Trams finally returned to Fleetwood on Monday 26th July, albeit only as far Ash Street (Fisherman’s Walk). As has been extensively reported the delay in the return of trams has been caused by the theft of overhead wire north of Cleveleys during the winter closure period and trams are due to only run as far as Ash Street until Easter 2012 because of upgrade works in the street of Fleetwood. With the resumption of services a new timetable was introduced including increased running times and reduction in peak summer evening frequencies.
The pattern of services is a tram every 20 minutes during the day between Pleasure Beach and Ash Street and services every 20 minutes between Pleasure Beach and, surprisingly, Thornton Gate (rather than Cleveleys). In the evening service frequencies drop to every 30 minutes Pleasure Beach-Ash Street and every 30 minutes Pleasure Beach-Bispham. Eleven trams (six for Fleetwood and five for Thornton Gate) are required for service during the day and these should be double deckers. However, only nine transponder fitted double deckers are available for service meaning the two currently operational Twin Cars (set 2 and set 5) are also required for service on a daily basis. Needless to say 100% fleet availability has not been achieved on a regular basis with Centenary Cars often substituting with two conductors! Because of this issue it has been suggested that further Twin Cars (namely set 1 and set 3) may be returned to service, indeed 671+681 were used on a test run on Friday 6th August – although has yet to be fitted with transponders.
It has also been suggested that Balloon 726 may be returned to service for the Illumination period according to a report on the Tramways Monthly website.
* The new timetable can be downloaded as a PDF document here.
Source: Blackpool Transport & Blackpool Trams.info