Breaking News Blackpool Heritage Trams Suspended until further notice?
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- Опубліковано 14 гру 2024
- UPDATE: The latest statement from Blackpool Transport suggests they have now decided to bring the trams back in 2025 "subject to some complex issues being resolved". This statement can be read with the original on www.blackpoolh....
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News today has been released via a statement on Blackpoolheritage.com regarding the suspending of the heritage tram Operation. It is currently unclear what future the heritage trams have but it appears they will no longer be running on Blackpool Seafront.
All footage in the video is archive footage from the last few years of the Heritage Operation. 2024 appears to be the end of traditional trams in street tramways in the UK.
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No longer any reason to visit Blackpool then.
They can't be serious! What other reason is there to go to Blackpool?
Another nail in the coffin for Blackpool!
This really is nonsense. I can only assume the current management is not interested in what brings a lot of people to Blackpool. They claim they cannot operate old and new alongside each other, yet just about every other operator world wide seems to be able to do it, which says more about BTS's competence than anything. If they had been honest and said the current Rigby Road hiatus is making things difficult and until that gets sorted out we will only be able to manage occasional runs then I think most would understand it. As things stand now this is a way of comveniantly getting rid of the whole lot.
What a load of rubbish they talk about safety any one from north pier to stargate can walk in front of any tram new or old and now from north pier to railway station. I am suprised they have not found a way to blame it on global warming. The powers in this town seem happy with all the drug dealers, vagrants and elegals in the town
Calling BS on them "not being able to operate the old and new trams" they just wanted an excuse to stop running them
I can understand to some extent. Running a high frequency LRT service with the heritage mixed in can be problematic, but I'd like to see the proposed high frequency service first as the best we get is every 15 minutes so not exactly high frequency.
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Many of the Heritage trams are on loan from the National tramway museum at Crich.
@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH not Blackpools ones. They belong to Blackpool
@MsGalfreak we've been doing it successfully for the last 12 years. However, this year, they've decided there are issues doing so and unless they can resolve those issues the trams won't be running again. (They now word that as "trams will be back in 2025 if we can resolve the operational issues")
do they not know theese trams make Blackpool unique? as others have said this is another nail in the coffin, just sheer bad management,a very sad day
Perhaps the withdrawl extends wider, where one of the other reasons is that the skill sets and knowledge involved with keeping them running and the ability to incorporate some of the complex safety systems required, have been lost over the years?
It has been identified by many generally in the heritage movement and industries that remain, that the foundation hands on base constructive skills and practical knowledge have been debunked, where they now don't teach kids how to even bang a nail into a piece of wood - let alone keep anything like a heritage tram system running!
Sadly like many organisations and institutions, the artisan craftsperson has been replaced by accountancy driven 'Managers' who have no practical experience nor understanding of what they're supposed to be 'managing', their only focus is the price of everything - but the value of nothing. Sad time for Blackpool, but fear it's only the tip of the iceberg.
I rode the HMS Blackpool last year. Nothing is more Blackpool than its Tower wnd Trams. I feel your loss Blackpool. From a sad Midlander.😢
This is shocking news, in 1974 I wanted to become a tram driver, but became a train driver instead, but always followed the trams via the Tramtrax magazine,
It's certainly the end of an era. It was the trams that got me into transport when I was little.
@@StevenHughestransportvideos I attempted to photograph every tram, 1968 to 1995 era, viewed all the track, walked most of it, attempted to buy every book published, my last visit was in 2021 when I did a 500 mile drive there and back non stop
Slowly getting rid of everything that makes Blackpool special is madness
I thought the whole point of the classic trams was as a tourist attraction.
In an ideal world they would build 2 or 3 new heritage trams that are up to date with accessibility and safety equipment. But we live in Britain and shy away from such challenges
@@imjusthereeatingpopcorn5234 Tornado?
Unbeleivable the major attraction of Blackpool gone. A “new broom sweeps clean”. Utter madness.
Another huge wedge of cash to be wasted on something we have managed without for over a century, and at times when there were millions of people visiting Blackpool every season instead of the handful we get these days.
