Main phase of Trams to Newhaven work on Leith Walk to start in March

Posted on Sunday 23 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The end of March will see the first big test of just how well the Trams to Newhaven project team have indeed learnt from the lessons of constructing the first phase of Edinburgh Trams as the main phase of construction will get underway on Leith Walk. With work starting on 28th March and continuing through until the summer of 2021, Leith Walk will be reduced to one city bound lane between London Road and Crown Place for the complete duration of the works.

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Another new advert in Manchester

Posted on Sunday 23 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink M5000 3049 is the latest tram to receive a vinyl wrap advert with it having recently re-entered service advertising BBC’s Tiny Happy People campaign. This campaign is aimed at helping parents develop their children’s language and communication skills so they can get the best start in life. The advert is a multi-coloured affair and does once again include contravision on the windows.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 23 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its a double Photo Gallery week on British Trams Online with images coming from both Manchester Metrolink and the United States of America – but the photos from America do include a familiar sight…

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Driver training officially underway on Trafford Park line

Posted on Saturday 22 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we mentioned last week, driver training is now officially underway on the Manchester Metrolink Trafford Park extension ahead of the line opening in April – seven months ahead of the original schedule when the final go-ahead was given for the extension.

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 153 & 403

Posted on Saturday 22 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Remaining in Potsdam once more for this week’s look at trams from around the world, this time its not just a Combino included in the photo!

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Operation Hades makes it mark on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 22 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Plain clothed police officers on the Tyne and Wear Metro have had an immediate impact in catching teenage troublemakers on the network as part of Operation Hades. This operation has seen undercover Police and Nexus staff board trains to tackle anti-social behaviour and catch any offenders in the act.

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Taxi and tram collide on Ashton line

Posted on Saturday 22 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services saw delays on Sunday 16th February after a tram and a taxi collided at New Islington, the first stop out of Piccadilly on the Ashton-under-Lyne line. The collision was reported at 1830 and involved a tram operating a service to MediaCityUK and a taxi; no serious injuries were reported but trams could not run between Clayton and Piccadilly whilst the scene was cleared.

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In Pictures: 27 enters service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Friday 21 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had we reported on the first daylight testing of 27 complete with batteries on the West Midlands Metro than it was operating in passenger service! It was first allocated to service as a peak time extra on Wednesday 19th February and this was to be the first time it was to operate in public service since its batteries had been fitted.

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Upcoming Supertram engineering works

Posted on Friday 21 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

There will be disruption to some services on Stagecoach Supertram on two separate occasions in the next week or so as essential engineering works take place on the network. There will be amendments to services on both Monday 24th February and Sunday 1st March to allow this work to take place.

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In Pictures: Gogarburn loses RBS branding

Posted on Friday 21 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The stop on Edinburgh Trams at Gogarburn, which serves the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters, has reverted to standard branding after the removal of the RBS adverts which had adorned the stop for a time. Its not known just when this de-branding took place but anyone visiting the stop now will no longer see the familiar blue RBS logos.

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Work on demolishing Wilkinson’s set to get underway in April

Posted on Thursday 20 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been considered the blocker to the opening of the Blackpool North Railway Station tramway extension and it now appears that the Wilkinson’s store on Talbot Road will start to be demolished in April leading to the next stage of construction works. The news of the demolition comes at a time when local newspaper, The Gazette, have run a story revealing how the line will open two years late in 2021 and of 115 defects in the original construction.

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Full Supertram services resume

Posted on Thursday 20 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Having been suspended since Sunday 16th February, Stagecoach Supertram services were able to resume operating across the bridge over the River Don at Tinsley from approximately 1600 on Thursday 20th February. Services had been suspended as a result of safety concerns over high water levels in the river at this point and had seen Yellow route trams terminate at Tinsley/Meadowhall South with the Tram-Train service completely suspended. After a thorough check of the bridge by divers the bridge was cleared for services again and in time for the evening rush hour on 20th February a full service across the Supertram network was able to resume.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 701

Posted on Thursday 20 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week we feature another Balloon Car as we dip into the Blackpool archives once more with the time machine ending up some 20 years ago in the year 2000.

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In Pictures: Three tram service at Beamish

Posted on Wednesday 19 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Whilst much of the UK has been hit by Storms Ciara and Dennis, the northeast of England seems to have avoided a lot of the worst of the weather and while still cold that has meant that with the year’s first school holidays upon us the perfect family day trip is to Beamish. Most of the times we have featured it so far in 2020 we have seen either a one or a two tram service but on Sunday 16th February there was a three tram service for visitors and this included Oporto 196 ahead of its withdrawal from service awaiting overhaul.

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In Pictures: Another makeover for Edinburgh’s mock-up

Posted on Wednesday 19 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

The original mock-up of Edinburgh’s trams is still finding use as Edinburgh Airport where it has been for a number of years as the Information Lounge – providing tourist information of transport and attractions in the city centre and surrounding area. This mock-up has recently undergone another make-over with new branding for the Johnnie Walker #jointhepact campaign plus revised seating inside. John Hampton with the images.

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In Pictures: 27 starts testing with batteries

Posted on Tuesday 18 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

After just over two months with no new battery fitted trams being completed on the West Midlands Metro we are about to see the 20th of the 21 strong class of Urbos3 trams return to service so fitted with 27 having now started testing on the mainline.

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In Pictures: Constitution Street works continue

Posted on Tuesday 18 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

In a little over three years time we should be able to enjoy a tram ride to Leith and Newhaven in Edinburgh but before then there will be lots of construction work going on with the first phase having got underway in late 2019. Concentrating on Constitution Street currently the first works have seen utilities diverted from the path of the tramway while signage is already in place of the location of two of the new stops. John Hampton took a trip to Constitution Street to bring us these images.

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Still Standing! Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation tram depot, Mossley Road

Posted on Tuesday 18 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back to Ashton-under-Lyne for this latest edition of “Still Standing” as we take a look at the former Corporation electric tram depot on Mossley Road.

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High water levels cause more problems for Supertram

Posted on Monday 17 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Whilst Storm Dennis on the whole didn’t cause as many issues for tramways across the UK as its predecessor (Storm Ciara), Stagecoach Supertram have again suffered from high water levels with no trams able to run beyond Tinsley/Meadowhall South.

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Work to start on Brierley Hill extension

Posted on Monday 17 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Enabling works for the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill are set to start later this month with Castle Hill in Dudley the location for the commencement. The work will start from Monday 24th February and last for up to five weeks.

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