In Pictures: Testing continues in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Test running of Edinburgh Trams is continuing with a recent expansion in hours of operation with trams now testing now taking place at any time between 0500 and 2359 on weekdays. It is also planned that testing will be extended to weekends at some point in April. Edinburgh Trams are still targeting May for opening but are keeping their cards close to their chest as to exactly when this will be but have previously said they will give a four week warning ahead of opening.

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In Picture: M5000 3080 enters service

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

The latest M5000 to enter service is 3080 which first carried passengers on Tuesday 25th March. The LRV is not equipped with the ATS or VRS equipment and so is part of the pool of vehicles which are restricted to use on the MediaCityUK and Eccles-Ashton under Lyne lines.

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Stadler’s spread their wings on Tramlink

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Since being introduced into service during 2012 the Stadler Variotrams on London Tramlink have, apart from on a few occasions, mainly been limited to use on the Elmers End routes (lines 1 and 4) but over the past week they have started to spread their wings a bit more with use on both the Beckenham Junction and New Addington lines.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two works

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Construction work on Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit has gathered pace in the last few weeks with seven day a week working now in evidence. Traction poles are now up in several places including Chillwell, Wilford Riverside and Meadows Way/Arkwright Street. The point work for the junction of the two routes is now being laid and most of the track has now been laid on the Station bridge and ramp. With thanks to David Beardsell we are able to bring you photographic updates of some of the recent progress.

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram rail replacement work starts

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

The first stage of the second phase of rail replacement on Stagecoach Supertram has got under on Saturday 29th March with work commencing at Hillsborough Corner. During this stage of works, which are due to be completed by the end of April, trams on the blue route will terminate at Shalesmoor with Yellow route trams only running as far as the city centre. Replacement buses are starting from Castle Square with connections also at Shalesmoor. The first day saw works concentrated on the inbound track as these photos taken by Stuart Cooke show.

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Mobility scooters cleared for Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

From Monday 31st March people living in Greater Manchester and holding either an English Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) Disabled Person’s Pass or a TfGM Travel Voucher pass will be able to apply for a permit to use their mobility scooter on Manchester Metrolink. The scheme will initially be running as a six month trial and it is hoped will enable many people in Greater Manchester to be able to get about more using the Metrolink network.

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Nottinghamshire resident concessionary pass holders to enjoy even better discounts on NET

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Concessionary pass holders from Nottinghamshire will be able to enjoy better discounts on board Nottingham Express Transit from 1st April with the previous restriction between 1600 and 1800 on weekdays being relaxed. Previously concessionary pass holders had to pay half fare between 1600 and 1800 on Mondays to Fridays but as from 1st April no fare will be payable. They will still not be able to be used before 0930.

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Supertram single fares frozen

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram have announced that all single tram tickets and tram and bus Dayrider and Megarider tickets are to be frozen in price in acknowledgement of the disruption likely to passengers during the track replacement works which have now started.

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Western Train loses its trolley

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

One of Blackpool’s best loved trams, the illuminated Western Train 733, has undergone another minor change to its external appearance recently, with the removal of its trolley arm. It may be recalled that over winter, 733 had been fitted with a diamond pantograph and mini-tower on its roof, with the rendundant trolley initially being tied down out of harm’s way. However, it has now been removed altogether, meaning that none of the operational illuminated trams now have this type of current collector.

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Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Friday 28 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Now fully back after its winter hiatus this is an improved version (well we’ve added website links to the locations involved, tried to make it a bit easier to find the information quickly and there will be a photo added each week as well for 2014 and hopefully will give you all the information you need to start planning your visits to our heritage trams. This weekend sees the first passenger tram movements for both the Crich Tramway Village and the Heaton Park Tramway whilst the full length of the Seaton Tramway commences daily operation.

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Manchester 765 prepared for Mayoral visit to Heaton Park

Posted on Friday 28 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of the commencement of the 2014 operating season on Sunday 30th March, the Heaton Park Tramway played host to a very special guest on Friday 28th March, when the Mayor of Manchester paid an official visit to the tramway. Whilst Blackpool Vanguard 7/619 was used for this visit, Manchester 765 also played its part in the day’s festivities.

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More good news for Blackpool’s heritage service

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After starting the year on a low with the announcement of budget cuts which threatened to severely dent this year’s operations, the heritage tram service at Blackpool has been the subject of many positive developments recently, with more running days added to the initial events programme and other exciting news, such as the running of vintage trams to Starr Gate for the first time since 2009 in connection with the annual ‘Totally Transport’ event. Now, it has been confirmed that the price of a family day saver ticket for the heritage tours has been reduced in a drive to increase patronage in 2014.

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Liverpool 245 comes back to life

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Wednesday 26th March 2014 will go down as a landmark date in history for the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, as for the first time, Liverpool 245 emerged into the open air under its own power to be photographed in the sunshine for the first time since arriving at Birkenhead. The tram has of course been the subject of an extremely thorough rebuild, largely undertaken by MTPS volunteers, and financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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Blackpool heritage trams join Facebook

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

A new, official Facebook page has been launched for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours. Titled ‘Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours’ (hmm, that makes sense!) the page will provide information on the plans for upcoming operating dates for the fleet of heritage trams which have been amassed by the company, and will be updated by representatives of Blackpool Transport and the new charitable trust which is being set to look after the trams.

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Up close and personal with… Blackpool ‘Boat’ 606

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Today on British Trams Online, we have some fantastic photos of a tram which very rarely gets a mention on this website – Blackpool ‘Boat’ 606. For those not already aware of 606‘s story, the tram was shipped to the USA in September 2000 as part of a swap deal which allowed Standard 147 to return to Blackpool for a full restoration to working condition.

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Seaton ready to re-open full route

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Just six weeks after a devastating storm on Valentines night washed away half a mile of track on the Seaton Tramway alongside the River Axe the tramway have announced that they are ready to resume a full service again – meaning that their daily opening will be able to commence on Saturday 29th March as originally planned.

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Original NET livery completely eradicated

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

The original dark green, black and silver livery on Nottingham Express Transit has now been completely eradicated following the outshopping of 201 – which retained the livery on the ends as part of an all over advert for Nottingham Contemporary – in the new fleet livery – under two weeks after the line celebrated its 10th anniversary.

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Delays on NET after heavy frost

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

No trams were able to run on Nottingham Express Transit until 0800 on Monday 24th March after a heavy frost caused problems. In a scenario which echoes previous problems on Manchester Metrolink the heavy frost meant that trams could not pick up power from the overhead wires and despite “specialised equipment” being sent out from 0400 to clear the wires no services were operated until 0800.

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New tickets to be launched for young people on Supertram

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

From Sunday 30th March 2014 a new range of tickets for children and young people will be launched which will be valid for travel on Stagecoach Supertram. There will be some Stagecoach specific commercial day and week tickets alongside a new Travel South Yorkshire child day and week tickets.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 23 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

We have three more Photo Galleries for you to take a look at as part of this week’s main site update plus there are the usual Fleet List and Events Diary updates.

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