This follows on from the extension to the train station from North Pier at a cost of millions. An extension might sound like a good idea to most people, until you realise that it covers a total distance of a couple of hundred yards. And the only purpose it will serve is to take people coming into Blackpool by train AWAY from the town centre shopping area.
They would have been far better building a bus station in the space the trams require to link up to North Station, which would have served both local people coming home by train and visitors who could have visited various areas of Blackpool such as the zoo, the airport, the Pleasure Beach and adjoining coastal towns like Lytham St. Annes and Cleveleys. It makes far more sense than having bus stops for the various services scattered all around the town centre on different streets, and none near the railway station - the original bus station used to be right opposite.
The incompetence is staggering, and then they wonder why the town is dying.
Really sad day the only reason I wanted to go to Blackpool to go on one off the old trams especially the double deck ones loved them
It is a shame. At least we can still ride trams at Crich and Beamish etc
This is awful news they have been part of blackpool for such a long time in everybodys memories growing up and going to blackpool so sad day
In Gothenburg we have a volunteer group who maintain our heritage trams and they are allowed to run a limited service at weekends for tourists.
That's exactly what we had until last week. Our heritage trams were run by Volunteers
Labour Council cutbacks?
@keithsyers5833 apparently the council wasn't aware of the decision.
They probably need money to open another hotel for the visitors crossing the channel no doubt they need more important
This country sucks
We already have plenty of empty hotels in Blackpool that just need a bit of tlc
Another nail in the coffin of what was once this countries premier seaside resort.
An obstacle detection system.What is the driver doing nodding off.I wonder how they would cope if they had to drive one of the old Blackpool Standard trams with no cab.Or even better a Blackpool dreadnought.Those didnt even have a roof on the top deck.
It's not often I actually cry over any news! But this has made me shed tears 😢.
Let's pray 🙏 they can return one day 🚎 🚋 🚊 ❤
Hopefully, it appears to come down to how and if they can fit the new safety systems to the older trams. Let's hope and pray the future will see the older trams return
The letter come across as very corporate, let’s hope they realise their mistake 😢.
Yes indeed it did, I hope so also. There is a petition going online which will hopefully show the level of public discontent if nothing else.
The past few years public money for the tram shed has been theft, as the council had no inventions of running the old service such a missed opportunity.
There was also a tram painted up in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
First thing i would do when i was little visiting Blackpool after getting off the train at Blackpool North and heading to the promenade was what tram i would see first, was always exciting to see any new advertising liveried ones or around the time those still in Green and Cream or the new Metro Coastlines colour schemes. Will really miss these and truly hope that the decision is reveresed. Truly one of the great things about Blackpool were its fleet of Trams.
This move will kill Blackpool tourist trade drastically a bad move the only place you can see illuminated trams and double deck trams in a UK town
Stupid move ,Putting money before peoples enjoyment,Name and Shame the people behind this 😡🤬
Sad news.
Glad i got to ride a couple of them this year.
It certainly is. It's a shame the planned tour to celebrate 90 years of the balloon car won't go ahead. Let's hope some of the working trams can head off to museums to be used instead of being hidden away.
exactly. Beamish and crich are probably most suitable, if they have the space
@@complete3456 Neither will likely run them as they have been modernised and the 80s examples are too modern to fit with their operational fleet.
They can go under a heavy refurbishment so that safety devices could be installed. I think that Blackpool will not be worth going to if these stop running.
So sad rode on one of them back in the 1970s
I agree, no longer any reason to visit Blackpool again. I used to come at least twice a year from the late 1950's to the late 1980's Only been twice since and that was to ride on the trams. No decent shows anymore, and ridiculous prices for the other attractions
The decision appears to be being reversed so hopefully the outcry from the public is working and we will see them back next year
It is very sad, but Blackpool isn't a wealthy city and equipping the heritage trams with modern safety devices would be very expensive. Basel has a steam tram which runs on special occasions, and Darmstadt has a steam train (Feurige Elias) which runs a special service over the city tram network in summer. Frankfurt has used its museum trams in regular service to replace faulty modern trams and also runs the Ebbelwoi-Express tourist service with pre-war cars (you get a glass of the local scrumpy and a snack on board). But these cities are much richer than Blackpool and have bigger tram networks. I hope the Blackpool cars will find a new home or be stored safely until Blackpool Transport can run them safely.
