Do you have a question about our project? Do you want to know some more information? Good news, we’ve made a FAQ with questions and answers on almost every aspect of it. If something you want to know isn’t addressed here please let us know. This page will be updated periodically as and when necessary. Q: Who are Trams to Lytham? A: We are a campaign initiative seeking to have a modern light rail (tram) link installed between Blackpool and Lytham. Q: When did the campaign start? A: The 'Trams to Lytham' campaign started in early 2015 and has since grown exponentially. However, ever since the removal of the original Lytham St Anne's Corporation tram link in the 1930s there have been generations of proposals and campaigns to reinstate it, the most recent being the unfortunately shelved Fylde Coast Rapid Transit bid in the early 2000s. Q: Why should trams run to Lytham? A: Having effective, green transport is one of the most important economic components for any region. The Fylde Coast is fortunate to have a modern light rail system which has huge untapped potential, and we want this potential to be realised. The tramway is one of the most successful transport routes in Lancashire, with over 5.2 million passengers per year and over £6 million in annual revenue. The approved extension to Blackpool North Station and interchange with the national rail network will only add to this success. Lytham and St Anne's to the south are not connected to the network, but instead suffer from an hourly train service that does very little to connect residents to the most travelled to destination from the Fylde borough, Blackpool. The local bus network is often delayed by traffic congestion, and many services take indirect routes to Blackpool Town Centre and Promenade, economically key areas. Providing a new tramway route between Blackpool and Lytham along the South Fylde railway line will solve both problems. It will provide fast, frequent, and accessible connections to popular destinations, while giving locals the improved convenience of more stops nearer homes and businesses. There would be many economic benefits of such a route, one only has to look at the success and regeneration caused by the nearby Manchester Metrolink to understand that light rail can bring in vast income to the local economy. Connecting South Fylde to the large pool of tourism in Blackpool will only enhance this boost. Please watch our ‘Focus On’ video series on YouTube to find out more about the benefits of the proposal: (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0youd9wyq6fpz6JAlik_F0McW2k7pFW1). Q: Where would a tram service run to and from? A: The most likely option would see trams running between Lytham and Blackpool Town Centre. If the project was phased, it could first run to St Anne's, and Lytham later. Q: What route would trams take? A: Any new tramway link would use the current South Fylde railway corridor to get to Lytham, probably by connecting it to the existing tram network at either Starr Gate or just south of the Pleasure Beach. Q: How frequent would trams be? A: Exact timetables are impossible to know at this stage, but at least a 15-minute frequency is a recommended and achievable target. Q: Where would the stops be? A: Possible new stops may include (for the connection just south of the Pleasure Beach), from north to south: 'Pleasure Beach South', 'Harrowside', 'Squires Gate', 'Coastal Dunes', 'Highbury Road', 'St Leonard's Road', 'St Anne's', 'St Thomas' Road', 'Clifton Hospital', 'Ansdell and Fairhaven', 'Blackpool Road' and 'Lytham'. Saltcotes Road is a feasible alternative terminus to connect to more residents. You can have a full look at the ideal route by watching our ‘3D Flyby’ video on our YouTube channel. Please note that this is only a provisional layout based on past council work. Q: You'll probably need new trams; how many will be needed and where will they be kept? A: The number of trams required relies on how fast the route is and how frequent the service will be, which we don't know at this stage. However, the existing Starr Gate depot only has a capacity of twenty vehicles, eighteen of which have been used up already. Since it's likely more than two will be needed, further storage will be required, probably at either Starr Gate (inside the loop next to the existing shed) or the council-owned land at Thornton Gate. Q: Why wouldn't they go directly to Fleetwood? A: There isn't as much demand north of Blackpool for this service for it to be viable. But even so, travel will be hugely improved, as it will be possible to transfer from one tram route to the other seamlessly (at the exact same platform) and much more quickly than the current bus routes take. Don’t rule out occasional direct special services at peak times though. Q: Why not run trams down Clifton Drive? A: Running trams along Clifton Drive, while it would be ideal for tourism, would cause too much disruption on an already congested route both during and after the construction phase. It would also cost more, as street track is costlier to build and maintain. Any option that runs directly along Clifton Drive (other than for short distances) should be therefore avoided. Q: Will heritage trams run to Lytham? A: Probably not. Timetabling issues as well as bridges over the railway will make this difficult to achieve, but you never know. Q: Wouldn't it be better to go all the way to Kirkham rather than stop at Lytham? A: Probably, but if it happened it’d be longer term. The problem with a route to Kirkham