Full details of the route for the Olympic Torch Relay in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has recently been unveiled and amongst the various forms of transport which will be used four different tramways on the mainland and Isle of Man will be used to move the torch. These are the Blackpool Tramway, tramway at the Black Country Living Museum, Douglas Horse Tramway and Manx Electric Railway.
The first tramway to feature in the relay will be on Saturday 2nd June when the torch visits the Isle of Man. At 1215 the torch will board the Douglas Horse Tramway for a short journey before being handed on to a cyclist. After the cyclist has their turn in the limelight it is the turn of the Manx Electric Railway to carry the torch with a journey from the Derby Castle terminus in Douglas to Laxey. It is planned that the special MER service will depart Derby Castle at 1235.
Friday 22nd June is the next time that a tramway will feature when the torch passes through Fleetwood and Blackpool. It is planned that at approximately 1642 the relay
will board a tram at Rossall School tramstop for a ride through to West Drive tramstop.
From here the torch will then make its way towards Blackpool and will spend the evening on the new Tower Headland where a celebration is planned.
The final time the torch will travel in tram style will be at the Black Country Living Museum on Saturday 30th June. Here it is planned that at approximately 1650 the torch will travel on the short Museum tramway before continuing on its journey to Birmingham.
As yet no details have been released by the respective tramways as to which trams will be used to convey the torch.
- Details
of when and where the torch will be going across the UK can be found on
the BBC News website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17358291