New Stagecoach Dark Blue Livery

Scania N230UD ADL Enviro400 15237 approaching Preston bus station on 6th March

Two buses in the new Stagecoach corporate dark blue livery were noted in Preston this week. 

The blue livery began to be trialled in a handful of locations around the country last year, and two Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire buses have now entered service in the new colour scheme. Scania N230UD ADL Enviro400 15237 (YN65XEM) and Scania K230UB ADL Enviro300 28711 (YN14FVC) were in operation in Preston this week, sporting the new rather plain dark blue livery. The unrelieved overall blue colour scheme on these buses is in stark contrast to Stagecoach's previous colourful 'Local' and 'Beachball' liveries.

Scania K230UB ADL Enviro300 28711 nearing Preston bus station on 6th March

Stagecoach 15818 wearing the 2020 'Local' livery in April 2021

Stagecoach 15472 displaying the colourful 'Beachball' livery on Church St, Preston in 2021

Stagecoach 15247 in the amber yellow 'Long Distance' livery in Preston in 2021

Blackpool Trams in the Snow

Flexity 018 heading south past the Grosvenor Casino on Thursday 9th January

A light dusting of snow, combined with sub-freezing temperatures, on the Fylde Coast early on 9th January meant that the white coating persisted for a few hours before being melted away by the sun. A trip into Blackpool (as my local Cleveleys tram track was in deep shade) produced some sunny shots of Flexity trams on a pristine snow covered Promenade. Unlike Sunday 5th January, when the trams stayed firmly in the depot after a two inch snowfall, a full normal tram service was in operation.

Flexity 016 heading north at the Pleasure Beach

Flexity 017 approaching the Gynn Square stop

Flexity 006 passing South Pier on its way to North Station

Flexity 015 passing the Odyssey illuminations display near the Tower

Flexity 007 turning left into Talbot Square with Enviro 231 on service 1

Flexity 017 leaving North Station on its way to Starr Gate

Snow on the Fylde Coast but no trams ventured out

Blackpool Enviro 581 in Cleveleys at 0740, on the 0734 service to Lytham

Blackpool and the Fylde Coast received a covering of snow during the night of 4th and 5th January. The conditions would have been ideal for photos of the Flexity trams running through the snow in the morning, but sadly Blackpool Transport decided to keep the trams in the depot, despite operating bus services, issuing the following message at 06:50 "Due to the current snowfall and the safety issues it is causing the tram service is suspended until further notice." A situation update was posted at 10:07 "Due to the snow on the ground our trams are still not running as it is unsafe to do so." Cancelling the tram service seemed to be rather an overreaction, especially as their buses were running ok on snow covered roads. Trams run on rails so they can hardly skid off their route like a bus can.

Cleveleys tram station at 0755, but unfortunately no trams in the snow as BTS cancelled the service

A Pictorial Celebration of the Last Five Years of Heritage Trams in Blackpool

Balloon 700 and Boat 600 passing each other near the Metropole Hotel in August 2024

On the 6th December Blackpool Transport published a message on their Heritage Tram Tours website regarding the future of the heritage operation.

"Following a thorough review, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our Heritage Tram Tours. Operating the Heritage Trams alongside our modern fleet has become increasingly challenging, with issues such as depot space, tram movements, general safety and maintenance conflicts making it difficult to continue running the service effectively. This decision was not taken lightly, but we believe it is the most practical step to support the evolving needs of our business and maintain the overall efficiency of our operations."

Suspend could mean a pause in operations, a lengthy stoppage or a complete suspension of the service.

Following the initial ambiguous message, Jane Cole (the Managing Director of BTS) issued an update on 10th December which contained the following statement:

“I can confirm that the future of our heritage trams is safe and we aim to have them back on the Promenade next year. However, before that can happen there are a number of complex operational issues that need to be addressed."

While the M.D.'s expressed sentiments would appear to be laudable, the phrase "We aim to have them back" does not necessarily mean that the heritage trams will in fact be back, just that they aim to do so. As with any suspended operation, the longer that the suspension drags on, the easier it is for it to become a permanent situation if too many other factors conspire against it. 

