A few weeks ago we reported on how Blackpool Transport had plans to operate a revised service during the first night of the World Fireworks Championships on Saturday 13th September 2025. Only then for thunderstorms to cause it to be cancelled! So we’re still none the wiser whether this service will work during the crowds being on the Prom! But there will be a take 2 and a take 3 for the service as it will be working on the next two nights of the fireworks, including the rearranged first round.
On both Friday 26th (India) and Saturday 27th September (Ukraine) the revised service will run which will see trams continuing to run on the complete tramway instead of the previously used split service.
On both days normal services will run until 1800 after which it changes to a 12 minute frequency between Starr Gate and Fleetwood Ferry (and vice versa). The North Station line isn’t ignored either with a shuttle service set to run between North Station and Little Bispham up to every 24 minutes.
- The revised timetable is available online at https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/BPTramway_Fireworks_TT_Sept25%20%282%29.pdf
Not really directly connected to this story but it saves a completely new article with very little to say in it! The two trams which have been selected to be used on Illumination Tours during the Lightpool Festival have now been moved from inside the old Fitting Shop (now the Tramtown Exhibition) and ahead of their move to Starr Gate (which will presumably take place soon) are temporarily stabled on the depot fan. On a lovely sunny day 717 and the Frigate are captured on camera. They have also enjoyed a clean from Tramtown volunteers. (Photograph by Peter Dockerty, 22nd September 2025)
The previous “fireworks” timetable turned out to be a very good test run for numbers 2 & 3.
There were quite big crowds as the display was only cancelled at the last minute and the service worked well except for the North Station to Little Bispham service that seemed to go well astray of the advertised service which was quite a surprise as it should have fit between the through service. Whether or not this had anything to do with one tram being parked in the southerly line at Blackpool North railway station for most of the evening is not known.
It is a fitting tribute to the “can do” approach of Blackpool Transport’s Service Delivery team that this is happening rather than the useless split service that always happened before the arrival of Jamie Swift.
So all plans can be disrupted and delays result. I wonder whether this will be the case with the return of 717 and 736. At worst, I would envisage a postponement rather than an outright abandonment. However, as they are a month away, there should be ample time to get things up and running for the school half-term holidays. Time, as always, will tell.