Blackpool Transport have confirmed that there are no plans for a split service to operate on the tramway during the first of three dates for the World Fireworks Championships on Saturday 13th September 2025. Although it is planned that trams will run along the entire tramway there will be a revised service running, which will include an additional shuttle service running between North Station and Little Bispham.
The timetable released for this date (and presumably for future dates in the Championships although that is still to be confirmed and will presumably depend on the success of the operation of this new timetable) is as normal until around 1800 with the Starr Gate-Fleetwood Ferry, Starr Gate-North Station and Fleetwood Ferry-North Station operating plan. But from then things change.
Starting with the 1805 from Starr Gate trams will depart every 12 minutes and all departures will run all the way to Fleetwood Ferry direct. This service pattern gets underway from the 1903 back from Fleetwood. The 12 minute frequency continues until just after 2100 when its back to trams every 15 minutes.
Whilst no trams will be running from either Starr Gate or Fleetwood Ferry to North Station in this period the line up Talbot Road will not be ignored as there is to be a shuttle service from North Station to Little Bispham. This will be roughly every 24 minutes with the last departure from North Station at 2140 (the branch will then be served by the end-to-end service diverting off the Prom).
Jamie Swift, Head of Commercial at Blackpool Transport, said: “As well as maintaining the link to the national rail system, this temporary arrangement will help us to improve capacity on the most popular section of the tramway during what promises to be an extremely busy evening. The arrangements have been carefully planned to ensure we can maintain a frequent and reliable service for both visitors and residents as tens of thousands of people descend on Blackpool for the first of a series of fabulous firework displays planned for the coming weeks.”
The first week of the Fireworks Championships will see India compete and then further rounds take place on 27th September and 11th October.
Anyone planning on travelling during these events is advised to check Blackpool Transport social media for any updates on the service.
Following regular criticism of services on the tramway during big events on the Prom, particularly with the split service meaning no through trams from Manchester Square to North Pier, it can’t be denied that the new senior team are implementing improvements which will hopefully mean it can be relied on as a through service once again.
- The timetable for 13th September can be viewed at https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/BPTramway_Fireworks_TT_Sept25%20%282%29.pdf