Custom House DLR station to reopen

Posted on Saturday 6 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

After an 11 month closure the Docklands Light Railway station at Custom House is set to reopen to passengers on Monday 8th January. The station has been closed since 3rd February 2017 to allow for vital modernisation work and to expand the station.

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New crossing at Crumpsall

Posted on Saturday 6 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The improvement works at Crumpsall stop on the Manchester Metrolink line to Bury have been continuing over the past few weeks with a new pedestrian crossing opening to passengers on Wednesday 3rd January. This new crossing replaces the old footbridge and ramp which will be demolished later this month.

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In Pictures: Brush cars bring 2017 to a close for the heritage fleet

Posted on Friday 5 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

The last public operation by the heritage trams in Blackpool consisted of three ‘Santa Special’ running days on Saturdays 9th, 16th & 23rd December. However, that wasn’t quite the end of the year for the heritage fleet as on 30th December, the Fylde Tramway Society hired two Brush cars for its annual Christmas tram tour.

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Continued growth for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 5 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The new higher frequency timetable introduced on Edinburgh Trams during 2017 has helped to contribute to a 19% increase in passenger numbers over the past 12 months. 6.6 million passenger journeys were recorded in 2017 – an increase of more than 1 million.

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Where are they now? Bradford tram in Lancashire

Posted on Friday 5 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

As is well known when many of the UK’s original tram systems closed they sold off their redundant trams for further use with many ending up as holiday homes and sheds. One of these is believed to be a 1902 Bradford tram which ended up at Sunderland Point in Lancashire – and it is still there today as a recent film by Lune Tube has shown.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloons 709, 708 & Coronation 644

Posted on Thursday 4 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Heading back to Blackpool for this edition of Picture in Time with an image taken in the late 1960s.

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In Pictures: Hogmanay changes for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 3 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

As has become the norm Hogmanay in Edinburgh City Centre means that tram services are suspended between West End Princes Street and York Place to allow for the celebrations to take place. 2017 leading into 2018 was no different with all trams from the Airport terminating at West End from 1800 on Saturday 30th December until 0930 on Monday 1st January. Roy Calderwood was on hand to show us some of the sights at West End Princes Street on New Year’s Eve.

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Picture in Time: Modern Electric Tramways 7, 6 and Mobile Shop 01

Posted on Tuesday 2 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

In our first delve into the archives for 2018 we go back over 50 years ago to Eastbourne for an image taken of three trams on the Modern Electric Tramways operation on the Sussex coast before it headed over to Devon.

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Happy New Year!

Posted on Monday 1 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

And so 2017 is now behind us and we start with another year, a year where we should hopefully see more positive developments on tramways in the British Isles both those systems which provide a daily service to commuters and also those heritage tramways we all seem to enjoy visiting.

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In Pictures: Snow for Sheffield

Posted on Monday 1 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Christmas period saw some further snowfall across the UK and this time we head to South Yorkshire for some images of trams running in the white stuff on Friday 29th December. As we have come to expect the snow didn’t severely affect the tram services on Supertram although many bus routes had to be suspended. Stuart Cooke with the photos.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Basel BVB 5028

Posted on Sunday 31 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

And we come to the end of our very first world tour of trams with another trip to the Swiss system of Basel.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Blackpool Pantograph 167

Posted on Saturday 30 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

And we end this series with the 26th different tram to have left its usual home for an operating loan – Blackpool Pantograph 167. As with Marton Box 31 which started off this series this is a tram which has been on the move on three different occasions although not all of them were a complete success.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Events: Manchester Metrolink extensions

Posted on Saturday 30 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

And so we come to an end of our look at 15 key events over the past 15 years and although we have deliberately not put them in any particular order there is little doubt that one of most key events in this period has been the expansion of Manchester Metrolink with four all new lines plus the MediaCityUK spur and the Second City Crossing.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Birkenhead 20

Posted on Friday 29 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which has been loaned to two different tramways is Birkenhead 20 which has left its home town for both Beamish and Blackpool.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Hong Kong 139

Posted on Friday 29 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Our third and final visit to Hong Kong features as part of our around the world tour today.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Blackpool Standard 147

Posted on Thursday 28 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Beamish features once again as we continue our look at the trams which have operated on loan over the past 15 years. This time Beamish were the recipient as Blackpool Standard 147 visited for the best part of a year from Blackpool.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Events: Crich Anniversaries

Posted on Thursday 28 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another “cheat” if you like for this entry into our 15 Events for 15 Years feature as we take a look at events celebrating various anniversaries which have taken place at the Crich Tramway Village – and there have been quite a few!

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Oporto 196

Posted on Wednesday 27 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Throughout this series we have seen several trams which have made the trip from Heaton Park to Beamish but in this edition we feature a tram which made the opposite move – Oporto 196.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Rouen 812

Posted on Wednesday 27 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Into France as we continue our trips around the world with a trip here to Rouen in Northern France.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Blackpool Railcoach 280/680

Posted on Tuesday 26 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

The only tram in this series to have enjoyed two loan spells with two different identities is Blackpool Ex-Towing Railcoach 280/680.

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