Oakwood Update

Oakwood Travel introduced service 12 on Good Friday, so far operating weekends and bank holidays only Pleasure Beach to Gynn Square, but it is expected to be extended to Cleveleys with daily operation at the end of May. So far the sole Routemaster RML887 has seen service on Sunday and Monday with Dart 145, Volvo B10M 898 and Olympian 325 also noted in service. 

The Red Rocket Express has been put back to 3 May.

Two more ex Stagecoach Alexander bodied Darts have arrived R356LER - new to Stagecoach Cambus and X617JCS - new to Stagecoach Western. 356 is currently under repaint. The new Cardiff bus inspired orange and green livery has made its debut with ex Harrogate & District W601CWX re-entering service on route 22 on 17 April. Darts 143 and 163 have yet to return to use.

Privately owned Olympian P915RLO which was on loan to Classic Bus and Oakwood Travel until February has been sold to English Riviera Sightseeing, Torquay.

Delta returns to the road

Preserved Delta 133 has now had the finishing touches of fleetnames, numbers and blinds added and has returned to the road making its preservation debut at Kirkby Stephen today and tomorrow

A nearside view of the new to Fylde Delta 

133's rear shows the familar Optare design lines above and below the window - the upper one broken by the installation of  a rear number blind at its 2000 refurbishment

133 is shortly to return to the Fylde coast (all four above Gary Conn)

133 on its first day in use after restoration, operating the vintage bus service at the Kirkby Stephen rally (David Umpleby)

Leylands from Preston to Blackpool

Tuesday will see Preston Bus commence operation of six school services from the yard of Jackson's Coaches on Burton Road, Blackpool. Last week six of their fleet of ten Leyland Olympians moved in comprising:

42551 H101BFR - Northern Counties body
42553 H103BFR - Northern Counties body
42554 H104BFR - Northern Counties body
42556 J976PRW - Leyland body
42560 J110KCW - Leyland body
42562 J112KCW - Leyland body

Here there sextet are lined up in their new home.

Preston Bus has also emerged as the operator of bus service 80 (Preston to Myrescough College) rather than Avacoach as previously advised.

Route 20 [corrected]

Route 20 resumes on Good Friday 18 April operating on a reduced route and frequency. After last year's extension to Pleasure Beach the service has reverted to the Corporation to Zoo route with a 45 minute interval using two buses but with a gap mid afternoon.

Buses from Marton Mere  every 45 minutes from 0930 to 1445 and 1615 to 1915
Buses from Corporation Street every 45 minutes from 1015 to 1400 and 1530 to 1915.

It is presumed double deckers will be used as the Resort Pass Solos were barely used on the route during 2013. A minor route change sees buses operate via Beech Avenue and Newton Drive, rather than North Park Drive which will at least remove the challenging turn onto East Park Drive near the Hospital.

Days of operation are:
Every weekend 18 April to 9 November.
Daily 18 April-27 April; 24 May until 1 June, 19 July-31 August, 25 October to 2 November.

Oakwood Update

Classic Bus Dart 143 on completion of its repaint at a temporary facility in the former Cumfybus depot at Poulton (David Umpleby)

Oakwood Travel has introduce a new livery for its core Catch 22 service featuring orange and green inspired by Cardiff Bus. Dart 143 has been the first bus repainted, followed by 163. Both have been out of use since September. Sister 162 has returned to use after a complete rewire having suffered major problems with reliability since purchase. Fleet disposals have seen Olympian 915 return to its owner and RM1568 sold. Defective Metrorider 502 has been scrapped and VR 360 sold for preservation. Former London United Volvo B7TL VA103 has arrived for evaluation.

Red Rocket resumes at Easter with departures from Blackpool at 0900, 1030, 1500 and 1830 with all but the 1500 serving the Trafford Centre. The four return journeys from Manchester are at 1030, 1500, 1630 and 2000 all via the Trafford Centre. The 1030 from Manchester will extend to Pleasure Beach and the 1830 start there.

