2026 has been a year so far which has seen little change in the core Blackpool Tramway fleet with a number of trams having been out of service for a prolonged period. The well publicised ORR Improvement Notice remains in place and a revised timetable is also in operation to counter for the bogie degradation issues, but there have recently been a couple of cosmetic changes to the trams.
Earlier this year we saw the trams start to receive special stickers on both ends to celebrate the fact that they were named “Tramway Operator of the Year” at last year’s National Transport Awards. But at the time not all trams received them which had included 015 but that has now changed with the tram finally getting the stickers during early July 2026.
There has also been a change to the advert carried by 011, although many will probably not notice it! When it originally received an advert for tenpin in June of this year the corners just said tenpin but this has now been changed to include their website address so now states tenpin.co.uk.
A number of the Flexity2 trams also remain out of service. As reported last time this includes 005 (since July 2022), 010 (August 2025), 012 (December 2025) and 017 (December 2025). They have now also been joined out of use by 001 which was last seen in May 2026.
It has been noted that 012 appears to have had some work undertaken, which may see it return to service at some point in the future.
015 with its “Tramway Operator of the Year” stickers on the front. Its at North Pier.
The slightly revised look for 011 – the corners now state tenpin.co.uk – is captured. (Both Photographs by Oliver Shenton, 14th July 2026)