BTS announced that Bombardier Flexity 100% low floor cars have been
chosen for its 16 new cars (due in 2012). Blackpool Council is planning to house the new fleet at a new depot at Starr Gate (replacing the Go-Kart site). There is talk about a “museum” being built right next to it, this could house the remaining (once the new cars have arrived) fleet of “vintage” trams. Funding is only available for the depot, not the museum. If the museum also gets built, this will most certainly mean the end of the present Rigby Road shed.
May 3, 2009
June 1, 2009 at 10:55 am
I hope the museum does get given the go ahead it will sure give Blackpool a boost
June 24, 2009 at 7:17 pm
People need to wake up to the fact that the heritage depot proposal replacing the existing depot will be the death knell for most of the existing fleet. All twin cars, brush cars,centenary cars and many of the Balloons are to disappear and only one Boat is planned to be kept, the size of the site being a determining factor. the 22 trams to be kept will be 10/12 revamped Balloons,the illuminated cars, leaving not enough space for the many others that should be kept in Blackpool. It is not a very rosy picture!
June 24, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Indeed but there was never talk about keeping the whole old fleet (only a few selected cars). Let’s hope there isn’t any money available for this and they have to keep the old Rigby Road facility (and perhaps more of the old cars) as long as possible… Don’t forget: the upgrade of the Blackpool tramway to light rail means the end of the Blackpool trams as we know them today anyway (with heritage depot or without)!