In this week’s news from the light rail sector – West Midlands Metro drivers aiming for championship success in Frankfurt, Edinburgh Trams issues authority to work reminder, temporary closures in London, and Tram Car 23 returns to Seaton tramway.
West Midlands Metro
Britain’s Paralympians may be enjoying a record-breaking haul of medals in Paris however, two tram drivers from the West Midlands will be competing for top honours in a completely different European contest later this month.
Jasbir Kaur and Dawid Osika will head to Frankfurt, Germany, to represent the West Midlands Metro in the prestigious European Tram Driver Championship. There, they’ll face a variety of skill-testing challenges alongside fellow tram drivers from across Europe.
The competition will see them showcase their driving expertise, with events like performing emergency stops with lightning-fast reactions and bringing trams to a precise halt, and you can read more here.
Edinburgh Trams
Anyone planning to carry out work close to tram tracks in Edinburgh is being urged to take a vital safety step before they make a start.
Contractors and members of the public MUST obtain advance permission to carry out any activity that encroaches on the tramway to ensure their own safety, as well as the wellbeing of passengers and Edinburgh Trams employees.
Thanks to an online system and its associated mobile app, the process of obtaining an ‘Authority to Work’ (ATW) permit is simple and straightforward, and you can find out more here.
Manchester Metrolink
Operator Keolis Amey Metrolink is bringing onto the market the now redundant (to the network) Special Purpose Vehicle, match wagon and spare parts.
The disposal of the vehicle is to be undertaken via the ‘sealed bid’ process, and you can find out more here.
London Tramlink
More closures to the tram network have been announced by Transport for London – this time for September 6 to 8 on the stretch of track from Mitcham Junction to Wimbledon.
Inside Croydon reports that the closures will take place while Network Rail conducts its own maintenance work in the area of Wimbledon Station, which requires power to be turned off on the tram network.
During the closure, TfL will use the time to conduct its own maintenance work to tracks near the Dundonald Road tram stop, and you can read the full story here.
Heritage
Tram Car 23 is to make a return to the Seaton Tramway, British Trams Online reports.
Whilst not previously operated at the tramway, it did make an appearance there in 1995 for the 25th anniversary of the opening of the line and will now be back as from Saturday, September 14, during the Model Tramway Exhibition taking place that weekend.
Built by the founder of the Seaton Tramway, Claude Lane, between 1948 and 1949 at his Lancaster Electrical Company Workshops in Barnet, and you can read the full story here.
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