Centenary car 648 restoration preview

Posted on Tuesday 28 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A welcome highlight of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool, was the opportunity to view progress on the restoration of Centenary car 648. As reported previously, it had been planned to launch the car into service on Saturday 25th May, but as it proved impossible to complete the required work in time, Blackpool Transport very kindly made the tram available for display on Hopton Road for a few hours – a gesture which was much appreciated by the many enthusiasts who went to see it.

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Even more old friends return to Fleetwood

Posted on Tuesday 28 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The late May Bank Holiday weekend saw another hugely succesful period of operation for the heritage tram fleet in Blackpool, with no less than sixteen of the retained traditional trams operating over the three day period. With so much going on, picking out highlights is very difficult – but the runs to Fleetwood by four different trams for the first time in the light rail stands out as being particularly noteworthy.

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NET 213 returns to service after refurbishment

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

The latest Nottingham Express Transit tram to go through the refurbishment work has returned to service. 213 was first used in service in the revised livery on 18 May and its place in the program has now been taken by 203. It is expected that 212 and 202 will be the next trams to be treated to the work which will eventually be carried out on all 15 of the
Incentro class trams.

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Centenary 648 ruled out of Blackpool heritage weekend

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Centenary car 648 will not now be taking part in the heritage operation on the Blackpool Tramway this weekend after its repaint was not completed in time despite the best efforts of the team of Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road workshops. The tram is still in the paint shop and although the undercoat of its repaint into green and cream has been completed it has been decided that the number of tasks remaining will not be finished in time.

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Manx Electric Railway to come to rescue again as bus strikes return

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Sadly the bus strike on the Isle of Man is returning with a vengeance with the union deciding to call a stoppage from 0001 on Saturday 25 May until 2359 on Wednesday 5 June – during the TT races, traditionally the busiest time on the island. As a result of this strike there have been changes to the transport being offered on the island and once again the Manx Electric Railway will be operating extra services.

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In Pictures: Changes to Metrolink allocations

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

With the closure of Mosley Street stop in Manchester city centre at the end of service on Friday 17 May the past week has seen a major increase in the use of M5000s operating in multiple. The Bury-Altrincham service now sees seven M5000s scheduled to run in pairs alongside just one double T68 and two single T68/T68As. Double M5000s are also scheduled to operate in the morning peak on the East Didsbury-Rochdale line (two sets). Also of interest is that since the closure of Mosley Street the Piccadilly to Eccles service is now due to be completely operated by T68 and T68As. Three T68/T68As are also normally allocated to operate the Altrincham-Piccadilly service during the week.

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Overhead to be installed in Edinburgh

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

A major visible sign that trams are to return to Edinburgh soon will appear this summer when a start is made on installing the overhead wires as well as underground cabling in the city centre. This will be the final major piece of construction work in the city centre and is due to commence in mid June once work on the road has been completed.

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In Pictures: Rochdale construction latest

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Construction work is continuing in Rochdale town centre ahead of an expected opening of the Manchester Metrolink extension in 2014. Recent work has seen preparation work at the junction of Maclure Road and Drake Street which has revealed a small piece of the original tram track. Photos of this alongside some from Drake Street showing the new tram terminus are provided to us by Harold Hull.

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Extra Supertram services for Race to Life

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

There will be three extra early morning services operated on Sunday 9 June by Stagecoach Supertram to help runners taking part in the Sheffield Cancer Research Race for Life 5km race. Extra services will depart Middlewood at 0730 and 0756 and Halfway at 0718 with all three running directly to Meadowhall where the race begins. This means there will be a rare service from Halfway to Meadowhall although it is scheduled to run via the city centre rather than the direct route across the delta junction.

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Family £5 ticket returns in Nottingham

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

The popular Family Ticket for just £5 is returning to Nottingham Express Transit for the May Half Term week to help families make the most of the week. Throughout the week up to five people (including two adults) can have unlimited travel on the network for £5.In addition anyone showing a tram ticket at the National Ice Centre will be able to enjoy a session on the rink for £5 and there is 20% discount off admission to the Galleries of
Justice.

