Trams at Cleveleys are part of everyday life. They’re a way of getting from A-B on the Fylde Coast, and part of the areas heritage too. The main tram stop is central to the place, at the busiest intersection in the town.
Trams at Cleveleys
The Blackpool to Fleetwood tram line has been there for well over 100 years. It’s seen the Fylde Coast change and grow and evolve into the place it is today.
The tram line runs along the promenade, next to the sea, from the depot at Squires Gate right up to Anchorsholme. There, it parts from the seafront to travel through the centre of Cleveleys and on to Fleetwood.
At Victoria Square in the centre of Cleveleys you can get on and off at the main stop. The handy tram stop for Fleetwood and Blackpool is adjacent to bus stops should you need to travel onwards. They’re all right in the middle of the main shopping centre, with frequent trams seven days a week.
Different types of tram
Most of the trams that you’ll catch at Cleveleys are the new, burgundy trams. Sleek, modern and quiet they offer a good passenger experience, quickly taking you from A to B.
The old fashioned Heritage Trams still operate too. Although their frequent service is mostly along Blackpool seafront, for special events they often travel to Cleveleys and Fleetwood.
An Improved Tramway
On 3 April 2012, the brand new Flexcity Bombardier trams made their very first passenger journey to much celebration. Marking the start of a brand new era of passenger transport for residents and visitors, they’re a great way to travel.
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With steps up to the carriage, the old tram cars didn’t comply with modern access rules for disabled passengers. If they weren’t changed and adapted the tram service would ultimately have had to cease.
So the huge project to modernise the tram way for the twenty first century began. The mammoth task included £100m of investment, new tracks and platforms and a completely new system for the future.
When Trams First Came to Cleveleys
The Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Act was passed in May 1896. Now, a double track could be built from Fleetwood to join with the tracks already laid along Dickson Road by Blackpool Corporation. It was 19 July 1897 when construction began in Fleetwood.
On 1 July 1898 trams first ran from Blackpool to Fleetwood via Cleveleys. Regular services began on 14th July, operated by the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company – a private company and direct rival to the Corporation Tramway.
Passengers waiting at Cleveleys, Bispham and Uncle Tom’s Cabin even had shelters to wait in. People waiting here would mostly be going straight to North Station.
Did you know? During WWII a railway siding loop was built at Rossall for the trams which ferried troops around? The soldiers travelled from their barracks at Squires Gate (later to become Pontins) to the rifle ranges at Rossall School.
Because of the new tram line, people begin building clusters of houses near to each tram stop. By the 1960’s these clusters of houses had expanded to completely join up and form an urban corridor.
Have you Seen?
You know what they say “the truth is often stranger than fiction”… Here’s a curious one – have you seen tram tracks on Cleveleys beach where it meets Blackpool?
If you know where to look, pieces of track have been reused in construction of groynes. We went to take a look for you –
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