Trams in Video: Nottingham Express Transit – August 2015

Posted on Thursday 26 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

More video for you today and this time we are in the East Midlands to take a look at Nottingham Express Transit. This footage was mostly filmed on 25th August 2015, which was the first day of public services on the Phase Two extensions to Clifton South and Toton Lane.

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Performance plummets again on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Thursday 26 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

65%. That is the latest punctuality figure for the Tyne and Wear Metro – one of the lowest performance figures we have seen since we started reporting on these four weekly performance stats. It is also a major fall since the previous period and is lower by 3% than the same period in 2018.

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They Ran in 2019: Blackpool Balloon 715

Posted on Thursday 26 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

We’ve become rather Blackpool biased in this series as the fourth day in a row we feature a tram from that system, but this time we are actually back in Blackpool and feature one of the more popular heritage vehicles, Balloon 715.

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In Pictures: Crich winter work continues

Posted on Thursday 26 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve already reported a few times the main winter closure maintenance job at the Crich Tramway Village is relaying of the double track between Victoria Park and the single line staff heading in the direction of Wakebridge and as Christmas approaches good progress is being on the northbound track as seen in the below photos courtesy of Keith Chadbourne.

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15 Years Apart: Leeds 345

Posted on Thursday 26 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

We take a look at another tram which has changed a lot over the past 15 years today. It is Leeds 345 which was in the midst of a major restoration in 2004 and is now firmly operational.

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Trams in Video: West Midlands Metro Driver Eye Views – December 2019

Posted on Wednesday 25 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s Christmas so we have a couple of bonus videos for you today. In these two videos we are once again on the West Midlands Metro but this time they are driver eye views of the complete route between the Library and Wolverhampton St George’s. The first film shows the route from Library to Wednesbury Parkway and then in film two its Wolverhampton St George’s to Library. Filmed by British Trams Online regular contributor Andy Walters these videos show exactly what the driver sees as he travels along the recently extended route.

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They Ran in 2019: Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40

Posted on Wednesday 25 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Hopefully your Christmas dinner was everything you hoped it would be and you are now relaxing and getting ready for the Queen’s speech! If you or if you’re not it doesn’t matter as in the meantime you have another British Trams Online treat as we take a look at another tram which operated during 2019 on no fewer than three tramways, Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40.

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15 Years Apart: Blackpool Standard 143

Posted on Wednesday 25 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Merry Christmas! Hopefully you have been good enough for Santa to visit you this morning and you have had plenty of treats already but the treats just carry on from British Trams Online! It may be Christmas Day but we still have our December photographic series running (don’t worry I’m not THAT sad to be uploading these at Christmas, it’s the wonders of technology that you can schedule them when not around!) and today’s “15 Years Apart” shows a tram which has certainly changed between the two photos.

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Trams in Video: Burton & Ashby 14 – June 2018

Posted on Tuesday 24 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

In today’s video we head off to the Statfold Barn Railway for footage of Burton & Ashby 14 in service on its very own tram line. Having been repatriated from the United States in 2015, after a rapid restoration no. 14 entered service – using battery power – and in 2007 and this film shows it running on one of the open days at the railway on 9th June 2018.

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Metrolink concessionary travel to change in 2020

Posted on Tuesday 24 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Ever since free concessionary bus travel was introduced trams and light rail have been a bit of anomaly. With no central government funding it has been up to local authorities as to whether they want to fund it, with Blackpool the most high-profile and controversial result where the plan has changed many times over the year. Now in Manchester any local concessionary travel pass holders will have to pay a £10 annual premium to allow their passes to be valid on both Metrolink and local rail services.

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They Ran in 2019: Blackpool Jubilee 762

Posted on Tuesday 24 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

On this Christmas Eve afternoon we take a look at another Blackpool tram which has managed to find a home at Crich – Jubilee 762.

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In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay 7 ends the year on a high

Posted on Tuesday 24 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

2019 has seen Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 undergo some attention – or its trailer at any rate – having given 12 years faithful service since being cosmetically restored for the centenary of the tramway opening in 2007 but with this now completed the tram – and its regular transport partner, the Matador lorry – made two final appearances for the year earlier this month, including an unplanned test run.

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15 Years Apart: Docklands Light Railway 45

Posted on Tuesday 24 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

On Christmas Eve we head to the Docklands Light Railway before the service comes to an end for a day’s break tomorrow to take a look at one of the system’s vehicles “15 Years Apart”.

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In Pictures: A wintry scene at Summerlee

Posted on Monday 23 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Along with Beamish and Blackpool there is a third tramway in the UK that operates year round at Summerlee. As well as being the only heritage tramway north of the border (and for 25 years the only tramway north of the border) this tramway has a small and excellent collection of trams which operate in all weathers between the museum entrance and mine. Usually one tram is in each service and Dusseldorf 392 – with disabled access lift – is the usual tram of choice but as the photo below shows open topper Lanarkshire 53 has also recently seen some use.

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Livery changes on Metrolink

Posted on Monday 23 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

There have been some more livery changes on Manchester Metrolink with adverts being removed whilst a new advert has also appeared. The tram receiving an advert is 3076 whilst 3047, 3073, 3081, 3093 and 3100 can all now been confirmed as being back in fleet livery.

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New zonal short-hop fares, January bargains and some increases for NET

Posted on Monday 23 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Monday 6th January 2020 will see a revised fares structure introduced on Nottingham Express Transit which will include the expansion of the short-hop fares to a new zonal system. At the same time there will be some increases to cash fares whilst the January sales will be extended to the tram on NET as there will be offers on some tickets.

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They Ran in 2019: Blackpool Boat 227

Posted on Monday 23 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Continuing our photographic series taking a look at heritage trams which ran during the year 2019 we feature Blackpool Boat 227.

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15 Years Apart: Blackpool Twin Car 675+685

Posted on Monday 23 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today, as we continue our look at trams “15 Years Apart” we are back in Blackpool as we take a look at Twin Car 675+685.

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And, so that was 2019…

Posted on Sunday 22 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Well, that’s another year very nearly over (they seem to go faster and faster every year!) and it also brings us to the end of a decade too! Like most other years it has had its ups and downs but despite that (and keeping in with the Christmas spirit) there has still been plenty to keep us occupied – having travelled just over 5000 miles just get to the tramways this year it certainly has for me!

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Councils agree to bid for Fylde Coast tramway feasibility study

Posted on Sunday 22 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Could the future of public transport on the Fylde Coast see an expanded tramway running in a loop? If the results of a feasibility study are favourable that is exactly what could be seen with extensions at each end of the current Blackpool Tramway seeing the line run to St Annes, Lytham, Kirkham & Wesham, Thornton and Poulton. As part of the plan local councils have recently confirmed that they plan to bid for funding for a feasibility study as part of the Future High Street Fund bid.

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