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Flexity 2 (Blackpool)
Flexity 2 (Blackpool)
	Flexity 2 tram #011 at Tower
	Interior
In service	2012–present
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Built at	Bautzen, Saxony, Germany; Vienna, Austria;
Family name	Flexity 2
Constructed	2010–2017
Entered service	3 April 2012
Number built	18
Number in service	18
Fleet numbers	001–018
Capacity	148 standing, 74 seated
Operators	Blackpool Transport
Depots	Starr Gate
Lines served	Blackpool–Fleetwood
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel side panels/Aluminium
Car length	32.23 m (105 ft 8+7⁄8 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Height	3.42 m (11 ft 2+5⁄8 in)
Floor height	320 mm (12.60 in)
Low-floor	100%
Doors	8 (4 double width, 4 single width)
Articulated sections	5 (four articulations)
Wheel diameter	600–540 mm (23.62–21.26 in) (new–worn)
Maximum speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
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);
Axle load	9.6 t (9.4 long tons; 10.6 short tons)
Steep gradient	60‰
Traction system	IGBT–VVVF (Bombardier MITRAC 500)
Traction motors	4 × 120 kW (160 hp) liquid-cooled 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output	480 kW (640 hp)
Acceleration	0.5 m/s2 (1.1 mph/s)
Deceleration	1.2 m/s2 (2.7 mph/s) (service); 2.73 m/s2 (6.1 mph/s) (emergency);
Electric system(s)	600 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′+2′+Bo′
Bogies	Bombardier FLEXX Urban 3000
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

In 2012, Blackpool Council ordered 16 Bombardier Flexity 2 trams for the Blackpool Tramway, becoming the worldwide launch customer for Bombardier Transportation's new design.^[2] The modern 100% low-floor trams replaced the Blackpool Tramway's tourist-focused and high maintenance heritage fleet, some of which have been retained with modifications for use as a supplementary fleet alongside the Flexity 2 trams and some for tourist services on the promenade.^[2] Blackpool's Flexity 2 trams are intended to be suitable for daily commuters and to provide a service competitive with other modes of transport and comply with legislation on accessibility for disabled users.^[2]^[3]

Two further Flexity 2 units (17 & 18) arrived on 1 and 15 December 2017, entering service on 4 March 2018.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Background

Blackpool Council placed the £33m order for the 16 Flexity 2 trams in July 2009, with funding from the council, Department for Transport and Lancashire County Council.^[7]^[8] The worldwide launch of the Flexity 2 family took place with the unveiling of the first Blackpool tram on 8 September 2011.^[3] They entered service on 4 April 2012.^[2]

Details

The Blackpool Flexity 2 trams are bi-directional five-section articulated tramcars.^[8] There are four doors on each side, two single sliding plug doors next to the driver cabs in the first and fifth cars and two double sliding plug doors in the centre of the second and fourth cars. They can accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs,^[3] with level boarding from low platforms which were built at stops ready for the introduction of the trams.^[2]

The trams have two powered Flexx Urban 3000 bogies^[8] in the centre of the first and fifth sections and an unpowered set in the centre car where the pantograph is also located. The trams use a 600 V overhead DC power supply, can negotiate a minimum curve radius of 25 m (82 ft 0 in) in service or 20 m (65 ft 7 in) at Starr Gate Depot and can tackle a maximum gradient of 6%. Although the Flexity 2 trams family's maximum speed is 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), the Blackpool trams are electronically limited to 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph).^{[citation needed]}

The middle and end of 2023 saw the introduction of Alstom’s collision and overspeed monitoring and prevention assistance system (COMPAS) being installed on some of the trams as part of a trial which will ultimately be implemented on all trams.^[9]

Livery

The final livery unveiled at the launch consists of white sides with black window surrounds and purple cabs, with a purple criss-cross pattern extending along the lower side panels. Some trams have advertisements on the sides instead of the average livery.

Maintenance

The Flexity 2 cars are maintained at a depot at Starr Gate which was purpose built by VolkerFitzpatrick,^[10] with input based on experience with tram depots elsewhere in Europe.^[2]

Fleet

Photo	Number	Notes
	001
	002	Named Alderman E.E Wynne^[11]
	003	Collided with a cyclist on 8 July 2013.^[12] Had an all-over advert livery for PrettyLittleThing^[13] but has since been removed.^[14]
	004
	005
	006	Ran the first journey with passengers on the first day of operations on 4 April 2012 but derailed in Fleetwood on the first journey back to Starr Gate.^[15]
	007	Damaged en route to Blackpool; subsequently involved in a collision with a car on 11 June 2013,^[16] and again on 11 January 2024 with another car near Harrow Place.^[17] Named Alan Whitbread^[18]
	008
	009
	010
	011
	012	Currently wearing an advertising livery for Blackpool Pleasure Beach^[19]
	013
	014	Involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Polo on 22 May 2012;^[20] returned to service on 26 May 2012^[21]
	015
	016	Has all-over advert livery for PrettyLittleThing.^[13]
	017
	018