Trams in the works at Seaton

Posted on Friday 30 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Obviously an important part of any tramway is the maintenance of the tram fleet and the Seaton Tramway in Devon is no different. Recently three trams have been – or are going – through the works at Riverside Depot with a longer term project in 19 having been joined by 16 and then 12.

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In Pictures: Doors opened to Rigby Road Depot

Posted on Thursday 29 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

As part of the latest Gold weekend of heritage tram operation in Blackpool, Rigby Road Depot held an open day on Sunday 25th August allowing the public access beyond the gates to see the trams both not needed for service on the day and those usually tucked up safely in the shed awaiting their chance to be restored for service. As well as the trams there were some other vintage vehicles on display along with trade stalls and model trams.

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In Pictures: Always a tram in sight – Edinburgh style!

Posted on Thursday 29 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

They always used to say that if you went to Blackpool there was always a tram in sight and recently that seems to have been the case in Edinburgh with an intensive tram service being operated for a number of events taking place in the city. On top of the Edinburgh Festivals – which, of course, included all night services on Fridays and Saturdays – Saturday 24th August also saw a Rugby international take place at Murrayfield which, with its adjacent tram stop, often brings extra passengers to the network. To cater for the crowds on this busy day extra trams were laid on which gave the unusual sight of trams waiting outside tram stops from the previous one to depart and short-running to get the trams into the right place for where the crowds either were or wanted to be. Roy Calderwood captured the following photos of this day.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Marton VAMBAC 11 & Blackpool Standard 159

Posted on Thursday 29 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Not only do we stay at the East Anglia Transport Museum this week but we also feature the same tram as we saw last week, although this time it is joined by a fellow Blackpool tram. The two trams in question are Marton VAMBAC 11 and Standard 159.

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In Pictures: New adverts for two trams in Edinburgh

Posted on Wednesday 28 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

The ever changing scene of adverts being carried on trams in Edinburgh certainly keeps us in news with the latest new advertiser on the tramway being Spotify with both 262 and 267 being seen in identical designs, with different colours held on each side.

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In Pictures: Trackwork moves to University

Posted on Wednesday 28 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its been a long haul but we are almost there with rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram with the final phase of 2019 now underway close to the stop at University, affecting both Blue and Yellow route services. The work being undertaken is on the city side of the stop at University which means no trams are travelling any further than Cathedral with services being replaced by buses (the bus service runs to Fitzalan Square). This phase of work is due to be completed on Friday 30th August after which it should be full steam ahead for the remainder of 2019 on Supertram. Stuart Cooke with the photos of the latest work.

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Boy taken to hospital after getting trapped under tram on Blackpool Prom

Posted on Wednesday 28 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

A 14 year old boy has been taken to hospital after he became trapped under a tram near Waterloo Road on Blackpool Promenade during the Ride the Lights event on Tuesday 27th August at approximately 2150. The boy became trapped under Flexity2 001 with fire crews having to use specialist equipment to lift the tram to free him. He suffered “multiple major trauma injuries” and was taken by Paramedics to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where he has been described as being in a critical condition. Our thoughts go out to all those involved in the incident.

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In Pictures: Blackpool 001 receives Merlin attractions advert

Posted on Tuesday 27 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

It has long been a tradition in Blackpool that the various attractions in the town advertise on the trams but since the introduction of the new modern trams the only full advert liveries have been for a shopping centre (twice!), a fashion website (x2!) and a sports shop (very, very briefly!) – until now that is! First built Flexity2 001 has received a full vinyl wrap – yes, it does include window contravision – for the various Merlin run attractions along the Golden Mile with the tram debuting with this look on Monday 26th August.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro blue extended to non-battery trams

Posted on Tuesday 27 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

With all trams fitted with batteries now either in the full West Midlands Metro livery of special advert liveries the new fleet livery is now being extended to those trams which haven’t yet received the batteries on their roofs. The first such tram to enter service in blue is 34 which ran for the first time in this condition on Friday 23rd August.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Belle 731 and Warship 736

Posted on Tuesday 27 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

This week as we return to Blackpool for some another archive image we are in the 1970s for a view of two stabled illuminated trams.

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Metrolink performance down in latest figures

Posted on Monday 26 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest four week period of performance figures on Manchester Metrolink are in and it hasn’t been such a good month for the network with a fall in both punctuality and reliability although it still remains a mostly positive story as over 9 in 10 trams are reported as departing on time between 23rd June and 20th July.

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In Pictures: Livery variations on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 26 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

The past few months hasseen West Midlands Metro showing a good variety of different livery styles on the 21 strong class, with advert liveries, new fleet livery and a special livery all in evidence. Before it started to get quite so hectic with the new liveries we take a look at some of the trams in service as they were in April 2019.

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In Pictures: More from the Old Hillsborough Tram Depot

Posted on Monday 26 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

We once again head to Holme Lane in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield for another look at the location of the old Hillsborough tram depot, this time heading more into the complex which now houses two doctors practices, as well as some old tram track! Stuart Cooke with the images.

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Around the World in Trams: Prague 9051

Posted on Sunday 25 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

We stay in the Czech Republic for this week’s worldwide tram image with another view from Prague.

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UK Tram put a case forward for investment in light rail

Posted on Sunday 25 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

UK Tram – a not-for-profit organisation who bring together all organisations with an interest in the future development of light rail in the UK – have recently released a new video putting forward the case for more investment in light rail extoling the virtues of those networks already in operation across the country.

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Another update on Blackpool tram restorations

Posted on Sunday 25 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Whilst all eyes are on the continuing work to bring Standard 143 back to operational condition ahead of its official launch into service on Monday 23rd September there are also other projects continuing in the background as preparations are made to provide an even more varied selection of trams. This includes two Coronation Cars, one of which remains in Blackpool but the other is in Heywood where it has been receiving attention to its bogies.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 31’s accident damage

Posted on Saturday 24 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Monday 19th August saw a serious road traffic collision on Bilston Road in Wolverhampton which led to a car ending up on its roof and the front section of West Midlands Metro 31 being derailed and suffering major damage in the impact. Fortunately no serious injuries were reported with four on the tram – including the driver – receiving treatment at the scene but not needing to go to hospital whilst the driver of the car was cut free from her vehicle and was taken to hospital but her injuries were described as non-serious.

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 207

Posted on Saturday 24 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

We continue our look at some of the trams of Nottingham Express Transit this week with another view taken on day two of the network.

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Over 170,000 contactless journeys made on Metrolink in first four weeks

Posted on Saturday 24 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

It seems that the advent of contactless payments on Manchester Metrolink has been popular with over 170,000 journeys made on the network using the new system within the first four weeks between Monday 15th July and Sunday 11th August. The system has proved especially popular on event days but there have been some issues with some passengers forgetting to touch out at the end of their journeys resulting in being paid the maximum single journey fare.

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In Pictures: Box 40’s time drawing to an end at Beamish

Posted on Saturday 24 August 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its time in the northeast seems to have flown by but in a little over a week Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 will have run for the very last time at Beamish with the plan being that it will operate over the weekend of Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September before it is prepared for its trip back south to Crich and commissioning ahead of an entry into service in time for the 60th anniversary of the museum site on 21st and 22nd September. A recent mileage extension agreed with Crich has meant that 40 has seen more use of late but with the summer holidays in full swing the higher capacity trams have been preferred. In this article we take a look at 40 resting around the depot fan. Photos by Trevor Hall.

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