A new timetable will be introduced onto the Blackpool Tramway from Sunday 6th April in what is being described as the launch of a new era for the trams. Whilst the new timetable will mean a lower frequency of trams running from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, the overall frequency on the tramway will increase to departures every 10 minutes from each end during the day.
When the North Station extension opened in June 2024, the timetable operating was much criticised and after the initial timetable was found to be unworkable it was replaced by a new service which was still not ideal but better than that which went before. And now as the summer season rapidly approaches in the resort a further improvement will be introduced.
The highlights of the new timetable include:
- Trams every 20 minutes direct from Starr Gate to Fleetwood (and return)
- Trams every 20 minutes from Starr Gate to North Station (and return)
- Trams every 20 minutes from Fleetwood Ferry to North Station (and return)
- Combines to give a evenly spread service on trams every 10 minutes between Starr Gate and North Pier/Talbot Square and between Fleetwood Ferry and North Pier/Talbot Square
- Evenings: Trams every 30 minutes on all routes, combining to give a tram every 15 minutes from each end
Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, commented: “Following the opening of the North Station last year, we’ve carefully analysed how our trams are being used.
“We found that more than two out of three customers travel from the North or South into the town centre stops and, in response, the new timetable has been prepared to deliver swifter, more convenient services that reflect those travel patterns. The new timetable delivers a more robust service while maintaining excellent connectivity between light and heavy rail.
“We are now completely focussed on ushering in an enhanced frequency for our popular tramway. We have recruited more drivers to deliver the extra services and a new sales team to offer travel advice at busy tram stops, which will greatly improve the customer experience.
“We are delighted to be able to introduce these service enhancements in time for the summer, but they are just the start of an ambitious programme of improvements to our tram and bus services that customers can expect to see over the next few months.”
The basic service pattern during the main part of the day is:
From Starr Gate
Departures for Fleetwood at 00, 20, 40
Departures for North Station at 10, 30, 50
From Fleetwood Ferry
Departures for Starr Gate at 10, 30, 50
Departures for North Station at 00, 20, 40
Journey times for the direct Starr Gate-Fleetwood service is cut to 55 minutes with journeys between Starr Gate and North Station being 19 minutes and those from Fleetwood to North Station 39 minutes (41 minutes in the opposite direction).
- The new full timetable is downloadable from the Blackpool Transport website at https://images.blackpooltransport.com/downloads/BPTramway_A4Leaflet_April2025.pdf
So its a worse timetable AGAIN. When will they learn people want to go beyond north pier in both directions and 20 minutes is not good enough.
How do you figure that it’s worse?
6 tph over any given section of line Vs 4 tph currently, and for N Shore to S Shore every other trip goes direct instead of via N Station making it around 10-12 minutes quicker.
Only worse if you need to go Fleetwood to N Station with only 3 tph direct Vs 4 currently, but as all the ‘experts’ including yourself keep telling us NOONE wants to go to the station, so that slight reduction in direct journeys doesn’t matter…
It seems that you haven’t considered the many tourists staying in the Hotels on North Shore.
The North Station services terminate there and go back the same way that they came – meaning that a North Station Tram from Fleetwood, heads back to Fleetwood instead f going south to Starr Gate.
It doesn’t help either that the Starr Gate Tram departs North Station 5 minutes BEFORE the Fleetwood Tram arrives – giving passengers NO opportunity to change Trams at North Station
What if you want to do a Journey between Cabin & Pleasure Beach? If you’ve just missed a Starr Gate Tram, you’re left wit 2 options.
Option 1- you wait 20 minutes for the next Starr Gate Tram & Then catch that one to the Pleasure Beach
Option 2- you wait 10 minutes for the North Station Tram, get that to North Station & Wait a further 15 minutes for a Starr Gate Tram, and then take that to the Pleasure Beach. This would add on an additional 10 minutes, than if you waited at the outset for the direct Starr Gate Tram.
Neither of those options are efficient of Practical.
I wouldn’t have really minded if they gave you an opportunity to change Trams at North Station – Or if the North Station services headed to Starr Gate instead of going back to Fleetwood
NOONE? Peter Noone? Currently coining it doing 60’s revival shows in the the States where he resides. Mind you if he does a summer season at South Pier he may well get the tram to meet Mrs.Brown’s lovely daughter at North Station.????
I don’t agree; it seems an improvement. As revealed, two thirds of customers travel to the centre of town, so it’s a decision for the benefit of the majority.
The fanfare announcement that fails to deliver anything close to what was promised as part of the upgrade and subsequent extension perfectly illustrates just how increasingly bleak the tramways medium term future looks. I can see why some are convinced that some of the failing arm’s length council controlled limited company management team want to be sacked at this point to avoid the humiliation of been at the helm as the ship goes down. The deck chairs of the HMS Blackpool (aka Titanic) continue to be moved around but end result seems almost afait complit at this point.
It is an improved service that increases the frequency on all sections of line and requires more trams to operate it.
Of course, in high season it really needs a supplement service every twenty minutes from Little Bispham to Pleasure Beach
It reduces the direct frequency, which is poor. BTS haven’t a clue and need to be got rid of.
The new Tram timetable is disappointing to say the least. It might be an upgrade compared to last Summer, but it’s a massive downgrade compared to the current Winter Timetable
All daytime North Station Services will be Terminating there, and then head back in the same direction that they came – meaning that a North Station Service from Fleetwood will head back North, instead of continuing south to Starr Gate. (The same Goes for North Station services from Starr Gate).
Once again. There hasn’t been a single consideration for Tourists staying in the Hotels on North Shore.
If you’re going to the Pleasure Beach from Cabin, you are then faced with the Following 2 options- Neither of them are practical, or ideal:
*Option 1- Wait 20 minutes for the next Starr Gate Tram & take that to the Pleasure Beach.
*Option 2 – Wait 10 minutes for the North Station Tram. Wait an additional 15 minutes at North Station for the Starr Gate Tram & take that to the Pleasure Beach – This would increase your Journey by an additional 10 minutes than if you chose to wait for the Starr Gate Tram at the outset
The new Timetable is a Shambles and it needs to be reviewed. I have a few alternative timetables in mind. Given that Flexity 005 is out of Service Long Term, the PVR needs to be no higher than 15 Vehicles
*Option 1- keep the current 15 minute timetable in place.
*Option 2 – Increase the Service Frequency to every 10 minutes, with every service being Starr Gate to Fleetwood – Via North Station
*Option 3 – Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station – Every 20 mins, Alternating with a Direct Pleasure Beach to Bispham service – Every Overlapping 20mins
*Option 4 – Bring in the new Timetable as intended – but add in a Half Hourly direct service between Pleasure Beach & Bispham to plug the gap created by the North Station Trams
*Option 5 – Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station – Every 20 mins, Alternating with a Starr Gate to Fleetwood (Direct) – Every overlapping 20mins
Your Option 5 is EXACTLY what IS happening!!!
I beg to differ on that. The new timetable seems to be suggesting the complete opposite to what I am.
If the new Timetable is anything to go by, It looks as though the North Station services will be going back to where they first came from (I.e: If a North Station service is coming from Fleetwood, It’ll be returning back toFleetwood. If It’s coming from Starr Gate, It’ll be returning to Starr Gate).
Agreed. The leaflet clearly states
North Station
These trips terminate at Blackpool North Station stop
and that matches the timetable.
It would appear that a tram runs Star Gate to Fleetwood then Fleetwood to North Station and return, then Fleetwood to Star Gate then Star Gate to North station and return. Then the cycle is repeated.
In a little over 36 hours we’ll know what actually happens
I’m not sure why everyone seems to think the service will be split at North Station. The timetable clearly shows the Fleetwood trams will all go to Starr Gate with every other one going via North Station (adding 20 minutes to the total journey if you remain in the tram). Overall the entire route now gets a tram every 10 minutes which is great for the main bulk of passengers.
Its 10 minutes either side of North Station but 20 direct, so its a reduced direct timetable. Ridiculous in season when a lot of people stay North and want to go beyond north pier.
Basically the winter timetable is better!!!!!
‘The timetable clearly shows the Fleetwood trams will all go to Starr Gate with every other one going via North Station (adding 20 minutes to the total journey if you remain in the tram).’
Well, that was what happened to me when I travelled from Fleetwood to Starr Gate, via North Station, yesterday, 2nd April.
