24.11.17
Blackpool Tramway extension: What's in store
Cllr Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, outlines the proposals for the extension to the existing tramway from North Pier to Blackpool North railway station.
Blackpool is undergoing major regeneration between 2017 and 2019, with a range of projects taking place in the town centre. The extension of the tramway from North Pier to Blackpool North railway station forms part of these plans, with work scheduled to begin in 2018. The proposals will re-establish the link to North station, which ceased operation in 1936, and will provide direct services to the north and south of the town.
Development of a brand-new tramway terminal is set to be ready in line with the completion of the scheme. This will be built on the site of the current Wilko’s building located on Talbot Road opposite the train station.
You can expect to see work starting next year, with the new line hoped to be completed and opened in 2019. Exploratory works have already taken place on Talbot Road, and tramway utility diversions are set to begin later this year.
The proposed tramway extension will leave the existing route at North Pier, via a two-way double-track junction. The route will then cross the Promenade highway and enter Talbot Square, which will be remodelled to provide segregation of trams and highway traffic. A new eastbound tram stop will be located in Talbot Square to allow interchanges with the existing North Pier tram stops.
Proposals for the £22m extension include a £18.4m grant by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Fund, which is hoped to receive final approval this year. The extra money being contributed by Blackpool Council is expected to be recouped from increased sales of tram tickets.
The cost of the extension also includes two brand-new Flexity2 trams to run on the tramway to cope with the extra passenger demand.
The extension will form part of a larger regeneration project at Blackpool North station, which will include a new tramway terminal, plans for a Holiday Inn, and office and retail units to let.
Benefits of the extension scheme
Blackpool’s tramway is becoming more popular than ever, with more than five million journeys taking place on it every year. An extra one million people also use Blackpool North station yearly.
Linking the train station and the tramway allows seamless travel for visitors and commuters, making journeys easier and more accessible, in turn helping businesses and supporting more jobs. The tramway will support the continued development and regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area, as well as providing benefits to commuters and visitors travelling to and from the town centre.
Blackpool tramway is one of the fastest-growing light rail networks in the country, and we’re anticipating that this will develop even further with the extension of the line. Regenerating the Talbot Gateway will create more jobs for people in Blackpool and develop a stronger economy for everybody in the town.
The expansion will change the landscape of the gateway into Blackpool, improving accessibility to jobs and services while at the same time putting more local people into work and creating even better economic conditions to attract business investment.
Tramway upgrade
The 11-mile tramway runs from Starr Gate in Blackpool up to Fleetwood Ferry, operating a service every 10 minutes during the summer season.
The tramway reopened in 2012 following a major £101m replacement of the track, the creation of a new tram depot and arrival of 16 new Flexity2 trams.
The new trams have level boarding, making them accessible for all disabled users and allowing for faster journey times and a more energy-efficient service. At the same time, the previous stock of heritage trams still run as a tourist attraction along the same network during the summer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
W: www.blackpool.gov.uk