Accusations decision to suspend Blackpool's heritage trams taken for financial reasons
Sources have told The Blackpool Lead the decision was taken for mainly financial reasons
Transport bosses have been told they have some “serious questions” to answer about the reasons behind the shock decision to halt Blackpool’s heritage trams.
Opposition councillor Emma Ellison spoke out as the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the government department responsible for the safety regulation of Britain’s railways, appeared to distance itself from suggestions the suspension - in place until at least next summer - is down to safety fears.
After Blackpool Transport said “ensuring the ongoing safety and sustainability of the service has become increasingly complex”, with the introduction of “advanced safety systems, including the obstacle detection assistance system and the collision and overspeed monitoring and prevention assistance system”, the ORR said it has not been involved and such safety measures are “not required” to run the vintage fleet, which can be safely driven by eye.
The timing of the suspension, which led to thousands of people signing at least two petitions calling for the service to be saved, has also raised eyebrows, with it coming just before the start of Holiday Express Christmas service, which saw passengers charged up to £20 for a ride through the Illuminations on the Illuminated Western Train tram.
Tickets were on sale for rides on December 14-15 and 20-23 and had sold out. They have now been refunded, a town hall spokesperson said.
Cllr Ellison, who represents the Norbreck ward for the Conservatives, told The Blackpool Lead: “I know how popular the service is and that it gets fully booked very quickly, particularly at this time of year, so to suspend the service suddenly at this time of the year when it has bookings is a big red flag to me and financial reasons seem like the only answer to me, although I don’t know that for sure at the moment.”
She said the council-owned Blackpool Transport’s initial announcement of the suspension, which led to fears the heritage service had been axed indefinitely, and a follow-up statement, which said the trams will return by the summer, “don’t answer any questions as to why this decision was made so suddenly”.
She added: “If it was safety concerns, they could say what the issue is and how it will be dealt with. But I can’t imagine that during the busy Christmas season they would just stop them without some sort of incident occurring. So some serious questions need to be asked of the council and Blackpool Transport to find out how this situation has been allowed to happen and find out where we go from here.”
Cllr Ellison said there has been no “suggestion” of any “safety issues and no incidents I am aware of so straight away I felt that there must be more to this than the original statement let on”.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is not currently investigating any crashes involving trams on the Fylde coast.
Two sources have told The Blackpool Lead the service has been suspended mainly for financial reasons.
Questions to Blackpool Transport boss Jane Cole, including whether the heritage services makes a loss and how finances have impacted its decision, have gone unanswered.
The Blackpool Lead also asked about any specific safety fears.
In a statement, council leader Lynn Williams said: “When people think of Blackpool they think of the tower, the piers, the beaches and of course our magnificent fleet of heritage trams.
“While there may a temporary pause in service, they absolutely are not going away. I, like everyone else in Blackpool, look forward to seeing them return in 2025.
“The decision to suspend the heritage tours is not a decision that Blackpool Transport Services has taken lightly but it is a necessary step to ensure that they can run effectively and safely in the future alongside the modern trams.”
Blackpool Transport’s latest accounts show a £139,205 profit for the 2024 financial year, compared to a £1.6m loss the year before. However, they do not mention the heritage service, which runs along the Prom alongside the modern Flexity trams and has been operating since 2014.
“End of the line?” The Gazette asked on Tuesday as it reported: “Blackpool’s much-loved heritage trams have reached the end of the line - for the time being at least.”
It quoted a Blackpool Transport statement as saying: “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.
“As part of our efforts to future-proof and safely grow our core tram network following the North Station extension, we are introducing advanced safety systems, including the obstacle detection assistance system and the collision and overspeed monitoring and prevention assistance system.
“These technologies are essential to maintaining safety, especially during busy times such as the summer, Illuminations and festive seasons.
“The systems will allow us to improve operational efficiency and ensure the sustainability of the network.”
It continued: “The heritage trams are a cherished part of Blackpool’s history and we fully recognise their importance to the community. However, ensuring the ongoing safety and sustainability of the service has become increasingly complex.
“This pause provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of heritage trams within a modernised and safe tramway network.
“By reassessing their operation, we aim to explore new ways to honour Blackpool’s rich transport heritage while maintaining our commitment to a safe, efficient and future-focused service.
“We are dedicated to finding innovative opportunities to honour and showcase Blackpool’s iconic tramway history, and thanks for your understanding as we work towards this.”
After a public backlash, with Cllr Diane Mitchell calling the news as a “terrible day” for the resort, Cole and Williams both promised the suspension is temporary.
Cole said: “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.”
The Blackpool Lead’s request for more information on the specific issues went unanswered.
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said the decision to halt the heritage trams over Christmas is “very disappointing” and “short-sighted” and said many constituents have contacted him with their concerns.
The Labour politician said: “Our heritage trams are also a vital part of Blackpool’s culture. Their integration with our modern tramways embodies how our town honours tradition while constantly innovating under our motto of Progress.”
He added: “I am requesting an urgent meeting with Blackpool Transport to seek further clarification on the specific concerns around the trams’ safety and efficiency as well as a more specific timeframe for when the general public can expect the trams to return and I will be keeping my constituents informed.”
The heritage fleet is kept at Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road depot, which is also home to the Tramtown museum run by volunteers.
A spokesperson for the ORR told The Blackpool Lead: “ORR has not been involved in Blackpool Transport’s decision.
“Heritage tramways are required to assess the risks relating to collision between heritage trams and members of the public and implement any reasonably practicable controls identified.
“This will include light-of-sight operation.
“We have not required them to install obstacle detection or overspeed technology.”
A council spokesperson said the decision to axe the heritage trams was discussed at a board meeting not open to the public.
Williams was not present.