The much criticised timetable introduced on the Blackpool Tramway in June when the North Station extension opened is to be replaced from Saturday 31st August with Blackpool Transport saying they’ve adjusted the service “after carefully considering your feedback”. The new timetable does look set to improve things from where they are now, although there does still seem to be some new challenges being introduced.
In, for Blackpool, an unusual move with most previous timetable changes having been made on a Sunday, the new timetable will start running from Saturday 31st August which also happens to be the first day of the full Illuminations season with switch-on the previous night.
Although the announcement on the Blackpool Transport website does suggest there will be a link to the new timetables that doesn’t seem to be active yet (and it also says the new timetables are from 31st September which will be quite clever…) so we currently only have the article confirming the changes to go on at the moment. That gives the highlights of the new timetable as follows:
- T2 and T3 services (the North Station routes from Starr Gate and Fleetwood Ferry) will operate exclusively in the early mornings to aid commuters
- From 0900 the T1 service will run from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry every 15 minutes. All trams will now go via North Station.
- From 1900 trams will no longer serve North Station directly (this is taken to presume trams won’t serve the extension at all)
- The evening will see trams from Starr Gate running to Fleetwood Ferry (every 30 minutes) and Little Bispham (giving a tram every 10 minutes as far north as there)
In the statement Blackpool Transport said: “These changes mean that we can use our resources where they are most needed during the busy Illuminations period. We hope that these changes will enhance your journey, making it smoother and more efficient. Thank you for your continued support and for helping us create a better tram service! As ever, we’re always working to improve our services and will continue to monitor feedback and suggestions over the coming months.”
Its not directly linked to the trams but from Sunday 1st September there are also changes to some bus timetables. Service 1 will run every 30 minutes between Fleetwood Affinity Outlet and North Pier whilst service 1A (Cleveleys to St Annes) will be axed due to low demand and the service 1 and tram changes.
Whilst still not ideal and what many will want it can be hoped that this new tram timetable is an improvement and means that during the busy Illuminations period the tramway manages to move the crowds as required.
Perhaps unsurprising given the fairly frequent sight of replacement buses & regular tweets advising of curtailments. They are “excited” but surely the time is for a conciliatory & apologetic tone. After all they are literally abandoning the extension in the evening despite in excess of twenty million pounds of public money spent and years of delays to get to this point. It’s certainly hard to see current role-holders being taken seriously when asking for further financial support to fund renewal or indeed further additions. Anyone with any sense would laugh them out the building (and lock the door).
In fairness. Abdoning the extension in the evening makes a hole lot of sense considering that most people will want to travel on the promanade throughout the illuminations.
I suspect that they’ll start serving North Station on the evenings again once October Half Term (and thus, the lenght of the Traditional Illuminations Season before they started extending it) ends
It looks like they are trying to create a timetable to justify the extension!
Which Timetable are you Talking about?
The current flawed Timetable that’s in effect at the minute? Or the timetable that’s coming into effect in September?
Both!
Why Both timetables?
by changing the date to say 5th september the new timetable comes up.
2 points that could perhaps be improved:
1) approximately a 6 minute dwell at north station seems way to much for a diversion on an otherwise through journey. 1 or 2 should suffice to change ends..
2) north pier appears to be non stop on the 15 minute headway – so a southbound passenger in the area needs to board at Talbot square, transit via the station for 6 minutes and then proceed past north pier non stop?? to their destination…
The new “extensive” T3 is 2 journeys from Fleetwood to North Station, the first being 8.15 in the morning from Fleetwood. Overall it’s an improved timetable, but a shame the early morning still isn’t great.
Presumably no journeys to North Station in an evening so that Illuminations road traffic on prom not disrupted by tram movements at Talbot Square.
More likely the other way round – so that Trams aren’t blocked by cars that have no idea what a yellow box junction means…
One of the many reasons as to why I guess.
Another reason is Time and also deman at the other stops along the route.
Makes no sense to stop at North Station during the Illuminations when most passngers will want to get Trams on the promanade.
Another thing to bare in mind is that the trams are already packed full during the illuminations, even without the extension.