Blackpool Tram Blog: September 2026

Flexity 013 passing the fire damaged building next to the closed London Street tram stop

On 3rd June 2026 an arson attack on a large store on Lord Street in Fleetwood caused the tram service to be truncated to Fisherman's Walk. At the time little did anyone realise that the through service to Fleetwood Ferry would end up being suspended for over three months. The former Marks & Spencer store, adjacent to the London Street tram stop halfway down Lord Street, was totally gutted by fire, leaving only the weakened outer walls standing. The Ex Catalogue Outlet shop was left in an unsafe condition, and due to various reasons it would be three months before the front wall of the building was safely supported by scaffolding, securely stabilised by heavy concrete beams. Normal tram and bus services were resumed along the full length of Lord Street again on Saturday 12th September. This pictorial of trams along Lord Street, North Albert Street and the Ferry loop was taken on Sunday 13th September, with some earlier shots of the fire damaged building, etc taken on 5th June.

Flexity 017 arriving at the Fleetwood Ferry tram stop in Bold Street

Flexity 006 heading south along North Albert Street

Flexity 011 on Pharos Street with the Lower Lighthouse visible at the right

Flexity 007 and bus 415 at the Fleetwood Ferry stops on Bold Street

Flexity 017 rounding the curve into Pharos Street

Flexity 006 passing St Peter's Church on Lord Street

Flexity 004 on The Esplanade at Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 016 heading south on Lord Street

Flexity 007 passing Fleetwood Hospital on North Albert Street

Flexity 018 having dropped off passengers at London Street, despite a notice saying that the stop is closed

The Stop Closed notice on the tram shelter at the southbound London Street platform

The burnt out building facade supported by scaffolding weighed down with large concrete beams

The fire gutted shell of the Ex Catalogue Outlet store two days after the arson attack

Lord Street barricaded off between Kemp Street and London Street on 5th June

The barricade at London Street blocking all traffic access to Lord Street

Flexity 007 approaching the temporary barrier preventing tram access to Lord Street on 5th June

A line-up of buses at the driver changeover point next to the Metropole Hotel

The National Final of the Bus Driver of the Year competition took place in Blackpool on Sunday 5th September. Bus drivers from all around the country compete to be the top driver, and this year saw 9 buses being used, with 7 of them travelling from various parts of the UK. The competition commences from the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel, before proceeding along Middle Walk where a series of tests are set out for the drivers. The buses then navigate the roundabout at Gynn Square before returning south down the Promenade, where drivers are allowed to pick up and set down passengers at temporary bus stops positioned along the route. The weather was pretty miserable this year, starting out with heavy rain, easing to showers later. After the judging had been completed, David Nairn of First Bus West Yorkshire was named Bus Driver of the Year 2026.