Trams like this one on Westminster Bridge Road were a familiar sight in London until the 1950s

Trams have returned to the streets of the capital with a system around Croydon and Wimbledon, which opened in 2000

Further east in London is the Docklands Light Railway which opened in 1987 and is expected to play a key role in transporting visitors to 2012 Olympics venues

Double-decker trams were once one of the most popular ways of getting around Manchester, as this picture from 1929 of a busy city centre shows

And the Metrolink system, which opened in 1992, brought trams back to Manchester's streets

Blackpool's tram system is among the longest-established and best-known in England

Nottingham is another place where the city centre is served by a tram scheme - the Nottingham Express Transit

The Midland Metro between Birmingham and Wolverhampton opened in 1999, cost an initial �140m and has a 1.2 mile (2km) on-street section among its total 12 mile (20km) route

Sheffield's original tramway system was abolished in 1960, but after decades of debate about bringing trams back, the Sheffield Supertram opened in 1994

The Tyne and Wear Metro opened in 1980, with enthusiasts regarding it as Britain's first light rail system