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Tram battle for Red Rose pride
BLACKPOOL'S iconic trams are set to fight a new War of the Roses.
Bosses today threw down the gauntlet to Yorkshire as it strives to win the second phase of an ambitious light-rail project.
Sheffield was this week named as the first location in the UK to be given the go-ahead to test new hybrid trams which can run on both tramways and regular rail lines.
ReBlackpool, the resort's regeneration company, last month announced it was bidding for European Union cash to fund its own tram-train project which could see trams run from Fleetwood and Blackpool, to Preston.
And while Sheffield has been chosen for the experiment, ahead of Manchester and Teeside, Blackpool – which saw its much-loved trams back on track yesterday for the first time in five months – is keen to get the nod for a second roll-out.
Sheffield will commence a trial run of the hybrid system from Huddersfield to Barnsley and through to the city in 2010. And it wants the option of extending it to a wider area.
However, ReBlackpool boss Sir Peter Hall is keen any second phase comes this side of the Pennines.
Sir Peter said: "We can't allow Yorkshire to claim a double prize."
A May 9 deadline has been set for funding submissions to the EU.
Sir Peter added: "In 2012, we shall be running our Red Rose Lancstram on the newly upgraded Blackpool Promenade track beside the town's own supertrams.
"We're fully confident we have a winning scheme that will allow us to prepare for the new service, including a demonstration of the trams. I don't intend to allow Yorkshire to steal a lead on Blackpool.
Sheffield – you've been warned!"
The hybrid trams are already in operation in Germany and Blackpool is bidding for European money to investigate the possibility of introducing a similar system at a cost of up to 50m.
Blackpool's groundbreaking scheme could lead to trams, which switch from electric to diesel power, running along the south Fylde rail line to Preston.
Last month Blackpool was awarded 85m for the upgrade of its existing tram system.As part of the package, Blackpool will see a new fleet of 16 "super-trams" introduced over the next decade.
The track maintenance work, carried out over the last five months, has cost 11m.
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
