Blackpool Trams - Ownership & Heritage Fleet

[BestWestern]

Evening all...

I'm hoping to find some reliable info on the status of the remaining tram fleet at Blackpool, in particular which trams will be remaining and the intended fate of some of thise which will not. We must have some tramfans with connections on here I'm sure?!

I'm particularly interested in which examples of the current fleet are going to make it into the resident heritage stable; I know that Boat 600 is due to stay, I presume also that Balloon 717 will be remaining, owing to the fine condition it has been restored to and the fitment of the end 'skirts'. However, do we know the score with the Brush cars? I'd have hoped that at least one will remain, but they appear to have been sidelined of late. Also the more modern stuff, 761 & 762 and the East Lancs cars, any plans for these? I noticed at Tram Sunday an appeal to save the Blackpool FC - liveried car, which it appears is is otherwise destined for scrap. Can anybody shed some light?

With regard to those which are still in Rigby Rd but no longer in use, are there plans for the now rather sad looking 'Eclipse' orange/yellow/black-liveried 704? I understood that all of the heritage cars found homes, but some are awaiting collection still. 704 though looks to have been partially stripped in recent photos. And finally, what of dear old Rigby Rd itself? My assumption was always that it would be given over to bus parking, as I would doubt that it has any resale value, but I hear a whisper that it may yet see continued use as the base for the heritage fleet?

Any filling in of these blanks is much appreciated! Regards, BW.

 

[WatcherZero]

Their keeping six preserved units, not including the modified Baloons I believe but someone else will have to fill you in on the exact units. It is fluctuating though with preservation societies changing their minds over which units their taking and sucess or falling through of various sales.

 

[northernrail]

From what i know,
Boat 600, Balloon 700, 706 "Princess Allice" Standard 147 are staying.
Im not sure if 632, 143 and 660 are staying but i think they are.
Half of Rigby Road is to be lifted and overhead removed (and given to us at Heaton Park).
The main Depot is to be Star Gate

Dont know 761s fate but Crich are possibly having 762 (They could reject it due to space issues)
same with a unconfirmed Centenery car for Crich
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With regard to those which are still in Rigby Rd but no longer in use, are there plans for the now rather sad looking 'Eclipse' orange/yellow/black-liveried 704?.

704 transfered ownership from the MTMS to the LTT at the begining of the year.

704 was a faviourte of a LTT member so we sawped for 708.
from what ive been told 704 is to remain in Blackpool until space is somewhere
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just Found an article on Tramways Monthly

Balloon 710, Brush Cars 621 and 627, Centenery Cars 641 and 646, Ex Towing Car 678, and Jubilee 762 are going to be in a museum in Fleetwood wich could open by July Next Year

 

[theblackwatch]

I've read recently that Crich have turned down 762 - can't remember if it was in the Fylde Tramway Society magazine, or in 'Trams' magazine (which is published by Train Crazy). I'd recommend both for keeping up to date with tram fleet developments.

 

[northernrail]

There still debating on 762

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Although not a huge fan of 762, I still feel the tram has a place in pres. I hope Crich buy the car.

 

[tbone]

I've read recently that Crich have turned down 762 - can't remember if it was in the Fylde Tramway Society magazine, or in 'Trams' magazine (which is published by Train Crazy). I'd recommend both for keeping up to date with tram fleet developments.

Tramways monthly is also good and free!

 

[BestWestern]

Thanks guys, some good info in there

I was suprised to see that 700 was put through the rebuild programme for continued operation, I'd have though it would have become a major element of the future heritage fleet, particularly as it had been restored to approaching original condition. It's a shame to lose it's heritage attributes, but I suppose on the other hand it's good that it's development and service life continue. I'm still intrigued about 717, which is the car carrying the very attractive green and cream with plenty of swirls and swoops, and is named William Thorpe. I gather it is intended to remain, as it has had the required full safety skirts fitted to the ends, along with the discreet LED tail/brake/indicator clusters in place of the original tail lamps. Internally it's immaculate, with the original wood panelling and reversable directional seating. So I'm guessing she will stay in some capacity, although of course the 'porches' aren't fitted for regular operation.

Do we have info on the proposed Fleetwood museum; is this to be run by the tramway or a seperate organisation? Should be worth a visit! And what are the intentions for the half of Rigby Rd which is to keep it's rails and wires?

 

[WatcherZero]

Freinds of Fleetwood Trams Society, but they need to raise £2m to make it happen.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Hi everyone,

Below is the current status of the entire Blackpool fleet, and what is expected to happen come the end of the season. All is subject to change and if people want I'm happy to post updates here as they occur? I also maintain an up-to-date fleet list and 'changes' list over on the Blackpool Aloud forum. For the sake of completeness I've also included trams that have left Blackpool since 2008.

Boat cars

• 600 - Overhauled in 2010 and to be retained by Blackpool Transport. Currently operational and fitted with transponders and low voltage system. May receive door modifications, though this is currently speculation.
• 602 - Presently out of service but expected to receive a 600-style overhaul and re-enter the operational fleet. This may also include door modifications.
• 604 - This car is being retained by Blackpool Transport but there are no current plans to return the tram to service.
• 605 - This tram has been purchased by the Lancastrian Transport Trust. The tram was expected to go on loan to the tramway at Birkenhead, though news has gone quiet on this.
• 607 - Reserved for the National Collection at Crich, the tram is the only Boat not in an operational condition, and will be receiving an overhaul funded by the Fylde Tramway Society and Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation before it leaves Blackpool. This is expected to take place over the Winter, and will mean that the car can enter the Crich operational tram fleet immediately.

Brush cars

• 621 - Reserved by the Friends of Fleetwood trams. Not operational, still at Rigby Road.
• 622 - Purchased by the LTT and moved to their Brinwell Road premises during 2010. Intended as a source of spares.
• 623 - Purchased by the Manchester Tramway Museum Society and formerly on display at the Museum of Museums in Manchester. Now in off-site storage, but expected to move to the Park and operate upon completion of their new depot.
• 625 - Reserved by unknown party. Not operational, still at Rigby Road.
• 626 - Purchased by Merseytravel, and moved to the tramway at Birkenhead in 2010. Has been approved for use by the Railway Inspectorate, and has also received a trolley pole, but it is yet to operate in passenger service and is, for now, tucked up in the depot at Rigby Road.
• 627 - Fleetwood's last tram has been appropriately reserved by the Friends of Fleetwood too, and is also still in store at Rigby Road.
• 630 - Reserved for the National Collection at Crich from the end of the year. Operational.
• 631 - Fully operational, to be retained by Blackpool Transport as a driver training vehicle.
• 632 - Owned by the LTT and currently operational on the tramway. The last unrefurbished Brush car in service. It will be running until the end of the year though it is not know if it will still be in service after this - all literature to this date has stated that it will only be running as a tram of interest for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
• 633 - See Illuminated fleet
• 634 - Purchased by enthusiast Andy Ashton and left Blackpool in November 2009. Has had external repaint and much work inside. Now at Rushden, but not operational.
• 636 - Experimental test car, now at SET in Derby, but full status unknown.
• 637 - Also purchased by the LTT as a source of spares, but still at Rigby Road.

Centenary cars

• 641 - Allegedly purchased by the FoFT, however officially with BTS the car is still unsold. If no buyer found then for scrap,
• 642 - Unsold.
• 643 - Unsold.
• 644 - Sold to Farmer Parr's, where the tram is expected to become a 'play tram', Farmer Parr's is the current advert contract on the vehicle, though it is possible that it is out of contract.
• 645 - Unsold.
• 646 - FoFT. Still in operation.
• 647 - Unsold.
• 648 - Reserved for the National Collection at Crich. Despite rumours it has not been rejected!

Twin cars

• 671+681 - Sold to unknown individual. Out of service.
• 672+682 - Reserved for National Collection at Crich. Fully operational until end of year.
• 673+683 - Sold to unknown individual. Out of service.
• 674+684 - Sold to unknown individual. Out of service.
• 675+685 - Sold to unknown group. Fully operational until end of year.
• 676+686 - Sold to LTT. Not operational. Stored at Rigby Road.
• 677 - Scrapped to provide parts for the restoration of the Western Train.
• 678 - Sold to LTT, in store at Rigby Road.

Ex-towing Railcoaches

• 678 - Sold to Friends of Fleetwood. Out of service.
• 679 - Moved to LTT premises at Rigby Road. Being converted back to EE Railcoach 279, though progress stalled.
• 680 - Sold to MTMS and expected to leave Blackpool and operate at Heaton Park soon.

