Tram System | Blackpool | U/C

[leauk]

That looks more like the Queen Mother in the window.

[BoyamIjealous]

Nah, it's Rita Fairclough. Expect yet another tram crash on Coronation Street soon.

[heatonparkincakes]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Big announcement is a 1937 tram to be repainted in Diamond Jubilee livery by prisoners from HMP Kirkham for the Illuminations. Its a Diamond Jubilee not a golden one and the queen in the window is just tacky.....

It's tremendous. No honest I am not mocking it, it is. It's in my eyes like some retro futurist vehicle. Imagine if the Hapsburgs survive and have a space station.

Imagine. It's like that thing in Dune.

I am in Blackpool for work next month. Having already got erm excited with the prospect of the UK Beach Boys, the 1.5 m of feminine joy asks me if there are any real ale pubs, she can dump me in near any tram stop.

I not sure if I should be more concerned that she says this or that I am turning slowly into a geography teacher. So lads advise and suggestions regarding the triad of trams, decent pubs and eateries?

[Blackpool88]

Originally Posted by heatonparkincakes

It's tremendous. No honest I am not mocking it, it is. It's in my eyes like some retro futurist vehicle. Imagine if the Hapsburgs survive and have a space station.

Imagine. It's like that thing in Dune.

I am in Blackpool for work next month. Having already got erm excited with the prospect of the UK Beach Boys, the 1.5 m of feminine joy asks me if there are any real ale pubs, she can dump me in near any tram stop.

I not sure if I should be more concerned that she says this or that I am turning slowly into a geography teacher. So lads advise and suggestions regarding the triad of trams, decent pubs and eateries?

The only tram-related real ale pubs you will get are wetherspoons. Get a dayrider, have a pint in The Auctioneer on Lytham Road, walk to the prom get a tram to the tower, have one in the Albert and the Lion at the base of the tower back on the tram to Cleveleys and have one in The Jolly Tars back on the tram to Fleetwood and have one in The Thomas Drummond. All close to the tram line and all do decent ale.

Failing that you could get a train from Blackpool South to Lytham and go to a great real ale pub called The Taps but I prefer the idea of a tram wetherspoons pub crawl, in fact I've sold the idea to myself I'm going to do it next time I go back.

[BoyamIjealous]

For me, nostalgia if not taste would demand a ride to Fleetwood Ferry, then a pint at the North Euston. I would stroll to the Mount for a Boddies, then walk to Ash Street - sorry, Fishermans Walk - to get the tram to Thornton Gate. A brisk 3-minute stroll to the Royal, next, then if I haven't fallen asleep, I would go in search of real ale.

Nostalgia isn't what it was in my day, mind.

[dpjones1978]

Been in blackpool for the totally transport festival and spotted that 2 of the new trams are now sporting vinyls;
image hosted on flickr

006 with the vinyl for the pleaure beach arena by 8304(MNC 504W) TE (was jonesy3001), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

011 with a redrow vinyl by 8304(MNC 504W) TE (was jonesy3001), on Flickr

[BoyamIjealous]

Originally Posted by dpjones1978

Been in blackpool for the totally transport festival and spotted 2 of the new trams are now sporting vinyls;

Fairly tasteful.

[BoyamIjealous]

Trams Today's Facebook page tells me that the substation at Bold Street (By the Fleetwood Ferry terminus) has now been commissioned, and that token working from Fishermans Wharf has been abandoned as a result. See it here

[Freel07]

A few photos from a visit to Blackpool last Thursday, they are intended to show some of the less photogenic aspects of the upgraded tramway.

Firstly something peculiar to Blackpool, the overhead frogs which are compatible with both trolleys and pantographs. The side mounted runners guide the pantograph clear of the frog. OK I know Crich has them but I was really referring to commercial operation.


Many of the stops on the sleeper track have been fitted with this decking presumably to prevent anyone getting caught up in the under-run protector going under the tram as the protector is really designed for street track. Similar provision has been made on the Metrolink Phase 3 stops. This is at Little Bispham.


Also at Little Bispham a shot showing the Elektroline VETRA transponders (with the circular paint markers) duplicated to cater for both Flexity 2 and heritage cars. These interface with the traffic lights and motorised points. Also seen is the stop marker on the tarmac.


A few shots around Starr Gate showing the form of signals and point indicators used. The point indicators are unusual for the UK in being red whereas the current UK ones are generally yellow or white.

