Poulton-Le-Fylde

[edwin_m]

I can just imagine the disruption to local residents and the local road traffic that aspiration to extend the tramway from Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde would bring. Pay a visit to Manchester, where a swathe of disruption cut through the heart of the inner city core for what seems like eons in order that the 2CC Manchester Metrolink line could be installed.

Looks to me quite easy. New tram junction and a few hundred metres of off-street tramway alongside Copse Road, through the junction with the A585 (which would be signalled) and clip the corner off a fixed caravan park to pick up the trackbed just south of where the A585 crosses it. Then follow the trackbed to Poulton, and optionally continue as tram-train to Preston. There would be no street running and no property demolition except relocation of some of the fixed caravans.

 

[D6975]

Looks to me quite easy. New tram junction and a few hundred metres of off-street tramway alongside Copse Road, through the junction with the A585 (which would be signalled) and clip the corner off a fixed caravan park to pick up the trackbed just south of where the A585 crosses it. Then follow the trackbed to Poulton, and optionally continue as tram-train to Preston. There would be no street running and no property demolition except relocation of some of the fixed caravans.

You possibly wouldn't even need a controlled junction with the A585, I'm pretty sure the new trams will be capable of negotiating steep inclines even though the existing tramway doesn't have any of significance. A flyover at the southern end of freeport would mean minimal interaction with road traffic. Wouldn't expect a Balloon to do it though

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You possibly wouldn't even need a controlled junction with the A585, I'm pretty sure the new trams will be capable of negotiating steep inclines even though the existing tramway doesn't have any of significance. A flyover at the southern end of freeport would mean minimal interaction with road traffic. Wouldn't expect a Balloon to do it though

Has this particular scenario ever been put forward for consideration to those in power for their considered views?

You seem to regard any disruption to the traffic flows on the A585 as insignificant.

 

[edwin_m]

You possibly wouldn't even need a controlled junction with the A585, I'm pretty sure the new trams will be capable of negotiating steep inclines even though the existing tramway doesn't have any of significance. A flyover at the southern end of freeport would mean minimal interaction with road traffic. Wouldn't expect a Balloon to do it though

A flyover would add several million to the cost compared with a simple signalised junction, as well as being more obtrusive. The traffic on the A585 doesn't justify grade separation, otherwise the road junction that is there now would be grade separated.

 

[Elecman]

The incline at Gynn Square is pretty impressive

 

[randyrippley]

I was thinking more in terms of running the trams down Dock St (plenty of room) and then alongside Amounderness Way to the railway, but instead crossing Amounderness Way and a new junction on or near Radcliffe road would be cheaper.

 

[Lankyline]

From one end of Blackpool (Starr Gate) to Fleetwood ferry stop is timed for 58mins, so since there is still a reliable tram service into the heart of Fleetwood, why bother resurrecting a rail link that cannot serve the same purpose, sorry but this is one of the more pointless reopenings, almost up there with SELRAP

 

[PR1Berske]

Not sure if I can agree that SELRAP is pointless. Fleetwood has the tinge of the Crayola about it.

 

[CAF397]

Since Corby had its rail service restored, is there not a sound bite that Fleetwood is the largest English town without a rail service?

 

[randyrippley]

From one end of Blackpool (Starr Gate) to Fleetwood ferry stop is timed for 58mins, so since there is still a reliable tram service into the heart of Fleetwood, why bother resurrecting a rail link that cannot serve the same purpose, sorry but this is one of the more pointless reopenings, almost up there with SELRAP

the benefit wouldn't be in linking Fleetwood to the rail service, but in linking Poulton, Thornton and Cleveleys into the Blackpool/Fleetwood tram system.

 

[edwin_m]

Since Corby had its rail service restored, is there not a sound bite that Fleetwood is the largest English town without a rail service?

If you want to count stations with trams but no trains then you'd have to consider, for example, Oldham which has about 10 times the population of Fleetwood.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was any part of the former rail route from Fleetwood to Thornton Cleveleys ever in risk of flood ingress onto the permanent way in days of yore?

 

[Codville]

Was any part of the former rail route from Fleetwood to Thornton Cleveleys ever in risk of flood ingress onto the permanent way in days of yore?

The only place I can think of where that might have occurred would be the section just after the ICI plant towards Fleetwood that skirts around what was a fairly large marsh but is now the local tip, in years past that apparently flooded according to my dad anyway.

 

[Lankyline]

the benefit wouldn't be in linking Fleetwood to the rail service, but in linking Poulton, Thornton and Cleveleys into the Blackpool/Fleetwood tram system.

Not trying to be picky, but Cleveleys is already connected by tram, can't see the point of extending tram lines to Poulton with its existing rail and bus connections

 

[Whistler40145]

I can't see such an extension of the Blackpool tram system, not even sure what route it would take and where would funding come from.