If I had a nickel for every time a new tram extension to a town's main station was delayed by several years, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
I guess you're thinking of the West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton Station right? Because if so then that's exactly what I thought of as well lmao, also in both cases it's an almost identical length (720m vs 600m) and both also added two stops (Pipers Row and Wolverhampton Station; Talbot Square and North Station). But the difference in timetabling is remarkable - in the case of WM Metro, every 10 minutes to and from the stations on weekdays (shortening to every 8 minutes at busy times). Granted they don't seem to have yet reopened the previous St Georges terminus to reinstate access to the shopping centre but otherwise it has worked generally well. It's also been well thought out with regards to multimodality with tram-bus interchange at Pipers Row and tram-train at the station. Still though, it was way too expensive and it can't continue to be like this if we are to see more tram extensions across the area as have been proposed e.g. Digbeth to Solihull and along Hagley Road to Bearwood / Quinton. Hopefully in the case of Blackpool the timetable can still be revised as it seems like it's hopefully not too difficult to fix, honestly I was quite disappointed to see this strange new timetable rollout as it just makes way more sense to have it every 15 mins on the branch while retaining every 15 mins on the main line (otherwise what's the point?)
Thanks for the shout out 😁. The timetable is very bad, really disappointing and now how I thought the extension was initially sold. I found it difficult to find a positive.
Another super video Jen. Fully agree about the timetable. You cannot commute to Manchester by T3 from North Blackpool & Cleveleys with its 09:15 arrival every day. That means not getting to Manchester Piccadilly until 11:15! But you can get a much earlier bus which defeats the object of having the very costly, very delayed tram extension. After I saw you at North Pier, the T3 service fell apart as well. The 08:35 journey did not leave until after the 08:49 T1 to Fleetwood and it got stuck at Talbot Square junction for 8 minutes before being piloted through the junction southbound and had to reverse at the wedding chapel to go back north again. The next T3 did not operate and, eventually, after some swapping of trams, the third tram of three on the T3 ran at 10:05 from North Pier. The points and signal in Talbot Square played up for quite some time but drivers and conductors discovered that if you manually changed the points to the wrong direction, they got a clear signal and then changed them back to set off in the right direction. Eventually some guys in hi-viz jackets turned up and it seemed to get fixed. Not a good start, but maybe teething problems? The southbound T1s were absolutely rammed full and southbound T3 had bemused looking passengers getting off in Talbot Square to walk over to North Pier southbound to catch the next Promenade tram. Northbound passengers on T2 looked equally bemused as the tram swung into Talbot Square at 00 and 30, most on time. Technically, they do get 5 minutes to walk or run across to North Pier to get the T3 departing at 05 and 35 but most of those were running so late that they just picked up and left. As you say, the timetable is not good. I am going out again tomorrow morning to look at a weekday operation that I suspect will be much worse. Driving home north along the Promenade, there were big queues at all of the southbound stops and, for some unexplained reason, the tram specials, that have been out all week until today, were non-existent just when they really needed them. Thanks for your excellent video again. You will be able to see all the shenanigans on my TH-cam video on TH-cam Podbaba Transport and on facebook Podbaba Transport too. By the way, you said you were coming back to North Pier so I bought three decent coffees and you didn't come back. I drank all three so will be awake until Thursday next! Haha. Best Regards Michael @ Podbaba Transport
I'd have thought that a key benefit justifying the extension was Fleetwood and Cleverleys being better connected to the NR network (the south end of the route has the South Fylde line nearby obviously). It's not as if the Poulton-Fleetwood passenger service (I don't know whether they've decided if its to be tram or rail, so unadvanced it is) is a long way off, and so to provide such a paltry service makes that extension less likely to get funded, as this extension is going to be such a white elephant!
@@sihollett but to only be able to get to Blackpool North for 09.15 means you cannot get to Preston before 10.00 or Manchester Piccadilly before 11.15. Not much good for commuting!
@@podbabatransport7515 Indeed - that's my point: the extension, with this timetable, is totally failing at one of the jobs it seems to have been built to do - it's a white elephant!
The galaxy brain idea would have been to rebuild Blackpool Central as the main train station for Blackpool and then you wouldn't need a tram extension :D
Dr. Beeching proposed keeping Central station and closing North Station. Blackpool town council saw the benefit in closing central to give them anew big coach and car park! They persuaded him to close central!
There yesterday and it's still a building site. Also made to leave a North Station bound tram from Fleetwood at the North Pier and made to walk up Talbot Road as for reasons never explained a decision was taken it was not going to the station!
I think one of the big problems we have had from Central Government in the last few years is that they have been focused on reopening stations and reopening branchlines, and the like and have not really spoken about service patterns at all. Although the rails and the stations for railways and tramlines are very important, what is more important is how many people you can fit on each vehicle and how long it would take to do stuff like get everyone who is at a tourist attraction, like a pier over to the train station. That might not be a big enough measure of demand, but if you look at things like the NEC, and you imagine a big pop concert ending at a specific time, you can see that the entire audience need to be got onto trains and sent off to wherever it is they live. What I would like to see some transport nerds to is to create Top Trumps style cards for stations that show how many people can be moved in and out of that station per day. And also show how long it would take to evacuate the entire local population via that public transport link. Not all public transport needs to have the same capacity as Crossrail, but transport links should have daily capacity and service patterns that are roughly comparable, with respect to local population and visitors. Right now, when people say "This is not good enough" the problem is that we do not have any sort of agreed standard measurement of transport provision. And we just end up on the "London gets all the money" track. And that doesn't really help people in places like Lewisham who have waited and waited while over two dozen projects to extend the Bakerloo Line were cancelled. We need to have continuous tram building programs, a number of projects to hand over railways close to the cities of the UK to local transport authorities that can run higher frequency trains. And we need to have a very very easy way to show scientifically how much extra public transport needs to be added to various parts of the UK, so that campaigners can point out under-provision and demand catch up funding.
You'd think with a connection like that, the trams would become the people movers of that whole coastline. They are sitting on a gold mine and not prospecting enough.
Generally agree. I don't understand why, given it was a new development, the tram wasn't extended just a few metres further to the actual station - or along the parallel road so it could serve the platforms directly with a potential for extension. If you have mobility issues, the walk from the tram to the train is not as close as it could be.
Interesting to hear you mention the loop at Stargate. Before the new trams arrived, if you got on at Stargate, you would travel round the loop. What I don't is why they allowed the tram depot to be built alongside the shoreline especially as it blocked the view of the sea from several houses.
Brilliant video Jen, it's good that the tram extension to Blackpool North station is open now but I do think the trams should be more frquent than 30 mins.
