Blackpool Trams News

[Towers]

Any changes in services for the illuminations?

Even more rammed than usual, presumably?!

 

[Tramfan]

Any changes in services for the illuminations?

Doesn't look like it, seems the current service is continuing for now

 

[gomango]

Doesn't look like it, seems the current service is continuing for now

Seems a bit weird not increasing the evening service

 

[davehsug]

Piece in the Gazette today saying that heritage trams will not run until at least the lightpool festival in October. More worryingly they were mentioning the possibility of static displays!
I also forgot to mention in my post about last week, that there are delays between Rossall Square and Fisherman's Walk due to track problems. There are frequent stretches of 10 mph/kph speed limits. I would presume this may be weather related.

 

[gomango]

Piece in the Gazette today saying that heritage trams will not run until at least the lightpool festival in October. More worryingly they were mentioning the possibility of static displays!
I also forgot to mention in my post about last week, that there are delays between Rossall Square and Fisherman's Walk due to track problems. There are frequent stretches of 10 mph/kph speed limits. I would presume this may be weather related.

Reckon there will loads of overcrowding for the next couple months, visiting Blackpool next weekend so will see how busy it gets especially with the fireworks on

That is worrying about the static displays being mentioned

 

[Towers]

Reckon there will loads of overcrowding for the next couple months, visiting Blackpool next weekend so will see how busy it gets especially with the fireworks on

That is worrying about the static displays being mentioned

It’s certainly a far, far cry from how competently the tramway used to cope with the holiday crowds once upon a time. A sad shadow of its former self, especially given the setting in which it operates.

 

[Kite159]

It’s certainly a far, far cry from how competently the tramway used to cope with the holiday crowds once upon a time. A sad shadow of its former self, especially given the setting in which it operates.

Indeed, trams something like every 5 minutes towards Little Bispham (using the loop) and a tram every 15 minutes carrying on to Fleetwood. That was back a few years ago (2016/2017 time) during the lights

 

[Cesarcollie]

Indeed, trams something like every 5 minutes towards Little Bispham (using the loop) and a tram every 15 minutes carrying on to Fleetwood. That was back a few years ago (2016/2017 time) during the lights

We are talking about an organisation that lost over £1.2m in the year ended March 2026 (latest account available on Companies House). And has a balance sheet value of about £160,000 (no, that’s not a typo!). Accordingly there is neither money nor I suspect staff resource to do anything more than just keep going and delivering a basic service. Trams - especially in a small town like Blackpool - are unlikely to make a profit. It is likely, though I have no evidence, that the buses are making a profit which is being entirely eaten up (and more) by the tramway.

 

[davehsug]

We are talking about an organisation that lost over £1.2m in the year ended March 2026 (latest account available on Companies House). And has a balance sheet value of about £160,000 (no, that’s not a typo!). Accordingly there is neither money nor I suspect staff resource to do anything more than just keep going and delivering a basic service. Trams - especially in a small town like Blackpool - are unlikely to make a profit. It is likely, though I have no evidence, that the buses are making a profit which is being entirely eaten up (and more) by the tramway.

The trams were a goldmine for Blackpool over many years. You have a captive audience along what is still one of the busiest stretches of seafront in the country. People come to Blackpool & want & expect to travel by tram. Now, many can't, and you can't even blame competition from buses. Everyone knows when the peaks are, just get the vehicles out there, and there's plenty of money to be made.

 

[Cesarcollie]

The trams were a goldmine for Blackpool over many years. You have a captive audience along what is still one of the busiest stretches of seafront in the country. People come to Blackpool & want & expect to travel by tram. Now, many can't, and you can't even blame competition from buses. Everyone knows when the peaks are, just get the vehicles out there, and there's plenty of money to be made.

Really? Im not sure the economics of modern tram operation in a town like Blackpool - outside the summer tourist peak - are quite that rosy! Especially with a crew of two on every tram.