They Ran in 2019: Seaton 9

Posted on Monday 2 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today we head down to Devon for an image from the Seaton Tramway as we continue our look at some of the trams which ran during 2019.

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15 Years Apart: London Tramlink 2539

Posted on Monday 2 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today we are a bit more modern with the 15 Years Apart series as we feature one of the Bombardier CR4000s which operate on London Tramlink – 2539.

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In Pictures: Trams at Beamish and the new bus depot

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Whilst across most of the country heritage trams are taking a well earnt rest (in the main except for weekends in Blackpool and for Lightopia at Heaton Park) it is very much a case of business as usual at Beamish with the museum still open daily up until Christmas which means the trams still need to run with the more enclosed trams seeing the majority of use. The new bus depot has also recently fully and officially opened giving new photo transport opportunities at the museum. Trevor Hall paid a visit on Thursday 28th November when a two tram service was running featuring Sunderland 16 and Sheffield 264.

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They Ran in 2019: Leeds 345

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Our second new photographic series for December will include photos taken during 2019 showing some of those trams across the UK which ran in service during the year. Another 32 part series this one will be published each day at 1400 and will show just a cross-section of those trams which ran as there were over 100 which did so during the year which if we included all of them would end up being an epic! As you would expect this series will mainly feature trams from both Blackpool and Crich and in this first edition it is Crich where we head for images of Leeds 345.

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Keolis Amey Metrolink criticised over Ashton “tram dispatch accident”

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

On Tuesday 12th March 2019 a tram passenger – with impaired mobility – fell from the platform at Ashton-under-Lyne after the tram he was leaning against departed from the stop with the driver seemingly not noticing him before leaving. After an investigation the RAIB have now released a report with operators of Metrolink, Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM), criticised for their lack of instructions or guidance to drivers on how to use the side view CCTV or what to do when they encounter an impaired passenger.

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15 Years Apart: Blackpool Balloon 713

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Throughout December we will be taking a look into the archives once again in this new 32 part series scheduled to be published each day at 1000 – 15 Years Apart. “As it says on the tin” we will be taking a look at trams, 15 years apart with the first image taken in 2004 and the second during 2019. It will be a series which does have a fair Blackpool bias as many of the trams running there in 2004 look different in 2019 so that we can actually see some changes as other editions of the series it will be a case of “I can’t really see any differences!” We will also feature modern trams although systems like Manchester Metrolink aren’t included as the current fleet wasn’t around back in 2004! In this first part we head to Blackpool for views of Balloon 713.

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Tram of the Year 2019 – Voting is now open!

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Following the last week of nominations we ca now announce that voting for the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2019 is now open! You can vote once in each category (multiple votes will be removed) between now and Saturday 11th January 2020 – but what has made the final shortlist in each of the categories? Read on to find out!

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its our birthday (17 today!) and we have a busy update for you!

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Grand Central platform reopens as testing of Westside extension steps up

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

After 14 months out of use the Wolverhampton bound platform at Grand Central will reopen to passengers from Sunday 1st December – the first day of the new timetable and also expected to be the first day of the full shadow service onto the Birmingham Westside extension.

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Picture in Time: Tyne and Wear Metro South Gosforth Depot

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the final edition of Picture in Time in 2019 we head back to the South Gosforth Open Day of the Tyne and Wear Metro for a general view of the outside sidings.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh 251 becomes the third American Express tram

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

It would seem that American Express’ advertising contract on Edinburgh Trams is always for three trams as following hot on the heels of the new white based advert being applied to 263 and 270 comes the same design on 251. 251 was previously in full fleet livery following the removal of its advert for Edinburgh Live at the end of October.

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Car hits tram at Northern Moor

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

There were delays to Manchester Metrolink services on Friday 29th November after a car hit a tram at Northern Moor on the Airport line. The collision happened at around 1010 and judging by photos of the incident the car hit the side of M5000 3106 at a road crossing with the tram heading into Manchester City Centre. No injuries were reported but Metrolink services were suspended for a time between Rounthorn and Sale Water Park.

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Standard 143’s motor to be sent away

Posted on Friday 29 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Regular followers of the Blackpool Tramway will be well aware of the saga of the return to service of Standard 143 which after delays was finally launched into service in September only to fail on its inaugural evening leading to it only able to play a static role in the September Spectacular event (albeit a stunning static exhibit!). in the latest update from the trams owners, the Fylde Transport Trust, it has now been confirmed that the fault was a defective motor and this is set to be removed and sent away for overhaul as part of the plan to return 143 to service.

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(More) Disruption on the way for Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Friday 29 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro are warning passengers that from Sunday 1st December services will be affected by the start of an overtime ban by members of the RMT and ASLEF unions. This ban all stems from the previously announced rejection of a new pay and conditions offer from Nexus, which after an improved rostering offer has been rejected again.

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Around the World in Trams: Amsterdam 2063

Posted on Friday 29 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the last time this year we head out of the British Isles for our Around the World in Trams series and its back to the Netherlands for this week’s image.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3019’s Lightopia advert

Posted on Thursday 28 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We reported a few weeks ago on the latest influx of all over adverts on Manchester Metrolink which included a full – contravision included – vinyl wrap for Lightopia on 3019 and in this article we take our first look at the tram in this condition. Lightopia Festival is taking place at Heaton Park until 31st December (and includes the heritage trams at the Heaton Park Tramway running each weekend) and this colourful advert is likely to remain in situ until then to encourage people to head along to this spectacular event. Keith Chadbourne provides the photos.

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Thales signs two new contracts supporting DLR rolling stock replacement

Posted on Thursday 28 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Thales are to provide support to the new rolling stock programme on the Docklands Light Railway following the awarding of two new contracts at the end of October. Thales will be working alongside CAF to supply and integrate new on board control systems for the new trains due to be introduced from 2023 whilst they will also be supporting TfL in upgrading the DLR signalling system.

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Picture in Time: Portsdown & Horndean 13

Posted on Thursday 28 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we rapidly approach December it is almost time to give Picture in Time a rest for the remainder of the year but before we do we still have time to feature one more traditional tram and this time we end up on the South Coast for a view of a partially restored tram.

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In Pictures: Metrolink 3012 returns to service

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

When there are so many trams in a fleet you don’t often notice if one is missing for a long period of time but on Manchester Metrolink the past year as seen a notable absentee in 3012 but Monday 25th November saw the Bombardier built M5000 make a welcome return to service, just in time for the busy lead up to Christmas with extra and later services being offered in Metrolink to get passengers to the shops and back from their Christmas festivities! Reece Hughes caught the tram on its first day back.

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One millionth passenger welcomed to South Shields Interchange

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The start of November saw the new transport interchange at South Shields welcome its millionth passenger – less than two months since it opened. This brings the interchange well on the way to hitting its expected 7.5 million passengers a year.

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