Flexity Tram on Lord Street

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 15 Jul 2012

Blackpool has long been famed as the home of the coastal tram line that ran for more than a century from Squires Gate at Blackpool, through the centre of Cleveleys and right through to Fleetwood Pier. Blackpool built what was the country’s first permanent electric street tramway, which opened on 29 September 1885. Unfortunately, the old tram cars didn't comply with modern access rules for disabled passengers, which meant that if they weren't changed and adapted the service would ultimately have had to cease. So it was decided that the tramway should be modernised for the twenty first century, with new tracks and platforms and a completely new system for the future. The first of the new Bombardier Flexity 2 (http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-services/rail-vehicles/light-rail-vehicles/flexity-2-trams/blackpool--united-kingdom Bombardier web site) trams began carrying passengers on 3 April 2012 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14836203 BBC Lancashire News). Some of the heritage trams have been retained and will continue to run from Squires Gate to Little Bispham as a tourist attraction. Here, tram number 016 is seen near the clock tower on Lord Street. Trams were turning round here as the centre of Fleetwood was closed to traffic for the 2012 Fleetwood Transport Festival (aka "Tram Sunday").

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