Seafront 12 resumes on 18 April with a 20 minute daytime service between Pleasure Beach and Cabin.

Oakwood are undertaking work on several LTT buses with Routemaster 521, Ribble VR 1997, Ribble RE 366, Blackpool Swift 570, Atlantean 334 and City Pacer 575. 

Oakwood Fleet List March 2014

No	Reg	Chassis	Body	Livery	Origins
69	F69SYE	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML81 11/88
143	T143AUA	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
145	T145AUA	Dennis Dart	Alexander	Red	Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
162	V162MVX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red	Stagecoach East London 12/99
163	V163MVX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	New Catch 22	Stagecoach East London 12/99
269	P269PSX	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Pleasure Beach advert	Lothian Buses 269
325	N325NHG	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Gazette advert	Dublin Bus RA272
326	F326UJN	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML77 10/88
512	X512UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red/Grey	London United DP512 11/2000
533	X533UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red/Grey	London United DP513 11/2000
601	W601CWX	Volvo B6BLE	Wright	Harrogate	Harrogate & District 6/2000
611	W611CWX	Volvo B6BLE	Wright	Harrogate	Harrogate & District 6/2000
652	Y652NLO	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red	Metroline, London DLD182 6/2001
701	XAU701Y	Leyland Olympian	ECW	Pleasure Beach advert	Trent 3/83
898	R898XVM	Volvo B10M	Alexander	Red	Stagecoach Manchester
MAL41	BD52LNU	Mercedes Citaro	Mercedes	Red	Go Ahead London
MAL49	BD52LNF	Mercedes Citaro	Mercedes	Red	Go Ahead London
MAL53	BL52ODK	Mercedes Citaro	Mercedes	Red	Go Ahead London
RML887	202UXJ	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	Red	London Transport (Cummins Engine)

More on the Villager Changes

Further changes have now been confirmed for the tendered Fylde Villager network and other routes

• 75 (Preston Bus) confirmed as replacing 82 to Fleetwood and diverted via Riversway/Chain Caul Way rather than Lea in Preston
• 76 (Coastal) confirmed as replacing 75 route Poulton to Blackpool. Terminal loop introduced in St. Annes. Buses to St. Annes now run direct via Clifton Drive South, returning via Crescent, St Davids Road South and St Thomas Road back to Clifton Drive (currently buses run via St. Thomas Road, Church Road, St. Albans Road, St Patricks Road South)
• 80 (Avacoach) - new service to replace withdrawn Archway route from Preston to Great Eccleston (as current route) then to Myrecough College every 2 hours
• 82 (Stagecoach) - withdrawn
• 84 (Stagecoach) - retimed on Sunday to connect with 75
• 86 (Stagecoach) - evening journeys diverted via Thornton/Little Thornton as 86A (reinstating former route)
• 87 (Elite) - extended to Holts Lane via Hardhorn Road, Beech Drive, Carr Head Lane, Main Drive, Brockholes Crescent, Holts Lane and back via Lower Green - also re-routed direct from Castle Gardens to Poulton via Tithebarn St (not via Carelton Crossing) and in Thornton to run via Victoria Road East, Meadows Avenue, Linden Avenue, Tennyson Avenue and Marsh Road; and in Stanah via Hillylaid Road throughout (not Dianne Road/Oxendale Avenue

Changes take place form 30/31 March, save for service 80 which is introduced on 14 April.

Fylde Village Changes Yet Again

In their latest tender awards, Lancashire County Council have announced revisions to the 75 (Preston Bus) and 76 (Coastal Coaches) from 30 March with a short term contract until the end of October. These replace the short term contracts for the 75 and 82.

Route 75 will be diverted to Fleetwood following the 82 route from Poulton via Little Thornton, Thornton Centre, Broadwater and Queens Hotel. It remains hourly with a 2 hourly evening service Poulton to Fleetwood only.

