THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l Toronto Transit City plan reinstated
l Alstom looks to take Translohr stake
l Agreement reached on Budapest debt
blackpool: tram pioneer to modern light rail icon Pittsburgh Factfile: Expansion of the ‘T’
French lessons: End of an era: Tramway, metro, Poland waves tram-train... Lyon’s a fond farewell 75 model for urban to the distinctive rail integration 803n tram JUNE 2012 No. 894 1937–2012 w w w. l r t a . o r g l w w w. t r a m n e w s . n e t £3.80 Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz SA 85-082 Bydgoszcz, ul. Zygmunta Augusta 11 POLSKA - POLAND tel. (+48)52 33 91 100, (+48)52 33 91 104 fax (+48)52 3391 114 www.pesa.pl e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Contents The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 208 News 208 JUNE 2012 Vol. 75 No. 894 Bombardier opens Brazilian monorail production centre; www.tramnews.net Toronto Transit City plan reinstated; Alstom looks with EDITORIAL French Stategic Investment Fund at joint purchase of Editor: Simon Johnston Translohr; Edinburgh debates temporary terminus; Cincinatti Tel: +44 (0)1832 281131 E-mail: [email protected] Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. chooses CAF; Agreement reached on Budapest debt. Associate Editor: Tony Streeter 214 Blackpool: New life for an icon E-mail: [email protected] Following a four-year renwal designed to support local Worldwide Editor: Michael Taplin regeneration, the ‘new’ Blackpool Tramway has reopened Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. to the public. Neil Pulling reports. E-mail: [email protected] 214 News Editor: John Symons 223 Systems Factfile: Pittsburgh 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. After the successful recent opening of an extension E-mail: [email protected] under the Allegheny River, the ‘T’ light rail system Contributor: Neil Pulling serving Pennsylvania’s second city may grow further into Design: Debbie Nolan Allegheny County. Production: Carla Corrado 227 Lyon’s expanding light rail landscape Tel: +44 (0)1832 281134 E-mail: [email protected] Arguably France’s second city, Lyon has supported major Worldwide Contributors: Aare Olander, Nikolai metro and tramway developments in recent years – with Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, Thomas Wagner, Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), more still to come. 223 Yoshiri Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson 231 Worldwide Review (Australia), Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney, Julian Wolinsky (North America). Hong Kong approves Shatin – Central metro; New Wroclaw branches open for business; Los Angeles Expo LRTA Website and Diary: Brian Lomas E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] light rail line opens; Tallinn to introduce free travel; Commercial Manager: Vicky Binley Tyne & Wear Metro celebrates tenth anniversary of Tel: +44 (0)1832 281132 E-mail: [email protected] Sunderland and South Hylton. Advertising Manager: Andy Adams 238 Letters Tel: +44 (0)1832 281135 E-mail: [email protected] Onboard storage questions and the role of nanotechnology; Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. resurrecting old tram tracks for new systems; An 240 Publisher: Howard Johnston Australian perspective on high-speed rail v light rail Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA investment; and is vehicle-mounted ‘catenary’ a solution to Publishing on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. power demand? LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the 240 Classic Trams: Polish melody silenced Light Rail Transit Association. You are welcome to join the LRTA. Mike Russell reports from Poland on the demise of two subscriptions: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), independent operators and a classic design of long-lived 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. articulated car. BACK ISSUES: Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION: Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. More urban transit choice than ever before LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, simon johnston, editor Kent DA16 2BY. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 in England and Wales. Chairman: Andrew Braddock. Deputy Chairman: Vic Simons As we approach the 75th anniversary of means we can apply real vision to new LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn the Light Rail Transit Association (see TAUT transport solutions. One size definitely Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 895 for an in-depth piece from Chairman won’t fit all, but the myriad of realistic in England and Wales. Andrew Braddock) it is thought-provoking possibilities offers an exciting prospect © LRTA Publishing 2012. to think that light rail, trams, streetcars for the towns and cities of the future. Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used and metros make even more sense today From monorails in developing nations on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions than they did when the LRTA was set up such as India and Brazil, street-running are not those of LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. to fight for them back in the 1930s. light rail (including vintage trolleys) in No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form Far from now being an outmoded North America, urban maglevs in China, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior technology as some detractors would have and rubber-tyred ‘trams’ across Europe – permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the you believe, the tramways created by our the issues being addressed are the same contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. Victorian and Edwardian forebears were, across the world, but the technologies in reality, way ahead of their time. being used to address them vary. The THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l toronto transit city plan reinstated Open for business... l In the second decade of the 21st challenge is to enjoy the benefits of all alstom looks to take translohr stake
l agreement reached on budapest debt This is the UK’s Century, now is the time to demonstrate – without creating undue complexity or reconstructed a similar sense of imagination to that generating excessive cost. Blackpool Tramway on of the planners of the past, in adopting Mass transit in all forms seeks to 4 April, with Flexity electrically-powered urban transport to move people quickly, efficiently and 2 008 nearest the camera at St Chad’s solve mobility issues in the world’s attractively; no matter what modes are blackpool: tram pioneer ever-growing urban centres. chosen, the days for internal-combustion to modern light rail icon Road. The town’s Pittsburgh Factfile: Expansion of the ‘T’ As technology moves forward we now automobiles must surely be numbered French lessons: End of an era: famous tower is in the Tramway, metro, Poland waves tram-train... Lyon’s a fond farewell 75 model for urban to the distinctive have the ability to mix and match modes as we move towards fully-electric urban rail integration 803n tram JUNE background. 2012 No. 894 1937–2012 w w w. l r t a . o r g l w w w. t r a m n e w s . n e t £3.80 Neil Pulling in a way never seen before – and that centres. TAUT_May12_Cover.indd 1 30/4/12 17:33:43
