How the tram stop could look on Deepdale Street

A small stretch of the former Longridge to Preston train line may return as a ‘pilot’ for the long-mooted tram system in the city.

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Preston Trampower has re-tabled its proposals to build a tram shed on the site of a former coal shed in Deepdale.

A section of the line from Skeffington Road to Deepdale Street/Fletcher Road would be reinstated.

Plans from the tram operators state “as a pilot scheme, the development will not involved the transfer of passengers.

“The modus operandus will be in staff training and raising public awareness.

“A single tram will operate on site and members of the public will occasionally be invited to ride on the tram as part of the awareness raising process.”

An artists impression of how the tram stop on Deepdale Street would look

Proposals include bringing an old railway crossing back into use in Deepdale Mill Street, with traffic signals introduced to make vehicles wait while trams pass.

In early 2015 the same proposals for the test tram line were refused by the city council’s planning committee.

They threw out the plans saying it would place the safety of pedestrians at risk, as well as increasing the noise for residents within the area.

Professor Lewis Lesley, one of the men behind the Trampower firm, said: “We have been very careful to address all the issues the officers used to recommend refusal last year.

“This time we have a tram depot as part of the application. Without this, tram operation is not possible.”

Earlier in March it was announced by Pre Metro Operations they had signed an agreement to provide six trams for the Preston tram network.

Related: A brief history of Preston’s former tram network

Preston City Council is now consulting on the proposals, with the public able to add their views.

The full plans are available to view on the city council website and comments can be left on the website.

Comments can also be made by emailing devcon@preston.gov.uk quoting reference 06/2016/0208 by Sunday 10 April.

What do you think of the tram plans? Do you live in the area? Let us know in the comments below