RAIB release interim report into Sandilands derailment

Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

One week after the tragic derailment at Sandilands junction the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have released an interim report into the incident. Initial indications had suggested that the derailment had been caused by the excessive speed the tram was travelling at and this has been confirmed by this interim report with the on-tram data recorded (OTDR) showing that 2551 was travelling at a speed of approximately 70kmh (43.5mph) – more than three times the speed limit on the curve.

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram 118’s revised look

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Not previously reported on these pages is the return to service on Stagecoach Supertram of 118 following the completion of accident repairs. You may remember that 118 was involved in a collision with 120 at Shalesmoor on 22nd October 2015 which saw the best parts of both trams amalgamated as 120 for a swift return to service whilst the other sections remained confined to depot whilst repairs were undertaken.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Midland Metro Urbos 3s receive window vinyls…

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

…But don’t worry they don’t block the whole window! As has become the norm on many public transport vehicles – buses as well as trams – many of the Urbos 3s which operate the service on Midland Metro have, over the past couple of months, received window vinyls advertising the service frequency enjoyed on the network.

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NET Phase Two up for national civil engineering award

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two was named as the winning project at the Institution of Civil Engineers’ East Midland’s Merit Awards for large projects and as a result has now been put forward for the ICE People’s Choice Award. 12 projects have been nominated for this award which can now be voted for by members of the public online.

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More illuminating events ahead

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool illuminations may have been switched off for another year, but that certainly doesn’t mean the end of the activity for the illuminated tram fleet. An extra running day has been confirmed to coincide with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights on Saturday 19th November, when two feature cars will be in use.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 6

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

We are on the Isle of Man again for today’s Picture in Time image as our archive finds itself in 1977 for a view at Derby Castle.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another Photo Gallery:

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American Boats 2: Californian Boats

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2016 by admin

Completing our look at the Blackpool Boat Cars which have found a new home in the USA today Blackpool destination blind guru Peter Watts reports on a recent visit to California where he was again using his skills for new sets of blinds…

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Tram removed from derailment site as investigation continues

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink CR4000 2551 has now been removed from Sandilands junction following Wednesday’s derailment as the investigation into what happened continues with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) set to release an interim report next week. The clear up of the accident site continues as the identities of those who tragically lost their lives in the derailment start to be released by the Police.

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American Boats 1: Blackpool Boat 606

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This weekend we will be taking a look at the Blackpool Boat Cars that escaped the UK for the United States of America. Tomorrow we take a look at the Californian Boats but first up we head to Maryland to take a look at Boat Car 606 which has now been in the US for 16 years.

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Enthusiast tour raises over £1,000 for children’s charity

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

When you think of enthusiast Private Hires you probably think of the Blackpool Tramway but recently the London Transport Museum Friends hired a tram on Nottingham Express Transit for a full system tour with over £1,000 being raised for local children’s charity When you Wish Upon a Star.

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Double win for Seaton at Devon Tourism Awards

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Seaton Tramway are celebrating after winning two awards at the Devon Tourism Awards 2016 which took place this week in Exeter. Having being shortlisted in two categories Seaton were presented with a Silver Award for Large Attraction of the Year and a Bronze Award for Artistic, Cultural and Learning Experience.

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Strike action threatened in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Drivers and Ticketing Services Assistants (TSAs) on Edinburgh Trams are threatening strike action over what they say are the imposition of new rotas which will see more weekend working for no extra pay. There is also said to be unhappiness that Edinburgh Trams have announced plans to run overnight services for Hogmanay without consulting with staff beforehand.

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Midland Metro delays after car driven onto tracks

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro services were unable to travel into Birmingham City Centre for around three hours on Sunday 6th November after a car was driven onto the tracks at Snow Hill becoming wedged and requiring the Fire Service to free it. The car was reported as stuck at approximately 1015 with it not freed until 1300. Whilst the car was wedged all services from Wolverhampton St George’s terminated at St Paul’s. The driver – a 33 year old man from Telford – was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

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Liverpool 762 goes out of service

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With Wallasey 78 already out of action with a number of problems currently being rectified, there has been further bad news for the Birkenhead heritage tramway with Liverpool 762 also now out of service. The tram was withdrawn in late August due to concerns regarding its resistances which were overheating – a problem which is thought to derive from its motors.

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Seven people die as Croydon tram derails

Posted on Wednesday 9 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Seven people have now been confirmed dead with more than 50 people injured following the derailment and overturning of CR4000 2551 on Wednesday 9th November. The tram was travelling from New Addington to Wimbledon when it completely left the rails and overturned at Sandilands shortly after 0600. The driver of the tram has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

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Crich versus mould

Posted on Tuesday 8 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

For many years, there have been concerns regarding the ability of the main depots at Crich Tramway Village to protect their valuable contents. Condensation has been an issue in the past and, with increasingly mild and wet winters, the depots are providing ideal conditions for the growth of mould – something which is severely affecting the priceless vintage trams. The Tramway Museum Society are finally seeking to resolve this serious problem with plans to upgrade the depots, and funding for this is now being sought.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

A spectacular end to the season at Crich

Posted on Monday 7 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Another busy operating season at Crich Tramway Village has now come to an end. Although 2016 may not have had quite as much as excitement as some previous years with no ‘new’ trams joining the running fleet, it has still been a busy year with 20 different electric passenger trams running. The last public open day was Sunday 30th October, however on Saturday 5th November a special open day was held for invited guests which saw an enhanced tram service operating for the final time this year.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 6 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another two Photo Galleries:

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Tramlink Stadler 2565 enters service

Posted on Saturday 5 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink has welcomed Stadler Variobahn 2565 into service with the tram being used for the first time on Friday 4th November. 2565 has become one of the fastest of the Stadler built trams to enter service with it only being delivered on 9th October and testing having commenced on Tuesday 1st November. With testing a success 2565 carried its first fare paying passengers during the afternoon on 4th November when it was allocated to route 2 between Beckenham Junction and West Croydon.

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