Blackpool Trams News

[WestCoast]

Had my first ride on the new services T2 and T3 to/from North Station this weekend, on both journeys there was huge amounts of confusion among the passengers mainly tourists. Conductors were trying their best to inform people boarding but were getting lots of moaning in response. I am Blackpool born and bred and understand the geography of the town well but I guess it’s a big change for a lot of visitors.

 

[Harvey B]

Had my first ride on the new services T2 and T3 to/from North Station this weekend, on both journeys there was huge amounts of confusion among the passengers mainly tourists. Conductors were trying their best to inform people boarding but were getting lots of moaning in response. I am Blackpool born and bred and understand the geography of the town well but I guess it’s a big change for a lot of visitors.

I think there just needs to be one standard service from Star Gate to Fleetwood every 20 minutes at the very worst.

They either need a 20 minute Direct service to Fleetwood supplemented by a 20 minute Service between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham (Via North Station)

Or they need a standard 15 minute service from Starr Gate to Fleetwood going via North Station (During the 6 week hols and Illuminations, this could be supplemented with a Service to Little Bispham)

I'm hoping they can change the Timetable before the Illuninations start or else they aren't going to cope with the demand at all

 

[Tramfan]

One subtle change I hadn't picked up on is that the last (23:00) T1 service to Fleetwood is now retimed to 23:15 (as per the last northbound service of recent times). It runs to the old end to end running times to still enable it to get back to Starr Gate by 01:15. This means that the (former) last T2 to North Station (the 23:15) no longer runs, meaning the last T2 service to North Station is now 1 hour earlier, and the former last T2 from North Station at 23:45 therefore also no longer runs. This also means a 45 minute gap in northbound trams from Starr Gate to anywhere between 22:30 and 23:15.

I too really hope they can do something else with the timetable in time for the illuminations, which are only a month or so away, but I fear they are causing themselves issues with the school summer holidays - seen evidence of seriously crush loaded trams and "sorry tram full" being shown on the displays again

 

[davehsug]

One subtle change I hadn't picked up on is that the last (23:00) T1 service to Fleetwood is now retimed to 23:15 (as per the last northbound service of recent times). It runs to the old end to end running times to still enable it to get back to Starr Gate by 01:15. This means that the (former) last T2 to North Station (the 23:15) no longer runs, meaning the last T2 service to North Station is now 1 hour earlier, and the former last T2 from North Station at 23:45 therefore also no longer runs. This also means a 45 minute gap in northbound trams from Starr Gate to anywhere between 22:30 and 23:15.

I too really hope they can do something else with the timetable in time for the illuminations, which are only a month or so away, but I fear they are causing themselves issues with the school summer holidays - seen evidence of seriously crush loaded trams and "sorry tram full" being shown on the displays again

I go to Blackpool in 2 weeks and tbh I'm dreading what I'll find. When I went in June the, week of the extension opening, I stayed on the North Promenade, so wasn't too badly affected. This time, I'm staying in my usual hotel near South Pier. I spend a lot of time in Fleetwood,Cleveleys & Bispham and I just know that getting a tram, especially returning South will likely be hell. It's not as if you have the alternative of a bus. I don't care what excuses are made, BT have seriuosly cocked this up badly.

 

[Tramfan]

What also worries me is the onboard announcements on the T3s towards North Station that tell passengers to change for Tower/Pleasure Beach/Starr Gate at Pleasant Street. I can't even count the number of times I've been on a southbound tram that has failed to stop at Pleasant Street due to being too full in previous years...

At least the equivalent stop northbound for the T2s (Tower) has a bit of a turnover of passengers getting off.

 

[Harvey B]

What also worries me is the onboard announcements on the T3s towards North Station that tell passengers to change for Tower/Pleasure Beach/Starr Gate at Pleasant Street. I can't even count the number of times I've been on a southbound tram that has failed to stop at Pleasant Street due to being too full in previous years...

At least the equivalent stop northbound for the T2s (Tower) has a bit of a turnover of passengers getting off.

They need a serious rethink of the Timetable before the Illuminations. The current timetable won't cope with the demand for through passengers

 

[Tramfan]

They need a serious rethink of the Timetable before the Illuminations. The current timetable won't cope with the demand for through passengers

I certainly hope this is the case, though we're still seeing trams being cancelled due to staff shortages, so doubt we're going to see too much improvement. Appears to be clear that their Timetabler has been asked to develop a timetable to a limited staff availability requirement.

