These are also the two surviving first-generation town tramways in the UK, though the majority of services on the line have since 2012 been operated by a fleet of modern Bombardier Flexity 2 trams.

Excluding museums, it is one of only a few tramways in the world to still use double-deck trams, the others including Hong Kong and Alexandria, Egypt.

A 'heritage service' using the traditional trams operates year-round on weekends, certain weekdays and bank holidays, as well as during the Blackpool Illuminations.

The inauguration was presided over by Holroyd Smith, the inventor of the system and Alderman Harwood, the Mayor of Manchester.

Another problem was that electrical resistance was greater than anticipated and the voltage in portions of the conduit was far less than that generated at Blundell Street – 230 V dropped to 210 V at the junction with the main line on the Promenade, 185 V at Cocker Street and 168 V at South Pier (then Victoria Pier).

In 1900, the line was extended north to Gynn Square where it linked up with the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad.

[7] In 1920, Blackpool Corporation took over the tramroad, gaining 8 miles (13 km) of track and three depots, two in Fleetwood and one in Bispham.

[7] In the 1930s, manager Walter Luff, as part of a five-year plan for modernisation, introduced a fleet of modern streamlined tramcars including the enclosed Railcoaches, the single-deck open-topped Open Boats and the English Electric double-deck Luxury Dreadnoughts (later known as 'Balloons').

)[9] During the 1970s, the tramway was struggling to remain open, so one-person-operated (OMO) tramcars were developed in order to reduce costs.

Advertising on Blackpool tramcars first appeared on the Conduit cars in the early years of the tramway, with upper deck decency panels utilised for this purpose.

Some trams such as the Blackpool and Fleetwood Racks and Boxes had side panels fitted to the roof for advertising purposes.

Following the Government's pledge in 2000 to build 25 new tram networks by 2010,[11] a £1 billion bid for a Government grant was launched by Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council in 2002 to expand the tram network to St Annes to the south and new housing estates in Fleetwood to the north, with a possible further phase to Poulton-le-Fylde and Thornton.

[12] For the first time the entire tramway was closed in November 2007 for five months of essential repair work, the second phase of an £11.8 million upgrade.

[13] In January 2007, the City Class 611 prototype "supertram" was being tested on the tramway when it caught fire as it approached Central Pier, causing extensive damage.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch report stated that the derailment was due to wear and tear on the track with a contributory factor being the new type of running gear on the tram.

[13] On 1 February 2008, it was announced that the Government had agreed to the joint BTS and Blackpool Council bid for funding toward the total upgrade of the track.

The Government's decision meant that the entire tramway was upgraded and 16 Bombardier Flexity 2 trams replaced the fleet in 2012.

An extension of the tramway along Talbot Road to Blackpool North railway station opened on 12 June 2024 following several delays.

Enabling for the extension began on 6 November 2017,[19] with the demolition of a homeware store in September 2020 to make way for the terminus and testing beginning on 16 March 2022.

However, the management of Blackpool Transport confirmed that this is a temporary measure and the service is not suspended indefinitely and operations will return sometime in 2025.

[24][25] The tramway runs from Starr Gate in Blackpool in the south, to the Ferry Terminus in Fleetwood in the north, mostly along the Fylde Coast sea front, turning inland at Cleveleys for the last few miles before ending at the coast in Fleetwood.

[26] There are four loops: at Starr Gate (although not generally used during service), opposite the Pleasure Beach, Little Bispham and Fleetwood, as well as links to Rigby Road Depot.

A 'heritage service' provided by unmodified, traditional trams usually runs on select weekdays, weekends, bank holidays and summer months, as well as on tours during the illuminations.

Two further Flexity 2 units, numbered 017 and 018, arrived on 1 and 15 December 2017 respectively after being ordered to assist with service demands when the extension to Blackpool North railway station opens.

[41] There are two active depots: There were five further depots that are now closed, mainly demolished: Tickets are purchased from the conductor on board,[46] with daily, three-day, seven-day and monthly 'saver' tickets also available, which can be used on trams (excluding heritage trams) and Blackpool Transport buses.

[47] Heritage tram tickets are available for a round trip tour between Pleasure Beach and Cabin.

[55] In a 1989 episode of the television soap opera Coronation Street, character Alan Bradley was killed when he was hit by a Bispham-bound tram outside the Strand Hotel on North Promenade.