As originally reported on the Everything Blackpool social media account, Blackpool Transport have confirmed to a member of the public that there will be no more heritage trams operating in 2026.
Regular heritage tram operations were suspended in December 2024 and although there have been limited tours run since then (notably during last year’s latter part of the Illuminations as well as a few private hires earlier in 2026) nothing permanent has run. The last official press release from Blackpool Transport was back in April 2026 when it was noted that there remained “bold plans” for the resumption of services but that there were “significant challenges” involved in their reintroduction and since then there have been various rumours about the future.
It has seemingly now been confirmed that there is now an acceptance at Blackpool Transport that they will not be able to ready the trams for service in 2026, and that their “bold plans” for the future will need to be worked on longer-term.
Considering that Blackpool Transport are still working on repairs on the core Flexity2 tram fleet to allow a higher frequency service to hopefully be reintroduced, the fact that they don’t have the capacity to prepare heritage trams for use this year probably shouldn’t be a massive surprise to most.
Blackpool Transport continue to say they remain committed to the future operation of the heritage trams, but that now looks set to be 2027 at the earliest.
Of the heritage trams in Blackpool, Bolton 66, Balloon 717 and the illuminated Frigate remain at Starr Gate Depot. The Western Train and Rocket which had been stabled on the depot fan at Rigby Road Depot have now also been moved.