Route 76 will extend from Little Eccleston to Blackpool via Catlows Corner, Poulton, Blackpool Old Road, Victoria Hospital and Grange Road.

Meanwhile Archway will withdraw their 80 route from 14 April. It is not clear yet whether LCC will procure a replacement.

Preston Bus Expands into Fylde Coast Schools

Rotala owned Preston Bus is set to expand its Fylde Coast presence with the award of six school bus contracts to Hogdson Academy and Baines High School in Poulton, St Aidans School in Preesall and Millfield School in Thornton. Poulton based Archway seems particularly affected with 7 routes lost, 1 retained and 2 new ones won. Blackpool Transport has also lost two routes.
Preston Bus have arranged an operating base at Jacksons Coaches in Marton - once used by Blackburn Transport for similar purposes.

Many of these school services were held by Fylde during the 1990s but passed to independents after Fylde's takeover by Blackpool Transport. Most school contracts are currently in the hands of

• Archway of Poulton with a fleet of 26 vehicles including 7 Olympians, 2 Dennis Arrows, 2 Volvo B10M single deckers and several coaches including high capacity 70 seaters.
• Bank View of Freckelton with Olympian and large capacity Metrobus and Dennis Condor double deckers
• Waltons of Freckleton mainly coaches but with 4 Optare Spectra double deckers
• Bradshaws of Out Rawclife - coaches

Check in 1st of Westby ceased trading in the autumn with Archway and Bank View taking over their two Myrescough College workings.

School Service changes 22 April 2014

Number	Route	Current Operator	New Operator
525	Elswick to Cardinall Allen	Archway	Elite Minibus And Coach Services
539	Carleton Crossing to Preesall St Aidans	Archway	Bradshaws Travel
543	Pilling to Preesall St Aidans	Bradshaws Travel	Bradshaws Travel
546	Cleveleys to Hodgson School	Blackpool Transport	Preston Bus
568	Thornton to Millfield School	n/a	Preston Bus
578	Kirkham-Treales-Kirkham Carr Hill	Bank View	Archway
579	Stakepool to Cardinal Allen	Elite Minibus And Coach Services	Elite Minibus And Coach Services
590	Stakepool to Preesall St Aidans	Bradshaws Travel	Wyre Coaches
594	Staining to Hodgson HS	Archway	Preston Bus
598	Clifton to Lytham St Bedes	Bank View	Bank View
607	Thistleton to St Marys Blackpool	Archway	Archway
648	Fleetwood to Hodgson/Baines	Archway	Preston Bus
660	Cleveleys to Hodgson School	Archway	Preston Bus
675	Elswick to Broughton BEC	Bon Chaunce	Archway
841	Fleetwood to Preesall St Aidans	Archway	Bradshaws Travel
916	St Annes Kilgrimol Gardens to St Bedes	Blackpool Transport	Bank View
951	Fleetwood (Larkholme) to Preesall St Aidans	Archway	Preston Bus

Hospital Terminus Illustrated

Excel 216 and Solo 286 at the new Hospital Entrance terminus at Victoria Hospital. Behind is the new Multi story car park.  This location was previously part of the through road - since the 1990s buses have past here and turned left (at the photographers right) to the Maternity Unit. However this is now a dead end with a roundabout to the left so buses can reach the old entrance. The orbital road served by the 16 turns off at the far left of the photo behind the Solo and runs behind the car park.

New Terminus at Victoria Hospital

Monday 10th March sees a minor route change to the 2, 2C and 5 to serve new bus stops on Whinney Heys Lane outside the new main entrance of Victoria Hosptial. The traditional terminus on Whinpark Avenue will continue to be served but merely as a stop on the way out of the Hospital site. 

Meanwhile routes 5, 10, 11 and 68 have resumed their diversion away from Skew Bridge on Lytham Road as it is closed between 10 March and 4 July.

