The Blackpool Tramway Extension - Talbot Gateway Phase 2 - connects North Railway Station with the promenade, new hotel and public space

Blackpool Tramway Extension – Talbot Gateway Phase 2

Both well on the way to completion and scheduled to open in 2024. Blackpool Tramway Extension & Holiday Inn – Talbot Gateway Phase 2 continue the regeneration of the area around North Station and Talbot Road with a connection to the promenade. Take a look and see how the site’s changed…

The £22m extension forms part of Talbot Gateway regeneration project around Blackpool North train station. It includes:

  • demolition of the former Wilko store,
  • completion of the new tramway interchange at Blackpool North Station,
  • a new underpass,
  • four-star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, with more high-quality accommodation choice for leisure and business visitors
  • an improved leisure offer to boost the night-time economy,
  • brand new retail locations.
  • two brand new Flexity2 trams to provide for extra passenger demand.
  • promote a more integrated and connected use of our transport system.
Plans for a new tram hub at Talbot Road
Plans for the new tram hub at Talbot Road

Phases of Work at Talbot Gateway

A large area of land around Blackpool North Station, Talbot Road and Cookson Street is being transformed. In a long-term, phased regeneration plan Talbot Gateway is completely changing the look and use of this area.

  • The Holiday Inn and Tramway Terminus marks Phase Two of the Talbot Gateway project in Blackpool’s Central Business District. All about the Holiday Inn here.
  • Phase Three includes the restoration of The Hop pub and conversion into a dentists. Plus clearing land and building a new Department for Work and Pensions office block. More about Phase Three DWP offices

Why does Blackpool need a Tramway Extension?

The Blackpool Tramway Extension is excellent news and a huge step forward in continuing to regenerate Talbot Gateway. It will create more jobs for people in Blackpool and a stronger economy for everybody in the town.

Almost two million journeys go through Blackpool North train station every year and rail journeys to the resort are growing. 1.8m people per year arrive at Blackpool North railway station and 80% of them travel on to the Fy1, FY2 and FY4 postcode areas. The extension will capitalise on the electrification and growth in rail travel. It will make journeys for residents, commuters and visitors from the train station much easier.

Over five million people already use the current tramway every year. That number is growing and passengers are extremely happy with the service they get from Blackpool’s modern, accessible trams. Growing demand for tram and train travel shows that the Blackpool tramway extension is sure to be a success.

The extension will also be the linchpin at the centre of the second phase of the Talbot Gateway. It will be a huge boost to the resort when it opens.

What will it Look Like?

The new Holiday Inn hotel stands where Wilko once used to be. The tramway extension takes you from the promenade to the tram stop sited at the side of the new underpass to Blackpool North Station. You’ll be able to connect from tram to train really easily with a bright, modern entrance into the station.

Talbot Gateway underpass visuals
Talbot Gateway underpass visual

Route of the Blackpool Tramway Extension

The new tramway leaves the promenade at North Pier to travel along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Station. With stops along the way, the regular service will improve local travel for everyone. And, to improve the look of Talbot Road, there are also new highways and footpaths. You can read the original Blackpool Council brochure for the Tramway Extension, you can download it here.

Proposed route of the Talbot Road tramway extension

On the Drawing Board…

As a local authority Blackpool Council can’t just dig up the roads and build a tramway. First they had to make an application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992, for powers to construct, operate and maintain the extension. It was back in March 2018 when Central Government granted it.

Visual of the Blackpool Tramway Extension at Talbot Road
Visual of the Blackpool Tramway Extension at Talbot Road

Our tramway extension is one of six infrastructure projects to be delivered in the county by Transport for Lancashire. That’s the body formed in 2015 to develop, approve and fund major transport schemes. They have a multi-million pound budget, devolved by the Department for Transport from 2015/16.

£16.4m towards the estimated £18.2m total cost of the project is to be met by Transport for Lancashire. The group includes the region’s three transport authorities, Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, together with the private sector led Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The proposed scheme was also subject to final funding approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

The Paperwork Moves along

On 13 March 2020 Blackpool Council revealed that they were seeking approval for the next phase of the Talbot Gateway Regeneration Scheme.

A funding proposal went before Blackpool Council’s Executive on 23 March 2020 to facilitate the demolition of the Wilko store and complete the new tramway interchange at Blackpool North Station. Works also include a new underpass, four-star Holiday Inn and restaurant, and new retail and leisure facilities.

