The Lancastrian Transport Trust have been facing an increasing number of challenges
\nover the last few years. Funding for its proposed museum has still not been obtained, and difficulties in finding suitable accommodation for its growing collection led to the majority of its trams ending up in open storage last year. Although this was initially intended to be a temporary measure, almost a year later little has changed, prompting the Trust to urgently review its future. At the same time, Blackpool Transport have been making great progress in the drive to build a viable future for the operation of its own heritage trams in the town, which led to the decision that both organisations should join forces to enhance the heritage fleet on the tramway, and secure the future of the LTT’s priceless trams. This will also\u00a0allow the newly streamlined LTT to focus its efforts on its equally valuable collection of vintage buses, which are obviously much easier to store and operate than the trams.<\/p>\n
LTT Trustee Eric Berry said of the development: “Now that the tramway upgrade has been completed we have witnessed Blackpool Transport, and Blackpool Council\u2019s, outstanding commitment to retaining and operating a working heritage tram fleet in the town. We now feel it only correct that the trams which we had saved for the future should return
\nto their home tramway and into the care of the new charity.\u201d\u00a0Key representatives of the LTT will now work closely with BTS to create a brand new charitable organisation to oversee the historic tram fleet, which will hopefully open up more funding opportunities to ensure that these trams are well cared for on their native system, although the trams will remain part of BTS’ own running fleet.<\/p>\n
Head of Blackpool Transport\u2019s heritage tram operations, Bryan Lindop, commented: \u201cI am thrilled that the Lancastrian Transport Trust has recognised the work that Blackpool Transport has done to secure a firm future for the best of the heritage trams in Blackpool. The creation of a new charity for the combined collections will allow us to build on our strengths and fill in the gaps in each collection, allowing us to develop a truly world class collection of heritage trams, right here in Blackpool!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryan continued: \u201cWhat we now need to do is to work together to mobilise tram enthusiasts, supporting groups and other interested parties into helping us to achieve our aims, for the benefit of all. To see these trams back running on Blackpool\u2019s famous seaside tramway would be fantastic, but it will come at a price!\u201d<\/p>\n
Clearly the implications for Blackpool Transport\u2019s heritage tram fleet are massive. Whilst it is tempting to speculate about the future prospects of the former LTT cars, it should be stressed that no firm plans have yet been confirmed for any of them as yet. However, for most, if not all of these trams the future now looks much brighter, and hopefully the potential of an OMO car and an open-balcony Standard car, amongst others, in the heritage fleet will be realised and at least some of them can now look forward to a triumphant return to their rightful place on Blackpool\u2019s promenade before too long.<\/p>\n
We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Lancastrian Transport Trust well with their future plans, although obviously their bus-related activities will come outside the scope of this website. We would also like to thank the LTT for taking this decision, which will surely benefit the vehicles, which is what tram preservationists should be all about. Eric Berry said: \u201cWe have always seen the Blackpool tramway as the logical home for our collection of Blackpool trams, and are delighted that the creation of the new charity will make this possible and allow transport enthusiasts and the public the opportunity to
\nexperience travel on the transport of yesteryear, which has always been the Lancastrian Transport Trust\u2019s main aim.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our congratulations and thanks also go to Blackpool Transport for stepping in to ensure the continued survival of\u00a0nine more trams, at least in the short term, and we look forward to finding out what they have in store for them all!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/LTT-143-1024x680.jpg\" "\\"LTT")
<\/a>Having missed out on the Blackpool 125 celebrations, the LTT\/BTS merger will hopefully allow Standard car 143 to run in Blackpool again. The tram is pictured at the Rigby Road depot open day, held on 26th September 2010.<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/LTT-715-1024x661.jpg\" "\\"LTT")
<\/a>1970s liveried Balloon 715 seen at North Pier on the last weekend of the 2011 season - which was expected to mark the end of its working life in Blackpool.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a shock development, the Lancastrian Transport Trust have agreed to transfer an incredible\u00a0NINE vintage trams into Blackpool Transport’s care. Following a period of negotiation, the LTT and BTS have agreed to merge their collections, to create the ultimate fleet … Continue reading