I have hope that they will run again in the future. Hopefully they will run again as 9 times out 10 it was reason so coming to Blackpool for heritage trams i hope laat but means they looking at way of running them i hope if takes long time to find they at least loan them to other tramways for them time being i remember i 1011 for illumations at 6 years getting on balloon 720 and its my favourite one i do have a fear that structal survey wasnt good on old depot as they never as update on it glad i managed get on them this year and HMS Blackpool this year
What utter stupidity. Will never go to Blackpool again. What a load of utter BS spouted by the idiots now running this service. Do they not realise what a tourist pull the old trams are, utterly disgusted. On starting the video, I half expected them to say they couldn't run them because of disabled access or some other BS like that, but they are even more vague and pathetic than that.
The Western Train has disabled access but is still withdrawn because of this decision.
In Fleetwood , near the old depot is a graveyard of trams rotting away, before the purples came along they were well used. Blackpool consider it a tram service & not necesarily a museum ride. & held on to them due to the purpose built promenade.
The trams in the Fleetwood graveyard have all gone now, they were either move to other museums or scrapped this year.
And when you think about it the UK was the first nation to have trams and locomotives
Actually the first Electric Trams were in Ukraine, but we are a pioneer of many tram technologies
Tram 710 featured in an episode of Coronation Street. The episode in which Alan Bradley was knocked over by the tram. I phoned the Royal Victoria Hospital to ask how he was and was told that he was a bit run down.
Brilliant. Yes 710 was indeed the "Alan Bradley" tram. It's in Rigby Road depot and will hopefully find a place in a future museum there. As long as the plans come to fruition and don't get pulled
Don’t be surprised that some of the equipment ends up here at the trolley museum here in the USA or in Canada
Does Blackpool transport understand that people visit just to ride on vintage trams??
Clueless
May as well just put a closed sign up with all the other boards on windows😂😂😂😢
The problem is Blackpool Transport is a public transport operator, not a tourist operator. Therefore they concentrate on moving people not the entertainment and tourist side. But there has been an update and apparently they will now be back in 2025. Watch this space is all I can say at present.
@StevenHughestransportvideos anyone who rides on a tram is a customer and they pay they also spend
Money in the town known in any trade as filling seats🤓
@RobertGott-c3f I agree, but the focus of bts is transporting people not providing a tourist attraction. Really the heritage Operation needs to be entirely separate in my opinion
@@StevenHughestransportvideos
Probably why Blackpool is in the state it's in sir
I won't be going to Blackpool anymore now these trams aren't running. They say they can't run old and new together.... what a load of tosh. Truth is they don't want to because the heritage trams require a couple of quid extra to maintain. RIP Blackpool.
As Inspector Morse want said to Lewis. Why would anyone want to go further North than Burton On Trent! Now it’s reality
This is sad news because I remember going on these as child when visited Blackpool just hope you can have these out on odd days soon or least have more open days at your base to see these lovely trams and explain more history this way but love see these trams again soon ideally out running be well.missed
Crich better get that New Shed built quickly. Would love to see Princess Alice there.
Not just Crich but East Anglia Transport Museum too. They have an ever expanding fleet of tramcars now
You make it sound like you want your wishes fulfilling.... but at someone else's expense!
@@matthewmyerscough417 I personally just want to see these tramcars running, not stuffed and mounted in a warehouse type museum. Things like Princess Alice, the Western Train, the Coronation car etc should be running somewhere.. obviously first choice is Blackpool but one of the other museums systems if not Blackpools promenade route
@StevenHughestransportvideos
I get that you want to see them running, but who is going to foot that bill, so you can see them running?. If they need to move sites, are you going foot the bill for the transportation costs, or pay any storage fees, whilst they are away?
Or is it a case of, I want to see them running, as long as someone else pays?.
