Passenger Focus surveys shows satisfaction of Midland Metro service

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

A survey, recently conducted by Passenger Focus, has shown that passengers on Midland Metro are satisfied with the service provided with 90% of those asked saying they were happy with the line which links Birmingham Snow Hill with Wolverhampton St George’s. This is the first time that Passenger Focus have undertaken a survey like this on a tram system.

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Edinburgh Trams to run at operating profit?

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

The City of Edinburgh Council have claimed that Edinburgh Trams will run at an operating profit – despite media reports suggesting otherwise. The Council says that in the 15 year business model, which will integrate the finances of Lothian Buses and the trams, there will be a surplus of £5 million and that the tram on its own will run with a £48 million operating surplus.

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Councillor urges more NET expansion

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Cllr Nick McDonald (Labour), portfolio holder for jobs and growth on Nottingham City Council, has said that the extensions of Nottingham Express Transit being constructed at the moment should only be the beginning of the expansion of the system and further lines should be planned now to help drive economic growth.

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Metrolink extension to Trafford Centre to get go-ahead?

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

It looks like the proposed extension of Manchester Metrolink to the Trafford Centre may be about to get the go-ahead with funding coming through the “Earnback” scheme. The Metrolink extension is one of two transport schemes which Greater Manchester’s Local Enterprise Partnership would like to see funded in this way initially.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 7 Comments

Ride the Dinosaur Train at the Seaton Tramway

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Children are going to have the chance to ride on the Dinosaur Train at the Seaton Tramway from Friday 26 July for the first time in the UK as the stars of the animated TV series from The Jim Henson Company make regular appearances throughout the summer. The Dinosaur Train will depart from Seaton Terminus every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Friday 26 July until Sunday 8 September with booking now open to make sure you have your place.

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Stagecoach Supertram Engineering works start on 30 June

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

The first stage of the major track replacement work on Stagecoach Supertram will commence on Sunday 30 June and will see work concentrate on the section between Spring Lane and Park Grange Croft. Trams will continue to operate on the Blue route between Halfway and Spring Lane and from Malin Bridge to Sheffield Station with replacement buses in use between Spring Lane and Castle Square in the city centre. This work is expected to take approximately 12 weeks to complete. A leaflet has been produced with full details of the work (although with no actual dates mentioned) and this can be downloaded at http://www.supertram.com/uploads/KC1173RailreplacementtimetablebookletVis7.pdf

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Sunday 30 June

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Further engineering works in the Victoria area will see more disruption to Manchester Metrolink services on Sunday 30 June whilst trams will also be suspended between Timperley and Altrincham until 0830. The works at Victoria will see trams unable to operate between Central Park and Victoria and Crumpsall and Victoria with replacement buses in operation on the affected sections running through to Piccadilly. Trams on the Eccles line will run to Droylsden, those from East Didsbury will be diverted to Piccadilly with services from Bury only running as far as Crumpsall and from Rochdale Railway Station as far as Central Park.

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NET delays after tram breakdown

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Just to show that Manchester Metrolink isn’t the only tram system in the UK which suffers delays, a tram broke down on Nottingham Express Transit on Tuesday 25 June causing delays to the service of up to 30 minutes. The tram broke down between Basford and Wilkinson Street at approximately 0730. Engineers sound arrived at the scene and the tram was moved to Wilkinson Street where passengers were able to alight. A full service was in operation again from 0930.

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Police search for man who assaulted ticket inspector on Metrolink

Posted on Saturday 29 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Greater Manchester Police have released an image of a man they want in connection with the assault of a ticket inspector at Trafford Bar back on 21 April 2013. The incident occurred when the ticket inspector approached two men at the stop asking them to purchase tickets. Although one of the men did so the other became abusive and punched the inspector in the mouth. The Police have been making “strenuous efforts” to locate the man who committed the assault but have had no luck so are now appealing to anyone who may recognise him to come forward by phoning the Police on 0161 856 7655 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The image of the man can be seen at http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-ticket-inspector-assaulted-after-4749321

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Southampton 45 loaded for Kimberley

Posted on Friday 28 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Southampton 45 was placed on a Scott’s Heavy Haulage low loader during the afternoon of Friday 28th June, in preparation for a short visit to the town of Kimberley the following day. As reported previously, the tram will be attending an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire tramway, due to its similarity to the trams that once operated on that system. The car will be displayed prominently in the Sainsbury’s car park at Kimberley all day on Saturday 29th June, before heading back home.

