Former Northstar Enviro200 on Service 24

YX11 FZA on Trunnah Road in Thornton on 8th October

A new bus on the Fylde coast today is a two-tone blue ADL Enviro200 (YX11 FZA) which began service with Transporabus on their route 24 this morning. The bus was previously Northstar 201 (K99 NST) of Chester-Le-Street in the North East, being new to London Sovereign in 2011, before transferring to London United in 2019.

YX11 FZA on Queensway in Poulton-le-Fylde

YX11 FZA turning left from Victoria Road into Alexandra Road in Thornton

Second Voodoo Blue bus appears on the 24

YX21 RVK on Cleveleys Promenade approaching the bus station to enter service

Former Cardiff Enviro200 MMC YX21RVK entered service in the new Transporabus route 24 colours this morning. The bus is the second in the Transporabus fleet to be outshopped in the vivid Voodoo Blue colour branding for the 24. YX21RVK was spotted on its first trip in passenger service in the new blue colour scheme, on the 0915 from Cleveleys bus station to Blackpool.

YX21 RVK in Cleveleys at 1415, heading towards Fleetwood

YX21 RVK on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

YX21 RVK in Cleveleys bus station ready to enter service

YX21 RVK leaving Cleveleys bus station on the 0915 service 24 to Blackpool

DAF DB250LF makes its first outing on coastal Service 21

DAF LJ51 DKO arriving in Cleveleys on the 0945 service 21 from St Annes on Friday 26th September

DAF DB250LF LJ51 DKO, which is in the Blackpool area for use on the Transpora illuminations tours, made its first daytime outing in passenger service on the route 21 between Cleveleys and St Annes on Friday 26th September. LJ51 DKO was converted to open top condition by TootBus for use on their London sightseeing tours, being new to Arriva London.

LJ51 DKO at Norbreck on the 1030 service 21 from Cleveleys bus station

LJ51 DKO passing Wilton Parade in Blackpool on service 21 to St Annes

Transpora Open Top DAF operating an Illuminations Tour

Transpora open top DAF LJ51 DKO loading up for an Illuminations tour on Thursday 25th September

Transpora open top DAF LJ51 DKO operating a Blackpool Illuminations tour at 1930 on Thursday 25th September. LJ51 DKO is a DAF DB250LF with Plaxton President body, previously with TootBus on London sightseeing tours and new to Arriva London. The illuminations tours are operating daily at 1930 (excepting Mondays and Saturdays) until 2nd November.

LJ51 DKO and a passing Flexity near Blackpool Tower

LJ51 DKO loading for the 1930 illuminations tour on 25th September

Another day another Open Topper on the 21

Trident W501 RBB crossing the tram tracks in Cleveleys on 24th September

Service 21 to St Annes saw Dennis Trident W501 RBB with fully open top Alexander ALX400 bodywork in use on Wednesday 24th September. This bus must be one of the most travelled vehicles in the fleet, having been used on tours in Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth and Cardiff, to name a few, and it currently carries 'London Bus 4 Hire' lettering above the doors.

W501 RBB climbing the hill alongside Anchorsholme Park

W501 RBB at Cleveleys bus station ready for the 1200 departure to St Annes

All-Over Advert Bus on Transpora Sea Front 21 Service

V158 MEV at Anchorscholme on the 1030 from Cleveleys bus station on 23rd September

Dennis Trident V158 MEV with an Alexander ALX400 body was spotted on Transpora's sea front route 21 on Tuesday 23rd September. This bus is normally assigned to Sightseeing Manchester service, and since June has had an all-over wrap advertising Slice Mobile. The bus was back on normal Sightseeing Manchester duties the following day.

V158 MEV at Cleveleys bus station about to leave for St Annes

V158 MEV heading south at Gynn Square roundabout

V158 MEV northbound towards Cleveleys at Talbot Square

Flexity 013 in a new Mini Golf advert

Flexity 013 at Fleetwood Ferry with its new 'The Hole in Wand' advert on 22nd September

Flexity 013 has appeared in service this week carrying new T-Bar adverts on both sides for The Hole In Wand indoor crazy golf course in Blackpool.

