It’s time to tell the emperor about his new clothes

Philip Higgs asks whether plans to modernise the historic Blackpool tramway could lead to its untimely downfall

About 10 years ago, Blackpool realised that its tramway was falling apart, quite literally. The track was knackered, the electrical infrastructure north of Cleveleys had never been touched and the depot infrastructure was tired. The solution? Submit ambitious plans to upgrade into a modern super-tramway with fully accessible contemporary trams, new track and infrastructure. Many high tides later, Blackpool secured the £85m it needs for a full upgrade of the existing tramway, including a...

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