Friday 29th August will see the Blackpool illuminations switched on for another season by comedian Peter Kay. As has become the norm in recent years, the actual switch-on night itself will not be a good one for the tramway with the awful split service in operation due to the event being held on the promenade headland opposite the Tower. Thankfully though, despite the decision to hold a full weekend of events a normal service will be allowed to resume the following day for the first illuminations weekend of 2014.
Due to the rather inappropriate siting of the switch-on event part of the promenade road and tramway was blocked off on Friday 29th August. Trams were operating between Starr Gate and Manchester Square, and North Pier and Fleetwood Ferry only. Unfortunately, no connection is available with passengers expected to make their own way between Manchester Square and North Pier, and no through ticketing is available either. Likewise, the split service means that it will not be possible to provide any tours of the illuminations this evening.
It was feared when it was first announced that the switch-on event had been expanded to a whole weekend of live music and entertainment that this situation would continue for a few more days, but thankfully this has been avoided and a full tram service will now be back in operation on Saturday 30th August. Presumably this means that the capacity for the Saturday and Sunday events will be lower than Friday’s – quite possibly there is less interest as the Friday night event is free! Illumination tours will also resume on the Saturday night with the first tour due to depart from Pleasure Beach loop at about 2000.
Little information is currently available regarding plans for the illumination tours this year, although timings of the first and last tours throughout the season have been published at www.blackpooltransport.com. Tours will mostly utilise the three illuminated feature cars – Western Train 733+734, Frigate 736 and Trawler 737 although these will be supported by members of the heritage fleet at peak times, particularly during the traditionally busy school half term week in late October. However, for the first two weeks of the lights tours it is expected that one vintage tram will operate daily due to the shorter hours for which the illuminations are actually on. This will enable the tram on the first tour to reverse at Bispham to allow for a quicker return to Pleasure Beach so that it can then perform a second tour if required before the lights are turned off for the night. On Saturday 30th August, Balloon 717 will be used alongside the illuminated Train and Frigate (all subject to availability). As the nights get progressively darker earlier, this will no longer be an issue and therefore the three feature cars can dominate the output.
It is good to see that common sense has prevailed with regards to the closing off of the tramway for an excessive period, and hopefully this will set the tone for a very successful few months for modern and heritage trams alike in Blackpool.