It’s a week of openings as we finally get to see the Blackpool North Station extension opens whilst over in Manchester it’s the first operating weekend of 2024 for the Heaton Park Tramway.
First Tram to North Station
Wednesday 12th June
Blackpool Tramway
The official first tram will run to North Station with a special trip from Starr Gate Depot. A series of special pre-bookable tours will then run Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th June (including the first heritage tram on the Saturday). More details of booking the special tours at https://blackpoolheritage.com/.
Start of 2024 season
Saturday 15th June
Heaton Park Tramway
First trams of 2024 on the Heaton Park Tramway with late running until 2000!
Classic Car Day by NECPWA
Sunday 16th June
Beamish
The North of England Classic and Pre-War Automobiles Club will visit Beamish with a display of their cars.
Start of passenger services to North Station
Sunday 16th June
Blackpool Tramway
After all the delays and testing the day finally arrives – passengers will be able to travel on a normal service tram up Talbot Road and to North Station! The new timetable will kick in from this day which will see a tram every 30 minutes from Starr Gate and Fleetwood to North Station along with a tram every 30 minutes between Starr Gate and Fleetwood.
Vintage Bus Link to Manchester Museum of Transport
Sunday 16th June
Heaton Park Tramway
A vintage bus will link the Manchester Museum of Transport and Heaton Park Tramway.
Father’s Day
Sunday 16th June
Seaton Tramway
Dad’s travel free with an accompanying paying child.
Driver’s Eye Experience
Sunday 16th June
Seaton Tramway
A taster driving experience at Seaton giving you a 40 minute drive between Colyton and Seaton Wetlands.
And, of course, other heritage tramways will be operating their usual services over the next week.
As I forecast in numerous letters Blackpool Council have cut all services on all tram routes by 33% from the original specifications planned several years ago which would seem to indicate a possible profitable system will almost certainly result in substantial losses!
Nobody seems to be available to answer any questions concerning the tramways from the Council or Transport.
How is business going for GLEDHILL TAXIS Jack? Remember to, as the song says ,Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
Do you think my comment regarding a potential loss is baseless?
Which part of this tramway extension is related to the Bright Side of Life?
The tramway extension will be the Holy Grail for Blackpool Transport. Preston Trampower Ltd can only look on with envy and rue having a Norwegian Blue parrot as a mascot. Congratulations on writing the lyrics to The Lumberjack Song it must have made you a few bob back in the day(when you had a sense of humour).
Blackpool Transport seem very adept at tailoring the service to meet specific demand each day. If it’s a rotten wet day with strong winds, which seems to happen all too often these days, the few people brave enough to venture out will, like as not, justify only a 30 minute service on the direct tram route. However, when demand increases such as on the rare occasions we enjoy sunshine all day, various specials appear, running typically from Pleasure Beach either to Little Bispham or Thornton Gate. Such a service adjusted daily to meet tbis variable demand is more likely to be profitable than a set service which may often run empty at times when there is less reason for potential passengers to head outdoors.
Also consider that the North Station extension will provide a hitherto absent direct tram service to the various attractions, in either direction along the promenade from Talbot Square, for the benefit above all of day trippers who would otherwise simply walk down Talbot Road to catch a tram (and may decide to continue walking). This is regardless of how many holidaymakers, laden with luggage, still take taxis to their hotels. Of course some of the staff at the new DWP offices will no doubt also benefit from the new tram schedule as will commuters employed in the various retail establishments in the vicintiy of North Station.
I am 86 years old and was born,lived and worked all around Blackpool all my life but I suspect a lot of correspondents in this column are not familiar with the town.If they were they would know that the new Dwp offices are a two minute walk from the North Station and definitely not on a tram route.
Thats’ 3000 workers every day who will not be using the new tram extension!Other workers “In the vicinity” will no doubt walk to work.
Another “Pigs ear” decision is if you just miss your chosen tram route you will have to wait another half hour for the next tram!I suspect the taxi drivers will be well chuffed!