Solos depart

276 is the final of the second trio of Solos sold to Halton to leave, departing Blackpool on 26 July, preceded by 274 on 24th and 273 earlier in the month. 267 and 268 are the sole survivors of the original 15 Solos in Blackpool, both stored awaiting disposal, 268 at least partly cannibalised.

Meanwhile Excel 219 has now gone for DDA conversion following 216 and 220.

Going Both Ways

Saturday 20th July saw the implementation of a new road layout in Blackpool Town Centre. The redevelopment of the area next to the Bus Station as Talbot Gateway has already seen a redesign of the inner ring road with New Larkhill Street created between the Railway Station and Grosvenor Street, while Buchanan Street was upgraded to replace the old Larkhill Street. This is involves two way operation, while from 20th July, Dickson Road, Springfield Road, Talbot Road and Cookson Street became two-way after around four decades of one way operation.

As a result bus routes have been changed:
2/2C to Poulton; 11 to Grange Park and 20 to Marton Mere now operate along Talbot Road past the old Bus Station, right into Cookson St, left into George Street and right onto Grosvenor Street to Caunce Street or Church St. Buses back into Town run as before via Church St, Topping Street, Deansgate, Cookson Street and Talbot Road. The 16 from North Station joins the same route from North Station at Cookson Street.

Buses on the 3 and 4 from Cleveleys to Mereside approach Town via Dickson Road and turn right onto Talbot Road to reach Clifton Street, then follow the route of service 2/2C as above.

The 5, 7, 9 and 14 can now use Talbot Road in both directions without the need for the former one way systems, ending the use of the bus stop on Topping Street.

Repaints and Disposals

Excel 220 has now been repainted into the standard fleet livery with 305 currently in the paint shop. 

Solos 273, 274, 276 have been sold to Halton Transport while 275 left to Partons on 15 July 2013.

Delta trainer 970 is being replaced by a second hand low floor DAF with East Lancs body, W471MKU which was new to Yorkshire Terrier but latterly ran for Stagecoach Sheffield. This is the first bus to be purchased as a dedicated driver trainer. W471 has been purchased from Partons in part exchange for the Delta.

Round Up

Stagecoach has recently introduced a batch of new Alexander Dennis Enviro bodied Scania double deckers to the interworked 61 (Blackpool to Preston) and 59 (Preston to Blackburn). 9 have been allocated to Preston depot and several have received route branding.

BTS has introduced a new timetable on service 14 from Monday, while CBNW will extend their Seafront 12 to St. Annes from 22 July.

BTS Solo 273 has left Blackpool and is understood to have rejoined sisters 269/71/2 at Halton Transport.

Buses have reappeared in St John's Square which has been reopened due to congestion associated with Town Centre regeneration work at Talbot Guideway. Here is nearly new (well to Blackpool anyway) Trident 368 on the 20.

Newly outshopped in green and cream, training Delta 969 poses on the tram depot fan

The Resort Hopper Solos are getting around with examples noted on the 5 and 16 recently as bigger buses have seen use on the 20 to cope with heavy loads at busy times. The four all-over advert Tridents are now occasionally seen away from their regular haunt on route 1; three out of four managing to work on the 2/2C on the same day recently.

Fleetwood scenes

Cumfybus is a regular sight in Fleetwood, though its batch of hybrid Solos are much less common. Here YJ12GXG heads past the church on Lord Street heading towards Blackpool on the 74.

With the backdrop of a gutted fish curers, BTS Trident 316 heads for Mereside on route 14 

Sister 325 heads for Fleetwood Ferry at Fisherman's Walk. 325 is one of three of the former Line 11 Tridents to retain roller blinds.

On the Prom

The MCV bodied Volvo B7RLE has unusually seen service on route 20

The Blackpool Council Metrorider, 1064 (ex BTS 512) is in regular use in its new role as a mess van for the tramway track gang. It is seen here parked at the tramway side at Bispham

Classic Bus Olympian 915 frames BTS Volvo 522 operating on service 1

The demonstrator once again (JM)

CBNW's colourful open top Metrobus heads south past the Tower tram stop

Delayed DAF Debuts; Demonstrator Drops By; DDA Developments [updated]

DAFs 368-370 made their service debut on Monday 8th June. 368 appeared on the road (but not in service) on 5th June, over six months after it arrived from Bus and Coach World.  369 is registered J600BTS, as J500BTS is privately owned on a Land Rover! It is presumed 370-2 are J700/800/900BTS respectively.

