We need answers over tram safety issues, says councillor

A Blackpool councillor has called for urgent answers after safety concerns over the resort’s famous trams were raised by a transport watchdog.

Cllr Paul Galley, the leader of Blackpool’s Conservative opposition group on Blackpool Council, spoke out following intervention by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) over the tram fleet.

The ORR’s Improvement Notice gave tram operator Blackpool Transport 17 days to make progress in improving documentation to manage the risks of component degradation on the vehicles.

Concerns pointed to a risk of possible “derailment or collision” linked to degraded tram bogies -the wheeled undercarriages that sit beneath a tram –and maintenance failings.

Cllr Paul Galley said the situation raised major questions about why proper investment in tram maintenance had not been prioritised despite Blackpool Council benefiting from millions of pounds linked to the tramway operation.

However, Blackpool Council insisted it had invested significantly in council-owned Blackpool Transport to ensure it had the resources at its disposal to carry out maintenance and investment in the stock and keep people safe.

Cllr Galley said: “Back in 2009, the Government provided Blackpool with more than £68 million to completely modernise the tramway system, including new track, new trams and a new tram depot,

“A key part of that long-term investment plan was ensuring the trams were properly maintained and that funding was set aside for renewal and ongoing upkeep of the fleet.

“Questions now need to be asked of the Council’s leadership as to why that investment was not sustained, particularly when the Council has received millions of pounds in dividends from Blackpool Transport over the years.

“It is deeply concerning that we now find ourselves almost back in the same position as we were before the 2009 upgrade — dealing with worn equipment and serious concerns about maintenance standards.

“This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure the future of Blackpool’s tramway system, yet it appears that opportunity has been squandered through a lack of long-term investment planning.”

Cllr Galley called on the Council leadership to publish full details of tram maintenance funding, reserve allocations and dividend payments received from Blackpool Transport since the tram upgrade project was completed.

He added: “Safety must always come first, but the public are entitled to know how we have reached a point where the national rail regulator has had to intervene.”

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member responsible for its relationship with wholly owned companies, said: “Having a council owned public transport company ensures that services people rely on to get to work and see family are accessible. Routes and frequencies are based on people’s needs not profit.

“We have invested significantly in Blackpool Transport to ensure they have the resources at their disposal to carry out maintenance and investment in the stock and keep people safe.

“A large proportion of the improvement notice relates to documentation and processes, along with how maintenance is reported, items which have been rectified. This isn’t about trams being left to rot, but making sure that the documentation around decisions is done properly.

“I have absolute faith in the new management at Blackpool Transport that the issue is being taken exceptionally seriously and sorted, and that new processes are in place.”