Tram operator given 17 days for urgent repairs

A tram operator has been ordered to carry out urgent repairs within 17 days, after safety concerns were raised by the rail watchdog.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said there was a risk of "derailment or collision" of Blackpool's trams, linked to worn components known as bogies. It said the repairs had to be carried out by 19 June.

Blackpool Transport said safety had always been its top priority and it had already made improvements.

It noted the regulator had pointed out "shortcomings" in the tram operator's "documentation".

A notice by ORR inspector Lindsey Pyke to Blackpool Transport said: "You have failed to take so far as is reasonably practicable appropriate measures to control and mitigate known risks associated with bogie degradation which could give rise to derailment or collision."

Pyke added: "I require you to remedy those said contraventions, or as the case may be, the matters occasioning them, by 19 June 2026 and I direct that the measures specified in the schedule which forms part of this Notice shall be taken to remedy those contraventions or matters."

In response, Blackpool Transport said: "Working closely with the ORR, we have already made improvements to our maintenance reporting processes, primarily, the way risks and associated mitigation measures are documented.

"While the Improvement Notice identified shortcomings in documentation associated with some specific repairs, we would like to assure customers that safety has always been our top priority, with appropriate measures put into place to address any potential risks.

"We will also continue to work with the ORR, suppliers, industry partners, and other key stakeholders to ensure trams remain one of the safest forms of public transport."

The fleet of Bombardier Flexity 2 trams have been in operation since 2012.

The Blackpool tramway rolling stock was manufactured by Bombardier (now part of Alstom) at its sites in Bautzen, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, between 2010 and 2017.

A spokesman for Alstom said: "We're not aware of any specific risks associated with bogies produced by us.

"But, in general, they are subject to continuous wear, stress and environmental exposure, and must be maintained within strict intervals to preserve safety and reliability.

"With other customers - such as Nottingham Express Transist (NET) - we offer servicing and maintenance, however Blackpool Transport does theirs in-house."

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