Performance up on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

After a couple of periods where performance had been on a small decrease there is more positive news to report on Manchester Metrolink where it has now increased in the latest period which ran between 15th September and 12th October.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Just the one Photo Gallery for you this week:

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New safety videos released as WMM prepares to expand testing

Posted on Saturday 16 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

With testing and driver training on the Birmingham Westside extension set to expand in the coming weeks, West Midlands Metro and the Midland Metro Alliance have released a series of safety videos giving simple tips on how to stay safe when going around Birmingham City Centre.

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Picture in Time: Tyne and Wear Metro 4055

Posted on Saturday 16 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back to the 30th anniversary depot open day at the Tyne and Wear Metro facility in South Gosforth for this latest look into the archives.

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Free trams back for Hogmanay

Posted on Saturday 16 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams have confirmed that they will once again be providing a free overnight tram service for Hogmanay – the fourth year in a row they have done so. Free trams will run between West End and the Airport (the line will be closed from West End to York Place) every 20 minutes from midnight on 31st December and 0500 on 1st January 2020 with support from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay producer, Underbelly, to make it possible.

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Three hour service suspension for Blackpool Tramway after overhead problems

Posted on Saturday 16 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

There was a complete suspension of the Blackpool Tramway service for three hours on Tuesday 12th November to allow for emergency repairs to the overhead to take place. It is not known what caused the problems but the damage was severe enough to prevent any trams running for three hours until shortly after 1100. A replacement bus service was put into operation during the disruption running as close to timetable as possible.

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In Pictures: An interloper in the tram depot at Beamish

Posted on Friday 15 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

You get rid of one set of squatters and then another one turns up! That’s how it is in the tram depot at Beamish with the buses now having left the building for their all new garage but the Steam Elephant from the Pockerley Waggonway has now turned up for a visit with it being positioned at the very rear of the depot. It has taken the place formerly occupied by Gateshead 52 which itself has been moved to the front of road 1, its first move for quite some time and allowing its condition to be seen in more detail.

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15% pay rise rejected by Tyne & Wear Metro drivers

Posted on Friday 15 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Strike action could be on the cards on the Tyne and Wear Metro after drivers represented by the RMT and ASLEF unions rejected a proposed pay rise of 15% over two years; on top of the usual cost of living increase. In announcing the news of the rejection Nexus, who operate the Metro, said they were astonished at the rejection whilst urging the unions to get back around the table to discuss the offer further.

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In Pictures: New safety features on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 15 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Several new safety features are continuing to be installed along the tramway in Edinburgh in the aftermath of the RAIB report into the tragic death of Carlos Correa who died when he was struck by a tram at Saughton in Edinburgh as he crossed the tramway. Various pedestrian crossings on the reserved sections of the tramway are seeing the installation of these new features which include anti-trespass rubber pyramid pads, traditional cattle type grids and chicane bollards to warn pedestrians as they approach the tramway.

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In Pictures: 28 named Jasper Carrot on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Jasper Carrot, the comedy legend who comes from and still lives in Birmingham, has become the latest recipient to have his name adorned on a West Midlands Metro tram after a special ceremony held on Wednesday 13th November at the Town Hall stop on the new Westside extension. 28 was the tram chosen for its honour and not only did it receive the name it also became the first tram to run on the extension with passengers on board with the VIP naming party arriving at the ceremony on board the tram.

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Trams return to Meadowhall – but still no tram-train service

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Yellow route trams are now able to run the full route again after an engineering survey was carried out on the tram bridge at Tinsley clearing this to carry trams once more. No trams had been able to run beyond Meadowhall South since Thursday 7th November thanks to a major deluge of rain led the level of the River Don to rise dramatically causing concerns over the structure of the bridge.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 606

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

The final of the five trams to run at the Glasgow Garden Festival was also the only tram which wasn’t considered as preserved and the only “foreign” tram to make an appearance – it was Blackpool Boat 606.

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In Pictures: The rainbow fades on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Each year at the end of August Manchester Metrolink decorate some of their trams to celebrate the city’s Pride event under the banner of #RainbowTram. But now as we are in November the rainbow has faded (in truth it failed last month) and those trams which had received the rainbow spots and rainbow stripes on the ends are back into standard fleet livery, including 3118 as seen in the below photo.

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Fare changes on Luas

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Monthly and annual tickets on Dublin’s Luas tram network will go up from 1st December it has been announced by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in the first part of their fare determination. Cash and TFI Leap ticket price changes will be announced in February 2020 for application from the end of the following month.

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In Pictures: Sheffield pauses to remember

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

In keeping with the country pausing to remember those who have lost their lives in conflicts many tramways in the UK paused for two minutes on Monday 11th November at 1100 (when it was safe to do so) as a mark of respect. One such tramway was Stagecoach Supertram when not only did the trams come to a halt but also had special destination displays saying “Lest We Forget” as seen in the following pictures by Stuart Cooke.

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First tram runs on Trafford Park line

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Initial testing has new commenced on Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park line with the first trams running between Pomona and Warren Bruce Road overnight on Sunday 10th November. This marks the start of extensive commissioning, testing and driver training which will take place over the coming months ahead of the line opening in the first half of 2020.

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In Pictures: 22 enters service on Metro

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

Despite the fact it has been fitted with batteries for a number of weeks, 22 has previously carried passengers but that all changed on Tuesday 12th November when it was pressed into service for the first time – becoming either the 15th or 16th battery operated tram to run! The reason for the either/or is that 34, which had only recently been noted as being fitted, has been reported as being used the previous day but we don’t have confirmation of this one way for certain just yet.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 700

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

This edition of Picture in Time again lands in Blackpool in 2007 and this time we take a look at the always popular first Balloon Car – 700.

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In Pictures: Metrolink stops get a makeover – Shudehill

Posted on Monday 11 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

We’ve already seen the ongoing work at Cornbrook as that key interchange stop gets a makeover but one stop which has already seen the conclusion of its own refurbishment project is Shudehill. Located between Victoria and Market Street on Manchester Metrolink’s original city crossing this stop was a later addition to the network and is located adjacent to a bus station which again makes this a fairly key interchange for the public making their way around the region by public transport. During September the stop was closed to allow the work to take place with trams continuing to run past the platforms but not stopping to allow passengers on or off. Steve Hyde’s photo update shows the work which took place.

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In Pictures: Autumn comes to Beamish

Posted on Monday 11 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

With the new bus garage at Beamish now completed on the exterior and work underway on final fitting out the buses have left the tram depot giving plenty of additional space there, almost making it seem empty on the far right hand side where once there were lots of buses! Beamish remains open every day up until Christmas and that means that the UK’s hardest working heritage trams are still required, including on Thursday 7th November when Sunderland 16 and Sheffield 264 operated around the tramway circuit as seen in the below photos from Trevor Hall.

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