Former London E400 Open Topper in use during Blackpool Air Show weekend

Enviro 400 SN61 DFA on Read's Avenue while running as an extra on service 26 on 8th August

ADL Enviro 400 SN61 DFA was new to Go Ahead London in 2011 as their E222, and is now with Transpora. SN61 DFA was involved in a collision with a low railway bridge while in London and subsequently converted to a full open topper. The bus put in several appearances as an extra on service 26 to Marton Mere Holiday Village over the Blackpool Air Show weekend, supplementing the normal one bus allocation on the route.

SN61 DFA on Coronation Street heading for Marton Mere holiday park to collect more passengers

SN61 DFA loading up at Blackpool Central Coach Station for a return trip to Marton Mere

Trampower City Class Tram finally departs Blackpool

The Trampower City Class tram loaded onto Reid's trailer in Blundell Street

The experimental Trampower City Class tram has left Blackpool after spending eight years of storage in Rigby Road tram depot. On the 5th August Reid Freight Services loaded the 29 metres (95 feet) long tram onto an extendable trailer in Blundell Street with the aid of the Blackpool Unimog. Reid had arrived in convoy with three vehicles, a four axle DAF flatbed carrying the loading ramps, a MAN TGX tractor unit and a Goldhofer extending trailer with twin THP/UT 5-axle modules of 60 gross tonnes capacity each. After the tram had been loaded the Reid Freight crew had to wait until tea time for a police escort to arrive. Due to the extreme length of the combined tractor unit and trailer, the only way out of Blundell Street was to reverse the whole rig from Blundell Street into Hopton Road, then along Lytham Road and onto the Promenade, before they could then head off towards the M55 motorway. This long reverse required the police to hold up traffic on Lytham Road, the Promenade (in both directions) and other adjoining side streets. Reid finally set off south along the Promenade with their police escort just before 7pm. The tram was headed for Stoke-on-Trent where it is planned to be refurbished for future prospective use.

The City Class tram on Reid's extendable trailer in Blundell Street

The Reid Freight DAF flatbed lorry carrying the loading ramp sections

The City Class tram reversing from Blundell Street into Hopton Road

The City Class tram reversing along Hopton Road

The City Class tram reversing across Manchester Square from Lytham Road onto the Promenade

The driver of Reid's MAN TGX conversing with the police before he departs

Reid Freight MAN and police escort, with the Reid escort van visible on Lytham Road

The City Class tram heading off south along the Promenade behind a police escort

The Trampower City Class tram in August 2022, during its period of storage at Rigby Road depot

Go North West liveried Volvo on Beach Bus 26

Volvo B9TL MX58 DWG at the Pleasure Beach on 3rd August

A Manchester area bus was noted in use on the Beach Bus 26 service from Marton Mere Holiday Village on 3rd August. Former First Manchester Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 16811 (MX58 DWG) was in full Go North West livery, and still sporting a Bee Network sticker on the nearside.

Volvo B9TL MX58 DWG arriving in New Bonny Street

Volvo B9TL MX58 DWG passing the Sea Life Centre

Volvo B9TL MX58 DWG near Coral Island on New Bonny Street

Sightseeing Manchester bus operating on the Fylde Coast

Scania Omnicity LX09 FZR at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Thursday 23rd July

Partial open-top Scania Omnicity LX09 FZR in full Sightseeing Manchester tour branding has been in use on the Transporabus service 26 from Marton Mere holiday park to Blackpool Promenade this week. LX09 FZR is normally to be found on the streets of Manchester, operating the T1 sightseeing service in the city.

LX09 FZR on New Bonny Street near the Tower

LX09 FZR passing the Golden Mile Amusements arcade

LX09 FZR passing South Pier in Blackpool

LX09 FZR passing the Adventure Golf attraction next to the Pleasure Beach

Some sunny views of Flexity 011 in its new Tenpin vinyl wrap

Flexity 011 with its new Tenpin advert arriving at Cleveleys on 17th June

Here are some sunny shots of Blackpool Flexity 011 with its new Tenpin vinyl wrap overall advert, taken at Cleveleys on Wednesday 17th June.

Flexity 011 loading at Cleveleys tram stop on 17th June

Flexity 011 pulling away from the tram stop at Cleveleys

Flexity 011 in new overall advert for Tenpin

Flexity 011 terminating at the start of Lord Street in Fleetwood on 15th June

Flexity 011 has entered service during the last week wearing a new purple and green vinyl wrap for Tenpin, which is a company operating a 24 lane ten pin bowling alley in the old Odeon cinema building at the Festival Leisure Park on Rigby Road in Blackpool. Shown below are some previous overall adverts that Flexity 011 has carried over the years.

Flexity 011 and 014 meet at Cleveleys

Flexity 011 crossing Victoria Square in Cleveleys

A close-up of the centre section of Flexity 011

Flexity 011 wearing an advert for Miss Saigon in February 2026

011 with the Mazuma advert that it carried in 2022, in North Albert Street, Fleetwood

Flexity 011 in February 2026 with the Mama Mia advert that it wore on one side only

Class 37s visit Blackpool on Network Rail Track Monitoring Train

37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine' in Regional Railways livery on the rear of the train at Poulton-le-Fylde

A Network Rail PLPR (Plain Line Pattern Recognition) track inspection train visited Blackpool South and North railway stations on 12th June. The train was parked up from the early hours at Blackpool North station, departing at 1509 for Derby RTC (Railway Technical Centre). Colas Rail 37421 is seen leading 1Q83 though Poulton-le-Fylde on the way to Derby, with 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine' in Regional Railways livery bringing up the rear.

Colas Rail Freight 37421 with the PLPR train passing through Poulton-le-Fylde station

37421 on the front of the track inspection train at Poulton