05/06/2026
🔧♿ A major milestone for Blackpool 645! ♿🔧
After well over a year in the planning, this week saw a huge step forward in our Access Tram project as the brand-new wheelchair lift was successfully installed in Blackpool 645! 🎉
The team from Passenger Lift Solutions Ltd. arrived on site on Tuesday and quickly got to work. The first challenge was getting the lift from the van to the tram, with a pallet truck used to carefully manoeuvre it into position before it was guided through the doorway and fitted into place.
Once secured, the electrics and hydraulics were connected, and the lift was powered up for the first time. ⚡
Then came the exciting part... testing! 👀
The lift successfully handled a 300kg test load (the same threshold used for buses) before correctly detecting and stopping when an additional 75kg overload was added – exactly as designed. ✅
Remarkably, the entire installation and testing process took just seven hours. Even Tony from PLS said fitting a passenger lift into a tram was a first for him!
A huge thank you to the team at Passenger Lift Solutions for their expertise, professionalism and problem-solving throughout the project. 👏
🚋 What's next for Blackpool 645?
⚙️ Reassembly of the trucks
🔧 Return of the motors and axles from overhaul at Dorlec Ltd
🪟 Window fitting
🎨 Painting in its new livery
Every stage brings us one step closer to seeing Blackpool 645 back in service and helping make tram travel at the museum more accessible than ever before. This tram will allow wheelchair users and those with limited mobility to ride alongside family and friends, making it a tram for everyone.
Take a look at the video below to see this unique installation in action – it's not every day you get to watch a tram being fitted with a passenger lift! 👇🚋♿