Live departure boards (based on actual running times and not the timeteable) have been the biggest thing that I have missed when using the Blackpool trams on holiday. This will be even worse if the time between services can be either 5 or 25 minutes depending on your luck. Hopefully Blackpool Transport will hear this feedback and make some improvements. (Also, great video, Jen! 🙂)
I rode it today. Started at North Station, went to Fleetwood Ferry, raining quite heavily, so came back South, stopping off to get some shopping at Lidl before returning to North Station; I'm staying in Bradford for a few days so went to Blackpool by train. The service has changed, all trams now run from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry via North Station, with a 15 minute service, except after 19:00 during the illuminations season when the new extension is not served and all trams run direct on the original line. This has doubled the service frequency, but increased journey time for passengers having to travel via North Station. They do not have to change tram there, trams arriving from Fleetwood Ferry reverse and continue to Starr Gate. I'm a bit disappointed with the new terminus. There are canopies over the island platform, but they are very narrow and do little to keep the rain off. coming from the station you pass under the hotel, but then there is quite a gap before you reach the start of the canopies, so you get wet. Providing cover from the Station exit to the tram platform would have been welcome. Trams on the right go to Fleetwood Ferry and those to the left go to Starr Gate, but there is no clear sign to show this, I only found out by looking at the timetable posters on each side of the shelter. I had some litter with me, but there is no bin on the platform; there is on on the other side of the Southbound track, near Greggs. There are a couple of other shop units which have not yet been let. It;s better than walking from the station to North Pier stop in the rain, but for a passenger making a short journey, for example from Gynn Square to Tower having to travel via North Station will cause a significant increase in Journey time, and if you want to get to or from North Station during the illuminations, tough, you'll have to walk. Why did the hotel take so long to build? It's quite a small building, but will be very convenient for visitors arriving in Blackpool by train.
I did the depot tour with the heritage preview yesterday. The Starr Gate loop goes via the sand pumps and tram wash, so it's effectively one way for bringing them back in at the end of service.
Unless I’m looking at the time table wrong, if you travel from Fleetwood to Starr Gate via North Station I assume that the tram pulls in and then straight out again heading south, but if travelling from Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station, then there is a 21 minute stop before you head north again (assuming that the T2 then becomes a T3), why?
Sadly didn't get into Blackpool till 10am because Northern pulled a Northern. Honestly I hope this extension is a success but can see the cons that it wasn't planned out. But still a great video Jen.
I was wondering what was up with it, but the timetable's just... shocking. I lament that you can't get a tram to Edinburgh Airport before about 5:30am but... not serving the rail station until after 9? That's bonkers!
So it's basically starr gate to Fleetwood via north station in addition to the existing service. Just the through running via north station is unadvertised
Great vlog Jen I mean it’s good that north station is now connected to the rest of Blackpool but a tram every 30 minutes to Fleetwood and Star Gate is unacceptable. And than the main prom service one every 5 minutes then 25 minutes what. In my opinion it should be more trams and every 10-15 minutes on the main prom and every 20-30 minutes to/from North Station. Also no trams into North Station before 9am what about people with early morning trains. 😮
We could go one of two ways from here. Blackpool Transport could stick their fingers in their ears like they have for the past couple of years, or actually make this a usable service.
Thanks for the video. But, a tram every 30 minutes is better than no tram. The 5/25 rythm only effects the south part of the shore line and only southwards. Furthermore, if you want to reach north station early coming from north you can exit at north pier and walk, or change to another line. There should be more trams, but compared to all the towns that only have diesel busses ...
I think I agree. Also I assume the timetable can be changed. I have no idea, why you might build a new service without basic passenger information boards. It really is very sad though.
Only if it improves the service to the public. This new branch disrupts the existing service along the coast. If they want to improve the service, additional trams and crews are needed, so that the new branch service would be additional to what people have had over the decades along the coast.
So where is the extension? I have travelled by tram from Fleetwood to Starrgate many times during my life. So far as I can see, that is where it still goes.
Given that there are electronic information boards for the tram stops in most of the UK's other tram networks (including Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh etc.), its absolutely ludicrous they didn't add any electronic information boards for the Blackpool Tramway stops (I know its the oldest running non-heritage tram line in the country without counting the special heritage services, but still, that's not good enough) on top of having such awful frequencies - I pretty much agree with all your points Jen because its pointless operating tram services with frequencies at every 30 minutes (every 10 minutes should at least be the minimum for trams).
You're right, the timetable is a real shocker, considering they used the lack of a heavy rail service to Fleetwood as one of the justifications for building this spur. I can see no reason why the first tram of the day from Fleetwood at 0710 could not run as a T3 to North Station, and then onto say, Pleasure Beach as a T2. Is there really so much demand for a service to Starr Gate at such an early hour? I suspect not... that would provide an 0800 arrival at North Station, an 0805 departure and an 0827 arrival at Pleasure Beach, from which it can turn on the circle and depart as a slightly retimed 0828 T2 service to North Station, at say, 0830, running 2 minutes later throughout.
its nice to see the extention finally open & im looking forward to trying it out later this year & def agree about the timetable i think every 30 mins is too low maby it should be say every 15 mins to ether Fleetwood & Sttar gate & the through Fleetwood to Star gate was every 15 mins & personly it shoud stay every 15 mins maby have a 7 min combine fequency along the sections brilliant vlog
@@JenOnTheMove When I worked there on high school work experience they scheduled so that they had 2 in depot for emergencies and 2 in maintenance as the trams have a 1 month, 6 month, and 12 month maintenance routine. That counts for four of the 18. Why down to 11 at full peak I'm not sure.
I live in Blackpool. I don't think the council know anything at all about timetables! They buggared up the buses a few months ago too. But I think it will get sorted as time goes on and it does improve the area which will hopefully bring in more investment as that part of the town center is looking great these days
Great video Jen, as always! I agree that this is not a very well thought out system. Especially with the real-time departure boards. With the technology that is currently available it would not have been difficult to have included that at all of the stops.
The original business case for increasing the tram fleet had all trams from Fleetwood going to Starr Gate, with a second service between Bispham and Pleasure Beach going to the station and back en route. I have no idea why they changed it - maybe an attempt to provide through trams for Fleetwood and Cleveleys. But people from there mainly go to Poulton-le-Fylde station and of course commuters - of whom there are plenty - don’t have the option of the tram in the morning.
My understanding is that Blackpool Transport is short of staff and that they would want to run a more frequent service but this is the best they can do (frequency wise) with the resources they have.