With DAF refurbishments complete, Bus and Coach World have been contracted to modify the Optare Excels to meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements as applied to buses. Other than the Olympians, these are the only Blackpool Transport Buses which do not meet the regulations. All new buses since 2001 have been so specified by law; the ex Manx buses have been modified and the Excels need to be to ensure continued operation after 2015. 

MCV bodied Volvo single deck Demonstrator BF12KWT is currently paying a visit. This spent six months on trial with National Express West Midlands during 2012 and has latterly been with Whitelaws Coaches in Lanarkshire. It is understood to have operated on route 20 yesterday.

DAF Trainer 969 has been repainted during June, emerging in an unusual hybrid match of past liveries. It retains the Metro style but in traditional green and cream shades! 

Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	10/9/12
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	17/7/12	5/9/12
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	27/7/12	5/9/12
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	27/7/12	5/9/12
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	30/7/12	6/9/12
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	31/7/12	4/10/12
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	3/10/12
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	12/10/12
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	3/10/12
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	4/10/12
364	J70BTS	54	FMN181P	009431	41101	25/9/12	17/12/12
365	J90BTS	81	FMN804T	009830	41109	25/9/12	17/12/12
366	J200BTS	78	FMN501T	009651	41106	23/10/12	17/12/12
367	J300BTS	56	FMN498T	009617	41103	9/10/12	17/12/12
368	J400BTS	79	FMN502T	009652	41107	11/01/13	8/6/13
369	J600BTS	76	FMN500T	009650	41105	29/01/13	8/6/13
370	tbc	77	FMN505T	009831	41110	tbc	8/6/13
371	tbc	57	FMN499T	009649	41104	27/3/13	awaited
372	tbc	55	FMN497T	009616	41102	24/4/13	awaited

The missing DAF and Service Update

As previously noted the arrival of 372 completed the influx of 30 second hand buses from Isle of Man based Bus Vannin. This comprised a batch of 11 Tridents, a batch of 10 DAFs and 9 out of a second batch of 10. The final bus of that third batch, BV 80, followed its sisters to Bus and Coach World and has been refurbished as a demonstrator/sale vehicle for its converter as shown here. DAFs 368-372 remain in store pending deployment - unusual as the first arrived back in January.

Minor service changes have taken place recently. CBNW have extended weekday journeys on service 12 to the full route (Cleveleys-Pleasure Beach) rather than the interim terminus at the Tower. Their first open top Metrobus 69 (F69SYE) is due to enter service this month in a new all-over advert for the Pleasure Beach Wallace and Gromit themed ride. Olympian 269 has also been similarly wrapped to match.

From 9 June Cumfybus and Coastal Coaches tendered services 74-76 have been re-routed and now only serve Victoria Hospital on journeys to Blackpool - taking the direct route from Layton to Wades Farm on the way back. While saving time and improving reliability this makes for a lengthy journey home for anyone wishing to get back from the Hospital! Buses on these routes now terminate at Abingdon Street rather than North Station and the 74 has also reverted to an earlier route in Cleveleys following the completion of road works. Finally Blackpool Transport route 3 has been diverted via Anchorsholme Lane rather than Victoria Road West with effect from 3 June.

Cleveleys Bus Station

Classic and modern. CBNW RM1568 poses alongside a new loading platform while in the foreground the former shelter remains as the entry point to the new loading areas.

The refurbished Cleveleys Bus Station reopened back in December after a prolonged refurbishment which commenced in July. While the traditional passenger area has been retained, it is effectively superfluous now raised boarding areas have been produced on the former bus apron.

The Bus Station was built in 1932 by Thornton  Cleveleys Urban District Council and was initially used by Ribble Motor Services with Blackpool Corporation buses not serving it until April 1940 when it paid an annual rent of £133 (c£6,300 in today's money). From early photos it appears shelters were provided on the apron, but in 1959 the station was closed between January and the end of May with new stands - Blackpool Transport using stands 4 and 5 for the 9a/9b services - its sole services to Cleveleys back then. This is likely to be the layout retained until 2012.

