New Trams

artist’s impression of the new Blackpool trams:

 

Link to Bombardier page

 

New Depot & New Tramcars

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.

 

News – 125th Anniversary of Blackpool Trams (in 2010)

The following cars should appear in Blackpool during the big celebrations:

• Stockport 5

• Manchester 765

• Leeds 399

• Southampton 45

• Sheffield 513

• Liverpool 762

• Bolton 66

• Glasgow 22

• Blackpool 167

• Blackpool Marton Vambac 11

• Blackpool Standard 143

• Blackpool Brush 287

• Porto 273

The FTS reports about the planned schedule:

The official events will start on Friday 24th September, when some of the visiting tramcars will be operating on ‘Illuminations Tour’ duties. Saturday 25th will feature not one, but two processions along the promenade. Sunday 26th is the depot open day, which will give people a rare chance to see behind the scenes at Blackpool Transport, and on Wednesday 29th, the actual day of the anniversary, another short procession will lead to an Anniversary Dinner in the evening.

 

all new – two

On February 1st 2008 it was announced that the Blackpool tramway will receive £85 million (with £60 million coming from central government) to upgrade the line to a modern “Stadtbahn” (light rail) type line. Details of the funding for the tramroad upgrade can be found here and here. 

16 low floor trams will be purchased and some of the best of the old cars will be kept.