Its only been running for just over two weeks but already Blackpool Transport are looking for feedback on the new timetable operating on the tramway. If you were being charitable you’d suggest that its good that they are willing to listen but when you look at the detail of the survey then you start to realise that this feedback could actually see a reduction in the service not an improvement!
Just in case you need a reminder (and it has been a hot topic of conversation ever since it was originally announced so you probably already know) but as from Sunday 16th June when the much waited for extension to Blackpool North Station opened the tramway has been operating a service which has significantly reduced frequencies from end to end. It (mainly) features a tram every 30 minutes on the direct route between Starr Gate and Fleetwood (and vice versa) as well as trams every 30 minutes on a service from Starr Gate to North Station and from Fleetwood to North Station.
The obvious issue with that has been that although there are trams every 15 minutes from each end it actually means that through workings from north to south (and also the other direction of course) have seen a major reduction to two an hour. To compound matters the timetable for southbound workings sees the trams running just five minutes apart between North Pier and Starr Gate, the leaving a 25 minute gap.
And this is the planned service. There have also been occasions when staff shortages have meant even this can’t run leading to cancellations and even bus substitution.
To try and alleviate the situation, B-fleet Balloon 718 has run some additional services calling at all the platforms. This has mainly been Starr Gate-Tower but it has also managed to run to Fleetwood on at least one occasion.
And now comes the launch of a survey from Blackpool Transport asking for feedback on the tram service being operated. This relatively basic survey asks respondents whether they are a commuter, student, travelling on business or on holiday before going into more details about what sort of journey they are taking.
It seeks to find out whether the journey goes past the extension, onto the extension or doesn’t go anywhere near the extension. And then comes three options for what can be done and it doesn’t appear that there is a positive option on the table.
The three options are:
- 15 minute service running Starr Gate to Fleetwood with all journeys going via North Station (adding 12 minutes to all journeys)
- 20 minute service running Starr Gate to Fleetwood with all journeys going via North Station along with a 30 minute direct service between Starr Gate and Bispham
- Keep the current timetable
We will watch and see what comes of this feedback and whether a new timetable is introduced and if so whether it is actually improved.
718 waits in the loop at North Pier when working on specials to supplement the service. Flexity2 007 is alongside at the platform.
Boat 227 was out on heritage tours as well and is seen here with 718.
718 at the very end of the line at Starr Gate. (All Photographs by Steven Hughes, 30th June 2024)
- Video of 718 in service along with other sights from the tramway can be viewed at https://youtu.be/oLQvYPiy4Fg courtesy of Steven Hughes Transport Videos.
If they want feedback they should look at the thirty odd comments about it on this site!
I think that says it all!
I think the second option is by far the best on the table, despite seeing a reduction in frequency to Fleetwood adding an extra journey per hour in the Blackpool section of the line would be a real bonus. It’s a shame BTS don’t feel they have the resources to operate the Bispham – Starr Gate service every 20 minutes as that would make it possible to run a 10 minute combined headway.
I disagree. I think Option 1 is probably the best in the Short Term. While not Ideal it provides an even frequency of Trams in All Directions.
Option 2 in it’s current form is an isane idea. You’ll be left with a gap of 20 minutes without a single tram at some point within the hour.
I do agree with your final part. It is a shame that they don’t have the Resources to run a combined frequency of every 10 mins in the core section (That would have been my Ideal option)
Option 1 as it provides an evenly spaced service pattern. OK, it would take 12 extra minutes to do the journey to places north of North Pier. I wouldn’t be bothered by sitting on the tram for 12 extra minutes. The present 30 minute gap won’t work at the height of the season, including the Illuminations period. Potential customers will surely be frustrated by the shortcomings, especially being unable to board the through service tram if it’s full; they’ll be faced with a 30 minute wait for the next tram, possibly full also. 30 minutes!! In the fifties the trams were every 12 minutes – S Gate to FLW and return. Furthermore an intermediate T Gate service operated. This was in the days of the Coronation Cars -1952 to 1962.
matthew – all journeys an extra 12 minutes? really? That is not an option ever!
Not Ideal but at least it you have a Tram every 15 Minutes. Under Option 2 You’d have an uneven gap At Least once an hour
Okay, but what would people do in the ‘lost 12 minutes’? Have a coffee?
Starr Gate to Fleetwood is already 8 minutes longer than it was a month ago even if you get a direct service!.
Another 12 minutes on top of that absolutely NO!!
Well this is a turn up for the books… I’ve never heard of anyone ASKING to be put before a firing squad before!!!
But seriously, this is a clever marketing ploy so they can say “we gave you the service you voted for”, but without the option anyone actually wants being available. A bit like another vote going on somewhere at the moment 🙂
What seems to have been forgotten is traditionally the Fleetwood service has never been able to cope in summer. That’s why they retained such a large fleet that could run on specials. Guards were recruitrd annually at the beginning of each season and everything was ok. Then in the early 2000’s some muppet came along and said “we don’t need all these trams, lets mothball them” and that was the beginning of the end.
I’m pretty sure a 20 minute headway on Starr Gate – Fleetwood would still be very profitable during the season, but must run all day and every day. Then there needs to be at least 10 heritage cars out at any one time running specials. Forget the silly heritage tours, and lets go back to straight forward specials that anyone can travel on. These cars could stop short of the platforms, just like trams always did on busy days when there was another infront. And before the wheelchair brigade start shouting, we’re not in europe and european regulations should not apply.
As for not having staff, I’d wager it’s only because BT didn’t bother to actually recruit any. My earlier offer to crew a Balloon all season, running immediately behind an LRV still stands BT.
Finally, what idiot allowed the selling off of boats and seemingly permanent withdrawal of Princess Alice? Open toppers put bums on seats. There should be an open top service running daily.
I just wish ‘Blue Busses’ were still around with their fantastic fleet of open top Atlanteans on number 1s. They’d be cleaning up right now.
Can’t people just be told HERITAGE CANNOT RUN SPECIALS, that’s why we have modified B fleet. You clearly haven’t been to Blackpool during the week outside school holidays, its quiet. Agree re open top and I’d have open topped a Bfleet or 2 for that purpose. Bus 1a should be open top.
Stopping short of a platform would cause chaos. They are not European regulations – it is UK legislation. You can tell all the disabled, light on their feet, families with prams etc etc they don’t matter and don’t qualify to use public transport because you clearly think they are lower class and its OK to discriminate against.
There are enough Flexities to cover and throw in the B fleet – more than enough!!
BTS do have recruitment days but clearly no one wants to work in public transport.
Trams were sold because at the time ONLY 20 were being retained. But you’ve been told this time and again Andy – if you are so desperate to crew have you applied?
The overriding problem here is BTS appear to be trying to find a service pattern that only requires 11 or so trams – which ofcourse the only real way of improving services dramatically is to run more trams.
Kev – all journeys an extra 12 minutes is option 1. On option 2, the Bispham – Starr Gate service would not go via North Station. As I said before I like this timetable the best, but it will give a very mismatched frequency with one 20min and one 30min service.
Assuming these limited options are “Best we can do with current staff levels”, I hate to say it, but keep the current service pattern is the least bad option, but with a couple of tweaks. Take out the extra 4 minutes they put in between Cleveleys and Fleetwood – I can’t sed why serving North Station makes tbat section of the journey take longer?? It’s really not needed, they are dawdling along and Ive missed trams a couple of times because they went though Rossall more than 5 mins early. That would then give a bit of flexibility to adjust the southbound timings slightly to give a more even service.
The closed question three options illustrate somebody does not grasp or is unable to deliver the type of service the resort needs. It’s scandalous that public money has basically been thrown off North Pier… with millions of pounds of assets just sat gathering dust in Starr Gate as the Tramway stutters from one calamity to the next.
They are currently operating a skeleton service (when they can actually muster the crews) into a building site.. whilst operating the slowest, least frequent & most expensive promenade service in years. The timing of the “consultation” just reeks of desperation as does the comical sight of 718 plodding about with crews in Heritage Tram Tour Uniforms as a service car. The three options just look like moving the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Surely the Tramway is now at the point where resignations are necessary to move forward. The Leader of Blackpool Council (Cllr Lynn Williams) needs to take decisive steps to avoid been dragged into this mess. Right now Blackpool Transport Services Ltd resembles an out-of-control dumpster fire hurtling along the promenade.
if the first option was tweaked a little it should be possible to leave an inwards service to the station (from either direction) and walk across the road to pick up the preceeding service from the station and continue on in the direction of travel. inconvenient yes, but time effective. starr
gate to bispham direct has to be part of the solution as well i think. 20 minute frequency on both would be best.
A bit gobsmacking that the issues encountered couldnt have been foreshadowed earlier though. Not like the extension was just approved to be built yesterday….
Phil – changing Trams should not be an option on the prom, it should be a good enough service. Changing trams to go to North station yes. The Bispham to Pleasure Beach via North Station with a change at Bispham or Beach.
Changing on a platform is the correct option so you need to change at Tower or Pleasant street currently not North Pier and trek across the road and down the prom to a platform!!
I always believed that one idea to run the North Station service to Bispham and Pleasure Beach only, as an addition to the main service, would work well on a 15 minute headway with passengers for Fleetwood and Starr Gate changing at a suitable stop. Such a service would cover the main hotels and attractions in the resort to which the majority of passengers would wish to be conveyed after alighting from the trains. I expect that this could be achieved with just 4 extra trams together with a minimum of 9 trams to run the main service, if operated efficiently. Even a 20 minute headway on this basis would be more benefecial than the current situation. Still 4 on North Station duties but only 7 required for the main diect service. This would also mean that the North Station trams could work in such a way as to supplement the direct service in much the same manner as specials.
Dose the Pleasure Beach to Starr Gate section warrant an end to end service? Most people using this section get off at Talbot Square/North Pier for the town centre. So why not run the Pleasure Beach to Starr Gate section using the North Station service and allow the promenade core service to terminate/start at Pleasure Beach.
The promenade core service should run from Pleasure Beach as far as Cleveleys or Thornton
Gate to cater for hotels and to help with over crowding. The Fleetwood section should then be covered by the North station to Fleetwood service. Do people travel by tram from Fleetwood down to the Pleasure beach or are passengers using this section more likely to be going to Cleveleys or Talbot Square for Blackpool town centre?
The current service Blackpool transport run is totally inadequate and needs a total over haul but do they have the crews and staff to do it? Interesting times ahead!
RE: Starr Gate – Pleasure I susspect it does not warrant it but simply a consequence of the depot location. If they had proceeded with the original proposal to rebuild Rigby Road (instead of Starr Gate) it would be far easier to reduce freequency beyond Pleasure Beach and redirect resources more effectively.
If I remember rightly from my early involvement in the modernisation project the original proposal for the depot for the new fleet was that it was to be built on the site of the old Blundell Street depot and old gas holder between Blundell Street and Seasiders Way. Unless my memory is playing tricks DfT had insisted that the new fleet had to be provided with a discrete maintenance and stabling facility. There was never a proposal to modernise Rigby Road to take both new and heritage fleets. In the event Starr Gate was chosen because the council had their eyes on the Blundell Street site for residential use.
Steve – rebuilding Rigby Road was talked about once as they were going to take out every other track but someone decided Flexities wouldn’t get it and it was abandoned before any official plans were done. Whoever thought they could go up and down Princess Street was seriously deluded!
Are any of the armchair critics actually responding to the survey to air their views?
Starr gate needs to be served to cater for crew swaps etc etc and a lot of people use that section for hotels, homes etc.
Yes people do travel from north of Cleveleys to South of North pier.