Around the World in Trams: Rostock 682

Posted on Thursday 9 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we find ourselves in Germany as we take a look a member of the tram fleet in Rostock.

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Future plans for Balloon 715 announced

Posted on Thursday 9 August 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Balloon 715 is a well-used and popular member of Blackpool’s operational heritage tram fleet, but the car is actually owned by the Fylde Transport Trust. A new deal has been announced confirming that 715 will remain on loan to Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours for at least ten years, helping to safeguard its future on the tramway.

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No strikes in Manchester after pay deal agreed

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

The threat of strikes on Manchester Metrolink has been avoided after a deal was reached on a new pay deal for drivers – and for those drivers there can be no denying it is an excellent deal. This is part of a three year deal which will see derivers with more than three years experience paid £33,000 per annum from January 2019.

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NET Charity tram tour raises funds for Crich and Forever Stars

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

A charity tram tour back in May which allowed enthusiasts the rare chance to see behind the scenes at Nottingham Express Transit’s Wilkinson Street Depot as well as to cover rare track on the network has raised £1,200 for the Crich Tramway Village and local Nottingham charity Forever Stars. This sum – raised through ticket sales – was then matched by Keolis, operators of NET, to bring a grand total of £2,400 raised for the charities.

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In Video: Tram-Train testing continues to Rotherham

Posted on Tuesday 7 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

The testing of Tram-Trains on the line to Rotherham is now in its second week with 399 202 still the vehicle of choice. There is still no official word of when a service may actually commence to Rotherham Parkgate but it must be a good sign that testing is continuing. Having previously seen still images of the testing we can now – with thanks to Martin Miller – bring you some video footage of the testing at both Rotherham and Tinsley South junction.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 625

Posted on Tuesday 7 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its another one of my early tram photos which features for Picture in Time today as we are once again in 1992.

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Visitor’s Guide to…Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Monday 6 August 2018 by admin

Inspired by our recent guide to enthusiasts visiting Rome this is the first in a new triology of articles based on the visits of an American based British traction enthusiast – Edward M Koehler. Starting off with the Manx Electric Railway these are Edward’s observations of the line plus some photographic locations he discovered during this visit to help any enthusiasts visiting for the first time, something which may well happen soon with the 125th anniversary events at the start of September.

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Overhead problems causes disruption for Metrolink

Posted on Monday 6 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its been Manchester Metrolink’s turn for disruption caused by overhead line problems with a section of overhead coming down at Cornbrook on Sunday 5th August. Fortunately it was only a Sunday and no trams are currently running onto the Eccles line but even so there was pretty major disruption during the day as repairs were undertaken.

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Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours unveil 642’s new look

Posted on Sunday 5 August 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have unveiled their latest creation – Centenary car 642, which has been in the Rigby Road workshops receiving a makeover for the last few months. The tram last ran in early 2016 when it was temporarily withdrawn with a defect, but rather than simply repair this the opportunity was taken to carry out further work, including a well-needed repaint to replace the shabby all-over yellow paint worn previously, as well as the restoration of some other traditional features.

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In Pictures: Another advert in Edinburgh – with a twist!

Posted on Sunday 5 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

What do you do when you have another advertising contract but no trams left advert free to apply it? Well in Edinburgh Trams’ case you use the mock-up in use at Edinburgh Airport as the Tram Lounge! The Johnnie Walker #JointhePact campaign already have two operational trams with their adverts but they have now extended their contract to include the mock-up as well.

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In Pictures: A busy day for the horse tramway

Posted on Sunday 5 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Ever since Isle of Man Transport started running the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway with the more intensive summer service it hasn’t been uncommon to see three trams in action at any one time but on Saturday 4th August the tramway went one better with four trams on the line at the same time, including wedding hires. This number of trams in use at the same time is almost unheard outside of special events and various parades that have taken place in the past.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 5 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

We have another three Photo Galleries for you this week as part of our latest main site update:

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Safety Digest on the way after overspeeding incident on Supertram

Posted on Saturday 4 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

The RAIB have announced that they will be releasing a safety briefing (i.e. they don’t believe there is a need for a full investigation) into an incident on Stagecoach Supertram last month. In this incident a passenger was injured after a tram was travelling over the speed limit and braked.

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Picture in Time: London’s Last Tram Week

Posted on Saturday 4 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

We go back to July 1952 for today’s archive photo with a view of a tram in action during the Last Tram Week.

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Extra works in Area 2 sees a delay to reopening of Blue line

Posted on Saturday 4 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Passengers wishing to travel from Birley Lane to Halfway on Stagecoach Supertram’s Blue route will have to wait a couple of days longer with additional finishing works on the rail replacement project causing a slight delay to the reopening. Services were originally due to recommence from Thursday 9th August but two additional days of the closure is now required with a full Blue route service now due to resume on Saturday 11th August. This won’t affect the start of Area 3 (on the Purple route to Herdings Park) which will start from Friday 10th August as planned.

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Purple Tram Fridays return at Crich

Posted on Friday 3 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Your (almost) guaranteed chance to ride on Blackpool Jubilee 762 at Crich Tramway Village is back for 2018 with the next three Fridays in August seeing the tram in action, subject to the usual availability caveats. Popular with children thanks to its Nickelodeon Land advert from its days in Blackpool and with some enthusiasts the allocating of the tram to service on certain days was trialled in 2017 and it will now happen again!

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Positive news for the VAMBAC Coronation

Posted on Friday 3 August 2018 by Andrew Waddington

One of the biggest bugbears for many fans of Blackpool’s heritage trams, has been the lack of an operational Coronation car in the fleet. All three survivors are currently stored at Rigby Road, in need of varying levels of work before they can be considered for a return to service – but now it seems that this may be a little closer for the pioneer member of the class, car 304, thanks to its owning group.

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New pay deal agreed on Supertram

Posted on Friday 3 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Proposed strikes later this month on Stagecoach Supertram have been suspended after a new pay deal was put on the table after discussions with Unite the union. This is a slightly improved offer from that which had previously been rejected and will now go back to the membership to see whether they agree, the union are recommending it is accepted but there is still no guarantee this will be the end of the saga.

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In Pictures: Another battery tram enters service on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

The third West Midlands Metro Urbos3 with batteries installed has entered revenue earning service with 36 returning to action on Thursday 2nd August. It was only in service briefly before returning to depot but this day also made history for the line as it was the first time two battery fitted trams were in service at the same time with 31 also allocated to service.

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More heritage trams for your money in Blackpool!

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

With the school summer holidays now in full swing Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will be taking advantage of the extra visitors to the town by operating a four tram heritage over the next three weekends with the service also extended to run from Pleasure Beach to Bispham.

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