@matthewmyerscough417 I've donated many times previously towards projects including moving 710 back to Rigby road, and I've purchased tour tickets as have many other people. The illuminations tours are always sold out every year and if they aren't covering the costs then the price should be increased. The fact is, people have dipped in their pockets many times over the last 12 years to help with covering the costs of projects etc. The suspension of service isn't due to running out of money.
That's sad but praying that we will see them In a museum one day
Sorry, I misssed the news that this was happening. Why are they being suspended/disposed of?
They are being suspended (not disposed of) for a variety of reasons including the difficulty running them alongside the modern 15 minute frequency trams.
The problem is that the roof of the depot is falling in and they have to go somewhere while it's rebuilt. The Corporation depot doesn't have the space
They've been operating fine from Starr Gate all year. And the latest statement now says they will look to do so again next year.
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Operating from and being stabled at are two different things. The Corporation depot you mention has space for just 6 over and above their own 18, and that causes chaos in normal operations. So the Heritage has lost friends and is now up the creek, temporarily, as long as they can find somewhere to park the rest. The answer may be to patrol the line looking for an abandoned warehouse to run tracks into. But otherwise Chirk is going to be chocka.
Blackpool Transport issued a further statement earlier this week to say the heritage trams would be back in operation in time for the summer season.
Maybe given this latest announcement, it might be an idea to withdraw this video to avoid confusion.
The video was accurate at the time of production and the statement is still on the heritage tram website with a further statement, which I added to the video description. There is still no guarantee trams will return as the second statement is clear that it is still subject to complex operational issues being resolved first.
The Seafront and the Trams is really all Blackpool has to offer. The rest of the place being a no go zone, for anyone who has sense.
Hopefully the statement from Blackpool today saying they will bring back the trams next year (if the complex issues are resolved) will mean we do get trams still. Certainly the fallout from Fridays statement has not gone down well.
Let’s hope they give them to tram museums as exhibits….especially Crich tramway museum in Derbyshire to keep them running
I hope that they reverse the decision and allow them to run again, but yes, Crich or one of the other museums would be better then static exhibits.
I doubt if Crich would have the room for them. Perhaps a new tram museum somewhere.
@mrloveable9048 I suspect the most historic trams would find homes easily if it came to that. Of course the plan is still for the static museum in Blackpool, but as the statement suggests, no more running on the promenade.
Saddened
The traditions and culture of this country are just withering away wherever we look.
There certainly seems to be a "modernise at all cost" culture in this country (around the Western world infact)
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Anything not recently conjured up out of nowhere by the self acclaimed great minds of today is now outdated and must be scrapped. The greater mass of the general public have absolutely no say in this process.
What ever happened to the 🚀tram?
The rocket is stored inside Rigby Road depot. Sadly it looks like it will never grace the promenade again
@StevenHughestransportvideos Oh no! I hope some wealthy folks will restore this beautiful masterpiece of trams
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Do they have new homes lined up for when the depot is demolished or are they just scrapping them all on site? Also, is Trampower there? My mate said he saw it a few months ago, though after surviving rumours of it being scrapped so many times I think its luck has run out.
@mikedrown2721 Not necessarily true.
The main issue is that, unlike the other surviving illuminated cars in service, the Rocket has to be boarded and left at the rear actually on the live tramway.
This is deemed dangerous.
But it is not insurmountable.
If, after restoration, all tours were to leave from, say, Rigby Rd, then it wouldn't be a through route live line and so it could be used for tours again in those circumstances.
@arianaashworth3091 Depot is NOT being demolished, the fleet is NOT being scrapped on site or anywhere else for that matter and Trampower is privately owned and will apparently shortly be moving to a demonstration line for evaluation and test running.
So please stop with the doom and gloom stuff.
Safety and sustainability, two words that I have come to despise.
It does amaze me that we can nolonger trust drivers to drive responsibly and need "systems" to be safe. Not just driving but pretty much throughout life these days. Everything has to have a safety system instead of letting humans be responsible for safety.
They will find their error when no one comes there any more but heads to Crich instead. It's easy to blame decisions on Health and Safety, modern braking systems and updated electronics.
