Blackpool Trams News

[ValleyLines142]

Market Days are becoming a real problem for chronic overcrowding. It's getting to the stage where in future I might even consider going to Fleetwood on the 14 instead. I got on the tram the other day at North Station, by Pleasant Street I gave my seat to an elderly passenger as of course the Market appeals to the olds. Several pensioners had to stand all the way to Fleetwood and they were really in a lot of pain; when we got to Victoria Street I advised two elderly Scottish ladies on their return journey to walk round to the Ferry and get the tram back there as it's the starting point and they were more likely to get a seat!

Yes I do feel making every tram serve the station was a wise move, as essentially T1s at only every 30 minutes was a shambles, but at the same time I do think the layover needs to be slashed to simply going in and out. Trams are getting progressively busier and busier and it's only going to get worse during the illuminations period.

I also would love to see the Heritage units make an appearance in the day time, even if they just did Pleasure Beach to Bispham!

 

[philthetube]

Heritage units doing North Pier to Fleetwood on market days would be my choice.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Heritage units doing North Pier to Fleetwood on market days would be my choice.

Problem with that is the elderly struggle to get on the Balloons. The old dears going to the markets can barely stand on a Flexity let alone anything else. Yes they can just wait for a Flexity but this defeats the object of having extras.

 

[Falcon1200]

On my first recent visit to Blackpool's trams last week I was surprised by, firstly the lack of frequency, and secondly the overcrowding; No doubt the second being a direct result of the first. Having spent so much money replacing the fleet a few years ago, and now building the North station extension, a service every 15 minutes is simply inadequate. This was on an October Thursday morning!

 

[Tramfan]

On my first recent visit to Blackpool's trams last week I was surprised by, firstly the lack of frequency, and secondly the overcrowding; No doubt the second being a direct result of the first. Having spent so much money replacing the fleet a few years ago, and now building the North station extension, a service every 15 minutes is simply inadequate. This was on an October Thursday morning!

Even before the recent staff shortages, the daytime frequency during the illuminations period has been every 15 minutes for a number of years now, and from past experience has tended to cope ok on weekdays with there being fewer daytime travellers/holidaymakers, so interesting to hear of overcrowding on an October Thursday.

Can't help feeling that extra staff would pay for themselves pretty quickly!

 

[Falcon1200]

so interesting to hear of overcrowding on an October Thursday.

On both trams I was on I had to stand, and on the second the Conductor was not even able to check my ticket!

 

[Tramfan]

Winter tram timetables are now online at the link below:

https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/Tram Timetable - Nov 24 Download.pdf

Essentially an all day 15 minute Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station service, and we finally have early trams into North Station from the Fleetwood direction (starting with the first tram of the day from Fleetwood!)

There appears to be 4 arrivals at Fleetwood at the end of the day that have no corresponding departure (23:55, 00:10, 00:25, and 00:40 - for context the last arrival at Fleetwood in the current timetable is 27 mins earlier at 00:13!)

I've given a fair bit of criticism of a lot of their recent timetables, but this one does feel like an improvement.

 

[gomango]

Winter tram timetables are now online at the link below:

https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/Tram Timetable - Nov 24 Download.pdf

Essentially an all day 15 minute Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station service, and we finally have early trams into North Station from the Fleetwood direction (starting with the first tram of the day from Fleetwood!)

There appears to be 4 arrivals at Fleetwood at the end of the day that have no corresponding departure (23:55, 00:10, 00:25, and 00:40 - for context the last arrival at Fleetwood in the current timetable is 27 mins earlier at 00:13!)

I've given a fair bit of criticism of a lot of their recent timetables, but this one does feel like an improvement.

This also includes a every 15 minutes service between Little Bispham and Fleetwood at night. It is currently every 30 minutes.

 

[Harvey B]

Winter tram timetables are now online at the link below:

https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/Tram Timetable - Nov 24 Download.pdf

Essentially an all day 15 minute Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station service, and we finally have early trams into North Station from the Fleetwood direction (starting with the first tram of the day from Fleetwood!)