www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org JUNE 2012 207 News Toronto Transit City re-instated ON 25 April the board of the provincial tran- tion is expected in 2020. Conversion of the “Some councillors down here, and obviously sit agency, Metrolinx, unanimously approved Scarborough RT to light rail will start in 2014, the province, are ignoring the people... the a plan to build four light rail lines across To- to open in 2019. LRT on Sheppard East will people want subways and they’re totally ig- ronto (Canada) by 2020. The vote effectively start in 2014, for completion in 2018. Finch noring them. So let’s wait until the election.” re-instates a modified version of the Transit West light rail will start to be built in 2015 for “When you want to St. Clairise the whole City development that was withdrawn after completion in 2019. The lines will be worked city, turn Sheppard into the disaster on St. Mayor Ford’s opposition, since by-passed by by the 182 LRVs on order from Bombardier. Clair, turn Eglinton into the disaster on St. the City Council and Toronto Transit Com- Following his defeat in the city council, Clair, that’s a war on the car,” he added, ref- mission (TTC). The CAD8.4bn (USD8.5bn) Mayor Ford has pledged to do everything erencing the right-of-way streetcar that runs commitment for these projects remains. in his power to thwart light rail construction along St. Clair Avenue West. The Eglinton – Scarborough cross-town line on Eglinton and Sheppard. Councillor Doug . Canadian National Railway (CN) has sold is already under construction and will now run Ford, the Mayor’s brother and a key council Metrolinx two sections of commuter rail line above ground east of Laird Avenue. Comple- ally, was quick to denounce the vote, saying: for GO Transit service for CAD310.5m. Paris sets PESA confirms first Romanian tram contract tougher A PROCUREMENT challenge by Astra Vagon has been rejected, operating enabling the Romanian tramway in Cluj-Napoca to place an order targets with PESA for four trams to its 30m Swing design. The contract PARIS transport operator RATP price is EUR1.48m per car and has been set new performance there is a framework permitting targets under a four-year con- the order to be expanded to 12 tract with STIF, the specifying cars. It is believed the vehicles and funding authority for Île de may be taken from the Warszawa France transport. The bonus/pen- production for speed of delivery. alty element for punctual and re- Each air-conditioned tram will liable RER and metro sertvices is be equipped for Wi-Fi and carry Above: The first Romanian order for PESA’sSwing has come from Cluj-Napoca. PESA 50% higher than in the previous a maximum of 296 passengers contract which expired in 2011. (40 seated). This is PESA’s first 13km (eight-mile) Cluj tramline ture will be renewed before de- The new contract also covers tram order from Romania. The opened in 1987; the infrastruc- livery of the low-floor trams. passenger information and the cleanliness of trains and stations, but in return STIF has undertak- Abu Dhabi scales back light rail, metro and BRT plans en to invest EUR6.5bn on mod- ernisation and extension of the Source: Department of Transport Saadiyat Island A map of the future public transport network during transit system for the contract period. N Abu Dhabi. The opening date for the 4.2km Mina port (2.6-mile) extension of Paris’ Corniche Hospital tramline T2 from La Defense to Al Sowwah Island Bezons has been fixed for 8 De- Hamdan St cember, while on 11 April STIF Al Reem Island confirmed the route of the pro- posed 6km (3.7-mile) extension Electra St Al Falah St of tramline T4 from Gargan to Najda St Montfermeil. A public inquiry is Marina Mall Defence Rd due to open later this year. Another is programmed for the Airport Rd 20km (12.4-mile) Massy – Evry tram-train project. The target Eid Prayer Ground date for completion of the 19km 15th St Muroor Rd (11.8-mile) Tangentielle Ouest tram-train project has been Light Rail Tram line 2 (2018) moved back to 2018. Bus Rapid Transit loop (2016)
Mott MacDonald Light Rail Tram line 1 (2018) appointed for Bergen Metro (2020) phase 3 design work Zayed Sports City Multi-disciplinary consultant Mott MacDonald has been ABU DHABI has announced it is to scale back 40km (25-mile) LRT lines are expected to be opera- appointed to design the plans for a metro system, two light rail lines and tional by 2018, from Marina Mall to Reem Island, third stage of the Bybanen a BRT loop. Plans unveiled four years ago showed and from 15th St (Eid depot) to Saadiyat Island. tramway in Bergen, Norway, a 130km (80-mile) network, but this has now been By 2016 a BRT loop will be created serving Sow- 7.2km (4.5 miles) to Flesland reduced to 70km (43.5 miles). wah Island, the Central Market and the Municipal Airport. Construction is due The 18km (11.2-mile) metro, to open in 2020, Centre. By 2030 the network is expected to be for 2013-15. will run from Al Wahda to Zayed Sports City via carrying 823 000 passengers/day, half taken from Corniche and National Exhibition Centre. Two motor traffic.
208 JUNE 2012 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Bombardier opens brazilian monorail production centre BOMBARDIER inaugurated a Canada. The remaining monorail new USD15m monorail manu- cars will be produced at the new facturing facility in Hortolân- site in Brazil. dia, near São Paulo, Brazil on Andre Navarri, President 13 April. The plant is now the & Chief Operating Officer of manufacturer’s global production Bombardier Transportation, centre for monorails, planned said: “The new high-capacity serve the fast-growing markets in Innovia Monorail 300 system Brazil, Latin America and India. we are building for São Paulo is The Hortolândia facility was game changing because it offers built in just 18 months and its a transportation capacity similar first order is for 54 seven-car In- to a metro, yet the light infra- novia monorail 300 trains (378 structure required reduces the cars) for the 14.9km (9.3 mile) construction price and the imple- Metro São Paulo line. The first mentation schedule by up to one completed Monorail cars should half, bringing quality of life ben- leave the new facility this year. efits to citizens sooner and more To ensure a successful and cost effectively. faster ramp-up of the project, one “We are certain that once serv- train (seven cars) will be pro- ice operation starts, it will be duced and tested by Bombardier acknowledged as one of the best at the Kingston testing facility in mass transit solutions ever built.” Left: This artist’s impression shows an Innovia Monorail 300 vehicle for Metro São Paulo, Brazil. The first vehicle is scheduled for completion at the new Hortolândia facility later in 2012. Bombardier
Blackpool opens… and eyes expansion Cairo Metro line 4 funding deal BLACKPOOL’S rebuilt tramway was officially in- On 19 March the Egyptian augurated by UK Transport Minister Norman Bak- government signed a er on 3 April – and attention is now turning to the loan agreement with the possibility of returning trams to North Station. Japan International Co- The GBP101.7m (EUR124m) project to replace operation Agency to provide 11km (6.8 miles) of track, create a new depot and JPY32.7bn (USD407.5m) to introduce 16 new trams has been funded by the De- finance the start of work on partment for Transport, Blackpool Council, Lancashire metro line 4, running 18km County Council and the INTERREG IVB Programme. (11.2 miles) from October 6 Turnouts for an extension from North Pier have City in the south-west suburbs been incorporated into the new layout and Black- to El-Malek El-Saleh on line 1 pool Council has now received funding to investi- in the city centre. Opening is gate the feasibility of constructing a short extension Above: Two days before the official opening on 2 April, targeted for 2020. to the resort’s main railway station. Introducing a Blackpool’s Flexity 2 004 is seen heading south at North A related project would tram link from Starr Gate to Blackpool Airport is Pier with the turnouts