Metrolink services to increase in frequency as TfGM encourages passenger to stay safe

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

The next tramway to announce an increase in service frequency is Manchester Metrolink with trams on all routes set to run every 12 minutes instead of every 20 from Tuesday 26th May. This announcement comes at the same time as a new campaign has been launched urging people to stay safe when making essential journeys on public transport in Greater Manchester.

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So Nearly, Not Quite! Blackpool Boat 605

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

It’s more a case of poor photography skills in this latest edition of “So Nearly, Not Quite”, as there is a tram there somewhere we promise!

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Still Standing! Tram poles in Llandudno

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We are off to the North Wales coast for today’s edition of “Still Standing” as we take a look at surviving overhead poles.

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Crich outside and woodland spaces to open on Bank Holiday Monday

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the current government recommendations allowing unlimited outside exercise and for any distance from your home within England as long as you continue to social distance and don’t stay overnight, the Crich Tramway Village have announced that their outside spaces, including the popular Woodland Walk, will be open to the public on a limited basis on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May.

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Centenary 645

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of the series where we look what happened to the tram which ran on the last weekend of the traditional Blackpool Tramway we take a look at another of the Centenary Cars.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 108

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week we conclude this batch of photos from Sheffield as we again feature a photo of a vehicle from the Supertram fleet in 2003.

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Seaton Tramway launch fundraising initiatives

Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

As with many heritage tramways and railways across the country, the Seaton Tramway in Devon have had to close as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and as a result have seen their usual income streams end suddenly but still require funding to maintain the infrastructure for that time in the future – which will come one day, whenever that may be! – when they do reopen. To bring some funding in during these uncertain times they have announced a Tramathon Fundraising Appeal as well as offering would be visitors the chance to buy a ticket now which can be redeemed at any point until the end of 2021.

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Lockdown Walks: West Midlands Metro 26

Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Today we take another trip to the West Midlands Metro to see the service still operating for those needing to make essential journeys during these extraordinary times.

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Around the World in Trams: Melbourne 906

Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

A second W-class Melbourne tram is also operational at MOTAT and it is that tram which we feature this week in “Around the World in Trams”.

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TfL announce stepping up of services

Posted on Monday 18 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Further to the government bail-out announcement last week, Transport for London have now confirmed they are stepping up service frequencies across all modes of transport they are responsible for. With Tube, Bus, TfL Rail, London Overground and the Emirates Airline all running much more frequently there will also be an increase to services on both the Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink.

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Trams &: London Transport 1622 & Western bus 2341

Posted on Monday 18 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We make another visit to Crich for this image of a tram and another vehicle. This time its London Transport 1622 with a single decker bus dating from the 1970s.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 700

Posted on Monday 18 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Back to 1975 once more today as we visit Blackpool for a view of the original Balloon Car – no. 700.

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Trams in Video: The Sassi – Superga Rack Tramway, Turin, Italy

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this latest video from Bob Hodges we are heading to Italy for footage taken on the Sassi-Superga tramway on 15th March 2019. This line uses the stub rack system and was originally a cable tramway opening in 1885, before being electrified in 1935. It connects the Turin suburb of Sassi with the basilica at Superga, the lower station at Sassi is 225m above sea level and the top station is 650m above sea level giving stunning views of Turin and the Alps.

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So Nearly, Not Quite! Blackpool Balloon 726

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We take another look at a Blackpool Balloon car today as we see a photo which didn’t quite turn out as we’d hoped at the time the shutter was pressed!

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Clearance work underway in Preston

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

You may recall the ongoing project to bring trams back to Preston which seems to stall and then get restarted fairly regularly. The last update we had on it all was back in November 2018 and even the Preston Trampower website hasn’t seen a news update since March 2019 but if local reports are to be believed clearance works on the planned test line have now started.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 17 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its back into the archives for this week’s photographic offering as we head back 60 years to Sheffield:

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Campaign launched to save the full Horse Tramway – again!

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We suggested earlier this month we doubted this story has run its course and sure enough the ongoing saga of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway looks like it is here to stay once more! As you recall earlier this week panic set in when the regular updates from the Douglas Promenade project team said that the line would be terminated at the War Memorial and although the Department of Infrastructure later said this was an error and incorrect there was confirmation would still be a delay to the remainder of the tramway being laid, possibly until the 2023 season.

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Around the World in Trams: Melbourne 893

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week’s edition of “Around the World in Trams” is staying in Auckland, New Zealand at MOTAT but instead of a tram which used to operate on the streets of the city we see a newcomer in the form of a W class tram from Melbourne.

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Centenary 644

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its time to take another look at one of the trams that ran on the final weekend of traditional operation on the Blackpool Tramway with another of the Centenary Cars featuring.

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In Pictures: “Safe Area” on Stagecoach Supertram

Posted on Saturday 16 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

One of a number of measures introduced on various tramways to try and minimise the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic been a “safe area” for staff on board the trams. On Stagecoach Supertram an area immediately behind the driver’s cab has been cordoned off with signs informing those passengers still having to travel on the trams not to use that area. With significantly lower passenger numbers than usual on the trams the loss of eight seats at each end Siemens-Duewag trams shouldn’t cause too many problems for those trying to social distance on board.

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