Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Midlands get cash boost in budget

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

In a pre-announcement from next week’s budget, it has been confirmed that several city regions in England are to receive billions of pounds to help improve public transport – including investment in trams and light rail. The funding package will go to Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City region, South Yorkshire, West of England and Tees Valley, although from a tram/light rail point of view its just the usual suspects who will benefit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Little change in Tyne and Wear Metro performance

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Ever since we started these little updates on the Tyne and Wear Metro – taken from posters put up at stations on the network – there has usually been a fair amount of change either in comparison to the previous four weeks or the same period 12 months ago. But this time there is a minimal change when compared to the last period – and it’s a positive change too!

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Little change in Tyne and Wear Metro performance

Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 304

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We have a quick visit to Innsbruck in Austria for this edition of “Around the World in Trams”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 304

More engineering work coming on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we wait for news of a reopening date for services through Birmingham City Centre after the three month closure to allow the Eastside extension junction to be installed and track to be relaid on Bull Street and Corporation Street, it has now been announced that there will be further engineering works taking place this November – at Jewellery Quarter and between Bilston Central and The Crescent.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on More engineering work coming on the West Midlands Metro

In Pictures: Double destination displays for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

If you’re travelling by tram in Edinburgh there is no excuse for not knowing where the tram is going now as they have recently introduced the use of not only the electronic destination displays but also a destination board in the lower section of the cab window. Its understood that the reason for this new innovation is that those intending passengers who were standing close to the tram were not looking up at the destination display and so its been decided to add these manual boards as well to ensure everyone knows just where they are going!

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Double destination displays for Edinburgh Trams

Metrolink Engineering Works: October & November

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

There are more engineering works due to take place on the Manchester Metrolink network affecting services at the end of October and during November. There will be two further sets of work taking place – the Eccles line will be suspended on Sunday 31st October with works moving onto the Altrincham line on Sunday 28th November.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink Engineering Works: October & November

Picture in Time: Luas 4009

Posted on Friday 22 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We move forward a bit in time for this week’s modern tram “Picture in Time” image as we continue our look at the Luas system in Dublin.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Luas 4009

Duke of Gloucester officially launches Newcastle 102 after restoration

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

HRH Duke of Gloucester was on hand at a special members day at the Crich Tramway Village on Wednesday 20th October to drive Newcastle 102 out of the Workshop to re-launch it after its Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation funded restoration. Although not quite ready for a full return to service – with more testing to come – this was a significant step in the return to service for 102 which is sure to be a popular addition to the operating fleet at Crich.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Duke of Gloucester officially launches Newcastle 102 after restoration

Metrolink 3131 enters service

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

What is about the day after we run an article on Manchester Metrolink’s M5000s saying so-and-so hasn’t entered service yet?! We recently reported on the delivery of 3132 to Queen’s Road Depot on 16th October and said at the time how 3131 had yet to enter service – well now it has!

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink 3131 enters service

Five Metro trains to be made available for community groups

Posted on Thursday 21 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Local communities are being asked to put their proposals forward for new uses for five of the original Metrocars which will be withdrawn from service on the Tyne and Wear Metro network from 2023. Nexus are looking for creative and innovative ideas about how an old train could be transformed into a vibrant public asset with community groups and not for profit organisations to put forward their proposals which will be considered before decisions are made on where to pass the trains to.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Works start at city end of Leith Walk

Posted on Wednesday 20 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The next significant stage of tram construction works in Edinburgh have now got underway with a new worksite created at the city end of Leith Walk which will, in time, see the existing line to York Place connected with the full Trams to Newhaven project. Work got underway over the weekend of 9th/10th October and there has already been progress made on initial works.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Works start at city end of Leith Walk

Birkenhead set to welcome a second transport museum?

Posted on Wednesday 20 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

In an announcement which came as a bit of a surprise National Museums Liverpool have announced plans for a new transport museum in Birkenhead, with funding coming from the government’s Town Deal Fund. £25 million has been awarded to Wirral Council for a range of regeneration projects in Birkenhead which includes work on an 800 metre stretch of the former Dock Branch Railway line and is set to include a new 500 square metre attraction.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 2 Comments

Metrolink trams join the Destination: Bee Network Conversation

Posted on Wednesday 20 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A public conversation – like a consultation but different! – into the plans for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network which would see a fully integrated transport network in the region by 2024 (buses, trams, cycling and walking) with trains being included by 2030 has been launched by Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor to hear what matters to people for a transport network.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink trams join the Destination: Bee Network Conversation

In Pictures: Another visit to Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 19 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Up in the northeast and Beamish currently remains open daily – pre-booked timeslot tickets are still required to visit – although come Monday 1st November and that will change with winter opening hours starting which means it will be closed every Monday and Tuesday. The trams are continuing to run their revised service with the section of track past the Events Field between Foulbridge and the Town still remaining closed for maintenance. One tram a day is usually in service although there was mention that the October Half Term holidays would see a slightly enhanced service. In this latest pictorial update we take a look at a typical operating day in October – which also enabled the chance for a peek into road 1 of the depot which is now home to Gateshead 52. Trevor Hall is the photographer.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Another visit to Beamish

Metrolink 3132 delivered to Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 19 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another three weeks has passed since the previous delivery at Manchester Metrolink’s Queens Road Depot and so that meant that on Saturday 16th October it was time once more for a lorry to arrive from Bombardier. This time the tram making its first appearance in Manchester was 3132.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Little progress on tramway extension at Wilko’s

Posted on Tuesday 19 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The snail like progress on work for the Blackpool North Railway Station extension of the Blackpool Tramway has continued in recent weeks. Work on the former Wilko’s site – which will be home to the tramway terminus – has now also seemingly stalled (as well as the overhead installation) with the only really visible progress recently being on the new hotel and restaurant. To show what has been happening over the past few weeks – or not – these photos from Tony Armitage give an update and maybe someone out there may be able to play spot the difference!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Further progress made in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Monday 18 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its nearly over! The final stages of work in Birmingham City Centre which will allow a full service to resume between Bull Street and Library has now been reached with the further closures between the stops at St Chads and Bull Street announced last week seeing work take place on the installation/reinstallation of the overhead. In addition to the overhead work further progress has been made on the final tarmacking of the surface. This latest pictorial update takes a look at both of those work strands with photos coming from the past weekend.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Heaton Park Tramway wins award – but not for what you’d expect!

Posted on Monday 18 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Over the years we’ve reported on many awards being won by various tramways across the British Isles but we think this is a first! Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway has been awarded a green flag – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park Tramway wins award – but not for what you’d expect!

Trams &: Stagecoach Supertram 121 & bus

Posted on Monday 18 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

After the latest series of “Whatever Happened To?” finished last week, our Monday evening photo series for the next few weeks with the return of  “Trams &” with the first part featuring a modern tram and bus in Sheffield.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram, Trams & | Comments Off on Trams &: Stagecoach Supertram 121 & bus

Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Little Bispham

Posted on Sunday 17 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another edition of “Stop by Stop”. We’re on the Blackpool Tramway again as we continue northbound and reach Little Bispham.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Stop by Stop | Comments Off on Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Little Bispham