Tram depot construction works in North East and North West

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As the latter stages of construction work on the Heaton Park Tramway’s second tram depot are reached, another tramcar preservation group have reached a major milestone in their own project to provide suitable covered storage space for its own vehicle collection. The North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust have been working hard to prepare the land which will be occupied by its new tram shed, and building work finally got underway on Monday 2nd Decmeber after a few minor delays.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool Balloon 721 restoration progress

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Restoration work on the interior of Blackpool Balloon car 721 by members of its owning group, the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust, is continuing to make good progress. Recent developments have included the removal of the interior lining panels on the upper deck as well as much of the modern ceiling panels, revealing the wooden framework beneath to be sound.

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Another two T68s withdrawn

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Manchester Metrolink T68 fleet is now down to seven examples following the withdrawal of 1013 and 1026 from service. Both vehicles were officially withdrawn from service on Monday 2nd December although 1026 had not operated for a couple of weeks after a compressor failure.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

And then there were five! Citadis 220 arrives in Nottingham

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

The number of Alstom Citadis trams in Nottingham has increased again with the arrival of the fifth example – 220 – at Wilkinson Street Depot. It seems that the deliveries of these new trams no longer seems newsworthy as no-one apparently noticed that it was delivered but it was noted at Wilkinson Street on Sunday 1st December. If anyone can update us as to when it arrived we would be grateful!

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 4 Comments

TfL announce fare rise but only at rate of inflation

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

Fares on the Transport for London network will only rise, on average, at the RPI rate (3.1%) when the new fare structure is introduced from 2nd January. This is being lauded as good news as TfL claim that this means fares will remain at the same level “in real terms” (providing of course that people actually get a pay rise at the same level).

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Posted in Docklands Light Railway, London Trams | Comments Off on TfL announce fare rise but only at rate of inflation

How to travel to your enthronement as Bishop of Manchester? By Metrolink of course!

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

The new Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, chose to make part of his journey to his enthronement at Manchester Cathedral last Saturday (30th November) by Metrolink to partly reflect his “personal journey of faith, which began with his birth in Mossley and baptism at St George’s Church in 1957.

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Edinburgh Trams testing extends to Haymarket

Posted on Monday 2 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

Testing of trams in Edinburgh has now been extended through to Haymarket with 264 performing the first trip on Monday 2nd December. The tram was tested at walking pace between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket to allow measurements to be taken and this now means that 11km of track is available for testing.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 2 Comments

British Trams Online Tram of the Year – Voting Open!

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

Voting in the British Trams Online Tram of the Year contest for 2013 is now open in all three categories: Tram of the Year, Tramway of the Year and Event of the Year.

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Posted in Site News | 3 Comments

This week on British Trams Online…

Posted on Sunday 1 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

As well as the start of voting for “Tram of the Year” we have a few other goodies for you ob British Trams Online this week:

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Anger as work starts to remodel Laxey Station

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Amongst a number of maintenance jobs being undertaken on the Manx Electric Railway this winter a major remodelling of the Laxey Station area is underway, a change which many supporters of the MER are saying is spoiling the Victorian character of the line.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 11 Comments

Delays for Tramlink after lorry and tram collide

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services between Elmers End/Beckenham Junction and East Croydon were suspended on Wednesday 27th November after a Warburtons bread lorry and a tram collided in Addiscombe. Details of the exact circumstances which led to the two vehicles colliding are not currently known but the tram involved – 2534 – suffered fairly significant damage (including eight broken windows and doors) and it is currently stabled at the depot awaiting repairs, with the damaged side covered by tarpaulins. Services were suspended from approximately 0545 but were back up and running by mid morning.

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Bradley Lane set to get Park and Ride facilities

Posted on Saturday 30 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Centro are planning on creating a new car park alongside Bradley Lane stop on Midland Metro to help ease congestion on local roads which are seeing a lot of Metro travellers parking their cars. A section of land adjacent to Bradley Lane – which is the only part of Midland Metro which crosses into Walsall – has been identified and Centro and now working alongside Walsall Council to progress with plans to construct a new car park.

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‘Box’ 40 set for brief return to Crich

Posted on Friday 29 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society have announced that Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 will be returning to Crich for a major special event in 2014, celebrating 50 years of electric tramcar operation at the museum. The car – which remains owned by the TMS despite being based at Blackpool – has been revealed as the star attraction at the ‘Electric 50’ event on September 13th and 14th, which will quite incredibly be its first stint of service at Crich since 1965!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

Another new livery on Nottingham Express Transit

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit is rapidly taking on the mantle of the most colourful tramway in the UK with another all over advert debuting this week, although this one – on 207 – has yet to be completed. The tram is currently operating in all over purple with adverts for The Snowman featuring above the windows at one end.

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Metrolink T68 1002 withdrawal leaves fleet in single figures

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink T68 1002 was officially withdrawn from service on Monday 18th November, leaving the T68 passenger fleet at just nine examples. 1002 had proved to be unreliable in recent weeks and it last worked on the Eccles service on 12th November.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 9 Comments

Vote for a new look for the front of DLR trains

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

A scheme to rebuild some of the trains on the Docklands Light Railway has been announced and Transport for London are looking for people’s views on how the fronts should be redesigned! Three designs have been released on the DLR website (http://www.dlrlondon.co.uk/HaveYourSay/vehiclepoll.aspx) with the winning design being used to shape the future of the DLR fleet.

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Posted in Docklands Light Railway | 3 Comments

Midland Metro delays after overhead failure

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Services on Midland Metro were severely disrupted on Tuesday 26th November after problems with the overhead wires at Wednesbury Parkway. The official Midland Metro Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/MidlandMetro) reported that a fire in the area was causing the delays and it has now been confirmed that sparks were seen coming from the overhead at approximately 0515 which led to the power being switched off so repairs could take place.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Edinburgh’s tram service will have positive impact on city – top civil engineer claims

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The new President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Geoff French, has claimed that Edinburgh’s new tram service will enhance the ambience of Princes Street whilst at the same time have a general positive impact on the city. Mr French made the comments as he visited Edinburgh as part of a tour of major ongoing infrastructure projects in Scotland including the tram, Forth Replacement Crossing and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games venues.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 4 Comments

Manchester Metrolink Improvement Works: Sunday 1st December

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Improvement works on the Manchester Metrolink network before 0900 on Sunday 1st December will see services altered. Trams will only run Altrincham-Piccadilly, Bury-Crumpsall, East Didsbury-Victoria, Eccles-Piccadilly via MediaCityUK and Rochdale-Central Park until 0900 and then normal services will commence. Replacement buses will be in operation to Piccadilly from both Crumpsall and Central Park until full services resume.

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Moor Bridge stop changes

Posted on Wednesday 27 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Continuing upgrade work at stops across Nottingham Express Transit will see the footpath and steps leading from the park and ride facilities to the tram stop at Moor Bridge closed this week. Signs will be in place to direct passengers to use the main pedestrian entrance to the stop whilst the essential work takes place. A small number of parking spaces will also be unavailable as part of the work. It is expected that the steps/footpath will be reopened by the end of this week.

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