Major track replacement work in Gateshead

Posted on Friday 5 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Services on the Tyne and Wear Metro will be amended over three weekends over the next month as part of a project to replace 1.6km of track between Gateshead Stadium and Felling. The first closure will be over the weekend of 13th and 14th April with further closures over the Easter and May Day Bank Holiday weekends.

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Standard 147 regains its name

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Andrew Waddington

It may be recalled that Blackpool Standard 147 ran for several years with the name ‘Michael Airey’. It was named after the former Body Shop manager at Blackpool Transport who managed the project to repatriate 147 from the USA and restore it to operational condition. However, the late Mr Airey’s name was removed from the tram during its last repaint as part of the work to return it to a more authentic 1930s appearance – but now it has returned!

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In Pictures: Metro 34 back out on test

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Having not been seen in service since 11th December 2018, West Midlands Metro 34 is on the comeback trail having recently seen workshop attention and started testing on the mainline. With the hoped for return to service of the tram – which has not had batteries fitted during its time out of use – this should improve reliability on the line with a continued tram shortage seen at times.

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 4

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

We head to the year 2000 for this week’s traditional tram archive image with another visit to the Great Orme Tramway in Llandudno.

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Satisfaction remains high on (some) English tramways

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest Transport Focus Tram Passenger Survey has shown that passengers continue to be satisfied on four different English tramways – although for West Midlands Metro there has been a fall in satisfaction between 2017 and 2018. The Blackpool Tramway and Stagecoach Supertram are leading the way with 97% of passengers satisfied whilst the fourth tramway to be included is Manchester Metrolink which has remained at the same level when compared to 2017.

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Seeing double with 707 & 718!

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Andrew Waddington

Since the inception of Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, no two trams have ever been outshopped in identical liveries – but that is set to change imminently with the news that Rebuilt Balloon car 707 is being painted in the ‘Millennium’ style of green and cream which it received when first rebuilt with flat ends in 1998. This will be the same as that worn by similar 718, giving an almost matching pair of modernised Balloons!

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Extra engineering works for Supertram

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

On top of the forthcoming rail replacement project there will be a small closure of Stagecoach Supertram on Sunday 7th April with no trams able to run between Sheffield Station and Fitzalan Square due to track works. This will affect trams on both the Blue and Purple routes with a replacement bus service in operation between Granville Road and Fitzalan Square or for the more able there is always the option of walking the closed section. There will be minor changes to the Blue route timetable from Fitzalan Square to Malin Bridge on this day but the same service frequency will be in place whilst the Purple route will only run between Herdings Park and Sheffield Station.

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In Pictures: New advert for Supertram 116

Posted on Tuesday 2 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram 116 has entered service in a new all over advert with XPO Logistics the sponsor of the tram. In a fairly simple design the tram is completed in white on each end section with the central section (plus part of each end) and the doors in red. There is also limited use of contravision of some central windows plus some simple transfers on other windows.

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In Pictures: New platform at Talbot Square

Posted on Tuesday 2 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Whilst work on the Blackpool North Railway Station extension is slowing down with the high-profile Wilkinson’s store still being in the way of the completion of the line and construction of the terminus (as well as the overhead actually being strung) there is still some progress to report, particularly in Talbot Square itself where the single platform – minus any furniture such as shelters – has now been completed. Mind you, you could be mistaken for thinking it was just a part of the pavement! Peter Dockerty with the photo.

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Picture in Time: Rigby Road Depot, Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 2 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks we will be featuring a selection of images taken at Blackpool’s Rigby Road Depot in May 1997. At a time when there was no problem with enthusiasts wandering in to look at the trams we see some long-lost liveries and trams no longer operational.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams 274 joins the Parabola club

Posted on Monday 1 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Having been running in standard fleet livery since the start of March, Edinburgh Trams 274 has become the latest tram to receive an advertising livery for Parabola – a company involved in development around Edinburgh including at Edinburgh Park. The vinyls on this tram are identical to those carried on 276 which was the last tram to get new adverts. Roy Calderwood captured these images.

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Metro modernisation reaches £300m

Posted on Monday 1 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Since 2010 more than £300m has been invested in modernising the Tyne and Wear Metro and that is just the start with a new fleet of trains set to arrive from 2021 plus a new bid for more funding is now being prepared to continue to invest in the network. The £300m milestone was reached over the past few weeks with the replacement of two aging bridges which saw two three day service closures.

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Around the World in Trams: Palermo 08

Posted on Sunday 31 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Still in Palermo for this week’s photos from outside of the British Isles as we again feature a couple of images of Flexity Outlook 08.

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Chance to join new Metro Matters forum

Posted on Sunday 31 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Do you travel regularly on the West Midlands Metro? Well if you do now is the chance to have your say on the future of the service with a new “Metro Matters” forum being created to provide tram users with direct contact with the Metro management team and to give feedback on existing services and new initiatives.

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In Pictures: Change of pairing for unrefurbished Metro Cars

Posted on Sunday 31 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we mentioned a few weeks ago of the Metro Cars currently in service on the Tyne and Wear Metro there are four which weren’t refurbished and as such can only interwork between themselves. Last time we saw them the two prototypes – 4001 and 4002 – were being used together but this has now changed with Emirates all over advert car 4083 now paired with 4002. Unusually these cars were allocated to a non-peak working on Monday 25th March – usually the non-refurbished cars are usually only used on peak workings. The fourth unrefurbished car – 4040 – remains out of service meaning that 4001 is also unable to be used.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 31 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

There are a couple of new Photo Galleries online for you now:

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Progress continues to made on Trafford Park line

Posted on Saturday 30 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may not be 2020 until trams are due to run on the line but excellent progress continues to be made with construction of Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park line, enough progress for another press event to take place showing how the new stops are coming along! Of the six new stops being constructed five now have platforms and shelters whilst the final one – at EventCity – is due to see its platforms put in place during April.

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 12 & 03

Posted on Saturday 30 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

A pair of Siemens-Duewag trams feature in today’s edition of Picture in Time as we stay in Sheffield.

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NET goes green with new energy contract

Posted on Saturday 30 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

All power on Nottingham Express Transit will be “green electricity” following the award of a new multi million contract to Robin Hood Energy. The new deal will start from 1st April and replaces the current deal which is said to be from a “big six energy provider”.

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Meet the Trammers events back for 2019

Posted on Saturday 30 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

The popular Meet the Trammers event will be back again for the 2019 season allowing participants to see behind the scenes at the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’s Summer Hill Stables. Not only does this give the chance to meet some of the Trammers not hauling the services at that time but it is also gives an insight into what goes on to operate the service as well as a bit of the lengthy history of the line. All tours are free of charge but advanced booking is recommended as places are limited.

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