Free wifi for all on Manchester Metrolink

Posted on Tuesday 16 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have announced that the free wifi fitting to a few trams as a trial is to extended across the fleet of M5000s by Spring 2015. As well as the LRVs the free wifi will be fitted to the 20 buses running the city centre Metroshuttle service linking the main railway stations, car parks, shopping areas and businesses in Manchester City Centre.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Free wifi for all on Manchester Metrolink

Metrolink “Kids Go Free” offer extended for another weekend

Posted on Tuesday 16 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

The “Kids Go Free” voucher offer on Manchester Metrolink has been extended for a further weekend following the disruption caused by the cold weather last weekend. Families will now be able to take advantage of the offer over the weekend of 20th/21st December – providing that they download the voucher from http://www.metrolink.co.uk/christmas.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink “Kids Go Free” offer extended for another weekend

Crich start recruiting in 2015

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following an earlier announcement that Crich Tramway Village will be hosting a First World War themed event in July 2015, it has been revealed that plans are afoot for one of the museum’s tramcars is set to be decorated as a ‘recruiting car’, in connection with this event. Chesterfield 7 has been selected for the role and has already spent some time in the museum’s workshop for some attention to improve its appearance in readiness for this starring role.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

We are delighted to be able to bring you another four Photo Galleries as part of our main site update this week:

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Major delays for Metrolink after cold weather causes problems

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 13th December certainly seemed to be unlucky for Manchester Metrolink and any potential passengers after almost the entire network was suspended as a result of a “sudden drop in temperatures” which lead to failed LRVs and frozen overhead. For a time during the morning the only services running were between Bury and Piccadilly with all other routes suspended and passengers guided towards local bus services.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

And this week Midland Metro’s T69s saw extensive use…

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Sometimes you just need to admit defeat and stop making predictions! After last week predicting that the end for the Midland Metro T69 was fast approaching the past seven days has seen a(nother) major resurgence for the remaining class members with some days seeing seven of the LRVs in use. This has obviously meant that the Urbos 3s have taken a bit of back of seat during the week although it is thought that several more of these CAF built vehicles are almost ready to carry their first passengers.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on And this week Midland Metro’s T69s saw extensive use…

All track now in place on NET Phase Two

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

The final clip on the last piece of track has now been put into place on Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit. Following quickly after the completion of the Chilwell line work has now reached a conclusion on the Clifton line although finishing works are still required across the extensions before full line testing can be undertaken.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 6 Comments

Tribute to the Midland Metro T69s book to be produced

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year one of the best UK light rail books produced was released with Superb: A Tribute to the Manchester Metrolink T68 & T68A Light Rail Vehicles released. Now one of the authors of that book, and regular British Trams Online contributor, Andrew Coward is turning his attention to the Midland Metro T69s and is looking for anyone who wishes to contribute photos, recollections and memories of the vehicles for use within the book.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Tribute to the Midland Metro T69s book to be produced

Edinburgh Trams passenger numbers set to hit 3 million by year end

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

It has been revealed that passenger numbers on the Edinburgh Trams line between York Place and the Airport are set to hit 3 million by the end of the year – ahead of forecast patronage. The figures were released as Transport for Edinburgh – the integrated transport group for the city – celebrated their first anniversary and announced that 6 million more passengers had been welcomed on Edinburgh’s public transport network during 2014 (in addition to the 3 million on the trams bus patronage increased by 3 million).

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 7 Comments

Improved service on the way for the Docklands Light Railway

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

A new off peak five minute service across the entire Docklands Light Railway is to be introduced from 2017 it has been confirmed by the new operator KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd who took control on Sunday 7th December. The first improvements will be introduced from the start of next year when the Woolwich Arsenal line and the Bank-Lewisham route see increases in their frequency.

