In Pictures: The next Urbos100 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 10th November saw the eighth – and for now final – Urbos100 tram delivered to West Midlands Metro’s Wednesbury Depot with 45 arriving on the back of a low loader at approximately 1120. The tram made the trip from CAF’s plant in Zaragoza, Spain entering the UK at Bristol before making the final leg of its journey via road.

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In Pictures: And now span wires start to go up at Wilko’s

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another day and another pictorial update from Blackpool where the construction of the Talbot Road extension is continuing with good progress having been made in the past couple of weeks. After yesterday’s look at the work where the overhead poles were being erected, the latest update shows the stringing of span wires at Wilko’s. Tony Armitage paid a visit on 10th November for these shots.

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Metrolink passenger numbers hit 70% of pre-pandemic levels

Posted on Wednesday 10 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The recovery of passenger numbers on Manchester Metrolink has continued over the past few months with the latest figures showing that it has now reached over 70% of pre-pandemic levels. With much of the recovery being seen in the leisure market, Sunday 10th October saw the busiest Sunday in Metrolink history with passengers heading to the Manchester Marathon.

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In Pictures: Poles go up at Wilko’s

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The excellent progress which we have seen over the past couple of weeks on construction works in connection with the Blackpool Tramway extension along Talbot Road to a new terminus at Blackpool North Railway Station has been continuing with attention now turning towards the installation of overhead poles on the former Wilko’s site.

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Pre-purchased tickets popular for Rugby fans getting to Murrayfield

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

With Scotland’s national rugby team currently in the middle of their Autumn Internationals held at Murrayfield Stadium – easily accessible on Edinburgh Trams with a tramstop right outside the entrance – a trial allowing special Rugby Return tickets to be pre-purchased is proving to be a success.

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Drone technology in use to aid Metro maintenance work

Posted on Tuesday 9 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro have recently started to use drone technology to help maintain the network with drones providing a live video-feed to an operator, who then uses special software with more accuracy than the human eye to identify any potential issues.

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In Pictures: More new adverts in Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The end of October was a busy time for new adverts in Edinburgh as following quickly behind 269’s “Scotland. Let’s do net zero” design have been two further adverts. This time it’s the turn of 257 and 273 which have received adverts for Ocean Winds and Heverlee Lager respectively.

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Where to get a ride on a heritage tram – November 2021

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The main operating season for many heritage tramways across the British Isles may now be over but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy a ride anywhere as there are still various locations which are continuing to run. Read on to find out more details.

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Trams &: Sheffield 189 & bus

Posted on Monday 8 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Trams &” is again having a Sheffield theme for this latest edition of the series showing a tram and another vehicle as its another trip to Crich’s “Best of Sheffield” event in May 2014.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Central – Nottingham Station

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

We return to Nottingham Express Transit for our next set of “Stop by Stop” as we feature the 13 stops which are in the “central area” of the tramway between Nottingham Station and Wilkinson Street. And we start off with Nottingham Station.

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In Pictures: Testing and training continues in Birmingham City Centre – but no sign of a date for the resumption of services

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

When the first tram ran on test on 28th October along Corporation Street to make sure all was well with the relaid track on the West Midlands Metro it was thought that it would be a matter of days before we would see the resumption of public services between Bull Street and Library. However, the process of fully commissioning the line and ensuring all drivers are signed off for the route has been continuing over the past week and a bit and as yet there has been no announcement of when a full service to Library will resume.

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3016 derails in Rochdale

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services in Rochdale Town Centre were disrupted from the evening of Friday 5th November after M5000 3016 derailed on the points leading to and from the terminus. As a result no services were able to run between Rochdale Railway Centre and Rochdale Town Centre whilst a rescue operation for the tram was initiated.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 7th November 2021

Posted on Sunday 7 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

This week we have another couple of Photo Galleries added – Nottingham Express Transit and the Kingsway Tram Subway feature:

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3133 delivered to Manchester

Posted on Saturday 6 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The deliveries of Manchester Metrolink’s M5000s seems to have settled into a regular pattern now with the latest example – 3133 – arrived at Queens Road Depot three weeks after the last on Saturday 6th November.

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Contactless payments introduced on Blackpool’s trams

Posted on Saturday 6 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

It seems to have taken a while but the Blackpool Tramway now accepts contactless payments following a extensive period of testing, trialing and preparing. Single and most Saver tickets can now be purchased from the on-board conductors using a contactless form of payment, including Google and Apple pay.

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Around the World in Trams: Ballarat 26

Posted on Saturday 6 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

We take another trip to the Ballarat Tramway Museum in Australia for this edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

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TravelSafe targeted operation on Metrolink Bury line to reassure passengers

Posted on Saturday 6 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

The end of October saw a targeted operation on Manchester Metrolink’s Bury line to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on the network and to increase passenger confidence following a number of high-profile incidents in recent weeks. Staff from the TravelSafe Partnership were on hand to engage with passengers and to offer safe travel advice to around 600 passengers during the evening of Monday 25th October between Bury and Whitefield stops.

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In Pictures: Excellent progress made on Talbot Road

Posted on Friday 5 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

We take it all back! What a difference a few days make in Blackpool! After what had seemed to be slow progress over the past few months (years?) on the constructions works in connection with the tramway extension up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station the first week of November has seen a major change with plenty of work on the overhead now completed with the concreting around the tracks on the old Wilko’s site also seeing good progress too. These photos come from Friday 5th November.

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In Pictures: A walk along the Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Friday 5 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few months most of our focus in Birmingham has been along Corporation Street and at the junction with the future Eastside extension but throughout the period of that work there has been further progress on the Birmingham Westside extension out to Edgbaston Village which we are told is due to open before 2021 is over. To see what this new line currently looks like Andy Walters took a walk along its length on 4th November 2021.

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Man hit by tram in Manchester City Centre

Posted on Friday 5 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

A 43 year old man was taken to hospital with injuries after being hit by a tram in Manchester City Centre on Wednesday 3rd November. He was hit by the tram in Piccadilly Gardens at approximately 0735 with his injuries described as not life threatening or changing. Trams were suspended through the city centre for around two hours whilst the incident was dealt with.

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