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LIGHT RAIL
Blackpool Transport has come a long way over the past 12 months, with its transformation capped off with the title of Tram Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards. Jane Cole, Managing Director, reflects on the success
Blackpool Tram: ‘Going from strength to strength’
J
ane Cole reflects on the past 12 months with an enormous sense of pride. The Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services, who has just surpassed 11 years at the organisation, has this year been at the helm for a host of popular service improvements, alongside the opening of an extension to North Station. This ambitious, forward-thinking, entrepreneurial approach was recently recognised at the National Transport Awards, where the organisation was named Tram Operator of the Year – an accolade Jane describes as an achievement the whole town and surrounding areas can be proud of. “Our tramway is going from strength to strength, and to win this award in the face of strong competition from much larger networks is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the Blackpool Transport team,” she said. “Over the past 12 months, we have consistently responded to customer feedback to develop timetables that meet the needs of both residents and the millions of additional visitors who flock to the Fylde coast during the summer and illuminations seasons.
Images: Blackpool Transport
“As a result, the tramway has seen a steady increase in patronage and improved operational performance.” Blackpool Tramway has a history stretching back to 1885 and now serves a population of more than 150,000 people living on the Fylde Coast, an area that also attracts an estimated 20 million visitors a year. During Jane’s tenure, two extra trams were added to its Bombardier Flexity 2 fleet in 2018, while its older historic trams continued to run special heritage tours on the sections of the 11-mile line between Fleetwood Ferry and Starr Gate until they were paused in 2024. The opening of a £22 million extension to North Station 18 months ago saw the return of trams to Talbot Road for the first time in almost 90 years, and since then, it has enjoyed a remarkable run of success. In the year since the opening of the new stops in Talbot Road and North Station, patronage has increased by 13.1 per cent, carrying 54,000 more customers compared to the previous year. “The opening of the 600m extension was part of a wider scheme aimed at regenerating an important part of Blackpool town centre, and we’re
Dec 25/Jan 26
Our tramway is going from strength to strength, and to win this award in the face of strong competition from much larger networks is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the Blackpool Transport team