for the proposed branch to Blackpool see the creation of the also being looked into as a longer-term project. North station visible in the foreground. Mike Haddon tramway network in October . Regular services started on 4 April but the first 6 City. tram (006) derailed on the terminal loop at Fleetwood Below: Blackpool tram 013 disembarking from P&O ferry due to windy conditions blowing sand into the tracks. Pride of Hull on 26 April. Tony Stevenson Work begins on Services were forced to terminate at Ash Street until NET extension the tram, which was not damaged, was re-railed. The first part of the Phase Service intervals until late June are half hourly Two expansion of the UK’s in the early morning, evenings and Sundays with a Nottingham Express Transit 20-minute headway during the day on Monday tramway has begun, with to Saturday. The service was augmented over the the start of work to extend Easter period by modifiedBalloon trams as only 11 the line from the city’s Flexity 2 trams had been delivered by the opening, Station Street. although further deliveries have since been made. This forms part of the Only one tram at a time is able to proceed beyond Clifton extension and will Ash Street to Fleetwood Ferry until the new substa- involve three interconnecting tion at the Ferry is completed. bridges being built over Station Street, Nottingham Station, and Queens Road, so that trams will be able to Atlanta’s Clifton Corridor light rail plan approved travel between the current A USD1.16bn plan for light rail in the Clifton Cor- The next step towards funding comes with a vote NET Line One terminus, ridor in Atlanta, Georgia (US) – running between for a regional 1% sales tax for transportation on 31 over the railway station and Avondale and Lindbergh Center – has been approved July. If approved this could release up to USD700m onto Crocus Street in The by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. to kickstart construction of the first phase, and assist Meadows. The 14km (8.8-mile) line will have ten stations. chances of securing federal funding.
www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org JUNE 2012 209 News
Private sector plan for Denver french state and alstom FasTracks project consider translohr bid ‘has merit’ Alstom and the French Stra- tegic Investment Fund are study- The Denver Regional Trans- ing the joint purchase of an 85% portation District (RTD) has interest in Translohr from Lohr decided the unsolicited bid by SA, the Alsace-based group that Kiewit Infrastructure on 8 March owns the company marketing to build the FasTracks light rail and producing the rubber-tyred extension along Interstate 225 tramway system, for EUR60m. (I-225) to Aurora has merit, but Lohr Group has seen a finan- that it will have to seek competi- cial downturn and is keen to sell- tive bids. off a majority interest in Trans- Kiewit’s proposal addresses lohr to raise funds to support its roughly 14.5km (nine miles) of core logistics and transportation the I-225 rail line, which cur- business. Translohr is the only rently has a 17km (10.5-mile) rubber-tyred guided tramway gap between South Parker Road system on the market since the and I-70 in Aurora. A light rail withdrawal of Bombardier’s line currently runs along I-225 TVR, and has sold 150 vehicles between I-25 and Parker Road, worldwide, including to Shang- another is planned along I-70. hai and Tianjin in China, Padova Over the past year, RTD has and Venezia-Mestre in Italy, and sought partners to complete the Clermont-Ferrand in France. FasTracks programme within Translohr lines are also under the next decade and reduce construction in Paris. operational costs. Alstom, which dominates the tramway sector in France, and Above: A Translohr guided vehicle on the Padova line. D. Revis has been successful in the ex- Bombardier preferred port market too, has the poten- ket through its extensive global management and industrial ex- bidder for NY subway tial to grow the Translohr mar- commercial network and project pertise. The New York MTA has announced that Bombardier is its preferred contractor for 300 new subway cars Canberra LRT could cost AUD860m costing USD600m, beating traditional suppliers Alstom The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Govern- the morning peak, while light rail would reduce the and Kawasaki – delivery will ment has released new cost estimates for the City delays to six minutes. start in late 2014. to Gungahlin Corridor project in Canberra, which Green party transport spokesperson, Amanda The New York state shows that an LRT line could cost AUD700-860m, Bresnan MLA, said: “Canberra’s population and government has agreed to while a BRT alternative could cost AUD300-360m. density can support mass public transport, and increase capital funding to Simon Corbell, Environment and Sustainable De- if we want to attract investment and interest in the MTA from USD9.1bn to velopment Minister for the ACT Government, said Canberra, then we need a public transport system USD13.1bn for 2012-14 in the costings are “initial estimates” and would require that moves people around the city in an efficient and order to permit projects such further investigation. A detailed business case is be- fast way.” as the 2nd Avenue subway ing prepared by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, based “Other cities in Australia and the world are years to proceed as planned. on the concept design prepared by URS Australia. ahead of Canberra in making public transport a Initial transport modelling suggests that BRT priority – it’s time this commitment was made to Dudley plans Midland would cut travel times from 16 minutes to eight in the people of Canberra.” Metro extension Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Karlsruhe’s next-generation dual-voltage LRVs Transport Executive, are to push again for extension of Bombardier has started de- dual-voltage LRVs to provide the UK’s Midland Metro from livery of 30 dual-voltage (750V services on former DB electri- Wednesbury to Dudley and dc/15kV ac) LRVs to Karlsruhe’s fied railways and through on to beyond to Brierley Hill. Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft tram tracks in the city centre. The line through Dudley (AVG). The new cars, 923-52, The Karlsruhe system has is seen as integral to a are built at Bombardier’s Wien proved so successful in boosting GBP289m (EUR354m) plant and a total of 19 will ar- passenger numbers that a sub- blueprint for work on the rive in 2012, the remainder in Above: Delivery of the new dual- way is now under construction to town’s Castle Hill. It is hoped 2013. The contract value was boost capacity and relieve tram trams will serve a GBP20m EUR129m. voltage Flexity Swift cars from Wien congestion in the city centre. (EUR24.5m) supermarket in There is an option for a fur- to Karlsruhe can take place on the Before delivery the Flexity The Minories and run down ther 45 three-section 37m LRVs, LRVs own wheels. Swift cars were tested on tram Castle Hill, past a new which feature a 580mm step tracks at the Wiener Linien entrance for the Black Country height at the entrances and can Karlsruhe, and six by Landkreis workshops and in the climate Living Museum and Dudley accommodate 84 seated and 151 Germersheim, which will ben- chamber at Wien Arsenal. With Zoo. The scheme is being standing passengers. Each car is efit when they enter service on their special profile wheels, the formulated for submission to equipped with toilet facilites. the Worth – Germersheim line. LRVs can be delivered over the the UK Government. Eight of the new cars will be When delivery is complete Karl- ÖBB and DB networks as part of paid for by Verkehrsbetriebe sruhe and the AVG will have 152 freight trains.