Unfortunately I don't think the handful of enthusiasts who would go to Crich are the target market anymore, but certainly the families who come and enjoy an illuminated tram ride each year.
Perhaps Blackpool can learn something from San Francisco which runs ONLY Heritage trams, including several Blackpool boats, on it extraordinarily popular F line. Both tourists and locals use this line widely.
Aside from the verbal garbage from the PR department of Blackpool Transport (it could have been drafted a lot better), I really enjoyed your video. Excellent shots with particularly interesting ones of the service vehicles, and many other scenes around the network.👍
The wording of the initial statement was extremely concerning..it made it clear that they had no intention of running the heritage trams again on the promenade and wanted to be "future focused" and only run the modern trams. Fortunately the outcry and public support from this statement forced a second statement to suggest they will bring the heritage back in 2025 if the "complex operational issues are resolved". Unfortunately the second statement does leave room for them to say the issues aren't resolved so still no trams. I hope I'm proved wrong, but considering they said they would do a farewell for the heritage bus fleet before the end of the year and that hasn't happened, I'm not sure how much I trust the statement myself.
Thanks for your compliments on the footage. I really hope I will get to film more in future!
That's ridiculous take away the heritage and Blackpool is finished very sad I say and I shall not visit again
There appears to be a glimmer of hope today as they've released a further statement to say they are working to get them back next year now. We await further details next year and hope they are good to their word and do bring them back. The petition and public outcry appears to be working in our favour
We are losing our history now folks.
Blackpool is shit nowdays
It's certainly not what it was in its heyday
is it a Labour Council?
The council is made up of both Labour and Conservative members
@@StevenHughestransportvideos ...but labour have the majority.
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Reform stand up for our heritage and is our only hope.
it has been confirmed that on December the 10 the trams will be back on tracks 🎉🎉
Yes, I have added the update to the description. Unfortunately you can't update videos on UA-cam. Let's hope BTS stick to the revised statement as there is a small clause in it which may prevent their return still. The bit regarding a few "complex operational issues" needing to be resolved first.
How boring these decision makers are. Seems I have made my last ever visit to Blackpool. Surely the town needs all the tourists it can get.
Won't be worth visiting Blackpool anymore.
This is the most environmentally friendly way of transport. Could it be possible to build new trams new technology old style. I forgot to add beautiful video and pictures 😊
That would be extremely costly, but not beyond doable. However, the latest statement appears they have U-turned and will be running the heritage next year.
That statement could have come from the pen of Keir Starmer or Rebecca Reeves. Blackpool Transport's woes are many, but the ill-conceived and even-worse implementation of the Blackpool North bi-furcation has led to the present financial situation. Now Blackpool's trams will have little to attract either the enthusiast/nostalgist or anyone who just wants a regular and frequent service along the coast.
Not sure if my memory is right, all the money for the upgrade of the tracks and new trams came from the EU and part of the deal was for the old trams NOT to be used on the tram lines so maybe time has caught up with the terms remember, it's from memory, just had a thought, if any are employed, has the N.I and minimum wage increase but the pressure on to stop the tram's
The heritage drivers etc are volunteer staff. I'm not sure about not using old trams as they specifically converted some to use as peak extras. Maybe it's more to do with the rules coming in after the Croydon crash a few years ago
sad news they need to be stored better now if roof still leaking at depot,as otherwise will just rot and rust more,more so if not being moved doing trips etc,are the current trips for lights being cancelled aswell?
Yes all current trips are cancelled and roof is sadly still leaking. Hopefully this will be rectified eventually
Sadly, I always felt this was inevitable. The renaming to the rather twee 'Tramtown' heralded some rather grandiose plans which I believed would never see the light of day. I have very limited knowledge of what has taken place with Blackpool's heritage trams in recent years but have often wondered how viable the operation was and whether the correct financial decisions were being taken. I suspect that they were not.
This is a real tragedy......one of the very few remaining reasons for a visit to Blaclpool has now been eliminated. There is really nothing else......
Probably for the best. I'm 99% sure BTS will allocate special days for heritage tours. The operation became too bloated & overgeneralised - should only have them on during bank holidays.
