Blackpool Tramway reopening!!!

[umontu]

From Tomorrow the tramway (Albeit part of it) will be reopening, was on the front today and saw two trams leave the depot for North Pier, most likely testing the track.

(Source - http://www.blackpooltransport.com/)

Any one know what the new tram stops are going to look like when done by the way? They all appear to be unfinished.

 

[WestCoast]

Any one know what the new tram stops are going to look like when done by the way? They all appear to be unfinished.

I'd imagine they would look something like the stops on the Nottingham Express Transit or Sheffield Supertram on segrated sections.

It feels like the tramway has been shut forever. I'll try and take a few trips on this summer before it transforms into a near-modern system!

 

[umontu]

I'd imagine they would look something like the stops on the Nottingham Express Transit or Sheffield Supertram on segrated sections.

It feels like the tramway has been shut forever. I'll try and take a few trips on this summer before it transforms into a near-modern system!

The Nottingham stations are quite similar, weirdly some stops such as Waterloo road have the original tram stop sign up and then new 'Station' slightly along the line.
Most are poorly closed off as work sites too so getting a feel for them won't be difficult.
Some interesting earthworks though, wonder if ticket machines may be installed, highly doubt they'd survive the sea air though.

 

[WestCoast]

Some interesting earthworks though, wonder if ticket machines may be installed, highly doubt they'd survive the sea air though.

No ticket machines, it's going to be conductors (or ticket sellers) only. Although that's not due to the machines and the sea as I have heard said before, as the parking meters along the promenade work fine!

 

[umontu]

No ticket machines, it's going to be conductors (or ticket sellers) only. Although that's not due to the machines and the sea as I have heard said before, as the parking meters along the promenade work fine!

I imagined the conductors might not like loosing their jobs.
Still wonder what's going in the ground there.

Based on what I saw most seem to have a shelter on the sea side and a strange hole in the ground with cables coming out of them.
Whereas on the road side there are stop names and something I'm assuming will hold a route map or a map of the prom.

 

[Heinz57]

the parking meters along the promenade work fine!

Unfortinatly

When it re-opens, is it still going to be the same 'classic' blackpool trams? The double deckers coverd in fancy colours and adverts.

How come it was closed? Was they re-laying the track system or something?

 

[umontu]

Unfortinatly

When it re-opens, is it still going to be the same 'classic' blackpool trams? The double deckers coverd in fancy colours and adverts.

How come it was closed? Was they re-laying the track system or something?

Signs at some of the stops detail track relaying (I can't see much evidence of this round Pleasure Beach) . The 'station' look at some stops I believe was due to a person being run over, but I can't prove that.

The Classic trams were on the line on Thursday, Fisherman's friends single deckers too.

I've not heard much of the new trams, which look very modern. http://blackpooltramnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/flexity-2-artists-impression.jpg

 

[Ivo]

http://www.bombardier.com/files/en/supporting_docs/BI-Vienna_Site_Presentation_20100722.pdf

Page 25

If you look at the main Bombardier site, notice how they think Blackpool is a city... :roll:

 

[WatcherZero]

Different countries interpret cities differently, in the US a farm and a couple of garden sheds is considered a bustling metropolis.

 

[gingerheid]

I love the Linz trams on page 23 of that link - they're what Blackpool wants!

Shame http://www.trampower.co.uk/ had that fire - I've have loved to have seen the work go to a British manufacturer, and indeed a *new* British manufacturer.

 

[Ivo]

Apparently Blackpool's influence stretches far - very far. All the way to Toronto! The trams being built for them are based on the Blackpool lot :roll:

Just how much is this project going to cost in total? How much have the DfT given them? And all this for something like 3M users a year?

 

[WatcherZero]

The track was old and needed a complete renewal, the rolling stock is also high maintenence because of its age and lack of standardisation and they arent DDA compliant. Doing a complete relaying and bringing in new stock was considered a better option for its long term economic viability.

As to cost:
£68.3m from the Department for Transport;
£17.7m from Blackpool Council;
£15.2m from Lancashire County Council and
£0.4m from INTERREG North West Europe Programme

 

[Class20]

If you look at the main Bombardier ... Gate to house the new tram fleet. David.c

 

[WatcherZero]

The balloons will be supplementing the the Flexity 2's in normal service (so have had to have the DDA modifications since their not heritage vehicles but regular use vehicles). Will be like having Pacers running in service with Turbostars though!

They will also have a small fleet of specials and visiting trams for the Illuminations and other special events which because they arent in regular service are exempt from the requirement for disability modifications (Cant remember the exact definition but the running limit was something between 30 days and 90 days a year).

 

[umontu]

Just been from North Pier to Fleetwood in my car.
The stops don't appear to have anything other than a shelter, however as you go further north the designs keep changing.

There appears so far to be three different(ish) designs.

Red Brick and tarmac
Sandstone
and then a mixture of green and black coloured shelter amongst there.

The green isn't like the old designs either.

To be fair it's starting to look a little bland.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just been from North Pier to Fleetwood in my car.
The stops don't appear to have anything other than a shelter, however as you go further north the designs keep changing.

There appears so far to be three different(ish) designs.

Red Brick and tarmac
Sandstone
and then a mixture of green and black coloured shelter amongst there.

The green isn't like the old designs either.

To be fair it's starting to look a little bland.

Does anyone know why there should be these three different designs? Surely,being a new re-vamp, they must have considered the total corporate design specification when the planning for the infrastructure was discussed. Unless it is to be North : Central : South demarkations on the route.

