Keolis Amey Metrolink criticised over Ashton “tram dispatch accident”

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

On Tuesday 12th March 2019 a tram passenger – with impaired mobility – fell from the platform at Ashton-under-Lyne after the tram he was leaning against departed from the stop with the driver seemingly not noticing him before leaving. After an investigation the RAIB have now released a report with operators of Metrolink, Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM), criticised for their lack of instructions or guidance to drivers on how to use the side view CCTV or what to do when they encounter an impaired passenger.

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15 Years Apart: Blackpool Balloon 713

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Throughout December we will be taking a look into the archives once again in this new 32 part series scheduled to be published each day at 1000 – 15 Years Apart. “As it says on the tin” we will be taking a look at trams, 15 years apart with the first image taken in 2004 and the second during 2019. It will be a series which does have a fair Blackpool bias as many of the trams running there in 2004 look different in 2019 so that we can actually see some changes as other editions of the series it will be a case of “I can’t really see any differences!” We will also feature modern trams although systems like Manchester Metrolink aren’t included as the current fleet wasn’t around back in 2004! In this first part we head to Blackpool for views of Balloon 713.

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Tram of the Year 2019 – Voting is now open!

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Following the last week of nominations we ca now announce that voting for the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2019 is now open! You can vote once in each category (multiple votes will be removed) between now and Saturday 11th January 2020 – but what has made the final shortlist in each of the categories? Read on to find out!

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its our birthday (17 today!) and we have a busy update for you!

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Grand Central platform reopens as testing of Westside extension steps up

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

After 14 months out of use the Wolverhampton bound platform at Grand Central will reopen to passengers from Sunday 1st December – the first day of the new timetable and also expected to be the first day of the full shadow service onto the Birmingham Westside extension.

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Picture in Time: Tyne and Wear Metro South Gosforth Depot

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the final edition of Picture in Time in 2019 we head back to the South Gosforth Open Day of the Tyne and Wear Metro for a general view of the outside sidings.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh 251 becomes the third American Express tram

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

It would seem that American Express’ advertising contract on Edinburgh Trams is always for three trams as following hot on the heels of the new white based advert being applied to 263 and 270 comes the same design on 251. 251 was previously in full fleet livery following the removal of its advert for Edinburgh Live at the end of October.

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Car hits tram at Northern Moor

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2019 by Gareth Prior

There were delays to Manchester Metrolink services on Friday 29th November after a car hit a tram at Northern Moor on the Airport line. The collision happened at around 1010 and judging by photos of the incident the car hit the side of M5000 3106 at a road crossing with the tram heading into Manchester City Centre. No injuries were reported but Metrolink services were suspended for a time between Rounthorn and Sale Water Park.

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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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