Blackpool Trams in the Snow

Flexity 018 heading south past the Grosvenor Casino on Thursday 9th January

A light dusting of snow, combined with sub-freezing temperatures, on the Fylde Coast early on 9th January meant that the white coating persisted for a few hours before being melted away by the sun. A trip into Blackpool (as my local Cleveleys tram track was in deep shade) produced some sunny shots of Flexity trams on a pristine snow covered Promenade. Unlike Sunday 5th January, when the trams stayed firmly in the depot after a two inch snowfall, a full normal tram service was in operation.

Flexity 016 heading north at the Pleasure Beach

Flexity 017 approaching the Gynn Square stop

Flexity 006 passing South Pier on its way to North Station

Flexity 015 passing the Odyssey illuminations display near the Tower

Flexity 007 turning left into Talbot Square with Enviro 231 on service 1

Flexity 017 leaving North Station on its way to Starr Gate

Snow on the Fylde Coast but no trams ventured out

Blackpool Enviro 581 in Cleveleys at 0740, on the 0734 service to Lytham

Blackpool and the Fylde Coast received a covering of snow during the night of 4th and 5th January. The conditions would have been ideal for photos of the Flexity trams running through the snow in the morning, but sadly Blackpool Transport decided to keep the trams in the depot, despite operating bus services, issuing the following message at 06:50 "Due to the current snowfall and the safety issues it is causing the tram service is suspended until further notice." A situation update was posted at 10:07 "Due to the snow on the ground our trams are still not running as it is unsafe to do so." Cancelling the tram service seemed to be rather an overreaction, especially as their buses were running ok on snow covered roads. Trams run on rails so they can hardly skid off their route like a bus can.

Cleveleys tram station at 0755, but unfortunately no trams in the snow as BTS cancelled the service