Could High Speed Two Serve Blackpool North?
Consider.
- Blackpool North station is electrified and will have an electrified route to London Euston HS2 and Birmingham Curzon Street stations, when High Speed Two opens.
- Yesterday, both 11-car and 9-car Class 390 trains, which are longer than single High Speed Two classic-compatible trains, used Blackpool North station.
- Blackpool is noted for fresh air and fun.
- Blackpool needs leveling-up. Surely High Speed Two will help with this?
- Blackpool has a unique Modern and Ancient tramway to bring residents and visitors to High Speed Two.
I am fairly sure, that single High Speed Two class-compatible trains could use Blackpool North station.
But could another High Speed Two service have a path between London and Preston to serve Blackpool?
Because of the cancellation of Phase 2 of High Speed 2, there are spare paths on High Speed Two between London and the West Midlands.
If the core section of High Speed Two is extended Northwards to Crewe, as advocated by Dyan Perry of the High Speed Rail Group, that I wrote about in The Future Of HS2 Could Lie In Its Original Vision, this would create extra paths to Crewe.
It looks to me, that the tricky part of the route is between Crewe and Preston.
This diagram shows High Speed Two services, as they were originally envisaged before Phase 2 was discontinued.
Note.
- Trains to the left of the vertical black line are Phase 1 and those to the right are Phase 2.
- Full-Size trains are shown in blue.
- Classic-Compatible trains are shown in yellow.
- Blue circles are shown, where trains stop.
- The dotted circles are where trains split and join.
- In the red boxes routes alternate every hour.
Click on the diagram to enlarge it.
Note that if Phase 1 were to be completed to Crewe, there would be five full-size and five classic-compatible trains using the West Midlands and Crewe section of the High Speed Two route, of which five trains would terminate at Manchester Piccadilly HS2 station and two classic-compatible trains would terminate at Liverpool Lime Street.
So just three Scottish trains and one to Lancaster would go North of Warrington Bank Quay station, which would be an average of one train every fifteen minutes.
High Speed Two will be fully digitally signalled and I’m sure that trains could run as flights of two or more trains, a couple of minutes apart.
This would mean that a London and Blackpool North service could run say two minutes behind one of the London and Scotland services to Preston
- Between London and the West Midlands, there would be twelve trains per hour (tph).
- Between the West Midlands and Crewe, there would be also be twelve tph.
- Between Crewe and Preston, there would be five tph.
I believe it would be possible for High Speed Two to run a London and Blackpool North service, provided that the London Euston to Crewe core of High Speed Two is completed soon after Phase 1 is completed.
It should also be noted, that I believe the second Scottish service from London could also have a flight with another service. So could Barrow or Blackburn have a High Speed Two service from London?
A Bespoke Tram-Train For The UK
Trams, tram-trains, trains and anything that runs on rails is generally very expensive.
Does this partly explain, why the UK has relatively few urban tramways and railways?
In Stadler Presents Mock-Up Of Tram-Trains For German And Austrian Operators, I discussed how five German and Austrian operators had got together to create a common tram-train design, that would be suitable for all the operators.
The mayor of one of the cities involved in the joint order, said savings of the order of a million euros per vehicle may have resulted from the common design.
I would also feel that savings in operational costs, design of infrastructure, spares inventory and other costs would also result.
Identical tram-trains would make through running between networks easier.
Where Could Tram-Trains Be Used In The UK?
Consider.
- Currently, tram-trains are running in Sheffield and a battery-electric version of the same Stadler Citylink tram-train will soon be running in Cardiff.
- Cardiff, is developing a Cardiff Crossrail on tram-train principles across the city.
- Sheffield have said that they will be replacing their trams and I believe they could use developments of their excellent Stadler tram-trains.
- Sheffield is likely to extend their tram system and might include tram-trains to Doncaster.
- Cities that have talked about adding tram-trains to their tram networks include Birmingham, Blackpool, Manchester and Nottingham.
- Leeds is developing a metro system, which could be developed using tram-train principles.
- Glasgow has talked about a tram-train to Glasgow Airport for some time.
- The East-West Rail Link is proposing a tram-train link between Ipswich and Felixstowe to allow more freight trains into the Port of Felixstowe.
There could be quite a number of tram-trains being used in the UK, especially if they are used as at Felixstowe, to increase freight capacity into ports.
These are a few of my thoughts.
Battery-Electric Tram-Trains
I would envisage, that a lot of the new tram-trains would operate using batteries. Especially, as battery-electric trains are showing quite long ranges of upwards of thirty miles.
Already trams in Birmingham and trains on Merseyside, are operating using batteries and it avoids the expense of putting up catenary, if enough exists to charge the trams.
Replacement of Diesel Multiple Units By Battery-Electric Tram-Trains
There are some branch lines, where diesel multiple units run off a branch of an electrified main line.These services could be decarbonised by changing the rolling stock.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the St. I’ves Bay Line in Cornwall.
Note.
- The St. Ives Bay Line is shown in yellow.
- The Southern terminal is St. Erth station, where it connects to the Cornish Main Line, which is shown in orange.
- The Northern terminal is St. Ives station, which is towards the top of the map.
- The St. Ives Bay Line is 4.25 miles long.
- No tracks are electrified.
- There are three intermediate stations.
This second OpenRailwayMap shows St. Erth station in more detail.
Note.
- The St. Ives Bay Line has its own platform at the side of the station.
- I am fairly certain, that some form of charging could be installed in this platform.
- At the other side of the Cornish Main Line are two sidings, which could be used for cleaning and maintenance.
A neat zero-carbon branch line could easily be created.
New Branch Lines To New Developments
In Sheffield Region Transport Plan 2019 – A New Tram-Train Route To A New Station At Waverley, I gave my view on a tram-train loop from the Sheffield-Lincoln Line to serve the Advanced Manufacturing Centre and new housing at Waverley.
