Metrolink T68 1018 departs for scrapping

Posted on Sunday 20 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

1018 has become the ninth T68/T68A to leave Manchester Metrolink property for scrapping following its departure on Wednesday 16th July. This LRV has been waiting for the Allely’s low loader to arrive for several days following the completion of final component removal in the workshops at Trafford Depot and this finally happened on 16th July and it then headed over to Rotherham to become just another memory and a line in the history books.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram West Street rail replacement

Posted on Sunday 20 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

The quick progress on the rail replacement work taking place on West Street continues with further new rails now having been installed whilst the renewal has also started on Netherthorpe Road. It seems that this work is progressing at a much quicker rate than previous work sites which has probably been helped by the fairly settled weather which was enjoyed in the first couple of weeks of the closure. All the work is due to be completed by mid-September.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram West Street rail replacement

Manchester 173 – Your Country Needs You!

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Manchester 173 – owned by the Manchester Transport Museum Society and a recent arrival at the Heaton Park Tramway – is to visit Morley, Leeds on Saturday 2nd August where it will be decorated as a recruiting tram to form the centrepiece of a Weekend of Remembrance to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Leeds Transport Historical Society | 15 Comments

Picture in Time 19: Seaton Tramway 6

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

We return to the archives for the latest in our occasional series looking back in time and this time we head to the South coast and Eastbourne in 1968 when the tramway was coming towards the end. Our attentions in this edition of Picture in Time are drawn towards tram 6, which remains part of the Modern Electric Tramways Company operational fleet at their new home of Seaton today.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Picture in Time 19: Seaton Tramway 6

Another new tram for Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Monday 14th July the latest Urbos 3 arrived at Midland Metro’s Wednesbury Depot with 27 being delivered by the tried and tested method. Being sent from CAF’s factory in Zaragoza, Spain by sea to Plymouth the tram was then transported via low loader in two sections arriving at its new home early on 14th July. 27 is the 11th of the new trams to be delivered to Birmingham.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Want to know when and where you ride on heritage trams over the next few weeks? Well if you do you have come to the right place as this is your one stop guide to heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man! The next few weeks will see a number of highlights with the heritage trams back in operation in Blackpool again on Sunday 20th July running between North Pier and Fisherman’s Walk, Fleetwood in conjunction with Fleetwood Tram Sunday – this will see the return to the rails of Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 after overhaul. Following that between 30th July and 3rd August it will be time for the Isle of Man to take centre stage as the annual Heritage Transport Festival takes place.

Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Heritage Trams this week

Blackpool Transport renew safety warnings after teen hit by tram

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Transport have reiterated the need to be careful in the vicinity of the tramway following an incident which saw a 15 year old boy taken to hospital. The incident took place on Saturday 12th July at Harrow Place tramstop just before 1130 when the teenager was crossing the tracks with Blackpool Transport now undertaking an investigation into what happened.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Progress continues on Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Construction work on Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit is continuing with Cator Lane in Chilwell now reopened to traffic following the completion of works to install a water culvert, relocate various utilities and install the all important tram tracks. The road was able to reopen on Wednesday 16th July and this means that further work can now take place on Bramcote Lane.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Progress continues on Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two

Stagecoach to launch new Family Summer Saver ticket in Sheffield

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

A new Family Summer Saver ticket is being launched on Sunday 20th July which will be valid for travel on not only Stagecoach Supertram but also all Stagecoach bus services in South and West Yorkshire. Costing just £8.50 the ticket will allow up to 2 adults and 3 children unlimited travel on the extensive Stagecoach network in the area.

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Stagecoach to launch new Family Summer Saver ticket in Sheffield

Metrolink Radcliffe Park and Ride reopens

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

The Park and Ride site at Manchester Metrolink’s Radcliffe stop has reopened ahead of schedule. The car park now has space for 369 cars and was reopened on Thursday 17th July. Before the works commenced at Radcliffe there was only space for 250 cars and so this expansion equates to 119 extra spaces for Metrolink travellers. The work here follows similar expansion works at Whitefield which was completed in May.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink Radcliffe Park and Ride reopens

Newcastle 114 to visit Crich!

