Article updated 5/9/26 following quote in local press from Lea Harrison, Blackpool Transport Managing Director.
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.
Since this news originally broken local media has provided an update from Blackpool Transport Managing Director, Lea Harrison: “While we are hopeful that heritage tours can return in time for October’s Lightpool festival, recent inspections of the fleet have found that operational trams need more significant work before they can be safely and reliably returned to service.
“This work includes structural welding, upgrades to electrical systems and axle repairs. Other options include staging static displays featuring two of the town’s best-known trams. This is dependent on being able to complete restoration works on the Western Train and Rocket over the next few weeks, and on whether a suitable location can be found.
“We remain committed to preserving Blackpool’s rich tramway history and further updates will be issued in due course.”
Whilst it is obviously a massive shame that the illuminated trams in particular will be absent from the promenade this year, I actually think this may be for the greater good long-term. It would be far better to take time to properly assess any heritage trams that are planned to be used, and ensure that the required work to make them safe and fit to operate is done properly, rather than rush it for the sake of appeasing an angry mob by running a few tours this year. There have been far too many cases in the heritage era of trams being rushed back into service to meet tight deadlines, resulting in trams running that really shouldn’t have been allowed out! Just look at Standard 143 – it didn’t even do a test run before its launch, and that was a disaster.
I strongly suspect that ALL of the heritage fleet will need large sums of money spending on them before they can be considered fit to run safely on a public system, no doubt thanks to the neglect of the previous management. When was the last time any of them had a truck overhaul? When were most of them re-wired? Even basic things like revarnishing and paintwork touching-up to protect the bodywork has been virtually nonexistent for years. The many people shouting about this on social media really should be directing their anger at those who allowed this situation to happen in the first place, rather than the people who are trying to dig themselves out of the hole that was left behind.
Oddly, I feel more optimistic for the future than I did in the last few years despite this news – but the road ahead will be a long and challenging one for sure. I doubt we’ll ever see the likes of the anniversary spectacular events again, but here’s hoping for some form of heritage service to return in the next few years.
I think that Blackpool Transport is being absolutely correct in its approach to running of historic trams and that, by concentrating on the safety and operational requirements of running the Bombardier Flexity 2 fleet, it is doing the right thing.
Too many of these very expensive cars have been laid up for too long and they must take priority:
001 has an allover advert for Blackpool Zoo that is current but it has been out of service for months.
005 has not turned a wheel in almost three years and has been largely cannibalised to keep the others going. At almost €3million a piece, it needs to be rebuilt and repaired then returned to service.
010 has not been seen since the beginning of the year.
012 was an operational car but had its Pleasure Beach advert removed and that wrecked the paintwork. It was, apparently a runner save for the disgusting state of the paint and bodywork, and yet, two more allover adverts have since been affixed to other running trams.
017 – one of the newer batch – has not been seen in months either.
Blackpool Transport needs to get these five trams operational before even considering any heritage trams.
To run at the same operational safety level as the Flexity fleet, heritage trams need to be fitted with ODAS (Obstacle detection system) and this, despite claims from enthusiasts that it cannot be achieved, is very much achievable. The entire fleet in Soller, Mallorca is fitted with Dick Kerr DB1 controllers (similar to Blackpool’s EE Z4 and Z6 controllers) but has emergency stop “red buttons” and obstacle detection.
Of course, before considering that, a decision simply MUST be made about which heritage trams should be operational. There are far too many relics sitting in Hopton Road shed that really must not see the light of day on the Promenade – becoming static exhibits in TramTown instead.
I would make the case that there should be no more than twelve operational heritage trams plus the illuminated feature cars in order for them to be financially successful. Blackpool Transport could seek sponsorship for those cars to provide an income to justify their operation and maintenance, similar to that employed in 1985 for the Tramway Centenary.
I have to state that, whilst I am a tram enthusiast, 42 years of working in public transport management with buses and trams, the financial viability of heritage operation, alongside the health and safety requirements, must take ABSOLUTE PRIORITY over the “they are part of Blackpool” approach adopted by some who would throw caution to the wind in order to see their beloved old trams back on the Promenade.
Blackpool’s motto is “Progress”, not regress, and the fleet of Flexitys more than copes with customer numbers. With them all available for service, there really is no financial case for heritage trams in their current form unless somebody comes along and sponsors them.
Perhaps I am being too cynical, but BTS appears to be escaping criticism for allowing the situation of the Flexity fleet to have become so serious an issue in the first place.
Perhaps my own years managing a transport fleet, albeit one involved in logistics rather than passenger transport, have given me a false impression, but I had always understood that vehicle maintenance was rather important, and certainly not something to be skimped upon.
Not really a surprise considering the Flexity sutuation.
Yes its a shame but BTS is a public transport company first and foremost and must have a fleet of vehicles fit for purpose so that must take priority.
Therefore Heritage must wait.
‘Yes its a shame but BTS is a public transport company first and foremost and must have a fleet of vehicles fit for purpose so that must take priority.’
Then perhaps BTS, as a Public Transport Company, should not have allowed their eighteen vehicles to get into a state which alarmed ORR in the first place?