The tram-train would run as a train to the branch line for the development and then run as a battery-electric tram, through the development.
As the Midland Main Line to Sheffield will be electrified, the tram-trains could be charged on the electrification in Sheffield station.
Build Them In Doncaster
Wabtec are closing Doncaster works.
Surely this would be the site to assemble the scores of tram-trains that could be needed in the UK.
Conclusion
Tram-trains could do a lot to improve the railways of the UK.
They would also help to decarbonise the existing system.
Is A Ride Across South London On Tramlink, The Worst Rail Ride In London?
Last week, I took a ride across South London on the London Tramlink from Beckenham Junction to Wimbledon.
I was in one of the original Bombardier trams and it was very underwhelming.
None Of The Current Trams Have Air-Conditioning
These days, this is expected.
In this article on RailAdvent, which is entitled Potential Tram Builders Announced For New London Trams, this is said.
Transport for London has issued an Invitation to Tender for four manufacturers to design and build a new fleet of trams.
Alstom UK, CAF, Hitachi and Stadler are the four manufacturers who can now proceed to the next stage of the procurement process with Transport for London to design and build the new trams.
The new trams are expected to feature air-conditioning, real time travel info and charging points, along with areas designed for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs and luggage.
It sounds that the new trams will be to a higher standard with more comfort and interior space.
The Current Trams Have Bricks For Seat Padding
In my except from the Rail Advent article, surely this is covered with more comfort.
The Current Trams Lack Interior Space
In my except from the Rail Advent article, surely this is covered with more interior space.
On one journey recently, two mothers were having a friendly discussion about the limited space for their buggies.
The Current Trams Lack Flat Floors
The floors weren’t flat on my cross-London tram ride and it nearly tripped me up.
All trams, buses and trains should have flat floors and no-step entrances and exits.
The Current Trams Lack Details That Passengers Now Expect
In my except from the Rail Advent article, surely this is covered with more real time travel info and charging points.
The Route Of The Tramlink Is Boring
I’ve travelled on trams and light rail systems in other cities and towns, in the UK, in Europe and around the world.
But I feel that unlike say Blackpool Tramway, except for a couple of shopping centres and IKEA, London Tramlink doesn’t take you anywhere.
I expected to find refreshment kiosks at the terminals, but only at Wimbledon and East Croydon did they exist.
Perhaps, Transport for London could add a few kiosks, as they have done on the Overground?
Conclusion
Transport for London should look at all aspects of design of the London Tramlink.
More Government Details Emerge On How Fleetwood’s Rail Link Will Be Restored – Using Tram-Train Technology
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Blackpool Gazette.
This is the sub-heading.
New details have emerged about how the Government plans to restore the rail link between Fleetwood and Poulton using state-of-the-art tram-train technology.
These are points from the article, which mainly come from a letter to the local MP; Paul Maynard.
- In a letter to Mr Maynard, Rail Minister Huw Merriman has set out for the first time how the Government intends to restore the rail link.
- The Government is now looking at the finer details of a tram-train scheme and how the project can be funded.
- Tram-trains will be used for the link.
- The re-opened railway can be linked into the existing Blackpool to Fleetwood tramway, allowing services to run into the heart of Fleetwood.
- Services would operate twice hourly from Preston station to Poulton-le-Fylde over the existing heavy rail network, before joining a new light rail link between Poulton-le-Fylde and the Denham Way roundabout on Amounderness Way, calling at up to three new intermediate stops.
- From the roundabout, the services would continue on the existing Blackpool tram network towards Fleetwood town centre and Fleetwood ferry terminal.
- The Government is committed to the project.
These are my detailed thoughts.
The Route
The Blackpool Gazette article describes the route like this.
Services would operate twice hourly from Preston station to Poulton-le-Fylde over the existing heavy rail network, before joining a new light rail link between Poulton-le-Fylde and the Denham Way roundabout on Amounderness Way, calling at up to three new intermediate stops.
From the roundabout, the services would continue on the existing Blackpool tram network towards Fleetwood town centre and Fleetwood ferry terminal.
This map from OpenRailwayMap shows the route.
Note.
- Poulton-le-Fylde station is marked by the blue arrow in the South-East corner of the map.
- The pink line running up the coast is the Blackpool tramway.
- The Blackpool tramway terminates at Fleetwood Ferry at the top of the map.
This second OpenRailwayMap shows Fleetwood Ferry tram terminus.
Note.
- As before, the Blackpool tramway tracks are shown in pink.
- There is a lifeboat station and a ferry to the other side.
- The tracks allow a tram to come from the South, go round the loop and return to the South.
- I believe that both the Blackpool tramway and the Fleetwood tram-train will both reverse direction in the same way.
- No new infrastructure would be needed at the Fleetwood Ferry terminal, except for perhaps a few signs.
This third OpenRailwayMap shows the track from Fleetwood Ferry to the Lindel Road tram stop.
Note.
- As before, the Blackpool tramway tracks are shown in pink.
- Fleetwood Ferry is in the North-East corner if the map.
- Lindel Road tram stop is marked by the blue arrow in the South-West corner if the map.
This fourth OpenRailwayMap shows the Lindel Road tram stop area at a larger scale.
Note.
- As before, the Blackpool tramway tracks are shown in pink.
- Lindel Road tram stop is marked by the blue arrow.
- Running parallel to and to the East of the Blackpool tramway is Amounderness Way, which appears to have been built on the line of the railway to Fleetwood.
- Along the West side of Amounderness Way, a disused railway is indicated, which must be the closed railway to Fleetwood.
I believe that Network Rail or their engineers have found a route to connect the old branch line to the Blackpool tramway.
- The railway connecting the Blackpool tramway and the closed railway to Fleetwood, would only need to be single-track.
- There might be a convenient route, where all the land is owned by the Council.
- If the tram-trains were to be was fitted batteries, then there would be no need to electrify the line.
I suspect, that the connection would be to the South of Lindel Road tram stop.
