It seems that what was originally due to be a two week disruption to Blackpool Tramway services is being extended again with no end date now having been announced for when a full service may resume. The trackworks taking place on the northern section of the tramway need extra time to complete and as they are finished the northern terminus is being continually changed. As the last week has progressed the temporary northern terminus has gradually got further north – first Bispham from 1st March and then Little Bispham from 4th March. In this article Tony Armitage provides images of trams at Little Bispham.
With the Little Bispham destination clearly shown on the front of the tram, 008 has just arrived at the temporary terminus and gets ready to head around the loop and then back to Starr Gate.
008 then starts to make its way around the loop.
016 stands on the loop about to come off and start to head off south to Starr Gate.
Slightly further to the north and parts of the rubber based crossing across the tracks is still by the side of the tracks at Melton Place. (All Photographs by Tony Armitage, 4th March 2021)
Thanks for this, Blackpool Transport but website service update reported (and still shows) that trams were extended from Starr Gate to Little Bispham (in one go) on 26th February (I have been checking it regularly) – is that incorrect?
See:
https://www.blackpooltransport.com/service-updates#e1526062-7401-4e00-8ff3-bd85c5abeadf
From which: Trams between Starr Gate – Little Bispham Only 26th Feb onwards
Affected routes: Tram **Update to Tramway Disruption**
Our trams are now running between Little Bispham and Starr Gate due to the engineering works moving along the tracks.
We will keep you up to date with any changes to the service as work progresses.
Our service 1 bus can be used to for journeys between Little Bispham – Fleetwood Ferry.
Paul Stewart – Great Malvern.
From reports we have received it has been a gradual incremental increase in where trams have been running to. Trams were definitely running as far as Bispham only on 1st March (if you take a look at the excellent http://blackpooltram.blogspot.com/ website you can see photos of the trams terminating at Bispham) and then Little Bispham became the terminus in the days following that.
They were expeting to run to LB straight away, hence the long layover at Cabin! However this was delayed by a few days.
Thank you Gareth, very helpful and undeniable evidence that Blackpool Transport website was indeed incorrect.
Paul.