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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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

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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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 5

Posted on Friday 5 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Picture in Time” we take another trip across the Irish Sea to view a photo taken on the Manx Electric Railway.

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In Pictures: Manx Electric Railway goes out in style for 2021 season with the Winter Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Thursday 4 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

There aren’t many tramways in the British Isles who end their season after their most intensive period of action in the year – but then the Manx Electric Railway isn’t like any other system! Sunday 31st October was the last day of the season with the five days leading up to this date being the Winter Manx Heritage Transport Festival including behind the scenes tours, photography tours and an intensive service to round things off.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: More wiring progress on Talbot Road

Posted on Thursday 4 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Once they get going there is no stopping them! After the big gap in overhead installation on the Blackpool Tramway extension along Talbot Road, the second night of this phase of work on 2nd November saw not one, not two, not three but four new span wires put up! Tony Armitage with the latest images.

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Strikes to take place on NET this Saturday

Posted on Thursday 4 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

Article updated following publication on 4th November 2021.

It has been confirmed that members of the GMB Union have rejected the latest pay offer from Nottingham Express Transit with a planned strike no due to take place on Saturday 6th November. If this strike goes ahead it will have a major impact on tram services on NET throughout the day.

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In Pictures: Ocean Terminal tramstop construction work

Posted on Wednesday 3 November 2021 by Gareth Prior

With work on the Trams to Newhaven project continuing we take a trip to Ocean Terminal where we see recent progress on the construction work around the eventual tramstop, which will be the penultimate stop on the extension just followed by the new terminus at Newhaven. Roy Calderwood with the photo.

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