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Preston Trampower

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Lankyline

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Anyone have any updated info or know if this will ever get off the ground ?
The website is out of date and the last i heard a LCC councillor was dragging his feet over it
 
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anthony263

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I dont think anybody ever expected this to get off the ground. Perhaps it does sound good in theory however I remember them having issue's with the 1 tram they built when they trialed it in Blackpool.

Swansea council looked at using tram-powers ultra light rail technology as laying the tracks would not cause so much disruption as utilities would not need to be moved however the money to go ahead with such a scheme has never come through. It would have been very nice if it did happen especially since Swansea council are looking to withdraw the FTR service in Swansea
 

edwin_m

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I remember them having issue's with the 1 tram they built when they trialed it in Blackpool.

For those that don't know, the issues include this one

The driver investigated the problem and he observed smoke and flames to the rear of the driving position, emanating through a ventilation grille from under the first rearward facing passenger seat.
 

WatcherZero

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Last I heard Trampower were having issues with finance and Network Rail was gonna charge them a bomb in leasing for the freight lines/rail land.
 

Clip

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They would probably put the town centre station in the wrong place for someone anyway so whats the point?
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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The article on the Lancashire Evening Post website that referred to the scheme was written prior to the May 2013 elections. Has anything been formally said since that date.

County Councillor Ashton made a comment that Preston Trampower should concentrate on developing a one mile demonstrator line on a one mile stretch near to the West View Leisure Centre in Ribbleton, stating that the go-ahead for this had been given as far back as 2010.
 

Lankyline

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They would probably put the town centre station in the wrong place for someone anyway so whats the point?

Yeah Blackpool :D
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Seriously, does anyone who knows Preston think that bringing trams back has a future ?

Whilst the test area on the old longridge line was a viable option and could certainly offer access to the eastern side of Preston, eg Ribbleton and could also benefit from University usage, PNEFC matchday traffic, i doubt the feasability of running out to other areas such as Penwortham, Ingol etc without significant cooperation from Network Rail for access via Preston Station, which certainly the Ribbleton link would need.
 

snail

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I think the current plans for Fishergate sum up the Council's position. Shared use with not a tram in sight.

There is potential for light rail as Lankyline says, a regular service out to the docks would be good to take office and shop workers out and bring those that live there into the city centre. But having read Trampower's ambitious plans in the past I don't think they are the people to do it. It was supposed to be open for the Preston Guild. Only 19 years to go... ;)
 

MK Tom

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As I understand it the Council have been waiting on Trampower to do a demonstration line for years. It hasn't happened so the Council like the rest of us have concluded it's not got any real weight behind it. Shame because I'd have liked to see this become a model for cheaper tram systems and make them popular again after the Edinburgh fiasco. I guess that's up to another city now...
 

90019

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My favorite part of it has always been the artists impressions, which look like they've been done in MS Paint by a child. :lol:


The one they use as their background in particular (this one, with the 6ft high tram that's come to a very sudden stop), is my favorite, because it's so awful.
 

Eagle

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The one they use as their background in particular (this one, with the 6ft high tram that's come to a very sudden stop), is my favorite, because it's so awful.

I like how it appears to be at a different angle to the whole rest of the street. It's almost as if it's on a different astral plane, which is ironic because that's where most of this group's ideas seem to be harvested from.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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I like how it appears to be at a different angle to the whole rest of the street. It's almost as if it's on a different astral plane, which is ironic because that's where most of this group's ideas seem to be harvested from.

The wing mirror of the car in the lay-by has only just survived by a stroke of luck as there appears to be almost very little clearance for the tram to pass it safely.
 

jopsuk

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Well that sound's pretty conclusive. Also I note the use of "I", not "we", which may explain a lot.
 

VTPreston_Tez

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Can we not wait until the Fishergate area is redeveloped first? Only then will trams be able to run so I reckon we need to cross that bridge when we get to it.
I reckon it will happen, just will only truly come to light in a few years when it's fully possible.
 

MK Tom

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Well that sound's pretty conclusive. Also I note the use of "I", not "we", which may explain a lot.

I'm getting reminded of that one guy who pretended he was a group that was going to reopen the entire Somerset and Dorset line.
 

Lankyline

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Seems that Preston trampower still lives ! copied from the Preston Station website

http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/

"The Guild Line Tramway – November 2013 – Progress Summary
Planning Approval
Planning approval for the Coal Yard site, on which we are to erect the tram depot, is close to being granted, after further and more detailed information has been supplied to Preston City Council. Applications for route sections from Coal Yard to Preston Railway Station and from West View Leisure Centre to the M6 Motorway at Redscar are still being assessed by the City Planners.
Recent meetings with the new leadership of Lancashire County Council have taken place and significant interest is being expressed by Cabinet members in support of the Guild Line.

Demonstration Line Construction
A small but significant start was made on the construction of the Demonstration Line section of the Guild Line in late October 2013.This was a “Spade in the Ground” exercise to secure the Planning Approval for providing a Demonstration service on a 1200m section of existing rail track in Deepdale. Preston Trampower is planning for the erection of poles for the overhead power lines on another section of existing rail track adjacent to the Coal Yard site.
Negotiations are taking place with a local contractor with a view to an early appointment as the Construction Partner for the project. Other arrangements are being made with North West based companies to provide design and quantity surveying services.

Demonstration Tram Service
Subject to receiving Planning Approval and whilst the depot is being erected and the Demonstration Line route is being prepared, the City Class “Proof of Concept” tram will be taken from storage and operated on the Birkenhead (Heritage) Tramway, where Wirral Borough Council have invited Trampower Ltd. to return for 3-4 months of Demonstration running. We anticipate reaching agreement with Wirral B.C. and running in Birkenhead in November 2013, with a transfer of the vehicle to Preston early in 2014.A preliminary agreement has already been made with a company currently operating a Network Rail service in the West Midlands, to be the Operating Partner for the Guild Line.

Redscar
Lancashire County Council have advised that the Park & Ride site at Bluebell Way has not yet been sold but refused to comment on its availability for use as part of the Guild Line tram service provision. Due to the uncertainty about the future of the unused Park and Ride facility, we have made further investigations with regard to two alternative sites immediately adjacent to the route of old Longridge Railway.
Also preliminary investigations have been made as to the modifications that would be required to the M6 Footbridge, in order for the Guild Line to continue on a straight route across the M6 Motorway on a single track laid at existing deck level. The footpath /cycleway to be maintained on either cantilever brackets on each side of the bridge or by ramping up to a second deck supported above the tramway.

Samlesbury Enterprise Zone
With the recent announcements of progress regarding additional funding for infrastructure projects to support the development of the Enterprise Zone and the first businesses soon to be announced for location at Samlesbury, we continue with the exploration of a tramway extension from Redscar to the Samlesbury. This could be in service within twelve months from approvals being granted.

Funding
As we near the point of gaining Planning Approval, and begin to start construction work, interest in the investment opportunity offered by the Guild Line project is increasing. We are now in detailed negotiations with a number of possible private sources which could provide the funding for the project."

By what route do they think they will connect from Redscar to Samlesbury i wonder ?
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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Well that seems to contradict what we had heard recently.

Who runs this "Preston Station" website ? It seems to be quite interesting with some of the archive material photographs of steam locomotives on certain of the platforms at Preston Station.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Link to website says account suspended due to unpaid web hosting fees !!!!!

The website is still not available to view online still. If this project is viable, surely the website is a most useful link to the public where updated matters can be seen and discussed.

However, there does appear to be a Twitter page when you use a search engine with Preston Trampower.
 
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