Works resume of Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Friday 10 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Work on extending the West Midlands Metro from Library to Hagley Road in Edgbaston has resumed following a two week suspension. The decision had initially been taken on 23rd March that in light of government advice on social distancing that all work would be suspended until further notice but after further advice it had now been decided that work can resume.

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More Coronavirus updates

Posted on Thursday 9 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Sunday services on the West Midlands Metro are to run to a revised schedule from Sunday 12th April as they seek to operate a service which still enables key workers to travel whilst also taking into consideration the reduction in passenger numbers on the network. Elsewhere, Crich have now confirmed they remain closed until at least 21st June and in Manchester NHS workers can travel on Metrolink for free.

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Picture in Time: Leeds 602

Posted on Thursday 9 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Back to Crich for this edition of “Picture in Time” and having been in the 1960s for the last couple of weeks we now move forward to the 1970s. And the tram we feature is one which we have seen many times in this series in the past – Leeds 602.

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Railcoach 279 restoration progress report

Posted on Wednesday 8 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

The major restoration project being undertaken by the Fylde Transport Trust to return Railcoach 279 to its original style is continuing to make some progress, although inevitably this has slowed down recently in the current situation. Despite adhering to all social distancing protocols there are some jobs being completed by staff who are at the Catch 22 Bus depot during the day to ensure that a bus service can still be maintained for essential workers.

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So nearly, not quite! Triple rebuilt Balloons

Posted on Wednesday 8 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

We’ve all been there. We’ve lined-up what you think will be a near perfect photo and then something conspires against us which means that perfect shot ends up being, well, not perfect! It may be a stray pedestrian getting in the way, a tram moving at the last minute or even a seagull flying across at an inopportune moment but it happens to all of us. Usually when this happens we just press delete and forgot it ever happened but in this new irregular series we take a look at some of those photos which were “So nearly, not quite!”…

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, So nearly, not quite! | 1 Comment

Edinburgh to introduce a further revised timetable

Posted on Tuesday 7 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

As the UK continues to be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, Edinburgh Trams have announced that as from Sunday 12th April they will be introducing a new revised timetable which will see fewer trams running during the evenings.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams, Manchester Metrolink, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Still Standing! Tram rosettes in Oldham

Posted on Tuesday 7 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition featuring first generation tram system remnants still around the UK we are looking up once more to find a few more overhead wire rosettes still on the side of buildings. This time around we are in Oldham.

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Severn Lamb awarded contract to supply new trains for Southend Pier

Posted on Monday 6 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

A story we didn’t run at the time but back in January it was confirmed that Severn Lamb have won the contract to design, contract and install new trains for the Southend Pier Railway. It was expected that they would be ready to start operating in 2021 and would be “eco-friendly” trains to replace the life-expired vehicles which have been in service since 1986.

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They’ve Run in 2020…

Posted on Monday 6 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Whilst all heritage tramways in the British Isles are currently suspended as a result of the social distancing restrictions in place due to the Coronavirus pandemic, before this shutdown was introduced there was operation on selected tramways in 2020 and the following list aims to provide details of all those which have carried passengers. With any luck we may be able to start updating this list again before the end of the year but in the meantime here is an “as it was” list. Any errors or omissions please let us know.

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Trams in Video: Trams in the Netherlands – June 2016

Posted on Sunday 5 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

We head across to mainland Europe this week as we feature film taken in the Netherlands during June 2016. In the below film we see trams, both modern and heritage, in operation in Den Haag, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

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In Pictures: Tram on a pub sign in Leven

Posted on Sunday 5 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Pub signs around the UK often use steam locomotives as their main image but the use of trams is all together rarer (one notable exception being the Bispham Hotel up Red Bank Road which shows a Blackpool Balloon). Another pub which features a tram can be found in Leven, Fife, on the north shore of the Firth of Forth 34 miles from Edinburgh via the bridges. The Windsor is in High Street in the town and includes an image from an old postcard showing a tram in the town. Roy Calderwood recently paid a visit and provides us with more information.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 5 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week we are off to the United States of America again for our latest photo gallery:

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In Pictures: A look at Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 4 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

When the Edinburgh Trams extension to Newhaven opens in 2023 there will be a new tramstop constructed at Picardy Place which will replace the current terminus at York Place. There have been works in Leith Street and Picardy Place for two years already as part of a redesign of the road layout and these will now be extended to include the tram construction works.

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Around the World in Trams: Melbourne 6063

Posted on Saturday 4 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its time for another view from Melbourne as we continue our look at some of the trams of the extensive fleet in the Australian city.

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In Pictures: Southend Pier Railway

Posted on Saturday 4 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Is it a Tramway, is it a Railway? Whatever it is this latest pictorial article takes a look at the officially named Southend Pier Railway both those vehicles which operate the service along the UK’s longest pier today as well as some historic vehicles which can be found in the Pier Museum. All photos taken by Bob Hodges.

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In Pictures: How to still get a tram fix when you can’t go out

Posted on Friday 3 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

Or spot the tram! What do you do when you’re told you can’t go out because of the Coronavirus but you still want to see some trams? For most of us the only real answer is DVDs or YouTube videos but for the lucky few who can see tramways from their houses or flats that is an option, and an option taken by Stuart Cooke! Taken from his 7th floor apartment these views also allow us to play a game of spot the tram!

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Man taken to hospital after getting trapped under tram in Manchester

Posted on Friday 3 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

A man was taken to hospital with what have been described as non-serious injuries after getting trapped under a tram at Manchester Metrolink’s Sale stop. The emergency services – Police, Fire and Ambulance – were called to the station at approximately 2215 on Monday 30th March after the man was truck by the tram. Firefighters used specialist lifting equipment to release the man, who was then taken to hospital by road ambulance. Metrolink services to Altrincham were suspended whilst the rescue operation took place.

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Government urged to provide financial support for the Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Thursday 2 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

North east political leaders have urged central Government to provide urgent cash support to protect the future of the Tyne and Wear Metro and its local jobs and public services in light of the continuing Coronavirus crisis. Passenger numbers on the Metro have fallen by 90% in recent weeks but a service continues to operate for the benefit of NHS and other key workers to move around.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1297

Posted on Thursday 2 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

We stay in the 1960s for this latest edition of “Picture in Time” with a view of another Glasgow tram in action at Crich.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

Rush Hour on the Railways goes online!

Posted on Wednesday 1 April 2020 by Gareth Prior

One of the first high-profile special events to be cancelled as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak was the Isle of Man’s Rush Hour on the Railways which was due to take place over the four days of the long Easter weekend. With many in the British Isles now self-isolating or just practicing social distancing and looking for things to do within their own homes it has now been announced that the event is back on – but with a twist as it will be probably the very first online tram and railway special event! Yes, that’s right Rush Hour on the Railways is going online!

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Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment