Blackpool's new tram(s)
Discussion
Blackpool today unveiled the first of it's new 16 Bombardier FLEXITY 2 trams. It's not in service yet but the new fleet should be up and running for Easter next year. They will also be keeping some of the older trams that will occasionally run. This is almost the end of a £100m investment that has seen the all the track relaid, new platforms/stops and some traffic chaos.
This tram was almost silent, so I hope they have good horns as people still managed to get knocked down by the old trams that made a real racket as they went along.
This tram was almost silent, so I hope they have good horns as people still managed to get knocked down by the old trams that made a real racket as they went along.
Simpo Two said:
I don't get trams. Half train half bus with the drawbacks of both.
^ this ^They're basically buses that can't be diverted if the road gets blocked.
The point, to me, of the Blackpool trams was that they had a strange charm arising out of their clunky old-fashionedness, but that'll be gone with the new ones. They might as well have just ripped-up the track and switched to buses.
MitchT said:
Simpo Two said:
I don't get trams. Half train half bus with the drawbacks of both.
^ this ^They're basically buses that can't be diverted if the road gets blocked.
The point, to me, of the Blackpool trams was that they had a strange charm arising out of their clunky old-fashionedness, but that'll be gone with the new ones. They might as well have just ripped-up the track and switched to buses.
new Blackpool trams look similar to the NET trams in Nottingham - which seem to have achieved the flat low floor along the length of the vehicle that Sheffield never managed (ending up with low floor 'wells' between the bogeis) and that Manchester just said **** it to and went high floor / high platform to get a flat floor ...
MitchT said:
The point, to me, of the Blackpool trams was that they had a strange charm arising out of their clunky old-fashionedness,
I think they were a natural expansion of the pleasure beach, another ride to go on. Hop on one for a bit up the sea front, then catch one back without actually going anywhere.The new ones will be seen as transport only and no one really wants to go where the trams go.
mph1977 said:
new Blackpool trams look similar to the NET trams in Nottingham - which seem to have achieved the flat low floor along the length of the vehicle that Sheffield never managed (ending up with low floor 'wells' between the bogeis) and that Manchester just said **** it to and went high floor / high platform to get a flat floor ...
These are the next generation of the trams Nottingham have.The problem with the old trams is that we could no longer use them due to Disability Access laws. I think we can continue using them for a few more years due to an extension. The other problem was the infrastructure was also on it's last legs after 125 years of continuous use. So I think it was a case of scrap the trams altogether or go more modern and keep a handful of the old trams for use during the season (Easter till 1st weekend in November).
So a new depot has been built at the south end of the track and all the track has been ripped up and re-laid to allow the new trams as they are slightly wider than the existing trams.
The trams apparently carry 4million passengers a year. I would love to see the monthly figures. November till Easter will be very small I would expect.
The new tram Depot
To be fair a tram system makes sense where you have one or maybe two very high volume route(s) where the number of passengers who want to travel on that route and only on that route completely outweighs the numbers who want to travel elsewhere in the public transport network.
Blackpool is perhaps the prime example, maybe the only example(?) of such a situation, certainly in UK. Other places with trams have had to try and mess about with the pubic (sic) transport and road networks to try and force people onto trams by making life as difficult as possible to non users.
Shame to see the old trams going, though with all due respect to Dibble and other Blackpoo (sic) residents I try and avoid the place like the plague.
Blackpool is perhaps the prime example, maybe the only example(?) of such a situation, certainly in UK. Other places with trams have had to try and mess about with the pubic (sic) transport and road networks to try and force people onto trams by making life as difficult as possible to non users.
Shame to see the old trams going, though with all due respect to Dibble and other Blackpoo (sic) residents I try and avoid the place like the plague.
The origanal Manchester route was converted because of life expiered rail infrastructure.The Bury line was unique as it was a 3rd rail side contact system meaning BR couldn't evan cascade stock from the SR to keep it going. THe city council were desparate to have a north south crossing.It was cheaper to keep the existing stations on the Bury and Altrincham lines and build high floor trams.The Oldham loop extension retains the origanal BR stations whilst the Chorlton and Airport sections are either long closed BR lines or brand new to the airport.
Well it seems like they only had 7 months to test them. Gotta expect a few teething troubles. It's not like being able to complete the journey is a fundamental requirement of the new service now, is it?
The local kids are going to have great fun sabotaging the system with a few strategically positioned grains of sand now!
The local kids are going to have great fun sabotaging the system with a few strategically positioned grains of sand now!
Russ35 said:
Not the best of starts to the new trams. First day of public use today and the first tram derailed at Fleetwood due to sand on the track.
Epic fail. It's not like Blackpool is a) on the coast and b) the windiest place on earth meaning sand is likely to be whipped up is it? 
ked up & they are now going to have a full health & safety inquiry into the circumstances surrounding 'sandgate'!
Need to know the Blackpoo TM tram stops.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff