Hopes have been raised that the suggested extension of the Blackpool & Fleetwood tramway could be a more realistic prospect than many people had thought, after Blackpool Borough Council announced that\u00a0a feasibility study is taking place to investigate the possibility of re-introducing trams to the town centre. Old rails last used in the 1960s remain buried under asphalt could be uncovered and brought back into use allowing trams to run from the promenade to North Station.<\/p>\n
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The idea of having a tram service to Blackpool’s biggest railway station is not a new one, and pointwork leading from the current promenade line at North Pier was laid as part of the recent upgrade works to make any future extension into the town less disruptive. However, the proposal has now been made to seriously consider whether the existing rails that were simply covered over rather than being dug up, could actually be re-used. Obviously this would save a considerable sum of money and make the project potentially a lot more viable. Regeneration of the area around the station has been planned for a while, and this latest idea opens up the possibility of a new transport interchange where trams, buses and trains could meet.<\/p>\n
However, there are a few potential areas of concern that could derail the plan. Presumably the condition of the track around Talbot Square is an unknown entity and would need to be properly assessed before a decision can be made on whether or not it is fit for further use by modern trams. Much of the route to North Station was made up of single track which may well need to be re-modelled, although it could potentially form a useful starting point for an extension. A re-think on road traffic may also be needed as in their twilight years, traffic congestion became a serious problem on the town routes. Blackpool Council have already been allocated funding for the feasibility study, which is due to end on April 20th. It remains to be seen whether this is a genuine forward step towards expanding the tramway, or if it is more a ‘pie in the sky’ scheme which has been well-timed to boost interest and confidence in the viability of the tram system following its \u00a3100 million makeover.<\/p>\n
A BBC online news report on the study also mentions that a tramway extension from Starr Gate to Blackpool Airport is being considered although no further details have been released as yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hopes have been raised that the suggested extension of the Blackpool & Fleetwood tramway could be a more realistic prospect than many people had thought, after Blackpool Borough Council announced that\u00a0a feasibility study is taking place to investigate the possibility … Continue reading