More overhead woe in Nottingham

Posted on Friday 3 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Coming just a week after the previous problems there were more delays to Nottingham Express Transit services after a fault with the overhead line in the Basford area on Saturday 28th October. As with the previous weeks problems through services were unable to run from Hucknall and Phoenix Park to the city centre and beyond although this time the delays didn’t last for quite as long.

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NET launch new safety campaign

Posted on Friday 3 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have launched a new campaign aimed at promoting key safety messages to young people asking them to use their common sense when around the trams.

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Metrolink driver assaulted on platform

Posted on Friday 3 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

A Manchester Metrolink driver was assaulted on the platform at Cornbrook in the early hours of Saturday 28th October in an unprovoked attack brining condemnation from Metrolink bosses. The driver was changing ends on the tram having just terminated from Manchester Airport when the attack took place. Metrolink security staff were on the scene and detained the man until police arrived.

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More trackwork on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 3 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

It isn’t just the section of Midland Metro along Bilston Road that is to see engineering works this weekend with no trams running between Black Lake and West Bromwich Central on Sunday 5th November.

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Horse Tram cavalcade to end season in Douglas

Posted on Thursday 2 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another year is drawing to a close at many heritage tramways across the British Isles and to celebrate the fact on the Isle of Man there will be a short Horse Tram cavalcade. Using four trams the cavalcade will depart Derby Castle at 1500 running through to the Sea Terminal before the quartet then return back to Derby Castle.

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New planning application submitted for horse tram stables in Douglas

Posted on Thursday 2 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

A new horse tram stables could be in operation in time for the 2018 season if the latest planning application for a structure on part of the former Summerland complex is approved. Previously the Department of Infrastructure had another application approved which would have seen a combined tram depot and stable constructed on the same site but due to a “number of factors” it has now been decided to just go for a stables and associated staff areas, hence the new application.

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In Pictures: New cycle arrangements in Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 2 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

One of the controversies of Edinburgh Trams since opening has been the arrangements for cyclists in the vicinity of the tracks with threats of legal action from disgruntled cycling groups and the tragic death in May of a cyclist after she fell when her bike wheel got struck in the tracks and she was hit by a minibus. As we reported a few weeks the City of Edinburgh Council have been looking at this issue and have recently started to install new red cycle lanes providing the safest way to cross the tracks.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 706

Posted on Thursday 2 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

One of the most popular trams in Blackpool when operational is Princess Alice, or Open Top Balloon 706 if you want to include its number. And that is the very tram which features in today’s Picture in Time although it was at a time when 706 was going through a stage of carrying all over adverts.

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Get your diaries out! First 2018 event dates announced for Crich

Posted on Wednesday 1 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The 2017 season is yet to finish at Crich but already their website has been updated with first details of special events for 2018. There are no major changes to the regular pattern of events although the main enthusiast event – now renamed Simply Trams – comes forward slightly in the calendar to Saturday 1st September (unfortunately clashing with the start of the MER 125 events on the Isle of Man).

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In Pictures: Crich Starlight Spectacular

Posted on Wednesday 1 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Starlight Spectacular at Crich has firmly established itself in recent years as a popular event at the end of the season with special lighting effects and later opening allowing for some unique photo opportunities alongside various family activities. With the quirk of the calendar in 2017 it wasn’t actually the final week of the season but nonetheless another successful event took place which included Leeds 399 decorated again with lights to become an illuminated tram (with two other illuminated cars also available in the form of Blackpool open pair Toastrack 166 and Boat 236). A selection of sights from the event follow from the camera of Hazel Quarmby.

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In Pictures: Supertram gets its poppies

Posted on Tuesday 31 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Poppies are starting to appear on the cab ends of trams on Stagecoach Supertram as part of the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal. Each year in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday many UK tramways so adorn their trams with Supertram the first to do so in 2017. The poppies are attached to the cab ends with both the Siemens Duewag and Citylink trams noted with this addition.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 2

Posted on Tuesday 31 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we are on the Isle of Man as we take a look at one of the “oldest trams in the world” in action over 24 years ago.

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Aberdeen 54 sold at auction

Posted on Monday 30 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Aberdeen 54 has been sold at auction with the remains of the tram body purchased for £500, which considering the poor condition of the remaining parts of the lower saloon was a high price to pay.

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More ambitious plans for Preston

Posted on Sunday 29 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Preston and modern trams is a story which keeps coming and this week in order to prove a point about how trams can run in the Lancashire city the Trampower group hired a bendy bus to go along proposed routes and calculate how it would affect congestion. All this comes as they prepare to submit a proposal to the city council for a full tram line – even before the short demonstration line is ready for operation.

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In Pictures: A windy day in Dudley

Posted on Sunday 29 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

It isn’t just operating tramways who have trouble in the wind! On Sunday 22nd October the tram service was suspended at the Black Country Living Museum because of fears that the wind would dewire the tram and cause it to lose braking power. The day had seen the stunning double decker Wolverhampton 49 in service – top deck closed. Eventually the tram was replaced in service by a Wolverhampton trolleybus. These photos from Peter Narramore show the sights from the day.

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In Pictures: Speed restrictions in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 29 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Coming less than a week after the previous storm, Brian made its presence felt over the weekend of 21st/22nd October although the damage caused and disruption to tramways was nowhere as near severe as that caused by Ophelia. In Blackpool high winds were experienced causing issues on the exposed coastal tramway.

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First phase of Trafford Park Metrolink works completed

Posted on Sunday 29 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

The first phase of highway works for the extension of Manchester Metrolink to Trafford Park have been completed – in plenty of time for Christmas so that those visiting the Trafford Centre aren’t badly affected. A temporary road layout has been installed at Peel Circle and no roadworks will take place in the vicinity until 2018.

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Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 05

Posted on Saturday 28 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we find ourselves in the capital for an image from the Docklands Light Railway of one of the original trains, 05 in 1994

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Service cuts on the way for Supertram

Posted on Saturday 28 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

A new timetable is to be introduced on Stagecoach Supertram from Sunday 28th January 2018 but instead of the usual service enhancement you expect from a new timetable this will see fewer trams run each hour off-peak on the Blue and Yellow routes. The decision has been taken because the current timetable has become increasingly difficult to operate with an increase in road traffic over the years causing delays to services.

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Tramlink drivers to strike

Posted on Saturday 28 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

ASLEF drivers on London Tramlink are to go on two 24 hour strikes in November and December as the dispute over safety escalates. Ever since last year’s tragic derailment at Sandilands new ways to prevent similar incidents in the future have been looked at and recently a device has been installed in cabs which drivers feel has a health and safety risk. It is because of this new device that the two strike days have been called.

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