The project to fit the modern Flexity2 trams in Blackpool with ODAS equipment has been continuing in recent weeks with a further three trams now having received the cameras required for the system to work. 004, 009 and 015 have now all been fitted with the cameras and were seen in service during mid-October.
ODAS is an obstacle detection system with the cameras able to detect when an obstruction is on the line ahead and will bring the tram to a stop. Whilst the equipment has now to been fitted to the majority of the Flexity2 trams in the fleet it has not yet been switched on with overnight tests still ongoing.
Trams known to have been fitted with the cameras now are 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 009, 010, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016 and 017.
004 shows off its cameras on 15th October as it runs south along North Promenade to Starr Gate.
Just a day later and 015 is seen also with cameras now fitted. It too is heading south to Starr Gate when seen at Sandhurst Avenue. (Both Photographs by Michael Morton)
It is notable how cricket upmpiring, especially in the current World Cup series, has become more sloppy since the introduction of video technology. Too much technology tends to impair the vigilance of humans and hopefully the Blackpool operators will not be too reliant on cameras in place of their eyes and experience.