Blackpool Council have recently released a new brochure giving details of the plans for the much-discussed extension of the tramway to serve the North Station, via Talbot Road. This includes some very convincing mock-up images showing Flexity trams in the town centre, giving a tantalising glimpse of what is to come!
The leaflet includes detailed explanations of what form the extension will take; using the two-way double track junction installed at North Pier as part of the tramway upgrade works, trams will be able to divert from the promenade at this key location and head inland towards Talbot Square. The area would be remodelled to segregate trams and other road traffic, and a tram stop would be provided in the square itself, with the existing pedestrian signals on the promenade being replaced by a new signalled intersection to control the flow of vehicles. The line itself would consist of double track running up Talbot Road in the centre of the highway, and in the vicinity, Topping Street would become a one-way street to reflect the addition of trams to the area. Here the trams will share the road with other traffic and parking bays will also be retained.
To access the new terminus, trams would be given their own exclusive lane heading into the Talbot Gateway site currently occupied by the Wilkinson’s building, which is expected to be demolished allowing the tram stop to take its place – a move which should be welcomed as this building is generally considered to be something of an eyesore, and not exactly an ideal first impression of the town for visitors arriving by train. Crucially, the terminus would be close to and level with the underpass at the railway station, meaning access between trams and trains without any steps.
It has also been confirmed that trams leaving North Station would alternate between heading north to Bispham, and south to Pleasure Beach, indicating that it will not be possible (at least initially) to catch a tram to the far ends of the current tramway. Whilst this may be a disapointment, it simply would not be possible to do this without having to purchase more trams than the two that are planned, which financially cannot be justified, at least for the time being! Trams are expected to operate to a similar frequency as on the promenade route, currently every 10 minutes, and this would also create a much improved level of service along the popular Pleasure Beach to Bispham section.
If all goes to plan, the scheme will be submitted to the Secretary of State this summer with a decision expected within 12 months. It should also be certain by 2017 whether the expected funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership will definitely be available. It is hoped that actual construction works will be able to start in early 2018, with tram services to the station commencing in April 2019.
More information on these exciting plans will be released to the public domain over time, with an exhibition at Blackpool’s Central Library providing more detail. Anyone wishing to give feedback on the scheme is encouraged to write to the Transport Policy Team, PO Box 17, Corporation Street, Blackpool, FY1 1LZ or by email to TramwayExtension@blackpool.gov.uk. You can also find out more about the extension plan and download the aforementioned impressive brochure at www.blackpool.gov.uk/TramwayExtension.
I encourage anyone to use the email provided and send in a letters of support to ensure it goes ahead!
The statement that it will take 12 months for the Secretary of State in London to decide is optimistic, considering the near-endless prevarication over other comparable projects like the Ordsall Chord and the Leeds Trolleybuses (cancelled). Two years or more is likely. Then there will be of course further delays as the General Election of 2020 approaches, so 2022 or 3 might be a date to expect this short line to open.
Talbot Road which leads to Blackpool Nothing Station is one of the most dirty, miserable and run down streets in central Blackpool. The whole street needs a complete renewal and a lot of money spent by the owners of the properties and Blackpool Council to restore the area to an acceptable standard. Otherwise the tramway extension will be a wasted project as the passengers from the trains will take taxis direct to their hotels by other routes.
And spending millions on a tram extension along the road, along with the aesthetic improvements that come with it, won’t start to make a difference?
If blackpool need trams surely midland metro ex T-69’s could help as there are 15 in long term store.
NO, for the same reasons they are no longer in service in Birmingham – too small and too unreliable…
WIll trams from North Station going north to BIspham have to reverse when reaching
Talbot Sq ? I Suppose it is out of the question considering running trams to North
Station and then travel along the old No 1 route down Dickson Road to Gynn Sq and on to BIspham & Fleetwood ? Every 3rd tram could go round the loop. Wishful (and hopeful ) thinking !
No reversal required – the points were laid in Winter 2010/11 for a three way ‘triangle’ junction at Talbot Square.
And No to Dickson Road – it is too narrow for a double track line to modern clearances (Remember a Flexity approx half a metre wider than the 1930s cars)
There’s a triangular junction at North Pier so no reversal needed.
Welcome though this news is, you will not be able to provide an ADDITIONAL 10 minute service between Pleasure Beach-North Station-Bispham with just two extra trams. This will require approx 6 or 7 trams. Does this mean that the number of trams on the Starr Gate-Fleetwood service will, in fact, be reduced in order to cover the new route?
Greater use of the B fleet?
Possibly, but then reducing capacity at the far ends of the route for a more intensive service in the core isn’t necessarily a bad move.
Michael is right. There’s no way two extra trams could provide that sort of extra frequency. I’m also not convinced about the viability of this whole scheme and doubt very much that it will ever make a profit. The number of bums on seats for this new route would have a rough guide potential maximum per hour equal to the number of seats available through North Station on heavy rail per hour. Has anyone stood on the concourse at north Station and counted the number of people coming into and out of the building per hour? Find that figure and you would be very unlikely to need any more tram seats per hour from that location. We’re for ever being told new LRVs have a much higher capacity than proper trams (although I’d argue that in real terms they don’t) so why do we need so many departures per hour?
What makes me think it’s not viable is the simple fact that unless the route is very heavily trafficked by a vehicle every couple of minutes, then an electric tramway is simply not the most cost effective form of transport. High capacity Hong Kong-style double deck buses would be a much better option, timed to connect with trams in a small interchange at Gynn Square and another somewhere near South Pier, with the buses running back roads via Dickson Road and the old Marton tram route.
If they really must lay a tramway extension somewhere, it would be far better going south to Lytham St Annes to open up more of South Shore to more tourism and new business opportunities, not to mention a boost to the flagging Lytham town centre.
The proposal is for a ten minute service to North Station. The council document states this will alternate between trips to Bispham and Pleasure Beach. So a 20 minute service to each destination, possibly needing three trams. Present service needs 13 from 16, so that would make 16 from 18.
The problem with buses connecting with trams is that the fact there is an interchange will put off people with luggage, pushing them onto the taxis. The joy of a direct tram connection to North Station is that tourists can transfer straight from the station to their accommodation on the promenade. If a higher service frequency was needed at peak times, there are always the B fleet Balloons to fall back on.
My guess is that they will make more use of the modified balloon cars. In fact a good service could probably be achieved by using these cars in the main; subject to their reliability, of course.
As an enthusiast – yes please! More Balloons would be brilliant, especially 713 which I’m keen for a bash on, and as odd as it would have seemed a few years ago, use of the flat-fronted cars would be very welcome.
As a passenger – no thanks! They’re not exactly user friendly compared to the Flexities. If I had just arrived at North Station by train with loads of heavy luggage, I certainly wouldn’t appreciate being expected to drag it up a staircase on a tram and that would probably make me wait for a Flexity or, sorry to say this, get a taxi instead. I’d be happy to see the B Fleet play a supporting role at peak times running as specials but I don’t think using them on the core service would be appropriate, especially on the new extension.
They cannot make more use of the Balloons as they are not accessible and therefore cannot be used on core timetabled service except in exceptional or emergency circumstances. The timetables banded about are nothing more than a ‘wish’ at the moment.
Starr Gate-Fleetwood Ferry = 55-58 minutes
10 minute service approx 6×2 = 12 trams
Bispham-North Pier = 12 minutes
+ to North Station approx 15 minutes
10 minute service approx 3 trams
Pleasure Beach to North Pier = 11 minutes
+ to North Station approx 15 minutes
10 minute service approx 3 trams
Total trams = 12 + 3 + 3 = 18
In theory it’s *just* possible but VERY tight.
Its 13 cars on the Fleetwood service and will be a 20 minute service to PB and Bispham making a ten minute interval from North Station.
Maintenance/repair allowance? It might be possible with advance warning to have the whole fleet available for a couple of days but as the trams get older I can’t see every job being able to be done in one night. Not to forget the argument-with-careless-taxi factor!