After the news at the end of last week that Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours operations had been suspended immediately and for an undefined period was met with an outpouring of emotions from enthusiasts and the general public alike (including a petition launched on Change.org which has had over 2,700 signatures), Blackpool Transport have provided further clarity with a statement released by Managing Director, Jane Cole.
In the statement Jane Cole said:
“As Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, I would like to reach out to everyone who has expressed their concerns about the future of the Heritage Tram operation. I am the biggest advocate for the preservation and future of our beautiful assets.
“I can confirm that the future of our heritage trams is safe and we aim to have them back on the Promenade next year. However, before that can happen there are a number of complex operational issues that need to be addressed.
“While we work on these, we have made the difficult decision to suspend operations. We apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience this has caused to our passengers but it is the right decision at this time.
“Recently we have been able to run the heritage trams out of Starr Gate depot which does not interfere with the ongoing works at Rigby Road. We are considering how this could provide a solution to some of the challenges we are currently facing.
“It is also important to clarify that the suspension of tram tours does not affect plans for the Rigby Road tram shed. In fact, it highlights the importance of bringing our vision for Tramtown to life to preserve Blackpool’s heritage.
“Blackpool Transport Services and Blackpool Council remain committed to continue working with all our volunteers, supporters and stakeholders during this pause in the operational running of the heritage fleet.”
Whilst being non-committal – and not directly addressing the safety issues mentioned in the original press release – this does at least give some hope for the future of heritage trams in Blackpool. But it is likely to be a fairly long and winding road before there is any real clarity of what any future may look like.
Beep Beep Beep…….’vehicle is reversing’……… beep beep beep
now thats a backtrack!
Who put the original erronious press release out? who authorised it?
Who is running that department? is the CEO even in charge?
I think there’s a bigger issue there, and its ‘competancy’, and that what worries me.
Heck, between themselves, they conspired to have a ‘new line’ that doesnt even go to the station, so transferring with heavy cases in the rain you get wet! Cant even design a transport interchange!
It is a shame we cannot simply up tick those comments we agree with. David you are spot on!
Really, if you strip away the big words and vague comments, both of these statements are actually pretty similar! The first one was the ‘glass half empty’ version (heritage trams suspended, challenges too great, pause to think about what to do next) whereas this is the ‘glass half full’ version (trams suspended but aim to have them running again next year). To this cynical enthusiast, it doesn’t sound like anything has really changed but judging by the number of people on Facebook celebrating that the trams have been saved, its done the trick PR wise! Since when did ‘aiming to’ do something mean it would definitely happen, because thats certainly not my definition of it!?
Greetings, fellow cynic! Personally, my first thought was that Ms. Cole has been rather taken aback by the depth of concern, and has hurried this word salad out in order to defuse the situation. I hope that those nearest to the events and in the know will monitor events very closely, and keep the rest of us informed. I fear that Ms. Cole is one of that modern breed of MDs and CEOs who know the price of everything, and the value of nothing. I have worked for, and with, a few of these.
Still think Crich should be on stand by. Get a Twin, a Coronation, a Millenium and a Illuminated car.
Do you know if they would want them? And what do you think they should dispose of to house them? They already have serious issues with trying to re-house the vehicles and artefacts that they are needing to relocate from the store at Clay Cross. Anyone pressing for Crich to come to the rescue needs to have a few £K to offer to back it up; there is a fund!
True. We should burn them instead.
A Coronation is too big for Crich, that’s why 304 isn’t there.
Bigger than 762?
304 is not at Crich because it is owned by the Fylde Transport Trust ( and not BTS who own 660) and there has never been any suggestion to move it to Crich.
Way back in the mists of time it was going to go there but couldn’t.
I’m pretty sure that if a Centenary car can fit in the depots at Crich, a Coronation would.
304 actually was considered by Crich shortly after its restoration, there was some talk of a loan arrangement whereby the LTT as it was then would have let Crich use 304, and in return a TMS car – probably Standard 49 – would have gone to Blackpool. For whatever reason this never materialised.
I suspect if Crich wanted a Coronation they’d have one by now as they’ve had a few opportunities to get one over the years.
That’s a good point. Something must have moved or been remodelled in the decades since 304 was looking for a home.
Why should Crich be on stand by? It’s the National Tramway Museum NOT somewhere devoted to making good other operations failings.
In 2018 the Blackpool Railcoach Fund had been attempting to raise the required monies for 50 years and was nowhere near able to support a restoration, and a notable lack of input from the Fylde coast, and so it has fallen to the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation and a generous bequest to enable work to progress. Physician heal thyself.
I couldn’t agree with you more. It is a fact that the various heritage operations made their choices as to which cars they wished to preserve way back around 2009 and in some cases had to turn cars down due to lack of space. Why should they now have to suddenly have to revisit their priorities and find themselves having to squeeze more out of their already tight resources. Perhaps if more of those complaining had dug deeper into their pockets over the years BTS wouldn’t be in such a tight spot now.
I entirely agree. However, do you know if the Bolton Tramcar Trust, who I understand own it, have any contingency plans for 66 if the worst comes to the worst?
The Bolton 66 Trust own a share in the Lakeside depot at Heaton Park. Their contribution towards its construction means that, should 66 ever find itself homeless, it would be accomodated there. Of course, there’s always the possibility that another museum might snap it up!
66 is sorted, don’t worry about that.
Thanks to Andrew & Nick for their replies.
“We aim to have them back on the promenade…”. Aim is rather noncommittal and back on the promenade could mean only as static exhibits, or running only on the promenade, and not to North Station or even to Bispham. Stating a vague aim may be a response to quieten down the furore, with the possibility of no more heritage trams anyway, now they have stopped running.
The differing responses to the additional text elsewhere that is substantively the same just illustrates how vulnerable the tramway has become. Its pleasing comments on this site seem to offer some pushback and challenge. I feel exactly the same as did prior to the “clarification”. Indeed given BTS/BC/BHTT track record and growing sense that there is more to this sudden cessation and a further statement will be required given media interest & political pushback.
The managing director was very open in the past when she outlined her anticipated retirement plans & the fact she will be 64 Years old in March 2025). Her rather “interesting” tenure is in its twilight whichever side of the fence you sit on in terms of her reign. In any organisation as you near the exit door you become increasingly less and less influential. You certainly cannot bind the next manager to your commitments either. So even if you take her at her word are these things within her control & even if they are will they remain within them in say 12 months’ time.
Many have felt that dark clouds have loomed large over the Tramway in recent years. The goodwill that the Heritage Tram Tour operation enjoyed has largely evaporated. I don’t envy the person tasked with informing hundreds of children they weren’t going on the Western Train for Santa Express Tours & Lights Tours or indeed telling Wedding Couples their private hire was either cancelled or on a Flexity…
Politicians and their minions lie to the public??? Hell – surely not!
Unfortunately too many of these types have been to the same charm school and care not a jot as they lead the public up the garden path – and as has been said – so many tram adherents so wished to be told that all will be well that when they hear it – they believe it.
Now is the time to demand flesh on the bones, clear and specific and clear undertakings, which we can welcome when they happen, but if they fade away like the morning mist we can demand that those who spun these fantasies go with them.
I wonder how many of the people shouting loudly have actually ever even bothered to come and ride. Going off the comments, not that many.
I hope that our eight visits over the year, and Depot Tour, is acceptable?
If they have really only ‘paused’ the operation of the old trams, then why was the pause not better planned? They could have easily said over the summer something like “We will be temporarily withdrawing heritage services at the end of October while we address some operational issues and make sure the vehicles are fully up to modern operational standards to ensure their future for many more years to come. Our heritage fleet will return to service in 2025.”
That wouldn’t have been difficult would it? But instead they have disappointed many people who were planning Christmas holidays. Not to mention at least one couple who had a private hire booked for early next year as part of their wedding day!
However they didn’t do that, which leads me to believe either some kind of incident happened requiring the immediate withdrawal of the fleet or the current management are just simply incompetent.
Adventure Me on Youtube has recently released a video addressing some of the things that are going on. Interestingly the video showed some shots of Rigby Road depot with one of the front-rank heritage balloon cars at the front of the row clearly showing a VOR board in the front window. I’d be interested to know when that footage was shot.
VOR sign…. what you mean the aircraft navigation system? Wow! Fitted to a heritage tram! Wunderbar!
No, a Vehicle Off Road board.
I really hope the opportunity is taken to make the operation a lot more appealing, and therefore profitable, in 2025.
Running a car to Fleetwood and leaving a busy promenade devoid of a vintage vehicle is a sure-fire way to lose money.
Most other operators of vintage trams on modern systems of Europe use them as a tourist asset, touring the most popular areas of town using heritage vehicles. Blackpool could do very similar with the Boats, Standards and Bolton 66 along with a vintage Balloon or two. Despite their place in history, most of the remaining fleet isn’t appropriate for an operation that needs to make money to survive.
In an ideal world there’d be a profitable operation with occasional enthusiast events supporting a fully fledged museum to house the interesting cars – but there will need to be some tough decisions made to make it work.
If Jane Cole is ‘the biggest advocate’ then what the Flip is she doing?
She must have authorised / written the first press release, then authorised / wrote the second press release?
I think we need a full breakdown on what is happening to what assets and when, and what funding is going to Rigby Road etc etc.
Sorry but she sounds like a non productive part! useless!
If Jane Cole is ‘the biggest advocate’ why did she leave running the heritage operations to someone else?
She must be the worst manager Blackpool has ever had. Walter Luff was a visionary, Joe Franklin was a showman and great at spotting what worked and what didn’t. Even Tony Depledge knew how to keep the wheels turning and keep a full service of vintage vehicles running all year round.
Cole is the biggest something, but I don’t think it’s advocate!
You do know how management works? An MD does not run a department, they run the company!
If this is her idea of advocacy, then we must all be grateful that she wasn’t negative about the Heritage Fleet!
It’s difficult to envisage a way forward, but those of us who do care about the future of the Blackpool Heritage fleet must continue to show support. On my previous visit to Blackpool, I noticed that at certain times of the day some of the Heritage trams were running almost empty. I think that if they do return to service any time soon, it is essential to justify their use by planning visits and trips on these trams, so that the management cannot claim that they are insufficiently occupied while in service.
I still think that it may be that some malcontent in Health and Safety decided to play the ‘Grinch’ in Blackpool on the basis of the need to ‘reverse’ 733/4 along Talbot Road and decided that ‘safe practice’ was lacking in respect of the Heritage Service. Of course, this sudden change of policy may have been a result of a final decision follwing a lengthy period of investgation that was taking place in the background. They may have had to consider, for instance, whether walking a trolley pole fitted tram through points was a ‘safe’ practice in a predominantly LRV system.
Under the Freedom of Information legislation, I’m sure all will eventually be revcealed. In the meantime, however, the only positive thing to do is continue as well as we can to show support for the Heritage Trams: using them if the opportunity should arise or otherwise writing to relevant bodies and adding signatures to any petitions supporting their cause.
The Western Train never ‘reverses’ anywhere. Like most trams and certainly all the ones in Blackpool, it can be driven from either end. There is a small controller in what is nor the carriage of the train, together with the braking equipment mirrored from the other end. The only difference is that in some of the feature cars the controller at the ‘back end’ is a smaller one that doesn’t have the parallel notches. That doesn’t really matter though because the parallel notches are only normally used on the reserved tracks sections and certainly wouldn’t be used along Talbot Road.
IF the reason that your implying is the real the reason, then doesn’t that prove that said person at H&S (or H&S as a whole( is either completely blind or completely idiotic?
If they were doing their job correctly then they’d know that the Train (and also the Frigate) has a set of driving controls at the rear then it can go back to depot in the wrong direction