Blackpool Railcoach 680 to run at Beamish!

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Plans for the official launch into service of preserved Blackpool Railcoach 680 have been changed once again, in a move which should be welcomed by tram enthusiasts. Instead of being launched at Heaton Park in February 2014, as was previously suggested, the tram is now set to make its preservation debut at Beamish Museum instead… and quite incredibly, it is expected to enter service there this year!

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 11 Comments

British Trams Online – Editor’s Comment

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

It probably won’t have escaped your notice that there has been a little bit of controversy on our News Pages in recent weeks, a lot of it – although not exclusively – coming from our reports on the Lancastrian Transport Trust. This had led to allegations that we aren’t as “neutral” as we used to be when reporting on stories and that we are seemingly against certain organisations – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News | 6 Comments

One out, two in as Metrolink prepares to shake it all about!

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The T68 fleet of Manchester Metrolink has decreased further by one following the withdrawal of 1003. The unique liveried vehicle was withdrawn on 12th November having been stopped exactly a week earlier after suffering a traction motor flashover. This now means that 16 of the original 26 T68 fleet have been withdrawn from service although one of those already withdrawn has found another use.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 12 Comments

Nottingham Express Transit Citadis 219 arrives

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The fourth Alstom Citadis tram – 219 – for Nottingham Express Transit arrived at its new home on Thursday 14th November having trodden the usual route from Spain via Southampton Docks. It arrived during the morning and was unloaded at Wilkinson Street Depot to join its three sisters already in situ, which have now received external numbers – although there aren’t exactly easy to spot!

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

More consultation for Midland Metro Wolverhampton extension

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Another period of consultation for the Wolverhampton city centre extension of Midland Metro is to be launched following changes to the proposed route to allow a listed building to be saved from demolition. The consultation is open now and will remain so until 9th December with a number of public exhibitions to take place regarding the changes.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on More consultation for Midland Metro Wolverhampton extension

Metrolink delays after pedestrian hit by tram

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services were delayed on Wednesday 13th November after a pedestrian was hit by a tram opposite the Crown Court between Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station. Reports suggested that the man slipped next to the tracks and was hit by the tram and suffered minor head injuries which were treated at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Services were suspended between Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly between 1345 and 1430 before they were able to resume, but with delays as the service was reformed.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink delays after pedestrian hit by tram

Tramlink delays after cyclist dies in collision with bus

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Services on London Tramlink were suspended between East Croydon and Sandilands for approximately three hours on Tuesday 12th November after an accident involving a cyclist and a bus. Tragically the cyclist was killed in the incident which saw him dragged under the bus following impact.

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Tramlink delays after cyclist dies in collision with bus

Heaton Park announce events schedule for November 17th

Posted on Friday 15 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As announced previously, the Heaton Park Tramway’s Autumn Gala on Sunday 17th November has been scaled back somewhat, due to the fact that work on the new Lakeside Depot is not sufficiently complete for trams to be accommodated within, and this has prevented the addition of anything ‘new’ to the running fleet. However, an interesting programme of events has now been announced and details of the day’s planned activities are provided below.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park announce events schedule for November 17th

LTT update: the truth about Brinwell Road

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

After recently publishing a news story on the move of Blackpool Brush car 622, British Trams Online was contacted by Theo Dunne, who is the Managing Director of Heatons Engineering Group. This company purchased the Brinwell Road premises occupied by several Lancastrian Transport Trust owned vehicles in December 2012, and Mr. Dunne has very kindly supplied us exclusively with further details of what has really happened over the past few months.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 17 Comments

First tram enters new Heaton Park depot

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 12th November 2013, a small but very significant step towards the completion of a second tram depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway occurred, when Blackpool Railgrinder 752 became the first tram to enter the new building. Although the erection of overhead wire inside the depot is still ongoing, the first track is now sufficiently complete for testing to begin.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 5 Comments

Nottingham Citadis trams to start on street testing

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The testing of the first of the new Nottingham Express Transit Citadis trams is set to be stepped up a notch this week with the first city centre test runs due to take place. The first of the trams has already commenced testing north of Wilkinson Street with trips starting late last month but this will be the first time that it has made it onto the street sections south of the depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Repaint for Supertram 124

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram 124 has returned to service following a repaint with a slightly revised livery now being carried – although you have to look carefully to see the differences! There are no longer any numbers carried on the sides directly behind the top of the cab whilst the Stagecoach Supertram logo on the front has now been moved further up and is directly below the number. Meanwhile 114 has this week been on test following a truck refresh.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Cornbrook changes afoot

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

If you are a regular traveller on Manchester Metrolink or have been reading our news pages in recent weeks and months you can’t help but have noticed that there have been major problems at Cornbrook with points failures causing severe delays to services far too often. Manchester Metrolink have now released an official statement on their website (http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?serviceID=144) to show passengers that they are aware there are problems and that they are attempting to solve them as soon as possible.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 21 Comments

Tram-train strategy to be developed in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Councillors in Greater Manchester have backed plans to develop a tram-train strategy in  the region which could see six current heavy rail lines converted to tram-train operation. The Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Capital Projects and Policy Sub-committee approved a report last week which outlined the proposals and they will now look into more detail at how they can be put into practice.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 13 Comments

Manchester Metrolink Improvement Works: Sunday 17th November

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Limited improvement works will take place again on Manchester Metrolink before 0900 on Sunday 17th November causing some services to be altered. Services from Bury will terminate at Crumpsall, from Rochdale trams will run as far as Central Park, trams from East Didsbury will terminate at Victoria with trams from Ashton-under-Lyne being diverted to run to Eccles. Replacement bus services will operate to Piccadilly from Crumpsall and Central Park. Normal services will resume after 0900.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s heritage trams commence winter hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A highly successful season of operation for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet has now come to an end, co-inciding with the final night of the 2013 illuminations on Sunday 10th November. That evening saw just two trams operate on illumination tours, the Frigate 736 and Balloon 717, with 717 doing the last tour of the year. This therefore seems an ideal time to reflect on what has undoubtedly been a defining year for the remaining historic trams in Blackpool, in which the heritage service has really gone from strength to strength.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

All change at Crich this winter

Posted on Sunday 10 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A number of developments are taking place at Crich Tramway Village over the winter period, in an attempt to offer an improved experience for visitors to the attraction from next year. Although most of these don’t directly involve the trams themselves, some of these are likely to be of interest to our readers, and are therefore reported below.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 7 Comments

This week on British Trams Online….

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

We have another couple of Photo Galleries for you this week:

Gallery 411: Black Country Living Museum October 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery411.html

Gallery 412: Liverpool 245 restoration progress to end of October 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery412.html

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

Preston Trampower scheme not all finished after all!

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

A few weeks ago we reported on the apparent abandonment of the plans to return trams to Preston but it now appears that rumours of their demise were false and in fact there has been significant recent progress with more to come. A recent progress report on the Trampower Preston plans has been posted to the Preston Station Past and Present website (http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/trampower_nov2013.html) and we are grateful for permission to repeat the latest here.

Continue reading →

Posted in Preston Trampower | 21 Comments

Crich announce ‘Electric 50’ event for 2014

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On 5th July 1964, a huge piece of transport preservation history was made, when Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 became the first electric tramcar to operate in public service at the Crich Tramway Museum. Not only was this a massive leap forward for the site which became Britain’s National Tramway Museum, but also represented the first such operation of a passenger tram in a museum environment in the UK. Fifty years on, and plans are now afoot to celebrate this important milestone in grand fashion. Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments