The latest new addition to Blackpool’s tram fleet arrived in town on Friday 17th February, in the shape of Flexity2 tram 007. The car was delivered to Starr Gate and unloaded on the promenade, as has become familiar for the new vehicles, although this time the tram was driven inside rather than shunted with assistance from the new towing device recently acquired. Unlike one of the previous arrivals, 007 travelled from its manufacturers in Germany via Hull docks and did not travel to Bombardier’s UK premises in Derby.
Those who witnessed the unloading of 007 were treated to a surprise line-up as sister
cars 001 and 002 both returned to depot at around the same time as it was touching down on Blackpool metals for the first time, following a day of use on driver training duties. The new arrival will now presumably undergo routine preparations inside the new depot before being released for testing and training work. Unfortunately 007 has sustained some damage in transit with a broken window spotted when it arrived at its new home.
Incidentally, this means that a total of eight trams now reside at Starr Gate: all seven
Flexities plus Cardiff 131 which remains on site despite not being used since early November. All other trams which had spent time there are now back at Rigby Road, including Balloon 701 which we reported had moved back recently following an extended stay at the southern terminus.
For more photos of 007′s arrival (complete with many James Bond gags!), please take a
look at Andrew Blood’s ‘Trams Today’ Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trams-Today/144002195699684