British Trams Online News

Members of the Transport for Greater Manchester Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG) have become some of the first members of the public to take a ride on the East Manchester Line to Droylsden. The group rode a test tram to inspect the new stops and see how well they meet the needs of disabled people.

Continue reading →

Manchester Metrolink services between Oldham Mumps and Shaw & Crompton were suspended during the evening of Monday 14^th January after a car drove onto the tracks near to Oldham Mumps – this has been reported as the third time this has happened since the line opened. It is not known why the driver decided it was a good idea to take their car for a ride on the tram tracks but some comments on the Manchester Evening News website are suggesting that the road layout is confusing with a lack of appropriate signage (the former heavy rail line ran through the area on a bridge).

Services between Victoria and Shaw & Crompton on the Oldham line of Manchester Metrolink were suspended on Wednesday 9^th January because of icy conditions. Trams were stopped running shortly after 0700 because overnight conditions – which officials from Metrolink claimed had not been forecast – saw temperatures fall below acceptable levels leaving ice on the overhead wires. Normally when low temperatures are forecast ice breaker trams are run during the night because this wasn’t possible on this occasion as Metrolink were caught unawares. Trams were back running a few hours later once temperatures had risen sufficiently.

In a development which has worrying echoes of the dispute in Edinburgh, Transport for Greater Manchester and Thales have appeared in Court as the latter seek to get extra money from the transport authority as the saga of the introduction of the new Tram Management System on the Metrolink system continues.

Continue reading →

Transport for Greater Manchester are holding an information event on proposals for a new Metrolink stop at Queens Road – next to the depot – on Wednesday 9 January so anyone interested can find out the benefits of the new stop and to see initial designs.

Continue reading →

As was reported late last year fares on Manchester Metrolink went up from Wednesday 2^nd January 2013 by an average of 4.2% – making it four of our light rail systems (Docklands Light Railway, London Tramlink and Midland Metro have also seen rises) to put fares up as a new year begins. Although outline details had previously been announced by Transport for Greater Manchester no exact details of how the fares were raising had been revealed.

Continue reading →

The man who fell off a viaduct when attempting to steal cable from Manchester Metrolink near Cornbrook in May 2012 has been jailed for two years and nine months. John Daw, aged 41 from Ordsall, fractured his skull, pelvis and right leg when he fell from the viaduct whilst trying to escape from staff who had discovered what he was doing. Metrolink services were severely delayed on 9^th May because of the damage Mr Daw had caused to the cables although he did not manage to steal any of the cable. He admitted to the offence of attempted theft and was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 3^rd January.

No trams will run into Piccadilly Station before 1000 on Sundays 13, 20 and 27 January – presumably to allow works to be undertaken in preparation for the opening of the East Manchester Line. Trams from Altrincham, Bury and Eccles will all terminate at Piccadilly Gardens before 1000 with a shuttle bus running from Piccadilly Gardens to Piccadilly Station. Normal operations will recommence after 1000.