If you head into Blackpool and see a splash of green and cream onto the tramway don’t worry you’re not seeing things! Flexity2 012 has returned to service carrying a new vinyl wrap in what Blackpool Transport have described as a tribute to the rich heritage of the tramway.
012 had been absent from service since December 2025 and last time it was seen out on the tramway it was carrying an advertising livery for Pleasure Beach. This contract had come to an end and the vinyls were removed from the tram but in doing this it damaged the original purple and white livery and so some rectification was needed before it could be seen back out on the Prom.
This is when Blackpool Transport made the decision to give it a fresh new look with the aim of also showing their ongoing commitment towards the heritage of the tramway – whilst they continue to work behind the scenes in preparing trams for static display during Lightpool as well as returning heritage trams to service in the future.
Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, said: “While we’re on track to have some static displays ready for next month’s Lightpool Festival, in the meantime we want to ensure our heritage plans remain in the public eye.
“Our engineers and volunteers are also doing all they can to restore some of our best-loved trams and bring others up to modern-day operating standards, and this nostalgic makeover aims to remind everyone of their efforts behind the scenes.
“We’re delighted to be able to use one of our younger trams to showcase our commitment to a safe and sustainable future for our wider heritage operations.”
012 returned to service late afternoon on Saturday 26th September 2026 when it worked North Pier to Little Bispham services before and after the latest night of fireworks which saw a split service operate.
- Video of the return to service of 012 can be viewed on the YouTube channel of Podbaba Transport at https://www.youtube.com/@podbabatransport7515
012 arrives at North Pier with its first public journey since December 2025 on its way to Little Bispham. It is just passing 011 in its advert for Tenpin.
012 is now at Little Bispham and having let the last of its passengers off it now moves onto the loop.
Another look at 012 as its now on the loop. (All Photographs by Oliver Shenton, 26th September 2026)
This livery looks very smart and complements the Flexity body contours and glazing. Many transport ‘branding experts’ seem to believe that liveries should defy the vehicle, rather than complement its shape – take for example the Avanti West Coast livery on the Pendolino or the early Stagecoach livery applied to its Routemasters. I would say this livery is far superior to the Blackpool fleet livery of purple and white.
As welcome as this is it really is unforgiveable that the elected representatives of Blackpool continue to avoid any form of public announcement of what is afoot with their area of responsibility or of their wholly owned subsidiary BTS.
I am told that things are happening behind the scenes but this is totally inappropriate and unsatisfactory froma 100% publicly owned and managed activity. I genuinely feel sorry for anyone inheriting the mess left behind by the previous generation of managers at BTS but they have been in place for coming up for a year now and their silence really does not engender confidence.
I know and understand that the utter disaster with the Flexxities was not of this management’s making and that remedying this example of how not to do it unless you want a gong on the way has taken up all their attention – but – Blackpool is bigger than just a commuter run and if it wants to be regarded favourably needs to put forward a far better P R performance.
I have asked for public information for almost two years now from all aspects of the governing organisations. Its up to them whether to be forthcoming – or whether their hand is forced by other means to get information when it is being wrongly with-held
I support your sentiments entirely. All this talk about the many wonderful things unfolding ‘behind the scenes’ begins to grate after this prolonged period of utter inactivity, where the only developments seem to have been the closure and impending demolition of the workshops, and the continued deterioration of the heritage fleet inside the depot.
I totally agree with Frank. It’s shambolic that a publicly owned and operated company seems to be unable or unwilling to answer questions. It’s also totally unacceptable that no heritage illuminated tours are running this year, both from a heritage and commercial aspect.
But what REALLY worries me is a seemingly total lack of talent at Blackpool Transport when it comes to skilled repair and maintenance. Note that 012 has been vinyl wrapped (likely by an outside contractor) and not actually painted. The problem with vinyl is that water gets under the joints, starts to bubble up and then stays there, unable to evaporate in the atmosphere. The result causes damage to the underlying bodywork including rot, rust and electrolytic corrosion, depending in the construction materials.
