Friday 24th July – Monday 31st August (Open daily)
10am -5.30pm (last admissions 4pm)
10am – 4.30pm (last admissions 3pm)
Tuesday 1st September – Sunday 1st November (Closed Fridays except for 30th October)
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10am – 4.30pm (last admissions 3pm)
Saturday 14th March – Thursday 23rd July (Closed Fridays except for Derbyshire school holidays).
10am -5.30pm (last admissions 4pm)
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Visitors, supporters and tram enthusiasts are being encouraged to mark Saturday 12th September 2026 in their calendars, as the museum prepares to officially launch its much-anticipated Access Tram during the ever-popular Tram Weekend event.
While full details remain under wraps for now, the project represents a major milestone for the museum and its commitment to making heritage transport more inclusive and accessible for all visitors. The Access Tram initiative has already captured public imagination through the museum’s successful crowdfunding campaign, and has harnessed enthusiasm to convert the 1980s single-decker Centenary tram 645, originally used on Blackpool’s seafront into a working tramcar capable of carrying wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. More than this, the project also opens the exciting possibility of wheelchair users being able to drive the tram, under supervision. This would be a first for the UK and potentially the world! Although, given the site’s history connected to George Stephenson, the railway pioneer, it’s no surprise innovation is the embodiment of what we do here.
Graham Bennett, CEO of the National Tramway Museum, said:
“This project represents an enormous amount of dedication, skill and passion from our volunteers and staff. Reaching this stage is something everyone involved should feel incredibly proud of, and we cannot wait to celebrate this achievement with our supporters in September.”
Roger Shelley, Funding Manager, added:
“We are hugely proud of the innovative approach this project has taken. Creating opportunities to welcome more people to experience the magic of riding our trams is incredibly important to us, and this launch will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the museum. The museum is indebted to the generosity of all those who have contributed to our funding target.”
The museum is encouraging supporters to follow developments closely over the coming months, with more announcements, behind-the-scenes updates and launch details set to be revealed soon.
Further updates can be found via the museum’s official website and social media channels.