Continue reading →

Posted in Docklands Light Railway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: M5000 3092 enters service & 3093 arrives

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Last week we reported on the entry into service of Manchester Metrolink’s 3092 and the arrival of 3093 and now, with thanks to Steve Kemp, we are able to illustrate both of these events. 3092 performed its first revenue earning journeys on 3rd December operating on the Ashton-under-Lyne to Eccles service and then on 6th December 3093 became the (expected) last new LRV arrival of 2014 when it was delivered to Queens Road Depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: M5000 3092 enters service & 3093 arrives

In Pictures: London Tramlink double-tracking & Stadler runs on line 3

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

The latest double tracking project on the Wimbledon branch of London Tramlink was completed last month and trams are now able to use this section between Beddington Lane and the flyover at Mitcham Junction. This now allows more operational flexibility on the line and is the latest project on this line with major work due to start at the Wimbledon terminus in 2015. With thanks to Tony Sullivan for the photos.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: London Tramlink double-tracking & Stadler runs on line 3

In Pictures: Nottingham Citadis at night

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

We take a look at a couple of the Nottingham Express Transit Citadis trams operating on Phase One of the network at night. Featured are two of the named vehicles with 217 Carl Froch and 219 Alan Sillitoe shown. Thanks to Bob Hodges for the photos.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on In Pictures: Nottingham Citadis at night

Manchester Metrolink Performance Update

Posted on Sunday 14 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

The Metrolink and Rail Networks sub-committee of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee are preparing to meet for one final time in 2014 and that means only one thing: the latest Metrolink performance statistics have been released. This time they review periods 6 (Monday 15th September to Sunday 12th October) and 7 (Monday 13th October to Sunday 9th November) and this article looks at the service performance, details of major incidents, the LRVs, patronage and the number of complaints for Metrolink during this time.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Manchester Metrolink Performance Update

Blackpool Balloons prepare for snow

Posted on Wednesday 10 December 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The tradition of two Blackpool Balloon cars being fitted with a snowplough in case of adverse weather conditions over winter, which resumed following the tramway upgrade, is continuing with two trams so fitted in case of heavy snow fall. For the third year in succession, cars 701 and 723 are the chosen two and both are currently stabled at the top of Rigby Road depot standing by ready for action.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Boldly going where no tram tour has gone before!

Posted on Monday 8 December 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The number of private hires involving members of the Blackpool heritage tram fleet seems to have escalated during 2014, with the use of various trams in connection with birthday celebrations becoming particularly popular. One such hire took place on Saturday 6th December, when British Trams Online‘s very own Andrew Waddington took two trams – Coronation 304 and Frigate 736 – for a tour which turned out to be even more eventful than anyone could have planned!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 7 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

As part of our main site update we have four new Photo Galleries for your viewing pleasure:

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Is the end finally in sight for the Midland Metro T69s?

Posted on Saturday 6 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

Last week we reported how Midland Metro’s fleet of T69s seemed to be enjoying a resurgence and that rumours of their imminent demise were premature, but the past week has seen another reversal of fortunes with only three of the class seeing use on a daily basis. The remaining seven daily diagrams have been in the hands of the new Urbos 3 vehicles which seem to settling down into regular operation better over recent days.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

M5000 3092 enters service as 3093 arrives in the city

Posted on Saturday 6 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

There has been more movement with the M5000 fleet on Manchester Metrolink fleet with a further example entering service rapidly followed by another delivery. The latest LRV to be used in service was 3092 which first carried passengers on 3rd December operating on the Ashton to Eccles service. As with all recently introduced LRVs this is not fitted with VRS/ATS equipment and so is constricted to the TMS enabled routes. Just a few days after this vehicle entered service than the next example was making the journey from mainland Europe for arrival at Queens Road Depot on 6th December. 3093 is expected to be the final arrival in 2014.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 7 Comments

Edinburgh Council order report on tram extension to Leith

Posted on Saturday 6 December 2014 by Gareth Prior

When Edinburgh Trams finally opened at the end of May it was just a single line and a tint proportion of what had been hoped for. However could we see a larger network in the future? Edinburgh City Council have commissioned a detailed business case to see how feasible it is to extend the line to Leith as hopes are raised that the Scottish capital could one day end up with a tram system it deserves.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 10 Comments