On 16 June 2024, a new tramway section started operation in the English seaside resort of Blackpool – for the first time in many decades. Here we give you an up-to-date impression of the new line.
Although the new section itself is only just under 600 metres long, it nevertheless marks a significant step in the development of the system. There are now once again several tram lines in Blackpool: The traditional 17.7 km long T1 line always runs along or close to the coastline on its entire route between the Starr Gate terminus south of the centre of Blackpool to Fleetwood in the north. The new section through Talbot Street to North Station branches off from the existing main line near the well-known Blackpool Tower at North Pier and is served by the new T2 Starr Gate – North Station and T3 Fleetwood Ferry – North Station lines. A route map can be found at: https://www.urbanrail.net/eu/uk/black/blackpool.htm. Today two services each cover every section of the moderate network. There is a tram every 15 minutes during the day, as all three lines operate every half hour and overlap accordingly. The new section itself has no intermediate stops and runs largely on the road surface, sharing the road space with other traffic – which is also an exception on the network in Blackpool.
Electric trams have been running here on the Irish Sea since 1885. Since 1962, they were the only ones in the whole country to survive the country-wide tramway extinction policy of the previous decades – it was not until 1992 that new systems were introduced in the United Kingdom when Manchester light rail opened. For a long time, the fleet consisted of a colourful mix of tramcars from different years and types of construction – it actually was quite a good fit for the city, which is heavily influenced by tourism.
It was not until 2009-2012 that the system underwent a fundamental modernisation process of the infrastructure, and since then 16 modern Bombardier Flexity low-floor trams have been used in normal service. The operation of the historic vehicles is limited to comparatively few journeys at a special fare; they are marketed as Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours.
The route to North Station that has now opened actually is the first extension of the system in almost 90 years. Further route extensions might be considered only in a long-term planning perspective.