Where have the Western Train and Rocket gone. Back in the shed?
Clearly, Blackpool Transport must prioritise the Flexity fleet as the service they provide is key to maintaining the Tramway itself, without which there would be no case for running a heritage service. Twelve trams, aside for the illuminated cars, seems about right. Six of these should be Balloons including the much-missed Princess Alice. The other six – a couple of Boats, 304 a Brush Car, 648 and Bolton 66 or Standard 47 – one pre-streamline car at a time would be enough to run and in any case switches with the static display vehicles could be achieved on the odd occasion subject to the available funds. This could also allow the Brush Car to be exchanged into service with 279 if so desired. Of course there would be trams that simply never would be able to run such as 710.
I feel confident that once the Flexities are sorted the heritage trams can be triaged into the most likely to run and made ready for service with all the necessary safety equipment. Then a service of the old school trams can be seen once again along the promenade operating to ORR expectations – a largely worry-free service, we hope.
I would say 147 as its more use than 66 and far newer (restoration wise). Also I would say after 45 years 66 needs to retire to museum life. Id say 660 not 304 to improve standardisation of equipment/drivers.
Its debateable whether a twin should be in there rather than so many balloons.
Assuming that Blackpool tramway can remain financially sound, depending not just on getting all the Flexities operational but also maintaining the track in a safe condition. There is a link between the two. Then in the not too distant future, a new fleet will be needed.
Thanks for all the interest shown in the City Class Tram moving from Blackpool.
The inspiration for the design approach came from the pioneering US PCC. By considering all aspects of wheel/rail interface and power trains, with a relevant body design, Trampower has one of the most advanced trams in Britain weighing only 22tonnes for 80seats and 200 passengers. UMIST also measured the power consumption at 1kWh/km, the lowest of its class. It has run at 60mph and acceleration is set for 1.5m/s/s, although a slave vehicle was tested at 2.2m/s/s. Presently it is being recommissioned to run again.
Riding on a modern tram is one thing but we are offering the chance to drive it, when it is running again. A week’s driving course will cost £2500. You can however take advantage of a sample drive for only £125. Reply to : Prof. Lewis Lesley: email:
LJSLESLEY@aol.com
Out of curiosity, where has it operated at 60MPH? I can’t think of anywhere in the country that operates such speed at that voltage?
Yet it was never actually allowed to carry passengers anywhere (I believe it wasn’t actually authorised in Birkenhead) and tried to cook its test driver. Not to mention falling off the rails at Starr Gate.
Where has it run at 60mph?
Do the ORR know you intend to run it somewhere?
Don’t get me wrong I’d love to see a British Tram up and running but in the last 20? years we’ve not really seen any significant progress (except for the Coventry project which isn’t really Tramway, more people mover) and certainly nothing in Preston.
Can I ask where the wester train and rocket been moved too?
They’ve just gone back in the shed.
I haven’t visited, but have been told that both have been shunted back into the depot. Hopefully, someone from the area can confirm (or deny!) this?
I think a twin car should be in the list – they are an important part of the system’s history.
I very much hope that all the above welcome explanations prove to be correct and that we may see some of our beloved old trams back in heritage service, preferably minus negative opinions.
One question does remain unanswered though….. How and why has the condition of the Flexity fleet been allowed to deteriorate to such a degree?
Perhaps it was decided that it was cheaper not to service them, say nowt, and hope no-one noticed???
I believe that the previous MD, who presumably allowed this to happen, left with an OBE.
Unfortunately, I believe that the previous MD was very much at the mercy of the Council. I’m sure she did her best but was often stymied in her plans. The Council, to be fair, must have had more pressing priorities such as housing and welfare in general. A great pity but a sign of the times. Don’t forget, it is the Council who have condemned the workshops to demolition, not Blackpool Transport. It seems equally likely that their financial policies were behind the neglect of both the modern and heritage fleets.
Don’t forget that it was the then MD who either made redundant, or ‘redeployed’ those members of BTS staff who had previously maintained the heritage vehicles.
Her claim at the time was that ‘outside contractors’ would be brought in instead to undertake the work.
As we all know, Lancashire is absolutely replete with people intimately skilled in the maintenance of 80+ years old tramcars!
I believe that volunteer involvement was largely stopped at around the same time.
It is true that the Council have had the workshops condemned, but are alledgely unwilling to permit an independent inspection by an outside agent.
Attention should also be given to who was BTS Chair at the time that the decision was made to not renew the maintenance contract for the Flexities, and who was also Chair at the sign off for the demolition of the fitting and paint shops at Rigby Road. As BTS Chair, he had a major say and guidance for BTS in both subjects.
I understand that, whilst Bombardier provided warranty support for Blackpool’s Flexity 2 tramcars, the day to day maintenance was, or at least should have been, carried out in house, by Blackpool Transport.
In short, there was no ‘maintenance contract’ to cancel, or at least ‘not to renew.’
Indeed, Alstom, who acquired Bombardier, have issued statements to this effect. Alstom have pointed out that while other network operators (like Nottingham Express Transit) use Alstom for servicing and maintenance, “Blackpool Transport does theirs in-house”.
