M5000 3051 enters service as more new trams arrive in Manchester

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

3051 has become the latest M5000 to enter passenger service on Manchester Metrolink meaning that there are currently 56 of the trams available to operate on the network. Whilst 3051 has entered service the latest examples have been delivered to Queen’s Road depot with trams up to 3070 now in Manchester. This leaves just 24 more of the current order of M5000s to arrive.

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In Pictures: Midland Metro

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

Not often illustrated on these pages is the Midland Metro system which currently runs  between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton St Georges although the coming years should see extensions at both ends with the one to Birmingham New Street due to open in 2015. Photos from a recent visit by Steve Kemp to Midland Metro are provided below including a look at the trams which are now fitted with electronic destination blinds.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

With thanks to Mervyn Williams we take a quick look at Nottingham Express Transit. Views are provided of two of the non standard fleet liveried trams in operation and some images of the latest progress with the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge over Nottingham Railway Station.

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NET Travel Centre opens in city centre

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

A new Nottingham Express Transit Travel Centre has opened in Nottingham city centre to provide a “one stop shop” for information on the tram network. The shop has opened at the bottom of Kings Street and is open Monday to Saturday between 0830 and 1730. As well as customers being able to find out the latest information on the network they can also buy tickets and collect tickets ordered online. The shop was officially opened on Wednesday 10 July by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Merlita Bryan.

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Council to contribute towards bridge over NET and Network Rail tracks

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham City Council are to provide £100,000 towards a bridge which is due to replace a foot crossing over both Nottingham Express Transit and Network Rail tracks where there have been several fatalities over the years. Both Nottinghamshire County Council and  Tramlink Nottingham will also give contributions towards the £1.5 million bridge which it has been decided is necessary following a number of incidents at the Bayles and Wylies crossing in Bestwood near Hucknall where pedestrians have attempted to cross the tracks as tram and rail vehicles have been approaching.

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15 month ban for driver who got his car stuck on tracks

Posted on Saturday 13 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

A 27 year old man has been banned for driving for 15 months and fined £110 with £85 costs and a £20 surcharge after getting his car stuck on the Metrolink tracks at Great Ancoats Street on 26 June. The incident happened at 0400 on 26 June when fortunately no trams were operating on the line as the incident may have been far worse than it was if it had been later in the day. Christopher Ingham was over double the drink drive limit when Police attended the incident having been called by the driver himself when he realised his car was stuck and couldn’t be moved.

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Up close and personal with London 159

Posted on Thursday 11 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the welcome return to service of London United Tramways 159 at Crich Tramway Village on 6th July, British Trams Online is pleased to bring you some more unusual images of this tram, showing the high quality of work which has gone into the restoration of this car from a derelict wreck into a stunning operational electric tramcar.

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Blackpool Standard 147 becomes a TV star

Posted on Tuesday 9 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Standard car 147 made a brief appearance on primetime television on the evening of Tuesday 9th July. The tram appeared towards the end of the first episode of a new two-part documentary programme on ITV1, hosted by well-known actor and presenter, Robson Greene.

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Preparations continue for introduction of TMS

Posted on Tuesday 9 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

Work is to be undertaken from this coming weekend (Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July) at Cornbrook Junction to install the equipment to allow the Tram Management System (TMS) to be switched on to allow more frequent services to run through the area. As Manchester Metrolink has continued to expand – with further expansion to follow as well – the number of services which have been able to be operate have been dictated by the old signalling system but with the engineers now seemingly convinced that they have got to the bottom of the problems that have dogged TMS previously work is to recommence on installing across the whole network.

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Seaton Pearl prepares to set sail again

Posted on Tuesday 9 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

Pirates may have been grounded from appearing at the Heaton Park Tramway this year but there are no such problems at the Seaton Tramway where their annual “Pirate Day” will take place on Friday 2 August (Customs officials in Seaton are obviously easier to get past than those in Manchester!) As part of the “Pirate Day” the “Seaton Pearl” will set sail from Seaton terminus with a Pirate Captain in charge of the journeys. The “Seaton Pearl” is in fact tram no. 4 which, as you will probably be aware, is based on one of the popular Blackpool Boat cars. As there are only 20 seats on the tram pre-booking is advised to travel on the special Pirate journeys on this day and normal fares will apply.

