Friday 27 March 2020

Farewell Tridents

Yesterday 328 returned to depot as the final Trident to operate in service for Blackpool Transport after almost 18 years of use of the type with 30 bought new and 21 second hand. 310-317, 322-330 were the last to operate. Several have moved to Jacksons at Marton for storage today. Services today are in the hands of Palladium liveried buses. A reduced service will run next week due to the current situation. 

The 1 continues every 30 minutes as the tramway is closing; the 2 reduces to hourly off peak, still half hourly at other times. 3 and 4 will each by 1/2 hourly, 5 every 20 mins; 6, 9 and 11 reduced to 20 mins, 7 normal timetable and 14 every 15 mins. 17, 18 and 19 will run as normal. 

The new buses have now all arrived, the last (586) arriving yesterday. Identities are:
572 YX20OFA
573 YX20OFB
574 YX20OFC
575 YX20OFD
576 YX20OFE
577 YX20OFG
578 YX20OFH
579 YX20OFJ
580 YX20OFK
581 YX20OFL
582 YX20OFM
583 YX20OFN
584 YX20OFO
585 YX20OFP
586 YX20OFR
456 SK20AUK
457 SK20AUO
458 SK20AUP
459 SK20AUT

Sunday 1 March 2020

New Buses and other news

The latest order from Alexander Dennis for Blackpool is nearly ready for delivery. One of the four E400s has been noticed on test at Falkirk. It is registered SK20AUT. The first of the 15 Enviro 200 single deckers is registered YK20OFA. 

These are expected to replace the last Tridents - of which 18 remain. The 8 remaining Plaxton Centro bodied Volvos are now expected to be retained as a live reserve fleet to provide extra fleet capacity for rail replacement work. In practise these are likely to run on service work with newer buses working the rail replacement.

The most recent rail replacement saw services from Preston to Accrington and Blackburn to Hebden Bridge during the recent 'blockade' between Blackburn and Accrington in February half term. The Accrington buses ran all week using E400s, the Hebden Bridge work was mainly weekends and tended to use Citaros due to a low bridge en route.

Another Volvo B7 has reached its new owner with 521 now in service in Salisbury with AC Travel. Also not previously reported is that Solo 243 has emerged with Hulley's of Baslow in their smart blue and cream livery. 522 has emerged at Hunts, Alford and 523 with Paul Winson, Loughborough.