It’s the case of another tram losing all of its external advertising in Blackpool with 008 and 009 the latest trams to have been completely stripped of long-standing adverts. Meanwhile, the operational fleet has been boosted with 015 now back in use after missing the past few months.
008 had been running with dual adverts in recent years. This included the lower stroke/heart attack prevention ads as seen on many of the trams whilst above the windows it featured NHS adverts promoting the availability of blood pressure checks.
The stroke/heart attack ads were removed during October but the tram was continuing to run with the NHS vinyls beyond that. But they too have now been removed returning the tram to its plain fleet livery for the first time in almost 13 years! The blood pressure adverts were affixed to the tram way back in December 2012, and considering the tram only entered service on 4th April 2012 that means its only run without any form of advertising for about 8 months in a 13+ year career!
009 also had dual adverts in recent years as like most trams in the fleet it received the heart attack/stroke prevention lower panel ads a couple of years. These joined some NHS Organ Donation adverts which were first seen on the tram in November 2015 (so a full 10 years ago).
The process to remove the adverts on 009 started back in September but other priorities saw it continue to run with the adverts partially removed for a couple of months, but by the second week of November they had been completed removed leaving the tram back in full fleet livery for the first time in 10 years.
The only trams to retain adverts are now 001 (Blackpool Zoo – new style added in 2025), 005 (Stay Blackpool, Memory screeing and heart attack/stroke – old style), 012 (Pleasure Beach full wrap), 013 (Hole in the Wand – new style added September 2025), 015 (Blackpool Transport tickets – old style), 016 (Coral Island full wrap) and 018 (Bus to Tram, Tram to Bus – old style).
Meanwhile, November has also seen the return to service of 015, having missed the past few months. This brings the available Flexity2 trams back up to 16 with 005 (long-term absentee) and 010 the two which now remain out of service. 015 retains its adverts which promote the 1-day saver tickets available, with the price on the ad having changed many, many, many times over the years!
008 calls at Thornton Gate with a Fleetwood Ferry-North Station service. Poppy in the drivers cab and no adverts on the exterior of the tram. (Photograph by Oliver Shenton, 4th November 2025)
Welcome back to service 015! On the way to Fleetwood Ferry the tram is seen here showing its internal external adverts still in place. (Photograph by Oliver Shenton, 5th November 2025)
008 goes through Albert Square, Fleetwood with a North Station service – no adverts! (Photograph by Michael Morton, 6th November 2025)
The newly fully de-adverted 009 is seen approaching North Station when in use on driver training. (Photograph by Michael Morton, 11th November 2025)