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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In Pictures: Focus on the final Blackpool Gold weekend on the year

Posted on Tuesday 26 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November saw the last Gold weekend of heritage operation in Blackpool with both days seeing a six tram service running all the way between Starr Gate and Fleetwood. The Winter Gold weekends see the most intensive service to Starr Gate (the Flexity service is running at a lower frequency giving more opportunity to fit in the heritage trams down New South Promenade) with all six trams running at least one journey “all the way” north to Fleetwood.

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In Pictures: New American Express advert for 270 (and 263 too!)

Posted on Tuesday 26 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The loss of adverts on Edinburgh Trams for American Express didn’t last long as just a couple of weeks after the first design was removed (from 269 and 270 anyway) a new style of advert has been applied, initially to 270 and then to 263. For the latter tram this has meant that it has lost its long-standing adverts for C R Smith (from Lossiemouth to Kinross). The new advert is a mainly white design which almost makes it look as if it is a full advert livery as the white of the fleet livery now matches! Roy Calderwood has sent us the following photos.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Open Top Balloon 706

Posted on Tuesday 26 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its 2007 again for this last Blackpool Picture in Time of 2019! This time around we feature a much missed tram from the operational fleet, known better by most by her name of Princess Alice.

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Wallasey 78 to celebrate the 86th anniversary of Walasey’s Last Tram

Posted on Monday 25 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its not an anniversary you often see celebrated but on Sunday 1st December the Wirral Transport Museum and Heritage Tramway will be commemorating the 86th anniversary of the last Wallasey tram with a special event taking place in the afternoon and also with a special evening service.

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Could free tram travel for over 60s be removed from Edinburgh Trams?

Posted on Monday 25 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Recent reports in the Edinburgh Evening News are suggesting that the free concessionary travel on Edinburgh Trams could be removed as part of the latest round of Council savings. The SNP and Labour coalition on the City of Edinburgh Council are said to be considering the plan which would save £690,000 a year.

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Metro Matters members get a guided tour of Westside extension

Posted on Monday 25 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

You may recall earlier this year that the West Midlands Metro were looking for travellers on the system to sign up to become a member of a new customer forum, to be known as Metro Matters. Well, that forum is now up and running and members were recently invited to take a guided tour of the Birmingham Westside extension ahead of its opening next month.

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Around the World in Trams: Milan 7612

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its Milan for one final time this week as we continue our series looking at trams from around the world.

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In Pictures: Antlers return to Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we approach the countdown to Christmas with towns and cities across the UK switching on their festive lights with some of the bigger cities also having Christmas Markets to traipse round looking for that special gift it is also time for some of our tramways to get into the spirit and one of the first to do so is Edinburgh Trams. You may remember last year a number of trams not only received antlers on the sides but were also named after Santa’s reindeer and it looks set to the same again this year with 269 being spotted just so recently.

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Apprentices appointed on Tyne and Wear Metro

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Nexus’ apprentice scheme is going from strength to strength as they seek to address the dual challenges of an ageing workforce and a national engineering skills shortage. 54 apprentices have been employed since 2013 with most going on to secure permanent full-time employment after completing their apprenticeships.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

As well as the launch of the 2019 Tram of the Year contest (see article below) we also bring you another couple of Photo Galleries this week:

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It’s back! Tram of the Year returns – nominations now open!

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The end of November is traditionally the time of year when we start to take a look back at the previous 12 months and to this end today marks the launch of the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2019 as we seek to anoint the Tram (Traditional), Tram (Modern), Event and Tramway of the Year – and the final decision will be yours! Lat year we saw the Manx Electric Railway dominate with “Ratchet” car 14, Stagecoach Supertram 399 203, Manx Electric Railway 125th anniversary and the Manx Electric Railway voted the most popular in each of the categories but what has done enough in 2019?

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Metro fares to rise but new family ticket to be introduced

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

2020 fare announcements just keep on a coming! The latest system to make their announcement is the Tyne and Wear Metro where there will, once again, be fare increases with Single and Day tickets set to rise by 10p but more positive news is the freezing of all tickets for those aged 18 and savings for Pop Pay As You Go smartcard holders. There will also be a new family ticket introduced for use at weekends.

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