Blackpool Tram

Blackpool Tram
Flexity 2 at the Tower stop
Basic information
Country	Great Britain
city	Blackpool
opening	September 29, 1885
operator	Blackpool Transport
Web presence	blackpooltransport.com/services/tram-services
Infrastructure
Route length	17.7 km
Gauge	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Power system	600 volts DC , overhead line
Stops	38
business
Lines	1
vehicles	16 Bombardier Flexity 2 15 English Electric Balloon
statistics
Passengers	4.9 million per year (2015/2016)
Network map Blackpool-Fleetwood ( interactive map )

Blackpool Tramway Track Map (1998)

The tram Blackpool in the county of Lancashire in England was opened on 29 September 1885th It has a track width of 1435 millimeters and is one of the oldest electric trams in the world. From 1962 until the Manchester Metrolink opened in 1992, it was the only urban tram network in the UK . It is now operated by Blackpool Transport and carries 4,900,000 passengers annually over a distance of 17.7 km.

history

The Blackpool Electric Tramway Company began operating ten streetcars, which were located in the Blundell Street depot , between Cocker Street and Dean Street (near the South Pier). The electricity was taken from a power rail in the floor. In 1895 the route from Manchester Square to Lytham Road was extended. The second tram line was the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company opened in 1898 between North Station and Fleetwood . It was the first tram in Blackpool to operate with a catenary. In 1899 the other tram lines were also converted to overhead lines.

Railcar

Today these types of trams are in operation in Blackpool:

Flexity 2 , year of construction 2011–2012 and 2017 18 pieces. These cars make all scheduled trips between Starr Gate and Fleetwood.
Boat Cars, built in 1934, one piece, No. 600 "Duchess of Cornwall"
Brush Cars, built in 1937, one piece, No. 631; only as a reserve, no use planned
Balloon Cars for the new system, built between 1934 and 1935, five pieces, No. 700, 713, 720; 711 and 719 intended for door conversion to a width of 2.65 meters
Millennium Cars (conversion from Balloon), conversion year 1998–2004, four pieces, No. 707, 709, 718, 724; completely rebuilt for the new tram system
Balloon Cars for the historical tours, built in 1934–1935, two pieces, No. 706 “Princess Alice” with open upper deck, 717
Jubilee Cars (conversion from Balloon), conversion year 1979–1982, two pieces, No. 761, 762
Illuminated Cars, conversion year 1962–2004, No. 733–734 “Western train”, F736 “Frigate” (“HMS Blackpool”), 737 Trawler (ex Brush 633)

historical trams:

No. 040 built in 1914 Fleetwood
No. 066 built 1901 Bolton
No. 147 built 1924 Blackpool standard double decker tram
No. 304 built 1952 VAMBAC Coronation
No. 660 built 1953 Coronation
No. 279 built in 1935 Railcoach (ex 679, rebuilt 1960), refurbishment in its original condition before 1960

model series	V / max	number	Construction year
Existing vehicles
Flexity 2	70 km / h	18th	2010–2012, 2017
Balloon	70 km / h	15th	1934 (refurbished 2011)

Parked railcars

Some vehicles are parked permanently (e.g. accident damage, examination due, not required). They are called "mothballed" (mothballed). Vehicles that have already been handed in are not taken into account. Boat Cars 602 and 604 are listed, although there is no uniform information about their planned whereabouts.

This concerns:

Balloon 701, 704, 708, 715, 723 and 726
Brush 631
Railcoach 680
Boat 602, 604
Twin Cars 672-682, 674-684, 675-685, 676-686
Centenary 642, 647, 648

All vehicles except the 631, 701 and 723 are not received from Blackpool Transport and are sold or put up for sale. The cars 605, 607, 621, 622, 623, 625, 626, 627, 630, 634, 636, 637, 641, 643, 644, 645, 646, 678, 679, 671–681, 673–683, 687, 702, 703, 710, 712, 715, 721, 761 and 762 have already been picked up by buyers.

Boat Cars 603 and 605 are in service with the San Francisco Municipal Railway , renumbered to their original 228 and 233. Railcar 144 is kept at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport , Maine, USA. The Boat Car 606 is housed in the National Capital Trolley Museum, Maryland , USA.

Extensions

Track construction on Talbot Road, July 2018

In order to improve the connection of the Blackpool North station to the local public transport system, it was decided to run the tram to the station with a branch line in Talbot Street. Construction work began in 2017 and completion is expected in 2022. A new tram terminus with barrier-free access to the station building will be built on the station forecourt.

To expand the reserve fleet, the Balloon Car 700 was comprehensively modernized and provided with barrier-free entry, and additional cars were provided for the conversion (713, 720, 711 and 719).

Operational

The historic vehicles are used on certain occasions such as the Illuminations (German: Festival of Lights) or the Fleetwood Festival of Transport (festival of local public transport in Fleetwood and Blackpool).
There are two depots: the recently built depot for Flexity Outlook 2 is located at the Starr Gate terminus. It became necessary because there was not enough space at the old location. The depot for the historic vehicle fleet and reserve vehicles is located on Rigby Road. This storage facility was built in 1935 to replace two older depots.
In addition to the terminus, there are two other turning loops that are still used sporadically: The loop at the Little Bispham stop is occasionally used for special events such as the Illuminations. This loop can be used by both new and old vehicles. The turning loop at the Pleasure Beach stop is only designed for the historic carriages. It is used for city tours and the Illuminations, but otherwise only rarely.
Another terminus is at Fishermans Walk, which is usually used at the Fleetwood Festival of Transport. On this day, all courses end there by 7 p.m. Since the Blackpool tram uses bidirectional cars, all courses can be converted in the opposite direction on several existing track connections if necessary.
Originally, the historic railways were only allowed to travel from Fleetwood Ferry or Fishermans Walk to Pleasure Beach. The piece from Pleasure Beach to Starr Gate was initially only approved for Flexity Outlook 2. Since the beginning of 2014, however, the historic railways have also had permission to drive to Starr Gate, which is only used sporadically. Otherwise, the historical vehicles mainly drive between Little Bispham and Pleasure Beach or between Fleetwood Ferry (rather rare) / Fishermans Walk to the North Pier. The entire route is only used by these vehicles for special events or when renting.