- This would mean that the tram-train would serve a number of stops in the town centre.
- The tram-train could use the catenary of the Blackpool tramway.
- Connection and disconnection to the catenary could be done in the Lindel Road tram stop.
This Google Map shows the area of the Lindel Road tram stop and Denham Road.
Note.
- The Lindel Road tram stop in the North-West corner of the map, with the Blackpool tramway running NE-SW across the corner of the map.
- The roundabout and Amounderness Way on the East side of the map.
- Denham Way connecting the roundabout to Copse Road and the tram stop.
- On the fourth OpenRailwayMap it showed the original line of the railway was to the West of Amounderness Way.
So could the spur between the Lindel Road tram stop and the railway to Poulton-le-Fylde station take the following route?
- Just South of the tram stop the two tracks connect to a new single-track that goes East on the South side of Denham Way.
- The turn would be quite sharp, but trams and tram-trains have the articulation of a snake and can use tight turns and narrow formations.
- The crossing of Copse Road would be protected by traffic lights.
When the tram-train gets to the roundabout other end of Denham way, I think there are two choices.
- Turn sharp right and go South alongside the West side of Amounderness Way.
- Somehow cross Amounderness Way and go down the West side.
This Google Map Amounderness Way going South.
Note.
- Amounderness Way runs North-South down the map between two roundabouts.
- The large industrial area to the East of the road is labelled as SUEZ Recycling and Recovery.
- North-East of SUEZ is Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve.
- South-East of SUEZ is SUEZ Environmental Jameson Road Landfill and Lancashire County Council’s Fleetwood Household Waste Recycling Centre.
- There also seem to be a lot of large holiday caravans.
- There is a road running along the South-East of the large SUEZ site called Jameson Road.
The Wikipedia entry for the Fleetwood branch line, says this about the state of the branch.
Some of the line is now cleared of overgrowth because the northern track was not lifted from past Burn Naze Halt to just beyond Jameson Road Fleetwood. However, the road bridge was filled in below it. The junction, last used when goods trains took coal to Fleetwood Power Station, still exists. Looking over the road bridge on Jameson Road, the track to both north & south can still be seen through the undergrowth. In the 1990s, the new A585 The Amounderness Way bypass has been built on the former trackbed, although sufficient space still exists for a reinstated railway should it be required.
Note.
- It appears that enough space has been left at the Northern end to connect to the Blackpool tramway.
- It doesn’t seem to be in too bad a state.
- I suspect that rebuilding the branch has a similar degree of difficulty to rebuilding the Dartmoor Line to Okehampton, which is now operating successfully.
This gave me hope, that a single-track tramway could be built between Poulton-le-Fylde junction and the Lindel Road tram stop.
This Google Map shows the track meeting the filled in road bridge on Jameson Road.
Note.
- If that’s not a single-track railway and the filled-in bridge on Jameson Road, I’m a Dutchman.
- The railway can be followed on Google Maps for most of the way to Poulton-le-Fylde station.
- Google Maps also shows traces of railway to the North of the bridge on Jameson Road.
This Google Map shows the section of Amounderness Way from the North of the SUEZ Recycling and Recovery site to the Denham Way roundabout.
I suspect that the tram would go straight up the East side of ‘Amounderness Way.
But how would the tramway cross the road.
This Google Map shows Denham Way, the roundabout and Lindel Road tram stop.
I am fairly sure that a single-track bridge of some sort could connect Lindel Road tram stop with a single-track railway along the East side of Amounderness Way, to link up with the orphaned track South of Jameson Road.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Poulton-le-Fylde junction, where the former railway to Fleetwood, joins the Blackpool branch.
Note.
- Poulton-le-Fylde station is indicated by the blue arrow.
- The orange track is the Blackpool branch to Blackpool North station.
- Poulton-le-Fylde junction is to the West of the station.
- The track going North from the junction, is the disused track to Fleetwood.
- The map also shows a couple of level crossings.
I am fairly certain, that a single-track tramway could be built between Poulton-le-Fylde junction and the Lindel Road tram stop.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Poulton-le-Fylde junction and Poulton-le-Fylde station.
These pictures taken in 2018, show Poulton-le-Fylde station.
Note.
- It is a small station, that oozes quality.
- The tracks and electrification were all installed or renewed in the last few years.
- There is even a cafe and a lift to the street.
- The flower-beds in the middle of the platform, are at the Preston end of the station.
- As the tram-trains will stop in the station, they can raise and lower the pantograph in the station.
- Tram-trains and trains will share the appropriate platform.
The possibility can probably be arranged that an incoming train to Blackpool North will be able to drop passengers at a waiting tram-train for Fleetwood Ferry.
Will The New Fleetwood Branch Be Electrified?
There are various arguments for and against electrification between Poulton-le-Fylde station and the Lindel Road tram stop.
In favour, is that a continuous catenary can be run from end-to end, with 750 VDC electrification.
- An insulated section would be used at Poulton-le-Fylde station to separate the 750 VDC of the tramway and the 25 KVAC of the Blackpool branch.
- Standard tram-trains, like Sheffield’s Class 399 tram-trains could be used.
- Battery-electric tram-trains are probably more expensive.
Against electrification are.
- There would be no electrification between Poulton-le-Fylde station and the Lindel Road tram stop to install.
- There would be no need for any modifications to the catenary at Poulton-le-Fylde station and the Lindel Road tram stop.
- The filled in bridge mentioned in Wikipedia, might only need a tram-sized hole and not complete rebuilding to get the trams through.
- Occasional freight trains could probably be run, if required.
- Battery-electric tram-trains are proven technology.
It will definitely one for the accountants to decide.
The Tram-Trains
These are pictures of Stadler Citylink tram-trains in Sheffield.
Note.
- These Class 399 tram-trains were the first tram-trains to run in the UK, when they entered service in 2017.
- They were built by Stadler in Spain.
