On 13 January Poulton based Archway Travel starts a replacement for service 80 cancelled by Classic Bus North West after less than two weeks operation.
The new route has a more limited timetable and is understood to be commercially operate. On Monday to Friday it starts with a 0620 Poulton to Preston, followed by departures from Blackpool to Preston at 0700, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1600 and 1800 with short workings to Poulton at 1000 and 1850. Departures from Preston to Blackpool are at 0730, 0830, 1030, 1330, 1630, 1730 and a trip at 1930 to Preston. 2 buses are required. On Saturdays one bus operates at 0700, 1000, 1400 from Blackpool (and 1700 Blackpool to Poulton) plus 830 and 1530 Preston to Blackpool and 1130 Preston to Poulton.
Yellow painted Dennis Darts have been acquired including X503WRG from Go North East. Archway has been a provider of school services for many years - in 1995 it had a brief foray into local bus work providing service P11 from Poulton to Carleton, later extended to Victoria Hospital via Bispham - prompting a response from Blue Buses and eventual withdrawal of the P11.