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Picture in Time 8: Leeds 600 in 2005

Posted on Friday 28 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As our recent photo feature on Leeds 602 was so popular, the next subject of our ‘Picture in Time’ is the similar Leeds 600. Like 602, this tram is part of the National Tramway Museum collection, however it is currently hidden away at the museum’s Clay Cross store. These photos take us back to 2005, when the tram was one of the star attractions at the annual Crich Enthusiast’s Day shortly before it made the short road journey to Clay Cross.

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Improved Sunday service for Blackpool tramway

Posted on Wednesday 26 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Since the Blackpool tramway re-opened as a modern light rail system last year, the main fault of the system has been the inadequacies of the service provision on Sundays. Whilst it is common practice for many modern-day transport operators to reduce their timetabled service on a Sunday, Blackpool is different as the town relies heavily on the tourist trade, meaning that Sunday is often one of the busiest days of the week. However, Blackpool Transport have now vastly improved this previous weakness with the introduction of a revised summer tram timetable for the 2013 season.

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Blackpool 646 – rest in pieces?

Posted on Wednesday 26 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The sad saga of Blackpool Centenary car 646 appeared to be over earlier this year when compelling evidence emerged that the tram had finally been cut up for scrap. This followed the sale of various small items from the tram on internet auction site eBay. However, in a strange twist, more parts have now been offered for sale, with their seller claiming that 646 is still very much alive and well!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit Citadis on test

Posted on Tuesday 25 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

The first of the Citadis trams being built by Alstom for Nottingham Express Transit has seen the light of day in Barcelona, undergoing dynamic brake tests on the test track earlier this month. 22 of the Alstom Citadis 402 trams are on order for Nottingham with the first still on schedule to be delivered in early September 2013.

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Heritage trams brave the gales for Totally Transport

Posted on Monday 24 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The ninth annual ‘Totally Transport’ event took place on Blackpool’s New South Promenade on Sunday 23rd June, featuring the usual mix of static vehicles on display, family entertainment and a model tram exhibition at the Solaris Centre near Harrow Place. Although not officially connected with the event, Blackpool Transport decided to operate a timetabled heritage tram shuttle service between Pleasure Beach and North Pier on this day.

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Southampton 45 to visit Kimberley – this weekend!

Posted on Monday 24 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village have announced that Southampton 45 will be paying a brief visit to the Derbyshire town of Kimberley on Saturday 29th June. The tram will be attending a celebration to mark the centenary of the ‘Ripley Rattlers’ tram system, as it is the closest surviving vehicle to those which ran there.

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Extra outing for Sheffield horse tram

Posted on Sunday 23 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the first public tram service at Crich, which used horse-drawn tramcar Sheffield 15 until the overhead wires were in place, allowing electric trams to begin operating a year later. The Tramway Museum Society have now confirmed that they will celebrate this milestone with a low-key event on Monday 8th July, with a very special visitor due to be in attendance.

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From Budapest to Bradford and back to Budapest!

Posted on Sunday 23 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The North East Electrical Traction Trust (NEETT) have recently earned a reputation as one of the most promising organisations in the UK tram preservation scene, with hardly a week passing by without some exciting news emerging from this group. This time, their fleet is set to shrink slightly, following a surprise announcement that Budapest 2576+2577 will be heading back to their native land.

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Manx Heritage Transport Festival plans revealed

Posted on Saturday 22 June 2013 by Gareth Prior

Enhanced services on the Manx Electric Railway, special postal services, workshop tours, displays of trams and a special photographic tour will all feature during the five day Manx Heritage Transport Festival between Wednesday 24 and Sunday 28 July. The Festival will see all of the Island’s railways join in the fun to attract enthusiasts including the Isle of Man Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway.

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More Blackpool debuts set for August Bank Holiday

Posted on Saturday 22 June 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Posters promoting the proposals for heritage tram operation over the late August Bank Holiday weekend (24th – 26th August) have now begun to appear at the designated heritage tour stops in Blackpool. These prominently mention both Open Boat 602 and Centenary car 648, which are expected to make their debuts on the heritage service with fresh paintwork that weekend.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments