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Blackpool promenade's heritage trams to return for Lightpool

Blackpool promenade's heritage trams to return for Lightpool

BBC News15-05-2025

Heritage trams are on track to reappear along Blackpool promenade later this year, the town's council has said. The old tram service was suspended in December 2024 because it was hard to run them alongside the modern fleet. Issues included a lack of depot space as well as safety and maintenance conflicts.Blackpool Council said it had agreed to undertake a "programme of works" with Blackpool Transport Services to allow the heritage trams to run out of the Starr Gate Depot again in time for October half-term's Lightpool Festival.Council leader Lynn Williams said: "I know many people have been concerned about the future of the trams and I hope this reassures them that their future is safe."
'Blackpool Illuminations'
She added: "I am delighted that a solution has been found that will enable these much-loved trams to be back where they belong on the promenade later this year."The Lightpool festival, which runs from 15 October to 1 November, is set to feature a series of light installations, live performances and 3D projection shows. Visitors and locals alike will be able to book tours on two "illuminated trams" - the Western Train and the Frigate - as well as on the Balloon tram. The heritage trams will then continue running for the rest of the Blackpool Illuminations season, which ends in January 2026. Blackpool Transport Services managing director Jane Cole said: "I am confident the plan we agreed is achievable and I look forward to welcoming customers back on-board in October."
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How budget airline baggage confusion triggered EU legal row
How budget airline baggage confusion triggered EU legal row

BBC News

time3 hours ago

  • BBC News

How budget airline baggage confusion triggered EU legal row

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JEFF PRESTRIDGE: NatWest leaves tourist hotspot without a single bank branch
JEFF PRESTRIDGE: NatWest leaves tourist hotspot without a single bank branch

Daily Mail​

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

JEFF PRESTRIDGE: NatWest leaves tourist hotspot without a single bank branch

A friend Chris recently spent a few days in the Lake District – I'm going up there myself for some walking and wild-swimming in a month's time and I can't wait. When he emailed to tell me how his trip had gone, he attached some pictures. Not of glorious mountains or stunning tarns, but of two bank premises – one rather pristine and the other long shut. I wasn't surprised. Chris knows all about my borderline fetish for bank branches, especially those housed (or previously housed) in magnificent buildings as befitting their once proud role as pillars of communities. 'Saw this strange sight on my trip,' he explained. 'It looked like an open branch of NatWest in a busy town but I might have been hallucinating.' Tongue in cheek, he added: 'I better not say where it is in case the head office hitmen realise it's still open and shut it.' Chris went on to say: 'The other building in the same town looked like an old bank but it was 'to let'. 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Bargain hunters go wild as the iconic M&S summer beauty bag is BACK in stock – it costs just £35 but is worth over £200
Bargain hunters go wild as the iconic M&S summer beauty bag is BACK in stock – it costs just £35 but is worth over £200

The Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Sun

Bargain hunters go wild as the iconic M&S summer beauty bag is BACK in stock – it costs just £35 but is worth over £200

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