In Pictures: Classic Motorcyles at Crich

Posted on Friday 7 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 2nd July saw the Classic Motorcycle Event take place at Crich. As usual with classic vehicle events such as this a number of motorcycles visited Crich and were seen mingling with the standard tram service which unusually saw four trams in service for much of the day.

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First track laid on Bilston Road

Posted on Friday 7 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The rapid progress being made on the track relay along Bilston Road has continued with the first sections of track being laid last weekend. The project – which only started in June – is due to take six months with Midland Metro services due to resume to Wolverhampton St George’s by December but with the quick progress already made could an early return be on the cards?

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 641

Posted on Thursday 6 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

We take you back to Blackpool again in this instalment of Picture in Time and this time we feature the very first of the Centenary Cars.

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British Trams Online help to bring Birkenhead 20 to Blackpool!

Posted on Thursday 6 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

British Trams Online is delighted to announce that we are sponsoring a tram loan which will see one of the Birkenhead heritage tram fleet make the journey to Blackpool for the first time ever. Following negotiations between the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society and Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, it has been agreed that Birkenhead 20 will visit Blackpool for a one year loan period, commencing later this month!

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Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 40

Posted on Tuesday 4 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

We head to Crich for this edition of Picture in Time for an early image of Blackpool Standard 40.

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In Pictures: Cruden Bay Tramway 2

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Grampian Transport Museum in Alford is usually the home of two trams. Earlier this week we reported on Aberdeen horse car no. 1 which has gone back home to Aberdeen for a few months but that still leaves one further rare survivor at the museum – Cruden Bay Tramway 2.

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In Pictures: 60 years not out!

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Volunteers are the lifeblood of heritage tramways in the UK and for one such volunteer at the Seaton Tramway the past week has seen him celebrate 60 years driving. David Rivers started driving for Modern Electric Tramways when the operation was still at Eastbourne in 1957.

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Business case for Midland Metro Brierley Hill extension handed over

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The business case for the extension of Midland Metro to Brierley Hill has been formally presented to the Department for Transport as plans for the line continue to progress.

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Council to look at trams for Bath once again

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Bath and North East Somerset Council have revealed that they are planning to conduct a feasibility study into whether a tram system could help to solve some of the traffic congestion problems being experienced in the historic city. The idea of returning trams to Bath is nothing new with discussions seeming to have gone on for well over 10 years but this latest development apparently comes in response to public enthusiasm.

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Tram shortages causes Purple route amendments

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

The poor old Purple route on Stagecoach Supertram. Every time there are temporary tram shortages it becomes the sacrificial lamb and is either completely suspended or runs an amended service. And that it exactly what has happened this week with trams only running at the start and end of the days.

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Excellent progress being made on Bilston Road

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

As previously reported on these very pages work to replace the track along Bilston Road commenced on Sunday 11th June with Midland Metro services curtailed at Priestfield. With the six month project now underway the Midland Metro Alliance have given a brief update on the “excellent” progress being made so far.

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Try a tram days a success

Posted on Sunday 2 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) have run six session special “Try a Tram” sessions on board the new Citylink trams set to enter service on the current Supertram network from late summer. More than 100 vulnerable passengers were invited to the sessions with staff on hand at Meadowhall Interchange for informative and fun learning sessions.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 107

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2017 by Gareth Prior

This edition of Picture in Time is in Sheffield for an image taken on the Stagecoach Supertram system back in 2005.

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TfGM seek views on Metrolink fare rises

Posted on Friday 30 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

It’s a subject which isn’t exactly going to get regular travellers on Manchester Metrolink jumping up and down with joy but fares on the network are set to rise from January 2018 – although by how much hasn’t been decided yet. A consultation has just been launched asking for passengers views on how the increases will be applied.

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Not much new for trams and light rail in Mayor’s Transport Strategy

Posted on Friday 30 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

The latest version of the Mayor of London’s draft Transport Strategy has recently been released into the public domain and despite a hefty document there isn’t a huge amount new to report for trams and light rail. Of course currently London has just the one tram network (London Tramlink) and one light rail systems (Docklands Light Railway) and although there are plans to extend both this is nothing which hasn’t been reported before, and just because its in the strategy doesn’t mean it will happen as it all comes down to the f word as usual – funding.

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Record passengers carried on UK tramways once again

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

It’s been a day of statistics with the Department for Transport releasing their annual light rail and tram statistic for 2016/17. The figures have shown the now inevitable increase in passenger numbers with all tramways in England enjoying increased passenger numbers although the Tyne and Wear Metro – included in the stats as a light rail system – has seen a significant decrease. In total 267.7 million passenger journeys were made in England – this is an increase of 6.2%.

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Edinburgh Trams make profit ahead of schedule

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Further evidence, if any was needed, of the success of Edinburgh Trams has been released with news that the trams are making an operating profit – two years ahead of the (admittedly revised) schedule.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 663

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Sometimes there are trams which often seem to encourage people to take photos and they keep cropping up in this series and one such tram is Blackpool Coronation 663.

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A Fleetwood fest for tram enthusiasts!

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

In recent years the annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport – more commonly known as Tram Sunday to many people – has regained something of its reputation as an important date in the tram enthusiasts’ calendar. Aside from the festival itself, the rejuvenated heritage tram operation has seen this event boast an extensive heritage output, and this year looks like it could well be the best yet!

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In Pictures: Aberdeen Horse Tram 1 on the move

Posted on Wednesday 28 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

One of the most northerly trams to exist in the British Isles has recently been on the move on a temporary basis. The tram in question is Aberdeen Horse Tram no. 1 which made the trip between its usual home at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford to the Aberdeen Science Centre, where it is to be on public display until October.

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