich and this time we have a line-up of three Blackpool trams in front of the depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool 49, 607 & 710

Wirral Heritage Tramway temporarily closed

Posted on Thursday 13 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Wirral Heritage Tramway has been temporarily closed to allow maintenance works to take place. The news was announced on Thursday 13th April and is with immediate effect although the Museum will remain open until the end of Friday 14th April before it too is closed. Wirral Council – who remain owners of the infrastructure – have been at pains to stress that the closure should only be temporary although no date for a reopening has been mentioned.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | Comments Off on Wirral Heritage Tramway temporarily closed

Work underway on Blackpool Coronation 304

Posted on Thursday 13 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few years one of the most intriguing and highly anticipated heritage tram projects has been the aim to return to VAMBAC fitted Blackpool Coronation 304 to serviceable condition. Owned by the Fylde Transport Trust, the tram is located at Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road Depot (Tramtown if you prefer!) and the current focus of attention is on the installation of an independent emergency braking system.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 2 Comments

NET passenger numbers still down but “trajectory of recovery” is as expected

Posted on Thursday 13 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Tramlink Nottingham – operators of Nottingham Express Transit – have recently released their accounts for the year ending 31st March 2022 which show that although passenger numbers are below pre-pandemic levels and losses are still over £20million there are signs of improvement and the figures are in line with the previous year as well as financial expectations.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on NET passenger numbers still down but “trajectory of recovery” is as expected

In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 41 back in service

Posted on Wednesday 12 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro Urbos100 41 is now back in service having spent the past couple of months off the road. Although most of our attention has been turned towards the Urbos3 trams which have been undergoing repairs and the newer Urbos100s as they make their first forays out onto the mainline there have also been a few other absentees from service recently and this has been one of them.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

More new trains arrives north and south

Posted on Wednesday 12 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The two Metro type light rail systems we cover on British Trams Online have recently seen further deliveries of new trains to their respective main depots. The Docklands Light Railway now have two of their CAF Inneo vehicles in East London whilst three is the number for the Tyne and Wear Metro following the delivery of another of their Stadler built units.

Continue reading →

Posted in Docklands Light Railway, Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on More new trains arrives north and south

Therapia Lane Depot to become “cleaner, greener and cheaper”

Posted on Wednesday 12 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The London Tramlink depot at Therapia Lane is to benefit from a grant which will enable it to become cleaner, greener and cheaper to run as part of Transport for London’s aim to introduce low carbon depots to meet the Mayor’s goal of a net-zero London by 2030.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Therapia Lane Depot to become “cleaner, greener and cheaper”

In Pictures: Easter Sunday at the East Anglia Transport Museum

Posted on Tuesday 11 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

at Carlton Colville. Opening for the first time on Sunday 2nd April it followed this with five days of consecutive opening between Thursday 6th and Monday 10th April to coincide with the long Easter weekend. In this pictorial article we take a look at what was happening on Easter Sunday, 9th April, with photos coming from the camera of Bryan Grint.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Easter Sunday at the East Anglia Transport Museum

Winter maintenance completed at the Seaton Tramway

Posted on Tuesday 11 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

With the Seaton Tramway now running daily until the end of October the winter closure period probably already seems a long way away but its now been confirmed that all their planned maintenance has been completed which will allow the tramway to be safe and operational for many years to come.

Continue reading →

Posted in Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Winter maintenance completed at the Seaton Tramway

Overspeed protection system receives certification

Posted on Tuesday 11 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

A new safety system which has been installed on London Tramlink vehicles for over a year to prevent overspeeding incidents has received Safety Integrity Level 2 certification (SIL2). Developed by DB ESG the system aims to physically prevent the overspeeding of trams, and was introduced following the tragic accident at Sandilands which was caused by a tram running over the line speed.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Overspeed protection system receives certification

Telford Steam Railway launch appeal to return steam tram to use

Posted on Monday 10 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Telford Steam Railway have launched an appeal to raise funds which will return their narrow gauge steam tram engine to use. It last ran in 2019 after its vertical boiler was condemned and now funding is needed to replace this as well as give some much needed attention to the carriage.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on Telford Steam Railway launch appeal to return steam tram to use

Blackpool 166 returns to service at Crich

Posted on Monday 10 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

And the trams still keep on entering service at the Crich Tramway Village! The latest tram to run for the first time this year is Blackpool Toastrack 166. Whereas most of the others we have been reporting on as entering service ran last year its been longer since this particular tramcar operated with it not having carried passengers since 2019.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Blackpool 166 returns to service at Crich

Out and About: West Midlands Metro – February 2023

Posted on Monday 10 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

We go “Out and About” again today and the location of this visit is the West Midlands Metro where we take a look at a few of the trams operating on 13th February 2023.

Continue reading →

Posted in Out and About, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Out and About: West Midlands Metro – February 2023

Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Hucknall & Phoenix Park – Cinderhill

Posted on Sunday 9 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

We’ve nearly made it to the end of our journey on Nottingham Express Transit with the penultimate stop on the Phoenix Park Branch being reached at Cinderhill, which is one of the most difficult to take photos at we’ve had yet!

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Hucknall & Phoenix Park – Cinderhill

Very Light Rail track installed in Coventry for testing

Posted on Sunday 9 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

A short section of the unique track system being developed for the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme has been installed at Coventry City Council’s Whitley Depot. This is said to be a significant step forward for the project and the performance of the track will now be measured under extreme conditions.

Continue reading →

Posted in Very Light Rail | 1 Comment

Nexus help out at Beamish again

Posted on Sunday 9 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Tyne and Wear Metro engineers have been helping out at Beamish with overhead line repairs as part of an annual Nexus volunteer day. The staff were on hand to help the museum prepare for the main summer season with repairs undertaken on the overhead to make sure its all in the best possible shape for the continued operation of the trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Nexus help out at Beamish again

What’s New on British Trams Online? 9th April 2023

Posted on Sunday 9 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

This Easter weekend we have two more photo collections for you – coming from Stagecoach Supertram and Crich Tramway Village:

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, Site News, South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 9th April 2023