is it would have to pass through many miles of countryside, which would hurt the business case and make the decision makers less likely to approve it (initially). Tram-trains are an option in the future, but not if the route only goes to Lytham. It is most sensible to focus on a scheme that is ambitious but also realistic, and to appropriately phase large schemes. Q: Why not use tram-trains? A: There is very little need for tram-trains on a route that terminates at St Anne's or Lytham. The extra speed offered by these vehicles would not be needed due the route being almost all through a urban areas and would therefore have a high stop distribution. It is not worth the additional cost and time when standard Flexity 2 trams would be more than satisfactory. The Sheffield pilot scheme has proven that issues can arise when using developing technology. Q: Would I lose my train service? A: Options are available that partially or fully retain the important heavy rail service to Preston and beyond. These include running trams parallel to the rail service over some parts of the new route, similar to routes on other UK tram systems such as in Croydon. It's very likely that train services from St Anne's onwards at the very least would be retained. Q: Wouldn't it be better to double the frequency of trains by putting in a passing loop? A: This idea is also being considered alongside tram options, and we would not oppose it if it didn’t interfere with our own goals, but we believe there are better solutions. While the option would improve journeys to Preston, it would do very little to get people to Blackpool, which has a statistically higher demand. The current stations have very poor interchange with other services and poorly serve important destinations (for example Pleasure Beach Station is a ten-minute walk from the entrance). It would not provide more stops for residents, improve accessibility or relieve traffic. In addition, we should not be encouraging diesel trains over modern, green transport. Overall, we don't believe this option will bring in nearly as many passengers and money to the area as a tramway link. We need ambition on the Fylde to be successful, and investing in a network which has almost 10 times as many passengers as the South Fylde trains is the answer. Q: Why not extend trains back to Blackpool Central instead? A: This option would significantly improve connection to Blackpool, but still has many of the problems discussed above. It is also very unlikely that several miles of infrastructure including bridges will be ripped up to reinstate it at the cost of many millions more than other solutions, and it may not be successful without the direct line from Kirkham reinstalled as well. The site is also earmarked by Blackpool Council for development of a major leisure attraction. Most of the benefits of this idea will be realised when the electrified route to Blackpool North is connected to the tramway. Q: We had trams before, so why should we have them back? A: The previous route ran along Clifton Drive, so had the problems we discussed in that section. The original route was ripped up far before the light rail era and its associated economic, environmental and social benefits. Q: Why do we need trams down Talbot Road? A: We have been told that no 'Phase 3' (South Fylde) tramway expansion will be considered until the completion of 'Phase 2' (Blackpool North Station). A longer extension is unlikely to be approved if a short one fails to be, as confidence in the system will be low. In addition, all routes that have been proposed have been from Lytham/St Anne’s to Blackpool North, which would be impossible without the link. Q: I'm a car user, how will this help me? A: A new tram route, if well used enough, will help to reduce traffic on congested routes such as Clifton Drive and the Promenade and make your commute easier. Integration with park and ride is also a possibility. Q: Would I be able to use my Fylde concessionary pass on trams in the borough? A: We don't know. If the concessions scheme is still in its current format by then, we'd hope that Fylde residents would be allowed to use their NOW cards on trams in the same way as Blackpool and Wyre. Ideally, this would be implemented before work began. Q: Will the new route have live information? A: Hopefully! The tender for the North Station extension reveals that live departure boards will be installed at the new terminus, which may then become standard for the rest of the existing network. Therefore it should be expected that further extensions should have them too (at core stops at the very least). On demand live information should be available via the Blackpool Transport app. Q: What about ticket machines? A: This is more of a mystery. But peak demand has shown the need for pre-purchased tickets. Whether that initiative goes beyond the recently introduced mobile ticketing remains to be seen. Q: What about the bike racks, toilets and luggage storage found on trains? Will they be looked into? A: Don't hold your breath for these. While they are nice, with the exception of luggage racks, they are seldom required for the types journeys made by tram. Provision of better storage for people with heavy baggage could be considered though, especially when people will soon be boarding a tram straight from the busy North Station. Q: Could noise pollution be an issue for properties near the trams? A: The tram line would be less noisy than the current railway. Large parts of the route are behind woodland