New owners of Blackpool 643 revealed

Posted on Monday 3 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following the surprise departure of Blackpool Centenary car 643 from Broadwater Caravan Park on 28th February, it has been confirmed that the tram has been donated to the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust. The tram has been relocated to Fleetwood fish dock, where it joins several other trams from the Trust’s collection.

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Blackpool trams take over Beamish!

Posted on Monday 3 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

For the first weekend of March, an intensive four-tram service was operated on the lengthy tramway circuit at Beamish Museum, using exclusively Blackpool trams. This low-key event was intended primarily to showcase the two visiting tramcars – Pantograph car 167 from the National Tramway Museum, and Railcoach 280 which is on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway. In addition, resident Marton Box 31 and the recent acquisition, Balloon 101 (ex-703) were also in operation on both days to give a real Fylde flavour to the proceedings.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 2 March 2014 by Gareth Prior

Just the one new Photo Gallery along with a couple of Fleet List updates for you to take a look on the main site update this week:

Gallery 440: More Docklands Light Railway February 2014 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery440.html

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In Pictures: Edinburgh city centre test runs

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Daytime test runs through Edinburgh city centre have continued during this week in the first stage of testing to enable the public to get used to the trams running with a major safety campaign launched by Edinburgh Trams to advise people how to act around the trams (not that it should probably be necessary!) With thanks to John Hampton we bring you some images from testing on 25th February.

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Further Birmingham city centre Metro extensions in the pipeline

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Centro have launched another public consultation, this time to find out the public’s views of further planned extensions of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre which would see the city’s major railway stations connected for the very first time by public transport.

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Delay for MER opening between Laxey and Ramsey?

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

The Manx Electric Railway Society have expressed fears that the northern section of the MER between Laxey and Ramsey may not be able to open on 4th April because of a landslip close to the tracks at Ballaglass a couple of months ago.

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Metrolink apologise for challenges of Victoria single-line working

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

As we approach the end of the first working week of single line operation through Manchester Victoria, Metrolink officials have apologised to passengers who have experienced delays due to the “operational challenges”of operating a service through this area.

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Blackpool heritage trams set for May Day

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following the previous announcement that the daytime heritage tram service in Blackpool had been cut back to just nine days for the 2014 season, it is pleasing to have some good news to report in regard of this decision. Thanks to the support of a local enthusiast group, two additional days have now been added to the programme, allowing the classic tram fleet to roam the tracks on all four of the Bank Holiday weekends this summer.

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Picture in Time 15: Manchester Metrolink 1007

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Our latest trip down memory lane takes a detour away from traditional trams for this installment as we take a look at Manchester Metrolink T68 1007 on the first day of street running with the Manchester coat of arms on the front.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Flexity2 015 suffers collapsed pantograph

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Saturday 22nd February one of the normally reliable Flexity2 trams in Blackpool suffered a collapsed pantograph causing delays to the service. The incident occurred at Pleasure Beach when 015 was operating a Starr Gate-Fleetwood Ferry service and caused services to be suspended between Starr Gate and Central Pier whilst the tram was removed and repairs were made to the span wire which was also damaged as a result of the incident. Photos courtesy of Stuart Cooke.

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A Tuesday of problems for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 25th February was another of those days which can be filed in the “bad days at the office”for Manchester Metrolink with several incidents combining to cause issues across the network. The Bury, Oldham and Rochdale and East Didsbury lines all saw delays with points problems, an unsafe building and a police incident being blamed for the issues.

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Clifton NET Phase Two works to start 2nd March

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

The previously delayed tram construction works on Southchurch Drive and Farnborough Road in Clifton will now commence from Sunday 2nd March it has been confirmed. With track laying now completed in the centre of Clifton the roads in this area will now re-open and attention can be turned to the works on Southchurch Drive and Farnborough Road which will entail a number of road closures and traffic diversions. Utility diversions, track laying and tram stop construction will all be undertaken during this phase of works.

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Further snagging works on Shandwick Place to take place

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Shandwick Place will be partially closed between 0700 on Saturday 1st March until 0500 on Monday 3rd March to allow “snagging” works to take place at the West End – Princes Street stop. The work – which involves the resetting of iron works, setts and kerbing – will see Shandwick Place closed at the section adjacent to Atholl and Coates Crescents with traffic diversions in place. Every effort will be made to ensure that the work is completed as soon as possible.

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Radcliffe parking capacity to increase

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Work to expand the parking facilities at Radcliffe Metrolink stop will commence from Monday 3rd March. An upper parking deck will be installed at the stop, on the Bury line, which will see the number of parking spaces increase from 250 to 369.

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In Pictures: More Blackpool trams visit Starr Gate

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The movement of various trams from Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet between the two depots at Rigby Road and Starr Gate has been a frequent occurance on Fridays for the last few weeks. Friday 28th February was no exception, as no less than four trams were on the move, including a rare appearance on the promenade for a Boat car in February!

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Centenary car 643 on the move again

Posted on Friday 28 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Centenary car 643 became the latest tram to make a journey by road on Friday 28th February, when the car departed its home at the Broadwater Caravan Park. This follows a short period of use as a static cafe for this tram, although its latest whereabouts are not yet known.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Free tram travel for non-Blackpool residents under threat

Posted on Thursday 27 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

There is currently intense speculation regarding the future of the offer of free travel on the Blackpool tramway for all holders of the UK concessionary passes issued to senior citizens. Before the opening of the modernised tramway, this offer was extended to cover ALL UK residents eligible for the pass under a national scheme, whereas previously it had only been available to local residents. Now however, this decision is likely to be reversed as Blackpool Council strive to save money.

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Trams swap between Britain and Budapest

Posted on Thursday 27 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The return of Budapest twin set 2576+2577 to its native country last year, following a chequered career in preservation in the UK, signalled the end of the presence of any representative of this operator on British soil. However, and very surprisingly, this situation has now been reversed following the unexpected appearance of Budapest 3341 in the UK!

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In Pictures: Single line working through Victoria

Posted on Tuesday 25 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

As extensively reported on British Trams Online due to major improvement works at Victoria, Manchester Metrolink services through this area are being altered for next nine months with single line working only possible through the station area.

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In Pictures: End of the line for Metrolink T68As to Altrincham?

Posted on Tuesday 25 February 2014 by Gareth Prior

Thursday 20th February 2014 could well go down in the record books as another milestone in the history of the Manchester Metrolink T68As with the likelihood that they made their last runs through the city centre onto the Altrincham line. With the introduction of the revised service from Monday 24th February, which means all services between Bury and Altrincham are due to be formed of double units and with the T68As are unable to work together, it is extremely likely that 2001 and 2003 will be limited to the Bury-Abraham Moss service from now on. Both 2001 and 2003 were in use on the Bury-Altrincham service on 20th February and with thanks to Steve Kemp we are able to bring you a few images of the trams in action.

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