[Freel07]

There have been a lot of critical comments recently on other forums about the standard of service currently being offered by BTS on the upgraded system. The inreliable Heritage service and the complete non-appearance of the modified Balloons on the promised Thornton Gate to Pleasure Beach services to mention two issues.

This has culminated over this weekend in total chaos with the service being split in two by the Switch On Ceremony at the Headland (which fool designed that?) with only the Flexities in use and a total lack of sufficient capacity. I am surprised there has been no mention of these problems here.

However to quote Forummer Wing Tips on the Metrolink threads these complaints need to be made to BTS and the Council if any progress is to be made with improving the performance.

[bluegoblin7]

Originally Posted by Freel07

...the complete non-appearance of the modified Balloons on the promised Thornton Gate to Pleasure Beach services to mention two issues.

This is down to a lack of available crews - read into that what you will. However, the service was only ever due to run to Cleveleys rather than Thornton Gate.

[Zim Flyer]

Just a brief update. Blackpool Council voted last week to approve membership of a Local Transport Body involving several Councils in Lancashire including Blackburn and Darwin which will control funds for local transport projects rather than the Department of Transport.

It was also agreed that Blackpool Council would be bidding in 2015 for the funds from this new transport body to extend the tramline up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway station.

Building the extension will not only improve transport integration in the town but will also connect railwayless Cleveleys and Fleetwood to the national railway network via the tramway, so any bid should tick quite a few boxes.

[Leeds No.1]

Good. Would there then be any scope to link the lines to the rail lines and run a tram-train service, I suppose with some similarities to the T&W Metro, up to Poulton?

[Kolothos]

Great news. The first step in turning the tramway back into a useful means of transport in Blackpool.

I really do dislike the purple livery. Those trams would look so much better with a simple, classic, Blackpool Transport Green/White livery. This is something European cities do very well, they stick to the traditional colours and keep it simple, wheras in Britain, Trams, Buses and Trans all have to have over-complicated liveries.

[Jon10]

Originally Posted by Zim Flyer

Blackpool Council voted last week to approve membership of a Local Transport Body involving several Councils in Lancashire including Blackburn and Darwin which will control funds for local transport projects rather than the Department of Transport.

Good news, but please explain: What devolution is there here?

There have been (perhaps more urban) transport authorities over several local authorities since the 1970s.

Is this direct Treasury or Eric Pickles money, that no longer goes through DfT decision-making? It is not - unfortunately - direct tax-raising, is it?

[WatcherZero]

I guess hes refering to the Regional Transport Fund/Integrated Transport Capital grants which are being devolved to the LEP's from about 2016.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by Kolothos

I really do dislike the purple livery. Those trams would look so much better with a simple, classic, Blackpool Transport Green/White livery. This is something European cities do very well, they stick to the traditional colours and keep it simple, wheras in Britain, Trams, Buses and Trans all have to have over-complicated liveries.

I agree. It's a minor concern too, but I'm not sold on the graphic design of the system in terms of signage/fonts etc.

[BoyamIjealous]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Good. Would there then be any scope to link the lines to the rail lines and run a tram-train service, I suppose with some similarities to the T&W Metro, up to Poulton?

If it's designed and built properly, it will be with that possibility in mind. The tram-train trials in Yorkshire don't start until 2015, and may be a complete flop. I doubt that very much, and transport minister Norman Baker has already said that planning decisions should assume that tram-train is an option. I'm sure this will be in the minds of whoever is developing the link to Blackpool North - those points outside North Pier are a giveaway.

I'm sure the idea will be to end the line at a platform within the station. It should be done in such a way that carrying on to a rail line is straightforward. Of course, there will be a 25KV overhead power supply from there onwards - dual voltage tram-trains will be needed. Not unheard of on the continent.

[Accura4Matalan]

Originally Posted by Zim Flyer

Building the extension will not only improve transport integration in the town but will also connect railwayless Cleveleys and Fleetwood to the national railway network via the tramway, so any bid should tick quite a few boxes.

I'm guessing that reopening of the NR Fleetwood Branch is off the agenda then?

[BoyamIjealous]

Originally Posted by Accura4Matalan

I'm guessing that reopening of the NR Fleetwood Branch is off the agenda then?

I wouldn't think it will ever be off the agenda. The urgency won't be there, though, and it may take a form other than the standard heavy rail link. One day, we'll find out.