Balloons

• 700 - One of 9 retained Balloon cars with door modifications. Currently last-resort due to white base coat. Expected to receive advert contract and no longer part of heritage fleet.
• 701 - To be retained by BTS as a possible tenth car for conversion.
• 702 - Sold to MTMS. As per 623.
• 703 - Sold to LTT and now at Beamish Museum as Sunderland 101. The tram is expected to enter service during September's Power from the Past event.
• 704 - Initially sold to MTMS but then swapped with LTT's 708. In store at Rigby Road.
• 706 - To be retained by BTS and will receive transponders and low voltage equipment over the Winter. May also get modified doors, but not yet confirmed.
• 707 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for Coral Island.
• 708 - Initially sold to LTT but then swapped with MTMS's 704. In store at Rigby Road.
• 709 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for SEALIFE Centre.
• 710 - Latest departure from Blackpool, sold to FoFT and in storage in Fleetwood.
• 711 - To receive door modifications and form part of retained fleet. Currently operational in Blackpool Zoo advert contract.
• 712 - Left Blackpool for National Collection in 2010. Reverted to original number of 249 and on display in 1930s livery in Exhibition Hall.
• 713 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for Hounds Hill Centre.
• 715 - LTT-owned. Currently operational in 1970s Green & Cream, though future unknown post-2011.
• 716 - Sold to Ptarmargin Transport Solutions. In outdoor storage in a car park in Perth.
• 717 - Fully operational, to be retained as part of heritage fleet though could receive door modifications.
• 718 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for Madame Tussauds.
• 719 - To receive door modifications and form part of retained fleet. Currently operational in Pleasure Beach/Hot Ice advert contract.
• 720 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for Wall's.
• 721 - Sold to unknown buyer, in store at Rigby Road.
• 722 - Scrapped late 2009.
• 723 - Operational in advert livery for Sands Venue, to be retained by BTS for possible door modifications, but expected to be withdrawn at end of 2011 season.
• 724 - Modified fleet post-2011. Operational and advert contract for the Lyndene Hotel.

Illuminated cars

• 732 - Rocket. Owned by LTT, in store at Rigby Road.
• 733+734 - Western Train Locomotive and Carriage. Fully operational, with wheelchair lift. To be retained.
• 736 - Frigate. Fully operational. To be retained.
• 737 - Trawler. Fully operational. To be retained.

Jubilee cars

• 761 - Reserved by Friends of Fleetwood Trams
• 762 - Reserved for National Collection at Crich. Although the tram was rejected on space grounds, the TMS are now reconsidering their position. Has reserve buyer lined up.

Trams of Interest

• Stockport 5 - Left Blackpool 25/08/11 for the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester.
• OMO 8 - Future unknown. Owned by LTT.
• Fleetwood Box 40 - Future unknown. Could be returned to Crich or may stay in Blackpool, but unlikely due to being a handbrake-only vehicle. Owned by TMS.
• Bolton 66 - Possibly to be retained and fitted with pantograph, though nothing known for certain at this point. Not operational. Owned by Bolton 66 Group.
• Standard 143 - Expected to join operational fleet for 2012, presently in storage at Rigby Road part completed. Owned by LTT.
• Standard 147 - Fully operational and to be retained. Owned by BTS.
• Coronation 304 - Future unknown - not operational. Owned by LTT.
• Sheffield 513 - Left Blackpool earlier this year for new home at East Anglian Transport Museum. Owned by Beamish Museum.
• Replica Vanguard 619 - Left Blackpool in 2010 for Heaton Park Tramway, now repainted as Heaton Park 7. Tram has possibly been donated to the MTMS, but is officially at the Park on a long-term loan. Owned by BTS.
• Coronation 660 - Not operational, but expected to receive low voltage equipment and transponders for 2012. To be retained. Owned by BTS.

Other

• Railgrinder 752 - Owned by MTMS and in use as a works car at Heaton Park.
• Railcoach 259 - Owned by LTT. At Rigby Road, restoration stalled.
• Engineering Car 754 - To be retained. Owned by BTS.

Flexities

• 001 - Arrived in Blackpool at 3.10AM on Monday, 29th August 2011. First test run took place a few days after c.0500 and launched on September 8th with two demonstration, passenger carrying runs to Pleasure Beach and back.

Hopefully this is of help, and as I say I'm happy to post updates as they occur! Don't think I've missed anything out...

The *proposed* Museum in Fleetwood would be run by the Friends of Fleetwood Trams Group - more info is on the Tramways Monthly website - just search for Fleetwood Museum.

And thanks to whoever plugged Tramways Monthly! Nice to know word is being spread - we are 100% free and will remain that way, and bring you the most up-to-date tramway news anywhere on the Internet, 100% factual. There is one Blackpool-focussed magazine that has a bad reputation for getting facts wrong though it would not be professional for me to name it here.

