Lockdown Walks: Manchester Metrolink 3069+3089

Posted on Saturday 13 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Lockdown Walks” we are again taking a look at Manchester Metrolink.

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Edinburgh’s City Mobility Plan published – big expansion of the trams at the centre

Posted on Friday 12 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The City of Edinburgh Council have published their City Mobility Plan which it is planned will deliver “a better connected, net zero carbon transport system, a healthier environment and a thriving, inclusive Capital”. In order to achieve this there will be numerous improvements to public transport in the region and that will build on the success of the tram system which is currently being extended to Newhaven in its first extension since originally construction.

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In Pictures: Streetlife Museum, Hull

Posted on Friday 12 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this pictorial article we make a visit to the Streetlife Museum of Transport in Hull. With two major tram related exhibits featured, this museum was officially opened over 30 years ago in 1989. The interior of museum is set-up as 1940s high street and that is where the tram exhibits can be found – including Hull 132, a tram which is on loan from the national collection.

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Picture in Time: Newcastle 114

Posted on Friday 12 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Our regular “Picture in Time” series looking at traditional trams not operating in Blackpool moves on to Beamish for the next few weeks and we start off with a tram which originated from nearby Newcastle.

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Improved maintenance planned for Supertram’s Citylink vehicles

Posted on Thursday 11 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Ever since the Citylink vehicles were introduced into service on the Stagecoach Supertram network there have been reliability issues with, at times, the complete fleet having to be withdrawn from service. But now Stagecoach have joined with Semcon to come up with a new training plan for technicians at the Nunnery Square Depot which it is hoped will improve the reliability of the seven vehicles which not only operate the service to Rotherham Parkgate but are also used on the conventional tram network as well.

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So Nearly, Not Quite! Docklands Light Railway 53+22 & 78+07

Posted on Thursday 11 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

It’s the series where we try to make excuses for bad photography – that’s right its time for another “So Nearly, Not Quite!”.

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Burlington Road West

Posted on Thursday 11 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

We continue our way north between Starr Gate and North Pier on the Blackpool Tramway in this latest edition of “Stop by Stop” and come to the final intermediate stop before Pleasure Beach – Burlington Road West.

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West Midlands Metro upgrade works: 20th & 21st February 2021

Posted on Wednesday 10 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

There will be disruption to services on the West Midlands Metro network between 2030 on Saturday 20th and the end of the service on Sunday 21st February as a result of essential maintenance works. As a result of these works there will be no trams on the entire network with replacement buses and ticket acceptance on other transport modes in operation.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit from above

Posted on Wednesday 10 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

As tram systems become embedded into cities around the UK, photos of the trams in service usually fall into the habit of popular locations plus some shots taken at rarer locations further out of the main centre of operations. So, when a different angle of a popular location becomes available it is always good to take advantage of this and that is exactly what happened in February 2008 when Hazel Quarmby went for a trip on the Nottingham Eye big wheel in Old Market Square.

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Still Standing! St Annes tram shelter

Posted on Wednesday 10 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today we head to the Lancashire coast for this latest entry into the “Still Standing!” series but its not Blackpool or Fleetwood where we end up but St Annes where an old tram shelter/waiting room is still in place.

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Old track discovered under Weymouth Harbour Tramway

Posted on Tuesday 9 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

We reported last year on the start of work to remove the Weymouth Harbour Tramway line in the Dorset town, which although not a tramway in the traditional sense still saw rail based services run in the streets for a short distance. Now, with the work making progress a second set of rails has been found underneath leading to a discussion as to what they are.

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Trams &: Sheffield 189, 330 & buses

Posted on Tuesday 9 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The “Best of Sheffield” event held at the Crich Tramway Village in May 2014 has featured in this series before and that is where we are again heading for this edition of “Trams &”.

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Whatever Happened To? Midland Metro 13

Posted on Tuesday 9 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Unlucky for some today’s Midland Metro T69 which is featured in “Whatever Happened To?” is no. 13.

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Appeal for funds to complete overhaul of the Western Train launched

Posted on Monday 8 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s popular Illuminated Western Train hasn’t run since the end of 2019 and now with its overhaul approaching completion, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have launched an appeal to complete the work. The overhaul started last winter but has been stalled by the various lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and now with the finishing line in sight extra funds are needed to return the tram to the operating fleet once more.

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West Midlands Metro staff offered rapid tests in latest Covid response

Posted on Monday 8 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro Limited – operator of the West Midlands Metro – have joined forces with the public health team at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to help make the tram even safer with the offer of rapid testing to West Midlands Metro staff as frontline workers.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Works Car 5

Posted on Monday 8 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Last time in this series we saw a couple of images of Blackpool Works Car 5 – ex-English Electric Railcoach 221 – and we enjoyed it so much we’re going to feature the very same tram again this time out!

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Trams in Video: Trams & Electric Railways of the Isle of Man

Posted on Sunday 7 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are back in 2013 for this edition of “Trams in Video” with footage from the varied systems on the Isle of Man. Amongst the systems we see in operation are the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway with a behind the scenes trip to Derby Castle works too.

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In Pictures: Tram track on Central Drive, Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 7 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another one to file under the “tram track found under the road” category of articles with a short section recently being uncovered on Central Drive in Blackpool during some road works.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 117

Posted on Sunday 7 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

This latest “Lockdown Walk” again heads to South Yorkshire as we take a look at the street section of Supertram in the Hillsborough area.

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

Posted on Sunday 7 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

We are once again having to dip into the archives for this week’s set of photos as we head down to the Seaton Tramway again:

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