Blackpool North tram opening date ?

[Vespa]

It's been a while since the extension was finished and trams have been test running up and down the extension, to date I've heard nothing about it being brought into public service.

Is there any planned date pencilled in ?

 

[davehsug]

It's been a while since the extension was finished and trams have been test running up and down the extension, to date I've heard nothing about it being brought into public service.

Is there any planned date pencilled in ?

I asked the same question in the Blackpool News Thread if you'd like an answer.

 

[Vespa]

I asked the same question in the Blackpool News Thread if you'd like an answer.

Thanks I'll keep an eye out, it just seems to be taking a very long time.

 

[syorksdeano]

Last I heard was May/June 2023

 

[Vespa]

Thanks

 

[GardenRail]

What is the planned service pattern, how will it be integrated into the rest of the system?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is the planned service pattern, how will it be integrated into the rest of the system?

Were there not final works to complete and be approved in the area of the former Wilko store?

 

[GardenRail]

Were there not final works to complete and be approved in the area of the former Wilko store?

Not sure to be honest, I just have a passing interest.

 

[AngelicUpstart]

According to the local rumour mill, and there's evidence to back it up, there is an issue with the cladding on the hotel. What can be said with complete certainty is that no cladding work has been done for several months and most of the sides above the tram stop are still unclad. One rumour says the cladding manufacturer has gone bang and they can't find a suitable alternative supply, the other says that it has been installed incorrectly. There's work going on inside the hotel, but little outside.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

new video on youtube from 'Rail Focus'

Blackpool North Tram Extension Update​

Hoping it will be open by May June?
Link

 

[Rail Ranger]

I heard yesterday that it could be September, which is when the hotel is due to open.

 

[Vespa]

I heard yesterday that it could be September, which is when the hotel is due to open.

The holiday season would be over by then.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is it proposed that add-on fares to and from rail journeys to Blackpool North railway station will be made available as a method of attracting day visitor usage on the tramway system?

 

[AngelicUpstart]

The word on the street is September at the earliest, possibly even early 2024. No work has been done on the cladding. The hotel or the subway underneath it can't be finished until that's done. The tram platform and hence the tramway can't open without either being finished.

As to add-on fares, apparently, you will be able to buy through tickets pretty well any stop on the tram network.

 

[dmncf]

Blackpool PlusBus tickets, valid on the trams, are already in place: https://www.plusbus.info/blackpool-s

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The holiday season would be over by then.

Illuminations season won't be, though.

 

[Vespa]

Illuminations season won't be, though.

It won't be enough unfortunately.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Why can't they open it before the hotel is completed?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Why can't they open it before the hotel is completed?

The phrase of "Health and Safety" suddenly came to mind when I read that statement.

 

[LOL The Irony]

The phrase of "Health and Safety" suddenly came to mind when I read that statement.

The trams only need to run between 6 and 11, giving them 7 hours a night to work on the hotel.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The trams only need to run between 6 and 11, giving them 7 hours a night to work on the hotel.

The contractors of the new hotel would immediately take legal action against such an imposition as that being applied as it would militate against the time requirements for project completion.

 

[sonic2009]

Is it proposed that add-on fares to and from rail journeys to Blackpool North railway station will be made available as a method of attracting day visitor usage on the tramway system?

As to add-on fares, apparently, you will be able to buy through tickets pretty well any stop on the tram network.

These add-ons look to be in place as fares are available from Manchester Airport (I suspect other destinations are available) to :

H058​

BPOOL NTHBUSTRAM​

H059​

BPOOL STHBUSTRAM​

 

[plugwash]

Is it proposed that add-on fares to and from rail journeys to Blackpool North railway station will be made available as a method of attracting day visitor usage on the tramway system?

Somewhat confusingly there are two different options. You can either buy a through rail ticket to "BPOOL NTHBUSTRAM" or you can buy a regular rail ticket and then buy a blackpool plusbus.

IIRC the plusbus is slightly cheaper but only covers you from Starr Gate to Clevely Park, while the through tickets cover the whole blackpool tram network.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Somewhat confusingly there are two different options. You can either buy a through rail ticket to "BPOOL NTHBUSTRAM" or you can buy a regular rail ticket and then buy a blackpool plusbus.

IIRC the plusbus is slightly cheaper but only covers you from Starr Gate to Clevely Park, while the through tickets cover the whole blackpool tram network.

Thanks for the clarification, which confirms what I had heard from a local resident in Anchorsholme.

 

[AngelicUpstart]

Going by the hotel this morning, there is definitely work going on on the cladding. Whether they are taking off existing cladding or installing new I'm not 100% sure but there looks to be some new cladding up on the hotel ground floor (rather than the, I guess, basement level where the subway is).

 

[Trackman]

Going by the hotel this morning, there is definitely work going on on the cladding. Whether they are taking off existing cladding or installing new I'm not 100% sure but there looks to be some new cladding up on the hotel ground floor (rather than the, I guess, basement level where the subway is).

The new Holiday Inn? Where about is it compared to Blackpool North? Wilko site?

 

[station_road]

The new Holiday Inn? Where about is it compared to Blackpool North? Wilko site?

Yes, where Wilkos used to be - will be very handy for the station!

 

[AngelicUpstart]

I'm not sure how much this moves the opening on, but the cladding work on the missing bit is now mostly done, some ground floor stuff needs doing and there is an odd small bit missing here and there, and the tower crane is being removed from site yesterday and today.

That's got to be positive, but I'm not sure how!