In Pictures: Blackpool Flexity2 018 returns to service

This article has been updated since original publication with a correction to its first day in service.

Over the past few years the Blackpool Tramway has had to make do with a limited fleet of operational Flexity2 trams with a couple having been out of service long-term. But now after the return of 004 to service comes the news that 018 has also re-entered service, although it was an initial brief return with it soon having to head back to depot.

Whilst 004 had been out of service for around three and a half years, the absence of 018 was far more brief with it being a mere 18 months or so since it last carried passengers. The newest of the entire fleet of Flexity2 trams was involved in an accident which had seen it sidelined during this period awaiting repairs. This required assistance from engineers from Alstom (with Bombardier having been taken over since they built the trams for Blackpool) who came over from Germany during August to ensure that the tram was prepared fully for service.

018 was back in service by Tuesday 23rd August 2022 and after several days of service was again in use on Saturday 27th August. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be a full day in service as it soon returned out of service to depot but hopefully this was just a minor blip and the sight of the tram back on the Prom will be a regular occurrence.

This now means that the full fleet of 18 Flexity2 trams is available for service (except for general maintenance) – a vital requirement for when trams start to run to Blackpool North Station at some point in the future. But with the Promenade service remaining below pre-pandemic and initial announcements of the extension levels how many trams will be needed to run services on both the main Promenade line and the extension remains to be seen.

First day back in service for 018 as it calls at Tower bound for Starr Gate.

Later on and the tram is captured passing the former site of the Derby Baths on North Promenade returning to depot out of service. (Both Photographs by Tony Armitage, 27th August 2022)