Citaro Hybrid Demonstrator

The Citaro Hybrid demonstrator leaving Victoria Hospital

A Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0530 Hybrid (BF68ZHB), built as a demonstrator for Evobus of Coventry, is currently on loan to Blackpool Transport. The bus commenced its two week trial period by operating on service 5 between Victoria Hospital and Halfway House.

The Citaro Hybrid approaching Victoria Hospital along Whinney Heys Rd

BBC drama being filmed on St Annes beach

AEC Matador, Morris Commercial CDF and Bedford OYs on St Annes beach

Filming took place on a Fylde beach this week for the epic new BBC war drama 'World On Fire' starring Sean Bean. The seven part TV series is based on the first year of World War II, and has been filmed in many locations around Europe including London, Berlin, Paris, Prague and Manchester. Filming has been taking place this week on St Annes beach, which is standing in for Dunkirk in France where the evacuation of allied soldiers took place in May 1940, code-named Operation Dynamo. A varied selection of preserved WW2 military vehicles were used to represent the Dunkirk evacuation, these being strategically positioned around the beach as backdrops for the film work.

Austin K2 ambulance, Humber PU and Guy Quad Ant artillery tractor

A row of Bedford OY troop transport lorries

A selection of vehicles with a Morris Commercial CDF in the foreground

An Austin K2/Y military ambulance

A general view of some of the preserved military vehicles positioned for filming

Austin and Morris Commercial ambulances

Catch22Bus's latest Dennis Darts

Houndshill liveried Dart GX54DWO on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

Catch22Bus took delivery of four ex-Stagecoach Midlands Dennis Darts towards the end of last year. The latest Darts have all been painted in their smart new blue and green livery, with GX54DWO also carrying an all over advert for the Houndshill shopping centre in Blackpool. The new buses have replaced older Darts formerly belonging to Cardiff Bus.

Dart GX54DWP on Brighton Avenue in Cleveleys

Dart KP04GZR on Westbourne Road in Cleveleys

Dart KP04GZM on the North Promenade in Cleveleys

Talbot Square Update

The northbound side of Talbot Square junction with the concreting now finished

Progress on the new tramway junction with the Promenade at Talbot Square is proceeding steadily, if somewhat slowly. The northbound side of the junction is more or less complete, with the track concreted in. Work on the southbound side of the junction is further behind, with the metal reinforcing bars in place and waiting for concrete, but more work needs to be completed first.

The southbound side of the junction still waiting to be concreted in

A panoramic shot of the new junction at Talbot Square

Flexity 001 on driver training passing the work site at Talbot Square

Box 40 is leaving the Blackpool Heritage Tour fleet

Box 40 on the Pleasure Beach loop during the 2018 September Spectacular event

Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 is leaving the Heritage Tour fleet at Blackpool. Before 40 returns to Crich it will be travelling north in March to spend a period of time at Beamish until the tram is finally transported to its permanent home at the National Tramway Museum around the end of August.

Driver Trainer 975

Driver Trainer 975 heading south along Amounderness Way near Poulton-le-Fylde

Blackpool Transport have added another Trident to their driver training fleet. East Lancs bodied Dennis Trident 975 (PO51UMJ) has been repainted in "Palladium" grey, similar to existing training vehicles 973 & 974, but without the yellow flash along the sides. Trident 975 was previously numbered 339 when it was in the passenger fleet.

Driver Trainer 975 on the A585 near Poulton

Optare Solo Driver Trainer

Solo 292 turning from Rough Lea Road into Rossall Road in Cleveleys

Optare Solo 292 (YJ07EJL) is now part of the Blackpool Transport driver training fleet, and was noted in use in Cleveleys on training duties on 8th January. Solo 292 still carries its standard black and yellow fleet livery, with the addition of the words "Driver Training Bus" on the sides and rear, plus two "L" plates at the front and the rear of the vehicle.

Solo 292 parked up on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys