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Last Updated Sunday 12th October 2008

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BLACKPOOL & FLEETWOOD TRAMWAY NEWS ROUND-UP
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway – Sunday 12th October 2008

It’s been a while since we’ve had one of these – a news round-up on the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway from the pages of the Fylde Tramway News.

* The tender process for the new trams for the upgraded tramway is now underway with an advertisement placed in the Official Journal of the European Union. The tender asks for approximately 16 trams and related spare parts and tools and also invites options for the supplier to maintain the trams as well. Timescales are also produced for the companies involved to go by:
30th June 2008 – Deadline for the return of Pre Qualification Questionnaire responses
25th July 2008 – Issue Invitation to Submit Outline Solutions (ISOS)
3rd October 2008 – Deadline for return of ISOS responses
17th October 2008 – Issue Invitation to Submit Detailed Solutions (ISDS)
24th December 2008 – Deadline for return of ISDS responses
24th December 2008-27th February 2009 – Dialogue with candidates followed by issue of Invitation to Submit Final Tenders
6th March 2009 – Deadline for return of Final Tenders
3rd April 2009 – Selection of Preferred Bidder
15th May 2009 – Contract Award
5th April 2012 – Completion and operation of new service

* Balloon 710 has been officially withdrawn from service with several different defects. The tram had not actually run in 2008 with its last passenger service being November 2007. Its place was taken in the operational pool by Balloon 724.

* This winter should see a full winter timetable in operation, although for the first time ever this will be in direct competition with the now all year Line 1 bus service. It is expected the standard 20 minute Fleetwood-Starr Gate, with now standard later start times, will operate with no extra weekend Cleveleys services.

* This news has been taken from the Fylde Tramway News, the only monthly printed news source of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway. The only way to get your copy of this is by becoming a member of the Fylde Tramway Society. As well as the FTN there are regular meetings, annual convention weekend, illuminations tram tour and a festive Christmas tram tour. For more details and how to join the society click here

Source: Fylde Tramway News



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