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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Tyne and Wear Metro performance on the up

Posted on Monday 17 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It is that time once more as we take a look at performance on the Tyne and Wear Metro where there has been a welcome upturn in the percentage of trains running on time – with it reaching the highest level since October.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2542

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks Sundays will all be about archive images from our “modern” tramway systems and we start off in Croydon for a pre-opening image of one of the trams.

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Early bird Metrolink offer to launch

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the “contactless early bird bonus” will be launched on Manchester Metrolink from Monday 17th February. This will allow anyone travelling before 0700 on weekdays a saving on the anytime travelcard with the aim of reducing congestion and giving passengers better value for money.

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In Pictures: Tyne and Wear Metro Maintenance and Renewable Skills Centre under construction

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

When the old South Shields Metro station was closed it was announced that the site would be used as the centrepiece of a new Maintenance and Renewable Skills Centre. With a budget of £8.4 million the new centre will be a bespoke training facility for Nexus to deliver a wide range of infrastructure and operations training to staff.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 16 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

Our main feature this week comes from Croydon with photos from London Tramlink:

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Steam to return to the MER as part of 2020 Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

No sooner do we report on the Rush Hour on the Railway events then Isle of Man Transport release the details the Manx Heritage Transport Festival taking place between 29th July and 2 August! Alongside many of the usually popular events the undoubted highlight looks set to be the return of steam to the Manx Electric Railway!

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 412

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our look at the tram operating the German city of Potsdam we once again feature a Siemens Combino in action.

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First track laid at Five Ways underpass

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

We saw in our recent Photo Gallery and now Transport for West Midlands have written a press release about it! The first sections of track have now been laid in Five Ways underpass as the project to build the second phase of the Birmingham Westside extension continues at a pace.

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Driver training underway on Trafford Park line

Posted on Saturday 15 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

With the new Trafford Park Manchester Metrolink extension due to open in around two months – only April has been publicly announced so far – a sure sign that a public service is coming has been seen with the start of daytime testing and driver training.

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TfL back extending Tramlink to Sutton – but need the funding

Posted on Friday 14 February 2020 by Gareth Prior

It’s a proposal which seems to have been talked about for a long time but could we finally see London Tramlink extended to Sutton? The full results of the 2018/19 consultation into the plans have now been revealed by Transport for London and show that there was a general support for the plans and that 81% of those who responded would favour a tram link rather than the alternative Bus Rapid Transit.

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