The original timeline should have seen trams running on this extension \u2013 which leaves the Promenade line opposite North Pier and travels through Talbot Square, along Talbot Road and terminating in front of Blackpool North Railway Station \u2013 by April 2019. Obviously, that has not been met with various delays encountered, the most obvious of which was how long it took to remove the old Wilko\u2019s store which blocked the way at the far end of Talbot Road.<\/p>\n
Of all three extensions this is the only one which has actually seen trams run on it already. Overnight testing took place in March 2022 and a week of daytime testing then happened in June\/July 2022. But there has been no further testing or commissioning since this took place.<\/p>\n
The extension will not be able to open until all construction work on the new Holiday Inn and restaurant on the old Wilko\u2019s site is completed and this is expected to be during the first quarter of 2023. Following this more testing is likely to take place ahead of probably ghost running. At this stage no details of what service will run have been confirmed \u2013 the initial plan of trams every 10 minutes on the extension as well as on the Prom line are unlikely to happen, especially considering that frequency hasn\u2019t been seen on the tramway since before the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The latest estimate from Blackpool Council of an opening is May\/June 2023.<\/p>\n
Edinburgh Trams \u2013 Trams to Newhaven<\/strong><\/p>\n The longest of the three extensions \u2013 2.91 miles in length \u2013 this line will travel from York Place in Edinburgh City Centre to Newhaven via Leith Walk and Ocean Terminal. It will see eight new stops added to the network.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll read various articles on British Trams Online to say that the extension is on time and on budget but that only tells part of the story! Whilst its true to say that the specific Trams to Newhaven project is on schedule, it had originally been planned that this line would be part of the initial network but as has been widely reported this construction didn\u2019t go according to plan and large swathes of the system were axed \u2013 including that to Newhaven. If you were feeling uncharitable you could say that the line is already at least 10 years late but taking this extension as a new project it does remain on schedule.<\/p>\n No trams have yet run on the extension but initial testing and commissioning is schedule to take place in early 2023.<\/p>\n The line is due to open in Spring 2023.<\/p>\n West Midlands Metro \u2013 Wolverhampton Railway Station<\/strong><\/p>\n What is it with short extensions to railway stations on UK tramways? Similar to the extension in Blackpool the line to Wolverhampton Railway Station has been much delayed. Originally slated for opening in 2020 several proposed opening dates have come and gone \u2013 the last of which was Autumn 2022.<\/p>\n Leaving the current West Midlands Metro line just before St George\u2019s the extension travels along Piper\u2019s Row (with an intermediate stop adjacent to the Bus Station) before turning onto Railway Drive and then terminating at a new stop just beyond the entrance to the railway station.<\/p>\n The last delay to the line opening was put down to supply chain issues relating to equipment needed for the signals which in turn delayed other infrastructure work.<\/p>\n So far, no trams have run on the line. The estimate for opening remains Spring 2023.<\/p>\n Three systems, three extensions with three estimates of Spring 2023 \u2013 which one will be first? Will they all hit these latest estimates? We will find out over the next six months!<\/p>\n A previous extension on the West Midlands Metro \u2013 and the latest extension to open on a UK tramway \u2013 was that to Edgbaston Village. On 12th May 2022 testing took place along Broad Street which included two trams running in the same direction on gauging tests, electrical surge and load testing. The two trams were 39 and 40. (Photograph by Roland Bull)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you like covering new track on UK tramways then 2023 could be a very exciting year for you as after many twists and turns we could see three separate tramways opening new sections of line! For all three they … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/3940-rb-550x393.jpg\")
<\/a>