Sponsored by
Trams off tracks for all of winter
BLACKPOOL'S famous tram service is to be suspended for five months along its full length, it was revealed today.
The second phase of the 11.8m upgrade of the tramway will see new track laid between Manchester Square and Central Pier, and on the Pleasure Beach loop which starts at South Pier.
But the disruption means it will not be possible to get trams out of the Rigby Road depot, meaning the whole service all the way from Fleetwood to Starr Gate – more than 20 miles – will have to be scrapped for the entire winter period – from the end of the Illuminations until next Easter.
Last summer trams were forced to slow down to just 4mph in areas because of the extremely poor state of the track which faced closure until the Government stepped in with 11.8m of emergency funding.
There were no trams this winter between North Pier and Starr Gate while dilapidated track was replaced between Manchester Square and South Pier.
A bus service was laid on instead but the trams have been up and running again since Good Friday.
Dave Hislop, engineering director at Blackpool Transport, said: "The trams will run as normal this summer until the end of the Illuminations when the whole track will be closed so that the next phase of work can be carried out.
"Because of the refurbishment we won't be able to get the trams out of the depot.
"There is no way round it for this one period of time. In doing this in one year we're hoping to be able to avoid closing it again.
"But we have to bite the bullet and do this so we can move forward.
"In the 25 years that I have worked here, it is the first time that I know of that the full track will be closed."
A replacement bus service will operate instead.
Traders said they accepted there had to be disruption to services in order to improve the track.
Martin Hunns, chairman of the Cleveleys Traders' Association, said: "We don't get many people coming in to Cleveleys from Blackpool after November so this is the best time of year to do it.
"People will have to put up with some disruption, but hopefully once the work is done it will enhance the service a
Mick Grewcock, a member of the Bispham Traders' Association, said: "It's going to be inconvenient but I'm afraid it has to be done.
"It shouldn't affect us too badly as long as enough buses are put on and the alternative services as well publicised."
But there was more concern in Fleetwood with fears that the loss of the trams could affect business.
Anna Stefani, owner of the Ferry Cafe on Queen's Terrace, said: "I think it will inevitably affect business.
"There may be a bus but a lot of people love the novelty of the trams.
"We don't do a great deal here in the winter but in the summer we are very busy. But it will still affect us."
Following the completion of the first stage of work, trams began running again on the South Shore stretch of the line on Good Friday.
Mr Hislop said: "We met all our targets for the work and everything is now up and running again and the brand new track looks very good."
Blackpool Council is continuing to lobby the Government for the rest of the 77m it needs for a full upgrade of the service, including a new depot and modern super-trams.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 31 mph
Wind direction: West
