Cleaner Tridents

The Eagle eyed will have noticed many of the new to Blackpool Dennis Tridents now have additional ventilation grills on their engine cover and also an adblue filler on the offside. 24 buses (306-317 and 319, 322-332) have been modified with new exhaust treatment to reduce emissions complemented by an Avid Mirco Hybrid fan system replacing the existing cooling system

New Deckers Delivered

The first of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City double deckers has now arrived with SN16OVC noted on delivery on Thursday 23rd and SN16OVB and OVD on Friday 24th. Here OVB leads OVD from Alexander Dennis in Falkirk (Gordon Scott)

SN16OVD shows off its stylish lines. SN16OVG has also been observed on test in Falkirk. (Gordon Scott)

SN16OVG shows off its rear profile. (Gordon Scott)

Blackpool Transport News Update

Minor service changes are due from Sunday 10 July. The most significant affects route 9 with the Hospital extension replaced by a diversion at Crossley's Bridge via St. Walburgas Road to the Hospital then as present via Newton Drive to Town Centre. These journeys will show 9A and run every 30 minutes daytime and hourly evenings and Sundays.

Other minor changes include extra early morning journeys on 7, 11 and 14 and a minor retiming of the 2C. These include an 0455 Fleetwood to Mereside 14, an 0453 and 0538 Lytham to Grange Park 11 and 7s at 0514 and 0544 from Cleveleys

Fleetwise the fourth refurbished Centro, 530, returned on Tuesday and entered service on Saturday 18th June, sister 533 has gone away in its place. 331 is now in the paint shop losing its Tower Dungeon advert.

The new Enviro 400 City double deckers for the 9 and 9A are in progress at the manufacturers, with occasional progress pictures appearing on the BTS Facebook and Twitter pages. A few examples are here:

• Chassis
• Bodywork
• Under repaint
• Upper Deck

By contast, the final Atlantean 364 is nearing the completion of a repaint into its original livery ahead of a return to use as part of the heritage operation. Privaetly owned PD3 501 continues to make occasional uses alongside BTS Olympian 857 on private hires, especially for weddings.

Route 20 returns

Saturday was the first day of the reintroduced service 20 from Tower to Marton Mere via Stanley Park and Zoo. 328 was one of three double deckers used and is seen on this dull wet afternoon at Park Gates stop, while Solo 245 passes on the South Circular. Curiously the 20 has been timed close to the 15 and 16. with its departures from the Zoo to town at 03/33 - four minutes ahead of the 16, while both the 15 and 20 pass Stanley Park at 11/41 having left Town at 00/30 (albeit different termini). This is somewhat odd as a 15 minute service could easily have been achieved. (Paul Turner)

Veterans in Camera

Optare Excel 220 heads through Layton to Grange Park with Layton Cemetery behind 7 June 2016 (all Paul Turner)

Olympian 377 awaiting rescue having failed at the traffic lights adjacent to Victoria Hospital on 7 June 2016

Olympian 377  with bonnet raised as clue to approaching traffic that its not going anywhere fast! 

Unusual Workings

Impending demise tends to lead to a last stand. Volvo Olympian 374 duly worked a full day on routes 10/17 (Poulton to St. Annes) on Thursday 2nd June.

A couple of Citaros have escaped from their usual home on the 5 and 9 - with one (believed 552) seen on the 7 recently and 555 working route 11 on Tuesday last week. 

Update: Monday 6th saw Citaro 552 working the 0900 2C from Knott End to Blackpool.