The wait may be going on for news of when we may be able to enjoy a tram ride along Talbot Road on the Blackpool Tramway extension to North Station but that doesn’t mean nothing has been happening on the Talbot Gateway site where the terminus will be situated. We haven’t featured the former Wilko’s store site for a while as a lot of work doesn’t have a direct connection to the tramway but in this pictorial article we take a quick look at what has been happening recently.
The main tramway infrastructure works have been completed including trackwork and tramstop but services can’t start until all other construction works are finished with the terminus basically being in the middle of a construction site. This includes the hotel – which is making progress although remains several months from completion – and the subway which will link the terminus with Blackpool North Railway Station.
No official date for completion and possible opening of the tramway has been announced but will have to follow a further period of testing and shadow running. The question remains – will trams run in service to Wolverhampton Railway Station, Newhaven in Edinburgh or Blackpool North Railway Station first?
The subway which links the site to the approach to the railway station. The hotel continues to take shape above. (Photograph by Peter Dockerty, 27th October 2022)
I hope this subway does not go the way of many UK subways. That is to say, unsafe to use in the minds of many people who have to use them!
This subway just steps or a ramp, it looks very steep to have a ramp.
Steps and a ramp according to Building Blackpool Better video blogger on You Tube. He was at the site on Friday and asked the workmen on the underpass for info etc.
First to finish I go for Blackpool North followed by Wolverhampton then last to finish Newhaven. Maybe?
Knowing the dilatory nature of British construction projects, Dudley town centre could be added to the list of first to open if it’s not cancelled by the ‘new’ government, then again maybe they all will be cancelled to ‘save money’.