{"id":64124,"date":"2026-08-11T22:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=64124"},"modified":"2026-08-11T20:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:38:19","slug":"in-pictures-blackpool-tramways-airshow-split-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=64124","title":{"rendered":"In Pictures: Blackpool Tramway\u2019s Airshow split service"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday 8<sup>th<\/sup> and Sunday 9<sup>th<\/sup> August 2026 saw the annual Blackpool Airshow take place, and with large crowds expected on the Promenade it was publicised that a split service would be running with no trams between Manchester Square and North Pier. All plans look good on paper but alas on the first day of the service things didn\u2019t quite go according to that plan.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>To maintain the service on the southbound section \u2013 Manchester Square to Starr Gate \u2013 three trams were needed and 8<sup>th<\/sup> August saw <strong>003<\/strong>, <strong>007<\/strong> and <strong>018<\/strong> allocated to operate this service. They ran Starr Gate to Manchester Square and then moved forward out of service to use the crossover at Foxhall before resuming their service back south.<\/p>\n<p>On the northern section there were ten trams being used: <strong>002<\/strong>, <strong>004<\/strong>, <strong>006<\/strong>, <strong>009<\/strong>, <strong>011<\/strong>, <strong>013<\/strong>, <strong>014<\/strong>, <strong>015<\/strong> and <strong>016<\/strong>. Trams on this section were running between Fisherman\u2019s Walk and North Station (with some part route services also operating).<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the northern service in particular fell apart during the afternoon and at one stage eight of the ten trams were all to be found on Talbot Road causing even more congestion. Some of the problems were caused by trams being held from going up to North Station whilst <strong>006<\/strong> also suffered a fault causing further delays.<\/p>\n<p>The full story of what happened can be seen on YouTube from Podbaba Transport at <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/68uye0borTA?si=4DWyWDNQBTQDLyTn\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/68uye0borTA?si=4DWyWDNQBTQDLyTn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The good news is that second day of the Airshow saw a much more successful tramway operation!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_64125\" style=\"width: 423px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1.018-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64125\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64125\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1.018-mm-413x550.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"413\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1.018-mm-413x550.jpg 413w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1.018-mm-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1.018-mm.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64125\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the southern section of the tramway Foxhall crossover was within a fenced off compound (presumably for safety reasons). Here we see 018 about to use the crossover to return south.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_64126\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2.manchestersq-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64126\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64126\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2.manchestersq-mm-550x413.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2.manchestersq-mm-550x413.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2.manchestersq-mm-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2.manchestersq-mm.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">While the trams were quiet on the southern section the same could not be said of the Promenade! Looking towards Manchester Square here.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_64127\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.016-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64127\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64127\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.016-mm-550x310.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.016-mm-550x310.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.016-mm-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.016-mm.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64127\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Up at North Station away from the chaos of the Prom we see 016 departing.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_64128\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4.009-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64128\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64128\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4.009-mm-550x413.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4.009-mm-550x413.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4.009-mm-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4.009-mm.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64128\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">009 comes across the closed Promenade road with a northbound service at North Pier.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_64129\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5.011-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64129\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64129\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5.011-mm-550x413.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5.011-mm-550x413.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5.011-mm-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5.011-mm.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64129\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A look across to the Promenade route with 011 and another tram seen.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_64130\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6.006-mm.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-64130\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-64130\" src=\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6.006-mm-550x413.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6.006-mm-550x413.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6.006-mm-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6.006-mm.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-64130\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It\u2019s a packed platform at North Pier as we see 006 waiting on the right. (All Photographs by Michael Morton, 8th August 2026)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August 2026 saw the annual Blackpool Airshow take place, and with large crowds expected on the Promenade it was publicised that a split service would be running with no trams between Manchester Square and North &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=64124\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64124"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=64124"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64183,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64124\/revisions\/64183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=64124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=64124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=64124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}