The fitting & paint shops were, and are, surely legally the responsibility of Blackpool Council, not Blackpool Transport Services? Oh, and in November 2023, a board meeting of Blackpool Transport agreed the following: “To endorse retaining the Fitting Shop and Paint Shop, the retention of South Garage and not to repair the Tramshed roof at this time.” The Chair at the time was one Councillor John Boughton.
I doubt that the Chair of BTS, whoever that might be, was in any position to sign off on the demolition of any building which his company did not own.
I’m not too sure why Blackpool Transport, and their owners Blackpool Council, are getting such an easy ride here. The way the so-called upgrade has been handled from day 1 has been a shambles! I remember someone saying many years ago, before this whole mess happened “If the upgrade isn’t done then the tramway will be reduced to tourist line between Pleasure Beach and Bispham.”
Well, frankly, that would have been far better! All the heritage trams would have survived, the depot wouldn’t have been allowed to deteriorate (although haw much deterioration of a hunderd year old building suddenly happens when it’s use changes is open to debate) and we wouldn’t have been saddled with a fleet of multi-million pound white-elephants that nobody seems able to keep on the road!
How much money will be lost this illumination season, not just directly from lost revenue on the trams, but also from the town in general now people have yet another reason less to visit.
Had the trams been a listed building or a public park that had been left to decay in such a way some heads would have done some serious rolling. But in the UK there is no protection for any form of historic vehicles.
I’ve always said the Blackpool tramway should have been treated like the cable cars in San-Francisco or the above mentioned trams in Soller.
I disagree about priority for the modern fleet. Nobody cares about the purple plastic caterpillars! Replace them with much cheaper and easier to maintain diesel buses. Take the tramway 100% heritage, in the same way that has been achieved by a good number of little-known lines across the US and elsewhere.
The illuminations are a pathetic shadow of their former selves, I don’t believe there is anyone in Blackpool with either the vision or skills to bring the old trams back and the whole town is like a seaside retreat for druggies and criminals. The Tower and possibly it could be argued the Pleasure Beach, really are the only things left.
Someone from Blackpool Council should go see the team on the Isle of Mann if they want to know how things should be done!
In retrospect I am inclined to agree that going the fully heritage route may have been the best outcome for Blackpool as a whole. I have significant doubt that there will be funding and a business case for replacing the Flexities when the time comes (and that time might be sooner rather than later) and if the remaining heritage trams are allowed to further deteriorate or moved away, then the case for keeping the tramway open becomes quite small.
On the other hand, becoming a fully heritage attraction would have opened up charitable and lottery funding as well as potentially becoming a significant tourist draw for the town. For a while the Heritage Tram Tours were the number one thing to do in Blackpool on TripAdvisor. When I visited in 2019 the trams were well-patronised for the most part and even Peter Kay had come down for a ride!
Oh well, I still have hope the heritage-tours-on-a-modern-LRV-system can work and certainly recently developments with Bolton 66 have been positive. Let’s just wait and see.
When the Flexxities were ordered the option of a cradle to grave maintenance contract was on the table. Blackpool declined the option deciding to do the work themselves – and then like so much in Britain didn’t do that either. Then when the wheels fall off?!
The attraction of a heritage operation needs to be looked at in tourism mode, not tramway or transport. Its experience that’s being sold in this market – not transport but if the experience of the last fourteen years those with the requisite skills are few and far between – but they do exist. Strangely enough the P S Waverley sailed right past Blackpool last Monday on her way from Ayr to Dartmouth. Such a possibility 52 years ago when she was first preserved would have been ridiculed but with the inspired management we have just now it is happening before your very eyes. But we have had the kind of management that BTS has had recently too – so we know how hard me must press for incompetence to be exposed and removed when it somehow reaches the top. Accordingly to view and refer to tourism operation in the same breath as core public transport is entirely inappropriate and when it is conflated with the mixed political messages emerging from Webb and Williams and formerly Galley be challenged and if what is emerging is nonsense say so rather than just letting it lie! As a long time property manager I believe we have been sold a massive pup about the condition of the paintshop. The walls are as straight as a dye. Similarly there is no defect on the roof cladding that a bag of roof bolts and a high lift would not cure. Rigby Road – drop the glazing – change the roof bars and the same is more than likely but the Council and BTS won’t let anyone check their homework! I wonder why? A good dose of positive and practical management is what’s needed, not nodding to our “superiors” because – frankly – they aren’t!
Frank has raised some very good points here. I find it odd how a building that has been in use for a whole century suddenly becomes ‘unsafe’ in the eyes of the landlord when it’s use/tenants change.
It’s been reported elsewhere that the Western Train and amazingly, the Rocket are being moved to Starr Gate for cosmetic repairs and preparation for display during the Illuminations season.
Of course, the Rocket is unable to carry passengers in any case as it can’t meet current health and safety requirements, but it would be great to see it again as a static display. It was a most welcome sight on the Gynn Roundabout when stationed there.
Yes, it would be pleasing to see the Rocket on display.
However, how much life expectancy is it likely to have exposed to the pleasures of the Blackpool climate?