Hope this is all of help.

Jack

 

[BestWestern]

Hi everyone,

Below is the current status of the entire Blackpool fleet, and what is expected to happen come the end of the season. All is subject to change and if people want I'm happy to post updates here as they occur? I also maintain an up-to-date fleet list and 'changes' list over on the Blackpool Aloud forum. For the sake of completeness I've also included trams that have left Blackpool since 2008.

.....

That is superb, many thanks for that

 

[bluegoblin7]

Not a problem at all! Hope it is of use. Would people prefer it if I posted updates as a new reply or instead incorporate them directly into the list via the edit function? Or are you happy using Blackpool Aloud... whatever is fine for me...

Jack

 

[BestWestern]

Umm, well any fresh info posted as a reply would be very helpful, if you don't mind the manhours lol!?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Not a problem at all! Just literally be a case of updating as it happens, which can be copied from updates I maintain elsewhere. No real man hours involved!

 

[MJBryan1979]

Just to update this thread further the Stockport 5 Tramcar trust have issued a statement from one of their trustees today on the Unofficial Heaton Park Tramway facebook page which reads

"so the worst kept secret of the summer is officially out...
The Stockport 5 Tramcar Trust are pleased to announce that Stockport 5 will move from its current home in Blackpool to the Heaton Park Tramway later this month for an initial 3 year loan to the MTMS to operate on the tramway.
In connection with this move and to celebrate 110 years since the start of Stockport's Tramways and 60 years since their closure, the MTMS will host a commemoration on Sunday 28th of August, subject to all necessary commissioning work on the tram following its move being completed. Further details to follow."

So another of the vintage fleet leaves Blackpool but to come "home" as Heaton park is the nearest to its original system it could possibly run.

Martin

 

[bluegoblin7]

You beat me to it Martin!

More information is available at http://www.tramways-monthly.com/latest-news/540-stockport-5-to-transfer-to-heaton-park, whilst I've also updated the complete list above with the details - thought that it might be worthwhile to update the complete one for other's benefit and add updates as new posts as well.

A further update will come when the tram leaves.

Jack

 

[MJBryan1979]

Heaton Park Tramway will also release more information on the Launch event that will commemorate the opening and closing of the Stockport system along with the trams 110th birthday as more details can be firmed up.

Martin

 

[BestWestern]

[Post removed!]

 

[bluegoblin7]

Stockport 5 left Blackpool on Thursday, 25th August. Apologies for the delay, I am without Internet access and so am having to rely on my mobile phone instead for the time being! The tram arrived at Heaton Park the same day, being unloaded on Friday with Blackpool 752 then moving into store at Bury on the same loader.

Sunday's event was a fantastic success with 5 performing well, although a minor fault de developed in the evening. Although I sadly couldn't make it myself, feedback has been universally positive! A full write-up is on the Tramways Monthly site now.

Finally, the first of the brand new Flexity trams also arrived in Blackpool yesterday morning, at around 3.10AM. The launch takes place next Thursday.

Jack

 

[BestWestern]

Finally, the first of the brand new Flexity trams also arrived in Blackpool yesterday morning, at around 3.10AM. The launch takes place next Thursday.

Jack

Booo!! :cry:

Another seafront tram BBQ, anyone?!

 

[bluegoblin7]

The new Flexity 2 tram made its first test run between 5.30 and 6.30AM this morning. Sadly no photographs are yet to emerge and nor has the confirmation of the numbering sequence. The tram ran a number of trips between Starr Gate depot and just south of the Pleasure Beach, on one line only, meaning that it was working 'wrong-line' for parts of the test, though this is not an issue due to that section of tramway being solely reserved for the test running of the new Supertrams. It is likely that test running will now be stepped up ahead of the launch next week, particularly with another tram being expected to arrive before then. Daylight tests will likely start after the public launch. Once I get pictures, I'll let you know!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Balloon 724 has now returned to service, and the list has been updated accordingly.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

No one I know want our Iconic Blackpool trams replaced by these 'Euro-trams'
Is there anything we can do to save Blackpool's heritage in Blackpool. If the maintenance facilities at Rigby Road tram depot are closed, the traditional Blackpool tram will be a rare sight on the seafront tramway.
....It's a bit like a heritage steam railway being converted to diesel!!

 

[northernrail]

Just Think, in 90 Years or so the Flexitys will be Heritage and exactly the same will be happening.....

