The Future of British Tramways

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Having recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of British Trams Online with a trip down memory lane, looking back at some memorable moments from the past decade, it now seems appropriate to look forwards towards the next ten years. Andrew Waddington offers a taste of what is likely to be in store for the UK’s tramways over the next few years, and provides a selection of more ambitious predictions for the future.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on The Future of British Tramways

Heaton Park depot project officially launched

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A small press event took place at the Heaton Park Tramway on Friday 7th December, to celebrate the commencement of work on the brand new tram depot at Lakeside. Although the worksite was actually cleared a few days earlier, it was felt that a more formal event should be held to mark this important occasion, with representatives of the press and some local dignitaries invited to attend.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park depot project officially launched

Flexity 010, you shall go to the ball!

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

December is shaping up to be quite a colourful month for the Blackpool tramway with some new adverts appearing on the Flexity2 trams. Following in the tracks of 004, now 010 has been adorned with new advertising vinyls promoting this year’s Christmas pantomime at the Grand Theatre.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Flexity 010, you shall go to the ball!

A new role for Blackpool Balloon 701

Posted on Friday 7 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In a surprising development, Blackpool Balloon 701 has been fitted with a snowplough in case of severe weather over the course of the winter months. 701 has never been used in this capacity before, but both of the previous plough cars – 702 and 708 – have been sold to the Manchester Transport Museum Society, leaving another tram to take over this role.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

All aboard the Santa (Fe) Train!

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway may now be in the depths of winter, but the illuminated Western Train 733+734 recently provided a welcome break from the mediocrity of nothing but Flexities running each day, by performing an unusual private charter. The ever-popular feature car is also set to appear on ‘Santa Specials’ over the next few weekends, providing a rare chance to ride on a historic tram in winter.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Heaton Park depot project to be launched on December 7th

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have announed that a small event will be held at 11:00am on Friday 7th December to commemorate the beginning of work on constructing a new tram depot at the Heaton Park Tramway’s Lakeside terminus. As reported earlier in the week, the depot site has now been cleared and work is shortly to commence on laying the foundations for the new structure.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park depot project to be launched on December 7th

Cracking tram, Gromit!

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The latest side advert on one of Blackpool’s Flexity2 trams has recently appeared on car 004, which is promoting an upcoming new attraction at the Pleasure Beach – Wallace & Gromit’s ‘Thrill-O-Matic’! The new ride, inspired by the much loved Aardman Animations characters, will open at the theme park next year and 004 has been chosen to promote it.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Cracking tram, Gromit!

Metrolink East Manchester line opening put back to February 2013

Posted on Wednesday 5 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

The opening of the East Manchester Line extension of Manchester Metrolink to Droylsden has been delayed until February next year. The news was first announced at a Tameside Council meeting and was then subsequently confirmed by Transport for Greater Manchester. It had been hoped that the first trams in passenger service would be operating before Christmas but TfGM have now admitted that this will not be possible and so have confirmed the big launch will be on 11th February 2013.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 16 Comments

Eccles line engineering works overrun

Posted on Tuesday 4 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

Passengers on the Manchester Metrolink Eccles line woke up on Monday (3rd December) morning to discover that the engineering works which had necessitated the closure of the line over the weekend had not been completed and that replacement bus services were continuing to operate. The works had due to be completed by 0500 to allow trams to run from the beginning of service but in the end the first trams weren’t able to run until 1500 – a full 10 hours late.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Eccles line engineering works overrun

More trams for Croydon?

Posted on Tuesday 4 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

Four extra trams could be on the way for London Tramlink alongside improvements to
the platform layout at Wimbledon as part of Transport for London’s latest draft business plan. The draft business plan has this week been released into the public domain and it sets out a range of major new transport initiatives which will help to drive economic growth in the capital. As well as the Tramlink improvements it is also proposed that the section of the Docklands Light Railway between Stratford and Bow Church would be doubled allowing an increase in services on the original Stratford route.

Continue reading →

Posted in Docklands Light Railway, London Trams | 1 Comment

MER Depot to be moved?

Posted on Tuesday 4 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

The main Manx Electric Railway depot at Derby Castle in Douglas could be moved to
allow for redevelopment of the former Summerland site alongside. Michael Chapman and Company, acting on behalf of the government, are currently attempting to sell the Summerland site for redevelopment and as part of this sale they are offering the prospect of a larger development site including the MER depot site but only if the developers agree to find an alternative site for the trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on MER Depot to be moved?

