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| Balloon 700 and Boat 600 passing each other near the Metropole Hotel in August 2024 |
On the 6th December Blackpool Transport published a message on their Heritage Tram Tours website regarding the future of the heritage operation."Following a thorough review, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our Heritage Tram Tours. Operating the Heritage Trams alongside our modern fleet has become increasingly challenging, with issues such as depot space, tram movements, general safety and maintenance conflicts making it difficult to continue running the service effectively. This decision was not taken lightly, but we believe it is the most practical step to support the evolving needs of our business and maintain the overall efficiency of our operations."
Suspend could mean a pause in operations, a lengthy stoppage or a complete suspension of the service.
Following the initial ambiguous message, Jane Cole (the Managing Director of BTS) issued an update on 10th December which contained the following statement:
“I can confirm that the future of our heritage trams is safe and we aim to have them back on the Promenade next year. However, before that can happen there are a number of complex operational issues that need to be addressed."
While the M.D.'s expressed sentiments would appear to be laudable, the phrase "We aim to have them back" does not necessarily mean that the heritage trams will in fact be back, just that they aim to do so. As with any suspended operation, the longer that the suspension drags on, the easier it is for it to become a permanent situation if too many other factors conspire against it.
Click the link below to see the full Heritage Tram Tour announcement.
https://blackpoolheritage.com/heritage-operations-update/
While it is to be hoped that this isn't the end for our wonderful heritage tram service, a gallery of most of the heritage trams that have seen use over the last five years is shown as a tribute.
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| Brush Car 621 at Anchorsholme crossing in January 2020 |
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| Balloon 723 heading south past the Imperial Hotel in August 2024 |
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| Boat 600 passing the Alice in Wonderland illuminations tableau near Lowther Avenue in August 2022 |
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| Brush car 631 at Ash Street in Fleetwood, on the last heritage tour of the weekend on 26th September 2021 |
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| Balloon 715 southbound on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in June 2021 |
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| Standard 143 leaving the Pleasure Beach loop while out on test in April 2022 |
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| Centenary Car 648 passing Cafe Marina on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in August 2022 |
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| Boat 227 passing the Spitfire at Gynn Square in August 2020 |
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| Standard 147 at Gynn Square on a Promenade Tour in August 2020 |
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| Balloon 718 pausing at Bispham on its way north to Fleetwood in September 2023 |
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| Blackpool's oldest tram, Bolton 66, passing the newest tram, Flexity 018, at North Pier in April 2023 |
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| Balloon 701 northbound on the Golden Mile in January 2020 |
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| Centenary 642 at North Pier on its way to Starr Gate in September 2021 |
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| Railcoach 680 at Bispham, with a BTS ADL Enviro400 City passing by in September 2023 |
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| Balloon 707 making its debut on heritage service in March 2020 after a repaint into green and cream |
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| The Western Train at Cabin heading to the Pleasure Beach in May 2023 |
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| The frigate passing through Cleveleys, returning from a trip to Fleetwood in August 2022 |
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| The Trawler southbound at the Cabin in May 2023 |
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| Balloon 723 received a special vinyl wrap for The Magical Express Tour in November 2021 |
