Blackpool Council has approved further borrowing by its subsidairy Blackpool Transport to upgrade its fleet. Recent upgrades have seen 35 new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 Cities join 10x 2015 Mercdedes Citaros. The plan is to acquire 72 further buses:
- 20 buses in October 2017 - these will be more double deckers for the winter rail replacement at a cost of £4,659k (£233k/bus)
- 4 buses in March 2018 at £934k (£233.5k/bus)
- 18 buses in October 2018 at £2,997k (£166.5k/bus) suggesting midibuses to replace the 22 Solos
- 15 buses in March 2019 at £3,558k (£237k/bus)
- 15 buses in March 2020 at £3.635k (£242k/bus)
The resulting fleet would comprise:
- 89 Double Deckers from 2016-2020
- 18 Midibuses from 2018
- 10 Single Decker Citaros from 2015
- 9 refurbished Single Decker Volvos from 2010
The fleet total would be 126 compared to the current service fleet of 132 reflecting improved efficiency from a new standardised fleet and would adequately cover the current 107 peak vehicle requirement. In addition to the 22 Solos; 32 Tridents, 19 DAFs and 5 Volvo B7RLEs are to leave the fleet.