The centre section of Flexity 013 showing the new advert

013 at Fleetwood Ferry with its new T-Bar advert for 'The Hole in Wand' crazy golf course

Transpora open-top Scania on route 26 to Marton

LX58CEV on Bond Street, passing the Nickelodeon Streak roller coaster in the Pleasure Beach

One of Sightseeing Manchester's open-top Scanias was in use on Transpora North West's service 26 to Marton again this weekend. Scania N230UD Omnicity LX58CEV (ex Stagecoach London) has been in all day service on Beach Bus 26, from Marton Mere holiday village to Blackpool, on both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August.

LX58CEV passing South Pier on the Promenade

LX58CEV heading inland along Station Road in South Shore

LX58CEV heading into Blackpool with a full load from Marton Mere Holiday Village

LX58CEV passing the Royal Oak at the junction of Waterloo Road and Lytham Road

LX58CEV arriving in New Bonny Street with a full load of holidaymakers from Marton

LX58CEV unloading passengers at the New Bonny Street stop near the Promenade

Overhead problem at Norbeck causes tram service delays

Flexity 011 waiting behind a stop sign just before Little Bisham loop

There was disruption to the tram service in Blackpool on Saturday afternoon caused by overhead wiring problems. An overhead line crew was seen at Norbreck attempting to rectify the problem on a centre pole on the tramway reservation. Both northbound and southbound trams were delayed while the repairs took place. Flexity 011 was noted on the southbound track just before Little Bispham loop at 1315, parked behind a red stop sign that had been positioned between the rails. Stationary southbound trams were also observed at the Anchorsholme Lane and Cleveleys stops, presumably there was a similar backlog on the northbound line.

Overhead crew making repairs to the damaged wiring at Norbreck

A loose wire hanger insulator on the northbound line at Norbreck

New Overall Advert for Flexity 014

Flexity 014 near South Pier heading towards Starr Gate

Flexity 014 is carrying a new black overall advert for Season 2 of the Netflix TV Series "Wednesday". The tram was first spotted near South Pier on the morning of Wednesday 13th August, on its first day in service with the new advert.

Flexity 014 passing the Tower on its way to Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 014 heading north past the Sandcastle centre

The centre section of Flexity 014 showing off its new Netflix advert

Blackpool Airshow Tram Service & Promenade Barriers

Flexity 004 passing the northern tramway barrier, shortly before through operation was curtailed

The 2025 Blackpool Airshow took place over the weekend of 9th & 10th August. Previous years have seen a split tram service in operation, with trams on the northern section operating between Fleetwood Ferry and North Pier, and the southern section seeing trams turning back using the Foxhall crossover with the service running between Manchester Square and Starr Gate. This year the split service lasted from 1200 until around 1830, with the southern section operating the same as last year, with trams turning using the Foxhall crossover. Unlike last year when trams did not use the Talbot Road line, this year just saw a regular Fleetwood Ferry to North Station tram service. During the 2024 Airshow Blackpool Transport chose to terminate the tram service at North Pier, and not use the already opened North Station extension. This year saw heavy duty crash barriers installed on the central area of the Promenade, to protect the public from any potential terrorist attack, with road and tramway barriers near Victoria Street and Chapel Street, and road barriers on New Bonny Street. Note that all the photos used here were taken on day two of the airshow on Sunday 10th August.

The tramway barrier at Victoria St closed, with 001 marooned in a fenced off area on the North Pier siding

Flexity 013 passing a replica Red Arrow Hawk aircraft on the Tower headland

The heavy duty crash barrier at Victoria Street, with police and marshals in attendance

The heavy duty tramway crash barrier near Central Pier

The Promenade road crash barrier near Central Pier

The road and pavement crash barriers close to Central Pier

The Promenade traffic diversion sign just south of Chapel Street and Central Pier

Flexity 013 at the northern end of the southern split service, near Central Pier

Flexity 004 about to return south using the Foxhall crossover

Flexity 018 at the northern end of the southern split service, near Central Pier

Flexity 004 returning south, passing people walking the wrong side of the tramway barriers

Flexity 006 using the Foxhall crossover to return back south again

Tactical Firearms police enjoying the airshow on Sunday afternoon

The RAF Avro Lancaster bomber finishing its display routine with a flypast of the Tower