Its been a while since we’ve seen more trams fitted with ODAS cameras on the Blackpool Tramway but another Flexity2 is on the way with 006 being half fitted and presumably the rest will follow in due course.
In case you’ve not been reading up on just what ODAS cameras are, these are all part of the equipment needed for the “Obstacle Detection Avoidance System”. As suggested by the name this system aim to prevent collisions when the tram comes across something on the tracks, if it does then the tram is brought to a gentle stop.
006 has, so far, received the cameras at one end only and Saturday 27th January 2024 was the first day that it had operated with them fitted. However, it wasn’t in for service for long and when seen in the below image it was on the way to Starr Gate (running late) and was then taken out of use with 013 (already ODAS fitted) replacing it in service.
- Video of this day on the Blackpool Tramway is available on the Podbaba Transport YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/LU2AUtLBQR0?si=RpAacMDKFk5sn_p2. Podbaba Transport also features videos from other UK tramway systems including Manchester Metrolink and West Midlands Metro as well as Prague.
This is the end of 006 which has had the cameras fitted as it is seen having just left North Pier for Starr Gate. (Photograph by Michael Morton, 27th January 2024)