Artist's impression of Holiday Inn at Talbot Gateway
Artist’s impression of Holiday Inn at Talbot Gateway

The above photo is an artist’s impression looking from Bickerstaffe Square towards the sea along Talbot Road. The new buildings replace this corner as it used to look –

Wilkinson's at Talbot Road
Wilkinson’s supermarket which was at Talbot Road

Building the Blackpool Tramway Extension – Talbot Gateway Phase 2

See how long it takes to deliver something on this scale, and the steps that went into this long project which is nearing completion. It’s been fascinating to watch the transformation of a run-down and neglected block of buildings into a brand new, modern facility.

First Job: Laying the New Tram Lines

Visit Fylde Coast correspondent Barrie C Woods did a sterling job of documenting the progress of construction work on the new tram track. These photos of works taking place along Talbot Road are from July 2018.

Tramlines being laid in Talbot Road, part of the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Barrie C Woods
Tramlines being laid in Talbot Road, part of the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Barrie C Woods
Tramlines being laid in Talbot Road, part of the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Barrie C Woods
How tracks are laid in Talbot Road, part of the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Barrie C Woods. A similar view to the photo above – but in the centre bottom of shot near the red fence you can also see some of the old tramlines
The 'turnout' created from the promenade lines when they were laid 6 years ago, part of the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Barrie C Woods
And this is the ‘turnout’ created from the promenade lines when they were laid 6 years ago. Photo: Barrie C Woods

Tramway to Wilkinsons!

Another update from Barrie C Woods. As he says, the tramway looks like it’s heading straight into the front doors of Wilko’s! Photos taken on 31st October 2018.

Blackpool Tramway Extension on 31.10.18, photo from Barrie C Woods
Blackpool Tramway Extension on 31.10.18, photo from Barrie C Woods
Blackpool Tramway Extension on 31.10.18, photo from Barrie C Woods
Looking from the doorway of Wilkinson’s to the Blackpool Tramway Extension on 31.10.18, photo from Barrie C Woods

Moving on a few months and to the junction with the promenade, this is the next stage of construction, in January 2019

A view looking south on the promenade with Ibis hotel as a backdrop. The diverging tracks for both north and south trams clearly obvious.. Blackpool tramway extension at Talbot Road
A view looking south on the promenade with Ibis hotel as a backdrop. See the diverging tracks for both north and south trams.

The stretch of carriageway between West Street and Queens Square reopened in March 2019.

Progress on the Blackpool tramway extension at Talbot Road
Midway between the two tracks from north and south as they converge to head up Talbot Road. Note also the progress on rebuilding on the site of the old Yates’s Wine lodge. The ‘Yellow Army’ in full swing!
The southern-most curve connection of the new tramlines with the promenade tracks. Blackpool tramway extension at Talbot Road
The southern-most curve connection of the new tramlines with the promenade tracks

Tramway Testing in 2022

From North Pier, new electrical lines and new tram signals have been installed overhead.

New catenary and tram lines at Talbot Road Blackpool
New catenary and tram lines at Talbot Road Blackpool

The completed extension also means more trams on the network and more frequent services. It will connect North Station to the Promenade giving a direct link to shops, hotels and leisure attractions and easier commuting for residents. And the new tramline will be cleaner, greener, quieter and more reliable. 

Tramway testing took place during June 2022 at the new Talbot Road extension. The track, signalling and lights were all thoroughly tested, with trams every 10 minutes. The trams will open to passengers once the hotel is complete. Take a look at the progress here

Trams return to Talbot Road. Photo: LB Photography
Trams return to Talbot Road. Photo: LB Photography

On Monday 4 July 2022, we were thrilled to be able to take a ride on one of these test trams! Capturing the moment as it made its way along Talbot Road from the new Terminus to North Pier tram stop. Come with me and enjoy the ride!

Tramway Extension & Building the New Holiday Inn – Talbot Gateway Phase 2

Closure and Demolition of Wilkinson’s

Wilkinson’s Supermarket and attached multi-storey car park closed at the end of March 2020. The next job for contractors was to demolish the store and car park, clearing the entire block. We went along to take some photos just before the doors closed for the final time –

Inside Blackpool Wilko before it closed in 2020
Inside Blackpool Wilko before it closed in 2020
Demolition of Wilko to begin, to enable the new tramway extension to be completed
Wilko before demolition. Just see the new Sainsbury’s at the far left. Photo taken from the traffic lights outside the chemists.

The Wilkinson’s store had originally opened as a Fine Fare supermarket, opened by TVs ‘The Goodies’ on 22 May 1979. The stores origins were immortalised in these fiberglass panels set into the wall along Talbot Road. Here at Visit Fylde Coast we were lucky enough to rescue one of these pieces, which now has pride of place in our garden!