I would have two trams standing at North station Tram stop before the services of the day start, have one had off to each direction, probably Fleetwood first (as this is the longer journey, if I'm not mistaken), and have a tram at each end start at the same time as the corresponding service from the Station. As I said: timed as the first services of the day (which may be around 06 a.m. or so). But that's just some weird thinking on my part (and not the complete story of course).
Yeah as far as know trams are bi-directional, in the Uk we drive on the left, so our trams and trains are understadardly orinatated that way too. (consider the confusion if not). Here in Manchester we operate trams at turn around against signals, consider single line running with a token. Just like it seems at Starr, but in Manchester we'd do the switch to the left hand rail, with pax aboard. The "station" from a trams point of view is single line. Would have thought the engineering/depot turning loop, is just that for engineering/depot moves, who knows the state of any trams that need to use it. But it does seem to have not been thought out that well. Going to try it in the next week or two.
was on it yesterday,be on it next tuesday,i get free travel,being a oap,what happens when two trains pull in together,loads of people get off,fill up the tram,and where do they put there suit cases not enough room and they all pay with money,which is £3.50p each single jornery blackpool has bot got the space,
Google maps has been pretty accurate before for live tram information. But I'll still be getting the bus as its £2 until the end of the year for a single. Lets see what happens next with the timetable.
Although most Tramstops on the South Yorkshire Supertram network have PIS displays, the stop that has the most interchanges (Ponds Forge / Fitzalan Sq) doesn't....
Even the 700 bus from Chichester to Bognor Regis has a better frequency and spacing than a tram in Blackpool, a hugely more significant seaside resort.
If you've just missed a tram at North Station, you could probably walk to North Pier and back twice before the next tram. Not exactly the best timetable planning 3:48 nothing wrong with fish and chips at 7am 🤣
This just seems really badly thought through. Blackpool isn't a huge place so i understand that it might not 'need' the same frequencies as a big city, but if the infrastructure is there to support it you'd might as well run it and encourage more people to use it. Equally though, having the hotel between the tram stop and the station feels very strange. I know there's a cut through but it makes it feel disjointed and like the tram was an afterthought. It also adds a liminal space which might not feel particularly safe/secure between the tram and the train station, especially on a night. It seems a particularly bad decision when you consider that a future extension beyond North station to the zoo and hospital could have been a really sensible next step.
I am sure the timetable will be sorted though you would have thought they would have with the time they have had been able to design a timetable that matched the old service. Here we recently had a rejig of our tram service line routes were altered and we still get a 10 minute service and in the core part between the town hall and the train station we have a two minute service. The only noticeable change was that the trams used to go through the core in order 1, 2, 3 then 4 and now it goes 2, 1, 3, 4 - oh dear how sad never mind.
Sounds like the Spanish rail infrastructure, outside the MAD-BCN corridor. Build fantastic infrastructure, don't run any trains on it. (Eg the HS line Barcelona to France. 2 trains per day. Station on line between Seville and Cadiz at Jerez airport. 4 trains per day stop. And not timed with flights either.). So in summary. to make this work, they really need to run a much more frequent service, in all directions?
Not just that Trams at Blackpool are Expensive aswell compared to Birmingham Network that also get down from me it a shame because they had fairly new trams and withdrawn them time table situation need to definitely need to be sorted especially if there was a football game Blackpool F.C or Fleetwood F.C nice if what TFWM have done put PA system installed and Dot Matrix makes life so much easier
If the original Blackpool North station had been retained instead of being redeveloped for commercial use, there would be no need for a tramway branch as the station would be close enough to the existing tramway for most people to walk comfortably. Blackpool transport is now paying the price for 1960s "economies".
So... T2. Who would actually use it? If it's every half hour, passengers getting off at Blackpool North will likely try and find alternatives towards the Pleasure Beach... e.g. walking towards the front and using the previously existing line. From the Starr Gate end, the Blackpool South train will be easier for heading towards Preston, etc at least 50% of the time.
In a few weeks I am using a North West Rover to travel all the lines in the area and I need to get from Blackpool North to South as quickly as possible. I had no idea this link to the station had just opened and was looking at the timetables just the other day. I'm sad to report that, in order of speed, my options are: WALK - quickest. BUS - middle, TRAM - slowest! The whole Blackpool tram system seems pretty pointless, to be honest. I haven't been since I was a kid in the 80s and the service used to be really frequent. I get that it needed modernising and upgrading but it seems it was only retained for it's historic value - which is no longer there with a modern tram service. Surely it's the least-densely populated area in the UK to have trams? They should have just retained a small section, with historic trams for tourists and replace the rest with buses.
Alot. for what i can find 23 million Supposedly started back in 2018 and looks like demolishing a wilko's for the new terminus is what brought the cost up so much since the tracks were in place leading into nothing by 2019, can see them on google maps.
They desperately need departure screens at each tram stop. Real time information is available online so they could easily just put a screen on each platform that displays the same information
The positive is a new tram extension this is necer a bad thing . I agree the timetable is very bad . Lets hope Blackpool transport listen to the criitsum and try and up it . I assume it's a staffimg issue at present . A recruitment drive is needed . The illumination period will be interesting to see what they do
Trams each way should be scheduled to arrive a reasonable time before and depart a reasonable time after each train departure, allowing enough time to get to or from the railway station, buy tickets, etc. It need not be the same trams hanging around, but with an approximately half hourly rail service in the week then it should not be beyond the skill of timetable planners to organise it.
@@LemoncloudGT indeed, but going the other way from tram to train the time between tram arrival and train departure must be enough to allow for buying tickets for the train.
I’m always happy that there’s new infrastructure but that service pattern is rubbish! And that the first tram of the day from the north is after 9am is absurd!
I've seen many comments about the poor timetable. Hopefully if demand warrants, it will get better. But I am underwhelmed by the tram terminus. It has taken years and £23m to get somewhere near the North Station, through a subway that looks a bit intimidating. Why couldn't they do a proper job and run the tramway another 100 metres or so and end up as part of the station? Better still, make it a proper bus/tram/ train interchange. It feels as if it was designed as urban regeneration rather than for actual passengers.
0:47 If they are going to call that stop Starr Gate, that big round curved thing should really have been extended down to ground level and made to look like the Stargate from Stargate SG1: th-cam.com/video/NeN_OSmZvG4/w-d-xo.html For added fun, move it around the tramline and make it have chevrons that light up every time a tram is going to go through. It would be come a tourist attraction, in it's own right.
Hi Jen, good video, shame about the time table. Hopefully that will get sorted, especially if the Tram management team see your video...😀 Take care, Jon B.
IT'S NOT GOOD? what the hell am I hearing? believe me, this project is necessary, and that extension means less people driving, more people cycling, walking, taking public transport. I don't care how crap an extension is. It's good because it is useful, and it encourages active or public transport. I know I don't live in Blackpool, but Leicester, but can you look at the US for a moment and see the point of public transport and the correlation between better active/public transport infrastructure + walkability and less driving?
