Tracks which have remained disused for a number of years have been removed in Blackpool as part of the development of the Foxhall and Blundell Street areas of the town. Included in the rails which have been removed is the historic alignment on Princess Street (part of the original tramway in Blackpool back in 1885) as well as those which provided access to the north end of the Fitting Shop.
The first of the tracks to go were those on Blundell Street which meant that trams could access the north end of the Fitting Shop (which now houses Tramtown and is the only part of the Rigby Road complex where any form of maintenance can take place, although not at the moment with it being closed for electrical work). Whilst this was rarely used, it was a useful access and its understood is the only way that the longer trams such as Coronation Cars and Centenary Cars can get into the Fitting Shop. But that will not longer be possible with no access from that way.
The second significant removal relates to the tracks in Princess Street. These have been long disused – their last real use came in the spring of 2005 when whilst the tracks along Lytham Road were relaid they were the only access to get to Rigby Road Depot – and have remained dormant ever since. Their access to the Prom was taken away in 2013 with the road resurfaced minus any track.
From an operational point of view it isn’t that significant that they have now gone, but historically is another matter. This was considered to be the oldest section of street tramway remaining in the UK (although obviously no longer used) and some reports have the rails there as over a century old. It was also the original access to the old Blundell Street tram depot.
The new housing development at Blundell Street is the catalyst for the removal of the tracks. Here we see houses either side and the tracks rapidly disappearing. (Photograph by Michael Morton, 5th March 2026)
The historic track on Princess Street removed to bring an end to this part of the Blackpool Tramway’s history.
Some track remains in place in this shot but isn’t likely to be there for much longer.
The act of removing the rails is seen here with some of the new housing development on the left. (Photographs by David Umpleby, 16th March 2026)
Just to clarify, the tracks in Lytham Road were not relaid in 2005. It was the junction at Manchester Square that was replaced.
Should have left them in place as a nod to the tramway heritage of that area. In Portsmouth there are three streets with tram tracks left in situ since the last tram ran in 1936. Must have cost thousands to dig them up as well.
Some folks seem to think that the whole country should be turned into a heritage theme park.
It is indeed sad to see such vintage tracks uprooted, but why leave unused tram lines in place where they may serve as a deal-breaker when trying to sell adjascent properties? I would think that the removal of the alternative means of entering the fitting shop seems to indicate that neither the Coronations nor Centenaries will be deemed to be acceptable as running heritage vehicles. As I have often observed, due to their passenger capacity, that Balloons should always be prioritised with a couple of Boats for fine weather plus illuminated trams. These are the ones that will bring in the money, with the remainder largely irrelevant from a commercial perspective. It is quite possible that the new manager will see the situation in this way, but surely better to have a few Balloons and Boats than absolutely nothing as in Sheffield and Edinburgh for instance.
I believe the plan for Rigby Road involves eventually demolishing the workshop building anyway and moving the workshop in to the main depot. As others have pointed out, the longer trams can also be maintained at Starr Gate in the meantime so don’t panic yet!
I believe that the removal of a section of track alongside BTS offices now means that it will no longer be possible for longer heritage cars, such as the ‘Coronations’ to access the workshops.
They can just go to Starr Gate.