Blackpool Transport has returned to the LCC bus service market with the award of the new 74 and revised 75 from 19th July. This is part of a significant uplift in tendered buses following additional funding awarded by DFT supplemented by new funding from LCC's own budget. It is understood long wheelbase Enviro 200s are to be used, at least initially as smaller ones would be more suitable for the route and loadings.
The 75 is hourly Preston to Fleetwood and is currently run by Preston Bus. It will be diverted in Kirkham to run via Kirkham Station, Weeton, Staining, Staining Road, Normoss Road, Longhouse Lane to Hardhorn then as the current route to Poulton then onto Fleetwood via Thornton, Cleveleys and Pheasants Wood. A 2 hourly Sunday service will be introduced on the 75.
The 74 replaces Coastal's 77/A between Preston and Great Eccleston and Poulton (albeit with a different route via the Docks and Lea in Preston) then follows the 75 to Thornton (except serving Lambs Road and Sunningdale Drive). It then runs via Lawson Road, Fleetwood Road, Broadwater, Hatfield Road to Fleetwood. Both routes terminate at Asda returning via Albert Square. It is hourly Mon-Sat and two hourly Sundays.
Seven buses are needed Monday to Saturday. Blackpool's last LCC contract was the 840 and 649 schools which ended in April 2015 - though they did contribute to the Northern Circular 12/13 until April 2016.
Coastal services will change with the 77/77A withdrawn. The 76 will be extended to start at St. Annes and run via St Albans Road, Church Road, St Thomas Road, Clifton Drive to Lytham then as current via Warton, Wrea Green to Kirkham then it would follow the current 75 route via Great Plumpton and Weeton Camp to Singleton then via Catlows Corner, Garstang Road to Poulton then as normal route to Blackpool. The 78 will be extended from Wesham to Great Eccleston to replace that section of the 76.