- They share the tracks in Sheffield happily with Sheffield’s other trams of a different type.
- At the time, Paul Maynard, who is the local MP, was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, so I suspect that explains, why the MP appears pleased with the choice of tram-trains and talks knowledgeably about them.
- There is also a battery electric version of these tram-trains, which has been ordered by the South Wales Metro.
- Blackpool’s tramway uses Bombardier Flexity 2 trams. However, it doesn’t seem, that there is a tram-train version of the Flexity 2.
- Merseyrail in the Liverpool area, are introducing a large fleet of Stadler trains, which will be running to Preston in a couple of years.
I suspect that these tram-trains will be built by Stadler and they could be fitted with batteries.
Tram-Train Frequency Between Fleetwood Ferry And Poulton-le-Fylde Station
The Blackpool Gazette article is definite, that the frequency of the tram-train will be two trains per hour (tph).
Consider.
- The Blackpool tramway operates a service of trams every 10-15 minutes between Starr Gate and Fleetwood Ferry, so the frequency will be increased by two tph North of Lindel Road tram stop.
- As heritage trams also share the route to Fleetwood, I suspect that at some busy times, the Fleetwood Ferry and Preston service could be reduced to hourly.
- But it does look to me, that the all-important terminal at Fleetwood Ferry has been well-designed and can handle the extra traffic.
- Looking at the timetable for the Blackpool tramway, trams take forty-one minutes between Fleetwood Ferry and the North Pier.
- As Poulton-le-Fylde station and North Pier tram stop, are probably similar distances from Fleetwood Ferry, I suspect that Poulton-le-Fylde station and Fleetwood Ferry would take thirty minutes or more.
- Real Time Trains indicates that electric trains to Blackpool North station take around 16-17 minutes between Poulton-le-Fylde and Preston stations, with diesel trains taking a couple of minutes more.
- Add in time for stops at Kirkham & Wesham, possibly another at Salwick and cleaning and crew changeover at Preston station, I suspect that a roundtrip from Preston to Fleetwood Ferry and back will take a very convenient two hours.
A two hour round trip and two tph, will mean four trains will be needed to work the timetable.
I can’t prove it, but I my gut feeling is that there there will be a passing loop somewhere between Poulton-le-Fylde station and the Lindel Road tram stop.
The passing loop would also give scope for operational flexibility.
Train Services Through Poulton-le-Fylde Station
Train services through Poulton-le-Fylde station are currently as follows.
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Blackpool North – 1 train per day (tpd)
- Northern – Liverpool Lime Street and Blackpool North – 1 tph
- Northern – Manchester Airport and Blackpool North – 2 tph
- Northern – York and Blackpool North – 1 tph
Note that all trains stop at Preston.
The Avanti West Coast service only calls Southbound, but I wouldn’t be surprised, if the Fleetwood tram-train is built, that Avanti West Coast started a Northbound service.
Could The Blackpool South Branch Be Served By Similar Tram-Trains?
In Beeching Reversal – South Fylde Line Passing Loop, I talked about improving the Blackpool South branch.
Objectives included.
- Two tph.
- Better trains.
- A passing loop that would enable the 2 tph.
Note.
- Pacers have been replaced with Class 150 trains.
- The route is electrified between Preston and Kirkham & Wesham station.
- 12.2 miles are without electrification.
It certainly would seem possible that if a battery-electric tram-train had sufficient range, it could handle the current route to Blackpool South station.
The trams would have a ninety-minute round trip between Preston an Blackpool South stations and two tph, will mean three trains will be needed to work the timetable.
The MP is quoted in the Blackpool Gazette article, as liking the concept of a tram loop to Blackpool from Preston.
Trams might go to Fleetwood, down the promenade and then take the Blackpool South branch beck to Preston.
It could obviously go the other way around the loop.
This Google Map shows the location of Blackpool South station.
Note.
At the West side of the map is the promenade, with tramway running North and South.
At the East side of the map is Blackpool South station.
The walking route between the tramway and the station is not arduous, but it is not a seamless transfer.
It might be better to make the connection at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which is shown in this Google Map.
Note.
- The Pleasure Beach lies between the tramway and the promenade by the beach and the Blackpool South branch on the East side.
- There are two stops on the tramway and a station just to the South.
Perhaps, if the Pleasure Beach were redeveloping an area, they might leave provision for tram-trains to to sneak through to join the tramway going North.
But it’s a difficult problem, as there is not much space, that is undeveloped and the roads aren’t very wide.
This Google Map shows the North Pier and Blackpool North station.
Note.
- The North Pier is in the South-West corner of the map.
- Blackpool North station, which is Blackpool’s main station is in the North-East corner of the map.
- The tramway runs along the sea-front.
The North Pier and the station are linked by Talbot Road.
This Google Map shows Talbot Road and the development of a tram stop by Blackpool North station.
Note.
- To create the space a large Wilkinson’s store was demolished.
- Blaxkpool North station is just off the North-East corner of the map.
- The tram stop will have two platforms.
- There is a large diamond crossing on the approach to the tram stop, so operation is smooth and reliable.
- It looks like there will be substantial development around and possibly over the tram stop.
This Google Map shows Talbot Square, where the tram branch to Blackpool North station joins the main North-South tramway.
It is all very crowded and I believe this illustrates, why despite their close proximity, there is no rail connection between the Blackpool South branch and the Blackpool tramway.
There just isn’t the space to put in junctions like this and the tramway doesn’t go past Blackpool Airport, so the connection would have to be amongst the crowded houses on the sea front.
The Development Of Blackpool Airport
Aviation is changing and I believe a new breed of airliners and the airports to serve them, will be developed in the next few years.
- Zero-carbon aircraft are being developed and I believe some will have entered service by 2026.
- They will be powered directly by batteries or from green hydrogen.
- Some like the Eviation Alice are already entering a flight-test program, that will lead to certification.
