In Pictures: More construction work for Sheffield Tram-Train pilot

Posted on Wednesday 3 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

between Sheffield and Rotherham to be announced it would seem that all the infrastructure isn’t actually in place just yet as the below photos shows. During a visit on Monday 24th September Mike Haddon found that there was a contractors compound around the stop at Parkgate with pedestrian access to the platform being constructed. Quite why it has taken until a mere weeks before services are anticipated to begin for this to be built it unknown!

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In Pictures: Doors Open Day at Edinburgh’s Gogar Depot

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 29th September gave the public a rare chance – indeed it was the first time since the system opened that it had been possible – to see behind the scenes of Edinburgh Trams’ Gogar Depot as part of the Doors Open Day. The pre-booked tours saw small groups guided around the depot complex and shown around each section of the depot with senior staff on hand to let participants know more about the operations.

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Easy Jet advert debuts in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

After a period without any new adverts on Manchester Metrolink 3052 has been unveiled in new vinyls for Easy Jet. Featuring the Easy Jet house colour of orange the tram also features an image of a swimming pool urging people to get “All Abroad”. And yes as with all other adverts applied on Metrolink contravision does feature on all passenger windows with just the doors left clear. Standard fleet livery remains on the ends.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Illuminated Rocket 732

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

We continue our look at the 1960s illuminated trams of Blackpool for this edition of Picture in Time with the always popular and instantly recognisable Rocket the focus this time around.

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Arrest made over Metrolink ticket machine tampering

Posted on Monday 1 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

A 57 year old man had been arrested – and remains under investigation, although released – on suspicion of theft after he was discovered tampering with a ticket machine on Manchester Metrolink.

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In Review: The new Blackpool Tram Shop

Posted on Monday 1 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Anyone who has visited Blackpool this year can’t help to have noticed that a long-time fixture at the head of North Pier has gone – the Blackpool Tram Shop. A haunt of many enthusiasts to see what tram related products they could pick up when they are in town the shop closed at the end of 2017 and then reopened out of town in July of this year. Our intrepid reporter went on a trip during his recent visit to Blackpool to check out the new shop and to see just how easy it is to get to by public transport.

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Revised designs for Edinburgh Trams extension to be unveiled

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The major consultation exercise over the proposed extension of Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven is continuing at a pace with another series of drop-in events set to take place revealing some revisions to the design of the layout of the line. These revisions have come following the previous round of consultation which saw 8,000 separate pieces of feedback received.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

We continue coverage from the Isle of Man and the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary events:

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Event Review: A stunning Cavalcade as MER celebrates its birthday in style

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

It was 7th September 1893 that the Manx Electric Railway opened between Derby Castle and Groudle and exactly 125 years later celebrations to mark the occasion reached their zenith with a stunning Cavalcade of 14 motors, 12 passenger trailers, 2 wagons, 2 vans and a tower wagon the centrepiece of the seventh day of the event.

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Event Review: MER goes back to its beginnings and 1975

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Days five and six of the 125th Anniversary events saw the Manx Electric Railway look back with Wednesday 5th seeing Groudle shuttle with the original trams 1 and 2 (plus 3!) in action whilst Thursday 6th it was back to 1975. Read on for a full review.

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In Pictures: Grimsby & Immingham 26 under overhaul

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Having been withdrawn from service for a start to be made on its overhaul in January 2016 Grimsby & Immingham 26 – or Gateshead 10 as it will be again once the work is completed – is still under attention at Beamish with the tram currently lifted at the very rear of the tram depot. The work to return the car to service still has quite some way to go and it isn’t expected that 10 will be back in action for the foreseeable future.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 159

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time heads off to East Anglia for a view of a long standing member of the operational tram fleet – Blackpool Standard 159.

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RAIB release results of investigation into Supertram speeding incident

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The RAIB have concluded that a driver of a tram in Sheffield who approached Middlewood terminus on 19th July 2018 at a too high a speed – causing injuries to two passengers and a door to open slightly – had lost awareness of where he was on the line as they release their latest investigation report. The tram was travelling at over double the permitted line speed on the curve leading to the terminus when the incident happened.

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In Pictures: New location of fleet numbers on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 28 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Ever since Edinburgh Trams started applying adverts there has been the issue of the fact the adverts have covered the main fleet number, making identification of the trams in the traditional three quarter photo difficult. However, in recent months some trams have started to receive their fleet number in a new position just over the destination screen, although still a relatively small size which tests the eyesight to identify the trams still. The below photos from Trevor Hall show the evolution of the fleet number position.

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Is the future of Supertram in doubt?

Posted on Friday 28 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Since 1994 Sheffield has enjoyed the benefits of a tramway following the start of service on the Supertram network but the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) have now warned that unless £230 million worth of funding can be secured the whole system may have to close permanently. The warning has come as part of a new consultation asking residents, businesses and visitors to the area for their views on what they see as the best future for the network.

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Day of celebrations to mark last use of historic horse tramway alignment

Posted on Thursday 27 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 21st October will be a historic day for the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway as it is due to be the last day the current full double track alignment between Derby Castle and the Sea Terminal will be in use. To celebrate the fact – although the Department of Infrastructure are celebrating “new beginnings” rather than looking back – there will a series of special events on the last day – including a premium priced final service with double decker 18.

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In Pictures: Progress on North Station extension

Posted on Thursday 27 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Work to extend the Blackpool Tramway the short distance up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station is continuing with the first new track now in situ although there is also still evidence of some of the old tram track which has been uncovered in preparing the surface for the laying of new track. The below photos show the situation as at Monday 24th September.

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Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 96+01

Posted on Thursday 27 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

A trip to London’s Docklands for this edition of Picture in Time with an image of two of the B2K units in service back in 2004.

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In Pictures: Metrolink Trafford Park line construction progress

Posted on Wednesday 26 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Work on constructing the Manchester Metrolink extension to Trafford Park is continuing at a good pace with various worksites along the length of the line. We reported earlier this month on the installation of a bridge across the Bridgewater Canal and a timelapse video of this is now available from TfGM. In this pictorial we take a look at progress across the line, which is due to open in 2020 with services running from Trafford Centre to Crumpsall. Steve Hyde with the photos.

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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway to end 2018 season early

Posted on Wednesday 26 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the 2018 operating season on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will end earlier than planned with the last trams now due to run on Sunday 21st October. It had originally been planned that trams would continue running for a further two weeks but because of the start of the Prom development works the date has been changed. The 2019 season is still scheduled to start on Thursday 25th April although this could be subject to change.

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