The Last Day of the Knott End Ferry Service - Only it Wasn't

The Knott End Ferry 'Wyre Rose' passing Fleetwood trawler 'Julia Anne' on 16th April

Wyre Council posted an Important Information bulletin on their Facebook page on 10th April which read "Wyre Council has today confirmed that the Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service is due to end on 15 April 2026." Note that the loss of this historic 185 year old transport link for local residents and visitors was only announced five days before the ferry was due to stop running! The news was quickly picked up by local media, and on the 15th April items about the Knott End Ferry were broadcast on TV and Radio news programmes, also a presenter from Radio Lancashire was in attendance at Fleetwood to record the passing of the ferry service. By the time that the last ferry was due to sail from the Fleetwood landing stage at 1245, a crowd of people had gathered to witness the end of an era.

Later in the day at 1740 Wyre Marine Services Ltd (who operate the ferry) posted the following statement on Facebook. "Following constructive discussions with Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, it was jointly agreed that the ferry service would continue operating on an interim basis for the benefit of the public while longer term arrangements are progressed. Talks have been positive, and discussions are now underway towards agreeing a new three year contract."

So the last day of the ferry service turned out not to be the case in the end. A series of photos are posted here of the resurrected ferry service taken on Thursday 16th April, as the weather on Wednesday which was the supposed 'Last Day' was rather dismal. One shot is included from Wednesday showing the assembled crowd which had gathered to watch the final sailing of the ferry from Fleetwood to Knott End and back.

Wednesday 15th at 1245 and the assembled crowd are gathered to watch the 'Final' sailing of the Knott End Ferry

The next day and it's business as usual as the ferry leaves for Knott End on Thursday 16th April

The Wyre Rose arrives back at Fleetwood passing the RNLI lifeboat crew on training manoeuvres

The Wyre Rose approaching the slipway at Knott End on 16th April

The ferry berthed at the end of the landing stage at Fleetwood due to the lowering tide

The Wyre Rose approaching Knott End, showing the very long slipway on that side of the river

An interior view of the ferry berthing at Knott End, showing the raised bridge area for the skipper

Passengers disembarking onto the Knott End slipway on Tuesday 14th April

The Wyre Rose sailing back towards Fleetwood on 14th April

The ferry service cessation notice posted by Wyre Council on Friday 10th April

Bolton 66 out on the Promenade

Bolton 66 being towed by Unimog 939 at South Pier on 7th April

Bolton 66 went for trip down the Promenade today from Rigby Road depot to Starr Gate. At around 1140 Unimog 939 was spotted towing Bolton 66 along the Promenade at South Pier, the tram was being moved from Rigby Road depot to Starr Gate depot. Presumably this move must be a prelude to Bolton 66 being reactivated to operational status. Later on, just after midday, Bolton 66 was noted being driven into the engineering side of Starr Gate depot under its own power.

Bolton 66 behind Unimog 939 at South Pier

Bolton 66 on its way to Starr Gate depot

Unimog 939 on its way to Rigby Road depot to collect Bolton 66

Double Deckers on Cleveleys Promenade

Blackpool ADL Enviro 400 City 437 on Cleveleys Promenade on 2nd April

The end of Transporabus's Cleveleys to Fleetwood leg of their service 24 on Saturday 28th March would see the ushering in of a new era. From Sunday 29th March this route was to be covered by an extension of Blackpool Transport's existing service 5, by extending the journeys of BTS route 5 buses from Cleveleys all the way to Fleetwood via Larkholme. The extension of Blackpool Transport's service 5 through to Fleetwood saw the introduction of a regular half-hourly mainly double-deck bus service along Cleveleys Promenade. The photos shown here were all taken during the first week of the extension of Blackpool Transport's service 5 to Fleetwood.

Enviro 400 City 437 passing the skate park at Jubilee Gardens on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 421 passing the FBKafe that was used as a set during filming for Star Wars in 2021

Enviro 400 City 417 passing the Vue cinema on Cleveleys Promenade on 2nd April

Blackpool ADL Enviro 400 City 417 on Cleveleys North Promenade on 2nd April

Enviro 400 City 457 passing one of the distinctive 'flying saucer' shaped shelters on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 430 on Victoria Road West, about to enter Cleveleys Promenade on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 456 turning from the Promenade into Thornton Gate on 2nd April

The FBKafe on the prom in May 2021 as altered for filming of the 'Rogue One' Star Wars prequel

A scene during filming of the 'Rogue One' Star Wars prequel at Cleveleys in May 2021, next to the current FBKafe

The End of Route 24 to Fleetwood

ADL Enviro200 MMC YX68 URF passing St Andrew's Church on Lord Street on 27th March

This weekend saw a number of planned revisions to bus services on the Fylde Coast, one of the biggest changes was the loss of the Transporabus service 24 between Cleveleys and Fleetwood. On Saturday 28th March, the Transporabus contract agreement with Lancashire County Council for the Cleveleys to Fleetwood section of their service 24 ended, from 29th March this route will be covered by an extension of Blackpool Transport's service 5. Most of the photos shown here were taken on Friday 27th March, the last weekday of Transporabus service 24 to Fleetwood, with one taken on Saturday 28th, the very last day.

Volvo MCV Evora BD74 FKE passing Flexity 002 at Fisherman's Walk on 27th March

Volvo MCV Evora BV24 LNA turning from Lofthouse Way into Elm Street on 27th March

ADL Enviro200 MMC YX68 URG travelling east along Elm Street in Fleetwood on 27th March

ADL Enviro200 MMC YX21 RVK turning out of Station Road in Fleetwood on a diversion on 27th March

E200 MMC YX71 OGY turning from Dock Street into Adelaide Street while on a diversion on 27th March

Volvo MCV Evora BD74 FKE on Poulton Road in Fleetwood on 27th March

E200 MMC YX68 URG on Cleveleys Promenade on the very last day of service on Saturday 28th March

Flexity 018 wearing new logos

Flexity 018 sporting its new cab end logos at North Pier on Thursday 26th March

Flexity 018 was spotted on the North Pier siding today sporting new Blackpool Transport logos on the cab ends, with a small 'UK Tram Operator of the Year' banner underneath the new logo at each end of the tram. Flexity 018 was being used for driver training when it was seen on 26th March.

An end view of Flexity 018 on the siding at North Pier

Flexity 018 at North Pier on 26th March

Fleetwood Ferry Track Welding

Grinding the newly welded rail on the Bold Street curve at Fleetwood Ferry

Remedial track welding is currently being undertaken on worn tram rails around the Fleetwood Ferry loop of the Blackpool Tramway. In view of the ongoing track work, all trams will be terminating at Fisherman’s Walk from Sunday 15th March until the end of service on Friday 3rd April. The specialist company Inline Track Welding Ltd has been engaged to rebuild the worn curves using metal welding, then the rail surface is ground flat again afterwards.

A close-up of the rail grinding taking place at Fleetwood Ferry

The vehicles of Inline Track Welding Ltd at Fleetwood Ferry

Cones and traffic diversions in place at Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 015 turning short at Fisherman's Walk on 18th March due to the ongoing track work

Beach Bus 26 Returns for the Season

Transporabus Volvo B9TL 2802 passing South Pier on the second run of the day

Transporabus resumed their seasonal Beach Bus 26 service to Marton Mere Holiday Village on Saturday 14th March. Here are a few photos of 2802, a 2009 Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2, on the first trips of the day.

Transporabus 2802 on Station Road in South Shore on the 0945 from New Bonny Street

Transporabus 2802 on the 1200 departure from the Pleasure Beach