210 june 2012 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Seattle breaks ground Mauritius considers LRT The island nation of Mauritius, off the south-east for First Hill Streetcar coast of Africa, is proposing Following dismissal of a lawsuit brought by to build a 24.9km (15.5- pro-cycling organisations, the groundbreaking cer- mile) light rail line, to link the emony for the USD134m First Hill Streetcar project capital city of Port Louis with took place on 23 April. The ceremony was led by the second city Curepipe. Mayor Mike McGinn at the future Broadway stop. The cabinet endorsed Construction work will take two years on the the MUR25bn (EUR660m) 4.1km (2.5-mile) line, which is detached from ex- project on 27 April and the isting light rail and tramways in the city and will private sector will be invited be worked by six low-floor cars built in the Czech to participate in the financing Republic by Ekova Electric (formerly Inekon) at its of the project through a PPP. Ostrava workshops. It is understood that French The cars will carry battery packs to allow off- consultants are advising the wire operation on a downhill section that crosses a government. trolleybus line. It is hoped to offer an end-to-end journey time of 32 Right: Mayor of Seattle Mike McGinn is joined by city, minutes (a commercial speed county and federal representatives to break ground for of 43km/h, 27mph), and to the First Hill Streetcar project. R. Scheurman carry 93 000 passengers/ day, many of whom make the one-hour road journey at present; 28 cars would be Cincinnati chooses CAF Urbos 3 needed to provide 14 two-car The US city of Cincinnati has selected CAF USA The new trams will be based on the European trains from a fleet of 31. as preferred bidder to supply five low-floor trams for Urbos 3 design and the livery has still to be chosen, Mauritius had a its Streetcar Circulator (Banks – Findlay Market) although two simple designs have been revealed. government rail system until project for USD20m, with an option for up to 20 The first generation tramway in the city was closed 1964, though passenger more. The vehicles will be built at the US subsidi- in 1951 and the new line should open in 2014; services ceased in 1956. ary’s plant in Elmira, NY, in accordance with Buy a depot site has been identified at Henry St in America regulations that specify 60% local content. Over-the-Rhine. Gosport BRT opens The Bus Rapid Transit scheme between Gosport and Fareham (UK), which replaced proposals for the South Hampshire light rail line, opened on 22 April. As well as a dedicated busway along a former railway line, new bus-only lanes are being introduced on-street in Fareham. Nottingham parking levy introduced NOTTINGHAM City Council introduced the UK’s first Work- place Parking Levy (WPL) on 1 April as part of its transport Although CAF has built high-floor LRVs for US systems, the new order for Cincinnati will represent the first penetration of strategy to fund improvements, this competitive market by its Urbos 3 design. CAF including tram extensions. The WPL places a charge on employers in the city that provide 11 or more employee parking Agreement reached on Budapest operator debt spaces. Liable places cost em- ployers GBP288 (EUR353) per The immediate future of Budapest public transport but blocked HUF32bn (EUR108m) subsidy pack- space a year; first year income company BKV has been secured following a “stand age to BKV, on condition that the amount of state is about GBP8m (EUR9.8m) still” rescue package signed by Mayor István Tarlós support be matched by the city council. A long-term – around GBP2m less than origi- with nine banks. financing plan ensuring the sustainability of the nally estimated. The agreement, valid for three months, allows transport company is also to be drawn up. Together with the tram, train the refinancing of HUF63.1bn (EUR212.9m) of Under the agreement with the banks BKV will and bus improvements, the WPL debt expiring this year to allow BKV to continue only need to pay the interest in the coming months. is predicted to reduce traffic operating, with guarantees provided by city and However, BKV finances remain in a precarious po- growth from 15% to 8%, while state authorities. sition, with cutbacks to services, outsourcing bus reducing the number of car jour- The agreement, signed in early April, followed a lines and congestion taxes all under consideration neys by 2.5m by 2015. Public vote by the city council to also provide an immedi- by the city council, following an announcement in transport journeys in and out of ate further HUF5bn (EUR16.9m) in support while February to cut the budgets of city-operated schools the city centre are expected to Parliament voted to release a previously allocated by 10% to help finance BKV. increase by 20%.
