Tram Injuries Double In Blackpool In Five Years

Tram incidents resulting in injuries more than doubled in Blackpool between 2015 and 2019, rising from 12 to 22 injuries.

2018/19 saw a peak of 22 injuries, up from 17 in 2017/18, and 13 in 2016/17. The fewest injuries happened in 2015/16, while 2019/20 has had 15 injuries, as of January 2020.

This development follows recent announcements by the council of tram expansion into the town centre. The proposed expansion would go through Talbot Road via the North Pier junction, an already very tourist-heavy area.

A recent Freedom of Information request submitted to Blackpool Council by the media literacy charity The Student View revealed the new figures.

In August 2019, a 14-year-old boy was seriously injured after falling under a tram while cycling on the tramway during a family event. The Huffington Post reported that he sustained “serious injuries, particularly to his hips, pelvis, and legs.”

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: “The tramway extension is being built along a single road in the town centre which has always been used as a main highway. As with all of our highways schemes the safety of users is paramount. When the tramway is opened all appropriate signage and safety measures will be in place.”

Why did students choose to cover this story?

Zac and Fatima, both 13, from Blackpool, said: “The trams in Blackpool are a massive mode of transport used daily by hundreds of people. This issue is important due to the fact that tram injuries have increased immensely over the past five years, yet the council are expanding these routes without addressing this significant problem.”

How did the story make our journalists feel?

“This data was extremely surprising to us because we didn’t anticipate this dramatic increase in injuries involving trams.”