- These airliners are likely to be smaller and quieter than current airliners, with typically a passenger capacity of around 19 passengers.
- They will often fly routes between smaller regional airports.
Blackpool Airport could be an ideal airport for these airliners.
- Offshore electricity and even hydrogen generated offshore will be easy to deliver to Blackpool Airport.
- It could have excellent transport connections with trams and trains.
- Blackpool Airport has good runways.
- Many take-offs will be over the sea.
- We will see airports converting to zero-carbon airports.
So why not Blackpool Airport?
These are distances between Blackpool Airport and other airports.
- Aberdeen – 238 miles
- Amsterdam Schipol – 340 miles
- Belfast City – 128 miles
- Cardiff – 165 miles
- Dublin – 134 miles
- Edinburgh – 150 miles
- Exeter – 211 miles
- Geneva – 661 miles
- Glasgow – 155 miles
- Haverfordwest – 157 miles
- Jersey – 318 miles
- Kirkwall – 358 miles
- London Gatwick – 220 miles
- London Heathrow – 192 miles
- London Southend – 219 miles
- Newcastle – 89 miles
- Paris Orly – 422 miles
- Isle of Man Ronaldsway – 68 miles
- Shannon – 254 miles
- Southampton – 208 miles
- Sumburgh – 427 miles
These distances fit nicely with the range of the nine-seater Eviation Alice electric aircraft, which is predicted to be 620 miles.
This Google Map shows Blackpool Airport.
Note.
- The East-West main runway, which is over 1,800 metres long, which will probably mean an easier takeoff into the wind, for much of the time.
- The acres of space.
- The Blackpool South branch running down the side of the airport, with Squires Gate station on the road past the Airport.
- But zoom in on the airport and some improvement and refurbishment needs to be done. Years of neglect and uncertainty has taken its toll.
This Google Map shows the North-West corner of the map at a greater scale.
Note.
- In the North-West corner of the map is Blackpool tramway’s depot and Starr Gate tram stop with its loop.
- The rail station is Squires Gate for Blackpool Airport.
- The smart green space to the East of the railway is Blackpool FC’s training ground.
- Below the training ground on the East side is Blackpool Airport.
- On the other side of the track from the Airport, it appears to be the local rubbish dump.
I wonder, if this is where the Blackpool tramway and the Blackpool South branch could be joined up.
- A joint two-platform station partly on Airport land would replace the current Squires Gate station.
- It could be connected to the Airport terminal by some form of shuttle or travellator.
- The trams would be connected to the Starr Gate loop by a line going along the front, as the tramway does in much of Blackpool, before cutting through the waste ground.
- Trains to Blackpool South station would use their current route.
This plan and probably lots of others could allow a Blackpool loop tram-train from Preston.
What would a zero-carbon airport do for Blackpool?
I’ve Gone Cashless
I have now setup my bank account, so that I can make small payments using from my phone, using the contactless facility.
These are a few short observations.
- The thirty pound limit may be a little too low.
- You can’t be cashless on the Blackpool tramway. I was allowed to go free!
- Some small shops still won’t accept them or apply a minimum spend. Obviously, they don’t want my business and didn’t get it.
- I never have any change for beggars. I follow TfL’s advice and give to the Whitechapel Mission, who look after the genuine homeless.
- Some estabishments have gone cashless only!
The only time I use cash, is for tips in restaurants and paying black cabs.
£500m Fund To Restore Beeching Rail Cuts Goes Ahead Amid Criticism
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the introductory paragraph.
A government fund is to be launched later to restore historic railway lines closed more than 50 years ago under the so-called Beeching cuts.
The two initial grants are for studies about reopening the Northumberland Line to Blyth and Ashington in the North East and to Fleetwood to the North of Blackpool.
Blyth And Ashington
Consider.
- The tracks already exist.
- There may still be some freight traffic on the route.
- Connections to the Tyne and Wear Metro appear possible.
- The Tyne and Wear Metro already shares tracks with other freight and passenger services.
- New stations and probably new signalling will be needed.
- The distance between the proposed Northern terminals and the connections with the Tyne and Wear Metro are under twenty miles, which could make battery operation easily possible.
- The Tyne and Wear Metro is currently procuring a new fleet of trains.
I believe that these branches could be integrated into the Tyne and Wear Metro, providing that the new trains have the right specification.
Light rail vehicles like the Class 398 tram-trains being procured for the South Wales Metro should be able to run these services.
But other manufacturers might have better solutions!
Fleetwood Branch
This extension would need the following.
- Restoration of the existing track between Poulton-le-Fylde and Fleetwood.
- One or more new stations.
- Probable resignalling.
In a simple installation, there is probably space to put a bay platform in Poulton-le-Fylde station, so that a shuttle service could be run to Fleetwood.
But services could also be extended to Preston.
Blackpool though has other rail problems like what are they going to do with the Blackpool South Line.
I believe Blackpool could use similar solutions on both the Blackpool South and Fleetwood Lines to create a bigger solution for the whole of the area.
Conclusion
It looks to me that the government has started with two schemes that are possible and where the track still exists.
It is to be hoped that the two studies come up with easy-to-build and fundable schemes, which are the first of many.
Blackpool Tramway Is Reaching Towards The Station
On Saturday, I went to Blackpool and rode the Blackpool Tramway to Fleetwood to see Ipswich play.
This Google Map shows the current walking route between Blackpool North station and the North Pier tram stop.
Note.
- The station is in the North East corner of the map.
- The North Pier tram stop is by the North Pier!
- The main tram route passes North-South across the map, close to the shore end of the pier.
- The walk is along Talbot Road.
- Close to the station is a branch of Wilko.
The new tram tracks will be laid along Talbot Road and these pictures show the current progress of the new tracks.
Note.
- The spur is twin-track.
- The first two and the last pictures appear to show the tram tracks going into Wilko.
- The tram tracks appear to share the road with other traffic.