www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org june 2012 211 News
Private M-1 group Edinburgh stop design offers to subsidise Detroit operations The private sector group leaves room for growth backing the 4.8km (three- EDINBURGH’S under-con- mile) light rail line on Detroit’s struction tramline will see a dif- Woodward Avenue said in ferent-design stop to the remain- late April that not only has it der, at York Place, as the city’s raised all the money to build council argues it will be ‘tem- the US line, but has now porary’ pending extension of the also pledged to cover the UK line to Leith and Newhaven. costs for the first ten years of Under the original scheme, operation. the stop after St Andrew Square The M-1 Group outlined would have been Picardy Place the proposal in a report to but now trams will enter York the federal government, Place to turn back and the extra overcoming one of the main stop will facilitate these arrange- points of contention for a city ments. York Place stop would be struggling with financing its removed if the tramline is extend- current transport obligations. ed further, but opposition council- lors have suggested that it should Tributes to West remain even if that happens. Midlands’ ITA Chair Some 11 of Edinburgh’s 27 Angus Adams trams had been delivered to Tributes have been paid to Gogar depot by mid-April and Angus Adams, chairman of were undertaking commission- Above: The currently delivered CAF trams for the Edinburgh Tram Project line up the West Midlands Integrated ing trials on the short stretch of at the Gogar depot on Easter Monday, 9 April 2012. Paul Tetlaw Transport Authority (UK), who test track alongside the depot. died in April. More deliveries are expected at The manifesto for May’s coun- Walk and Little France once the Mark Dowd, who chairs about three- to four-weekly in- cil elections from Edinburgh’s existing line is completed. the Integrated Transport tervals. It is still hoped that alter- current ruling party, the Liberal The Liberal Democrats Authorities Special Interest native homes could be found for Democrats, includes a proposal argue that this could possibly Group, said Mr Adams surplus trams not required until for expansion of the tram network be achieved by attracting private had “a real commitment to the full line is built. beyond York Place to serve Leith finance. serving the interests of public transport, and the people of the West Midlands.” Geoff Inskip, Centro Mayoral candidates support Tramlink expansion chief executive, said: “We are going to sorely miss THE two leading candidates for the post of Mayor said the extension would go ahead paid for by the the drive, experience and of London have both expressed support for expan- “sheer size” of surpluses at TfL. He also promised enthusiasm of Angus Adams. sion of the UK capital’s Tramlink system. to reinstate work on the Cross River Tram project, He was a visionary who Incumbent mayor Boris Johnson (Conservative) cancelled in 2008. worked hard to deliver a has said he believes an extension to Crystal Palace In Wimbledon, Mr Johnson told electors that he world-class public transport will take place within five years, as Government was committed to the proposed Merton extension of system for the people of the funding will be made available due to his close man- Tramlink, but could offer no indication of funding West Midlands.” agement of cost reduction at Transport for London. or timescales. Former mayor Ken Livingstone (Labour) has The election was to take place on 3 May. Sydney monorail and light rail sold to government
A Sydney monorail train on the The New South Wales government has purchased one-way loop to Darling Harbour. the private company Metro Transit Sydney (MTS) M. R. Taplin that owns the Darling Harbour monorail loop and the existing light rail line from Central Station to Lilyfield. The sale price was AUD19.8m (EUR16m). The move will facilitate the closure and demoli- tion of the monorail in 2013-14, and the extension of the light rail line from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill (already under construction). The monorail opened in 1988, and its demoli- tion will make easier both the extension of light rail from the railway station to Circular Quay, and the construction of a rebuilt convention centre at Darling Harbour. The two lines in private ownership have never been integrated into the Sydney public transport system, and are operated by Veolia on behalf of MTS. The move has been welcomed by the City Council, which has long campaigned to get the monorail removed. It is reported that the Tasmanian city of Hobart has expressed an interest in taking the dismantled monorail.
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15629_Tata Steel Rail TramwaysUrban A4 AW.indd 1 25/04/2012 16:42 Blackpool New life for an icon Following a GBP101.7m four-year renewal designed to support local regeneration, the world-famous Blackpool Tramway opened in time for huge Easter crowds – TAUT reports.
REPORT BY NEIL PULLING, IMAGES BY NEIL PULLING AND TONY STEVENSON
and other modern systems helped make Blackpool’s tramway, reliant upon 1930s stock or later vehicles of patchy reliability, seem ever more anachronistic. By 1963 the tramway no longer served ‘inland’ Blackpool, with closures from the inter-war years prompted by Blackpool Corporation Transport introducing buses. Also reducing demand for the trams were long-distance coaches and later private cars, inherently less rooted to specific locations than fixed links for delivering or collecting the all-important visitors. Similar factors would also contribute to eroding Blackpool’s railway connections. If not for Blackpool’s emblematic association with trams and an extant infrastructure, it would not have been a strong candidate for a new light rail operation. Without history’s legacy, the population’s size and distribution would have placed it well down any UK pecking order for a new system. It was therefore far from inevitable that Blackpool would even keep the tramway that was literally part of the landscape and second only to the Tower as a symbol of the town. As part of the area’s public transport, accessibility shortcomings and aged equipment and infrastructure could ultimately only lead to enforced closure. Although historic trams retained a significant tourist and enthusiast appeal, they had little future for underpinning a reliable service for a year-round core market. The renewal project approved for funding in 2008 (and ratified in June 2009) was based on an operation already more inter-urban in nature than a traditional town tramway. Approximately 11 miles (18km) of track connect Starr Gate at the southern end of Blackpool’s promenade with Fleetwood to the north via a nearly unbroken string of smaller communities. The route is mainly on or very close to the Irish Sea shore of the Fylde, a low-lying tongue of land between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries. Most of the largely twin-track route lies within reserved space, either paved alongside roadways or on fenced sleepered track. There are however a total of 14 road crossings. With the renewal project, some were closed off and the remainder are now protected by traffic lights, which have come under control of tram movements. The only substantial sharing of space with road vehicles is north of Fisherman’s Walk stop (previously Ash Street) in Fleetwood. From here the tracks are in the centre of the main shopping street before dividing to a single track uni-directional return loop containing Fleetwood Ferry terminus and the landmark lighthouse. Turning the tide lackpool, in the north-west of England, occupies a Above: Tram 008 A business case compiled by consultants Steer Davies particular place in the nation’s social history. It was with the return Gleave for Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire not the first seaside resort, but a combination of rail working of the Council sought to retain the tramway, but not as the linksB with densely-populated industrial areas when leisure inaugural run on transport curiosity largely within the realm of tourist time was increasing helped make it an archetype of mass 3 April. Blackpool’s operation that it had gradually become. tourism destinations. iconic Tower is seen Some remedial and replacement work on the system had After decades of pre-eminence in British culture, many in the background. already been carried out to maintain operations early in factors have eroded visitor numbers and radically changed Neil Pulling the 21st Century, but this was more stop-gap than solution. the pattern of tourists seeking overnight stays, however it Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) staff were (and are), remains the country’s largest such attraction. Embedded however, highly proficient in turning out a passenger in Blackpool’s complex identity is a tram service opened service fleet from an extraordinary collection of vehicles to the public in September 1885. The oldest amongst subject to assorted re-building over the decades. Even so, first-generation UK electric tramways, it underwent many the forecast was that only major investment would stop changes on the way to becoming the last in normal service. the infrastructure becoming unusable even before the old The nation’s penultimate closure had been Sheffield in trams would become barred from daily operational use by 1962, but that city’s Supertram (which opened in 1994) accessibility legislation by 2020.