 

[bluegoblin7]

No one I know want our Iconic Blackpool trams replaced by these 'Euro-trams'
Is there anything we can do to save Blackpool's heritage in Blackpool. If the maintenance facilities at Rigby Road tram depot are closed, the traditional Blackpool tram will be a rare sight on the seafront tramway.
....It's a bit like a heritage steam railway being converted to diesel!!

Not sure who you're speaking to then! It's only the rivet counting enthusiasts that don't want them - tourists want them, residents want them, commuters want them. True to the town's motto it's "PROGRESS", and is nothing different to what has happened in the past in Blackpool's history - how did people feel when Walter Luff first introduced the Balloons and Railcoaches, replacing all the Standard cars? Much the same way, I'd imagine. Indeed, the visionary Mr. Luff would probably be turning in his grave if he knew his Streamliners will still running, especially as he tried to get rid of many of them with the ill-fated Coronation class.

Something else to remember is that had the tramway not had so many years of under-investment we would likely have had new trams a while back and the same thing would have happened. If it wasn't happening now, then the tramway would end up closing for good in the near future.

There's now nothing that can be done about the upgrade, and indeed it might have been the case that nothing could ever have been done. The first tram has arrived, the new depot is built and the future is here, in short.

There will still be heritage trams running along the Prom and this seems to be something that people are forgetting. As mentioned in my fleet list, there will still be numerous different types of trams available, just reduced in number and modernised to meet the needs of the tramway today.

For the forseeable future Rigby Road will be remaining open (And no-one has ever said differently, so I don't know where you got that from!) and will be servicing the majority of the retained fleet. Some will be moving to Starr Gate, it is expected, though that depot cannot accommodate them all so Rigby Road is still required. The maintenance facilities to look after the older vehicles will either be provided or moved to Starr Gate if a total fleet move comes - that has also been confirmed.

Just Think, in 90 Years or so the Flexitys will be Heritage and exactly the same will be happening.....

Hit the nail on the head there Adam! Give it a couple of years and everyone will love the Flexitys and think it's the best thing to happen since sliced bread.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Not sure who you're speaking to then! It's only the rivet counting enthusiasts that don't want them - tourists want them, residents want them, commuters want them. True to the town's motto it's "PROGRESS", and is nothing different to what has happened in the past in Blackpool's history - how did people feel when Walter Luff first introduced the Balloons and Railcoaches, replacing all the Standard cars? Much the same way, I'd imagine. Indeed, the visionary Mr. Luff would probably be turning in his grave if he knew his Streamliners will still running, especially as he tried to get rid of many of them with the ill-fated Coronation class.

Something else to remember is that had the tramway not had so many years of under-investment we would likely have had new trams a while back and the same thing would have happened. If it wasn't happening now, then the tramway would end up closing for good in the near future.

There's now nothing that can be done about the upgrade, and indeed it might have been the case that nothing could ever have been done. The first tram has arrived, the new depot is built and the future is here, in short.

There will still be heritage trams running along the Prom and this seems to be something that people are forgetting. As mentioned in my fleet list, there will still be numerous different types of trams available, just reduced in number and modernised to meet the needs of the tramway today.

For the forseeable future Rigby Road will be remaining open (And no-one has ever said differently, so I don't know where you got that from!) and will be servicing the majority of the retained fleet. Some will be moving to Starr Gate, it is expected, though that depot cannot accommodate them all so Rigby Road is still required. The maintenance facilities to look after the older vehicles will either be provided or moved to Starr Gate if a total fleet move comes - that has also been confirmed.



Hit the nail on the head there Adam! Give it a couple of years and everyone will love the Flexitys and think it's the best thing to happen since sliced bread.

Do you honestly think the Flexitiys will last 90 yrs!!! The old trams have no complicated computers etc! No trials with the salt and the sand have been carried out in Blackpool yet!

There are no commuters using the tramway, the timetables in recent years show no early (b4 9am) trams from Fleetwood to Blackpool.
The tramway is only open to little Bispham at the moment , so to get to Cleveleys or Fleetwood it is by bus.
No extra buses are running as a result.
On the busiest evening of the year 2011 the tramway was closed because of the volume of people on the Prom.
The Euro-trams are not omo, and running costs in Winter (with a sparse population along the Prom section) will be much higher.

