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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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are being asked to put their proposals forward for new uses for five of the original Metrocars which will be withdrawn from service on the Tyne and Wear Metro network from 2023.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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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