343 Hits the Road

343 is in service for the first time today - seen in poor weather at Layton Square on the 1415 Grange Park to Lytham service 11 working.

The first of the ex Bus Vannin Tridents 343 (H1FBT) entered service this morning on route 11 (Lytham to Grange Park). It was withdrawn from service on the Island as 53 (EMN53Y) in July and since then has been refurbished and refronted by Bus and Coach World at Blackburn. 343 was allocated to service 14 this morning but developed a fault on its positioning run and returned to depot, but was passed fit to enter service on route 11 at around 9am, presumably as a change over to work the 0922 Rigby Road to Lytham journey.
Sisters 48, 50 and 51 are currently on site at Blackburn.

343 alongside one of the 1990s Blackpool Transport shelters, many of which have now been replaced

A number of unusual workings today have seen Olympians 368, 370-3 allocated to service 7 and four Excels operate service 17 including 211 and 219. Yesterday saw Excel 210 return to service on the 2/2C for the first time after repaint.