Click the link below to see the full Heritage Tram Tour announcement.

https://blackpoolheritage.com/heritage-operations-update/

While it is to be hoped that this isn't the end for our wonderful heritage tram service, a gallery of most of the heritage trams that have seen use over the last five years is shown as a tribute.

Brush Car 621 at Anchorsholme crossing in January 2020

Balloon 723 heading south past the Imperial Hotel in August 2024

Boat 600 passing the Alice in Wonderland illuminations tableau near Lowther Avenue in August 2022

Brush car 631 at Ash Street in Fleetwood, on the last heritage tour of the weekend on 26th September 2021

Balloon 715 southbound on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in June 2021

Standard 143 leaving the Pleasure Beach loop while out on test in April 2022

Centenary Car 648 passing Cafe Marina on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in August 2022

Boat 227 passing the Spitfire at Gynn Square in August 2020

Standard 147 at Gynn Square on a Promenade Tour in August 2020

Balloon 718 pausing at Bispham on its way north to Fleetwood in September 2023

Blackpool's oldest tram, Bolton 66, passing the newest tram, Flexity 018, at North Pier in April 2023

Balloon 701 northbound on the Golden Mile in January 2020

Centenary 642 at North Pier on its way to Starr Gate in September 2021

Railcoach 680 at Bispham, with a BTS ADL Enviro400 City passing by in September 2023

Balloon 707 making its debut on heritage service in March 2020 after a repaint into green and cream

The Western Train at Cabin heading to the Pleasure Beach in May 2023

The frigate passing through Cleveleys, returning from a trip to Fleetwood in August 2022

The Trawler southbound at the Cabin in May 2023

Balloon 723 received a special vinyl wrap for The Magical Express Tour in November 2021

Mersey Ferry Royal Daffodil to become a Floating Restaurant

The Royal Daffodil while still in use as a Mersey Ferry on 23rd July 2006

The former Mersey Ferry MV Royal Daffodil has received a multi-million pound renovation to convert her into a floating restaurant. The Daffodil was moved to her new home at Canning Dock in Liverpool on 18th November, where she is due to open for customers on 9th December. The ferry began service in 1962 as the MV Overchurch, being renamed Royal Daffodil in 1999 after undergoing a major refit, before finally being withdrawn from service in December 2012.

The Royal Daffodil moored in West Float Dock, Birkenhead in October 2012

A new MCV Evora joins the Transpora North West fleet

MCV Evora BD74FKE at Fleetwood on service 24 to Blackpool on 14th November

A third Volvo B8R MCV Evora has joined the Transpora North West fleet for their operations on the Fylde Coast. Evora BD74FKE is currently in as delivered white livery without any branding, and before its recent move north it was in use on rail replacement work in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The latest Evora joins sister vehicles BV24LNA and BV24LNC, which have been in operation on service 24 since July and August respectively.

BD74FKE turning from Rossall Road into Westbourne Road in Cleveleys

BD74FKE on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

Evora 1307 (BV24LNC) on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton on 10th August

Evora 1306 (BV24LNA) at Fleetwood Ferry on 19th July

Ben-my-Chree stands in for Manxman on the Heysham Service

The Ben-my-Chree passing the wind turbine support vessel GMS Endeavour on 3rd October

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry Manxman sailed from Douglas to the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on Monday 30th September, for a period of scheduled maintenance. The Manxman entered service on the Douglas to Heysham route on 17th August last year, and this is the ships first extended period of layup since then. Standing in for the Manxman on the Heysham service for a few weeks will be the Ben-my-Chree, the previous regular ferry that operated the route since 1998.

The Ben-my-Chree passing the legs of the old Wyre Light lighthouse near Fleetwood

The Ben-my-Chree and the high speed catamaran Dublin Swift heading towards Barrow

The Manxman at Heysham on its inaugural passenger sailing from Douglas on 17th August 2023