Community Weekend returns to Great Orme Tramway

Posted on Sunday 17 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Any resident of Conwy County will be able to enjoy half priced travel on the Great Orme Tramway over the weekend of 30th and 31st October with the return of the Community Weekend. This will be the second such Community Weekend and follows the first which happened back in October 2019.

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Metrolink delays after car makes a wrong turn

Posted on Sunday 17 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

There were delays to Manchester Metrolink services on the East Manchester Line to and from Ashton-under-Lyne on Thursday 14th October after a car took a wrong turn and got stuck on the tracks. Obviously not the first time this sort of thing has happened in Manchester – or indeed anywhere else in the UK – this time the car caused services to be suspended between Ashton Moss and Ashton-under-Lyne between 2245 and 2340. The car was removed and an article in the Manchester Evening News confirms that it cost the driver of the car £150 for it to be rescued.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 17th October 2021

Posted on Sunday 17 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

There are two new Photo Galleries now added to the site, featuring West Midlands Metro construction images and shots from a Photo Charter at Beamish:

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Substation installed on Birmingham Westside extension as the end of construction comes into sight

Posted on Saturday 16 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Trams should be running to Hagley Road in Edgbaston by the end of 2021 with work on the second phase of the Birmingham Westside West Midlands Metro extension starting to come towards a conclusion. The summer months have seen excellent progress made on this extension with the installation of overhead wires on some sections of the route and now a purpose built substation building is being installed.

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Welcome the Trambassadors in Nottingham

Posted on Saturday 16 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit’s new Corporation Social Responsibility Strategy is currently being introduced and one of the first strands of this is the introduction of “Trambassadors”. Two young children from Alderman Pounder Infant and Nursey School in Chilwell have become the first “Trambassadors” in the city with the aim to provide an important community link for NET as well as providing learning opportunities for children.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam 743 & 896

Posted on Saturday 16 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

One last visit in April 1983 to Amsterdam? Go on then as “Around the World in Trams” continues.

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Metrolink 3103 collides with car on Eccles line

Posted on Saturday 16 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services between MediaCityUK and Eccles were suspended for a time on the evening of Wednesday 13th October after a collision between a tram and a car close to the stop at Weaste on Eccles New Road.

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In Pictures: Southampton Tram Project trams go on display

Posted on Friday 15 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October afforded the first chance for the public to view the three trams of the Southampton Tram Project in their new home at the Solent Sky Museum since they moved there in August 2020. A Model Tram Exhibition took place at the museum with the doors of the new restoration base of the group also thrown open to allow interested parties to view recent progress on the trams.

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West Midlands Metro service changes

Posted on Friday 15 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The work which has been taking place in Birmingham City Centre since 24th July to relay tracks on Corporation Street and install the new junction to the Eastside extension is starting to near an end but before normal services can resume through to Library there will some additional service changes over the next couple of weeks.

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Picture in Time: Luas 301

Posted on Friday 15 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Picture in Time” is again taking a look at one of the trams on the Luas system in Dublin with an image taken during July 2007.

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In Pictures: Progress continues on Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we return to Edinburgh to view recent progress on the Trams to Newhaven project we head to the area around Ocean Terminal. In this update we see more track going down in this section including on the recently constructed ramp which takes the tramway up to Lindsay Road. John Hampton with the pictures.

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New report urges support for Britain’s light rail systems to aid city region’s COVID recovery

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another new report has just been released which urges the government to continue support to not only protect current light rail systems in Britain but also to expand them with the aim that this will help to aid city regions’ recovery from the COVID pandemic. “Leading Light: What light rail can do for city regions” has been produced by Steer Group for the Urban Transport Group and it states that light rail in Britain is instrumental in supporting economic growth, promoting social inclusion and achieving environmental gains in the urban areas they serve.

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Strikes cancelled on Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 14 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

The threat of strike action on Manchester Metrolink is over for the foreseeable future after a new two year pay deal was accepted by members of Unite the Union. This brings to an end the pay dispute which had started when KeolisAmey Metrolink offered a 1% pay rise over 15 months, described as “pitiful” by the union.

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In Pictures: Newcastle 102 starts testing

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

We’ve recently seen one Newcastle tram made available for service again – 114 at Beamish after a protracted motor overhaul – and now another one is on the road to return. This time we are talking about Newcastle 102 which has been in the Workshops at Crich for over three years and is now in the final stages of its major overhaul.

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New book looks back at 40 years of the Metro

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

A local author has written a new book on the Tyne and Wear Metro which celebrates 40 years of the network after he was inspired by his late father who worked as an engineer on the project. “The Tyne and Wear Metro” is written by Colin Alexander and published by Amberley Books.

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WM5G to showcase benefits of 5G technology at Birmingham Tech Week 2021

Posted on Wednesday 13 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands 5G (WM5G) – the company who brought the UK’s first 5G enabled tram to the West Midlands Metro – are set to showcase their expertise and the benefits that 5G innovation can bring to the transport sector during Birmingham Tech Week 2021. The event takes place from Monday 11th October to Friday 15th October and is a festival of digital, technology and innovation.

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In Pictures: Tarmacking continues in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

As the project to relay the tracks along Bull Street and Corporation Street along with the installation of the new junction to the Birmingham Eastside extension continues to come to a close we take another look at recent progress. More tarmac has gone down surrounding the newly laid track as the project reaches the finishing stage.

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Newcastle 114 cleared for return to service

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Beamish once again have five trams available for service with Newcastle 114 now commissioned for use following testing after the refitting of its overhauled motors. Its not known whether it has yet carried any passengers and the weather may not be the type you expect open toppers to be used regularly but it is now available for service once more.

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New digital radio system for Blackpool Transport

Posted on Tuesday 12 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

All of Blackpool Transport’s modern trams and buses are set to enjoy a major radio upgrade utilising a brand new digital radio system. Being designed by North West communications specialist TES Communication Solutions the upgrade will see the transport operator move away from conventional analogue radio technology to a modern and sophisticated digital system.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Centenary 644 in a sticky situation…

Posted on Monday 11 October 2021 by Gareth Prior

Back in January 2012, Blackpool Centenary 644 became the first of the class to leave Rigby Road Depot permanently as part of the great tram sale following the tramway’s upgrade. Its new owners were a long-term sponsor on the tram, Farmer Parr’s Animal World in nearby Fleetwood, who acquired it for display and possible conversion into a children’s play area. Now almost 10 years later and the tram has found itself in a sticky situation – or a situation where it is now plastered in stickers at any rate!

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