New ADL Enviro 200s enter service

236 climbing out of Gynn Square up Dickson Road on service 4 to Mereside

Blackpool Transport's new fleet of eighteen ADL Enviro 200 9.7m single deck buses began operation today. The 34 seat Enviro 200s entered service on routes 3 & 4 between Cleveleys and Blackpool Mereside, replacing the Optare Solos which had formerly operated on these routes. The new Enviro 200s carry BTS's Palladium branding, wearing the same grey and pale yellow livery that is already in use on the double deck Enviro 400s. The new ADL Enviro 200 buses carry fleet numbers 221 to 238.

225 turning round at Cleveleys before heading back south on route 4 to Mereside

221 on Warbreck Hill Road in Blackpool on route 4 to Cleveleys

226 on Rossall Road in Cleveleys on route 3 to Mereside

224 on a service 4 from Mereside at Victoria Square in Cleveleys

A rear view of 225 at Cleveleys on route 4 to Mereside

Heritage Gold 24th June

Balloon 717 and a horse drawn Cinderella carriage at Manchester Square

The weekend of 23rd and 24th June saw the annual Totally Models event taking place at Rigby Road tram depot, to coincide with this event a Heritage Gold timetable was in operation on the Promenade, with an extra heritage stop being located just north of the Manchester Square LRT platforms. The heritage trams in operation on the Sunday were Balloons 700, 715, 717, 718 & 723, Standard 147 and Bolton 66. Balloon 715 was in use on a Bispham to Hopton Road shuttle service, providing transport to the Totally Models event.

Balloon 715 turning from Lytham Road into Hopton Road on the shuttle service

Standard 147 passing the points for Lytham Road at Manchester Square

Balloon 723 passing through Cleveleys on its way to Fleetwood

Balloon 718 at Manchester Square bound for the Pleasure Beach

Bolton 66 southbound at Manchester Square

Balloon 700 in heritage tour service at North Pier

Virgin Pendolinos reach Blackpool

Pendolino 390011 at Blackpool North on the 13:02 service to London Euston on 12th June

Monday 21st May was the first day of electric train services on the newly upgraded and electrified Preston to Blackpool North line. As well as local electric trains a regular Virgin Pendolino service commenced operation between London Euston and Blackpool North on the same day. The following photos were all taken on Tuesday 12th June.

A Virgin Pendolino passing through Poulton-le-Fylde on its way to Blackpool North

Pendolino 390012 passing through Poulton on the 10:53 from Blackpool North to London Euston

Virgin Pendolino 390011 at Blackpool on the 11:56 arrival from London Euston

Pendolino 390011 on Platform 1 at Blackpool North after arriving from Euston

Heritage Trams in Fleetwood

147 on Lord Street in Fleetwood on a Fylde Tramway Society private hire on Saturday

The May Day Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool was blessed with some glorious sunny weather, here are a few shots of the heritage trams in action at the northern end of the line in Fleetwood on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of May.

Bolton 66 turning into Pharos Street in Fleetwood on Saturday

Brush Car 621 at Fleetwood Ferry on Saturday

Brush 623 heading south along North Albert Street on Sunday

Balloon 715 passing Fleetwood Library in North Albert Street on Sunday

Box 40 passing St Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Lord Street in Fleetwood on Sunday

Standard 147 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood on Sunday

64th UK Coach Rally in Blackpool

Tyrers brand new Van Hool TDX25 Astromega that was voted Coach of the Year in Blackpool

The 64th UK Coach Rally took place in Blackpool over the weekend of the 28th & 29th of April. The event consisted of a road run, driving tests and judging over the course of the two days. When the coaches weren't participating in an event, they were parked up on either the Tower Headland or the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel near the North Pier. The Coach of the Year award was won by the recently delivered double deck Van Hool TDX25 Astromega of Tyrers Coaches from Adlington near Chorley.

A very colourful Neoplan Tourliner of Johnson Brothers from Worksop

A York Pullman Volvo B8R with Plaxton Panther 3 bodywork

A recently delivered Van Hool TX16 Acron of Yorkshire Rose Coaches from Barnsley

A Volvo 9700 belonging to Excelsior Coaches of Bournemouth

Marton route tram tracks revealed in Talbot Square

Track from the former Marton tram route leading off towards Clifton Street

The current road remodelling work at Talbot Square in Blackpool has recently revealed some old tram track. A set of points and short stretch of track from the former Marton tram route has been dug up in front of the Town Hall. The old track is due to be cut up and disposed of before the road is resurfaced.

Track from the former Marton tram route in front of the Town Hall

The recently revealed tram track at Talbot Square

Trains return to Blackpool North

156469 at Poulton-le-Fylde on the 1245 service to Manchester Airport 

Monday 16th April saw a limited train service resume on the Preston to Blackpool North line, after being closed for several months due to upgrade and electrification work. An hourly service is currently being operated between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, with rail replacement buses still running to supplement the trains. Driver training trains were noted running in between the hourly passenger service.

156472 passing at speed through Layton towards Blackpool North

156491 at Blackpool North, note that platform 1 is still a fenced off work area

150220 leaving Blackpool North on driver training