If the North Station is just a short spur why not just divert the existing end to end full line in and out of North Station rather than the 3 different services nonsense.
I was wondering what the service pattern would be. It’s not very far, but would probably add about 15 minutes if they all ran to North Station and reversed. Agree, the timetable is bad.
I’m not mad but disappointed by the timetable. Even every 15 minutes on the piers is too little during summer. I use it a lot in the summer and it can be feeling like the London Underground. I would be satisfied with an every 10 minute service but it’s also about punctuality. Last two times I’ve gone, it has broken down on me and/or been waiting for a long time just for them to come together. Really annoying but I’m not “mad”.
I wonder if the person who designed the Blackpool Tram timetable actually uses them? Not being able to commute into Blackpool in time for the start of collage/school/work is ridiculous. And the 3 routes will confuse the hell out of the tourists too.
I think Blackpool needs to stick to what it's good at which is heritage trams because even with the new trams and extension it's not very well thought out the current timetable is terrible and who doesn't include real time travel information stops especially new ones
I see. That's insanely stupid - people will get a bad first impression and never use the trams again. When I went to Blackpool 3 years ago, the trams were packed when it was still a regular every 15 mins service. I can't imagine how the trams will cope this summer. What a waste!
Have they really just spent loads of money and made a massive fanfare out of building an extension to a railway station that's only 10mins walk from the original tramline? Whats the point? Sorry if I'm missing something here (I've not been to Blackpool for years and never by train) but was walking from the prom to the station really ever such a hardship that they needed to extend the tramline?
Wow that timetable is shocking, gone from every 15 minutes to "We'll just figure it out..." and I bet the tram times aren't timed to the arrival and departure of the trains either. Which is a shame because it was such a good idea at the time it was announced.
There is a wye at north pier so don't see how they don't just divert all trams in? though street running isn't ideal for scheduling leading to bunching up if theres heavy traffic...
@@davidty2006 Might be an idea in the future? That entire junction may need it's traffic piriorties retimed or the junction remoduled to get a 15min service pattern. The traffic is pretty bad at Talbot Square already and be even worse during rush hour and when an event is on. Unless Blackpool Transport and the council have an idea to extend the spur somewhere else? Stanley Park and Blackpool Zoo would benefit a tram service to serve it.
@@davidty2006they do now they started to divert all trams in via north station between 9:30am and 7pm and trams earlier are t2/t3 but all the ones via are t1 (and then Blackpool north line shuts at 7pm) and are every 15mins
Reference your timetable comments.. perhaps the "planners" watched Field of Dreams first...."build it and they will come". Seems to be a case of timetabling to suit the trams rather than passengers.
Sounds like a pretty poor service pattern to me, considering how long the locals have been waiting to get this. If anything, it'd be better to walk into town or get a bus, then again why would you want to visit Blackpool apart from the seaside and the heritage trams?
BLACKPOOT TRANSPORT need to re do the Tram Timetable; And maybe scrap the T1 T2 &T3 and just have 1 service serving the station in both directions every 12/15 mins; And 09,15 from the North side to the station is unacceptable; It needs to start at 05.30; It would have been better thought out for the T2 to be extended to Cleveleys; And the T3 to be extended to Pleasure Beach; But this is what I would have done; BT and the boffins in HQ have made a big error; And this will become very clear very quickly;
Whilst I understand your valid concerns about the timetable and Passenger Information Display, I think you have missed the bigger picture Jen and that is the infrastructure investment to build the extension is part of something bigger, it's part of Blackpool starting to believe in itself again as part of it's own regeneration journey. The timetable I'm sure will be tweaked in the future and hopefully one day we will finally see Passenger information displays at our busy tram stops but crucially we will see economic investment on the back of this project including the new DWP building currently being built round the corner and a new office block, but it hopefully opens the door to more tram extensions with more trams. I love Blackpool so am biased but today was a brilliant day for a place I love.
Great video, and I agree with all that you say. Tram services should be frequent, and the service at North station is ridiculous. Also why on earth didn’t they take the tram right into the station forecourt ? The link to the station is horrible for pedestrians, especially anyone with luggage. The trains themselves are very good however !
Chris' video from today... th-cam.com/video/1C4R8UqMrBQ/w-d-xo.html
If I had a nickel for every time a new tram extension to a town's main station was delayed by several years, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
Haha! I don't understand why no transport projects in this country ever run to time. HS2, Elizabeth Line...
@@Adam-Farr Because we refuse to learn from past mistakes.
I guess you're thinking of the West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton Station right? Because if so then that's exactly what I thought of as well lmao, also in both cases it's an almost identical length (720m vs 600m) and both also added two stops (Pipers Row and Wolverhampton Station; Talbot Square and North Station). But the difference in timetabling is remarkable - in the case of WM Metro, every 10 minutes to and from the stations on weekdays (shortening to every 8 minutes at busy times). Granted they don't seem to have yet reopened the previous St Georges terminus to reinstate access to the shopping centre but otherwise it has worked generally well. It's also been well thought out with regards to multimodality with tram-bus interchange at Pipers Row and tram-train at the station. Still though, it was way too expensive and it can't continue to be like this if we are to see more tram extensions across the area as have been proposed e.g. Digbeth to Solihull and along Hagley Road to Bearwood / Quinton.
Hopefully in the case of Blackpool the timetable can still be revised as it seems like it's hopefully not too difficult to fix, honestly I was quite disappointed to see this strange new timetable rollout as it just makes way more sense to have it every 15 mins on the branch while retaining every 15 mins on the main line (otherwise what's the point?)
**cough cough** wolverhampton
Thanks for the shout out 😁. The timetable is very bad, really disappointing and now how I thought the extension was initially sold. I found it difficult to find a positive.
It was nice to hang out ☺
@@Squareybee it was, I enjoyed it 🙂
Another super video Jen.
Fully agree about the timetable. You cannot commute to Manchester by T3 from North Blackpool & Cleveleys with its 09:15 arrival every day. That means not getting to Manchester Piccadilly until 11:15! But you can get a much earlier bus which defeats the object of having the very costly, very delayed tram extension.
After I saw you at North Pier, the T3 service fell apart as well. The 08:35 journey did not leave until after the 08:49 T1 to Fleetwood and it got stuck at Talbot Square junction for 8 minutes before being piloted through the junction southbound and had to reverse at the wedding chapel to go back north again. The next T3 did not operate and, eventually, after some swapping of trams, the third tram of three on the T3 ran at 10:05 from North Pier.
