The Blackpool Tramway runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, England.
| Blackpool Tramway | |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 600 V Overhead lines |
| Stock | 18 Bombardier Flexity 2 15 English Electric Balloon |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 18 km (11.2 mi) |
Are trams fully electric?
Today, most trams use electrical power, usually fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector. In some cases, a contact shoe on a third rail is used.
What voltage do Blackpool trams run on?
Blackpool Corporation took over the running of the tramway in 1892 and the first of many line extensions started in 1895. The late 1890s saw the conversion of the tramway into using the overhead wire system instead of the conduit system. The conduit was removed in 1899 and a 550V overhead wiring installed.
Do Blackpool trams have conductors?
We do accept cash on board our trams but prefer payment with contactless or mobile tickets as this really helps out our conductors.
Do Blackpool still run old trams?
They are now operated by Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours between Pleasure Beach and North Pier as standard and can be caught at the ‘Heritage Tram Tours’ stops, identifiable by a green circular sign.
What do tram engines run on?
Tram engines have been built to run on stored energy in various forms, including: Fireless steam. Compressed air, (see also Mekarski system) Electric storage batteries.
What fuel do trams use?
electricity
Explanation: Trams are powered by electricity and therefore don’t emit exhaust fumes. They ease traffic congestion by offering drivers an alternative to using their car, particularly in busy cities and towns.
How much does a Blackpool tram driver earn?
Average Blackpool Transport hourly pay ranges from approximately £9.25 per hour for Conductor to £9.66 per hour for Cleaner. Salary information comes from 96 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Are Blackpool trams electric?
The line dates back to 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. It is operated by Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) and runs for 18 km (11 miles).
How fast are Blackpool trams?
43 mph
| Bombardier Flexity 2 (Blackpool) | |
|---|---|
| Articulated sections | 5 (four articulations) |
| Wheel diameter | 600 mm (23.62 in) (new) 540 mm (21.26 in) (worn) |
| Maximum speed | 43 mph (70 km/h) |
| Weight | 40.9 t (40.3 long tons; 45.1 short tons) (empty) 56.7 t (55.8 long tons; 62.5 short tons) (loaded) |
Why are trams filled with sand?
It’s sand. Why, you might be asking, would a huge mechanical machine need a sandbox to function? Well, the sand is dropped on the tram tracks in front of the driving wheels in wet and slippery conditions and on hills to help improve the tram’s traction.
Who maintains Blackpool trams?
Blackpool Transport Services Ltd
The tramway runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire and is the only surviving first-generation tramway in the UK, it is operated by Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.
Why are trams connected to a wire?
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, trolleybuses or trams. It is known variously as: Overhead catenary. Overhead contact system (OCS)
What is the oldest thing in Blackpool?
North Pier is the most northerly of the three coastal piers in Blackpool, England. Built in the 1860s, it is also the oldest and longest of the three.
North Pier, Blackpool.
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Total length | 550 yards (500 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Eugenius Birch |
| Opening date | 21 May 1863 |
Why did Britain get rid of trams?
The advent of personal motor vehicles and the improvements in motorized buses caused the rapid disappearance of the tram from most western and Asian countries by the end of the 1950s (for example the first major UK city to completely abandon its trams was Manchester by January 1949).
What is the oldest tram system in the world?
The world’s very first tram system was actually a horse train called the Oystermouth Railway, a commercial service which began operation in 1804, in order to transport limestone between the south Wales areas of Mumbles and Swansea.
What are trams powered by UK?
Trolleybuses, like trams, are powered by electricity taken from overhead wires, but run on pneumatic tyres. The first rail-less electric trolley vehicle was demonstrated in London in 1909, and two years later the first trolleybus services were started in Leeds and Bradford.
How fast does a tram go mph?
Typical rolling stock
| Type | Rapid transit (heavy rail) | Tram, or streetcar |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (empty) | TBD | 28.8 t |
| Capacity | 150 max. | 30 seats, 157 max. |
| Top speed | 125 km/h (77.7 mph) | 70 km/h (43.5 mph) |
| Typical consist | 4–10 vehicles | 1 vehicle |
What voltage do trams run on?
Trams cannot be diverted around a work site. They are powered by 750 volts dc power lines above the track which are live at all times. Cables, services and equipment may be buried and cannot be seen.
Do trams pollute the air?
They found that trams emit approximately 0.74 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger kilometre.
Do trams use sand to brake?
Railway sand for locomotives
Breaking sand is an excellent preventive measure to stop trains and trams sliding when the brakes are applied. We recommend the use of a mixture of calibrated sand in various grain sizes, which is spread between the train wheels and the tracks. This creates a specific level of friction.