 

[umontu]

Does anyone know why there should be these three different designs? Surely,being a new re-vamp, they must have considered the total corporate design specification when the planning for the infrastructure was discussed. Unless it is to be North : Central : South demarkations on the route.

Other than the fact that the tram line crosses into Lancashire and goes through several towns I can't honestly think of a reason.

One stop in Fleetwood looks like the majority of the southern stops so what they're up to seems a mystery, unless there is a reason for it like the bricks will be covered up etc.

 

[WestCoast]

Other than the fact that the tram line crosses into Lancashire and goes through several towns I can't honestly think of a reason

:eek:Blackpool is in Lancashire, although I believe the council is a unitary authority (they perform all local government fuctions but they are still part of the county) which means that Lancs CC have put up ridiculous "Welcome to Lancashire" signs on the border! :roll:

However, the line crosses from the Blackpool Council area into the Wyre Council/LCC area - so that could be the reason, as the general street furniture designs (e.g. bus shelters) change too.

 

[umontu]

:eek:Blackpool is in Lancashire.

You know what I mean.
I remember my school had to change names when all that happened, it wasn't even in Blackpool!

Interesting news from an insider, though it may be common knowledge it certain wasn't to me, the Flexity trams are due to arrive in November and will enter service next year.

 

[WatcherZero]

Conservation areas? They often have required styles of buildings. I always found it amusing the bus stops near my grandparents in Wales, glass bus shelters in the towns but out in the country even if brand new they would be stone shelters.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Has anybody any idea what the two facing points at North Pier are on the landward line, looks as though they would form a triangle in the future?

 

[umontu]

Has anybody any idea what the two facing points at North Pier are on the landward line, looks as though they would form a triangle in the future?

Didn't see that last week, though it was a construction site then and I was getting some evils for seeing what they were doing.

Conservation areas? They often have required styles of buildings. I always found it amusing the bus stops near my grandparents in Wales, glass bus shelters in the towns but out in the country even if brand new they would be stone shelters.

I'm honestly not sure, it didn't really seem to fit in.

I have to admit I'd like each stop to have some character, don't know about you guys.

 

[Class20]

Has anybody any idea what the two facing points at North Pier are on the landward line, looks as though they would form a triangle in the future?

I believe it to be a possible future proof layout should the proposed plan to send trams up to Blackpool North Station ever happens. If the plan ever goes ahead then there would a triangle at North Pier to allow trams to head North or South along the prom from that point.

David.c

 

[Andrew Nelson]

I believe it to be a possible future proof layout should the proposed plan to send trams up to Blackpool North Station ever happens. If the plan ever goes ahead then there would a triangle at North Pier to allow trams to head North or South along the prom from that point.

David.c

Cool.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I believe it to be a possible future proof layout should the proposed plan to send trams up to Blackpool North Station ever happens. If the plan ever goes ahead then there would a triangle at North Pier to allow trams to head North or South along the prom from that point.

David.c

An interchange for Blackpool North with trams and buses would give Blackpool an asset well worth the money. The demise of Talbot Road bus station should have given impetus for any sort of interchange. The eventual plans for the train, bus and tram interchange at Manchester Airport shows that transport co-ordination is the way forward.

There has been a rather dramatic local election result for the council in this week's local elections....could this lead to any new transport thinking?

 

[Andrew Nelson]

An interchange for Blackpool North with trams and buses would give Blackpool an asset well worth the money. The demise of Talbot Road bus station should have given impetus for any sort of interchange. The eventual plans for the train, bus and tram interchange at Manchester Airport shows that transport co-ordination is the way forward.

There has been a rather dramatic local election result for the council in this week's local elections....could this lead to any new transport thinking?

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/hopes_stay_high_for_tram_link_to_station_1_3141694
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Now going as far as Cabin. As of Friday 6th May I believe.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is the current time schedule for trams running to the Fleetwood terminus?

 

[ChrisCooper]

What is the current time schedule for trams running to the Fleetwood terminus?

Trams will not be running all the way to Fleetwood until Easter 2012 when the system re-opens with the "Supertrams". I'm sure before the peak season this year they will reopen to Fisherman's Walk though, the end of the reserved track at Fleetwood. Damned well hope so as I intend to be on the last proper tram up there at the end of the season (did one of the last last year before getting the last off Pleasure Beach back to the hotel).

 

[bluegoblin7]

Trams will not be running all the way to Fleetwood until Easter 2012 when the system re-opens with the "Supertrams". I'm sure before the peak season this year they will reopen to Fisherman's Walk though, the end of the reserved track at Fleetwood. Damned well hope so as I intend to be on the last proper tram up there at the end of the season (did one of the last last year before getting the last off Pleasure Beach back to the hotel).

Correct - for the year the tramway will eventually be running Pleasure Beach-Fisherman's Walk (Ash Street), with the system's extremities of Starr Gate and Fleetwood Ferry remaining closed until Easter 2012.

The tramway is currently operating Pleasure Beach to Cabin only, and is hoped to be open to Little Bispham for the next Bank Holiday and throughout by the middle of July.

It is not currently known if there is going to be a winter service, but it does seem a possibility, albeit somewhat truncated.

As for the "last proper tram" it will this year be a service car - more than likely a Balloon - ex-Ash Street in the small hours of Monday 7th November. In addition, a number of organisations are running tram tours across the Saturday and Sunday with a number of trams that are not expected to see any further use on the tramway ever again, such as the Twin cars and Brush cars.

Hope this helps.

Jack