We’re used to reporting on collisions between various road vehicles and trams across the British Isles but in most cases it comes when the two are sharing the same road space. You would have expected that the majority of the Blackpool Tramway would be safe for collisions of this type but that was not the case on Thursday 11th January 2024 when there was an incident on New South Promenade at around 1500.
For those not familiar with the Blackpool Tramway the section of tramway on New South Promenade (between Pleasure Beach and Starr Gate) is reserved track with a footpath between the tramway and road. However, this did not stop a Range Rover from colliding with Flexity2 007 which was heading south towards Starr Gate at the time between Burlington Road West and Harrow Place stops opposite the Hampton by Hilton hotel.
Both the car and tram suffered damage with 007 suffering damage to the front bumper whilst from photos there was significant debris from the car strewn across the road.
Tram services from Fleetwood Ferry were turned short at Pleasure Beach whilst the emergency services dealt with the incident; services resumed shortly before 1800. There was no information as to whether there were any injuries.
On You Tube there is a video by Stephen Hughes of the damaged tram and the subsequent re-railing of it.
There has been a report that the Range Rover driver suffered a medical incident.