West Midlands Metro fares to increase below inflation again in 2025

Posted on Friday 28 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

It has been announced that the price of travelling on the West Midlands Metro will increase from 7th April 2025. The increase will be an average of 3.2%, with fares set to go up by between 10p and 30p.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 761

Posted on Friday 28 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Just before we change location on “Picture in Time” again we have time for one final photo as we move on from the snow of Fleetwood.

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Restoration of Manchester 173 underway

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Exciting news from the Heaton Park Tramway where it has been confirmed that restoration work is underway on returning double-deck open topper Manchester 173 to service. When the work is completed – over the next few years – it will mark the first use in service of the tram in almost a century and, obviously, its first ever use in preservation.

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In Pictures: Driver training in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

As we wait confirmation of the new timetable on the Blackpool Tramway – expected to see improved frequencies on the core section of the tramway – behind the scenes preparations continue and that includes the all important driver training. One of the trams usually seen in use for training is 001 (with an additional seat provided in the cab) and that was out on Saturday 22nd March as seen in this pictorial article. Peter Dockerty is the photographer.

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Dogs on trams trial starts in Sheffield

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Dogs are now being allowed to travel on-board Sheffield’s Supertram system following confirmation of the start of a pilot by Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard. This comes after the conclusion of a public consultation when out of 10,600 responses 75% were in favour of the change.

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In Pictures: Behind the scenes at Wednesbury Depot

Posted on Wednesday 26 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

On Friday 21st March 2025 the LRTA organised a members day on the West Midlands Metro. As well as members enjoying a ride on the tramway they were also treated to a behind the scenes tour of Wednesbury Depot where they got the chance to hear about the use of battery trams on the network, the driver simulator in action and to see some of the trams which are currently not in service. Bob Hodges was one of those who got to see behind the usually closed doors.

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In Pictures: Manchester Metrolink 3091’s Prosecco advert

Posted on Wednesday 26 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Earlier in March we reported how 3091 had swapped adverts from Starling Bank to Prosecco but at the time didn’t illustrate it but now we have images showing the new look for 3091!

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First major Supertram engineering works for 2025 announced

Posted on Wednesday 26 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

2025 looks set to be another year of major engineering works for the South Yorkshire Supertram – as the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority continuing to invest in the network – with the first set of works having now been announced.

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The Merseyside 3 arrive at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Photos added 29/03/2025

Crich Tramway Village is home to three more trams after the arrival of the three trams from the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society in March. Birkenhead 20, Wallasey 78 and Liverpool 762 all made the move from the Wirral Transport Museum late last week with the last of them arriving at their new home over the weekend.

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In Pictures: Supertram helps to move the crowds to the Steel City Derby

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 16th March 2025 was probably a day to avoid the Hillsborough area of Sheffield as it was the first Steel City derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United at the Owls’ Hillsborough Stadium for six years. It was certainly a busy time in the building up to the 1230 kick-off with a large Police operation also in place.

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50 million contactless tap and go Metrolink journeys hit

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

A major milestone has been reached in the use of tap and go Metrolink journeys with the 50 millionth such journey being recorded on Wednesday 19th March. This way of paying has now become by far the most popular way of travelling on the trams – and the milestone came just a few days before the facility is expanded further across the Bee Network to includes buses as well.

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In Pictures: West Midlands Metro 57 receives ads for National Trust

Posted on Monday 24 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

A couple of weeks ago KFC came back with a new advert on the West Midlands Metro and now we have another returning advertiser from 2024 as 57 has received a new wrap for the National Trust’s Blossom Watch campaign. The vinyls were affixed during Friday 21st March 2025 and the tram was used for the first time in this condition the following day.

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Next set of Metrolink works to get underway

Posted on Monday 24 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

There will be more service changes for Manchester Metrolink as from Tuesday 25th March as the next set of major track renewal gets underway. The location of the work this time will be between Market Street and High Street/Church Street and will mean no trams can run via 1CC with Market Street and Shudehill tramstops closed. The works will continue until Tuesday 23rd April.

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Old(er) and New – West Midlands Metro: St Paul’s

Posted on Monday 24 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another “Old(er) and New” comes from the West Midlands Metro as we see a T69 and a CAF Urbos tram at the same location.

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Trams &: Oporto 196 & bus

Posted on Sunday 23 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Another “Trams &” features Beamish as it’s a tram and a bus once more.

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In Pictures: Sheffield mural shows Roberts Car

Posted on Sunday 23 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Trams in Sheffield is hardly news, after all the Supertram system has been in operation since 1994 and 30 years before then we had the extensive Corporation tram system. But its not often that the two systems mix (except for when horse car 15 returned to the city in 1995 and was displayed at Cathedral) – but that has changed with a new mural recently appearing alongside the modern tram network.

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Metrolink 3013 damaged after being hit by car

Posted on Sunday 23 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink’s M5000 3013 spent an evening away from the depot after it was hit by a car on Droylsden Road on the route to Ashton-under-Lyne. The accident happened at around 2115 on Friday 14th March and led to the service on that line being suspended for the remainder of the evening.

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What’s New on British Trams Online? 23rd March 2025

Posted on Sunday 23 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

We’re back with another main site update and photos come from Sheffield:

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Removal of most funding for Wirral Transport Museum confirmed

Posted on Saturday 22 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that Wirral Council are to redistribute funding between projects – this includes the removal of at least £3 million which had previously been allocated to the renovation of the Wirral Transport Museum. The decision to change development projects to support in their area came in a behind closed doors meeting, although the results were soon leaked by a local Green Councillor.

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Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 35 Comments

Around the World in Trams: Nice 009

Posted on Saturday 22 March 2025 by Gareth Prior

Its time for “Around the World in Trams” again as we stay in Nice.

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