Princes Street reopens as Edinburgh tram works move on to York Place

Posted on Sunday 1 July 2012 by Gareth Prior

We may still be two years away from the first trams carrying passengers on the new
Edinburgh tramway but progress is continuing to be made on the construction of the line with Princes Street west of Waverley Bridge now reopened to traffic following the completion of work there. At the same time as announcing that Princes Street is to reopen to traffic the City of Edinburgh Council gave notice of their intention to commence works on York Place which will once again necessitate further road closures and traffic diversions.

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Metrolink delays after points failure

Posted on Sunday 1 July 2012 by Gareth Prior

A points failure just outside Victoria on Tuesday 26th June caused delays on the Bury and Oldham Metrolink lines. Although initially all services on these lines were suspended trams between Bury and the City Centre soon resumed although there was a further delay before the Oldham line resumed operation. During the disruption passengers were advised they could use their Metrolink tickets on relevant bus services.

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Supertram Engineering Works: 1st July 2012

Posted on Sunday 1 July 2012 by Gareth Prior

More track is due to be replaced on the Stagecoach Supertram network on Sunday 1st July, this time the affected area will be on Granville Road. As a result of this work trams on the Blue and Purple routes will not operate between Sheffield Station and Gleadless Townend/Herdings Park with a replacement bus service in operation instead. Buses will start from Fitzalan Square and will run to Gleadless Townend where the Blue route will
resume operation and a second replacement bus for Herdings Park can also be caught. The Purple route will only run between Meadowhall and Cathedral.

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2013 Heaton Park Tramway calendar goes on sale

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Summer is here – not that you would always know it judging by the recent weather – and so it is of course time to start thinking about a calendar for 2013! For the second year running, British Trams Online regular Andrew Waddington has created a brand new calendar for the Heaton Park Tramway which is on sale from the tramway’s gift shop, and can also now be ordered online using PayPal.

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Finishing touches for LUT 159

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The hugely anticipated public launch of London United Tramways 159 at Crich Tramway Village is fast approaching, and in readiness for this some final touches are being made which will ensure that this magnificent tram is looking its best for its weekend in the limelight. 159 has already clocked up a good test mileage this year and although a few problems have been experienced, as is usually the case with an essentially ‘new’ tram, it had generally run very well.

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Heaton Park Tramway disrupted by events

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In scenes co-incidentally reminiscent of those recently witnessed in Blackpool, the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester is currently enduring a period of disruption thanks to two unrelated events being held in the park’s grounds. A concert by reformed rock band The Stone Roses has seen the tramway closed for two successive weekends, whilst a charity event is set to impact on the weekend of 21st/22nd July.

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Meet ‘Spongebob the Second’!

Posted on Friday 29 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Flexity 015 has become the fifth of Blackpool’s new articulated trams to receive external advertising. Once again, the tram is being used to promote one of the attractions at the Pleasure Beach and this time the design chosen is for Nickeldeon Land. Unlike previous adverts, this one was applied before 015 had ever carried passengers – with both the tram and the advert debuting on Friday 29th June.

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Rocket tram prepares to take flight!

Posted on Friday 29 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In a very welcome development in Blackpool, it has been confirmed that the illuminated Rocket 732 has been transferred to the Electrical Compound, presumably in readiness for a move away from Rigby Road. Some time ago it was mooted that the tram would be moved to the depot of Blackpool Council’s Illuminations Department for some tidying-up which would allow it to go on display for the 2012 illuminations. However, since then little was heard about this project until this week.

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In Pictures: Variotram 2554 and its Croydon livery

Posted on Thursday 28 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

A couple of days ago we reported that new Variotram 2554 had received a special vinyl wrap livery for Croydon in time for the launch of the new line 4 at the start of this week and made an attempt to describe it (which wasn’t a particularly easy task!) Now we don’t need to describe it anymore as we have been provided with a couple of photos of the tram at work in Croydon.

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8 launched in new livery at Seaton Extravaganza

Posted on Thursday 28 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

After a year without a gala at the Seaton Tramway a Weekend Extravaganza returned to the calendar in 2012, this time it being a joint event with the Yeovil Railway Centre and Pecorama at nearby Beer. The main highlight of the event for the tramway was the launch of number 8 in a new Bristol blue and white livery – this taking place on the first day of the two day Extravaganza on Saturday 23rd June.