The points and signal in Talbot Square played up for quite some time but drivers and conductors discovered that if you manually changed the points to the wrong direction, they got a clear signal and then changed them back to set off in the right direction.
Eventually some guys in hi-viz jackets turned up and it seemed to get fixed.
Not a good start, but maybe teething problems?
The southbound T1s were absolutely rammed full and southbound T3 had bemused looking passengers getting off in Talbot Square to walk over to North Pier southbound to catch the next Promenade tram.
Northbound passengers on T2 looked equally bemused as the tram swung into Talbot Square at 00 and 30, most on time. Technically, they do get 5 minutes to walk or run across to North Pier to get the T3 departing at 05 and 35 but most of those were running so late that they just picked up and left.
As you say, the timetable is not good.
I am going out again tomorrow morning to look at a weekday operation that I suspect will be much worse.
Driving home north along the Promenade, there were big queues at all of the southbound stops and, for some unexplained reason, the tram specials, that have been out all week until today, were non-existent just when they really needed them.
Thanks for your excellent video again. You will be able to see all the shenanigans on my TH-cam video on TH-cam Podbaba Transport and on facebook Podbaba Transport too.
By the way, you said you were coming back to North Pier so I bought three decent coffees and you didn't come back. I drank all three so will be awake until Thursday next! Haha.
Best Regards
Michael @ Podbaba Transport
I'd have thought that a key benefit justifying the extension was Fleetwood and Cleverleys being better connected to the NR network (the south end of the route has the South Fylde line nearby obviously). It's not as if the Poulton-Fleetwood passenger service (I don't know whether they've decided if its to be tram or rail, so unadvanced it is) is a long way off, and so to provide such a paltry service makes that extension less likely to get funded, as this extension is going to be such a white elephant!
@@sihollett but to only be able to get to Blackpool North for 09.15 means you cannot get to Preston before 10.00 or Manchester Piccadilly before 11.15. Not much good for commuting!
@@podbabatransport7515 Indeed - that's my point: the extension, with this timetable, is totally failing at one of the jobs it seems to have been built to do - it's a white elephant!
Hi Michael, sorry we weren't around. We couldn't see you and assumed you'd moved on!
The galaxy brain idea would have been to rebuild Blackpool Central as the main train station for Blackpool and then you wouldn't need a tram extension :D
Indeed
Dr. Beeching proposed keeping Central station and closing North Station. Blackpool town council saw the benefit in closing central to give them anew big coach and car park! They persuaded him to close central!
I was here today and I got off the only train to Blackpool North for at least half and hour and had to wait 25 minutes for a tram. Link Them Up!!!
Thanks for the heart, Jen!!!
There yesterday and it's still a building site. Also made to leave a North Station bound tram from Fleetwood at the North Pier and made to walk up Talbot Road as for reasons never explained a decision was taken it was not going to the station!
I think one of the big problems we have had from Central Government in the last few years is that they have been focused on reopening stations and reopening branchlines, and the like and have not really spoken about service patterns at all.
Although the rails and the stations for railways and tramlines are very important, what is more important is how many people you can fit on each vehicle and how long it would take to do stuff like get everyone who is at a tourist attraction, like a pier over to the train station. That might not be a big enough measure of demand, but if you look at things like the NEC, and you imagine a big pop concert ending at a specific time, you can see that the entire audience need to be got onto trains and sent off to wherever it is they live.
What I would like to see some transport nerds to is to create Top Trumps style cards for stations that show how many people can be moved in and out of that station per day. And also show how long it would take to evacuate the entire local population via that public transport link. Not all public transport needs to have the same capacity as Crossrail, but transport links should have daily capacity and service patterns that are roughly comparable, with respect to local population and visitors.
Right now, when people say "This is not good enough" the problem is that we do not have any sort of agreed standard measurement of transport provision. And we just end up on the "London gets all the money" track. And that doesn't really help people in places like Lewisham who have waited and waited while over two dozen projects to extend the Bakerloo Line were cancelled.
We need to have continuous tram building programs, a number of projects to hand over railways close to the cities of the UK to local transport authorities that can run higher frequency trains. And we need to have a very very easy way to show scientifically how much extra public transport needs to be added to various parts of the UK, so that campaigners can point out under-provision and demand catch up funding.
You'd think with a connection like that, the trams would become the people movers of that whole coastline. They are sitting on a gold mine and not prospecting enough.
Generally agree. I don't understand why, given it was a new development, the tram wasn't extended just a few metres further to the actual station - or along the parallel road so it could serve the platforms directly with a potential for extension. If you have mobility issues, the walk from the tram to the train is not as close as it could be.
Interesting to hear you mention the loop at Stargate. Before the new trams arrived, if you got on at Stargate, you would travel round the loop.
What I don't is why they allowed the tram depot to be built alongside the shoreline especially as it blocked the view of the sea from several houses.
Brilliant video Jen, it's good that the tram extension to Blackpool North station is open now but I do think the trams should be more frquent than 30 mins.
Live departure boards (based on actual running times and not the timeteable) have been the biggest thing that I have missed when using the Blackpool trams on holiday. This will be even worse if the time between services can be either 5 or 25 minutes depending on your luck. Hopefully Blackpool Transport will hear this feedback and make some improvements. (Also, great video, Jen! 🙂)
I rode it today. Started at North Station, went to Fleetwood Ferry, raining quite heavily, so came back South, stopping off to get some shopping at Lidl before returning to North Station; I'm staying in Bradford for a few days so went to Blackpool by train.
The service has changed, all trams now run from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry via North Station, with a 15 minute service, except after 19:00 during the illuminations season when the new extension is not served and all trams run direct on the original line. This has doubled the service frequency, but increased journey time for passengers having to travel via North Station. They do not have to change tram there, trams arriving from Fleetwood Ferry reverse and continue to Starr Gate.
I'm a bit disappointed with the new terminus. There are canopies over the island platform, but they are very narrow and do little to keep the rain off. coming from the station you pass under the hotel, but then there is quite a gap before you reach the start of the canopies, so you get wet. Providing cover from the Station exit to the tram platform would have been welcome. Trams on the right go to Fleetwood Ferry and those to the left go to Starr Gate, but there is no clear sign to show this, I only found out by looking at the timetable posters on each side of the shelter.
I had some litter with me, but there is no bin on the platform; there is on on the other side of the Southbound track, near Greggs. There are a couple of other shop units which have not yet been let.
It;s better than walking from the station to North Pier stop in the rain, but for a passenger making a short journey, for example from Gynn Square to Tower having to travel via North Station will cause a significant increase in Journey time, and if you want to get to or from North Station during the illuminations, tough, you'll have to walk.