Later the store was Food Giant, then became Gateway, followed by Kwik Save which closed on 26 April 1999. But in March 2000 it became the UKs largest Wilkinson’s, with a car park for 460 cars. It was March 2014 when they were all rebranded to Wilko. Plans were passed to allow the demolition of the store in 2017 – so Phase 3 has been a long time in the making.

Fine Fare supermarket logo preserved in concrete panels at Wilko in Blackpool
Fine Fare supermarket logo preserved in fibreglass panels at Wilko in Blackpool

Blackpool Council and development partner, Muse Developments jointly appointed Robertson Construction Group to carry out the work. Muse entered into a Development Agreement back in March 2009.

Preparation for demolition of the Wilko store and car park, which ceased trading at the end of March, began on Monday 1 June 2020.

Down it comes!

The first proper knocking down of the external building began on Monday 14 September 2020. We couldn’t resist going along for a look, capturing history in the making in photos and video –

Day 1 demolition at Wilkinson's Blackpool, 14.9.20. Copyright: Visit Fylde Coast
Day 1 demolition at Wilkinson’s Blackpool, 14.9.20. Copyright: Visit Fylde Coast

Surprised at how quickly the building came down, we popped back on day three for another look.

And a couple of weeks later it’s disappearing rapidly!

Our friend Barrie C Woods took these photos of demolition, at dusk on 4 November 2020. It all seems a long time ago now!

Constructing the new Holiday Inn

On 30 June 2021, key members of the development team met on site to mark the erection of the first steelwork for the 4* Holiday Inn and Marco Pierre White restaurant. Don’t forget you can see the development of the new Holiday Inn and inside views here.

Marking installation of the steel frame for the Holiday Inn
Marking installation of the steel frame for the Holiday Inn. l-r: Cllr Mark Smith, Antony Hill Blackpool Council, Dirk Pittaway Robertsons, Alan McBride Muse, Steve Ramsden Robertsons, Mike Horner Muse

We also went to take a look for you – here’s video from that point in the progress –

Here’s an aerial view of the site from the top of the Blackpool Tower. Thanks to Steven Hughes for sending this photo, taken in September 2021, where you can see the Tramway Extension & Holiday Inn – Talbot Gateway Phase 2 taking shape –

Tower top view of the tramway extension by Steven Hughes
Tower top view of the tramway extension by Steven Hughes

By April 2022 (below) you can really tell what’s happening with the hotel structure in place and the tramway extended into the site.

Talbot Gateway Phase 2: Holiday Inn and Tramway Terminus. April 2022
Talbot Gateway Phase 2: Holiday Inn and Tramway Terminus. April 2022

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Traces of Tramways Past

Juliette Gregson is one of the contributors to Visit Fylde Coast. She captured traces of the original tram lines of the Layton route, which once ran along Talbot Road. They’re a brilliant glimpse of the past.

Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson
Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson

These photos were taken when Phase One work was carried out at Bickerstaffe House and Sainsbury’s.

Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson
Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson
Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson
Original tramlines, being replaced in the Blackpool Tramway Extension. Photo: Juliette Gregson

The tramway did once follow this route along Talbot Road as you can see from the next photo. This route closed in 1936.

Original trams on Talbot Road, soon to be running again, when the Blackpool Tramway Extension is complete
Original trams on Talbot Road, soon to be running again, when the Blackpool Tramway Extension is complete

Following on from Blackpool’s First Major Tramway Upgrade

The 11 mile long Blackpool seafront tramway re-opened in 2012 following a major £101m upgrade project. This saw the track replaced from end to end, with new stops for accessible boarding. The signalling and electrical infrastructure was also replaced and upgraded. 16 new Bombardier Flexity2 trams arrived in the resort, housed in the new tram depot at Squires Gate. They have level boarding – making them accessible for all disabled users – provide faster journey times and a more energy efficient service.

As you might expect, the improvements brought an increase in passenger numbers from 2m in 2008/9 to 5m people in 2015.

Provision was made at the time for expanding the tramway in the future… And here we are, years later, with an extension to Blackpool North, a more integrated and connected use of our transport system.

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19 thoughts on “Blackpool Tramway Extension – Talbot Gateway Phase 2”

  1. Well it’s July 12th 2023 and still no tram services operrating from the terminus. Delays to finishing the hotel because some of the cladding was faulty mean Easter 2024 is the next proposed starting date. Unless they are any more delays….

