Sunday 18 June 2017

Is it a Tram or is it a Bus?

ACTV Translohr 20 arriving at Piazzale Roma in Venice from Favaro
It's a combination of a tram and a bus called a Translohr, a rubber tyred articulated tram style vehicle, guided by a single steel rail that's recessed into the carriageway, but with the wheels running on the road surface. The system was originally developed by Lohr Industrie of France and is currently in use in France, Italy, China and Columbia. The line illustrated here is part of the Tranvia de Mestre system, operated by Venice ACTV public transport and opened in 2015. The system is comprised of two lines, T1 and T2, which serve parts of the Venice commune, line T1 running from the mainland via a long causeway bridge to the island city of Venice.

ACTV Translohr 20 at the Piazzale Roma terminus of line T1 in Venice

ACTV Translohr 09 departing from the Piazzale Roma terminus in Venice
ACTV Translohr 01 leaving the Piazzale Roma heading for Favaro on the mainland

ACTV Translohr 01 at Piazzale Roma in Venice, ready to depart for Favaro on the mainland

ACTV Translohr 01 arriving in Venice, having just crossed the lagoon via the causeway

Wednesday 7 June 2017

Two days of tram moves

Brush Car 623 seen on Lytham Road after making the journey from Heaton Park on 6th June
On Tuesday 6th June, Scotts Heavy Haulage moved Brush 623 from the Heaton Park Tramway to Blackpool, where the tram will be on temporary loan in order that it can take part in the 80th Anniversary of the Brush Car celebrations on 23rd & 24th September. The following day Scotts were involved in two more tram moves, these being Brush 625 and Balloon 726 which were both transported the relatively short distance from the Port of Fleetwood to Rigby Road. 625 and 726 are privately owned, and are being stored in Rigby Road tram depot by a mutual agreement.

Brush Car 625 in Hopton Road after making the short journey from Fleetwood on 7th June
Balloon 726 leaving the Port of Fleetwood late on in the afternoon of 7th June