There appears to be 4 arrivals at Fleetwood at the end of the day that have no corresponding departure (23:55, 00:10, 00:25, and 00:40 - for context the last arrival at Fleetwood in the current timetable is 27 mins earlier at 00:13!)

I've given a fair bit of criticism of a lot of their recent timetables, but this one does feel like an improvement.

They've also totally gotten rid of the T2 and T3 services altogether.

Another positive improvement

 

[davehsug]

How many trams will this need? I'm guessing this will now become the default service year round, with maybe a few specials at illumination times.

 

[Tramfan]

How many trams will this need? I'm guessing this will now become the default service year round, with maybe a few specials at illumination times.

Looks to me like 10 trams. End to end running time reduced by 5 mins each way, so 1 tram saved on the existing 15 minute daytime service.

 

[davehsug]

Looks to me like 10 trams. End to end running time reduced by 5 mins each way, so 1 tram saved on the existing 15 minute daytime service.

Thanks, seems a reasonable winter timetable. 10 trams still leaves plenty of room to improve the season timetable, if only they could find some staff.

 

[davehsug]

Just noticed this intriguing little snippet on the BT website anouncement about the new Winter timetable.

"These changes are part of our plan to continue listening to you and get fully prepared for the busy year ahead.
By introducing this more frequent and reliable service, we’re setting the stage for further improvements in 2025, so you can continue to count on us for efficient and affordable travel."
Of course the proof of the pudding....

 

[Tramfan]

The new timetable routecards have been FOI'd (not by me) and interestingly show that the 4 last Fleetwood arrivals (23:55, 00:10, 00:25, and 00:40) which don't have a corresponding departure in the online timetable, do actually return in passenger service but with no timings/timepoints to avoid unecessary waiting on their return journey to Depot. They also run direct - avoiding North Station.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/tram_running_number_and_diagrams_3

 

[Northerngirl]

I've ended up on a last minute work trip to the Illuminations next week, has anyone got advice for how the system works (do we need to book wheelchair assistance in advance) and how busy it gets, as we don't want to be waiting for half an hour to get on to one. As far as I can tell there is a group ticket for up to 5 people on the regular tram, would that be fine or is there an additional charge for evening services thanks.

 

[cool110]

I've ended up on a last minute work trip to the Illuminations next week, has anyone got advice for how the system works (do we need to book wheelchair assistance in advance) and how busy it gets, as we don't want to be waiting for half an hour to get on to one.

No need to book assistance, just use the sets of doors in the middle (marked by wheelchair symbols on the platform). Crush loading mostly happens during school holidays.

As far as I can tell there is a group ticket for up to 5 people on the regular tram, would that be fine or is there an additional charge for evening services thanks.

That's fine, the only additional charge would be use the heritage services (which aren't wheelchair accessible).

 

[totally]

No need to book assistance, just use the sets of doors in the middle (marked by wheelchair symbols on the platform). Crush loading mostly happens during school holidays.

That's fine, the only additional charge would be use the heritage services (which aren't wheelchair accessible).

The Western Train (Heritage Tram) is used on tours of the illuminations and this tram is accessible, that was a condition of the grants given when it was restored. Heritage Tram tours of the illuminations can be booked online through the Blackpool,Heritage Trams Website.
link https://blackpoolheritage.com/

 

[JonathanH]

Looks to me like 10 trams.

What is the highest number of trams that have ever been needed for a timetable since the fleet renewal? 10 from 18 isn't particularly intensive.

 

[Harvey B]

What is the highest number of trams that have ever been needed for a timetable since the fleet renewal?

What Fleet renewal are you talking about?

 

[JonathanH]

What Fleet renewal are you talking about?

I was asking what the highest peak vehicle requirement there has been since the introduction of the Flexity trams - I appreciate it is over ten years ago, but it was a renewal at the time.

 

[Tramfan]

What is the highest number of trams that have ever been needed for a timetable since the fleet renewal? 10 from 18 isn't particularly intensive.