- There is a full triangular junction where the spur meets the main North-South tramway.
A few extra facts and thoughts.
What About Wilko?
The Wilko store will either be demolished or modified and the space will be used by a tram stop.
- It will be reached by an underpass from the station.
- I suspect it will have two platforms.
- One platform might be for trams to the North and the others for trams to the South.
- There will probably be a few kiosks and small shops.
Done well and it would give passengers a good welcome.
The Track Layout
The track layout with the full triangular junction and a double-track to the station gives a lot of flexibility.
- Trams can go between the the tram station and the North.
- Trams can go between the the tram station and the South.
- Trams could even come from the North, reverse in the station and go out to the South! Or vice-versa!
I also think it has been designed to be ready for expansion of the Blackpool Tramway.
A Tram Stop At Talbot Square
I have found a document on the Blackpool Council web site, that says this.
A tram stop on Talbot Square would be developed while road layouts are being examined so the new scheme would interfere as little as possible with drivers.
There is certainly enough space.
Could Tram-Trains Connect At Blackpool North Station To The Blackpool Tramway?
This Google Map shows Blackpool North station and the nearby Wilko.
I think it would be possible for tram-trains to come straight through the railway station and connect to the Blackpool Tramway.
- I would suspect that a frequency of between four and six trains per hour (tph) would be possible.
- The Tram-trains would have a battery capability with a range of perhaps twenty or thirty miles.
- The tram-trains would obviously come from Preston.
- But would they go on to Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Colne, Ormskirk, Southport and/or Todmorden.
The designs of the tracks, Blackpool North station and the proposed Blackpool North tram stop, would not seem to rule out the creation of a tram-train network with the Blackpool Tramway as the Western terminus.
Tram-Trains To The South
The new tram link at Blackpool North station will link the station to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and other attractions South of the North Pier.
To not annoy and discourage visitors, the frequency should be at least six tph or one tram every ten minutes. as little Harry and little Summer won’t late any longer!
Tram-trains to and from Preston and beyond, would have the following effects.
- A lot of visitors wouldn’t have to change between train and tram.
- They would reinforce the service between Blackpool North station and the Southern terminus at Starr Gate.
- They might cut the number of cars needing to park in Blackpool.
- Blackpool would become the only place in the world where you could see heritage trams, modern trams and tram-trains using the same system.
This tram-train link would surely improve the economy of Blackpool and the \Fylde Coast.
But the tram-trains don’t need to terminate at Starr Gate.
This Google Map shows the Blackpool Tramway’s Southern terminus and depot at Starr Gate and the nearby Squires Gate station.
Note.
- Starr Gate Depot on the West side of the map.
- The turning loop for the trams outside.
- Squires Gate station four hundred metres to the East.
I don’t think it would be difficult to connect the two rail systems.
- Tram-trains would be able to more freely between the Blackpool Tramway and the South Fylde Line to Kirkham & Wesham and Preston stations.
- The route between Kirkham & Wesham and Preston stations is electrified.
- The length of the section without electrification between Kirkham & Wesham and Blackpool South stations is just over twelve miles.
- The route West of Kirkham & Wesham station is single-track, but could probably be capable of handling more trains per hour, with some improvements like sections of double track.
I can’t see why tram-trains with a battery capability, which could be similar to those destined for the South Wales Metro, couldn’t run an extended service between Preston and the Blackpool Tramway.
- Tram-trains would change systems at Blackpool North station and Squires Gate/Starr Gate.
- Tram-trains would call at all stations and tramway stops in both directions.
- A frequency of at least two tph in both directions would be my preference.
- Tram-trains could easily handle the section without electrification on batteries charged on the existing electrification.
- It would provide improved public transport links to the important golf course at Royal Lytham.
I also feel that running battery tram-trains on the South Fylde Line could be an affordable solution to improving public transport in the area.
Tram-Trains To The North
The same arguments that can be used to allow tram-trains to go South along the Blackpool Tramway, will also work, for allowing tram-trains to go to the North.
But there is no railway in good condition to create a loop, as can be done to the South.
Perhaps, two tram-trains per hour could go to Fleetwood Ferry tram stop and use the loop to return to Blackpool North station.
Fleetwood would regain a rail service to Preston, that appears to have been discontinued in the 1960s.
Reinstatement Of The Fleetwood Branch Line
The Association of Train Operating Companies has proposed the reopening of the Fleetwood Branch Line, which would connect Fleetwood with Poulton-le-Fylde on the electrified line to Blackpool North station.
The branch is also being developed for heritage purposes.
I do wonder though, that a tram-train solution, where tram-trains run between Preston and Fleetwood via Kirkham & Wesham, Blackpool North and the Blsckpool Tramway, may give a higher return.
Obviously, a full study needs to be done.
Other Issues
On my trip to Fleetwood, two other issues were obvious.
A Distinct Lack Of Shelters
I took this picture, as I returned to the trams after the match.
At the time it was chucking it down!
Perhaps, they’d increase ridership, if passengers had some more shelter.
Bank Card Ticketing
I rarely carry cash these days, as I generally use contactless payments, for all payments under thirty pounds.
But on the Blackpool Tramway, you have to use cash!
That is so Nineteenth Century!
Conclusion
Blackpool Tramway can be built into a much more comprehensive and more customer-friendly tram and tram-train network.
Thoughts On Belgium’s Coastal Tram
I enjoyed riding Belgium’s Coastal Tram, which I wrote about in Riding The Coast Tram.
The Belgians appear to be upgrading it, with rebuilt stops, track replacement and new low-floor trams, so it must have a solid future.
The nearest we have in the UK to the Belgian tram is the Blackpool Tramway. But that is very different.
- The Blackpool Tramway is just eleven miles long, as opposed to the Belgian Coast Tram’s forty-two miles.
- Frequencies are roughly similar, but the Blackpool Tramway carries five million passenger per year, as opposed to about three million for the Belgian Coast Tram.