 

[Harvey B]

I certainly hope this is the case, though we're still seeing trams being cancelled due to staff shortages, so doubt we're going to see too much improvement. Appears to be clear that their Timetabler has been asked to develop a timetable to a limited staff availability requirement.

If their Staff availability is so limited then why aren't they hiring more staff in March/April so they can take on more Staff to run an a full service. The last time they ran a full season with a 10 Minute Service (or better) was 2019. And the last time they ran a combined 7.5 Minute service (15 Min SG-FF service alternating with a 15 min SG-LB service) was back in 2021 (They might have run it in 2022 but I'm not quite sure). Is it because they don't have the appropriate levels of Funding to run an enhanced Service (10 mins or Better) anymore?

A flat 15 minute Service that runs the full length of the Tramway and serving all stops (including the Diversion to North Station) May not be the most ideal solution in the long run, but it is certainly better than the current mess they've got and certainly the most appropriate solution considering BTS's current Fiscal Circumstances at the minute.

I must admit. I'm not a fan of the Heritage Operation at the minute. I'm hoping that regular Hop On/Hop Off Tours return once the works at at Rigby Road are Complete.

On another note. How come Progress at Rigby Road is stalling? I don't think amything seems to have happened there since the start of the year

 

[philthetube]

I think they need to mothball the extension until they can sort and resource a proper timetable, it will never happen though.

 

[Harvey B]

I think they need to mothball the extension until they can sort and resource a proper timetable, it will never happen though.

They did a proper 15 minute end to end timetable serving all stops (including the extension) on Tram Sunday. Why can't they make it a permanent thing? Especially during School Holidays?

 

[Towers]

They did a proper 15 minute end to end timetable serving all stops (including the extension) on Tram Sunday. Why can't they make it a permanent thing? Especially during School Holidays?

Was any of that being operated with volunteer crews/heritage cars etc?

 

[cool110]

Was any of that being operated with volunteer crews/heritage cars etc?

No, the heritage timetable was too busy with mini-tours and a static tram at Fleetwood to spare anything.

 

[Towers]

No, the heritage timetable was too busy with mini-tours and a static tram at Fleetwood to spare anything.

I wonder then if BT brought in sufficient crews on overtime to run the service for that particular day?

 

[Leedsbusman]

I wonder then if BT brought in sufficient crews on overtime to run the service for that particular day?

Surely it used the same number of crews as normal as the extra time for everyone to pootle up to North Station is offset by not going beyond Fisherman’s Walk.

 

[Towers]

Surely it used the same number of crews as normal as the extra time for everyone to pootle up to North Station is offset by not going beyond Fisherman’s Walk.

No idea! Was just throwing out a random thought in response to surprise that they ran that service…

 

[Harvey B]

Was any of that being operated with volunteer crews/heritage cars etc?

No. It was a 15 minute Frequency on the LRT service going the full length from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, and via the Diversion to North Station

Surely it used the same number of crews as normal as the extra time for everyone to pootle up to North Station is offset by not going beyond Fisherman’s Walk.

I wonder if something similar could be done. I.e 15 minute Frequency for every stop on the Main promanade

And the stops on the Diversion (aswell as the Street runnning section in Fleetwood) would only see a Tram every 30 mins. (To fill the Gap in Fleetwood, they could use a B Fleet Balloon as a shuttle from Ferry to Fishermand Walk).

The service would end up looking like this:
*One Tram Every 30 mins from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry (Direct)
*15 minute Gap
*One Tram Every 30 mins from Starr Gate to Fishermans Walk (Via North Station)
*B Fleet Ballon Ferry to Fishermans Shuttle Every ~30 mins cover for the Services that Terminate at Fishermans

 

[davehsug]

No. It was a 15 minute Frequency on the LRT service going the full length from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, and via the Diversion to North Station


I wonder if something similar could be done. I.e 15 minute Frequency for every stop on the Main promanade

And the stops on the Diversion (aswell as the Street runnning section in Fleetwood) would only see a Tram every 30 mins. (To fill the Gap in Fleetwood, they could use a B Fleet Balloon as a shuttle from Ferry to Fishermand Walk).

The service would end up looking like this:
*One Tram Every 30 mins from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry (Direct)
*15 minute Gap
*One Tram Every 30 mins from Starr Gate to Fishermans Walk (Via North Station)
*B Fleet Ballon Ferry to Fishermans Shuttle Every ~30 mins cover for the Services that Terminate at Fishermans

Not sure how all the pensioners who can't get up the stairs, would cope with a balloon on market days? I know in the past it didn't seem to matter, but times have definitely changed. BT only realised the sense of using the twin cars on Fleetwood service in the immediate months prior to the shutdown for modernisation.

