NET services altered for Milk Race again

On Sunday 25th May Nottingham Express Transit services from Phoenix Park and Hucknall will be terminated at Royal Centre with replacement bus services from there to Station Street as a result of the Milk Race taking place in the city. The Milk Race will see a number of cycling superstars competing and part of the route on this day will head through Nottingham City Centre. It is planned that normal services will be resumed by 2000.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 1

Today “Picture in Time” is going black and white with a view in central Blackpool of the onetime saviours of the Blackpool Tramway – OMO Car 1.

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Blackpool Jubilee 761 – a brighter future?

It has been announced by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust that they are currently in negotiations with Blackpool Transport which could see the Trust’s Jubilee car 761 remain at Rigby Road Depot for the foreseeable future and return to service as part of the heritage fleet from 2016.

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Going for a ride…

It’s time once again to take a look at just where you can go for a ride on a heritage tram in the UK in the next few weeks. This week the main highlight looks set to be taking place at the East Anglia Transport Museum where they are holding a 1940s weekend on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May and then the following weekend it is the next Bank Holiday which means more fun at various tramways…

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Blackpool seeking to expand the tram fleet?

Ahead of construction work for the branch line off the promenade to North Station, expected to be started in 2017, thoughts are now beginning to turn towards the expanding of the Blackpool tram fleet. It is understood that Blackpool Transport are keen to purchase two more Flexity trams in order to cope with the anticipated requirement for additional rolling stock to operate the core service when the short extension opens.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Electric Locomotive

The subject of “Picture in Time” today is probably one of the stranger “trams” preserved as part of the national collection – the Blackpool Electric Locomotive. To anyone today the locomotive is well known in its green livery but back in 1990 it was still carrying a red livery.

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Southampton 45 is not a horse tram!

Southampton 45 has become the latest tramcar from the National collection to be moved into the Exhibition Hall at Crich Tramway Village, following its retirement from active duties late last year. The tram has moved into a space vacated by the musuem’s operating horse tram Sheffield 15 which is set to carry its first passengers of the year on Wednesday 13th May, ahead of an increased number of running days during 2015.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 8 Comments

Tramlink 2546 celebrates 15 years of the system

London Tramlink is 15 years old. The first line – from New Addington to central Croydon – was officially opened on Wednesday 10th May 2000 and over the past 15 years the network has gone from strength to strength with 32 million passengers now carried each year. To celebrate the 15th anniversary CR4000 2546 has been adorned with a few vinyls showing how passenger numbers have grown since inception (and where they are estimated to be in another 15 years) and also a 15th anniversary logo. Still in the standard fleet livery of Lime Green, Blue and White the tram is now in service on the network commemorating the anniversary.

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In Pictures: More outings for Blackpool’s ‘B Fleet’ Balloons

Filming for a major feature film on Blackpool promenade was finally completed on Friday 8th May, bringing to an end the period of disruption for the town and its public transport services. As we have reported previously, the requirement for a small number of Flexity trams for filming duties led to some of the little-used ‘B Fleet’ running in ordinary service and what follows is a summary of their use during the week.

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More trams emerge from hibernation at Crich

As the operating season progresses, the number of trams being made available for use at Crich Tramway Village has continued to increase. So far this year, records show that a very credible eighteen tramcars have run in passenger service at the museum, with London United Tramways 159 being the most recent to re-enter service following a winter lay-off.

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This week on British Trams Online

After last week’s bumper update we just have the one Photo Gallery for you this week with images from the mini Blackpool day at Heaton Park welcoming Blackpool 280 to the operating fleet:

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 12

Our modern tram “Picture in Time” feature this week moves across the Pennines to the South Yorkshire Supertram system with a couple of views of 12 taken in 1995.

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Daytime testing reaches Clifton terminus

Trams are now running on the whole Clifton line during daylight hours following the latest extension of testing on the Phase Two extension of Nottingham Express Transit. Previously testing and driver training on this line was only running as far as Silverdale but this extension means that NET are able to increase the amount of driver training being undertaken as preparations continue ahead of a public opening later this year.

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Calling all southern tram enthusiasts!

Over the years practically all of the operating heritage tramways have developed in the Midlands and north of England but if a small group of enthusiasts’ ambitious plans come about all of that could be about to change! With the exception of the narrow gauge Seaton Tramway in Devon there are no operational tramways in the south but the area does have a rich history of trams particularly in Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon, Southampton and Cardiff (yes, the last one isn’t in England but you get the idea!) and the idea of this project is to draw attention to that and to develop a major tourist attraction for the area.

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Latest plans for Douglas Promenade revealed

The Douglas Horse Tramway is to be moved onto the Promenade walkway as part of plans for the redevelopment of the area it has been confirmed. The latest – and presumably hoped for final – plans show that the twin track tramway in the centre of the road will be moved as had been expected and it is now seems this will not be on the road although at some stage it will have to cross the road to reach the Strathallan terminus.

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24 hour charity Tramathon to take place at Seaton

Trams will run on the Seaton Tramway for 24 hours non-stop as part of a charity Tramathon on Wednesday 27th May. Starting at 1300 on Wednesday 27th May a special tram will depart the Seaton terminus for Colyton on the hour every hour until 1200 on Thursday 28th May; all in aid of charity.

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In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 at Transport Festival

The Llandudno Transport Festival took place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend with Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society’s replica tram no. 7 one of the star exhibits once again. It had been planned to offer hauled rides on board the tram along the route of the former tramway but unfortunately this was not possible due to heavy rain meaning the route was not suitable. Nevertheless the group still had a number of interested visitors with some able to visit the top deck of the tram for a small donation of £1. Photos taken on Sunday 3rd May by Stuart Cooke.

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Supertram rail replacement works move on to Area 6

The first phase of rail replacement works this year on Stagecoach Supertram will be completed on Saturday 9th May and a normal tram service will then run on Sunday 10th May ahead of the next phase commencing on Monday 11th May. This phase will see works concentrated in the city centre and are due to take place until Wednesday 3rd June.

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Cars take on trams in Manchester – twice in a week

The past week has seen two significant collisions between cars and trams on the Manchester Metrolink system – once on the Eccles line with the second incident taking place on the line to Manchester Airport. The first incident happened at Exchange Quay with collision number two occurring on Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 715

We go a bit more up-to-date than of recent with our Picture in Time feature today as we take a look at Blackpool Balloon 715 back in 2008.

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