Supertram rail replacement works come to an end

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest stage of Stagecoach Supertram’s rail replacement works will come to an end at the start of October with a normal Blue route service able to resume from Monday 5th October.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Supertram rail replacement works come to an end

Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 266

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

We head out of Edinburgh City Centre for this latest look at a tram operating during 2020.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams, Lockdown Walks | Comments Off on Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 266

In Pictures: Wilko’s demolition continues

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

We take another look at the continued demolition of the old Wilko’s store on Talbot Road which will eventually make way for the construction of tramway terminus of the Blackpool North Railway Station extension. With work having got underway at the start of September, towards the end of the month apparent good progress was being made as seen in this pictorial article with images taken on 26th September 2020.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Wilko’s demolition continues

Final extension to 2020 operating season on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Manx Electric Railway is to operate until 1st November 2020 after a further – and final – extension was announced by Isle of Man Transport. The truncated 2020 season has initially been due to end on 13th September but this was previously extended until 4th October and trams will now be running on selected dates all the way up until Sunday 1st November.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Final extension to 2020 operating season on the Manx Electric Railway

Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we continue “Picture in Time” we are again at the East Anglia Transport Museum continuing the story of the early days of the museum.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit on-board Covid changes

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

Throughout the ongoing pandemic there has had to be a fine balancing act between all public transport wanting to carry passengers around but doing it in a safe manner which minimises the risk of spreading the virus to both staff and passengers alike. Changes made on board the trams on Nottingham Express Transit towards the start of the pandemic are still in place as we write which are aimed at trying to ensure that everyone can  keep their social distance.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit on-board Covid changes

Can You Help? Brighton Tram 53 Group seek help for air brake diagram

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Brighton Tram 53 Group are another of those small groups of enthusiasts dotted around the UK who are seeking to restore a long forgotten tram to help fill the gaps in local transport history and over the past few years they have been making good progress on returning the 1936 built tram to its former glory. But they have now reached a stage where they need some assistance in drawing up an air brake diagram.

Continue reading →

Posted in Brighton Tram 53 Group | Comments Off on Can You Help? Brighton Tram 53 Group seek help for air brake diagram

Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 121

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

“Lockdown Walks” continues today as we go out in Sheffield again.

Continue reading →

Posted in Lockdown Walks, South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 121

In Pictures: Crich with its Covid restrictions

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Crich Tramway Village has been open again since Saturday 11th July with the expected Coronavirus restrictions in place to ensure the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff alike in these unprecedented times. As we’ve reported before this has included timed tram travel tickets (with only one ride initially available to all visitors), the closure of depots and restrictions around the exhibitions (including the now obligatory one way system). David Maxwell took a trip to Crich on a relatively quiet midweek September day with the following photos showing what a 2020 visit to Crich looks like.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Crich with its Covid restrictions

Another bridge to be demolished for West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

While we’ve reported recently on construction work elsewhere on the West Midlands Metro network, the extension through to Brierley Hill is at a much earlier stage with more concentration on removing redundant structures at this point. The next structure to be removed will be an old railway bridge in Coneygree Road, Tipton.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Another bridge to be demolished for West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension

Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 212

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this instalment of “Picture in Time” we again take a look at one of the Bombardier Incentro trams towards the beginning of their operating careers.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 212

In Pictures: Blackpool’s Illuminated Frigate returns to service

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s Illuminated Frigate, HMS Blackpool, numbered 736 in the fleet has returned to service after a protracted overhaul was completed allowing it to enter service again on Saturday 26th September. The work on the tram has been concentrated on its lighting which because of the harsh coastal environment it has to work in had seen many of the bulb holders suffer damage which meant it wasn’t as easy as just putting a new bulb in.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Blackpool’s Illuminated Frigate returns to service

Revised timetable to be introduced on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

As from Monday 12th October another revised timetable will be introduced on the West Midlands Metro, offering a slightly reduced frequency to the standard timetable which had been in operation again since the start of September.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Revised timetable to be introduced on West Midlands Metro

Still Standing! Tram track in Chester

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been over 90 years since the last tram ran in Chester but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some remaining tramway artefacts, including some track in the vicinity of the old depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Still Standing! | Comments Off on Still Standing! Tram track in Chester

We’re back – sorry for the downtime!

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Apologies to anyone who tried to access the News & Features page from late on Wednesday 30th September until during Friday 2nd October. As could probably have been predicted the upgrade didn’t go quite according to plan and the WordPress software that this section runs on seemed to go missing (although all information was still there in the background). Fortunately, it was able to be fixed and after a slight issue with me not having admin access to update any articles or add anything new I think we may be back to normal! Thanks for your patience and a big thank you to everyone who let me know about the outage.

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on We’re back – sorry for the downtime!

In Pictures: Progress continues on the painting of Lowestoft 14

Posted on Monday 28 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

We reported a little while ago that preparations were being made for the painting of Lowestoft 14 at the East Anglia Transport Museum and since then further progress has been on the paintwork.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Progress continues on the painting of Lowestoft 14

In Pictures: Nexus Learning Centre at South Shields

Posted on Monday 28 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

The new Nexus Learning Centre being built on the site of the old South Shields Metro Station in the town centre is nearing completion although as yet no word from Nexus as to when its first recruits may be heading through the facility. The £8.4 million project is due to provide training for apprentices, front line leadership and management development as well as ensuring all Metro staff are able to continually develop and adapt to the ever changing practices on the network.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Nexus Learning Centre at South Shields

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 673+683

Posted on Monday 28 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Blackpool once more today for another view of one of the Metro Coastlines liveried Twin Cars.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 673+683

Trams in Video: Lisbon Trams – October 2015 & September/October 2016

Posted on Sunday 27 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

We take another trip to Lisbon for this edition of “Trams in Video” with excerpts from the DVD “Lisbon Trams” (available from the link below). In this video we take a look at the trams in action both in October 2015 and September/October 2016 with the familiar sight of the trams running around this Portuguese city.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams, Trams in Video | Comments Off on Trams in Video: Lisbon Trams – October 2015 & September/October 2016

In Pictures: More tram track discovered in Liverpool

Posted on Sunday 27 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Yes, its another of those articles as we take a look under the road surface to see what’s been lurking there for 60+ years! This time we head to Liverpool and find yet more tram track – plus the cobble setts which formed the old road surface – which has been uncovered during utility work.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on In Pictures: More tram track discovered in Liverpool