News Round Up

It has been a quiet few months in Blackpool. The 'survivors' page has been updated. The original batch of Solos has shrunk further. 267 is now out of use with Blackpool Council, 269, 271, 272 and 273 are on SORN. 276 remains in preservation with Matt Lodge and has recently moved storage locations. Update: Matt Lodge has reported 271 has been scrapped and Blackpool Council sold 267 in August 2019.

The Lifestyle Line examples are also now eradicated from service, with 282 last used with Huw's Caernarfon in 2020. Many of the others still operate. The six which went to Newbury & District and ended up with Reading Buses after a takeover have moved on in pairs. 251 and 260 went to Hunt's of Alford, 252 and 256 to Hulleys of Baslow and 254/8 to Chartwell Bus & Coach Sales. Sadly 256 was destroyed by fire at Hulleys a few days ago. 252 is a spares donor - they also have ex Blackpool 243 and 287.

Tanat Valley have finished with their Tridents - 343 has not been traced while 344/6 are at British Ironworks, Oswestry for site tours.

Blackpool Transport still have Tridents 314/5 in store at Rigby Road - with trainers 973/4 also on SORN. Sister 975 has not been traced since disposal to Archway -  it no longer appears under its registration on the DVLA site so may well have been re-registered.

More E400s have rear end adverts with both 408 and 458 advertising Blackpool Better Start and Citaro 553 has an advert for Wyre council.

Blackpool Bus Centenary

Blackpool Transport has announced a weekend of events from 2nd to 4th July to mark 100 years of Blackpool’s buses.

Friday 2nd July

75 minute heritage bus tours 1400, 1600 and 1800 from Blundell Street which covers the original route Cleveleys to Thornton £3 with pre booking required.

Saturday 3rd July

1000 - parade of buses from Starr Gate to North Pier with up to 20 buses involved.

1200-1600 10 buses on display on Tower Headland

1200-1800 free bus service on route 1 Pleasure Beach to Gynn Square every 15 minutes

1900-2300 Beer and Buses run by FTT between Talbot Square and Poulton via Castle Gardens (1900-2230 from Talbot Square and 1930-2300 from Poulton)

Sunday 4th July

75 minute heritage bus tours 1100, 1300 and 1500 from Blundell Street which covers the original route Cleveleys to Thornton £3 with pre booking required.

1030-1600 FTT run free bus service from Tower to Stanley Park and Zoo every 20 minutes

1100-1700 free bus service on route 1 Pleasure Beach to Gynn Square every 15 minutes

FTT's Blackpool Heritage Bus Running Day

Sunday 13th June will see the welcome return of the chance to ride on some of the Fylde's heritage buses, courtesy of Fylde Transport Trust. This will showcase the recently restored Fylde Atlantean 77 and rare single decker Atlantean 7. Both will run on a 30 minute frequency between Talbot Square and St. Annes Square, while Blackpool PD3 529 and ex London Routemaster RM1583 (Blackpool 521) will recreate service 5 to Halfway House. This will mean a bus every 15 minutes from Talbot Square - both routes running along Lytham Road. 

This is helps celebrate 100 years of Blackpool's buses; 60 years since buses replaced trams on Lytham Road and 35 years since RM1583 was trialed on the 5

More details on FTT's Facebook page here: Link