Call for more Metro extensions to deliver full potential of HS2

Posted on Tuesday 4 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

The maximum benefits of bringing high speed rail to the West Midlands can only be delivered if the Midland Metro system is further extended according to authorities across the region. Plans are already in development to build a spur on the extension through Birmingham City Centre to Moor Street station and the proposed HS2 station and it is also hoped that the line may go beyond New Street to Centenary Square.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

The earth moves for Heaton Park’s new depot

Posted on Monday 3 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 3rd December 2012 was a momentous day in the history of Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, as it was on this day that excavation works on the site of the new tram depot were undertaken. After much hard work by volunteers clearing the site of foliage, a JCB digger was hired in for the day and the very large hole that resulted from the day’s work represents a major step forwards for the tramway’s most exciting project yet.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on The earth moves for Heaton Park’s new depot

The amazing disapearing Centenary car!

Posted on Monday 3 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The fate of Blackpool Centenary car 646 has taken several bizarre twists and turns in recent weeks. Plans to preserve the tram by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust were recently abandoned after the tram was damaged by vandals, and then it was sold to a new owner who placed various fittings from the car for sale on the Internet auction site eBay. However, the strangest development of all has now seen the tram disapear from its former resting place, as though it has vanished into thin air!

Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | Comments Off on The amazing disapearing Centenary car!

A Twin car ride for Christmas

Posted on Sunday 2 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following an enforced absence due to the winter closures of recent years, the Fylde Tramway Society’s annual Christmas tour of the Blackpool tramway on board an unusual member of the resident tram fleet is set to return for 2012. Twin Set 272+T2, recently repainted in its original cream livery with green lining-out, has been chosen to operate the tour and will be making a very welcome return to Fleetwood Ferry.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

A Decade at Crich

Posted on Saturday 1 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The past ten years have witnessed many ups and downs at Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire. With newly restored trams joining the operating fleet, new acquisitions and a whole host of excellent special events, there have been many high points at the Museum – however, the last decade has also been a difficult time in many ways, with declining visitor and volunteer numbers being of particular concern.  As part of the British Trams Online tenth anniversary celebrations, Andrew Waddington takes a look at how Britain’s top tram museum has progressed during the lifespan of this website.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on A Decade at Crich

The Top 50 Tram Events of the Decade

Posted on Saturday 1 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of British Trams Online, we present this rundown of fifty key tramway events which have taken place during the lifespan of this website. Naturally, different people will have their own ideas about what sort of event qualifies as being significant enough for inclusion in a list such as this one. We have prioritised any developments that have made a notable, positive impact on a tramway in the UK – such as the construction of a new extension, the restoration of a historic tram, or a brand new vehicle entering service for the first time ever. However, we have also included some of the things that make our hobby so enjoyable, such as the repainting of trams in different liveries, and some of the most memorable enthusiast events and tram tours we have experienced in recent times. We hope that readers will find this trundle down memory lane enjoyable, so sit back and relax for what should be the quickest ten year tram ride you’ve ever had!

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on The Top 50 Tram Events of the Decade

Ten Years of British Trams Online

Posted on Saturday 1 December 2012 by Gareth Prior

As British Trams Online celebrates its 10th anniversary Editor Gareth Prior reminisces about the past decade looking at the setting up and evolution of the website.

Continue reading →

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on Ten Years of British Trams Online

Leeds horse tram set to operate at Middleton

Posted on Friday 30 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A story in the Yorkshire Evening Post on the recent impressive progress on the restoration of Leeds horse tram 107 by members of the Leeds Transport Historical Society, has included details on plans for the car’s future. Surprisingly, the tram is expected to operate at the Middleton Railway – where it is currently under attention – next summer, before transferring to a more permanent home at the National Tramway Museum in 2014.

Continue reading →

Posted in Leeds Transport Historical Society | 3 Comments

FHLT plan a second illuminated Brush car

Posted on Friday 30 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the popularity of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 290‘s ‘Diamond Jubilee’ livery and illuminations, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have announced plans to create a brand new display for the 2013 illuminations season, featuring another of its trams. This time, fellow Brush car 621 is to be the subject of attention and like its predecessor, the tram will be transformed into its new guise within the confines of Kirham Prison.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments