Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 15

Posted on Tuesday 24 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our archival photographic series we are once again in South Yorkshire for a image taken towards the start of operations on Supertram.

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Stockport 5 leads the way!

Posted on Monday 23 July 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Heaton Park’s ‘Tramtastic Day Out’ on Sunday 22nd July turned out to be another great event, with a three-car service on the heritage line for the first time this year, and several other members of the fleet posed for photography. However, there was an extra surprise in store, as Stockport 5 also made an unexpected appearance running under its own power after an absence of a few years whilst it has been undergoing extensive renovation, including the fitting of a new roof canvas.

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Increase in punctuality for Metrolink

Posted on Monday 23 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

The last set of performance data for Manchester Metrolink (for the period 27th May to 23rd June) has shown that punctuality has increased on the network with reliability also on the up. True, neither were big increases but it was a good step in the right direction in trying to operate a more reliable service for passengers.

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In Pictures: Supertram 119 receives a relivery

Posted on Monday 23 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

With fewer trams currently required for service as a result of the rail replacement works the chance is being taken to give the tram fleet some TLC including 119 which has seen its standard fleet livery reapplied giving a much brighter look. With 119 having received the livery originally back in 2006 the colours had started to dull but with this reapplication the tram really does stand out from the crowd once again in one of the most colourful fleet liveries in the UK. Ryan Hartley with the photo.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro makes its mark

Posted on Sunday 22 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

31 became the very first Urbos 3 to receive the new blue livery vinyls when it entered service during the evening peak on Monday 16th July and was then used in service again the following day. We featured the first images of the tram on Monday evening and now with it starting to make its full mark in service we again take a look at the tram in service.

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In Pictures: More on Tram-Train daylight testing

Posted on Sunday 22 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we reported earlier in the week Tram-Train daylight testing has now got underway along the Network Rail line to Rotherham as preparations step up a pace for the start of the pilot service sometime later this year. 399 202 was the Citylink vehicle chosen for the task on the second day of testing – 17th July – as the below images from Stuart Cooke show.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 22 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

We have another couple of Photo Galleries for you to take a look at this week:

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Sold Douglas Horse Tram on the move

Posted on Saturday 21 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

One of the trams sold by Douglas Borough Council at the time of the transfer of ownership of the horse tramway looks set to start a new life off the Isle of Man with pictures recently coming to light of it being loaded for a “long trip”. The tram in question is enclosed saloon 28.

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Picture in Time: Brussels 9062

Posted on Saturday 21 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of Scotland’s first – and still only – heritage tramway at Summerlee and in this instalment of Picture in Time we go back to beginning to see what the operation was like in those early days.

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In Preview: Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary

Posted on Saturday 21 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Six weeks today will see the start of a packed week of events on the Isle of Man to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway. With events on each day between Saturday 1st and Saturday 8th September it is the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts to head over to the island, whether this be the first time, if you haven’t been for a while or even if you are a regular visitor. Highlights of the week look set to be the official launch of Ratchet Car 14 back into service, intensive timetables (including the recreation of the 1975 timetable) and behind the scenes tours. In other words there will be lots to keep you entertained!

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Progress made on horse tram restoration at Beamish

Posted on Saturday 21 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

A fairly low profile tram restoration which has been ongoing for a number of years at Beamish is that of the horse tram – a combination of Newcastle & Gosforth 49 and Leamington & Warwick 8. Work has been continuing recently in Beamish’s Regional Heritage Engineering Centre by a small team of volunteers.

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Blackpool to take advantage of events

Posted on Friday 20 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Two interesting developments to report of in Blackpool – the first of which is on Sunday! To take advantage of the expected high visitor numbers Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will be operating four trams on Sunday 22nd July whilst a couple of weeks down the line Blackpool Transport will be introducing a Park and Glide service for visitors to the Airshow.

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Now Metrolink drivers balloted over possible strike action

Posted on Friday 20 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Services on Manchester Metrolink could be set for major disruption with the news that drivers are currently being balloted over potential strike action in a dispute over pay. Despite the fact that talks are still ongoing between KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) and Unite officials the ballot has been sent out to drivers asking them if they would be willing to go on strike over the issue.

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In Pictures: Latest Wolverhampton extension trackwork

Posted on Thursday 19 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Since we reported on the laying of the first track on Piper’s Row as part of the Wolverhampton City Centre extension further progress has been made with more track now in place. As we have mentioned previously the work on Piper’s Row is due to be completed by the early autumn with further work also now underway as the line makes its way towards the railway station. Andy Walters with the photos.

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In Pictures: Supertram rail replacement works continue

Posted on Thursday 19 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

The latest phase of rail replacement works on the Stagecoach Supertram network are currently on Birley Lane with the worksite being just below Birley Lane tramstop. This area – the second area of give to be treated in 2018 – means that no service is currently running between Birley Lane and Halfway until Wednesday 8th August with a replacement bus service being offered instead. The Yellow and Purple routes are running to a normal timetable with Blue route trams only running Malin Bridge to Birley Lane. Stuart Cooke has supplied us with the below images of the latest work.

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Around the World in Trams: Grenoble 2046 & 2052

Posted on Thursday 19 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we continue a look at trams from outside of the UK we go to the French city of Grenoble for a view of two trams in service.

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In Pictures: Overhead issue on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 18 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

It’s spreading! Manchester Metrolink has now suffered from an overhead problem with issues with the overhead at St Peter’s Square on the 2CC lines. The problem was first reported around 0700 with repairs completed to allow a normal service to resume around three hours later.

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In Pictures: Bluebird meets with its bogies

Posted on Wednesday 18 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

London County Council 1 – or Bluebird if you prefer – has been reunited with its bogies temporarily as the major restoration of the tram continues at Crich. The temporary fitting of the bogies saw the tram moved out of its long term place in the Workshop and into the depot yard to test for clearances.

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In Preview: Tramtastic Day Out at Heaton Park Tramway

Posted on Wednesday 18 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 22nd July will be a Tramtastic Day Out if you happen to go to the Heaton Park Tramway with Blackpool Brush 623 due to return to service following its return from a year long loan spell in Blackpool. But that isn’t all that is planned for the day with three trams in service plus several trams will be on display – including Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 and Stockport 5 as their respective overhauls continue.

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In Pictures: Daylight testing starts to Rotherham

Posted on Tuesday 17 July 2018 by Gareth Prior

Ever so slightly we are edging towards the start of the pilot Tram-Train service in the UK which will run between Sheffield and Rotherham. The latest milestone (how many times have we used that word recently!) in the project has seen the start of daylight testing along the Network Rail line to Rotherham Central and Rotherham Parkgate – a major component in the preparations for the start of services. There is still no official word as to when the service may start although late summer/early autumn is the expected start of the service which will see three train-trams an hour between Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate.

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