That seems to apply early morning and again in the evening.
The timetable seems to indicate trams arriving at North Station returning whence they came after a five or six minute layover rather than a through service. This is what Gareth wrote in the original article.
As expected. North Station Trams are terminating & going back to the very same place that they came from opposed to carrying into Starr Gate
If you’re wanting to travel between Bispham & the Pleasure Beach, You’ll have to wait 20 minutes at Cabin for the next direct Tram. Or get the North Station Tram to North Station & wait another 15 minutes for the Starr Gate Tram to show up – adding an additional 10 minutes onto your Journey compared to waiting for the Starr Gate Tram.
What’s even more idiotic is the fact that Starr Gate Trams depart North Station 5 minutes BEFORE the Fleetwood Tram arrives (and vice versa). How is that conveniant for someone travelling to the Pleasure Beach from Bispham?
One of Three things need to happen:
*Either the Timetable needs adjusting to allow for those passngers to change at North Station.
*A Complete overhaul of the timetable to make it easier for those travelling beyond North Pier. This could include completely getting rid of the Starr Gate to Fleetwood services & simply having two seperate services (Starr Gate to North Station/Return & North Station to Fleetwood/Return). assuming this is at a 10 minute frequency, the change time at North Station could be as low as 5 minutes (if the timetable is desinged correctly). It may not be ideal for through passengers, but it beats waiting 15 minutes at North Station, or 20 minutes at Bispham
*Or a build a 2nd Platform at Talbot Square to allow passngers to change Trams easily so they can get to where the need to be
You cannot expect every passenger to change, that’s just ridiculous.
just run a 10 minute service via North station and tighten up the dwell time. Sorted.
BTS have this notion that hardly anyone travels past when most do! Some made up survey somehwre recons only about 20% go through. Well that’s true if you count all the people ona north station terminating tram.
I agree Nick. A 10 minute minute through service going via North Station would be the most logical idea.
Unfortunately, Blackpool Transport won’t implement such a Timetable as it’s too much of a rational & sensible decision for them to make.
They won’t do it because there’s not enough trams! Even with the tightened timings of this current timetable (which most are struggling to manage) it would require 17 trams and an extra 5 or 6 crews per day.
There’s currently 1 long term OOU and at least 1 training most days, so you’ve only 16 before accidents, breakdowns etc.
It’s not rational or sensible for you to try to run a service that needs more trams and more crews than you have available!
Absolutely not. That would just lead to full trams making pointless journeys to North Station because there would be space for passengers to board at North Station
The current timetable recognises the two distinct traffic flows, one along the prom, the other too and from the station
Resources probably don’t permit it but an additional Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham service every 20 minutes in high season might be the answer
Ian
The timetable does not recognise the traffic flows as it ignores the need for travel beyond north pier!
I expect that the long gap to change for a southbound tram at North Station will discourage north to south passengers from occupying space that would be required for visitors with luggage. Also it provides a more frequent service for those who commute from the northern Fylde Coast into town, plus shoppers. That way everyone gets a fair share of the available service – very much horses for courses.
Say in peak season, a furious commuter from the Bispham area is left to splash out on a taxi because tram after tram passes full with passengers bound for the Pleasure Beach, a highly popular deatination, otherwide said commuter could face discipline for repeat tardiness or else would drive to town adding to peak season congestion. However every commuter now has the option of a North Station Only service. During off-peak the service split would in similar fashion offer more choice to local pensioners heading for the shops in town (admittedly, those that are left!). I suspect that those generating the new timetable will have looked at the bigger picture.
So what is happening? It’s really not rocket science! They should send every tram end to end with alternate ones running via (NOT TO) North station. Then give the direct cars an extra 10 minute layover at Fleetwood Feery where they are at the end of the route and won’t get in the way and another 10 at StarrGate
If they actually are turning at North Station and going back the way they came then that would be amazingly stupid, even for Blackpool!
I look at the tram systems in San Francisco and New Orleans and wonder why Blackpool Council didn’t go there to see how it should be done!
They are using North Station as terminus, same as last year. yes it is stupid, what do you expect from Blackpool Transport?
Comments are now closed on this article as there is nothing new being added and we are just going round and round in circles.