Mobility scooter changes for Supertram

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Following recent damage caused to trams Stagecoach Supertram have announced a new policy on the use of mobility scooters on board any of their trams. As a result only passengers who hold a “Local Bus Scooter Permit” will be allowed on board any tram whilst using their mobility scooter.

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E.ON selected to supply energy for Nottingham Express Transit

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

E.ON have been selected to supply power requirements across the entire Nottingham Express Transit network and related premises. The three year deal has been signed between E.ON and Tramlink Nottingham as the consortium seek to honour their commitment to use local suppliers whether possible (the energy company is one of Nottinghamshire’s largest employers).

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Woman suffers severe injuries after being hit by tram

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

A 28 year old woman has to be airlifted to hospital after becoming trapped under a tram at Sandilands on the London Tramlink network during the morning of Wednesday 16th May. It has not been revealed as to what happened but what is known is that the woman came to fall under the tram at around 0945 and became trapped. Around 15 firefighters freed the woman who was then taken to hospital by Air Ambulance with what were described as “life changing injuries”. The British Transport Police confirmed that they returned the line to London Tramlink at approximately 1045 after which services were able to resume.

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Brush Car Day at Crich Tramway Village

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 12th April was a very special day for Blackpool’s iconic Brush Railcoaches, as car 630 entered service in its new home at Crich Tramway Village for the very first time. To mark this occasion, the Tramway Museum Society arranged a special event at fairly short notice, featuring a tram service operated entirely by trams built by the Brush company, along with some very welcome surprises. Andrew Waddington reports on a very enjoyable day out at Crich…

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The Crich depot shuffle

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The tram depots at Crich have undergone some significant shuffling recently, as workshop staff and volunteers try to fit as many trams into the existing buildings as possible. This has come about due to the addition of three more trams from Blackpool in recent months, with the imminent return to service of a few other cars also creating some further head-scratching.

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Crich Boat out on test

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Wednesday 16th May was another exciting day at Crich Tramway Village, as the two latest restoration projects emerged from the workshop under power. London United Tramways 159 was taken out for another test run, but more exciting was the appearance of Blackpool ‘Boat’ 236 on the depot fan. This was the first time this tram had been shunted under its own power since its arrival at Crich last month.

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Heritage trams may miss Totally Transport

Posted on Friday 18 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since its inception in 2005, the annual Totally Transport event held on Blackpool’s New South Promenade has been a major highlight in the annual calendar for enthusiasts of transport in general, including fans of the town’s historic trams. The last two events have been spoilt by the absence of a tram service south of Pleasure Beach, effectively severing the event from the tramway – but now that the entire line has reopned, it had been hoped that the 2012 event would be much improved.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Fun run creates misery for tram passengers

Posted on Friday 18 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

An organised charity ‘fun run’ event held in Blackpool on Sunday 13th May has brought the Blackpool tramway into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons with some disgruntled participants venting to the local press about the interruptions to the event caused by the continuing tram service.

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Tram-train pilot between Sheffield and Rotherham given the green light

Posted on Thursday 17 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

The Department for Transport have given the green light for the introduction of tram-trains between Sheffield and Rotherham. This is a pilot scheme for tram-trains in the UK to see whether they can as much of a success here as they have been on the continent. It is planned the first tram-train services will run in 2015.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 7 Comments

1004 becomes second Metrolink T68 to be withdrawn

Posted on Thursday 17 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

1004 has become the second of the T68 trams on Manchester Metrolink to be withdrawn from service following on from 1011.  1004 last ran in service during the evening of Wednesday 16th May when it was paired with 1016 on the Bury to Altrincham service.

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LRV found abandoned in quarry!

Posted on Tuesday 15 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A recent visit to Crich Tramway Village revealed the rather strange sight of what appeared to be part of a modern tram sitting at the edge of the quarry, close to the car park. What could it be? Had the vintage trams decided to seek some sort of revenge on one of their more modern counterparts and subjected it to the sort of fate that befall many of their sisters? Has another TV soap opera staged a dramatic tram stunt and left the wreckage at Crich? Or could it be an attempt at creating some rather crude living accomodation for working members?

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Goodbye Paisley 68 – Hello Glasgow 1068!

Posted on Monday 14 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

As reported previously, Paisley 68 has recently entered the workshop at Crich Tramway Village where work has already started on tranforming this tram ready for a starring role in a very special event later this year. To help mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of Glasgow’s extensive tramway – the last traditional system in a British city – the car is to be repainted in its latter day guise as Glasgow 1068.

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One in & one out at Starr Gate Depot

Posted on Monday 14 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Friday 11th May was yet another interesting day in Blackpool with the arrival of another member of the new Flexity2 class from Germany. 014 had actually touched down on British soil when it had arrived in Hull the previous day, starting the last leg of its journey by road and arriving at Blackpool on the Friday morning. However this wasn’t the most exciting event of the day, as another tram left town on the same transporter.

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Brush cars galore at Crich

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The official launch into service of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 at Crich Tramway Village took place on Saturday 12th May, with this providing the perfect excuse to hold a Brush-themed event day. Although intended as a relatively low-key event arranged at quite short notice, staff and volunteers pulled out all of the stops to ensure that this was a memorable occasion – and in the end, 630 was arguably upstaged at its own launch event!

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Designs revealed for new Nottingham trams

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

As expected it has been confirmed that the fleet of new trams for the extended Nottingham Express Transit system will be constructed by Alstom – part of the Tramlink Nottingham consortium – in Barcelona. The trams will be first Citadis vehicles to be constructed for the UK although there are many of these in operation across Europe – particularly in
France where they have a near monopoly – including Dublin’s Luas system.

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Metrolink delays after attempted cable theft at Cornbrook

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

There were further major delays on Manchester Metrolink on Monday 9th May after an attempted cable theft at Cornbrook. It was reported that a group of vandals were attempting to steal the copper cables on Cornbrook Viaduct at around 0300 but were disturbed by a security patrol  but not before they had caused a significant amount of damage. One of the group stealing the copper is said to have fallen off the viaduct suffering a fractured skull, pelvis and right leg.

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Details unveiled for 2012 Manx Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Isle of Man Transport have unveiled details of the events due to take place between 25th and 29th July as part of the Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2012. As usual this event will
include most forms of transport on the Island including the Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway.

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Another broken down tram causes Metrolink delays

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Friday 4th May saw another broken down T68 causing delays in Manchester City Centre as the ongoing problems with the older vehicles makes headlines in the City.  This time the guilty parties were 1008+1005 which were running as a coupled unit on the Altrincham-Bury direct route. Although they were moved fairly quickly there were knock on delays until the evening rush hour.

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In Pictures: Supertram Engineering Works at Shalesmoor

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May further engineering works were undertaken on Stagecoach Supertram. This time the work concentrated on the curve on the outbound track just beyond the Shalesmoor tramstop. For the first time the replacement bus service travelled down the section of tram reservation at Hillsborough. Click below for photos of the work.

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Metrolink construction work moves into Rochdale Town Centre

Posted on Saturday 12 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work to build the Metrolink extension in Rochdale Town Centre is continuing from
this week with the closure of part of Drake Street. The section of Drake Street between Walter Street and Smith Street was closed to traffic from Tuesday 8th May to allow the work to progress before the line is due to open to the public in 2014.

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