or separated from property, dampening the noise. If noise pollution is considered a problem it'll be dealt with at the potential design phase, where multiple options will be available. Living near a light rail line in most cases increases property value slightly due to the fast transport links it provides. Q: I'm worried it'll make Lytham too busy and crowded, could that be a problem? A: Making Lytham and St Anne's busy is a large reason we're supporting this project in the first place. Crowds are fantastic for local business and economy, and the benefits definitely outweigh the slight inconvenience that comes with large footfall. Q: Will it encourage antisocial Blackpool youths to spread to my area? A: The tram service has excellent security, being equipped with both trained conductors and CCTV. Anyone causing public disturbance will be dealt with by Blackpool Transport and the police. Q: Is this project being considered officially? A: Yes. Initial feasibility work has already been carried out, and this is available on the www.sintropher.eu website. It also appears as an ambition on several local/neighbourhood plans and transport development documents. We have been told that further, more detailed work will be undertaken once the first tramway extension to Blackpool North Station has been completed. Q: How much will it cost? A: Until details are concrete, this is impossible to say. However, like any light rail scheme, it will be a many multi-million pound project and likely in the cost region of the initial tramway upgrade. Q: Who would pay for it? A: Payment, if the project is approved, would likely come predominantly from Lancashire County Council, with a smaller amount from Blackpool Council, assuming the local political landscape is unchanged by then. Government-supported grants and sources such as the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership may also contribute a sizeable proportion of cost. Q: When will this happen? A: Timescales are hard to estimate at this stage, but the Fylde Local Plan identifies the creation of a tram/train/bus interchange on the South Fylde Line during its lifetime (2032), and the Lancashire Strategic Transport Prospectus targets 2029 for delivery of improvements to the line. From this information, it is reasonable to assume a 10 to 15-year timescale as of 2017. That may seem like a very long time, but we are committed to this for the long haul, and continued campaigning and pressure may see it happen sooner. Q: Who supports this campaign? A: We have received the support of nearly 3500 people on our online petition (www.change.org/p/extend-the-blackpool-tramway-to-lytham) and thousands more on social media pages. Trams to Lytham has a working relationship with TramForward, the campaigning arm of the Light Rail Transit Association, and we have had the support of the Campaign for Better Transport and other transport groups. Individuals like Fylde MP Mark Menzies and Blackpool Council Leader Simon Blackburn have also stated their support in the past. Q: What are your plans for the future? A: Trams to Lytham will remain committed to the project until its completion. Our immediate goals include: -Submitting our petition to the council. -Campaigning for further South Fylde Line feasibility work. -Contacting and involving other groups and individuals. -Spreading our message and gaining further public support. -Supporting innovation and improvement on the existing tramway. -Encouraging intermediate solutions such as improved interchange between trams and buses at Starr Gate. It is possible that Trams to Lytham may become a more general campaign group for the Blackpool Tramway in the near future. Q: Once this is all done, what would be the next tram extension? A: That is a long way off but there are some ideas that have been floated around over the years such as the Poulton to Fleetwood line, inland Blackpool routes (such as Victoria Hospital and the Airport Enterprise Zone), Warton, and Kirkham. Q: What does your logo mean? Why is it blue? A: Our logo depicts a modern Flexity 2 Blackpool tram in the colours of the original Lytham St Anne’s Corporation vehicles (light blue and white). While the final trams on the route probably wouldn’t be in this livery, it’s a nice homage to the past. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours plan to restore Lytham tram 43 in the future, which we are a strong supporter of. Q: How do I contact Trams to Lytham? A: We are on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. If you want to ask any advice, offer assistance or ask a question you can also send an email to tramstolytham@outlook.com, or send us a private message on one of our social media accounts. Q: Do you have a website? A: No. It’s definitely something we’ll look at in the future though. Q: How can I help further? A: You can sign our petition, follow our social media accounts, and tell your friends about us. In addition, you can also contact Lancashire County Council (http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/get-involved/contact.aspx), Blackpool Council (https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Contact-us.aspx) and individual politicians and councillors, telling them why our project would benefit you. If you want to help spread the message, feel free to print off some of our posters (https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ap09ubFyGhyidyUbIIZ-h8JUpFg) and put them wherever you like. Send us an email if have any ideas to help the with the campaign!