New tramline to open linking resort's seafront

The tramline will begin running on Sunday

A new £23 million tramline is to open, linking Blackpool North rail station to town's seafront.

The extension will officially open on Sunday, connecting visitors, commuters, and locals arriving by train to the heart of the town.

Jane Cole, managing director of Blackpool Transport Services, said she hoped the extension would help people make better transport choices with the environment in mind.

The trams will leave and arrive at the new tram stop roughly every fifteen minutes, between 05:45 and 23:45 BST.

Integrated transport

Ms Cole said: "Last year two million people arrived by train.

"If you know you can leave, say Manchester, on the train and be straight onto integrated transport that can take you anywhere in the resort, why wouldn't you do that?"

Blackpool’s tramway is almost 140 years old and are the only original tramway in Britain to stay in continuous operation that long.

The extension was funded by Blackpool Council, as well as £16.4 million in funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal funding. 

The projects forms part of the £350 million regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area around Blackpool North train station.