Havering Council admit no funding available for trams

Posted on Saturday 3 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Back in 2023, Havering Council (East London including towns such as Romford and Hornchurch) launched what they called a vision for improving infrastructure – this included better transport links and at the time they said that they would like to explore a tram system. Less than two years later and the same Council have admitted the plans haven’t progressed at all because they don’t have the funding available, although they state they hope to revisit them in the future.

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Around the World in Trams: East Berlin 217 091-0

Posted on Saturday 3 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

For the month of May we are going east, and across the Berlin Wall, as we feature a small selection of photos taken in East Berlin during a visit in 1979. This was still very much during the Cold War although whereas you may expect that it would be difficult to not only visit East Berlin but also to capture photos of it, that was far from the case as we see in this latest stop-off in “Around the World in Trams”.

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Seaton Boat Tram out to help celebrate VE Day

Posted on Saturday 3 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Seaton Tramway’s Blackpool Boat inspired tram – no. 4 in their fleet – is often one of the most elusive trams in the fleet with it not usually used on the normal timetable service. But to help celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day it will be out running some Boat Tram Specials with tickets now available to secure your spot.

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West Midlands Metro service changes: May 2025

Posted on Saturday 3 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

A few days ago the West Midlands Metro were saying how the best way to get to the Great Birmingham Run was by tram, and now they have confirmed that if you do use the tram you won’t be able to get beyond Bull Street as it will be one of two occasions in the month of May where there will be a temporary suspension of services in the city centre.

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Full details announced for Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2025

Posted on Friday 2 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Put the dates in your diary! The Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2025 will take place between Tuesday 22nd and Sunday 27th July, and once again organisers have come up with a varied programme which will encompass the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway as well as the Isle of Man Steam Railway.

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Booking now open for Coventry Very Light Rail demonstration runs

Posted on Friday 2 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Now is your chance to grab the chance to be one of the first to experience the Coventry Very Light Rail demonstration line this May and June with free tickets now available online. There are only 11 dates available (or at least were available) when the vehicle will be offering rides and so if you want to book your place you are going to have to be quick!

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 26

Posted on Friday 2 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

This is another edition of “Picture in Time” as we feature a tram in action on the Isle of Man.

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In Pictures: Old school tram output at Carlton Colville

Posted on Thursday 1 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

In recent years we’ve been spoilt with the number of new trams which have ended up at the East Anglia Transport Museum, such as Sheffield 513 and most recently Blackpool 634, but we shouldn’t forget those trams which have stalwarts in the operating fleet and on Sunday 27th April the two trams you probably associate most with the museum were in service.

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Coming Soon! Brighton Tram 53 Society Open Weekend

Posted on Thursday 1 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

Looking for something to do over the weekend of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May? Well if you’re in the south of England the weekend will provide you with an opportunity to visit the last Brighton Corporation Tramways passenger tram – no. 53 – with an Open Weekend taking place at their base near Steyning.

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Award for Metro tunnel rail replacement works

Posted on Thursday 1 May 2025 by Gareth Prior

The project to replace tracks in the tunnels under Newcastle City Centre has won a second award (following success at the Global Light Rail Awards last year) with the latest recognition coming at the Spotlight Rail Awards. Nexus and Smartrax Rail won Outstanding Project of the Year the £3.4 project which saw the rails replaced at Prudhoe Street Junction.

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TfGM launch procurement for new Metrolink operating and maintenance contract

Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have started the process of finding the next company who will operate and maintain the Metrolink tram network. Whilst the current contract with KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) still has a couple of years left (due to expire in 2027) this is the first step to finding the next company who will take responsibility for the UK’s largest light-rail network.

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New Metro trains start to return to service

Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

The fleet of new Metro trains have started to carry passengers again following their temporary removal from service last week. The first unit returned to service again during the afternoon of Wednesday 30th April having not been used since the Easter weekend.

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West Midlands Metro encourage people to use the tram for Great Birmingham Run

Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 01/05/2025 following a change to the news article from West Midlands Metro where they changed the frequency of the service to standard Sunday timings.

With the West Midlands Metro being an official transport partner of the Great Birmingham Run are encouraging participants and spectators for the event on  Sunday 4th May to use the tram. Trams will run as normal up to every 12 minutes to get people to the start line in time.

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A trip to… Luas

Posted on Tuesday 29 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

In this article we feature a small selection of photos taken on Ireland’s only operating tramway – Luas in Dublin. A major success story, this network first opened in 2004 and since then has seen not only extensions built but trams extended and a much bigger fleet of Alstom Citadis trams than that with which it started. Geoff Pickles paid a visit in March.

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Metrolink service changes after city centre power loss

Posted on Tuesday 29 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Article updated 30/04/2025

Manchester Metrolink services haven’t had a great day after an issue with the overhead at Deansgate-Castlefield. Originally described as the loss of power, it was later confirmed that 3132 lost its pantograph leading to the problems.

No trams have been able to run across Manchester City Centre from mid-morning on Tuesday 29th April 2025 after power loss. All services from the outer reaches of the network were terminating short of the city centre, with the Ashton line suspended in its entirety.

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Metro performance continues to stay above 80%

Posted on Tuesday 29 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Whilst the big news from the Tyne and Wear Metro continues to be the withdrawal of all the fully commissioned new trains for operational issues, there is still a network to run and the latest performance posters had at least seen an improvement in the number of services running on time – whether this is maintained with just the aging Metrocars to operate remains to be seen.

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In Pictures: Upgrades to Beamish’s tram depot

Posted on Monday 28 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

In one of our recent updates from Beamish we featured a photo showing how the tram depot was off limits to allow some work to take place. This is all part of the general upgrade of the depot facilities to make it not only a more pleasant working environment but also to make it safer for the maintenance team when working on the trams.

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Magical May event at Crich this May Day Bank Holiday weekend

Posted on Monday 28 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 4th and Monday 5th May will see the Crich Tramway Village have a packed programme of springtime fun and fairy dust as part of the “Magical May” event. There will be Spring magic and enhancement for all the family alongside all the usual museum attractions including the operating trams of course.

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Old(er) and New – Manchester Metrolink: Aytoun Street

Posted on Monday 28 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

Its another edition of “Old(er) and New” and we’re back in the city of Manchester to take a look at a T68 and a M5000 in the same place.

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Out and About 2025: Edinburgh Trams – Newhaven

Posted on Sunday 27 April 2025 by Gareth Prior

We have another look at a tram running in 2025 and this time we feature a photo taken on Edinburgh Trams.

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