The Polar Express Tram Ride returns to the Seaton Tramway!

Posted on Friday 28 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

When is it too early to mention Christmas? Hopefully not now as the Seaton Tramway have just announced details of the return of the Polar Express Tram Ride which will be running on selected dates between 28th November and 24th December. Having unfortunately had to be cancelled in 2020 this will be a return for this popular seasonal event which is bound to be fun for all the family in the lead up to Christmas.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 660 & OMO 6

Posted on Friday 28 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

This week’s Blackpool edition of “Picture in Time” takes us back to the spring of 1976 as we again find ourselves on the Prom.

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In Pictures: More tracklaying on Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Thursday 27 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Although we saw at the end of last week that the schedule for completing each section of the Trams to Newhaven project has been slightly changed because of delays caused by the pandemic, that doesn’t mean that excellent progress hasn’t continued to be made on the first sections of constriction – far from it! In this latest pictorial update we take a look at the far end of the line at Newhaven, Ocean Drive and Stevedore Place.

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Chance to ride on Seaton Tramway’s Boat Tram!

Posted on Thursday 27 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Throughout the past year one thing which has proven itself time and time again is how popular Seaton Tramway’s Blackpool Boat type tram, no. 4, is and to cash in further on this popularity it will run some “Boat Tram Specials” on 1st June.

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Stop by Stop Nottingham Express Transit: Toton Lane line – Middle Street

Posted on Thursday 27 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Stop by Stop” we come to Middle Street as we continue our way along Nottingham Express Transit’s line out to Toton Lane.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 40 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Wednesday 26 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

The second of the first eight of 21 new third generation Urbos trams for the West Midlands Metro has now arrived at Wednesbury Depot after being transported from Spain on the back of a single low loader. It is believed that this second delivery is no. 40 and joins the previous arrival 39 (which begs the question where is 38!) at the depot.

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In Pictures: Overhead installation work underway in Talbot Square

Posted on Wednesday 26 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Work on installing overhead wires on the Blackpool Tramway extension to Blackpool North Railway Station has now got underway in Talbot Square. As we reported last weekend, early morning and evening services are being affected during the week for up to three weeks to allow this work to take place with the first evening’s work being on Monday 24th May and now due to continue overnight (except at weekends). Presumably this three week period will only see overhead being installed at the Talbot Square end of the line with the remaining sections to follow over the next few months.

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Still Standing! Holloway Tram Depot, London

Posted on Wednesday 26 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are again heading to London for this edition of “Still Standing!” as we take a look at another old tram depot now repurposed for buses.

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Blackpool Transport launch £1 million Crowdfunder to restore Rigby Road Depot

Posted on Tuesday 25 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Rigby Road Tram Depot – now home to the heritage fleet of trams in Blackpool – has been known to be in a poor state of repair for some time and now to try and remedy this Blackpool Transport have launched a Crowdfunder to raise £1 million to fully retore the historic building to help keep the trams safe and secure for generations to come.

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More short-notice trackworks on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 25 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

There will be no tram services from Priestfield to Wolverhampton St George’s on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th May after the late notice announcement of essential trackworks on Bilston Road. This extends a closure of this section of line (as well as that further on from Priestfield to Wednesbury Parkway) from Saturday 29th May until Sunday 6th June for bridge removal works in Bilston.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 105

Posted on Tuesday 25 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

This edition of “Picture in Time” is taking a look at the Stagecoach Supertram system in 1999.

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3126 arrives in Manchester as 3124 and 3125 start mileage accumulation

Posted on Monday 24 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

There has been more progress with the new Manchester Metrolink M5000s in recent days with 3126 having arrived in Manchester as the previous two arrivals – 3124 and 3125 – have broken cover from Queens Road Depot for start to be made on mileage accumulation.

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Early morning Supertram services disrupted

Posted on Monday 24 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram services suffered a late start on Saturday 22nd May after a car blocked the tracks on the viaduct leading from the Park Square junction towards Hyde Park. This led to a very limited service running from Woodbourn Road to Meadowhall on the Yellow route and Woodbourn Road to Rotherham Parkgate on the Tram-Train route at the start of the day.

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Whatever Happened To? Crich Tramathon 2005 – Glasgow 22

Posted on Monday 24 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

For the next couple of editions “Whatever Happened To?” will be featuring Glasgow trams which ran in passenger service during the Tramathon held at Crich on 12th June 2005. This edition will be Glasgow 22.

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They’ve Run in 2021…

Posted on Monday 24 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s back! With heritage tramways having been running again for over a month this is a combined list of all the heritage trams which have run in service during 2021. Although only a few tramways have run so far we felt it was time to give an update to see the variety which has been in action so far and we will keep this regularly updated throughout the year. As usual this is what we believe to be the complete picture although if you are aware of any errors or omissions please let us know through the usual channels.

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Trams in Video: Seaton Tramway Tram Driving Experience

Posted on Sunday 23 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today we head back down to Devon and the Seaton Tramway for footage taken during a Tram Driver Experience back in 2006. With ex-Bournemouth Corporation Tramways tramcar 106, now numbered 16 in the Seaton fleet the tram in charge of the day we see the tram at various locations across the tramway.

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Concerns raised over Tramlink Nottingham’s latest financial losses

Posted on Sunday 23 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Concerns have been raised about the viability of the operator of Nottingham Express Transit, Tramlink Nottingham, after reports in the Nottingham Post revealed significant losses were posted in the most recent financial year. Despite the large losses – said to be £50 million – both Tramlink Nottingham and Nottingham City Council have said the figures are where they would expect them to be.

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Lockdown Walks: Manchester Metrolink 3064

Posted on Sunday 23 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “Lockdown Walks” is out and about in Manchester again as sunny skies greet us and the Metrolink network.

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New National Occupational Standards for roles in tramway engineering published

Posted on Sunday 23 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

A project which is looking to further drive professionalism across the light rail sector has reached a major milestone with the publication of new National Occupational Standards (NOS) for roles in tram and tramway engineering. These are now available for organisations who operate in the sector to help provide a benchmark across the industry.

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Contractor appointed for track dualling project on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 22 May 2021 by Gareth Prior

Buckingham Group Contracting Limited has won a tender worth £55 million to dual three key sections of track between Pelaw and Bede, creating the capacity for an extra 24,000 passenger journeys each day on the Tyne and Wear Metro. This is a major part of the Metro Flow project which will help to increase service frequency, cut journey times and improve reliability on the network.

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