Blackpool’s £85m tram revamp open to bids

THE AUTHORITIES in Blackpool are seeking contractors to revamp the town’s world famous tramway.

The 120-year-old seafront Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway has already been partially refurbished. Now Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire County Council want to renew five miles of track and 76 stops.

The work also involves a new depot to house the town’s vintage collection of 30 trams.

The councils have not made the value of the contracts public but the upgrade is expected to cost around £85m.

Programme manager Paul Grocott said he was seeking expressions of interest in the work before whittling down a shortlist of around six preferred bidders.

“We expect to award contracts by May next year,” said Mr Grocott.

The government announced a rescue package for the tramway in February which included £60m from central government and £25m from the local councils.

This figure is expected to cover the refurbishment of track, not upgraded since the 1930s, and pay for 16 new trams.

Blackpool’s tram system consists of a single route from Starr Gate near the South Pier, along the promenade and then to Fleetwood.

The trams carry nearly four million passengers a year and the work is expected to start in late 2009. The deadline for expressions of interest is November 3.