Date: 03/04/2012

After four years of work, Blackpool’s £100m new tramway is finally open for business. The first passenger journey from Starr Gate to Fleetwood saw VIPs and competition winners board one of the new Bombardier Flexity trams for today’s historic journey. [From Mark Bartlett]

External links

Tramway opens after £100m upgrade

BBC News

Blackpool's new tramway is officially opened after the famous attraction underwent a £100m upgrade.

Related images

First of the newly delivered Blackpool Supertrams, photographed during an official ceremony in the new tram depot at Starr Gate on 8 September 2011 [see news item].
Location: Starr Gate
Company: Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
08/09/2011 Tony Roberts (Courtesy Mark Bartlett)

New Blackpool and Fleetwood Flexity tram 002, on driver training duties, calls at the new tram stop at Wilton Parade just outside the Imperial Hotel. 001 had just passed the other way bearing 'L' Plates. The new trams are scheduled to be fully in service when the line re-opens for Easter 2012. [See image 23650] for the same location prior to rebuilding work.
Location: Blackpool (Wilton Parade)
Company: Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
14/02/2012 Mark Bartlett

Although the tramway in Blackpool has not yet reopened the new Flexity trams are out and about on driver training runs. 002 pauses at Cabin on one of these duties on 14 February 2012. When the line reopens and these new units are running side by side with the heritage trams on the Pleasure Beach to Bispham section it will be interesting to see which ones the holidaymakers go for. Will they hop on a new tram or hang back for an old one? [See image 31152]
Location: Cabin [Tram]
Company: Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
14/02/2012 Mark Bartlett