Tramlink set to introduce speed monitoring devices to trams

Posted on Friday 16 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Transport for London are looking to fit speed monitoring devices to trams following last year’s tragic derailment at Sandilands. The idea of the devices is that they will alert drivers if they are going too fast and to apply the brake.

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Man dies after incident at Victoria

Posted on Friday 16 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

A man has died at Manchester Metrolink’s Victoria stop following an incident where he was allegedly pushed in front a tram. Philip Carter, 30, died after the incident on Sunday 11th June. Charrissa Loren Brown-Wellington, 31, appeared in court this week charged with his murder. The incident happened just as tens of thousands of people were starting to leave Heaton Park where a major music festival had been taking place and with trams understandably suspended they were advised to make their way to the city centre by walking.

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An accessible Amsterdam tram?

Posted on Friday 16 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

At the East Anglia Transport Museum near Lowestoft, Amsterdam 474 has been out of service for some time awaiting rectification of mechanical defects, primarily affecting its motor. However, the tram is far from forgotten and in fact, recent thoughts have been turned towards its long-term future, and the possibility of fitting a wheelchair lift to offer improved access to disabled visitors so that they can enjoy a vintage tram ride.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 676+686 & Balloons 726 & 704

Posted on Thursday 15 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have a busy scene in Blackpool for our latest delve into the archives in this instalment of Picture in Time.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Pop stars take over trams for BBC Music Day

Posted on Thursday 15 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Passengers on some of the UK’s light rail systems may have been surprised to hear some familiar voices in an unlikely setting on Thursday 15th June, as part of the celebrations for BBC Music Day. One of the more unusual events saw a diverse selection of singers provide the vocals for on-board announcements on trams in Manchester, Birmingham and Blackpool.

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Marton 31 to miss summer 2017?

Posted on Wednesday 14 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Despite having returned to Beamish Museum from Blackpool in March of this year, Blackpool Marton Box 31 has still not returned to service at its home tramway. This is due to the car having worn tyres, and it has now been confirmed that it is unlikely to operate at all this summer, with a current target of November for its reappearance.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Bournemouth 85 gets a visit from the TMS

Posted on Wednesday 14 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It may be recalled that, some time ago, the Tramway Museum Society announced that Bournemouth 85 would be joining the national collection at Crich. On 13th June, a small team of volunteers from the Crich workshop travelled to Christchurch to inspect the tram, and to draw up a plan to extract it from the building in which it currently resides to be transported to its new home in Derbyshire later this year.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Volks Electric Railway 2, 5 & 7

Posted on Tuesday 13 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we head to the Sussex coast again although whereas last time we were there we were concentrating on the Modern Electric Tramway operation this time we are looking at the Volks Electric Railway.

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Posted in Picture in Time, Volk's Electric Railway | 3 Comments

Heaton Park recognise 25 years of Metrolink

Posted on Monday 12 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

An important milestone in British tramway history which seems to have gone largely unnoticed, is the 25th anniversary of Metrolink – the first second generation tramway in the UK. However, the Manchester Transport Museum Society have decided to hold a small celebration at Manchester’s other tramway, the heritage line at Heaton Park.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 12 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 11 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

A couple more Photo Galleries have been added this week:

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 215

Posted on Saturday 10 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

This week our modern tramway Picture in Time image is from Nottingham Express Transit as we feature the last of the Bombardier Incentro trams – no. 215.

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Collision at Halfway

Posted on Friday 9 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Two trams have been involved in a collision at Halfway on Stagecoach Supertram with both suffering damage in the low speed incident. The two trams involved were 107 and 123 with the incident taking place on Thursday 8th June.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Standard 48 overhaul continues

Posted on Friday 9 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we reported a couple of weeks ago Blackpool Standard 48 is currently being overhauled at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum with a view to the tram being returned to service. Stephen Cobb recently visited the museum and provides us with these photos of the current progress on 48.

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In Pictures: More from the Sheffield to Rotherham tram train pilot

Posted on Friday 9 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

We head back to South Yorkshire in this pictorial update as we take a look at the recent progress on construction work for the Sheffield to Rotherham tram train pilot project – due to start operation sometime in 2018.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Teenager dies after being hit by tram at Kenrick Park

Posted on Friday 9 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

A 19 year man has died after being hit by a tram on Midland Metro close to Kenrick Park tramstop on Sunday 4th June at approximately 1940. Reports have said that the teenager was already on the tracks in dark clothing as the tram approached and was then hit by the tram. He was declared dead at the scene. The British Transport Police are investigating the incident with the death being described as unexplained. Anyone who can help the Police in finding out why the man was on the tracks is asked to call 0800 40 50 40.

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Edinburgh Trams resume full service

Posted on Thursday 8 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Having received a month’s worth of rain in one day causing severe flooding at Edinburgh Gateway Edinburgh Trams resumed a full service at approximately 1230 on Thursday 8th June – over a day and a half after services were suspended between Edinburgh Park Station and the Airport.

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In Pictures: Preston Trampower project grinds to a halt?

Posted on Thursday 8 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Last time we reported on the project to return trams to Preston in the form a short demonstration line it seemed that after much delay there was a positive future with clearance works having commenced at the start of 2017. However, these initial small footsteps into the line being ready for use seem to have been a bit of a false dawn as these photos from Mike Haddon show.

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Picture in Time: From the Tower overbridge

Posted on Thursday 8 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today we include a photo featuring five different trams for the latest edition of Picture in Time.

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Blackpool cars 625 & 726 return home

Posted on Thursday 8 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

As reported on this website last week, a storage arrangement has been made between Blackpool Transport, the Blackpool Heritage Trust and the current owner of two preserved Blackpool trams – Brush Railcoach 625 and Balloon 726 – for both of these cars to be stored securely at Rigby Road after spending a number of years outside. Following this welcome news, the duo were transported back to Rigby Road depot on Wednesday 7th June.

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In Pictures: Now flooding causes problems in Edinburgh

Posted on Wednesday 7 June 2017 by Gareth Prior

June already looks to be the month which seems to just keep giving bad weather with Edinburgh Trams the second UK tram system to suffer disruption as a result of flooding. This time though the flooding has caused longer term disruption to services with Edinburgh Gateway tramstop flooded and no trams able to run between Edinburgh Park and the Airport.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 2 Comments