Picture in Time: Tyne and Wear Metro 4075

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of Picture in Time we are again looking at a Metro Car seen during the 30th anniversary Open Day at South Gosforth Depot.

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In Pictures: Winter trackwork at Crich

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We reported a couple of days ago about how winter maintenance had got underway at Crich and now we bring you photographic evidence! As we mentioned in that previous article this winter will see the double track between the stop at Victoria Park and the blue staff post where the track goes from double to single being replaced and good progress has already been made on removing the Wakebridge bound track with attention now turned towards preparing the trackbed for the laying of new track.

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In Pictures: More from the Jasper Carrott naming

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we reported on last week, Wednesday 13th November saw the latest naming on the West Midlands Metro with 28 being named Jasper Carrott in a special ceremony which took place at the new Town Hall stop on the Westside extension. In this additional pictorial we take a further look at the tram arriving and being named with images coming from Andy Walters.

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Fare increases to be discussed for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 22 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

One thing almost as certain as death and taxes is public transport fare increases and the latest system to announce their new fares for 2020 has been Manchester Metrolink. It will be a mixed bag for travellers on Metrolink with an average 2.2% increase proposed including single fares being frozen at 2019 prices with some fares going up by around 4%.

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New Tram-Train timetable to be introduced – but only after reduction

Posted on Friday 22 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 15th December will see a new timetable introduced for Tram-Train services between Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate – with services now running later throughout the week. There will also be some frequency changes to early morning services along with a new promotional after 2000 fare also being introduced. But before we get there it has been announced that the service will be down to two an hour until Friday 13th December.

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Metro performance stats out – at least they’re better than last year!

Posted on Friday 22 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

You may well be getting a bit bored reading about the continued travails of the service on the Tyne and Wear Metro (probably not as much as those trying to travel on it each day though!) but the latest performance statistics have recently been released which has shown a fall since the previous four weeks, although the positive spin on it is that it is still better than 12 months previously!

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Supertram Citylink tram-train returns

Posted on Thursday 21 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

There are now seven Citylink tram-train vehicles back in Sheffield once more following the return of 399 204 (in reality two thirds 204, one third 202) after the completion of accident damage repairs. The vehicle had been away in Spain for the best part of nine months after two separate collisions caused damage to the two separate trams which saw one good Citylink tram created from the available sections.

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Winter maintenance underway at Crich

Posted on Thursday 21 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may have been only a few weeks since the last tram ran for 2019 at the Crich Tramway Village but already work is underway on the winter maintenance with more track set to be relaid following on from the major project last winter at Glory Mine.

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Picture in Time: Brussels 9062

Posted on Thursday 21 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We may have finished our look at the trams running at the Glasgow Garden Festival last week (for now at least, we have more coming to you at some point in 2020!) but that doesn’t mean we are finished with trams in Scotland for our archive photo series as its off to Summerlee this week.

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Illuminated Tram comes to Heaton Park!

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Whilst the Heaton Park Tramway’s main operating season came to an end on Sunday 17th November which saw a three car service operate during the Season Swansong that isn’t quite the end for the hardworking volunteers as they will be supporting the Lightopia event in the park with evening services every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 1700 and 2130 – and it will include their very own illuminated tram in the form of Blackpool 623!

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In Pictures: Testing continues on Trafford Park line

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The first half of 2020 will see the latest – and for now last – piece of the Manchester Metrolink jigsaw open with trams able to run from Pomona to Trafford Centre for the first time. But before then there will be extensive testing and commissioning runs and the past week has seen plenty of this going on, as we initially reported last week, another set of testing took place during the day on Sunday 17th November between Pomona and Wharfside with the purpose of testing the signalling system at the Pomona junction between the Trafford Park and Eccles lines.

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In Preview: Blackpool Winter Gold – 23rd & 24th November

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may be November and we may be turning our thoughts to Christmas (and the inevitable Santa Specials at various tramways across the country) but before then the Heritage Tram Tour team at Blackpool haven’t finished for the year yet with the final intensive Gold weekend of 2019 taking place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November. As with all Winter Gold weekends the timetable sees trams running all the way from Starr Gate to Fleetwood and to add a bit of interest for anyone in Blackpool the night before, the Western Train will be running a couple of trips to Fleetwood on Friday 22nd November too.

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Blackpool Brush 298 to return to Crich to start restoration

Posted on Tuesday 19 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The first planned move of a tram in 2020 has been confirmed, although this will not a be a mere tram loan as it will see Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298 return to Crich from the Tramway Museum Society’s Clay Cross store for a start to be made on its full restoration to original 1937 condition – set to be the only Brush Car preserved in this condition.

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In Pictures: Driver Training starts on Birmingham Westside extension as new timetable and fares announced

Posted on Tuesday 19 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Preparations for the start of passenger services on the first section of West Midlands Metro’s Birmingham Westside extension have stepped up a pace this week with the start of driver training. At the same time it has been announced that a new timetable will be introduced onto the entire line from 1st December whilst revised fares will be in place from 8th December – the date public services are expected to start.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40

Posted on Tuesday 19 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another dip into the archives from 2007 for this edition of Picture in Time as we head back to Blackpool for a view of a tram which has since left the resort.

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In Pictures: Work continues at Bradley Lane

Posted on Monday 18 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We haven’t paid a visit to Bradley Lane on the West Midlands Metro for a while where work has been ongoing on constructing a new Park and Ride site since October 2018. Originally due to open in the summer of 2019 the project has been delayed but good progress is now being made with both the access and hard standing being put into place. The result will see a 196 space car park giving plenty of parking for travellers wishing to use the Metro to get into either Birmingham or Wolverhampton. Photos from Andy Walters.

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In Pictures: Metrolink at twilight

Posted on Monday 18 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

As the nights draw in, the chance to get photos of trams in twilight and the dark increases with even late afternoon seeing very little natural light in the sky. Armed with his camera on 12th November, Steve Hyde was in Manchester City Centre and took a few photos of Metrolink at St Peter’s Square and Deansgate-Castlefield.

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Nexus find extra cash – two more years of services at current level now possible

Posted on Monday 18 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We recently brought the news that Nexus were concerned that without a major input of extra cash they would not be able to operate the service at the current levels (Tyne and Wear Metro, ferries and buses) beyond 2021 but now the latest update, as reported in the local media in the northeast, says they have now revaluated their pension surplus which could give an extra £3.4million a year and thus reduce the need to hit the reserves. If this does happen it is said that it will be 2022 that a review of services would be needed.

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Around the World in Trams: Milan 7141

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Again this week’s overseas tram image comes from Milan as we continue our brief look at the trams operating in that Italian city.

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In Pictures: 34 does return to service as the batteries keep on coming

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We mentioned a few days ago that there had been reports that 34 had entered service with batteries fitted but had no confirmation, well even if it hadn’t been used before it certainly has now! With both 22 and 34 having entered service during the past week it does now mean that there have been 16 of the 21 strong Urbos3 class which have operated in passenger service with batteries fitted and by our maths that means there are just five more to go!

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