In Pictures: London Tramlink Engineering Works

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

There has been more engineering works on London Tramlink over the weekend of 20th/21st
October which has seen trams only operating on line 3 between East Croydon and Wimbledon. Lines 1, 2 and 4 were not operating at all with a replacement bus service instead.

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Manchester Metrolink testing update

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week test running on both the South and East Manchester line’s has recently commenced and this has continued over the past seven days. In addition the Oldham and Rochdale line beyond Oldham Mumps has seen some tram action and further wiring has commenced between Droylsden and Ashton-under-Lyne.

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Tramlink accident figures show decrease

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

Recent figures released by Transport for London have shown that the number of accidents on the Tramlink system have fallen in the last year with only 21 recorded between 1st August 2011 and 31st August 2012, compared to 49 between January 2010 and July 2011. The majority of the incidents reported in these figures are blamed on cars jumping red lights, lorries being badly parked and pedestrians stepping into the path of trams when
not paying attention.

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Metrolink fares increase from January

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

As expected Transport for Greater Manchester have announced that fares on Manchester Metrolink will rise from January with the usual excuses of having to meet operating costs and support ongoing investment in stop improvements, new trams and expanding the network given as to why this is happening in the current economic climate.

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Mayor orders feasibility study into Tramlink extension to Sutton

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has ordered Transport for London to undertake a feasibility study into extending the London Tramlink system to Sutton as part of his possible plans to extend the popular network.

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Campaign continues to reinstate Norbreck North tramstop

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

A campaign to reinstate the tramstop at Norbreck North on the Blackpool Tramway has recently been given a boost with news that the Sandhurst Area Panel has agreed to donate £5,000 towards the construction. This is on top of the £20,000 already guaranteed from the ward budget of Norbreck councillors Peter and Maxine Callow – however this money is only a small percentage of that which will be needed if the stop is to be added to the tramway.

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NET support breast cancer campaign

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

The centre car of 204 has received another advert as part of Nottingham Express Transit’s support for the Wear it Pink day on Friday 26th October. When 204 was outshopped in its Glide into Nottingham livery earlier this year it was always intended that the supersquare advert on the centre car would be changed to advertise city wide events and the latest advert is for the breast cancer campaign. In addition to the advert NET staff will be joining in on Friday 26th October.

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Bridges to be installed over motorways for Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

There will be motorway closures over two weekends in November to allow the installation
of two new bridges which will carry the Manchester Metrolink extension to the Airport. The first bridge will be installed over the M60 over the weekend of 3rd and 4th November with the second one over the M56 on the 24th and 25th November. Thanks to the design of the bridges being used longer closures are not necessarily and these weekends have been chosen to avoid major events in and around the City.

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NET Family Ticket returns for half-term

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit’s popular family ticket which allows up to two adults and three children unlimited travel on the trams for one day for just £5 is available again for the October half term week. The ticket is available from Saturday 20th October until Sunday 28th October (with the October half term this year being on different weeks across the UK).

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New Supertramlink service to be introduced

Posted on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Gareth Prior

A third Supertramlink service is to be introduced from Monday 29th October when SL3 starts operating from Moss Way tramstop to Sothall, Rother Valley Way and Killamarsh. This will be the second Supertramlink service to link with the blue route following on from SL2 to Stannington from Malin Bridge with the original route – SL1 from Middlewood to Stocksbridge – also still in use. From 29th October SL1 and SL2 will also see some timetable alterations.

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Glasgow 1282: the cost of restoration?

Posted on Saturday 20 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The recent inclusion of Glasgow ‘Coronation’ 1282 during the celebration of 50 years since the last tram operated in  Glasgow has been a very memorable occasion, when it was possible to experience this wonderful tram by taking a ride along the Crich Tramway. The occasion has raised hope that it will not be too long before the tramcar is once again part of the operational fleet, on a more long-term basis. The following report is provided by John Henderson, with our grateful thanks, to highlight the likely extent of such a project.

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Balloons on the move at Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 20 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Positive steps are being made by Blackpool Transport to prepare their modified Balloon cars, sometimes referred to as the ‘B Fleet’, for service. As reported previously these trams are expected to be used in normal service during the school half-term holidays which co-incide with the last week of the 2012 illuminations, to provide a welcome capacity boost.

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New role for ex-Blackpool Replica Vanguard

Posted on Friday 19 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Heaton Park 7 – still best known to many people as Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 – is set to take on yet another new guise on a temporary basis. The tram has already had an eventful history, having been built on the underframe of Blackpool OMO car 7, itself a former English Electric Railcoach, and since arriving in Manchester it has swapped its Fleetwood Tramroad livery for a more striking red and cream colour scheme.

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Crich seek new Manager – at a price

Posted on Friday 19 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Plans by the Tramway Museum Society to appoint a General Manager to oversee the operation of the charity and its commercial side, Crich Tramway Village, have been under discussion for some time now. However, following some encouragement from Society members, the vacancy has now been formally advertised on the Museum’s website, with potential applicants being invited to submit their interest.

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Coronation 304 under attention

Posted on Thursday 18 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following its arrival at Beamish Museum on Friday 12th October, the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s Blackpool Coronation 304 has been the subject of some attention from staff and volunteers at the museum. This has mainly been focussed on the trolley tower, and a spare trolley base is currently being overhauled for fitting to 304.

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A Feltham car for Fleetwood?

Posted on Tuesday 16 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

When British Trams Online featured ex-Leeds Feltham car 526 in our ‘Lost Trams’ feature, little did we realise what was coming next… We have now been informed by John Woodman of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, via the comments section on our nes page, that this organisation is investigating the possibility of returning this tram to the UK for display in Fleetwood!

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Sheffield 510 looks pretty in pink

Posted on Tuesday 16 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on a major overhaul for Sheffield ‘Roberts’ car 510 inside the conservation workshop at Crich Tramway Village is now well underway, with the truck already heavily stripped for refurbishment and work on the interior also beginning. After only around a month in the workshop, 510 is already receiving some fresh paintwork for the first time in many years.

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Paint work for modified Balloon cars

Posted on Monday 15 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on the final two Blackpool Balloon cars in the current door rebuilding programme, 711 and 719, is finally approaching completion. As reported previously on this website, both trams were recently transferred to Starr Gate depot for repainting and this work has now been completed on car 719.

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Heaton Park Lakeside progress – in pictures

Posted on Monday 15 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

We are offering another update on the rapid progress on extending the existing trackwork at the Lakeside terminus of the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester, with more excellent images courtesey of one of the tramway’s regular volunteers.

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Beamish photo charter confirmed

Posted on Sunday 14 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A very special event for photographers is set to take place at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, on Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd November featuring two very special trams. The event will predictably feature Blackpool Coronation car 304 which has recently arrived on loan from the Lancastrian Transport Trust, as well as Gateshead 10 in its current, temporary guise as Grimsby & Immingham 26.

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