I used to complain that what BT regarded as a heritage restoration was just a repaint, not any actual restoration. Now it seems they can’t even use a paint brush! What a woefully poor performance. I would think twice about my own safety before getting on a tram in Blackpool these days.
Modern vinyl is far superior to what it used to be. If the surface is prepared properly and it’s fitted by a competent installer, the adhesive can remain sound for years.
It’s also quicker and easier to apply, easier to repair if damaged, and far easier to change in future than a full repaint. A huge proportion of commercial vehicles now spend most of their working lives carrying extensive vinyl graphics or complete wraps without it causing significant deterioration to the underlying bodywork.
Poorly fitted or damaged vinyl can trap moisture, certainly, but that’s an installation/maintenance issue rather than an inherent problem with using vinyl.
And jumping from “they wrapped a tram rather than painted it” to questioning the safety of the operational fleet is a pretty enormous leap.
Of course they its Vinyl – no one paints articulated Trams in what is effectively an advert! What a totally ridiculous whinge.
The Heritage Trams had far more than just a repaint – refurbish more than restoration but certainly not just a repaint.
I’ll stand to be corrected, so what did they do? They certainly didn’t check out the wiring on the twin cars before putting them back into service after a quick repaint, hence the fire. Vehicles that had been refurbished (balloons with wide doors etc) were actually completed before the age of the LRVs, when BT did still have skilled staff. The problem is they don’t have them any longer
They dont have any skilled staff? Of course they do, but the skill sets required have changed considerably over the years. You simply cannot maintain and operate a modern fleet of LRVs with an unskilled workforce.
The issues facing the Flexity fleet are largely failures of management and the effective control of risk, not evidence of a lack of technical ability on the shop floor. There’s a considerable difference between having an unskilled workforce and having a skilled workforce operating within a poorly managed organisation.
I dont think anyone can defend the condition of the heritage fleet either. It’s been declining for years, again largely through poor management and a lack of investment. But realistically, how many permanent engineering staff could be justified to maintain a relatively small collection of vehicles, many of which now require substantial restoration?
We’re not talking about giving a tram a quick refurbishment and putting it back into service. We’re talking about several skilled people potentially spending months, maybe years, on a single vehicle. That’s precisely the sort of project modern contractors are now better equipped and more financially viable for, rather than maintaining a large permanent workforce for an intermittent programme of major restorations.
There’s plenty to criticise about how Blackpool Transport has managed both fleets, but suggesting that the fleet lacks any skilled staff is a insult to the people who keep the modern tramway operating every day.
The twin cars never claimed to have restoration work on them bar tidying up and a repaint. Other restoration work on various trams has included new panels, new woodwork, seat refurbishment, work on controllers, some electrical work (not as extensive as probably should have been). Certainly 631 had extensive work done. 66 even had a bogie overhaul!!!
Anyone else notice 012 had its fleet number moved before entering service?
Those depot photos are already history.
I definitely approve of the colour scheme. It would be wonderful if it was rolled out across the modern fleet.
Is this an attempt at distracting people from the issues with the heritage fleet? Probably, yes. Does it look nice? Also yes. And in fairness to BTS, 012 needed an external refresh anyway so they might as well do something nice with it.
Personally I’m not totally convinced by the exact livery chosen for it – the green ‘V’ looks a bit odd on something so modern (I saw someone suggest that 012 looks like its wearing a thong, and now I can’t unsee it!), and I think the fake bumpers look quite silly. Otherwise though, its a decent effort and a big improvement on all the shabby purple and white trams running in Blackpool.
It’s definitely smarter livery than the current, and somewhat worn out livery. Would be good to see this throughout the fleet.
The livery looks fine and suits the tram well, its pity that the green is not nearer the normal we have seen on the tramway in the past. look at the shades on car 645 at crich
for a nearer shade of cream
Any Blackpool FC fans reading the comments will chuckle over the shade preferences. Every season when the new shirt comes out there is conflict over whether it is ” the correct shade of tangerine.”