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Appeal to recreate Grimsby & Immingham 26 launched

Posted on Wednesday 27 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, have announced details of an appeal for donations from members of the public to help return one of their resident trams to an appearance in which it has not operated for over five decades. The tram in question is Gateshead 10, and as previously reported, it is proposed to repaint the car in green as Grimsby & Immingham 26 as the star attraction of the next major transport event at Beamish.

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Line 4 starts operation in Croydon as 2554 is unveiled in new livery

Posted on Tuesday 26 June 2012 by Gareth Prior

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson was in Croydon on Monday 25th June to
officially launch the new Line 4 service between Therapia Lane and Elmers End
with new Variotram 2554 also present in a vinyl wrap livery for Croydon. Although the service was officially launched on this day a shadow public service had been in operation for several days preceding to ensure that everything went smoothly on the day.

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Beamish 196 retrucked

Posted on Tuesday 26 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Progress on a thorough overhaul of Beamish 196, the ex-Oporto four wheel tramcar resident at Beamish Museum, is making good progress. The car has spent almost a whole year out of service but the wait for its return will certainly be worthwhile, as it is receiving its most extensive workshop attention since making its passenger debut in the UK in 1992. As reported previously, 196 will be outshopped in a South Shields inspired blue livery on completion of this work, replacing the previous maroon and cream Gateshead colours.

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Final Flexity arrives in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 25 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A milestone event occured on Monday 25th June 2012, when Flexity 016 arrived in Blackpool and was unloaded at Starr Gate. This is of course the last of the new Flexity2 class to be delivered, thus completing the prolonged programme of deliveries which started late last summer when car 001 arrived in relative secrecy.

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Illuminated trams light up Totally Transport

Posted on Monday 25 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Totally Transport festival took place on Blackpools’ New South Promenade on Sunday 24th June, and for the first time since 2009 a full tram service ran through the event. Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours received a welcome boost thanks to the extra transport enthusiasts no doubt encouraged to visit the town, and were greeted by all three illuminated feature cars in use across the weekend.

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Standard 147 carries Olympic flame

Posted on Friday 22 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Standard 147 became the first tram in mainland Britain to carry to Olympic flame when it was used for the iconic object’s visit to the Fylde Coast as it travels across the country ahead of the summer’s Olympic Games. Unfortunately its arrival was greeted by absolutely appalling weather conditions, leading to plans to use Open Boat car 600 for the role being cancelled and the enclosed 147 being used instead. Although obviously this restricted the view of the torch to onlookers, a good crowd still braved the elements to witness the event.

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TLC for Sheffield 513

Posted on Thursday 21 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since transferring to the East Anglia Transport Museum over a year ago, Sheffield ‘Roberts’ car 513 has rarely made the news on British Trams Online, but the latest newsletter distributed to members of this organisation enables us to provide an update on what has been happening to this popular tramcar since it left Blackpool. Readers may remember that 513 is still actually owned by Beamish Museum, who have placed it on loan to the museum at Carlton Colville for an indefinite period.

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More disruption at Blackpool on June 22nd

Posted on Thursday 21 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

It is extremely disapointing to report that the Blackpool tramway is set to be subjected to major disruption for the second time in less than a week on Friday 22nd June. On this day, the famous Olympic torch reaches the Fylde Coast, bringing with it countless well-wishers, lots of media attention, and absolute chaos to anyone who is attempting to use public transport!

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Balloon 717 runs to Fleetwood

Posted on Tuesday 19 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since the Blackpool tramway re-opened in April as modern light rail system, journeys by heritage trams to Fleetwood Ferry have been extremely rare. The only double-deck tram to have run to the northern terminus with passengers thus far in 2012 has been modified Balloon 713 – but one of its sisters did make the same journey on Monday 18th June, albeit sadly not in public service.

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Leeds horse tram prepared for painting

Posted on Monday 18 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The ongoing project to restore Leeds horse tram 107 has not been featured on British Trams Online for several months, but it’s now time to change that with an update on recent progress. A lot of recent work on this tram has focussed on the seats, but soon a landmark event will take place as its original primrose, white and brown livery will reappear on the body panels.

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