214 june 2012 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org The case submitted to the UK’s Department for Transport in 2005 sought state funding that would, with other contributions, provide complete system modernisation. The bid outcome was far from certain, for populations of the main centres, Blackpool (around 142 000) and Fleetwood (27 000), are much lower than those served by other UK light rail projects like Manchester, Sheffield, the West Midlands or Nottingham. Tourism statistics fluctuate greatly, but the BBC reported that 2008’s 1.38 million overnight visitors represented a 26% fall from the figures from the previous year; day visitors remained substantial but are far more weather-sensitive and less valuable in spending terms. Blackpool’s holiday-based golden years seem long gone, but recent years have shown revival. Supporting tourism remains crucial for an economy that has taken many blows such as the decline of Fleetwood’s port and the closure of the Isle of Man ferry service in 2010. Rising unemployment has been accompanied by other social problems and evident deterioration of the building stock: overall the Fylde coast was struggling. Despite being regarded as favourite, in January 2007 Blackpool lost out to north-western neighbour Manchester Above: In need of attention: Centenary Class 642 descends over a paving patchwork on as the designated location of the UK’s first Las Vegas-style Queen’s Promenade on 10 October 2007. Neil Pulling ‘super casino’ complex. The blow of missing this economic lifeline was little softened when the whole project was dropped in the following year. However, January 2008 brought Government approval for funding the project for the tramway’s near-total renewal. Rebuilding for the future The total cost of the project is put at GBP101.7m (EUR124m): GBP68.285m from the UK Department for Transport, GBP17.735m from Blackpool Council, GBP15.25m from Lancashire County Council and GBP0.67m from the INTERREG IVB North West Europe Programme which relates to the EU TramStore21 scheme in which Blackpool participates. The tramway’s transformation ran in parallel with other projects aimed at restoring visitor appeal. A striking transition has been along much of the seafront promenade with many new multi-million pound attractions. The promenade is also the area’s main north-south road. The Irish Sea’s often placid appearance belies occasional ferocity and long-term erosion. Defence works were integrated with breaking up the strict lines of the old promenade to produce more interesting vistas. The tracks pass through a large area, the Tower Festival Headland, designed to encourage a freer flow of pedestrians, Above: Balloons 712 and 708 at Starr Gate terminus on 11 October 2004. This area was although such an outcome calls for even greater vigilance completely redeveloped, with the new depot created on land to the left of this view. Neil Pulling by tram drivers already versed in the errant behaviour of revellers, the unpredictable nature of small children and the generally distracted. But for the smart new Bombardier Flexity 2 trams, the renewed Blackpool tramway would remain largely recognisable to someone who had not visited for many years, but the differences are substantial. A major change required for transition to modern low-floor trams was installing 32m-long, 280mm above rail-level platforms with ramp access. A total of 74 new platforms have been provided and this and other construction works were undertaken mainly by BAM Nuttall. The previous pavement-level boarding is now restricted to ‘Heritage Tram Tours’ whose stops are separate from the new platforms. Heritage stops are denoted by green signs between the Pleasure Beach loop and Bispham. The traditional look has been retained for overhead equipment and lineside barriers along the line, but the majority of this is also new. Opening the distinction between a parallel bus service run by the same operator, the Blackpool tramway now has markedly fewer stops, down from over 60 at one stage to 38. Combined with the new vehicles’ better acceleration and braking characteristics, this has contributed to cutting the scheduled journey time by 15 minutes between termini Above: Blackpool hit the opening target, but with little time for test running. Two days before to 50 minutes. the public opening, Flexity 2 007 curves past St Peter’s Church, Fleetwood. Neil Pulling
www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org june 2012 215 Blackpool
The rebuild and the new technology allow access from either direction into Talbot Square. Blackpool Transport Services’ headquarters and its tram An aspiration of the council is to extend tracks for depot which opened in 1935 is in Rigby Road. Just inland approximately 700 metres from here along Talbot Road to and connected to the service line by two spurs (one active Blackpool North station, the more central and much busier from near Manchester Square), Rigby Road was not only of the town’s two termini. unsuited to the new trams, it is also in an area that may Estimated in the 2011-16 LTP to cost GBP15m, the project be redeveloped. is not currently funded, although a determination of how The Bombardier trams use the new GBP20m Starr serious the council is should be seen by the fact that the fleet Gate facility constructed over 18 months by contractor of 16 new Flexity 2 trams is more than sufficient for current VolkerFitzpatrick, which also installed track on approach services and can also accommodate the additional link. to the site. Not the initial choice of location, and approved In the context of an 11-mile (18km) ‘main line’ the in January 2010, the development was once subject to short Talbot Road extension would seem to promise objections by some nearby residents. It is next to what Below left: At the disproportionate benefits. Increasing the appeal of wholly was Blackpool tramway’s latest extension (1926) on land system’s southern public transport journeys is particularly relevant as previously used for beach-front entertainments. end, Starr Gate the coastal strip is popular with commuters to Preston Most functions are housed in the large single building depot and track are and Manchester. With Talbot Road being in the main with seven storage tracks and three maintenance tracks, two under construction shopping area and the core of the Talbot Gateway building with maintenance pits. The Hegenscheidt wheel lathe can in October 2010. project, the extension would logically be more easily be used for both the Flexity 2 and heritage fleet and, like Tony Stevenson accommodated as part of the redevelopment. the Eurogamma mobile lifting jacks, exemplify a design for The other mooted extension is to the airport beyond Starr optimum speed and ease of maintenance. Below centre: Gate depot, although this is seen as secondary to the line to Vehicle storage is all under cover, due to the harsh Sharing the main Blackpool North. elemental forces in the town next to the sea, with each of roads with other the ten tracks able to hold two trams. A Zephir Crab 1500E traffic meant Organisation and services battery tractor is used for moving trams without overhead that rebuilding in The tramway, including that section extending into the power around the site. Fleetwood was the neighbouring Lancashire borough of Wyre, belongs to Starr Gate is a participant in the EU-promoted most disruptive Blackpool Council, a unitary authority. TramStore21 project, one of four benchmark sites for the aspect of the With national bus deregulation enacted in October creation and operation of new tram depots. project: Lord Street 1986, tram and bus operations became the responsibility During the three years spanning the project delivery, in in August 2010. of Blackpool Council’s arms-length subsidiary Blackpool commercial terms it was Fleetwood that took the brunt of Tony Stevenson Transport Services which remains in that role. Although the rebuilding phase due to the works in the main streets not unique to Blackpool, public sector operation of local disrupting shop access. Suspending tram services also transport is nevertheless now unusual in the UK. removed a favoured way for Blackpool tourists extending Below right: Trams Identified as ‘LRT (Trams)’ at the rear of the ‘March 2012 their visit to Fleetwood, which has no direct passenger are unloaded until further notice’ timetable, the weekday service from railway access. For the route overall, BTS bus 1 almost outside the depot 4 April is mainly at 20-minute intervals, 30 minutes from exactly replicates the tramway’s coverage and served as the compound: 002 18.00. It begins with an 05.00 departure from Starr Gate, replacement: it remains in operation but may be reviewed meets Blackpool the 05.55 return being the earliest from Fleetwood. It ends with experience gained through 2012. rails on 16 with the 23.55 from Fleetwood, with Friday and Saturday An important preparation for the future are points December 2011. variations including a later service to reflect nightlife installed near the North Pier to create a delta junction to Tony Stevenson demand. Sundays, 07.00-23.55, are every 30 minutes.
