There are now four of the Flexity2 trams in Blackpool following the arrival of another one during Friday 16th December. Once again it has arrived with no obvious identification of what its number is although a piece of paper in the cab has the number 2 on it and so it has been presumed to be 002.
If, as is believed, it is 002 then this was the tram which had been rumoured to have been delivered to Bombardier’s Derby facility for testing purposes which would explain why its arrival was just a week after 005 was delivered. In addition it is believed that no further Flexity2 trams have come through Hull since the arrival of 005, unless Bombardier have changed their route in the past week.
Like 005 before it 002 was towed into the new Starr Gate Depot complex by the Unimog where final commissioning works will presumably be undertaken before the tram can join in the fun of testing and driver training. Hopefully this work will also include the application of fleet numbers as currently only 001 has any external identification which causes quite some debate between tram enthusiasts as to which tram is which of the others!
The past week has also seen the commencement of driver training with four old tram drivers from Blackpool Transport being trained on how to drive the new trams (who would have thought that that was what driver training was!) 001 has been used mainly on this duty although 004 has also been noted in use at times. The driver training is taking place on a week daily basis with two shifts and is expected to carry on up until Christmas. It is expected that further drivers will be trained on the trams after Christmas before a full “shadow” service is attempted in the lead up to the opening of the new tramway at Easter 2012.