 

[Harvey B]

Does anyone know if or when we'll find out the results of that Survey in response to the timetable?

Surely they've got to change the service frequencies once the illuminations start?

 

[cool110]

They said they would finalise the main illuminations bus diversions next week, so I would guess the tram times would be done then as well.

 

[Northerngirl]

Is there any special services for the air show

 

[cool110]

Is there any special services for the air show

The complete opposite, the tramway is closed between Central and North piers

 

[Northerngirl]

The complete opposite, the tramway is closed between Central and North piers

Oh fantastic, I am begining to wonder what purpose it actually serves

 

[Bovverboy]

Is there any special services for the air show

The complete opposite, the tramway is closed between Central and North piers

According to the website, 'trams will operate a split service', without elaborating on what a 'split service' constitutes, and the timetable doesn't seem to have been updated. Only with reference to later events is a 'split service' defined, and even then it is not expressly confirmed that the same service will prevail over the two days (10-11/8/24) of the air show.

 

[cool110]

According to the website, 'trams will operate a split service', without elaborating on what a 'split service' constitutes, and the timetable doesn't seem to have been updated. Only with reference to later events is a 'split service' defined, and even then it is not expressly confirmed that the same service will prevail over the two days (10-11/8/24) of the air show.

It is published, just in the service updates rather than the news post.

 

[Towers]

Oh fantastic, I am begining to wonder what purpose it actually serves

It is necessary to suspend trams along the central promenade during the air show simply because of the volume of people; the prom is utterly packed and it would be both impractical and unsafe to attempt to run trams through those crowds. Makes sense really.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How much comment, adverse or otherwise, has there been in the local press about the timetabling since the Blackpool North tram stop was operational?

 

[Tramfan]

• Run the Lights (Saturday 17th August): Diversions will be in place from 19:00 until the end of service. Trams will not serve North Station after 19:00. T1 will run as normal.
• Ride the Lights (Tuesday 27th August): Diversions will be in place from 17:00 until the end of service. Trams will not serve North Station after 18:00. T1 will run as normal.
• Trinity Night Run (Wednesday 28th August): Diversions will be in place from 18:30 until the end of service. Trams will not serve North Station after 18:00. T1 will run as normal.

https://www.blackpooltransport.com/blackpool-event-diversions-2024

There are also diversions for "run the lights", "ride the lights" and "trinity night run" noted above from the diversions page on Blackpool Transport's website. Doesn't make it clear whether the T2s and T3s will run but just terminate at North Pier, or whether they'll be withdrawn entirely, just leaving a bare-bones 30 minute frequency on T1. Knowing Blackpool Transport, my money would be on the latter!

Their communications are pretty dreadful - often wonder what those visitors who don't know (or are unable) to check the website for things like this

 

[Bovverboy]

It is published, just in the service updates rather than the news post.

All it says is: The Tram Service will operate a split Service between Central Pier and North Pier between 12.30 and 1800. That might mean what it was intended to someone who already knows what the situation is, but I don't think it would mean a lot to a casual passenger. In fact, it rather gives the impression that the service is between Central Pier and North Pier, and nowhere else.
(Capitalised words as per BT).

https://www.blackpooltransport.com/blackpool-event-diversions-2024

There are also diversions for "run the lights", "ride the lights" and "trinity night run" noted above from the diversions page on Blackpool Transport's website. Doesn't make it clear whether the T2s and T3s will run but just terminate at North Pier, or whether they'll be withdrawn entirely, just leaving a bare-bones 30 minute frequency on T1. Knowing Blackpool Transport, my money would be on the latter!

I think the T2s and T3s, as such, will be withdrawn entirely, but I do think there will be extras between Starr Gate and Little Bispham, or points in between. Surely, even BT couldn't do otherwise?

 

[davehsug]

According to the website, 'trams will operate a split service', without elaborating on what a 'split service' constitutes, and the timetable doesn't seem to have been updated. Only with reference to later events is a 'split service' defined, and even then it is not expressly confirmed that the same service will prevail over the two days (10-11/8/24) of the air show.

Presumably that menas that the "redundant" crossover just North of Foxhall will see some use?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looking at visitors to Blackpool from Greater Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and the West Midlands, the novelty of a tram ride will not hold much sway these days.