- The Belgian tram uses metre gauge track, whereas Blackpool is standard gauge.
- The Belgian Coast Tram connects to four railway stations, whereas the Blackpool Tramway is only getting a connection to Blackpool North station in 2019.
So could we see other coastal tramways developed around the world?
The Advance Of Technology
Both tramways are embracing modern low-floor trams, but also still run heritage tram services, so tram manufacturers seem to be able to update the ride experience to modern standards, without losing all the charm of heritage trams.
The next tramway technology will be the use of tram-train technology, which is currently being trialled between Sheffield and Rotherham on the Sheffield Supertram.
This can’t be used in Belgium, as the tram and railways have different gauges, but the technology could be used in Blackpool.
I have not seen the designs for the tramway stop at Blackpool North station, but with the right track layout, it would be possible for a tram-train like the Class 399 tram-train being trialled at Sheffield, to go between Preston and Blackpool North as a train and then take to the tramway to go North to Fleetwood or South to Starr Gate as a tram.
This technology is very applicable to extend railways through a terminal station, where there is convenient geography, as at Blackpool.
There must be many places around the world, where electric trains run to a coastal station, where an extension is possible with a tramway.
And then there is battery technology, which will be used in Birmingham with trams in a couple of years.
Extensions At Blackpool
Blackpool Tramway has various possibilities for extension.
- Along the coast to Lytham St. Annes
- Reinstating the Fleetwood Branch Line from Poulton-le-Fylde as a tramway.
Tram-trains and battery power could feature to save construction costs.
Along The North Norfolk Coast
This is a route, that could be developed, to ease the traffic problems in the area.
It could connect Kings Lynn and Sheringham stations.
Conclusion
There will be other coastal tram lines built.
Poulton-le-Fylde Station
Poulton-le-Fylde station is a station on the Blackpool North branch line. After my troubles at Oxenholme, I decided to use my ticket to explore some of the stations on the branch. These are some pictures I took.
Although the station looks rather disabled-unfriendly, it does have a lift.
There is still a track from here to Fleetwood, which in some reports might be reopened as an extension to the Blackpool tramway. It is clearly visible in this Google Earth image.
Poulton-le-Fylde Station
As the Blackpool tramway has been made tram-train ready, this might mean that tram-trains run from Fleetwood to places further inland.
Could Tram-Trains Be Used To Advantage In Blackpool?
Blackpool tramway is unique in the United Kingdom in that it runs a mixture of modern and heritage trams, which I’ve only seen done on a big scale in Lisbon, where like Blackpool, the heritage trams are a tourist attraction.
It may also be unique in that it is already tram-train ready in terms of dimensions, power supply and other details according to this report on the Sintropher web site.
Blackpool’s trams have two major problems.
The obvious one is that the trams do not serve the main railway station at Blackpool North.
The second is that the trams don’t connect well to any of the stations served by the Blackpool South to Colne service. The best connection is a two hundred metre walk between Squires Gate station and Starr Gate tram stop.
The branch to Blackpool North is being electrified and this should be completed in 2017. The final report of the North of England Electrification Task Force has also recommended that the lines from Burnley to Colne and Kirkham to Blackpool South be electrified in the Tier Two group of lines to be wired.
So it would be reasonable to assume that in a few years Blackpool will have two stations with electric trains to Preston, Liverpool and beyond.
This is a Google Earth image of the area between the two stations.
Blackpool North and South Stations
Blackpool North is indicated by the red arrow and Blackpool South at the bottom of the image, about five hundred metres or so from the sea front and a short walk south of the football ground and extensive car parking for visitors. Neither the football ground or the car parking are well served by the current tramway.
Blackpool South
This Google Earth image shows the area north of Blackpool South to the football ground to a larger scale.
North of Blackpool South Station
I feel that it should be possible for a tram to start northwards from Blackpool South station, go past the car parks and the football ground and then thread its way through to the main tramway route along the sea front.
To the south of the station the rail line is single track all the way to Kirkham and Wesham station, where it joins the main Blackpool branch to Blackpool North.
As this line is now slated for electrification, there are probably cases to electrify it to either main line standard or make the line an extension of the tramway.
If tram-trains successfully pass their trial between Sheffield and Rotherham, then surely using tram-trains to work the services between Blackpool South and Colne, will be looked at seriously.
One factor that could come into the discussion about upgrading of the Blackpool South branch is the important golf course at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, as Ansdell and Fairhaven station is adjacent to the course and is used to transport spectators for important tournaments.
So when will the next Open Championship be staged at Royal Lytham?
Blackpool North
At Blackpool North station, the tram extension is now funded and is being planned.
But will the announcement of electrification to Blackpool South and hopefully successful trialling of tram-trains in Rotherham, add extra possibilities to how the extension to Blackpool North station is implemented?
This is the Google Earth image of Blackpool North station, which is indicated by a red arrow, to the sea front.
Blackpool North Station
Wikipedia also indicates that the spur to the station will join the main tramway north of the North Pier, which is the pier shown in the image.
One possible way of building the spur, would be to make it compatible with tram-trains so that some trains arriving at Blackpool North could transfer to the tramway.
The Karlsruhe Model
If both Blockpool stations were to be served by tram-trains that then ran between the two two stations, then would be an example of the classic Karlsruhe model that has been successfully working in the city since 1992.
Between the two stations, they would work as trams and once clear of the tramway, they would work as normal trains.
Advantages Of Using Tram-Trains Between The Two Blackpool Stations
The tram-train services would probably be on a simple loop between the two stations, with tram-trains turning back at either Kirkham and Wesham or Preston stations. Alternatively, services could be something more substantial serving the wider area. Certainly some tram-trains would go all the way to Colne to replace the current service.
But whatever is done, if tram-trains are used to link the two stations, various advantages will be seen.
1. Long distance services into Blackpool North would have easier access to the tram network, which would probably be step free.
