TRAMS RETURN TO FLEETWOOD IN PASSENGER SERVICE On Saturday 26th April 2008 trams finally returned in passenger service on the section of the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway between Cabin and Fleetwood. This comes after the major trackwork which was undertaken during the winter from Cabin as far as Little Bispham. The timetable introduced will be in operating until 25th May 2008.
The first tram to operate in passenger service was Centenary 643, which formed the 0848 Fleetwood to Starr Gate service. It is planned that one person operated trams will operate the Fleetwood service whilst crew operated single deckers will be used on the intermediate Cleveleys service weekdays. Double deckers are likely to be used on the Cleveleys services on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays.
The timetable shows the first trams leaving depot at 0753 for Fleetwood and 0757 for Starr Gate. The pattern throughout the day remains as in previous years with a tram every 20 minutes from Starr Gate to Fleetwood and every 20 minutes from Pleasure Beach to Cleveleys. This timetable will run until 25th May (just before the second bank holiday in May). Well that is what the published timetable says – on day one the Cleveleys service ran through to Starr Gate – it remains to be seen whether this will happen for the whole timetable or whether there was some other reason.
In other news from Blackpool work has been undertaken on extending the hard standing at Cabin to allow conductors a better surface to turn the trolleys of trams. You may remember that the crossover was moved northwards in the track renewal over the winter meaning that any trams turning there would not have a suitable surface for the conductor to turn the trolley.
* The new tram timetables are on the official Blackpool Transport website. Click here for the southbound trams and here for northbound services.
Source: Alan Robson, Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups Blackpool_Transport & Blackpool Transport
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 27th April 2008
The first passenger service departing Fleetwood after the winter trackwork - Centenary 643 - on Saturday 26th April with the 0848 service through to Starr Gate.
All Photos: Alan Robson