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Sunday 2 June

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

More engineering works at Victoria will see changes to Manchester Metrolink services on Sunday 2 June. Trams will not run between Crumpsall and Victoria or Central Park and Victoria with trams from Bury and Rochdale terminating at Crumpsall and Central Park respectively. In addition up until 0830 there will be no trams from Altrincham to Timperley. Replacement bus services will run from Central Park-Victoria and from Crumpsall-Victoria via Piccadilly throughout the day as well as Altrincham-Timperley until the resumption of services. Trams will continue to operate from East Didsbury-Victoria and services on the Droylsden line will run to and from Eccles with all other services running as normal.

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London Tramlink Engineering Works: Saturday 25-Monday 27 May

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

There will be no trams between Sandilands and New Addington on Saturday 25, Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May due to engineering works. A replacement bus will operate between East Croydon and New Addington calling at all stops with the exception of Lebanon Road. Trams will continue to operate to Wimbledon and on the Elmers End and Beckenham Junction lines.

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MER service suspended after overhead problems

Posted on Friday 24 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Services on the Manx Electric Railway were suspended between Laxey and Ramsey on Wednesday 22 May from lunchtime after the discovery of overhead line problems. Essential repairs were made to the overhead during the rest of the day and services were able to resume from the start of service the following day.

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Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Friday 24 May 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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Metrolink services start to East Didsbury

Posted on Thursday 23 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Shortly after 0500 on Thursday 23 May 3055 departed Victoria with the first passenger service to run to East Didsbury as the latest section of Manchester Metrolink opened. The line to East Didsbury is part of the South Manchester line and sees five new stops join the network bringing the total size of Manchester Metrolink to 45.6 miles (73.4km).

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Teddy bears on a Tuesday at Heaton Park

Posted on Thursday 23 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Heaton Park Tramway is taking full advantage of the upcoming school half-term break, with a rare midweek opening on Tuesday 28th May. This day will see the first ever Teddy Bear’s Picnic event held at this tramway. It had previously been stated in some places that the teddy day would be on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May, but we have been advised that this is incorrect and that the event is taking place on Tuesday instead.

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Picture in Time 6: Bolton 366

Posted on Thursday 23 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The 50th anniversary of V.E. Day in May 1995 was acknowledged by two different trams at Blackpool, both of which were returned to approximations of their 1940s appearance. The more obvious of the two was Blackpool Balloon car 703 which was repainted in the mainly green wartime livery and refitted with a trolley pole, but Bolton 66 also received some minor livery alterations to portray how it looked during the Second World War, when it had been renumbered 366.

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Special Metrolink season ticket launched for Manchester City fans

Posted on Wednesday 22 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City FC have worked together to come up with a special offer for season ticket holders at the Barclays Premier League runners-up who travel by Metrolink to games. For just £70 (adults) and £30 (children aged 5-16) season ticket holders will be able to travel from any stop of the Metrolink network to Etihad Campus on any first team match day (the 19 Premier League home games plus any cup matches).

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Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Work cancelled

Posted on Wednesday 22 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

The engineering work scheduled to take place on the Stagecoach Supertram blue route on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May has been cancelled and a full service will now operate over the whole weekend. On Monday 27 May a Sunday service will be in operation.

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Work: Monday 27 May

Posted on Wednesday 22 May 2013 by Gareth Prior

Victoria station tramstop will again be closed on Monday 27 May with a change in services as a result. No trams will run between Crumpsall and Victoria or Central Park and Victoria with a replacement bus services operating from Central Park to Piccadilly via Victoria and Crumpsall to Victoria via Piccadilly calling at all stops except for Shudehill and Market Street. Trams will continue to run Bury-Crumpsall, Rochdale Railway Station-Central Park, Eccles via MediaCityUK-Droylsden, East Didsbury-Piccadilly and Altrincham-Piccadilly.

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