In Pictures: Metrolink driver training to Rochdale

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

As reported earlier this week driver training has now started on the section of the Oldham and Rochdale line between Shaw & Crompton and Rochdale as an opening date approaches (although no official word from TfGM has yet been forthcoming). British  Trams Online reader Ken Walker provides us with a few images of the driver training featuring 3061 and 3059.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 15 Comments

Midland Metro to close for upgrade works

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

The entire Midland Metro line between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton St George’s is to close for just over two weeks as part of the £128 million project to extend and improve the line. During this closure work will primarily focus on modification work at the stops on the line to enable the new CAF built trams to operate when they are introduced next year.

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In Pictures: More from the East Manchester Line

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

As reported extensively over the past week the East Manchester Line of Manchester Metrolink started passenger services on Friday 8th February (the first three days should have been for local residents in possession of a special ticket only) before full commercial services commenced officially on Monday 11th February. As well as a Photo Gallery from the first day of commercial services (coming soon!) we also bring you a few more images from the camera of Ralph Oakes-Garnett of trams running during the preview service on Friday 8th February.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

RAIB release report into pedestrian being hit by tram in Croydon

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s latest report has been released looking into the incident on 16th May 2012 when a pedestrian was hit by a tram at Sandilands becoming trapped between the platform edge and tram. Although the report states that the main reason for the incident was that the pedestrian had not looked to see if a tram had been approaching before attempting to cross the tram tracks it also puts the blame on Tramlink for not being able to reduce the risk of people being hit by trams on foot crossings.

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Posted in London Trams | 3 Comments

Bridge slides into place over Nottingham Railway Station

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

The first section of the iconic bridge that will be carrying trams over Nottingham Railway Station by the end of next year has started to be slid into place as a significant milestone in Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit has been reached.  The movement of the first half of the bridge – which has been built on four temporary towers in a compound on
Crocus Street – will take eleven consecutive nights to be put into its final resting place with work starting on Monday 11th February.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Mayor still backs Tramlink extensions?

Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has said that he is still keen to see extensions to the Tramlink system but that, as always, it all depends on funding. Mr Johnson was replying to an open letter from the Chairman of the Develop Croydon Forum, Richard Plant when making his comments and he said that TfL continue to work closely with Bromley, Croydon, Merton and Sutton to look at any economic benefits which could be gained by an extension.

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Manchester City stars voice East Manchester Line on matchdays

Posted on Thursday 14 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Passengers travelling to the Etihad Stadium on matchdays will be greeted by special next stop announcements as Manchester City stars will feature on the PA system announcing the stops! Three players and manager Roberto Mancini have kindly agreed to record the messages which will make their debut on Sunday 17th February when Manchester City entertain Leeds United in the FA Cup – the first time that a football match will be taking place at the Etihad since the East Manchester Line opened this week.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Tram Network Record Attempt

Posted on Thursday 14 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Adham Fisher is attempting this weekend to break his own world record this weekend by visiting all of the stops on Nottingham’s tram network in under an hour. In 2010 Adham recorded a time of one hour and 26 seconds but believes he can go faster and has decided to choose Nottingham for his first urban rail race of 2013.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Nottingham Express Transit Engineering Works: 25th February-1st March

Posted on Thursday 14 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Track maintenance work at Bulwell will see all late trams to and from Hucknall cancelled and replaced by buses from Monday 25th February until Friday 1st March 2013. The last tram to Hucknall will depart Station Street at 2100 arriving at Hucknall at 2132 as per the normal timetable. This will then form the final departure of the night from Hucknall to Station Street at 2142. After this all trams will run between Station Street and Phoenix Park with a replacement bus service running from Phoenix Park to Hucknall serving all stops. Further details on the replacement bus service can be found at http://www.thetram.net/pdfs/Bulwell%20Disruption%20Information%20and%20Timetables.pdf.

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Five for £5 offer returns on NET

Posted on Thursday 14 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Five for £5 family ticket is returning to Nottingham Express Transit in time for the February Half Term holidays – around a year since this popular ticket was first introduced. For just £5 two adults can enjoy unlimited travel across the NET network along with up to three children (both adults and children must be in the party). The ticket will be available again between Saturday 16th and Sunday 24th February.

