“Out and About” time again and we feature the Blackpool Tramway on Illumination switch-on night.
As with many big events on central Promenade when large crowds are expected, Illumination switch-on day sees the Blackpool Tramway initiate a split service. From the north this saw trams from Fleetwood Ferry terminate at North Pier. This image shows 017 having terminated at the usual southbound platform and now using the crossover to head back north.
And at the other end of the split trams ran from Starr Gate to Manchester Square. After terminating there, the trams then moved forward to the Foxhall crossover which is where we see 007 as it prepares to go back to Starr Gate. (Both Photographs by Steven Hughes, 30th August 2024)
And this is precisely why the headland isn’t big enough or the section should have been fully/properly segregated. When there is no viable alternative it is not acceptable to constantly cut the service in half – BTS forget they don’t only carry tourists! Not even a replacement bus, though it probably wouldn’t get down the prom anyway.
It was sufficient when designed and built. The issue is that the security and safety regulations have changed twice since 2012, so you now have to leave buffer zones surrounding the event and provide safe evacuation zones. That means either reducing the scale of events or occupying extra space.
When these larger events take place, the prom roadway is now also shut (that becomes the evacuation zone – you couldn’t really put it to the west side could you!) so a replacement bus service could do no better than simply transferring to existing routes.
None of that is the ‘fault’ of BTS, they didn’t design the space and don’t organise these events.
Which doesn’t change the fact its not good enough. The Council should be looking at this. Time to move the venue if every single event has to stop people from travelling to and from work, hotels etc.