More Metro extension work in Wolverhampton

Posted on Monday 28 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Piper’s Row in Wolverhampton City Centre is closed for two weeks as the last works connected to West Midlands Metro for 2019 take place. The road was closed from Sunday 27th October and will remain so until Sunday 10th November with work taking place on finishing off the area although it won’t be the last works needed as that will be at the railway station end of the new line once redevelopment works there are completed.

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Around the World in Trams: Milan 1825

Posted on Sunday 27 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

We remain in Milan for today’s look at trams from outside of the British Isles and its another Peter Witt tramcar in the below image.

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Three car service to run on Volk’s Electric Railway to end the season

Posted on Sunday 27 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the first time in over 25 years the Volk’s Electric Railway will be running a three car service on Sunday 3rd November, subject to the usual weather constraints. The standard service on the line along Brighton seafront sees two car (or car sets if you prefer as two vehicles are permanently coupled) but experiments earlier this year has shown that it is possible to run up to three at the same time and that is exactly what will happen on the last day of the regular operating season which also happens to coincide with the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

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Old Market Square becomes Old Market Scare for Halloween

Posted on Sunday 27 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Anyone taking a trip into Nottingham City Centre over the next few days may be in for a scare, especially considering you won’t be getting off at Old Market Square but the renamed Old Market Scare! The renaming has taken place to match the city’s Halloween celebrations which take place until Wednesday 31st October. A selection of events are taking place at Old Market Scare – adjacent to the tramstop – including the Horror Hotel (a live action scare maze) and Nottingham Express Transit’s £5 group ticket is once again available throughout not only the event but the school half term holidays as well.

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New Metrolink trams set to be delayed

Posted on Saturday 26 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

27 new Bombardier built M5000 trams ordered to increase capacity across the Manchester Metrolink are to be delayed because of issues in the supply chain meaning Bombardier will fall behind their construction schedule. The first of trams were originally due to be delivered in February 2020 but a report in the Manchester Evening News has announced a delay with an entry into service now expected during August.

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Picture in Time: Tyne and War Metro 4025

Posted on Saturday 26 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today’s archive photo again comes from the 30th anniversary of the Tyne and Wear Metro and their open day at South Gosforth Depot.

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In Pictures: 36 gets full blue livery

Posted on Saturday 26 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest tram to receive the full blue West Midlands Metro livery has been 36, with the CAF built tram retaining its adverts for the My Metro App in the process. As you may remember 36 was the very first Urbos3 to receive external advertising in February this year when it became the first tram to also run in this hybrid livery between the old Network West Midlands and West Midlands Metro colour schemes and now some eight and a bit months later and its all change on the tram once more. 36 was first noted in the new livery on 25th October as captured by Mark Cufflin.

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First tram reaches Centenary Square as preparations for phase one of Westside extension ramp up

Posted on Friday 25 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

With just two months to go until the end of the year we shouldn’t have too long to wait before passengers are able to travel on the first phase of the West Midlands Metro extension to Centenary Square – especially now the first tram has made it all the way with the first gauging run taking place utilising Urbos3 20.

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In Pictures: Manchester 173 at Victoria

Posted on Friday 25 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 20th October saw Manchester 173 make a rare trip away from the Heaton Park Tramway as it was displayed at Victoria railway station, part of a special event held to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the opening of the station. This was the first time since 2014 that 173 has left Heaton Park (when it went to Leeds on two separate occasions) and except for the odd outside display during special events on the tramway it has been kept in the depot awaiting workshop space for a start to be made on its full restoration so the sight of the tram outside the station proved popular with visitors.

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Dare we mention 2020? Blackpool reveal special event dates

Posted on Thursday 24 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Yes, it may only be mid-October 2019 but Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are quick off the mark with first information on their special events for 2020 with outline dates already revealed. The familiar pattern of Winter Gold and standard Gold weekends throughout the year will take place again with the “big one” the September Spectacular – which marks the 135th anniversary of the tramway – taking place over the weekend of 26th and 27th September.

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Nexus an award winner for campaign encouraging Spice Girls concert goers to use the Metro

Posted on Thursday 24 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may not be the most eye-catching of headlines but Nexus are celebrating after winning a marketing award for their campaign encouraging those attended the Spice Girls concerts in Sunderland to use the Tyne and Wear Metro. The award was given at the North East Marketing Awards ceremony in the Best Integrated Campaign – In House category with Nexus said to beat off a strong field of contenders.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1297

Posted on Thursday 24 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its another trip to the Glasgow Garden Festival for this edition of Picture in Time as we view another of the trams in operation on the temporary timetable.

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Heaton Park Tramway to reopen

Posted on Wednesday 23 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Back in September when the Heaton Park Tramway were hit by a theft of their overhead wire you would have been hard pressed to believe that a mere month later services would be resuming that is precisely what is happening with the first passenger trams due to run again on Saturday 26th October – and as a thank you all journeys will be free across the first weekend.

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Passengers and crime up as Metrolink release their annual report

Posted on Wednesday 23 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink has never been so popular according to figures released in the system’s annual report, recently provided to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Transport Committee. Slightly over 45 million passengers were recorded between August 2018 and August 2019 – an increase of approximately three million from the previous 12 months. But despite this encouraging picture of the number of passengers carried there remains cause of concern with an increase in the amount of crime and anti-social behaviour reported across the network whilst performance was not quite at the target levels.

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In Pictures: Latest from Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

With the quieter period continuing at Beamish a two tram service (one clockwise and one anti-clockwise) continues to suffice at most times on the tramway with Thursday 17th October seeing Blackpool 31 running clockwise and Sheffield 264 anti-clockwise. Meanwhile, the big transport infrastructure project remains the new bus depot with the main structure now in place and fitting out of the interior to follow ahead of an official opening at a date to be announced.

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West Midlands Metro launch survey

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Passengers who travel on the West Midlands Metro are being asked for their opinions on the service with the launch of an online survey. The survey is looking for views on the service offered on the West Midlands Metro including the tramstop, conditions on board the tram, information available on the tram service (at the stops, on the trams and elsewhere) and the quality of service (including punctuality and length of time they have to wait for the trams).

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 1

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today’s delve into the archives finds us in the autumn of 1974 with a view of the very first OMO Car.

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Progress continues on Bluebird restoration

Posted on Monday 21 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s the major restoration project that has been ongoing in Crich’s conservation workshop since June 2014 and recently there has been some more excellent progress on London County Council 1, or Bluebird if you prefer.

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Tram and car collide on NET

Posted on Monday 21 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

A woman had to be taken to hospital for treatment after her car was involved in a collision between Queens Walk and Wilford Village tramstops on Nottingham Express Transit’s line to Clifton South on Sunday 13th October. The collision happened at approximately 1000 and led to NET’s service being suspended between those two stops until 1130. During the disruption passengers were advised to walk between the two stops to continue their journeys.

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Around the World in Trams: Milan 1821

Posted on Sunday 20 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

After a few weeks of random tram images we settle in Milan for the next few weeks as we continue our series on trams from outside of the British Isles.

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