Derailment and crash alert for resort's trams

POLITICIANS have called for urgent answers following safety concerns over Blackpool's trams.

- BY CHRIS RICHES

The Office of Rail and Road watchdog identified a potential risk of “derailment or collision” linked to worn bogie wheel components, and ordered urgent repairs.

Paul Galley, who leads the Tory opposition on the resort’s Labour-run council, asked if proper maintenance investment had been prioritised.

He said: “In 2009 the government provided Blackpool with more than £68million to completely modernise the tramway system. A key part of that long-term investment plan was ensuring the trams were properly maintained and that funding was set aside for renewal and ongoing upkeep.