Metrolink trial new driver monitoring system

Posted on Thursday 12 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

In the aftermath of the tragic derailment on London Tramlink in November 2016, a number of recommendations were made by the RAIB in order to try and prevent any similar accidents happening in the future. One of these was to install equipment on trams – not just in Croydon – to warn drivers when they are travelling above the line speed. To this end Manchester Metrolink have recently started a trial with a new system installed.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 4

Posted on Thursday 12 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

As last week we are featuring a Blackpool tram during 1984 in this edition of “Picture in Time”. This time it is one of the OMO cars.

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More on Lanarkshire 53’s 25th anniversary celebrations

Posted on Wednesday 11 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Since we ran the report last week on the planned celebrations for Lanarkshire 53’s 25th anniversary since restoration at Summerlee we have received more information on what is planned – including a re-enactment of its launch on the actual anniversary of it taking place.

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On the internet: RailwayWorld.net

Posted on Wednesday 11 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Across the world wide web there are many websites dedicated to trams and light rail and in this first edition of a new (likely to be very irregular!) series we take a look at some of those you may wish to check out – we start off with RailwayWorld.net.

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In Pictures: Trackwork in Sheffield

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

The past few weeks have seen some small jobs on Stagecoach Supertram affecting services, including on Sunday 8th March at Holme Lane with the inbound track dealt with during the morning. This work was only fairly minor and meant there were no services to Malin Bridge until approximately 1100 with the Blue route being diverted through to usual Yellow route terminus Middlewood. Stuart Cooke popped down to see what was going on.

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New Metro boss sees the work going in to maintain train fleet

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Newly appointed Chief Operating Officer at Nexus, Martin Kearney, has spent four hours with the night shift at South Gosforth Depot as it returns to the floor to see just what goes in to maintaining the 40 year old fleet of trains.

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Still Standing! Tram rosettes in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its time to look up again! This week we are off to Edinburgh to take a look at some more overhead support rosettes – not all of which were used by the first generation tramway.

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Trafford Park line sets 22nd March opening date

Posted on Monday 9 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have confirmed that Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park line will open to the public on Sunday 22nd March – making its already planned early opening of April even earlier than expected! Driver training has been ongoing for the past few weeks and with this making good progress it is all systems go for services to start in less than two weeks!

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Brief update on FTT trams Standard 143 & Railcoach 279

Posted on Monday 9 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Fylde Transport Trust have given the latest update on the projects to return Standard 143 and Railcoach 279 to the rails with the latter continuing to take shape as a “pointed end” Railcoach once more.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2530

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week our archive image from Croydon comes from 2003 and shows the very first of the CR4000s to be built by Bombardier.

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In Pictures: 31 back in service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

It doesn’t seem to take long between a successful test and a tram entering service on the West Midlands Metro as 31 – named Cyrille Regis MBE 1958-2018 – is now once again part of the operating fleet.

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Weymouth Harbour Tramway set to be removed

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may be a tramway only in name as throughout its history it has been an extension of the mainline railway but the history of the Weymouth Harbour Tramway is about to come to an end with more than £1 million worth of funding in place to remove the long disused tracks.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 8 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to the USA again for this week’s Photo Gallery:

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2020 Crich operating fleet revealed

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

In just seven days time it will be the start of yet another operating season at the Crich Tramway Village but what trams are likely to see use in 2020? It is hoped that in total 22 electric passenger trams, one horse tram and five works cars – a potential increase of two from the 2019 fleet which can’t be a bad thing!

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 407

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

It is very nearly time for us to leave Potsdam but before we do we just have the time for one more photo taken in this historic German city.

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In Pictures: More from Beamish

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

With Beamish now back to be open seven days a week its very much business as usual for the trams – depending on the day you could have one, two or three trams in service. Wednesday 4th March was an one tram day with Sheffield 264 the vehicle chosen but more trams could be seen around the depot and with the doors to road 1 open the chance could also be taken to grab a peek of Gateshead 52.

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A million Metro journeys made using the Pop blue smartcard

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

A million journeys have been made by young people on the Tyne and Wear Metro using the new Pop blue smartcard according to figures recently released by Nexus. Pop blue was introduced to make Metro travel more affordable for those in the 16 to 18 age group with single trips available for just £1.

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In Pictures: Driver Training continues on Metrolink’s Trafford Park line

Posted on Friday 6 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

Whilst no official opening date has yet to be announced, driver training on the new Trafford Park line is continuing in preparation for the day that public services commence between Pomona and the Trafford Centre.

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In Pictures: Drying out runs start on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Friday 6 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the 2020 operating season on the Manx Electric Railway a little over a week away – first services are due to run on Friday 13th March – preparations are now underway for those first passenger services. One of the key activities to take place are the “dying out” runs and on Tuesday 3rd March Winter Saloon 19 was out on the railway for this very purpose.

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Lanarkshire 53 to celebrate 25 years at Summerlee

Posted on Thursday 5 March 2020 by Gareth Prior

2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into service of Lanarkshire 53 at Summerlee and to celebrate this the tram is due to be in service on both Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April – the nearest weekend to its official launch date.

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