Innovative training scheme boosts West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 29 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

Recruitment for the expanding West Midlands Metro network has recently received a boost thanks to an innovative training scheme. West Midlands Metro have joined forces with two local colleges to drive an initiative aimed at equipping people with the skills needed to apply for jobs which are currently being created on the network.

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In Pictures: The new look Glory Mine

Posted on Monday 29 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

We’ve already taken a brief look at the new look Glory Mine terminus at Crich and in this pictorial we take a more detailed view of the slightly revised layout including the old siding still in situ although unconnected. Photos from Peter Narramore.

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Deansgate-Castlefield and 2CC praised for their sustainability

Posted on Monday 29 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

More awards for Manchester Metrolink, this time the sustainability of the new(ish) stop at Deansgate-Castlefield and also the Second City Crossing (2CC). The assessment into the sustainability of both has been undertaken over several years and both were rated as excellent in the CEEQUAL certification which looks at the projects both during and after construction.

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Around the World in Trams: Karkow 177

Posted on Sunday 28 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

Continuing our look at trams from around the world we conclude the series on trams in Krakow, Poland with the below image.

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In Pictures: Let summer begin at Beamish!

Posted on Sunday 28 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The so-called Moroccan plume heading across the UK at the moment has reached the northeast at Beamish which not only means its time for the open trams but is also time, especially at the start of long school summer holidays, for a major increase in visitors – it is after all educational and fun! Tuesday 23rd July saw open toppers Blackpool 31 and Newcastle 114 in service along with Sheffield 264 (with only two fully open cars the open balcony of 264 makes it popular on decent weather days as well).

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Fares to increase in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 28 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

From Sunday 4th August it will cost you more to travel on Blackpool’s modern trams and buses following the announcement of new fares by Blackpool Transport. The popular 24 hour ticket will now cost you £6 on board the tram or bus (015’s advert will have to change again!) up from £5.50 with other increase also set to be introduced from this date. Even after the rise in prices the cheapest way to buy your ticket will still be through the Blackpool Transport Mobile App.

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Man dies after being hit by a tram

Posted on Sunday 28 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

A man in his 30s has died after being hit by a tram in West Didsbury. The tragic incident happened on Tuesday 23rd July at around 2225 close to the Burton Road tramstop with the man being pronounced dead at the scene. Greater Manchester Police confirmed details of the incident and that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

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In Pictures: New South Shields Interchange almost ready

Posted on Saturday 27 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The countdown is on for the opening of the new Tyne and Wear Metro station at South Shields, forming part of an all new transport interchange, with the first services due to call there on Sunday 4th August. With work coming to a conclusion the hoardings around the site are starting to come down allowing the public their first real view of the impressive looking modern structure.

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Picture in Time: Midland Metro 11

Posted on Saturday 27 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The year is 2014 and the system is Midland Metro as we take a look at special liveried 11 in action.

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All the Stations reach the Isle of Man

Posted on Saturday 27 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year we reported on the All the Stations team who travelled to Ireland and included all stops on Luas as part of their overall trip which also included all railway stations in the country as well. This followed on from previous high profile All the Stations Great Britain which took place in 2017. Their adventures have now continued with a recent trip to the Isle of Man seeing them complete their usual challenge – and with it being the Isle of Man this time it means quite a few trams!

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Supertram rail replacement works return

Posted on Saturday 27 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The short three day period of a full Stagecoach Supertram network is over with the rail replacement works recommencing from Monday 22nd July. This is now 2019’s area 3 which is due to only last until Friday 26th July and is seeing attention to the track around Shalesmoor. Simon Temple has been on the scene and provides the below photos for us to share.

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RAIB recommend improvements for Edinburgh Trams over fatal collision at Saughton

Posted on Friday 26 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest report to be released by the RAIB is on the fatal collision at Saughton on Edinburgh Trams back on 11th September 2018 with a number of recommendations made to improve safety at various pedestrian crossings along the line. The report doesn’t make great reading with the suggestion made that there were two main things Edinburgh Trams should have done differently to help prevent incidents like this with both the sound levels of the audible warnings on the trams and the layout of the crossing suggested for improvements.

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New Secretary of State for Transport announced

Posted on Friday 26 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

Unless you’ve been avoiding the news over the past few days you may have noticed that a new Prime Minister is now in office, Boris Johnson in case you missed it!, which has also led to a widespread cabinet reshuffle. This has included a new incumbent as Secretary of State for Transport with Grant Shapps named in the role on 24th July.

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Hot weather causes tram delays

Posted on Friday 26 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

It probably hasn’t escaped your notice if you’re in the UK at the moment but it has been a tad warm over the past few days! Whilst it is nice to have a little bit of sun and warmth (but does it need to be that warm?!) it does also have some consequences for public transport, particularly on rail. As a result of the high temperatures delays were reported on Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, Stagecoach Supertram and West Midlands Metro on Thursday 25th July.

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In Pictures: 37 goes blue on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 25 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we expected at the start of the week there are now three fully blue trams on West Midlands Metro with 37 having now been revealed as the third of the Urbos3 trams to receive the full vinyl wrap. In the process of being rebranded 37 has lost its Ozzy Osborne name leaving just the two of the trams with names.

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In Pictures: Amsterdam 474 lifted from its truck

Posted on Thursday 25 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

General maintenance of heritage trams across the country is always ongoing and rarely gets reported in depth as it just sort of happens and we take for granted that the trams continue to run whenever we may happen to visit for a ride. Sometimes this maintenance is a bit more in depth with trams having to be lifted to enable attention to their trucks and one such tram which is enjoying this work at the moment is the East Anglia Transport Museum’s Amsterdam 474 as the following photos show.

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Picture in Time: Seaton Tramway 17 & 7

Posted on Thursday 25 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

We have a double helping of trams and a double helping of photos for you in this edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at two trams – one of which looks very different now and the other which hasn’t run for a number of years.

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In Pictures: Returning friends and long journeys as Blackpool celebrates Tram Sunday weekend

Posted on Wednesday 24 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

They don’t need much of an excuse in Blackpool to have intensive heritage tram action but with Fleetwood Tram Sunday (or Transport Festival if you prefer) taking place on Sunday 21st July the whole weekend saw another Gold timetable in operation with this one having the added bonus of lots of journeys all the way to Fleetwood meaning it was very much two days for those who like lengthier trips on the heritage trams.

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The end of Liverpool’s overhead poles

Posted on Wednesday 24 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

You may remember at the start of this year we reported on the start of work to remove some of the last remaining poles which used to be used for the overhead wire of Liverpool Corporation Tramways. Now after several months of work it is sad to report that the very last of these on Utting Road in the city have been removed.

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Extra Metro services for Sunderland Airshow

Posted on Wednesday 24 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne and Wear Metro will be running extra services during the Sunderland International Airshow to help visitors get to and from the event with large crowds expected to attend. The Airshow takes place on Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July with additional trains set to run after the event concludes to help people get home again.

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