Posted on Thursday 17 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

In an unexpected but very welcome development it has been announced that Newcastle 114 is to visit the Crich Tramway Village for the Electric 50 celebrations taking place at the home of the National Tramway Museum on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September. The loan will enable Crich to fill a gap in their collection as they will be able to illustrate an electric uncanopied open top car mounted on a four wheel truck.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 18 Comments

In Pictures: Edwardian Event at the Crich Tramway Village

Posted on Wednesday 16 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Over the weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July the Crich Tramway Village held another special event with an Edwardian Weekend. A regular tram service operated over both days which included horse tram Sheffield 15 on the Sunday with other trams such as Blackpool & Fleetwood 2, Blackpool 40, Sheffield 74, London United Tramways 159 and Glasgow 1068 also seeing use during the weekend. On top of the trams there were also plenty of other Edwardian activities including re-enactors. Woodies Wings – a parrot and owl rescue centre – were also on site with one of their Parrots taking a ride on board a remote controlled car! Photos below have been provided to British Trams Online by Hazel Quarmby.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

Nottingham Express Transit fares to rise

Posted on Wednesday 16 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Whereas Blackpool simplify their fares, Nottingham Express Transit review their fares but however you say it the same thing happens – fares rise! Pay on the day fares to travel on Nottingham Express Transit will be rising from Sunday 27th July but pre-paid fares (season ticket holders and MANGO smart cards) will be remaining the same.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Nottingham Express Transit fares to rise

In Pictures: Supertram rail replacement works

Posted on Wednesday 16 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

The rail replacement works on West Street have now moved on to the section between Mappin Street and Rockingham Street through both of the West Street stops. The photos below provided by Stuart Cooke show the old track being lifted from the road surface and then piled up awaiting removal.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram rail replacement works

Edinburgh Trams service alteration: Sunday 20th July

Posted on Wednesday 16 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams services on Sunday 20th July will be altered between 1300 and 1600 due to the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Cavalcade. Trams will only run Edinburgh Airport to Shandwick Place from 1300 until 1600 with the final tram heading west from York Place due to be at 1245.

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Edinburgh Trams service alteration: Sunday 20th July

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 13 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

It is a bumper weekend of Photo Gallery updates on British Trams Online with five new collections added to the website:

Continue reading →

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

In Pictures: Midland Metro Birmingham City Centre extension

Posted on Saturday 12 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Progress is continuing on the Birmingham City Centre extension of Midland Metro which is due to open during 2015. The extension will leave the current Metro line just before Snow Hill railway station before travelling on a new viaduct and then down to street level. The line will travel along Upper Bull Street, Corporation Street before terminating at Stephenson Street outside New Street station. Recent photos of the current state of affairs on this extension are shown below courtesy of Ken Jones.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

Up close and personal with Manchester 765

Posted on Saturday 12 July 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As part of our continued coverage to mark the centenary of Manchester 765, we take a close look at this popular tram with some interior views showing the car in all its glory. 765 has of course been a stalwart of the Heaton Park Tramway for over thirty years (though with periods of time spent at Blackpool and Beamish in-between), but its superb appearance today is a testament to the outstanding quality of restoration work carried out on it back in the 1970s.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Trams Up Close | 1 Comment

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 11 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

What to know when and where you ride on heritage trams over the next few weeks? Well if you do you have come to the right place as this is your one stop guide to heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man! This weekend will see the Crich Tramway Village hosting another special event with an Edwardian weekend (12th and 13th July) which will include trips on horse car Sheffield 15 (Sunday 13th only). Then attention will be turned to Blackpool, or to be more precise Fleetwood, again on Sunday 20th July when the annual Transport Festival takes place which will include heritage tram trips between Fisherman’s Walk and North Pier.

Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Heritage Trams this week

Midland Metro welcomes its tenth Urbos 3

Posted on Friday 11 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

There are now ten CAF constructed Urbos 3 trams on Midland Metro metals following the arrival of 26 on Friday 4th July. As with all previous deliveries the tram arrived in two sections and was transported via Plymouth before arriving at its home of Wednesbury Depot. Soon after arrival it was moved into the workshops where a start was made on its commissioning. The other new trams which have arrived continue to be used on driver training (a number have now reached 18,000km fault free running) with vehicles as high as 23 having been noted on these duties so far. No official date has yet been set for their entry into service.

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments