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
What a difference in Blackpool!
Since the appointment of its Head of Service Delivery, Jamie Swift, the Blackpool Tramway has moved forward in leaps and bounds…..
Old worn out expired adverts are being removed from the Bombardier Flexity 2 trams and corner panels and front dashes are being replaced with new shiny purples ones and the trams looked cared for, for the first time in many years.
Tram advertising has been taken in house and will reap many benefits by doing so.
The latest is an attitude to tramway operation that does not simply lie down and accept the splitting of the tramway into two parts when the Promenade gets busy but that takes into account Health & Safety in a pro-active way and lets the trams do the job they are meant to be doing and that is operating along the Promenade carrying the thousands of people who want to be able to travel. After all, every tram in the fleet is fitted with ODAS – Obstacle Detection Assistance System.
The experience that the new Service Delivery team brings from elsewhere will serve the Blackpool Tramway well and make it the people mover it is meant to be.
Well done to Jamie Swift and the team and please keep the Tramway moving forward. So far, you have shown that “Progress” is truly a motto that is deliverable.
Just need to sort out transport for less abled, puschairs etc when the tramway is cut in half and there are no replacement buses.