Will they keep 2 depots open?
Blackpool Council on their development plans in the Rigby Road area refer to it as 'Old Tram Depot'
No one will confirm that it will stay open.
I would like to see it turned into a working Tram Museum, and other tram restoration groups & museums encouraged to display/store trams there and run excursions etc. There are no current plans for a Museum on either depot site.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Just Think, in 90 Years or so the Flexitys will be Heritage and exactly the same will be happening.....

I'll be main on them by then! If not dead and buried by then of course!

 

[BestWestern]

Just Think, in 90 Years or so the Flexitys will be Heritage and exactly the same will be happening.....

Oh I doubt it somehow, lol!

 

[bluegoblin7]

Made a few updates to my list by the way guys, including the addition of Flex 001, return of 724 and more.

 

[BestWestern]

Do you honestly think the Flexitiys will last 90 yrs!!! The old trams have no complicated computers etc! No trials with the salt and the sand have been carried out in Blackpool yet!

There are no commuters using the tramway, the timetables in recent years show no early (b4 9am) trams from Fleetwood to Blackpool.
The tramway is only open to little Bispham at the moment , so to get to Cleveleys or Fleetwood it is by bus.
No extra buses are running as a result.
On the busiest evening of the year 2011 the tramway was closed because of the volume of people on the Prom.
The Euro-trams are not omo, and running costs in Winter (with a sparse population along the Prom section) will be much higher.

Will they keep 2 depots open?
Blackpool Council on their development plans in the Rigby Road area refer to it as 'Old Tram Depot'
No one will confirm that it will stay open.
I would like to see it turned into a working Tram Museum, and other tram restoration groups & museums encouraged to display/store trams there and run excursions etc. There are no current plans for a Museum on either depot site.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. I don't consider myself to be one of the afore-mentioned 'rivet counters' but i would settle for 'enthusiast'! However, sentiment aside, I certainly have many doubts about this. Aside from my sadness at the loss of one of the town's most characterful assets, I also feel very strongly that in a time of national, indeed worldwide, financial hardship, lavishing the taxpayer's millions on what is blatantly a vanity project is not top of the list of wonderful ideas :roll: You make a very good point about the corrosive salty air and sand-laden winds on Blackpool's Prom, let's hope these new things aren't the inevitable generic 'sunny European city' fodder; I rather think they are.

The facts here really do speak for themselves. Blackpool's tramway is a tourist-driven business, indeed it is (was) a tourist attraction as much as a public transport service. Like it or not, that is the obvious reality. Commuter use is spartan because it doesn't serve the areas that commuters need to go to, and locals don't use it a great deal because it's too pricey. Blackpool has a perfectly decent bus network which is capable of providing the required local transport links far more diversely and a great deal more cost effectively than the tramway. The prospect of extensions are almost undoubtedly nil in our current long-term economic climate, and following the total debacle and spiraling costs of laying new lines in Edinburgh.

The apparent gaping holes in the projections for use of the upgraded system are alarming. There is a clear need for the network to attract substantial new usage in order to make it anything other than a financial disaster. It desperately needs to attract sustained local usage - beyond the inevitable 'novelty factor' ridership which BT will doubtless shout about in the first few months - to prop itself up, yet the locals can't afford the tourism prices and the service is hopeless out of season. To attract the locals would mean dropping prices and running more trams during the non-tourist months, as well as a better early morning service, which would cost a fortune and then merrily cancel out the revenue gains from the increased ridership. I'd suggest it's a reasonable assumption that a big chunk of any increased traffic will come off the buses, since very few people will be giving up their cars for a tram ticket, and of course Blackpool's buses are run by the very same BT, so what you will likely end up with is nothing more than number juggling. Add to this the arrangements to now accept concessionary pass holders (OAP's) from anywhere in the country for free travel on the tramway, which has further reduced revenue, and you can begin to see what an uphill struggle lies ahead.

The reality is that the tramway was a seasonal operation, not an integral part of Blackpool's mainstream public transport network. If the only way forward was to switch the power off and lock Rigby Road up out of season then, sad as it would be, that would have been the way forward. Spending an obscene amount of public cash on what is at very best a long shot, is just plain old poor economics. I hope, honestly and genuinely, that it works. But just because it was paid for out of the public purse and the project was protected from the realities of what we can and can't afford any more in the real world, thanks to it having been signed and sealed before the ****storms hit, doesn't mean that it will be safeguarded forever. A commercial success will be expected sooner or later, and I wouldn't want to be the guy who's job hangs on it!

 

[northernrail]

Nice to see 660 was out today
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Railgrinder 752 - Owned by MTMS and in use as a works car at Heaton Park.

752's now in store:cry: