Tuesday 3rd April 2012 was a landmark day for Blackpool’s tramway upgrade, as a tram ran along the entire length of the line from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry with passengers on board for the first time since November 2009, when Brush car 627 rumbled along the streets of Fleetwood for the final time, bringing the curtain down on the traditional tram service in the town. Although this day saw only one tram carry passengers, it marked the official re-opening of the system and a major landmark for the Fylde coast generally.
Flexity 008 was chosen to operate the inagural journey for invited guests. As well as councillors, the press and other dignitaries, ordinary members of the public were also able to attend the launch thanks to a number of competitions inviting people the chance to try and win a ‘golden ticket’ to ride on the inaugural passenger run to Fleetwood. Although Flexity 001 carried its first passengers as long ago as last september when Bombardier unveiled its latest product to the world, this was the first time that mere mortals had been able to sample a ride on one of the new trams. Unlike that occasion, this was a rather muted affair and very few people came out to see the historic journey, although dismal weather on the launch day would certainly not have helped matters.
008 left Starr Gate with some of the invited guests on board in the morning, and first headed to Tower where further passengers boarded. The car then ran non-stop to Cleveleys, where a short break was taken as the tram was formally welcomed into the town by locals, with the guests invited to alight and take photographs. The tram then continued to Fleetwood where once again, it was welcomed at the terminus by well-wishers with special tram flags, as well as a musical accompaniment – although this consisted of a few brass musicians, a far cry from the female string quartet who greeted 001 for its grand unveiling last year, who were admired as much as the tram, if not more! A lavish reception was then provided for the VIPs at the adjacent North Euston Hotel, before the guests enjoyed the return trip to Blackpool aboard 008.
The only other tram in action at the time of the launch was fellow Flexity 010 which was used for photo opportunities to show two of the new trams passing each other near North Pier, a sight which many people have yet to see, but which will soon become commonplace. Simarily, today was the first time that a Flexity2 car had run with passengers over the entire system, but very soon this will become a daily occurance.
Some of the people who did make the effort to see and photograph the occasion felt a little disapointed, as small touches such as decorations on the front end of 008 would have surely made the first run a bit more special. A nice touch would have been for a vintage tram, probably Standard 147, to have lead 008 to North Pier for the start of its journey, perhaps giving guests the chance to compare the new with the old. However, lavish ceremony or not, the important fact is that the era of the all-new Blackpool tramway has finally arrived! Wednesday 4th April will see the long-awaited first use of the Flexity2 class in normal public service, with the first tram set to depart from Starr Gate at 5:00am, reaching Fleetwood just under an hour later. The next two days are likely to see a 100% low floor service operate on the tramway for the first time ever, before the heritage cars return on their new coastal tours from Good Friday. Hopefully readers of this website will be prepared to give the ‘new’ tramway a try – we certainly intend to do so and we will provide full coverage of the Easter weekend in Blackpool, which should hopefully be a memorable few days for all the right reasons!
The impressive sight of this line-up of Flexity trams greeted VIP guests on arrival at Starr Gate depot prior to the inagural journey by car 008 on the morning of April 3rd. (Photo by Paul Galley)
008 was greeted by well-wishers with banners on arrival at Cleveleys: the first tram with passengers to run through the town since 2010! (Photo by Paul Galley)
There was a similar greeting for the Flexity at Fleetwood with residents waving their Flexity flags with pride in the rain! (Photo by Paul Galley)
Our final view shows 008 alongside the incomplete Fleetwood substation, as guests make their way to the North Euston Hotel for refreshments. (Photo by Paul Galley)