    1. The wait goes on- March 6th 2024 and still no opening of the tramway extension. Contractors and the council very silent on any confirmation of the opening date. 2 years overdue, what is going on?

      1. I’m sure it will be worth the wait eventually. They won’t release an opening date until they’re 100% sure that everything is complete – the announcement could be very near to it happening!

  2. Overhead wires to be erected in July 2021 up Talbot Rd with estimated 4 weeks minimum to finish the work. Trams expected to be running autumn 2021. A temporary tram stop to be used until the tram terminus and underpass to North railway station completed in 2022.

  3. ANDREW JOHN VINER

    You are doing a fabulous job Blackpool! Bringing the trams up-to-date and making them once again what they were intended for- the main means of getting around this fabulous seaside town, has been really great. Clean, green and efficient as well as being good to ride on.
    I am looking forward to seeing the extension to North Station when I visit Blackpool in a couple of months’ time.
    Just a thought about the future: has anyone ever considered extending the tramway along the promenade towards Lytham? I know the proposal to use the heavy railway has effectively been rejected, but extending it along the sea-front might work better.

    1. There is a campaign group which is trying to reinstate Trams to Lytham. They did of course run that way, back in the day!

  4. I have seen / read no mention of the bus stops on Talbot Road outside and opposite the former Wilco store. I hope they will be replaced because they would be a very convenient connection to the new tram terminus.

  5. I noticed that the diagram “plans for a new tram hub” showed something completely different than the mock-up “proposed terminus for the blackpool tramway extension”. Which one is the actual plan? The first one makes it look like just another car park.

  6. Visited Blackpool last August,hoped to see more progress of entension when arrived at north station,it is otherwise a depressing walk down to the prom. It will be great for the town when completed,locals should be more patient with the council,remember they succeeded in saving the trams when it all could have gone in 2009! My first memory of arriving in Blackpool was probably about 1955,it was my fathers birthplace,we were at central station thanking the loco driver, a huge black monster of an engine. Now I visit to see my last relative here,and am always cheered by the sight of the town hall with Queen Vic. in the foyer,then the Tower and golden sands,where a Certain Stanley Matthews used to train……Trevor Wignall Littlehampton Sussex

  7. the old historical tramway should never have been swapped over to those horrid modern foreign built trams. as the only original system in uk it was in my opinion a world heritage site shame on you blackpool council

  8. Get Wilko out now. They have had long enough to find a new place. Council need to play hard ball and get this built ASAP so we can talk about proper extensions.

  9. I made a one day visit to Blackpool on 5 September 2019 partly to see the changes at the North station and the progress with the Talbot Road new tramway. I was dissapointed to see that the tracks ended at the entrance to the still operating Wilkinson store. The most shocking aspect was that the information/publicity panels in the street declared that the new line would be opening in the spring – of 2019 !
    Having seen the detailed plans for the North station end terminus it will clearly be at least two or three years before the completed line comes into its planned use.

  10. David-Alan Reid

    I love Blackpool I feel that Blackpool does have a real great future ahead of it so please folk be kind to Blackpool Council they really are doing a great job. Slowly does it, the new tram system is something to be really proud of. Instead of moaning all the time the folk who live in Blackpool should start asking themselves what can we do to start making the world’s people welcome to our lovely town. I for one love your town with all my heart I have always felt like this since I was a child…..God bless Blackpool and all who are trying so hard to keep it great. Thank you for reading this from David-Alan Reid.

  11. I think the council are doing an excellent job of destroying Blackpool center, with shops closing due the economy, and online shopping, I think this totally unnecessary extension to the tramway taking it to the railway station will be the final nail for a lot of business. You only have to walk through the centre to see a great number of people are staying out of town all together. If it hasn’t been announced yet, I’m sure it won’t be long before the announcement is made of a overrun, the opening date will be put back and the budget will have to be reviewed and will go over budget. Grand ideas that will no doubt have a plaque with some councillors name.

    1. Despite numerous attempts to get answers from Blackpool Council they don’t appear to have any answers.To have a working tram extension the following MUST happen.Firstly the new Wilko MUST be built to completion to allow a smooth transition from the present Wilko to the Tower street carpark,IT IS STILL BEING USED AS A CARPARK .The Council have NO dates as to when this project will even start let alone finish!RESULT-No new Wilko means no demolishing of present Wilko which in turn means no tram terminus/temporary carpark/Holiday Inn etc.There doesn’t appear to be anyway that suggested schedules for any of the above will happen!

      Jack Gledhill
      58 Gainsborough Road
      Blackpool
      Fy1 4dz

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