Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1010

Posted on Friday 23 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The fifth and final edition of “Picture in Time” for this batch of Manchester Metrolink photos rapidly moves forward from where we have been in recent weeks as we are now in 2008 for a view of refurbished T68.

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Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 260

Posted on Friday 23 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today “Lockdown Walks” is off to Edinburgh again as we head off out of the city centre.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 22 gets new advert as part of recruitment campaign

Posted on Thursday 22 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Urbos3 22 is now running in a new advert as West Midlands Metro have launched a new recruitment campaign. Using the slogan “M is for” the campaign is highlighting how the West Midlands Metro is providing new opportunities with more than 160 new jobs being created along with the expansion of the network. Jobs include tram drivers, mechanics and engineers, ticket inspectors and a whole range of support staff.

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Inquest rules Tramlink crash an accident

Posted on Thursday 22 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

The inquest into the London Tramlink derailment at Sandilands in November 2016 has ruled that it was an accident following nine days of deliberations by the jury. The ruling has been met with anger and disappointment by the families of those who lost their lives in the derailment with claims that several key witnesses were not called by the coroner which may have led to a different decision.

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More overhead woes on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 22 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

And repeat! Yes, its another article with overhead problems on the West Midlands Metro – and this time it has led to a complete suspension of the service all the way from Library to Wolverhampton St George’s. Services started to be disrupted from shortly after 1600 on Thursday 22nd July.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 120

Posted on Thursday 22 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Lockdown Walks” we take a look at the Stagecoach Supertram system.

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Metrolink 3128 arrives in Manchester

Posted on Wednesday 21 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

M5000 no. 3128 has now arrived in Manchester after it was delivered to Queens Road Depot in the standard Saturday lunchtime slot on Saturday 17th July 2021.

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In Pictures: Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Wednesday 21 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Phase Two of the Birmingham Westside extension from Library to Hagley Road, Edgbaston is likely to be the next tramway extension to open in the UK with it currently planned to be welcoming its first passengers in December 2021. Work on the line has been progressing well throughout the pandemic with all track now down and work concentrating on other infrastructure and public realm improvements. Ken Jones took a walk along the line in mid-July to see recent progress.

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October Model Tram Exhibition to give chance to see Southampton Tram Project trams in their new home

Posted on Wednesday 21 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Last August the three trams owned by the Southampton Tram Project were moved to a new secure home at the Solent Sky Museum and now a year later you will be able to get up close to see the progress made on the trams as a Model Tram Exhibition is held over the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October.

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Lockdown Walks: West Midlands Metro 33

Posted on Wednesday 21 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we continue “Lockdown Walks” we again find ourselves in the West Midlands for another image taken on the Metro system.

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In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven construction update

Posted on Tuesday 20 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its been a little while since we took a trip out to the Edinburgh Trams extension along Leith Walk and onto Newhaven so we remedy that in this pictorial article. In update we take a look at what has been going on at McDonald Road, on Leith Walk and in Ocean Way with thanks to John Hampton.

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Now there are overhead problems in Sheffield!

Posted on Tuesday 20 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

They do say bad things happen in threes don’t they? After West Midlands Metro (twice) and Edinburgh Trams saw services disrupted by overhead problems there are now similar issues on Stagecoach Supertram with trams not able to run to or from Halfway since Sunday 18th July.

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Crossbench 16 derails on the MER

Posted on Tuesday 20 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Manx Electric Railway services didn’t run to Ramsey on the morning of Saturday 17th July to allow for track maintenance to take place. It later transpired that the maintenance was required after Crossbench 16 had derailed at Lewaigue the previous day.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 103

Posted on Tuesday 20 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

Sheffield is again the location for this latest edition of “Lockdown Walks”.

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In Pictures: Another wiring and track update from the Blackpool Tramway extension

Posted on Monday 19 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

By this time next year we will all hopefully be able to enjoy a ride on a tram up to Blackpool North Railway Station with the tramway extension currently slated for an opening in early 2022. Before that can happen though there remains some work to be completed, most notably the laying of the last sections of track on the former Wilko’s site as well as the installation of overhead along the entire length of the route. In this update we take a look at both of those projects.

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More Metro overhead line problems

Posted on Monday 19 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

This is, unfortunately, not one of those articles where we forgot we’d already run the story – once again West Midlands Metro services have been severely disrupted due to overhead line problems. Coming less than a day after the previous issue was fixed the only difference this time is that it is on the northern section of the line at Bilston.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331

Posted on Monday 19 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

We stay in London for this latest edition of “Whatever Happened To?” as we take a look at Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 which was another of the trams in passenger service during the 2005 Tramathon at Crich.

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Update – Current services on public transport systems across the British Isles

Posted on Monday 19 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

With the latest easing of restrictions taking place in England from today (Monday 19th July) which has seen the removal of the legal requirements for wearing face masks and to maintain social distancing – although still highly recommended in most settings – we thought it was time to review the current services running on public transport systems (i.e. not heritage tramways!) across the British Isles. This article gives a summary of services which are planned to be run but please note due to high numbers of staff having to isolate there have been frequent occasions recently of reduced services having to run on some systems – so, as always, if travelling any distance please check with the operators first.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Toton Lane – Inham Road

Posted on Sunday 18 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

We’ve nearly made it all the way to Toton Lane in “Stop by Stop” but there is still one more stop before we reach there – that stop is at Inham Road.

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In Pictures: Work carries on at Wilko’s

Posted on Sunday 18 July 2021 by Gareth Prior

With there now being two main worksites for the Blackpool Tramway extension up Talbot Road (down at Talbot Square with overhead being installed and up at Wilko’s where track is being put down) it has become a hive of activity in recent weeks. While a lot of our recent updates have concentrated on the wiring in this article we take a look back up at Wilko’s.

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