Some of the illuminations evenings a few years ago required 15 trams which had a 7.5 minute frequency between Little Bispham and Starr Gate

 

[philthetube]

I've ended up on a last minute work trip to the Illuminations next week, has anyone got advice for how the system works (do we need to book wheelchair assistance in advance) and how busy it gets, as we don't want to be waiting for half an hour to get on to one. As far as I can tell there is a group ticket for up to 5 people on the regular tram, would that be fine or is there an additional charge for evening services thanks.

All level boarding so no actual assistance needed.

Because the offside doors are not used at any stops this creates an additional 4 wheelchair space, out of season you should have no problems, there are conductors on all trams so they will keep and eye on you.

 

[Northerngirl]

All level boarding so no actual assistance needed.

Because the offside doors are not used at any stops this creates an additional 4 wheelchair space, out of season you should have no problems, there are conductors on all trams so they will keep and eye on you.

No need to book assistance, just use the sets of doors in the middle (marked by wheelchair symbols on the platform). Crush loading mostly happens during school holidays.

That's fine, the only additional charge would be use the heritage services (which aren't wheelchair accessible).

The Western Train (Heritage Tram) is used on tours of the illuminations and this tram is accessible, that was a condition of the grants given when it was restored. Heritage Tram tours of the illuminations can be booked online through the Blackpool,Heritage Trams Website.
link https://blackpoolheritage.com/

Thanks all, good to know we should be alright for everything

 

[JD2168]

I was in Blackpool today. The loadings looked much more evenly spread out among the Trams.

One thing, the scrolling on the blinds seems far too quick for passengers to read & could do with being slowed down a bit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

"S. Gate via Station" and "F'wood via Station" would fit without scrolling and everyone would know what it meant.

 

[tram21]

"S. Gate via Station"

Squires Gate?

I agree the scrolling is unhelpful and looks messy, in Nottingham our older trams dont have scrolling capacity, so when there's a destination that doesn't fit (only during disruption, all termini have short names!), the words are shortened. For example, Old Market Square is Old Market Sq, and Nottingham Station is Nottingham Stn. Blackpool should do this: Starr Gt via N Stn/ Manchester Sq etc.

 

[Tramfan]

Or could you have static text that alternates between "Starr Gate" or "Fleetwood" and "via North Station"?

 

[zero]

Winter tram timetables are now online at the link below:

https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/Tram Timetable - Nov 24 Download.pdf

Essentially an all day 15 minute Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station service, and we finally have early trams into North Station from the Fleetwood direction (starting with the first tram of the day from Fleetwood!)

Thanks for this, they have not updated the PDF on their website, and bustimes.org and Google Maps also haven't been updated which made me confused as to why the HTML timetable was different.

So all trams currently operate the same route via the station all day, except a few at start and end of service.

In the future, are they likely to reintroduce the original route avoiding the station during daytime at all?

 

[splashoutradio]

Thanks for this, they have not updated the PDF on their website, and bustimes.org and Google Maps also haven't been updated which made me confused as to why the HTML timetable was different.

So all trams currently operate the same route via the station all day, except a few at start and end of service.

Not sure how much use it'll be to you, but Blackpool Transport have a superb open access data platform, which allows for the compilation of timetables with all stops along the line.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks for this, they have not updated the PDF on their website, and bustimes.org and Google Maps also haven't been updated which made me confused as to why the HTML timetable was different.

So all trams currently operate the same route via the station all day, except a few at start and end of service.

In the future, are they likely to reintroduce the original route avoiding the station during daytime at all?

From my experience the other week it was totally random whether they went to the station or not. I was on one that was meant to and didn't, and another that wasn't meant to (due to the Remembrance parade) and did, with the change being announced at the last minute. Still finding its feet, I think, and it seems that missing the station out if delayed is normal practice.

Overall, though, a 4tph service via the station is probably preferable to a 2tph one going there and a 2tph one not. A bit slower for some primarily leisure journeys, but simpler given the large number of non-regular users.