We can hope, but the tone and wording the press release doesn't appear to suggest they will be running for a long while if ever.
I have been trying to get a ride on one of the 1980s trams for years but aways ended up with the refurbished 1930s on instead as you never really know what is running until the day. With heritage tramways opting to stick to era specific trams, it looks like there's no way I will be able to get a ride on one to see what they are like.
You will be able to ride a 1980s centenary car at Crich once 645s restoration is complete. Hopefully in the next couple years.
Blackpool Transport is going to drive away visitors, maybe the local council should step in before its to late.
The local council have held talks since this statement and now there is a second one, however, still no firm guarantee of the trams return
@StevenHughestransportvideos Thanks for the info, hope they see sense soon.
I smell BS, some civil servant putting a task into the 'too hard' basket. Just about every tram system in Japan has trams from the fifties and sixties running in regular daily service along side their latest, most modern trams, HIroshima even has a couple of WW2 era survivors of the A-bomb that come out on occasion. Melbourne has W class trams updated to be compliant with modern safety standards running in tourist service. And then there is San Francisco's vintage trams from around the world, including from Blackpool, and many European cities allow heritage trams to run on their networks.
One less reason to visit Blackpool, not that there were many....
Pulling the health and safety line to quash what was normal, that is today's normal for the UK.
They have already got rid of the Heritage bus Operation so it doesn't come as a surprise to me sadly
How do they manage in Melbourne? Lots of old trams, and they run on the streets!
Not just Melbourne but many systems around the world including San Francisco.
Surely this is retrospective legislation?
They must provide statistics. How many incidents since the new trams started ? What was their nature? Has anybody been injured? We’re there any fatalities. For both sets of trams individually.
What will the impact be on tourism?
Why not send some councillors to Melbourne to see how they work. That would be a nice jolly, they will queue up for that!!
@bobmcdermott9535 if you read between the lines, especially the bit around being future focused, I believe the council and operator don't want the old trams running. The rest is just "reasoning" so it doesn't look so bad to the public.
@@StevenHughestransportvideosthere are elections next year, bring on the revolution . Not a real one of course(don’t want to go to goal!😇’ Vote them out.
@bobmcdermott9535 I believe the local MP has called a meeting as he is as worried as most of his constituents.
Very disappointed 😢and depressing 😞 😔 😪.
Fortunately an update from Blackpool today appears they have U-turned after the public outcry and promise "trams will return in 2025 if they can sort out the complex operational issues"
The statement says this pause in it so looks like it’s not permanent
I suspect the word pause is there to give hope rather than anything meaningful. Let's hope it is only short term, but I fear we won't see the illuminated feature cars out again and everything will end up static exhibits in a Rigby road museum.
@ I agree probably costing them more to have they lights on them to
The trams are ancient, they won’t last forever, perhaps they plan to replace them with newer trams or is that it ?
They might be old, but they are historical and are a key part of Blackpools heritage, just like the Tower and the Piers. Good maintenance will see them last for many years yet on limited service.
Modern Supertrams (am: lightrail) are already running on Blackpool's tramway ... the item here is about keeping the former, now historical trams running in addition for tourism.
👋
again with Blackpool councils "highly smart brain" -.- there more bothered about how many new buildings that are frankly ugly (way to modern) for blackpool's classic look there nothing stopping them if they wanted too to make more depos there nothing stopping them keeping the uptake they just wanna focus on a 4 billion pound entertainment area that wont end up going anywhere (that's if it even gets built since the contractors pulled out or are disputing things) but this is the same people who decided to re-add the old tram tracks thought the main road into Blackpool from cleveleys and fleetwood and have cars, peddle bikes, e-bikes, bus routes, trams, taxis, on a single road i believe this service will come back one day but only when Blackpool council uses there dam brains which is highly unlikely
@@arronsimpson or car parks
@@stevensmith7460 yea its stupid
They are 100 years old and not designed for modern safety equipment it would destroy thier heritage
@michaelelcoat6323
The Isle of Man has the World's OLDEST operating trams, 150 years old, mo problem for them running old trams. In fact the whole fleet is well over 100 years old! Admittedly, they have their own laws there.
