More Urbos100 trams arrive in the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 21 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

With trams for the West Midlands Metro now being delivered in full view of everyone on Bilston Road (granted after service has ended when most normal people are tucked up in bed!) you wouldn’t think that they would be able to sneak in without there being any reports of their arrival. But that’s precisely what has happened. At least one, if not two, of the new trams are have been delivered – and in a change from previously they are now not coming in number order.

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Wirral Council vote to transfer Wirral Heritage Transport Museum to local charity

Posted on Tuesday 21 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Wirral Transport Museum and Tramway is to change hands with Wirral Council having recently voted to transfer ownership to local non-profit organisation, Big Heritage. The Merseyside Transport Preservation Society will still be involved in the running of the museum and tramway but with the leadership of Big Heritage it is hoped that visit numbers will significantly increase.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 262 “Loafs” around the system

Posted on Monday 20 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

The latest new advert on Edinburgh Trams has been added to 262 with furniture retailer Loaf the sponsor of the tram. Coming soon after the colourful and full advert for Breitling this one is a far more low key affair with a white background to the sections above the windows and a return to the standard “Edinburgh” style of full height on two sections and above windows on the rest of the tram.

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They’ve Run in 2023!

Posted on Monday 20 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

With Crich, the Manx Electric Railway and Statfold Barn Railway now having started running for the year and joining the likes of Beamish, Blackpool and the Wirral Heritage Tramway we have our first round-up of which heritage trams have operated in passenger service during 2023.  Once again this list includes any heritage trams which have run with passengers during the year – including private hires but not testing. The information provided is not currently complete so if you notice anything which isn’t right please let us know (contact details at the end of the article).

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The Number 20: London Tramlink 2558

Posted on Monday 20 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “The Number 20” is another modern tram with this one operating on London Tramlink.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Hucknall & Phoenix Park – Butler’s Hill

Posted on Sunday 19 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

We now reach the penultimate stop on the way to Hucknall in this instalment of “Stop by Stop”.

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In Pictures: A little bit of snow at Beamish

Posted on Sunday 19 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Whilst further south there was major disruption caused by snow (with Crich having to delay their 2023 opening by two days) up in the northeast of England, whilst there was snow of the white stuff which came down, it was far lighter and just added to the photos at Beamish!

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NET ticket prices to increase

Posted on Sunday 19 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Ticket prices on Nottingham Express Transit are set to increase from April; although the exact rise has yet to be announced. The news that this would be happening was revealed in a verbal statement at the recent Greater Nottingham Light Rail Advisory Committee from operators Tramlink Nottingham.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 19th March 2023

Posted on Sunday 19 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to the West Midlands Metro again for this week’s set of photos:

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West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension gets a boost in the budget

Posted on Saturday 18 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Amongst the higher profile childcare and pension announcements in the UK budget on 15th March was a small announcement that the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill would get a further £60 million in funding. This comes as part of the Deeper Devolution Deal and whilst it does not cover the shortfall its hoped it will be used as a springboard to secure the rest of the cash to complete the line.

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Around the World in Trams: Santa Cruz 21

Posted on Saturday 18 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Europe for the next location in “Around the World in Trams” and it’s the sunny climate of Santa Cruz de Tenerife that we’ll be staying in.

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Another small improvement in Metro performance

Posted on Saturday 18 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

There have been another four weeks since we last reported on the performance of the Tyne and Wear Metro which means another poster has been put up at stations on the network to give another update of how things are going. As with last time there has been an increase in the figures but its only a minor change and still a lot of room for further improvement; maybe with the removal of peak time extras permanently there will be a bigger increase next time?

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Performance and passengers up on NET

Posted on Saturday 18 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its almost time for another meeting of the Greater Nottingham Light Rail Transit Advisory Committee which means that its also time for the public release of the latest report of performance and other issues with Nottingham Express Transit. There is good news in this report as it shows that not only performance but passenger numbers have increased.

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Manx Electric Railway starts running in its 130th anniversary year

Posted on Friday 17 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 14th March saw the Manx Electric Railway start operation for another year – a year in which it will celebrate its 130th anniversary! It was three car timetable B which was running on the first day and that timetable is due to be used for the rest of March (no service Mondays or Fridays) before things start to pick up with more intensive services from the start of next April.

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Tyne and Wear Metro timetable to change as fleet reliability falls

Posted on Friday 17 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Nexus have announced that a new timetable is to be introduced on the Tyne and Wear Metro. In effect this means that fewer trains will be run at peak times with the extra services which run between Pelaw and Monkseaton no longer operating.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 606

Posted on Friday 17 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Time for another “Picture in Time” and this week we include a couple of photos of one of the always popular Open Boat Cars.

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Crich starts another season – just a bit later than planned!

Posted on Thursday 16 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

The 2023 season is now underway at the Crich Tramway Village, although the first trams ended up running a couple of days later than planned thanks to the snow! Originally due to open for the first time this year on Saturday 11th March there was heavy snow in the Midlands the day before which meant it was not safe for visitors, volunteers or staff to get to the museum so the sensible decision to delay opening was made.

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Double trams on Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Thursday 16 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its certainly been a week to remember for the Trams to Newhaven extension in Edinburgh with the start of testing of the 2.91 mile route. After the first tram (258) undertook the first test on the night of Monday 13th/Tuesday 14th March further testing has been taking place – and this has included two trams on the extension at the same time!

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Plans for Blackpool 619 relaunch event confirmed

Posted on Thursday 16 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

As announced a few weeks ago, Sunday 26th March will not only mark the start of another season at the Heaton Park Tramway but will also see the relaunch into service of Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619. With this tram running for the first time since 2017 (save for some use during Lightopia in December 2022) the day will, unsurprisingly, have a Blackpool theme including a two tram service plus three visiting buses.

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Metrocar 4001 to be preserved

Posted on Wednesday 15 March 2023 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the first Metrocar is to be preserved at the Stephenson Railway Museum. In a way this will be a homecoming for 4001 as the museum is located where the original Tyne and Wear Metro test track was.

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