Depot Rail are pleased to support Blackpool and have supplied depot equipment for the Blackpool Tram Project. Depot Rail Ltd – Supply and service of all types of depot equipment Telephone: +44 (0)1427 619512 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.depotrail.co.uk
216DRail QPjune horiz.indd 2012 1 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org 25/4/12 14:06:25 Above: Mobile jacks add flexibility to the three tracks of the new depot’s maintenance area. Neil Pulling Below: Designed for the new fleet, Starr Gate can also be used for heritage tram maintenance. Neil Pulling
The new service joined BTS’ 15 scheduled bus routes Above: Bombardier’s Trams old and new and they share a common ticketing framework. Reaching world launch of the Blackpool Transport Services’ trams fall into three inland to Poulton-le-Fylde, buses extend to Lytham to the new Flexity 2 categories: Flexity 2, double-deck Balloons with modified south and north to Knott End, which also has a foot-ferry vehicle was held at doors and mixed types comprising the heritage fleet. link to near the new Fleetwood Ferry tram stop. This Starr Gate depot in Broad features of the Bombardier Flexity 2 are firmly was amended with the rebuilding, combining previously September 2011. in the modern European mainstream – five sections over separate departure and arrival functions at a single location. Tony Stevenson 32.2m and 2.65m wide, fully low-floor, level access and BTS is taking a low-key, conservative approach to with air conditioning – but they are strikingly different from re-introducing trams to the public: that there is a bus vehicles that have preceded them. Even their number series, shown on the front of the timetable covering the new 001-016, represents a break from the past. service launch seems a metaphor for the restraint. The Blackpool Council’s project manager for the upgrade, www.blackpooltransport.com website shows similar Paul Grocott, oversaw the 12-month procurement process. reluctance in portraying the new rail vehicles and, in With no tie to a delivery consortium, there was the contrast to common practice with such projects elsewhere in opportunity to acquire exactly the vehicles wanted and Mr Europe, saying little in advance about the service to come. Grocott visited many systems and manufacturers, placing Caution may have been prompted by a few acknowledged reliability, ease of maintenance and overall operating costs ‘gremlins’ with the new depot and system and incomplete high amongst the criteria for selection. works such as access to stops and installing metal sheets The 16 Flexity 2 trams are from a single GBP33m order, level with the railhead at stops on sleepered track. without options, placed with Bombardier in July 2009. The system ‘went metric’ with the renewal; speed There is seating for 74 in a total capacity of 224. This is a limits are 30km/h (19mph) in road/paved areas and location where the level entry and space for wheelchairs 50km/h (31mph) elsewhere where there is the potential and pushchairs is likely to very well received. for faster running over fenced track. It remains a request Carrying small Lancashire County Council and stop system and the new trams are fitted with a call and Blackpool Council logos, their metallic purple and white acknowledgement system. livery with wave lining is new to the tramway and draws Of the transformed operating conditions, Trevor Roberts, upon Blackpool Council’s corporate colours. Contrary to Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services, said, the all-over advertising liveries often see a on the heritage “We want a summer’s experience of running the new trams trams, advertising is being sold for side panels above the – and we don’t yet know what can be done with running old window and the lower panel of the centre section only. and new together.” Blackpool was the launch customer for the new model, By the 4 April reopening there were 25 drivers approved of which Germar Wacker, Bombardier Transportation’s for the Flexity 2. Drawn from existing staff, most had President Light Rail Vehicles, says: “It builds on decades of been re-trained locally. A small group to cascade the experience in making trams. It has the latest technology in training gained experience of modern low-floor vehicles in aspects like comfort, ease of maintenance and crash and Nottingham, which operates Bombardier’s Incentro model. fire protection.”
www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org june 2012 217 Blackpool
As well as final vehicle assembly, Bombardier’s Bautzen production facility builds the bodies; electrical equipment is from Mannheim, bogies from Siegen and driver cabs, which include touchscreen controls, from Vienna. Routed via the Rotterdam – Hull ferry crossing and then transferred from the port via the motorway network, they are delivered to Starr Gate fully assembled and ready to run. The order should be complete by June 2012. Bombardier will maintain a depot presence for the two-year warranty period, integrating with the BTS team. Already much-modified over the years, severalBalloon trams built from 1934 by English Electric in nearby Preston have had substantial changes, notably passenger door extensions to make them compatible with the new infrastructure within the normal service. They are most likely to be used on the busiest section between Pleasure Beach – the vast amusement park which is one of Blackpool’s principal attractions – and Cleveleys. Like the Flexity 2 stock, the modifiedBalloons are within the operational fleet, although ordinarily will remain based at Rigby Road. One maintenance track at Starr Gate depot does not have overhead power lines to allow space for Above: Fleetwood lifting the bodies and the washer has a preset programme Ferry terminus is that takes account of their shape. on a single track BTS’ Bryan Lindop (also the voice of the Flexity 2’s loop and next to a on-board audio) now oversees the heritage operation that substation, awaiting began on the Easter weekend following the main opening. Many trams have been disposed of, some to preservation completion on 3 societies and working museums as reported in TAUT, but April. Neil Pulling Blackpool retains a substantial fleet. Lindop said that of the trams licensed for use, a maximum Top right: Pending of six would be needed at any one time. They will operate the opening of alongside the new stock but under a different regime. He the northern-most added: “Once the new system opens, [unmodified] vintage substation, drivers trams will no longer legally be able to operate in conventional used a token to stage carriage service and they will therefore become a ensure only one pleasure ride. The operation will be the direct equivalent of tram at a time running heritage rail tours on a main line railway.” was north of Special prices apply: GBP10 per adult and family tickets Fisherman’s Walk. at GBP30, which include that day’s travel on all BTS Neil Pulling services. Regarding (yet unfunded) dedicated storage for the Heritage fleet in space set aside at Starr Gate – which Below right: The could be necessitated if Rigby Road became unavailable – Mr Lindop acknowledges the advantages, but points out Flexity 2 driver’s that a new facility would allow fewer old vehicles to be cab. Neil Pulling retained than at present. Heritage services will initially operate at weekends Below: One of several and Bank Holidays. During the school summer holiday points installed for there will be daily operation. Blackpool’s peak tourist the future, those season is extended by the ever-popular autumn seafront at Talbot Square ‘Illuminations’ when trams tours will be bookable in are for extending advance and illuminated trams like 737 ‘Fleetwood to Blackpool North Trawler’ or 736 ‘HMS Blackpool’ will operate. station. Neil Pulling Opening Blackpool’s new show On a rainy and wind-lashed Tuesday 3 April the guests invited for the first passenger run were glad of the trip starting from inside Starr Gate depot. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker MP met the project team and was shown around the facilities by Paul Grocott. The crew of tram 008 for the opening run was driver/trainer Adele Taylor and conductors (for once not having to collect any fares) Sophie Eccles and Phillip McGreavey. The first stop was to collect winners of a ‘Golden Tickets’ competition for local residents to be aboard for the return trip to Fleetwood and lunch. Councillor Fred Jackson, Blackpool’s Cabinet Member for Street and Transport, said: “The Golden Ticket competition gave residents a chance to be part of a historic event for the town. These new trams offer residents so many more opportunities in terms of speed and accessibility. It’s now a viable mode of transport for people travelling to work, school or shopping.” Mr Baker performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting across a double door of 008. In weather that might have made the Talbot Road extension to the station especially appealing,
218 june 2012 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org “The new trams offer residents so many more opportunities in terms of speed and accessibility. It’s now a viable mode of transport for people travelling to work, school or shopping.” Blackpool Councillor Fred Jackson, Cabinet Member for Street and Transport he acknowledged that the pre-planning with the points Above: The Heritage service has its own pavement-level stops, as near Cabin. Neil Pulling installation and the line itself made sense, saying that the council would need to press for the project. Below left: Driver/Trainer Adele Taylor ‘trains’ Norman Baker MP on the Flexity 2. Neil Pulling Further on the opening trip, the tramway’s importance for communities north of Blackpool was apparent from the scale Below right: ‘Trawler’ 737 rejoins the service tracks at Little Bispham on 2 April. Neil Pulling of welcomes the tram received in Cleveleys and Fleetwood. The first day of revenue service, 4 April, brought unwanted headlines due to the derailment of the first service that had left Starr Gate at 05.00. Shortly after the 05.55 return started from Fleetwood Ferry, the leading bogie of tram 006 derailed. Strong winds overnight had blown sand from dunes on the nearby Wyre river bank which accumulated in the grooved rail. Passengers were transferred to a bus, but services continued by turning back from Fisherman’s Walk until mid-morning when the northern section was restored. As with some other British tramways, conductors are a feature on Blackpool trams, contributing to security and passenger information. Exercising their revenue control function has however been tested by the length and multiple doors of the Bombardier trams. This was apparent on the first public day, which although busy, did not take place with the type of crowds attracted by good weather. In previous peak times two conductors would be allocated to double- deck trams, but this clearly increases operating costs. Even with fewer transactions due to the rise in the use of passes or advance tickets, the checking process remains a challenge. Blackpool hit its target of restoring tram services in the week before Easter 2012, but project slippage in some areas ate into time planned for ghost running (as per the marche à blanc on French tramways). Work continued after the opening, but it proved necessary to temporarily close some stops. The renewed tramway’s debut was a well-received performance that, of necessity, was denied some rehearsal time. This may have contributed to early issues, but identifying that visitors were responding well to the changes, the head of the local accommodation trade body commented Above: Points installed at Thornton Gate give access to a former permanent way site, also that it was far better for the trams to be running even if some forwarded as a location for a tram museum. Neil Pulling tweaks were needed, rather than having no service at all. Swamped by greater-than-predicted Easter crowds, BTS Below: Blackpool Council’s Hire-a-Bike system introduced in 2009 is well represented near pressed two modified Balloon trams into passenger service, the tramway: 008 near Gynn Square. Neil Pulling the staff coping admirably with the conditions. Modernising Blackpool’s tramway – opening on time and to budget – while keeping the best and most recognisable features from the past is a metaphor for what the town itself is trying to do. As far as light rail is concerned, high quality ingredients are there and the signs are very promising. TAUT
blackpool tramway facts . 8km of track replaced . 5km of track fencing replaced . 38 DDA-compliant stops . 74 new platforms . 16 new Flexity 2 32m trams . 14 road crossings – tram priority . All substations refurbished . All overhead line equipment replaced
www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org june 2012 219 Wilcomatic Illuminating Blackpool’s trams Blackpool’s state-of-the-art tramwash can detect and service both the modern and heritage fleets.
he trainwash division of Wilcomatic, to by using Blackpool Transport Services’ tram the UK’s leading independent supplier detection system, which is normally used to of vehicle wash equipment, has just automatically operate level crossings and interact completedT a major installation for the most with signals. This means that energy and water famous tramline in the UK – Blackpool. can be conserved and wear reduced by only using The installation is part of a complete the higher vertical brushes and jets if the tram is a modernisation of the whole system, which double-deck vehicle. has also seen Blackpool Transport Services John Madigan, technical manager Wilcomatic purchasing 16 large, ultra-modern Flexity 2 Rail Division, said: “The trams need to be trams from Bombardier. These will supplement operated by a driver through the wash bay, guided the trams from the heritage fleet, some of which by signals in the bay. However, the tram detection date back to the 1930s, which are being kept saves them the responsibility of selecting the for viewing the famous illuminations and other correct cleaning program. attractions during peak holiday times. “The speed of the wash depends on the size Wilcomatic was brought in by main contractor and design of the tram; the 32m long Flexity 2 Volker Fitzpatrick, with the brief of designing types take around 12 minutes for a full wash, and building a wash that could accommodate the while a heritage tram takes roughly 15 minutes, different types of tram that Blackpool operates. but this is much faster than the hand washing that The installation is 6.2m high, to accommodate the new system replaces.” the 4.8m-high double-decker heritage trams, and Quicker wash programs are available for features eight brushes, a pre-rinse and a reverse cleaning the sides only. osmosis system, to produce a streak-free finish. Because the Blackpool tramway runs along the Approximately 90% of all the water used in the seafront, the equipment has been manufactured wash is recycled, with 10% lost to atmosphere. in stainless steel to protect it from excessive www.wilcomaticrailwash.co.uk The height, length and other specifications of detrimental corrosion from the often harsh [email protected] every tram on the fleet are identified and adapted environment. TAUT
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