2.As Preston would probably have more trains to Blackpool, this would give Blackpool better access to other long distance services to say Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham.
3. Local services running tram-trains from perhaps Preston and Colne would have immediate access to some of the central tram stops in Blackpool, as these stops would be on the link between the two stations.
4. Blackpool South station would become a simple tram stop.
5. Space might also be released at Blackpool North station, depending on how much space was needed for the tram-train stop.
6. Extra trams would be running on the busiest central section of the tramway.
7.If the football ground and the main car parks were on the central loop, this would improve transport links to the town.
Probably the most difficult thing to get right would be the ticketing method, which London has shown must be based on a contactless bank card.
Implications Of Tram-Trains On Services To Colne
With the announcement that the East Lancashire Line is to be electrified to Colne, there would be no problem running tram-trains through both Blackpool stations and then through Preston and on to Colne.
The line from Rose Grove to Colne appears to be mainly single track, with some stations looking like tram stops, with a pile of bricks at the track-side.
If tram-trains were to run on the Colne Line as trams, this would actually be a service upgrade, despite the apparent downgrading of the line from trains to trams. If the powers-that-be thought that more stops were needed, these would be simple affairs, with a low platform on one or both sides of the track, with perhaps a simple shelter and a ticket machine. As on other tram lines in the UK, passengers would walk across the line rather than use an expensive footbridge. To see what is possible on a good tramway, look at this post about good stop design for trams and tram-trains.
But the two biggest improvements would be a much more frequent service, that probably ran at least twice an hour on weekdays and hourly on Sundays, that used new comfortable electric low-floor tram-trains something like the Class 399, being used for trials in Sheffield.
As to speed, the increased acceleration of the tram-trains would mean that stopping wasn’t as time-consuming as on say a Class 142 train. also outside of urban areas and some way from stops, they would be able to run at a more appropriate speed using the railway rules currently in force on the line. Incidentally, some UK trams like Croydon and Edinburgh go faster than you think when the track allows.
Tram-trains would appear at a cursory glance, to be a simple and affordable way to improve services in this neglected part of Lancashire.
Improving Transport In Burnley
Burnley is one of those places most famous outside the local area for football, but it is a market town of over seventy thousand people. The town probably needs improved transport connections, despite having four railway stations, the most important of which; Burnley Manchester Road has recently been rebuilt.
A big improvement will come by electrifying all of the lines, which will mean that Rose Grove and Manchester Road, will be on an important electrified artery between Leeds and Preston. The other line is the Colne Branch of the East Lancashire Line and this has three stations in the town; Rose Grove, Burnley Barracks and Burnley Central.
This Google Earth image shows the four stations as they relate to Burnley.
Burnley And Its Stations
Rose Grove is at the West, just to the south of the M65 motorway and is served by both lines. The Colne Line curves to the north with the two stations at Barracks and Central to the western end of the town centre, which is indicated by the red arrow. Manchester Road station is at the southern edge of the image, a steep walk up the hill from the town centre.
If the Colne Line were to be run by tram-trains, would this create a better and more accessible railway for Burnley.
As an example of what could happen, north from Burnley Central , the Colne Line follows the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, so are there possibilities to use a tram-train to give better access to the countryside above the town?
Using tram-trains on the Colne Line could improve public transport in Burnley and the other towns like Nelson and Colne, without laying a metre of new expensive railway.
But why stop the trains at Colne?
The final report of the North of England Electrification Task Force has also recommended that the lines from Skipton to Carlisle via Settle be electrified in the Tier Three group of lines to be wired.
The Skipton – East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership is also campaigning for the line between Colne and Skipton to be reinstated. This map of the missing part of the line is taken from the Wikipedia entry.
Skipton To Colne
Would the missing link be easier and more affordable to build, if it continued as a modern, single-track tramway?
This type of line would also be less visually intrusive, if it used 750 V DC overhead wires, which are all that would be needed for the Class 399 tram-train.
Building this link between Skipton and Colne would further connect the electrified lines in the Leeds area, with the soon to be electrified ones of North Lancashire. As the map shows, Skipton is on the iconic route through Settle between Leeds and Carlisle, which is also in the queue for electrification.
Skipton is the key to the success of any scheme to improve the Colne Line and link it to the town. The town is known as the Gateway to the Dales and already has direct services to London. This section in Wikipedia shows that there are impressive plans for services in the future.
But that was written before the North of England Electrification Task Force reported that Skipton to Carlisle through Settle was an electrification scheme for Tier Three. This was probably included more for freight reasons, as it creates a new route for electrified freight trains from Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the Electric Spine from Southampton to Scotland.
And to think that the line was nearly closed, but a certain Michael Portillo didn’t sign it off!
So will we see electrified passenger services from the South coming up via Leeds and Skipton to Carlisle? I think we will and if the Borders Railway is a success, then I think in perhaps 2040, these trains will reach Edinburgh.
So I think this all means that the tram-trains to Colne, should be used to create a link to Skipton.
Services Between Blackpool And Liverpool
Currently there is just a measly single train each hour between Blackpool and Liverpool.
Ormskirk to Preston is another line that could be chosen for electrification and it is likely that under the Liverpool rules it will be served by four trains per hour.
So I think it is reasonable to assume that when electrification to Blackpool North is complete, that the frequency of Liverpool-Blackpool services will be increased. After all when electrification is complete various routes via Ormskirk, Wigan, Newton-Le-Willows and St. Helens will all be possible.
But the possibility also exists for the use of tram-trains on this route, which will then go round the loop in Blackpool.
Obviously, passenger numbers will determine what services are worth trialling.
There is also the possibility of linking Royal Lytham and St. Annes with the other high-quality golf courses south of Southport.
Conclusion
The Blackpool tramway could use tram-trains to connect the electrified stations at Blackpool North and South, and over a wider network, especially over the Colne Line and its possible extension to Skipton.
The Anonymous Widower 