By 1970 the 8 stands were split with Blackpool Corporation running their 7C from stand 1 and 25A from stand 2 using its new AEC Swift, while crew operated 22/22A used stands 7 and 8. The other four stands were occupied by Ribble services with no less than 17 different service numbers! 

Annual rent had risen to £1,200 by 1980 (actually a fall to £4,364 in current prices v 1940). Deregulation brought more variety with operations from Fylde and independents such as Carriages joining Blackpool and Fylde. Occasional periods of disused took place. 

Today the Bus Station is served by up to 16 buses per hour from four operators:
Stand 1: Blackpool Transport 7 (Cleveleys-Lytham every 15 minutes)
Stands 2 and 3: Blackpool Transport 9 (Cleveleys-Blackpool every 10 minutes)
Stand 4: Classic Bus 12 (Cleveleys-Pleasure Beach every 20 minutes) and Cumfybus 74 (Blackpool-Larkholme every hour)
Stand 5: Cumfybus 74 (Larkholme-Blackpool every hour) and Elite 87 (Cleveleys-Poulton every 90 minutes)

Significantly Stagecoach's main local service 84 passes the Bus Station on its way to Poulton but does not call in, serving stops on Rough Lea Road instead.

Southport based Cumfybus serves Cleveleys on hourly service 74 from Larkholme to Blackpool via several points in between. MX09MJO leaves Stand 4.

MX08DHE is operated by Elite Minibus Service of Carleton on the 90 minute frequency tendered service 87 to Poulton.

  

Blackpool Transport service 9 uses the double stand 2/3 - ex London 339 poses here. Prior to the refurbishment buses faced the "Bus Station"  sign with a clear risk as passengers cross the area to the left of the Trident which conflicted with bus movements. Despite two crossing areas, people still freely wander over the apron.

  

New to Blackpool 328 loads on stand 1 - departure point for route 7

328 was soon joined by Olympian 374 - the one Olympian still commonly seen on the local network. On Stand 4 is Classic Bus North West Volvo B10M 899

CBNW 899 heads for the Pleasure Beach past 374 and 328

Unusual signage - intended to direct non bus users to the other pavement to cross Rough Lea Road more closely. 374 awaits another trip to Blackpool on the 9

For many years buses approached the Bus Station via Princess Road (the road onto which 899, 328 and 374 face in the picture above) but this generally required buses to face outwards - realistic with rear loaders but less so with front entrance buses. Ribble tended to swing round and face the departure points as they used the stands nearer the sea front. Since the 1990s buses have continued up Victoria Road and turn into Rough Lea Road as demonstrated by 528 here. This is now one-way as buses need to use the "wrong" side of the road to enter the bus bays.

528 has now entered the Bus Station and awaits departure from Stand 2.

Green Trident 305 has also joined the fray, oddly in Stand 1 normally the domain of route 7

305 soon departed - perhaps needing to get back in front of 528 clearing the way for Excel 222 to load for route 7

222 and 528 and joined by CBNW Volvo 898 on the 12 and a Cumfybus Solo on the 74

The sequence ends with 898 leaving for Pleasure Beach turning onto Princess Road to reach Rough Lea Road

Cleveleys Bus Station historical shots can be seen here.

Summer Holiday

The early hours of Monday morning saw a disastrous fire at the depot of Western Greyhound in Summercourt near Newquay destroying around 37 buses - around one third of its fleet. A number of operators have provided buses to help Western Greyhound maintain its fleet, with several travelling over 300 miles including buses from Norfolk Green and Blackpool Transport. Solos 240, 241 and 247 headed South on Thursday to take up service for the time being. The visiting buses are intended to be used on routes 591/2 (Newquay to Truro). 

Facebook Pic of 240 and 247

News Round Up

Repaints have continued with Trident 316 now back in service in fleet livery. Solo 245 - the last Metro line liveried Solo is under paint and Excel 218 has been treated. Further to last month's update it transpires this is indeed 218's second repaint. It was the only one of 210-218 not to receive a repaint when refurbished, it merely had a heavy clean! 

