The year may only be a few days old but its time for our first update of 2022 on the construction work for the extension of the Blackpool Tramway along Talbot Road and to a new terminus close to Blackpool North Railway Station on the site of the old Wilko’s store. At the end of 2021 when we last reported from the extension we saw that the track and overhead along the length of the route was in place and now further progress has been made with the erection of the posts to allow for the installation of the signals.
The work on the signals has taken place in early January 2022 with the posts and signals being installed at the Dickson Road junction (both sides) and in Talbot Square as well as on the Promenade line at North Pier. This is another big milestone in the tram construction work and although there remains work to be done we should see trams running on the extension by year end.
Just when that may be is still open to conjecture with various dates from the summer until November being discussed in various places at the moment. A recent article on the Blackpool Gazette website suggests November to tie in with the completion of the new hotel and restaurant complex on the old Wilko’s site whilst an interview with Jane Cole gave the summer as the date. After all that and with all the delays the project has already seen still don’t be surprised to see a completely different time for the opening!
The top of Talbot Road at the junction with Dickson Road leading into the old Wilko’s site with the tram signals now installed (just visible below the first traffic light on the left).
More signals in place. This time in Talbot Square for trams crossing the Promenade road.
On the Promenade tramway and another signal is in place for trams using the south curve.
And a signal for the north curve opposite the northbound platform at North Pier. (All Photographs by Tony Armitage, 4th January 2022)
Complete farce from beginning to end! And I still can’t see how anyone with any common sense whatsoever makes a totally landlocked terminus which is actually not that near the station anyway! It should have either gone straight down into the station and removed High Street (which was never there until the station was remodelled anyway) or it should have terminated in front of Sainsburys. Though with the farce this has been I doubt we will ever see the extension its supposed to be first phase of (despite being landlocked!)