Punctuality rises again on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 22 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its that time again when we take a look at the latest performance statistics for Manchester Metrolink. The latest period being reviewed is period 10 which took place between 9th December 2019 and 4th January 2020 and shows an increase in punctuality but a small fall in reliability.

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In Pictures: 399 204 returns to service

Posted on Tuesday 21 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

After 15 months out of service a Citylink tram-train with the number 399 204 is back in service on Stagecoach Supertram after the completion of accident repairs. 204 returned to action – very briefly – on Sunday 19th January before it was used more extensively the next day.

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Metro punctuality rises again

Posted on Tuesday 21 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest four week performance statistics – 8th December 2019 to 4th January 2020 – for the Tyne and Wear Metro have now been released and there is some good (and some not so good) news included! The percentage of trains arriving on time has increased by 8% but after the low of the previous period this does mean it is still only at 73%.

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Still standing! Birmingham’s 1st Generation Tram Tracks

Posted on Tuesday 21 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Whilst our attention recently in the West Midlands has very much been concerned with the laying of new tram tracks for extensions of the West Midlands Metro there are also still some survivors of the original first generation system around the area as we see in this latest edition of “Still Standing”.

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In Pictures: First Winter Gold of 2020

Posted on Monday 20 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may only be mere weeks since Christmas but the past weekend has seen the first “Gold weekend” of 2020 in Blackpool with six trams scheduled to run on each day with the new timetable seeing regular services running from Starr Gate to Fleetwood and Cleveleys as well as on the Promenade. The first day – Saturday 18th January – saw a few issues with trams having to return to depot which did mean, in the end, that nine different trams ran, including the Shop Tram at Tower and North Pier.

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Full Tram-Train service resumes

Posted on Monday 20 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the first time in two months a full three an hour service has resumed on the Stagecoach Supertram Tram-Train service between Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate. The service has been dogged by issues since the end of 2019 with vehicle availability the main cause but these have now seemingly been resolved, at least for now, allowing the new timetable to be finally introduced in full.

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Picture in Time: Snaefell Mountain Railway 3

Posted on Sunday 19 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

We stay with the Snaefell Mountain Railway for this week’s non-Blackpool traditional tram archive photo as we head back to a time when the Mountain cars went onto the MER for maintenance.

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Contactless use increases on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Sunday 19 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

More people than ever are now using contactless bank cards to purchase their tickets to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro, according to the latest figures shared by Nexus. More than half of the eight million transactions in ticket machines are now either contactless bank cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay for day and season tickets.

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NET delays after smoke comes from brakes

Posted on Sunday 19 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Services on Nottingham Express Transit between Wilkinson Street and The Forest were temporarily suspended on Monday 13th January after smoke was seen coming from the brakes on a tram which required the local fire service to attend.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 19 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The first new photos this year have been added as part of a gallery:

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Dinosaur travels on a tram…

Posted on Saturday 18 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest bit of publicity from Edinburgh Trams has seen a dinosaur travel on a tram as it makes its way from the Airport to the city centre. Of course, its not a real dinosaur which decided to take the tram – including buying its ticket before boarding! – but its all in a video to advertise a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Tyrannosaurus.

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 428

Posted on Saturday 18 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our series of photos from Potsdam in Germany we take a look at one of the Stadler Variobahn vehicles which have been running in the city since 2010.

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Man dies after being hit by tram at Shaw & Crompton

Posted on Saturday 18 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

A man has died after he was hit by a tram at Shaw & Crompton early on Friday 17th January. The tragic incident happened shortly after 0600 on the Manchester Metrolink Oldham & Rochdale line and an investigation is now underway to see how he came to be on the tracks. No trams ran between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale Town Centre for several hours whilst the incident was dealt with.

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More progress on Crich track relay

Posted on Friday 17 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve already reported this winter, the major winter maintenance project at the Crich Tramway Village concerns the relaying of the double track between Victoria Park and the single line post on the way to Wakebridge. Before Christmas we saw the major progress on the northbound line, and this is now largely complete with work having now also started on the southbound line.

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2.6 million watch Tyne and Wear Metro documentary

Posted on Friday 17 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The first episode of ITV’s documentary on the Tyne and Wear Metro attracted 2.6 million viewers, according to overnight viewing figures. Screened at 1930 on Tuesday 14th January the first episode of The Metro: A Rail Life Story concentrated on passengers using the Metro to get to the Spice Girls concert in Sunderland last summer with unprecedented access having been given to film crews.

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In Preview: Blackpool Winter Gold, 18th & 19th January 2020

Posted on Thursday 16 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The new year may be but a few weeks old but it is already time for the first main event in Blackpool with January’s Winter Gold event taking place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January. With a newly revised timetable and 13 weather and time of year appropriate trams due to run it looks set to be the best chance so far this year to get your Blackpool tram fix!

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In Pictures: Old tram track discovered in Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Thursday 16 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Over the years we’ve become used to old tram track being uncovered in various roadworks across the country, still in their original position having just had concrete poured over them once the tramway had been abandoned but some recent tram track discovered is a little different!

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 709

Posted on Thursday 16 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its time to head into the archives again as we are off to Blackpool in the 1980s.

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In Pictures: Metrolink around Oldham Town Centre as power supply problems hit Victoria

Posted on Wednesday 15 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

On Friday 10th January, power supply problems at Victoria led to service alterations on Manchester Metrolink with no trams able to access the station for a time. At the time British Trams Online contributor, Steve Hyde, was in Oldham Town Centre and the following pictorial article shows some of the short-running services as well as a few other sights around the area of trams in action.

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Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition back at Seaton

Posted on Wednesday 15 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the second year in a row the world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is back at the Seaton Tramway terminus, this time staying for three months as part of its world tour. Featuring 100 high-quality images the exhibition will be at Seaton from 15th January until 3rd April 2020.

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