September start for Edinburgh Tram inquiry public hearings

Posted on Friday 27 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Although it has been a lengthy process to get to this stage it has now been announced that the Edinburgh Trams Inquiry public hearings will start in September with this stage likely to take several months. The hearings will take place on three days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – from Tuesday 5th September.

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Weather causes delays for Metrolink and NET

Posted on Friday 27 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Both Manchester Metrolink and Nottingham Express Transit have suffered service delays in the past week with the blame in both cases being put down to ice on the wires. For Metrolink the problems happened on Tuesday 24th January with freezing fog the culprit whilst NET’s delays were reported the following day, Wednesday 25th January.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit | 7 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 663

Posted on Thursday 26 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Its 1969 for the latest edition of Picture in Time and we are once again on the Lancashire coast and Blackpool as we take a look at one of the surviving Coronation Cars.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 6 Comments

Glasgow 22 in, Glasgow 1068 out at Crich in 2017

Posted on Wednesday 25 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

18 different electric passenger trams are set to be used in service at the Crich Tramway Village in 2017. As expected London Transport 1622 is not part of the operational fleet this year and it has been joined in the withdrawn stakes by popular open topper Glasgow 1068. On the other side of the coin it has been confirmed that Glasgow 22 will join the operating pool again this year having only just seen use at the very end of 2016.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

Closure ahead for Tramlink track replacement

Posted on Tuesday 24 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

No services will run on London Tramlink between Mitcham and Wimbledon from 11th to 20th February to allow for track replacement work to take place. A replacement bus service will be in operation throughout serving Wimbledon, Morden Road and Mitcham stops only.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 2

Posted on Tuesday 24 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time is back on the Isle of Man as we take a trip to Ramsey and find one of the “oldest trams in the world to still run on their original line” operating over 50 years ago when it might not actually have been able to use that title!

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Testing continues on Second City Crossing

Posted on Monday 23 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Opening of Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing (2CC) continues to move closer with another round of successful testing taking place over the weekend. Nine trams were out on the line on Sunday 22nd January with Cllrs Andrew Fender and Pat Karney joining the engineers to witness the rigorous testing and commissioning process.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

Another rise in passenger numbers for Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 23 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

2016 was another record breaking year on Edinburgh Trams with half a million more passenger journeys made, a year on year growth of 10%. A total of 5.6 million passenger journeys were recorded according to figures released by Edinburgh Trams – a figure which remains ahead of expectations.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1008

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Two more images from Manchester Metrolink for today’s Picture in Time with the T68 featured in this edition being 1008 with both photos dating from 27th April 1992.

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FoI request shows Snaefell runaway had brake failure

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

On 30th March 2016 Snaefell Mountain Railway no. 3 ran away from the Summit with no crew or passengers on board before derailing shortly before the stop at Bungalow, leaving the tracks and being more or less destroyed on the mountain side. Although an investigation had been undertaken the results of this had not been released publically but a Freedom of Investigation request by the Isle of Man Newspapers has now seen further details revealed of what caused no. 3 to runaway. It has been confirmed that both parking brakes on the tram had failed which, coupled with the temporary arrangements at the Summit owing to overrunning construction works, led to the tram heading down the mountain.

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TfL continue to review Tramlink operation

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

A report due to be heard by Transport for London’s Safety, Sustainability and Human Resources Panel next week has revealed that further “infrastructure mitigations” may be introduced on certain sections of London Tramlink in a bid to further improve safety on the network. It has also been confirmed that passenger numbers have returned to pre-accident levels.

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Work starts on Brierley Hill Midland Metro extension

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Work has started on the proposed Midland Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill with the Midland Metro Alliance starting to clear vegetation from overgrown areas of the disused former South Staffordshire Railway line. This will allow for full structural and environmental surveys to take place.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 11 Comments

Seaton Tramway announce 2017 special events programme

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Devon’s Seaton Tramway has announced their special events programme for 2017 and although there is nothing directly aimed at the enthusiast there is a varied programme for the family, especially if you like fairies, dinosaurs or pirates!

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get me there set to be rolled out across Metrolink from the summer

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Greater Manchester’s answer to Oyster is set to be fully rolled out across Manchester Metrolink in the summer which will allow passengers to use a single smart card for all their journeys on any tram or bus in the area. Currently get me there is only available on Metrolink for concessionary pass holders and as a mobile ticketing app but all this will soon change.

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Delays for NET after man hit by tram

Posted on Saturday 21 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

A man had to be taken to hospital after he was hit by a tram at Queen’s Walk on Nottingham Express Transit. The incident happened at approximately 1500 on Wednesday 18th January and caused all trams from Nottingham Station to Queen’s Walk to be suspended for approximately an hour. The man was taken to hospital but his injuries were described as not serious.

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Picture in Time: Bolton 66 and friends

Posted on Thursday 19 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Although not a Blackpool tram today’s Picture in Time star is a tram which is closely associated to Blackpool nowadays having been in the resort since 1981 – it is of course Bolton 66.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Metrolink Second City Crossing testing

Posted on Wednesday 18 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Testing on Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing (2CC) has begun again ahead of an opening of the line in “early 2017”. In the early hours of 16th January double M5000 3004+3059 was used on the test runs between Victoria and Deansgate-Castlefield which included a reversal at Exchange Square from Deansgate. Steve Hyde was on the scene and has kindly provided the following images showing the testing.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

Urbos3 18 bids adios to Midland Metro – for now

Posted on Wednesday 18 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro’s Urbos 3 18 has left Wednesbury Depot to return to Spain for the fitting of batteries to allow its eventual operation on sections of line which will not have overhead wires installed. All of the trams will carry batteries but it is expected that only the first one – with 18 the chosen tram – will need to return to Spain for this to take place.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 10 Comments

New operator confirmed for Manchester Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 18 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink will have a new operator from the summer following the news that KeolisAmey will take over the contract from RATP Dev in July. The decision has been taken to change operators after a competitive process led by TfGM involving three other shortlisted bidders.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 7 Comments

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will retain its full length after all

Posted on Tuesday 17 January 2017 by Gareth Prior

Tynwald have voted to retain the full length of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway following the latest debate which took place on Tuesday 17th January. Double track will be replaced between Derby Castle and Broadway with a single track line from there through to the current Sea Terminal terminus.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 5 Comments