Supertram’s Yellow route to return to normal timetable

Posted on Thursday 12 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

How many times in the past 18 months have we reported on a change in timetable for Stagecoach Supertram? Well, here’s another one after the Covid self-isolation imposed change the Yellow route will be reverting to its usual service frequency from Monday 16th August.

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Berlin 223 006-4 to be displayed to commemorate 60th anniversary of the Berlin Wall

Posted on Wednesday 11 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

On 13th August 1961 residents of Berlin awoke to find that their city had been split into two. Roads had been torn up, railway lines blocked and barbed wire fencing erected along the 97 mile border between the western sector and the German Democratic Republic and the 27 miles that divided East and West Berlin. Just four days later and the barbed wire had been replaced by a concrete wall. The infamous Berlin Wall was born and would remain in situ for almost 30 years.

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In Pictures: Blackpool wiring work starts to move along Talbot Road

Posted on Wednesday 11 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Since the overhead installation for the Blackpool Tramway extension began last month it has been taking place on the section where the new line connects with the old Prom line. This has seen overhead put in place on the south and north curves along with various span wires and frogs in preparation for trams both pantograph and trolley fitted. But now work is moving along Talbot Road with the first span wires now in place up to the new Premier Inn (on the site of the old Yates’ Wine Lodge). We take a look at those new wires – as well as a quick look at Wilko’s – in this latest pictorial update.

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Overhead fault at Basford on NET causes service disruption

Posted on Wednesday 11 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

This article has been updated on Thursday 12th August.

There has been major disruption on Nottingham Express Transit during Wednesday 11th August after an overhead line fault was discovered close to Basford tramstop on the line to Hucknall and Phoenix Park. The fault was first reported just before 1100 and at the time of writing has not been repaired.

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In Pictures: Another advert removed on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 10 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another tram is now running in the plain West Midlands Metro fleet livery after its adverts were removed. This time its 25 which has lost its adverts with the tram previously one of those which advertised OLA.

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Down goes performance on the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Tuesday 10 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The latest performance data for the Tyne and Wear Metro has shown a further decline – both in comparison to the previous four weeks as well as the same time in 2020. No reasons have been given for the fall although it does appear there have been a few service cancellations recently, possibly caused by the so-called “pingdemic”.

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Winter Transport Festival to come on the Isle of Man

Posted on Tuesday 10 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

After the success of the recent Mini Manx Heritage Transport Festival it has now been announced that there will be an extra winter Transport Festival on the Isle of Man – although strictly speaking its taking place in the autumn!

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

Metrolink 3129 arrives

Posted on Monday 9 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The latest new Manchester Metrolink M5000 has arrived with 3129 being delivered to Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 7th August. This is the ninth of 27 trams in this batch of M5000s being built by Bombardier at their plant in Bautzen, Germany.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: B fleet Rebuilt Balloon 707 in service again

Posted on Monday 9 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

We may have gone quiet over the past couple of months over the usage of Blackpool’s B-fleet Balloons and Rebuilt Balloons but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still being used for their main purpose. Although usage has become a little more irregular – its dependent on available tram crews – they do still see use at weekends, mainly concentrated on the Starr Gate/Pleasure Beach to Bispham/Little Bispham section but with the occasional foray a bit further north along the tramway. In this article we take a look at 707 in use on the first day of August with photos from David Stringer.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Sheffield 74

Posted on Monday 9 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Whatever Happened To?” we feature Sheffield 74 which was the only Sheffield tram to run in passenger service at the Crich Tramway Village Tramathon of 2005.

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They’ve Run in 2021!

Posted on Monday 9 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another check-in to see which heritage trams have run so far during 2021. This list includes those trams which have either run in passenger service or some other type of public use (such as tram driving experiences). If you notice anything missing from these lists please let us know through the usual channels!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, They Ran in 2021, Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on They’ve Run in 2021!

Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Wilton Parade

Posted on Sunday 8 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

On our way north on the Blackpool Tramway we go as we reach the stop at Wilton Parade.

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Light Rail Summit to take place in Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 8 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

UK Tram – the representative body of tram and light rail systems in the UK – and the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board are getting together to organise a high-profile Light Rail Summit in Edinburgh this September. This will see a day of top-level debate and presentations from leading sector figures followed by an evening of networking and the chance to tour the Trams to Newhaven project. The event will also see the launch of a new strategy document outlining an ambitious vision of the future.

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Posted in UKTram | 1 Comment

Take the Metro and go for a walk!

Posted on Sunday 8 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

If you’re looking for something to do in the northeast during the brighter and warmer summer weather then you could do worse than head to the Nexus website where you can combine a trip on the Metro with a walk. With 38 Metro walks available, they are currently all being reviewed by a local group which supports widows and widowers in the northeast.

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In Pictures: Another frog leaps in at Talbot Square

Posted on Sunday 8 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

The overnight work to install the overhead for the Blackpool Tramway extension has been continuing and in this latest update we see the removal of some overhead poles to the west of the mainline and the installation of an extra frog on the south curve. We also nip up to the old Wilko’s site for the latest images from there following the concrete pour.

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In Pictures: Track renewal continues on Corporation Street in Birmingham City Centre

Posted on Saturday 7 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are now into the second week of the track renewal works in Birmingham City Centre which is seeing the tracks from Bull Street and into Corporation Street relaid. Although not necessarily required at the moment the decision was taken to relay the track whilst the line was already closed to allow the Birmingham Eastside junction at Lower Street to be installed and thus prevent a future closure. In this small pictorial update we see the scene along Corporation Street on 5th August with images coming from Andy Walters.

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

Posted on Saturday 7 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

This week we have new photos coming from Blackpool and the Isle of Man as part of our latest “main site” update:

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Manx Electric Railway service report: 22nd to 29th July

Posted on Saturday 7 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

David Mee has recently spent some time on the Isle of Man and in this report we see what was out on the Manx Electric Railway (and Snaefell Mountain Railway) in the week between 22nd and 29th July. It includes details of which motors and trailers were allocated to service along with interesting events.

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Around the World in Trams: Prague 8261

Posted on Saturday 7 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

“Around the World in Trams” again visits Prague for another view of a Tatra tram in service.

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Posted in Around the World in Trams | 4 Comments

In Pictures: A Newcastle tram in Rutland…

Posted on Saturday 7 August 2021 by Gareth Prior

We occasionally feature on these pages a tram which is a little off the beaten track and get very little publicity or coverage and that is the case in this article as we feature the unrestored lower saloon of a Newcastle tram which has found its way to the Rocks by Rail Museum near Cottesmore in Rutland.

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