Platform lighting upgrade in Sheffield

Posted on Saturday 23 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Stops across the Stagecoach Supertram are set to enjoy new upgraded lighting as part of a project to improve passenger safety on the network. The current energy intensive lighting is to be replaced Phillips LED lighting which not only ensure an efficient use of energy but also give passengers enhanced peace of mind by creating a more secure and reassuring environment with better CCTV visibility.

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In Pictures: Rush Hour on the Railways – Isle of Man Easter 2022

Posted on Friday 22 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Having had to take a break since 2019 due to global events the long Easter weekend saw the triumphant return of the Isle of Man’s Rush Hour on the Railways. As with all transport events on the Isle of Man it featured what you would expect – lots of photo opportunities, parallel runs, intensive timetables and behind the scenes tours. Whilst the Steam Railway did feature in the events the bulk of what happened seemed to be on the Manx Electric Railway as this review shows us.

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Metrolink 3138 into service as 3030 receives a new advert

Posted on Friday 22 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

There have been another couple of changes in the Manchester Metrolink operating fleet recently with another tram entering service as the first new vinyl wrap of 2022 has also been revealed. The trams involved in this update are 3138 and 3030.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 622

Posted on Friday 22 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

This time in “Picture in Time” we return to Blackpool in September 1976 for another shot in the excellent selection of photos shared with us by Donald Brooks. This time around we remain in Fleetwood and it’s a Tigeriffic image!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Halle 902 finally leaves Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 21 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

There can’t have been many trams to have stayed for a period in Blackpool and never operated but that small list has been expanded with the departure of Halle 902 leaving for pastures new after an almost four year period of storage at Rigby Road Depot. Owned by the Tramway Museum Society 902 was only ever due to be in Blackpool for storage, although its length of stay was longer than originally planned.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension works

Posted on Thursday 21 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We have recently seen good progress being made on Castle Hill, Dudley on the construction works for the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill but that isn’t the only location on the route where the Midland Metro Alliance are hard at work. In this pictorial update we head a bit further towards Wednesbury to see ongoing bridge replacement work. Ken Jones provides the photos.

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New wheel lathe installed at Metro’s redeveloped depot

Posted on Thursday 21 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

As the redevelopment of the Tyne and Wear Metro’s Gosforth Depot continues a new state of the art wheel lathe has been installed which will save time and should make train maintenance more efficient. The depot is being developed in a £70 million project by Stadler which will see the more than 100 year old facility given a new lease of life ahead of the new Metro trains being delivered from next year.

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John Bull to head to Wales

Posted on Wednesday 20 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

The Tramway Museum Society’s steam tram engine “John Bull” is to have a brief holiday in Wales after it was confirmed that it will be visiting the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway for their Beyer Bash taking place between 20th and 22nd May 2022. Built at the Beyer, Peacock Works in 1885 the engine will be making its first visit to Wales (as opposed to New South Wales which is where it initially operated) and will be joining other historic Beyer, Peacock vehicles during the event.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s themed tours start up again

Posted on Wednesday 20 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Heritage Tours Promenade and Coastal Tours may have been trundling up and down the tramway since early January but this month has also seen the return of some of their popular themed tours. Fish and Chip tours, Ghost Trams and Evening Tours have already got underway with Afternoon Tea tours set to follow from May.

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Out and About: The sun has got its hat on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Wednesday 20 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Out and About” we take a trip to the West Midlands Metro as we take a look at the trams running in late winter (obviously before services were suspended).

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In Pictures: More progress for Trams to Newhaven

Posted on Tuesday 19 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

With trams set to be running in passenger service to Newhaven in a little over a year, the route along Leith Walk and through to Newhaven via Ocean Terminal remains a hive of activity to get things ready for testing. Work is continuing at various sites with preparation works, track laying and platform construction all being seen. According to everything publicly said the line remains both within budget and on time. John Hampton brings us this latest update.

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New exhibition opens on the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Tuesday 19 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

A new exhibition called Metro Memories which celebrates the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro has opened at The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle. Featuring photographs, film and interviews with key decision makers along with engineers, designers and many now retired staff who helped make the project a reality in the late 1970s the exhibition is exploring what Metro means to the people and to the history of the region.

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Seaton Tramway’s Polar Express Tram Ride tickets set to go on sale

Posted on Tuesday 19 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

We may only just have had Easter but it looks like its already time to think about Christmas! (Well, it is only eight and a bit months until the big day we guess!) Tickets for the Seaton Tramway’s popular Polar Express Tram Ride will go on sale from Friday 22nd April at 1000, so it does seem its never too early to get ready for Christmas!

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Details announced for Blackpool’s next special event weekend

Posted on Monday 18 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will be back this forthcoming May Day Bank Holiday weekend with another special event taking place over all three days between Saturday 30th April and Monday 2nd May. Again being marketed under the “Vintage Weekend” banner the weekend is similar to the event which took place in February (although we expect without the added attraction of snow!) with hop-on, hop-off tours, depot tours, bus tours and Evening Tours all due to take place.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Previews | 3 Comments

In Pictures: A look at the Birmingham Westside extension – phase two

Posted on Monday 18 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few weeks the focus of attention on the Birmingham Westside extension has been related to the start of testing and commissioning of the second phase of the line between Library and Edgbaston Village. However, although trams have been tested along the route there remains some works to be done on the stops along the extension – there are three new stops being built at Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Edgbaston Village. This pictorial update heads onto the extension to take a look at some of these ongoing works.

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They’ve Run in 2022!

Posted on Monday 18 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Easter was traditionally the start of the operating season for heritage trams, and whilst that has changed in recent years with all year round operation at some lines in the UK it seems that it marks a good starting point to take a look at which heritage trams have run across the British Isles so far during 2022. As a reminder this lists all heritage trams which have run with passengers during the year – that includes private hires but not those which have just been testing. This list is correct as far as we know it at the moment, but as always if you notice any errors or omissions please let us know (full contact details are available at the end of the article).

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Black Country Living Museum, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, They Ran in 2022, Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on They’ve Run in 2022!

British Trams Online Survey: You said – we respond!

Posted on Monday 18 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

A huge thanks to everyone who completed the recent British Trams Online: Have Your Say survey. Whilst a lot of the results actually told me what we already knew the open text responses have made some interesting points and as promised I have now been able to respond to some of those, if only to show I have actually read each and every one!

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Stanley Road

Posted on Sunday 17 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

On we go with “Stop by Stop” as we carry on towards Fleetwood.

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Metro performance falls as old style poster returns!

Posted on Sunday 17 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

Performance on the Tyne and Wear Metro has fallen again in the latest four week period and after a couple of years where there have been no reasons for service problems the poster has returned to its old format where it gives more detail than just what they are doing to make the system clean and safe.

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Out and About: Springtime in Hillsborough

Posted on Sunday 17 April 2022 by Gareth Prior

“Out and About” is back in Sheffield today with spring having sprung around Hillsborough.

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