Repaints

Solo 279 and Trident 313 have been outshopped in fleet livery completing the first round of repaints and eradicating Metro livery and commercial all-over adverts. Solo 293 is now in paint - this being one of the first repaints out of Metro in August 2010 and starts the second round of repaints into the current livery.

The other two buses still in pool livery 281 and 282 have been placed into store, alongside 280 which was stored in November 2012. This latter received various efforts to overhaul it during 2013 but these have come to nothing.

New Bus Lane Opens

The contraflow bus lane on Central Drive between Albert Road and Reads Avenue opened on Sunday 2 March. Blackpool Transport services 5, 7, 14 and 17 have been re-routed via the new Bus Lane as has Oakwood Travel's 22 and Stagecoach 68. Meanwhile Blackpool Transport 10 has been re-routed via Adelaide St, Bank Hey St, Albert Road, Coronation Street, Reads Avenue, Central Drive and Rigby Road to provide a token hourly service via the otherwise abandoned Coronation Street.

Following on from the remodelling of the road layout and reintroduction of two-way operation on Talbot Road and Dickson Road last year this ends another decades old one way operation, this one implemented way back in 1966 when services 4 (Mereside via Bloomfield Road and Penrose Ave), 6 (Mereside via Spen Corner and Cherry Tree Road), 6A/6B (Midgeland Road), 11/11A (Lytham), 11C (St. Annes Square), 13 (Lindale Gardens), 22 (Halfway House), 23 (Midgeland Road) and 23A (South Pier) were diverted away from Central Drive.

Villager Changes

A number of minor changes are being made to the Fylde and Wyre Village network firstly on Sunday 23 February route 75 will readopt part of its pre December route between Singleton and Poulton via Fairfield Road and Hardhorn Road - this reinstates service lost in this area when CBNW ceased its short lived service 80 - though does not serve Holts Lane.

On the same date Stagecoach route 86 (Fleetwood to Knott End) will also be re-routed between Four Lane Ends, Thornton and Mains Lane to run via Fleetwood Road South and Amounderness Way rather than via Little Thornton. This is due to expected delays on Mains Lane due to long term utility works.

Finally Archway will revise and reduced their commercial service 80 from 31 March diverting the service to start at Fleetwood rather than Blackpool with just three journeys each way at 0700, 1130 and 1530 from Fleetwood and 0930, 1330 and 1730 from Preston. Not previously noted is that the Archway 80 differs from the CBNW route as it serves St Walburgas Road and Blackpool Old Road from Victoria Hospital to Poulton rather than Newton Drive/Hardhorn Road and then via Holts Lane and Garstang Road to Catlows Corner rather than Breck Road/Mains Lane.

LCC has also announced that the proposed withdrawal of funding for evening and Sunday services has been shelved in favour of a structured review of each tendered service.

Meanwhile Blackpool Transport 314 has returned to use in full fleet livery with new logo having lost its Sealife Centre advert. Excels 214/5 are back in use with 212 remaining in store.

Citaro Demonstrator

Blackpool Transport has been operating a Euro VI specificaton Mercedes Benz Citaro demonstrator on route 1 this week. BG63VVE is the third Citaro tried by Blackpool Transport following BN09FWS in September 2009 and BX05UVX in November 2006. 


Click here for link to Flick (cJono Niblock)

January Round Up

Blackpool Transport Trident 310 is back in service after a lengthy lay-off following fire damage sustained in April 2012. Sister bus 312 is also back in use after repaint sporting a new style logo - rather ruining the near uniformity of the fleet!

Oakwood Travel - the successor to Classic Bus North West- has placed Volvo B6 W601CWX into service, replacing sister W611CWX which has gone for repaint. Darts T143AUA and V162/3MVX have been in store for some months but are understood to be candidates for a return to use. Metrorider P502UFR has been sold for scrap having been last used on 4 April 2013 when it suffered engine failure.