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August launch for Leeds horse tram

Posted on Wednesday 13 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Leeds Transport Historical Society have announced that Leeds 107 is set to be launched into public service at a special transport event due to be held at the Middleton Railway over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Members of the Society have been working tirelessly for several years to restore 107, the last surviving Leeds horse tramcar, which is now nearing completion.

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Posted in Leeds Transport Historical Society, National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Beamish prepare to install new depot wiring

Posted on Wednesday 13 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The long-awaited completion of Road 4 in the tram & bus depot at Beamish Museum has moved a step closer to completion this week, following the erection of new brackets and hangers to the overhead poles on the track fan leading up to the most recently installed track. Since being laid, Road 4 has not been served by overhead wires but this latest work indicates that soon, this will be resolved.

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Crich tramway re-awakens from hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Signs that the spring is almost here are certainly not in short supply at Crich Tramway Village, where the process of preparing the operational tram fleet for service is now well underway. Saturday 9th February was a particularly noteworthy day, as for the first time this year, trams ran along the main line, ahead of their public debut which is expected on February 16th.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

A good day for Metrolink!

Posted on Monday 11 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

On the day that the East Manchester Line officially opened to the public (even if to all intents and purposes it had been open since Friday 8th February) it was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester that driver training has now commenced as far as Rochdale Railway Station on the Oldham and Rochdale Line. The first official departure from Piccadilly Station to Droylsden left at 0510 on Monday 11th February and later the same morning the first day of full driver training commenced between Shaw & Crompton and Rochdale Railway Station.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 16 Comments

East Manchester Line welcomes first passengers as trams run to Droylsden

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Although the official opening of the East Manchester Line between Piccadilly Station and Droylsden is not due until Monday 11th February the introductory service initially intended as a thank you to local residents has seen passengers carried since Friday 8th February – and not only local residents with the special tickets!

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Metrolink Fleet Update: More M5000s in service as the end approaches for T68As

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

There has been movement in the Manchester Metrolink fleet in recent weeks with further M5000s entering the operational fleet whilst the future is looking rather bleak for the six T68As as they are now restricted to the Bury-Altrincham direct service and will only be used on that if there are insufficient M5000s available.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 29 Comments

Council & Lothian Buses sign operating agreement

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Councillors from the City of Edinburgh Council have agreed the agreement to operate the
Edinburgh Tram system with Lothian Buses as another piece of the jigsaw comes into place ahead of opening next year. As part of the agreement it has been revealed that the line may need a subsidy in the first few years before passenger numbers “pick up” sufficiently to cover costs – and it is this which the local newspaper and well know tram critics have picked up on.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Businesses urged to support Douglas Horse Tramway

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Douglas Council are inviting businesses to partner with them to support the Horse Tramway service – now in its 137th year of operation – as they seek to try and reverse the losses suffered in recent years in operating the service along the Promenade in Douglas. Exact details of how businesses could support the service have not actually been announced with a suggestion that this could mean advertising on the side of the trams met with a response of “we are open to suggestions”.

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Metrolink Service Performance Update

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

The latest statistics on how Manchester Metrolink has been performing recently have now been released on the TfGM Committee website. These statistics give details on the performance of the service, any major incidents, trams out of service and the number of complaints which have been received during periods 7 and 8 (Monday 15th October to Sunday 8th December 2012.

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NET hit by delays after person hit by train at notorious crossing

Posted on Sunday 10 February 2013 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services to Hucknall were temporarily suspended for an hour on Saturday 9th February after a person was hit by a train on the notorious crossing at Bulwell where three people have previously been killed. The details of this latest incident
have yet to be confirmed but it is believed the person was hit by an East Midlands Trains service heading towards Nottingham at approximately 1310. This section of line has one track for trams and one for trains and as a result of the incident the entire line was closed until normal operations could resume shortly before 1500. An investigation has been launched. Our thoughts go out to the family of person was tragically lost their life in this latest incident.

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