Why did the hotel take so long to build? It's quite a small building, but will be very convenient for visitors arriving in Blackpool by train.
I did the depot tour with the heritage preview yesterday. The Starr Gate loop goes via the sand pumps and tram wash, so it's effectively one way for bringing them back in at the end of service.
Unless I’m looking at the time table wrong, if you travel from Fleetwood to Starr Gate via North Station I assume that the tram pulls in and then straight out again heading south, but if travelling from Starr Gate to Fleetwood via North Station, then there is a 21 minute stop before you head north again (assuming that the T2 then becomes a T3), why?
I suppose it really isn'tt an extension but a partial route re-instatement that looped back to Gynn Square down Dickson Road. It closed in 1963.
Sadly didn't get into Blackpool till 10am because Northern pulled a Northern. Honestly I hope this extension is a success but can see the cons that it wasn't planned out. But still a great video Jen.
I was wondering what was up with it, but the timetable's just... shocking. I lament that you can't get a tram to Edinburgh Airport before about 5:30am but... not serving the rail station until after 9? That's bonkers!
How long does the tram take to get to Edinburgh Airport? 🤔
So it's basically starr gate to Fleetwood via north station in addition to the existing service. Just the through running via north station is unadvertised
Great vlog Jen I mean it’s good that north station is now connected to the rest of Blackpool but a tram every 30 minutes to Fleetwood and Star Gate is unacceptable. And than the main prom service one every 5 minutes then 25 minutes what. In my opinion it should be more trams and every 10-15 minutes on the main prom and every 20-30 minutes to/from North Station. Also no trams into North Station before 9am what about people with early morning trains. 😮
Great video! Tram service I'd horrendous tho! 7:31 yes please go to york my beautiful city!
Thankyou Jen for going and doing this now I don't have to.
The timetable is fixable though. New infrastructure is great.
We could go one of two ways from here. Blackpool Transport could stick their fingers in their ears like they have for the past couple of years, or actually make this a usable service.
@@JenOnTheMoveluckily they’ve done the latter and have improved the frequency
Thanks for the video.
But, a tram every 30 minutes is better than no tram.
The 5/25 rythm only effects the south part of the shore line and only southwards.
Furthermore, if you want to reach north station early coming from north you can exit at north pier and walk, or change to another line.
There should be more trams, but compared to all the towns that only have diesel busses ...
If the advice is to get off at North Pier and walk, then what is the point of the extension?
@@JenOnTheMove indeed.
2 more trams, 1 more station, and 1/3 less frequency is a colossal WTF, no matter if it cost 1 quid or 100 million.
The timetable is shit but a tram extension is better than no tram extension
I think I agree.
Also I assume the timetable can be changed.
I have no idea, why you might build a new service without basic passenger information boards.
It really is very sad though.
I agree that a tram extension is better than no tram extension.
Only if it improves the service to the public.
This new branch disrupts the existing service along the coast.
If they want to improve the service, additional trams and crews are needed, so that the new branch service would be additional to what people have had over the decades along the coast.
So where is the extension? I have travelled by tram from Fleetwood to Starrgate many times during my life. So far as I can see, that is where it still goes.
Given that there are electronic information boards for the tram stops in most of the UK's other tram networks (including Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh etc.), its absolutely ludicrous they didn't add any electronic information boards for the Blackpool Tramway stops (I know its the oldest running non-heritage tram line in the country without counting the special heritage services, but still, that's not good enough) on top of having such awful frequencies - I pretty much agree with all your points Jen because its pointless operating tram services with frequencies at every 30 minutes (every 10 minutes should at least be the minimum for trams).
You're right, the timetable is a real shocker, considering they used the lack of a heavy rail service to Fleetwood as one of the justifications for building this spur. I can see no reason why the first tram of the day from Fleetwood at 0710 could not run as a T3 to North Station, and then onto say, Pleasure Beach as a T2. Is there really so much demand for a service to Starr Gate at such an early hour? I suspect not... that would provide an 0800 arrival at North Station, an 0805 departure and an 0827 arrival at Pleasure Beach, from which it can turn on the circle and depart as a slightly retimed 0828 T2 service to North Station, at say, 0830, running 2 minutes later throughout.
its nice to see the extention finally open & im looking forward to trying it out later this year & def agree about the timetable i think every 30 mins is too low maby it should be say every 15 mins to ether Fleetwood & Sttar gate & the through Fleetwood to Star gate was every 15 mins & personly it shoud stay every 15 mins maby have a 7 min combine fequency along the sections brilliant vlog
I imagine they don't have enough trams to do 15 minutes as they thought an extra two would be enough to cover the extension when it opened.
@dansrandomvideos2515 they have 18 trams and only use 11 of them
@@JenOnTheMove When I worked there on high school work experience they scheduled so that they had 2 in depot for emergencies and 2 in maintenance as the trams have a 1 month, 6 month, and 12 month maintenance routine. That counts for four of the 18. Why down to 11 at full peak I'm not sure.
It's not the extention that is bad. I actually would say it is very useful. The timetable is just not good.
I'm on my way to Blackpool northing wrong with the New line to the railway station
The bell is the same as on Prague's trams and buses, just noticed that
I live in Blackpool. I don't think the council know anything at all about timetables! They buggared up the buses a few months ago too. But I think it will get sorted as time goes on and it does improve the area which will hopefully bring in more investment as that part of the town center is looking great these days
Great video Jen, as always!
I agree that this is not a very well thought out system. Especially with the real-time departure boards. With the technology that is currently available it would not have been difficult to have included that at all of the stops.
The original business case for increasing the tram fleet had all trams from Fleetwood going to Starr Gate, with a second service between Bispham and Pleasure Beach going to the station and back en route. I have no idea why they changed it - maybe an attempt to provide through trams for Fleetwood and Cleveleys. But people from there mainly go to Poulton-le-Fylde station and of course commuters - of whom there are plenty - don’t have the option of the tram in the morning.
Bispham service ought to go via Dickson Road. Excuses were made to dismiss this obvious fact.
3:55 Jen, I live not too far away and this is wholly accurate statement.
My understanding is that Blackpool Transport is short of staff and that they would want to run a more frequent service but this is the best they can do (frequency wise) with the resources they have.
Good video jen for doing the Blackpool North tram extension
Thanks for that video Jen
I would have two trams standing at North station Tram stop before the services of the day start, have one had off to each direction, probably Fleetwood first (as this is the longer journey, if I'm not mistaken), and have a tram at each end start at the same time as the corresponding service from the Station. As I said: timed as the first services of the day (which may be around 06 a.m. or so). But that's just some weird thinking on my part (and not the complete story of course).