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Young male hit by tram at Blackpool

Posted on Monday 8 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A cyclist was struck by a Blackpool Flexity2 tram near Manchester Square during the late afternoon/early evening of Monday 8th July. Full details are not yet known, but based on early eyewitness reports, is believed that a man in his early twenties was hit by tram 003 and has been taken to hospital by helicopter with head and spinal injuries.

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Trams in trouble at Crich

Posted on Monday 8 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Two members of the operational tram fleet at Crich Tramway Village have been in the wars recently, having to be towed back to the depot following mishaps. Blackpool 630 and Metropolitan 331 were the trams involved in two unrelated incidents in the last few weeks, although in fairness both are almost certainly victims of bad luck.

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Is Crich in crisis?

Posted on Monday 8 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The worrying trend of declining visitor numbers at Crich Tramway Village, which has been apparent for several years now, has led to the museum management having to make some difficult decisions recently. It has been decided that the level of paid staff was unsustainable, and therefore a major restructure has taken place, with three senior staff being laid off.

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A busy week for NELSAM

Posted on Sunday 7 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The first week of July has been a monumental one for the North East Electrical Traction Trust, who have taken great strides forward in their mission to develop a collection of historic trams for display at the North East Land Sea & Air Museum near Sunderland. Following the arrival of Blackpool trams Centenary car 647 and Twin set 674+684 earlier in the week, volunteers could have been forgiven for having a quiet weekend but in fact they have done anything but!

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LUT 159 returns to service for ‘A Capital Weekend’

Posted on Saturday 6 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The latest London-themed event held at Crich Tramway Village has witnessed the much anticipated return to traffic of London United Tramways 159 for the first time since its launch in July 2012. Following remedial attention, the car ran successfully all day on Saturday 6th July 2013 – completing its first full day of passenger service for an incredible ninety years!

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LUT 159 approved for service at Crich

Posted on Friday 5 July 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following various adjustments and extensive testing, it is pleasing to confirm that London United Tramways 159 is due to re-enter service at Crich Tramway Village for the ‘Capital Weekend’ event, being held on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July. This will be the first opportunity to ride on this recently restored tram since its unfortunate derailment on its launch day last summer.

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Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Friday 5 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again when we bring you a round-up of when and where you can travel on heritage trams across the UK. Once again if you know of any errors or omissions please let us know and we will make the change. All the information here is given in good faith but you are advised to check before travelling any significant distance with the organisations  involved.

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram trackwork starts

Posted on Friday 5 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

The much talked about trackwork on the Stagecoach Supertram network has now commenced with the section of tramway between Spring Lane and Sheffield Tramway closed as from Sunday 30 June to allow a 12 week period of track relaying. The first day of the closure actually saw no work take place but as from Monday 1 July the workmen were on site to start the replacement of the track near Park Grange tramstop.

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New Midland Metro trams almost ready for delivery

Posted on Friday 5 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

The first of the 20 CAF built trams for Midland Metro is nearing completion in Spain and is expected to be delivered to Birmingham in September. The Urbos 3 vehicles are being constructed by CAF at their factory in Zaragoza at a combined cost of £40 million and will bring with them major improvements to the travelling experience for passengers on Midland Metro as well as increasing the capacity on the current network.

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Bromley Council show support for DLR extension

Posted on Friday 5 July 2013 by Gareth Prior

Bromley Council have given their support towards extending the Docklands Light Railway to the town at a Council meeting following on from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s commitment to the line in the Mayor’s 2020 Vision. It is hoped that if funding can be found the line could open by 2022 providing a link to Canary Wharf where the working population is likely to double by 2025.

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