However, I cannot believe that it's impossible to fit modern safety equipment to the heritage fleet.
Definitely won't be visiting Blackpool any more. Nothing left to attract me.
Will Blackpool demolish the tower next?
It appears this wasn't a council decision but a decision took directly by the operator.
Sheer lunacy!!!
It is a sad occasion. A shame a final "hurrah" couldn't have been planned before the end. Hopefully they will find a way to bring them back in future
Another reason not to visit Blackpool. The place has rapidly gone downhill over the years. Soon it will be a ghost town.
The latest update today appears to show a U-turn on the decision.
DIDNT REALLY ABOUT THE DISABLED WITH THESE DID THEY😒
The Western Train has disabled access
A very good compilation. I understand the sentiments but some commentators seem to have no grasp of reality.
I don't doubt they have good intentions. It's sad to see the entire heritage withdrawal. It would have been nice to have been able to keep the illuminated fleet at least as they are iconic.
really? is this some kind of joke? do they know what this means to visitors of blackpool, especially people like me, with my family , these trams are amazing and remind me of my 80's childhood trips to the town, their noise, their look , the horn. Im trying to recreate my times for the kids for their own memories and this is a part of that. Man wish i knew this when i was enjoying them rolling up n down the prom this season that be the last time i saw them. I sat in the velvet coaster outside watching them roll by with a few pints this season a few times, actually appreciating and thinking wow, blackpool got the right idea rolling these out.......awww welll :( :( the hardcore driver i saw in the bolton town co op tram, no window , an open cab, there he was with pride and joy rolling it down the prom with his big jacket on and shades loving life and doing a fantastic job, hope these folks are now not in a job cause of this
It is indeed a big shock. The staff on the heritage are all volunteers so no one is losing an income from this. Fortunately we still have the various museums like Beamish, Crich and the East Anglia Transport Museum who will be running Blackpool trams amongst others next year and beyond.
In other words " you got no heritage trams ,but their safe"
Basically, yes, you won't see them or be able to ride them but they are safe while we find a way to build a museum to show them off in. Hopefully the decision not to run them at all will be reversed now the local MP has become involved along with a petition which is gathering pace fast (see pinned comment)
Does this also mean the end for the illuminated trams?
For the foreseeable future yes. The remaining tours this year are cancelled and this means the withdrawal of all the old trams
Grrrrrrrrrrrr - money!
Crich could take some.
As far as I'm aware none of the trams are looking for new homes, and the latest statement which came out after this video was published, states they will now bring them back in 2025. I guess it's watch this space for future developments
Is this also the end of the illuminated trams?
Yes as the Illuminated trams are heritage trams also
Such a shame, beautiful sight with the old trams, can't beat them,hope they keep running at some point thanks for Fab footage 😊
I pray we will see them reinstated eventually but I will not be surprised if we don't. Crich and Beamish will see more visits from me next year (not that I don't visit enough already!)
Oh I’m sure they’ll be running again in 2025.
I don't think they will. Blackpool Transport want to concentrate on modern trams and I don't think they can fit the required safety systems to the heritage trams. I hope they do return but the statement doesn't make good reading.
@ They can’t just stop the old trams from running. They have to keep running.
Unfortunately they can stop them, and they pretty much have. They are looking at new ways to honour the heritage, but not run them on the system from the sounds of the official statement.
@dannyohare3645 They have every right in the world to choose to not run them. The world doesn't revolve around enthusiasts
@@dannyohare3645 Now the operation has been suspended their PSVAR exemption will have expired making it illegal to run them again in passenger service.
More british heritage gone!
You must be joking! Blackpool without its trams is like morecombe without wise! What woke idiot dreamed up this one!
Well surely they cant scrap them
Id like to say they won't, but some have already been scrapped so there is every chance some will be, especially those which aren't restored and haven't been used for years. Let's hope that some find good homes elsewhere and that a museum type display can be opened for the rest in Blackpool.
thats it , only came when they were running, so bye blackpool, they will never learn , probobly younger generation making the decisions,
The main reason for visiting Blackpool are the heritage trams. The new ones are fine for everyday travel, but souless. I can travel on the modern versions locally if l want. It appears to me they are making excuses with all the safety technology jargon. Blackpool residents and visitors managed to use the trams for decades without all this new equipment. Have people suddenly lost commonsense on using trams
I think most of the safety system requirements comes after the incident a few years ago in Croydon
every one a jem
😳😳👎👎👎👎
Right.