Yeah as far as know trams are bi-directional, in the Uk we drive on the left, so our trams and trains are understadardly orinatated that way too. (consider the confusion if not). Here in Manchester we operate trams at turn around against signals, consider single line running with a token. Just like it seems at Starr, but in Manchester we'd do the switch to the left hand rail, with pax aboard. The "station" from a trams point of view is single line. Would have thought the engineering/depot turning loop, is just that for engineering/depot moves, who knows the state of any trams that need to use it. But it does seem to have not been thought out that well. Going to try it in the next week or two.
was on it yesterday,be on it next tuesday,i get free travel,being a oap,what happens when two trains pull in together,loads of people get off,fill up the tram,and where do they put there suit cases not enough room and they all pay with money,which is £3.50p each single jornery blackpool has bot got the space,
Google maps has been pretty accurate before for live tram information. But I'll still be getting the bus as its £2 until the end of the year for a single. Lets see what happens next with the timetable.
Google maps doesn't account for people without smart phones, including the elderly or for poor signal, also assumes a person can afford data.
Although most Tramstops on the South Yorkshire Supertram network have PIS displays, the stop that has the most interchanges (Ponds Forge / Fitzalan Sq) doesn't....
Even the 700 bus from Chichester to Bognor Regis has a better frequency and spacing than a tram in Blackpool, a hugely more significant seaside resort.
If you've just missed a tram at North Station, you could probably walk to North Pier and back twice before the next tram. Not exactly the best timetable planning
3:48 nothing wrong with fish and chips at 7am 🤣
You could walk more than halfway to South Station in that time.
This just seems really badly thought through. Blackpool isn't a huge place so i understand that it might not 'need' the same frequencies as a big city, but if the infrastructure is there to support it you'd might as well run it and encourage more people to use it.
Equally though, having the hotel between the tram stop and the station feels very strange. I know there's a cut through but it makes it feel disjointed and like the tram was an afterthought. It also adds a liminal space which might not feel particularly safe/secure between the tram and the train station, especially on a night.
It seems a particularly bad decision when you consider that a future extension beyond North station to the zoo and hospital could have been a really sensible next step.
I am sure the timetable will be sorted
though you would have thought they would have
with the time they have had
been able to design a timetable that matched
the old service.
Here we recently had a rejig of our tram service
line routes were altered and we still get a 10 minute service
and in the core part between the town hall and the train station
we have a two minute service.
The only noticeable change was that the trams used to go through the core
in order 1, 2, 3 then 4 and now it goes 2, 1, 3, 4 - oh dear how sad never mind.
Sounds like the Spanish rail infrastructure, outside the MAD-BCN corridor. Build fantastic infrastructure, don't run any trains on it. (Eg the HS line Barcelona to France. 2 trains per day. Station on line between Seville and Cadiz at Jerez airport. 4 trains per day stop. And not timed with flights either.). So in summary. to make this work, they really need to run a much more frequent service, in all directions?
How much to build a Stargate at Starr Gate?
But where would we get the Naquita to power it all? 😊
Not just that Trams at Blackpool are Expensive aswell compared to Birmingham Network that also get down from me it a shame because they had fairly new trams and withdrawn them time table situation need to definitely need to be sorted especially if there was a football game Blackpool F.C or Fleetwood F.C nice if what TFWM have done put PA system installed and Dot Matrix makes life so much easier
True but I do like the colour on the trams tho instead of blue
If you can’t be nice to people, kindly go away, thanks
@heinzer69 nah I’m using my phone
If the original Blackpool North station had been retained instead of being redeveloped for commercial use, there would be no need for a tramway branch as the station would be close enough to the existing tramway for most people to walk comfortably.
Blackpool transport is now paying the price for 1960s "economies".
Brilliant video.
I think I'll be sticking to the buses next time I go to Blackpool
Can you have a purple 'white elephant'? - - It seemed very bumpy and rather noisy inside, too!
It’s a distance you can walk in 10 mins to the sea front don’t see the need for it…
I thought there would have been at least a 15 min service to the pleasure beach and back!
So... T2. Who would actually use it? If it's every half hour, passengers getting off at Blackpool North will likely try and find alternatives towards the Pleasure Beach... e.g. walking towards the front and using the previously existing line. From the Starr Gate end, the Blackpool South train will be easier for heading towards Preston, etc at least 50% of the time.
In a few weeks I am using a North West Rover to travel all the lines in the area and I need to get from Blackpool North to South as quickly as possible. I had no idea this link to the station had just opened and was looking at the timetables just the other day. I'm sad to report that, in order of speed, my options are: WALK - quickest. BUS - middle, TRAM - slowest!
The whole Blackpool tram system seems pretty pointless, to be honest. I haven't been since I was a kid in the 80s and the service used to be really frequent. I get that it needed modernising and upgrading but it seems it was only retained for it's historic value - which is no longer there with a modern tram service. Surely it's the least-densely populated area in the UK to have trams? They should have just retained a small section, with historic trams for tourists and replace the rest with buses.
And how much did this extra 600 meters cost?
Alot. for what i can find 23 million Supposedly started back in 2018 and looks like demolishing a wilko's for the new terminus is what brought the cost up so much since the tracks were in place leading into nothing by 2019, can see them on google maps.
They desperately need departure screens at each tram stop. Real time information is available online so they could easily just put a screen on each platform that displays the same information
Even without the extension, real time information was desperately needed. It's almost like they're taking lessons from TfGM!
What i will presume since this is a new line services will obv be crap at first. But what i have heard is its going to be every other tram.
3:51: I CAN'T BELIEVE they copied Prague's chime!
The positive is a new tram extension this is necer a bad thing . I agree the timetable is very bad . Lets hope Blackpool transport listen to the criitsum and try and up it . I assume it's a staffimg issue at present . A recruitment drive is needed . The illumination period will be interesting to see what they do
I'm with you, 7am fish and chips need to be a thing.
A tram every 30 minutes is not a tram service.
Trams each way should be scheduled to arrive a reasonable time before and depart a reasonable time after each train departure, allowing enough time to get to or from the railway station, buy tickets, etc. It need not be the same trams hanging around, but with an approximately half hourly rail service in the week then it should not be beyond the skill of timetable planners to organise it.
You buy the tickets onboard the trams in Blackpool
@@LemoncloudGT indeed, but going the other way from tram to train the time between tram arrival and train departure must be enough to allow for buying tickets for the train.
How long until someone tries to nick a tram
I did that over 20 years ago, when I was still on the drink.
Do try to think of something new.
I’m always happy that there’s new infrastructure but that service pattern is rubbish! And that the first tram of the day from the north is after 9am is absurd!
I've seen many comments about the poor timetable. Hopefully if demand warrants, it will get better. But I am underwhelmed by the tram terminus. It has taken years and £23m to get somewhere near the North Station, through a subway that looks a bit intimidating. Why couldn't they do a proper job and run the tramway another 100 metres or so and end up as part of the station? Better still, make it a proper bus/tram/ train interchange. It feels as if it was designed as urban regeneration rather than for actual passengers.
Awesome video.
0:47 If they are going to call that stop Starr Gate, that big round curved thing should really have been extended down to ground level and made to look like the Stargate from Stargate SG1:
th-cam.com/video/NeN_OSmZvG4/w-d-xo.html
For added fun, move it around the tramline and make it have chevrons that light up every time a tram is going to go through. It would be come a tourist attraction, in it's own right.
Hi Jen, good video, shame about the time table. Hopefully that will get sorted, especially if the Tram management team see your video...😀
Take care,
Jon B.
IT'S NOT GOOD? what the hell am I hearing? believe me, this project is necessary, and that extension means less people driving, more people cycling, walking, taking public transport. I don't care how crap an extension is. It's good because it is useful, and it encourages active or public transport. I know I don't live in Blackpool, but Leicester, but can you look at the US for a moment and see the point of public transport and the correlation between better active/public transport infrastructure + walkability and less driving?
Maybe revisit it in a year then decide.
If the North Station is just a short spur why not just divert the existing end to end full line in and out of North Station rather than the 3 different services nonsense.
I was wondering what the service pattern would be. It’s not very far, but would probably add about 15 minutes if they all ran to North Station and reversed. Agree, the timetable is bad.
Legal issues, the drivers would hit their maximum hours in the middle of the route.
At least the weather’s nice today, better than yesterday, but that’s to be expected as it’s Club Day.
I’m not mad but disappointed by the timetable. Even every 15 minutes on the piers is too little during summer. I use it a lot in the summer and it can be feeling like the London Underground. I would be satisfied with an every 10 minute service but it’s also about punctuality. Last two times I’ve gone, it has broken down on me and/or been waiting for a long time just for them to come together. Really annoying but I’m not “mad”.
I don't understand why it can't be done like media city, just one service that does the whole run
That double reverse is a time burner.
I wonder if the person who designed the Blackpool Tram timetable actually uses them? Not being able to commute into Blackpool in time for the start of collage/school/work is ridiculous. And the 3 routes will confuse the hell out of the tourists too.
Just change trams near the junction!
I think Blackpool needs to stick to what it's good at which is heritage trams because even with the new trams and extension it's not very well thought out the current timetable is terrible and who doesn't include real time travel information stops especially new ones
New transport is always good news. Please shut your negative trap.
You okay hun?
Just needs to buy more trams! Any tram line with a service less than every 10 minutes is a failure
The frustrating thing is that they have more than enough trams to run a decent service. They've got 18 trams, and only use about 11 of them
I see. That's insanely stupid - people will get a bad first impression and never use the trams again. When I went to Blackpool 3 years ago, the trams were packed when it was still a regular every 15 mins service. I can't imagine how the trams will cope this summer. What a waste!
Have they really just spent loads of money and made a massive fanfare out of building an extension to a railway station that's only 10mins walk from the original tramline? Whats the point? Sorry if I'm missing something here (I've not been to Blackpool for years and never by train) but was walking from the prom to the station really ever such a hardship that they needed to extend the tramline?
Wow that timetable is shocking, gone from every 15 minutes to "We'll just figure it out..." and I bet the tram times aren't timed to the arrival and departure of the trains either. Which is a shame because it was such a good idea at the time it was announced.
There is a wye at north pier so don't see how they don't just divert all trams in? though street running isn't ideal for scheduling leading to bunching up if theres heavy traffic...
@@davidty2006 Might be an idea in the future? That entire junction may need it's traffic piriorties retimed or the junction remoduled to get a 15min service pattern. The traffic is pretty bad at Talbot Square already and be even worse during rush hour and when an event is on. Unless Blackpool Transport and the council have an idea to extend the spur somewhere else? Stanley Park and Blackpool Zoo would benefit a tram service to serve it.
@@davidty2006they do now they started to divert all trams in via north station between 9:30am and 7pm and trams earlier are t2/t3 but all the ones via are t1 (and then Blackpool north line shuts at 7pm) and are every 15mins
I wonder what the new map looks like…
where are you from.
Thanks Jen, shame the news isn't better.
Reference your timetable comments.. perhaps the "planners" watched Field of Dreams first...."build it and they will come". Seems to be a case of timetabling to suit the trams rather than passengers.
Sounds like a pretty poor service pattern to me, considering how long the locals have been waiting to get this. If anything, it'd be better to walk into town or get a bus, then again why would you want to visit Blackpool apart from the seaside and the heritage trams?
Croydon Tramlink runs every 10 Minutes to Elmers end (A single track line) and 30 Minutes for a double track line 😒.
Croydon is in the South.
They do things differenly there.
@@tooleyheadbang4239 Ik, I live in the South and that’s the rail service frequency like can’t they just reallocate the money they saved from hs2?
I don't think the new extension will last either Gen xx
Do you seriously think it's going to be closed?
BLACKPOOT TRANSPORT need to re do the Tram Timetable; And maybe scrap the T1 T2 &T3 and just have 1 service serving the station in both directions every 12/15 mins; And 09,15 from the North side to the station is unacceptable; It needs to start at 05.30; It would have been better thought out for the T2 to be extended to Cleveleys; And the T3 to be extended to Pleasure Beach; But this is what I would have done; BT and the boffins in HQ have made a big error; And this will become very clear very quickly;
Great video Jen 😊
Whilst I understand your valid concerns about the timetable and Passenger Information Display, I think you have missed the bigger picture Jen and that is the infrastructure investment to build the extension is part of something bigger, it's part of Blackpool starting to believe in itself again as part of it's own regeneration journey. The timetable I'm sure will be tweaked in the future and hopefully one day we will finally see Passenger information displays at our busy tram stops but crucially we will see economic investment on the back of this project including the new DWP building currently being built round the corner and a new office block, but it hopefully opens the door to more tram extensions with more trams. I love Blackpool so am biased but today was a brilliant day for a place I love.
There's just a big lack of ambition to it, to be honest, then they'll wonder why nobody uses it
Why do we excel at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Great video, and I agree with all that you say. Tram services should be frequent, and the service at North station is ridiculous. Also why on earth didn’t they take the tram right into the station forecourt ? The link to the station is horrible for pedestrians, especially anyone with luggage. The trains themselves are very good however !