Solos 280 and 281 have been reinstated and the latter returned to use on 3 May, while 280 is currently in the paint shop prior to the installation of the engine from sister 275 which is expected to be the first Blackpool Solo to be scrapped.

The 30th Manx Double Decker has now arrived as 372 - on 24 April. This is believed to be the final one - imports starting back in July 2011 with IOM Trident 53 which became Blackpool 343. Blackpool has received IOM Tridents 48-53 and 71-75 plus DAFs 54-57 76-79, 81 and 89-98. Sister DAF 80 left IOM with 55 but it is not yet clear if this will join the Blackpool feet.

Open Toppers 818, 857/8 and 873 are not expected to see use this year with the City Sightseeing tour not advertised on the BTS website.
Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	10/9/12
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	17/7/12	5/9/12
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	27/7/12	5/9/12
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	27/7/12	5/9/12
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	30/7/12	6/9/12
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	31/7/12	4/10/12
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	3/10/12
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	12/10/12
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	3/10/12
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	4/10/12
364	J70BTS	54	FMN181P	009431	41101	25/9/12	17/12/12
365	J90BTS	81	FMN804T	009830	41109	25/9/12	17/12/12
366	J200BTS	78	FMN501T	009651	41106	23/10/12	17/12/12
367	J300BTS	56	FMN498T	009617	41103	9/10/12	17/12/12
368	tbc	79	FMN502T	009652	41107	11/01/13	awaited
369	tbc	76	FMN500T	009650	41105	29/01/13	awaited
370	tbc	77	FMN505T	009831	41110	tbc	awaited
371	tbc	57	FMN499T	009649	41104	27/3/13	awaited
372	tbc	55	FMN497T	009616	41102	24/4/13	awaited

Resort Hopping

Report Hopper Solo 294 displays the logo map for the attractions that participate in the Resort Pass. It lays over at the Pleasure Beach (Burlington Road) terminus stop

Sister 258 leaves Blackpool Zoo for Pleasure Beach - a scene that for  most of the last 40 years would have been dominated by Double Deckers

294 again, at Stanley Park Gates stop prior to tuning round Barlow Crescent and heading to the Zoo and Marton Mere

295 turns off Barlow Crescent at Stanley Park

294 leaves Blackpool Zoo heading down Woodside Drive, which is at least colour coded with the bus

295 at Clifton Arms having started its near hour long journey from Marton Mere to Pleasure Beach

295 shows the asymmetrical doors of the later Solos at Stanley Park

294 passes the Cricket Club 

More Repaints

Trident 318 is one of eight buses still carrying the former pool livery. It carries this rear end advert for a local health initiative.

Trident 311 has returned to use in fleet livery - this being the last bus painted into Metro livery back in 2010. Sister 316 is now under treatment - its first ever repaint. Excel 218 has been outshopped having carried Metro pool livery since 2004. It was previously reported that this was its second repaint but it is now believed it received a second repaint in 2009 (as seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/m3presman/4075259834/) - thanks to Shaun for the correction.

This leaves 245, 303, 304, 305 and 306 in former Line liveries with 219, 220, 279, 282, 283, 317-319 in Metro pool livery.

Solos start Hopping

Friday 5 April saw the official launch of route 20 as the "Blackpool Resort Pass Hopper Bus" as it serves the 9 attractions which feature on the pass. It is now possible to buy Blackpool Transport tickets as add-ons. Solos 258/9, 294-6 are all now branded for the service. Coincidentally all were new for Line 3 though 294 most recently carried Line 2 livery. As a result Line 3 blue has now been eradicated from the fleet.

The side and rear branding is vinyl  with two contravision windows on each side. The front end (and rear bumper) are painted  - drawing attention to the slightly different shades of yellow! Route 20 has been double deck operated since its inception so it is surprising that Solos have been chosen. Olympian 374 has been noted duplicating a Solo on a particular busy journey! (Both photos c James Millington)

More at Peel Park

316 departs the new Peel Park terminus

At Tesco 303 shows the new "Mereside & Peel Park" display while 317 awaits departure to Fleetwood. Peel Park is served Monday to Friday only every 10 minutes during the peak hours and every 20 minutes off peak.

327 heads down Jenny Lane from Peel Park taken from an inbound 303