Can we PLEASE stop this headless chicken, "OMG, it's the end of everything, just go ring up the Barnsley scrapyards" garbage.
First... The heritage trams are suspended at the end of every season.
Secondly, whilst happy to admit the reasons given are more specific than usual, none of the reasons given are insurmountable in any way.
Next, the depot, whilst certainly not tip top, equally isn't in any urgent danger of falling down tomorrow morning either, as some have eluded to.
Many trams there are privately owned, so they are safe, and most of the others are either in a trust or soon will be.
Could this simply be a way to nudge the council to "advise" them that stabling them at Starr Gate is now becoming impractical, so maybe its simply a way of telling the council, "can you please get Rigby Rd turned into "Tramtown" ASAP and all will be good again,?"
It certainly seems like that to me.
I could be completely wrong, but I think it's a possibility.
And remember, in 2012, when the upgrade happened, the council made certain that unlike any other LRV system in the UK, the heritage cars could run alongside Flexity 2's.
The council know damn well the "pull" that the heritage fleet has, or they wouldn't have gone to all that time, money and effort in 2012.
I could be completely wrong, but I think this could actually be a watershed monent in the tramway's history.
Time will tell, but PLEASE at least stop with the OMG!! Crap until we know better.
Unfortunately this "suspension" is not the usual end of season suspension. It's far bigger than that and has happened before the end of the season. I hope the doom and gloom turns out to be an over reaction, but maybe the over reaction is needed to remind the council 12 years on that the love for the old trams is just as strong, if it slipped by without any outcry then they could question if people care if they return.
@StevenHughestransportvideos Maybe and I certainly agree that we need to "bang the drum" about it to show that people and LOTS of them, do care about the "old ladies".
It's just the "end of the world " muppets asking when they are getting scrapped that piss me off.
@dancedecker well indeed, whilst some may end up going to scrap (some are already being used as a source of spares anyway) the majority will simply find new homes elsewhere or be retained for a future museum. Sadly I can see a static museum in Blackpool being the best we get. I hope I'm wrong and that the decision to stop running heritage will be reversed.
@StevenHughestransportvideos More than likely some will sadly go, one way or another, but personally I do not think this is the "OMG end of the world " crap that some are seeing it as.
I agree that every opportunity to safeguard the trams should be taken and I see there is a petition around that I've signed up to, to "bang the drum " about this, but I just don't see the council putting so much effort into ensuring they could run alongside the Flexity LRV's and then turn it into a scrapyard and a housing development 10 years later.
Some reasoned argument and fair safeguarding is fine.
But the "Tramcar Fire Sale on next Wednesday" crap some on here and elsewhere are doing, I think is very unhelpful.
@StevenHughestransportvideos To a point, I agree, but I just don't see it as the apocalypse that some on here and elsewhere are making it out to be.
I have NO issue with bringing their plight to the fore, as if nothing else, it shows the council and BTS how much support there is for the tramway in general and the heritage part in particular, which is good.
I just don't think the "It's the end of the world" crap is useful.
I could be COMPLETELY WRONG, but I'm more optimistic than many seem to be, and the "nutter: end of things really doesn't help at all.
If they put even HALF as much effort into coming up with practical, sensible, sustainable solutions as they do at running around like headless chickens, proclaiming it's time to torch everything, it might be more useful.
Is this yet another benefit of Brexshite? Along with the floods, torrential rain and multiple deaths?
I think it's more the benefit of the "modernise at all cost" culture which seems to be going on at the moment.
@@StevenHughestransportvideos Modernise? Unless it is the NHS, Schools, Housing, Food provision, Energy Generation, Pollution Reduction, Roads, Railways. Seems to be focussing on the bank balances of the ultrarich elites. He posted cynically.