Wednesday 27 January 2021

Coastliner Solos


Coastliner Buses has acquired its first two Optare Solos, both from Stagecoach North West. PX04DLV, was Stagecoach 47055 and was latterly at Kendal. It was new to Fleetwood depot in May 2004 branded for the Fylde Villager. Sister PX54EPF (47146) was new in November 2004 and has been based in Cumbria. It has already gone for repaint into Coastliner livery. (photos Philip Higgs)


Rigby Road Remodel

Blackpool Transport has submitted a planning application to remodel the 1980s built East Shed - the maintenance bay which backs onto coach park. Originally used for maintenance of the council refuse fleet on closure of their own facility on the opposite side of Rigby Road, this became part of the BTS facility when refuse was outsourced. 

The remodelled building will include a paint bay, a 2 bay body shop, tyre bay, two pits and six bay maintenance area plus stored and staff area. This will replace the existing paint and body shops and the stores - though no plans have been submitted to demolish these. Likewise the pit area in the bus depot will be redundant. The plans are viewable here 


Friday 1 January 2021

Coming Soon - The Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes


Early 2021 will see BLUE BUSES OF LYTHAM ST. ANNES published. Researched and written over 25 years, this tells the story of the introduction of buses by Lytham St. Annes Corporation in 1923 right through the Fylde era to the final takeover by Blackpool Transport in 1996. It is 248 pages, 350 photos (250 in colour) and will sell for £45. It will be available from the author (signed and numbered) with other retailers to be confirmed. If you want to know when it goes on sale, please use the contact form on the blog, or message me through Facebook.