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

Reflection of a Flexity

A mirror image of Flexity 008 on the Promenade on 14th March

A convenient puddle on the Promenade after two days of rain, accompanied with clear sunny skies, afforded the chance to capture a nice reflection shot of Flexity 008 between the South Pier and Pleasure Beach stops on 14th March.

Road Planing Rigby Road & Blundell Street Junction

The road planer in operation on Rigby Road on 10th March

Further to the section of track that was removed to the north of the fitting shop in Blundell Street a few days ago, the tram tracks have now been lifted right across the junction with Rigby Road and into the northern part of Blundell Street, the reasons were obvious after a site visit on 10th March. The tram tracks have been removed in the area of the crossroads to enable a road planer to reduce the depth of the old road surface, in preparation for new layers of tarmac to be laid along Rigby Road and just into Blundell Street either side of the junction. A road planer belonging to J Fisher & Sons Ltd of Manchester was being used on Tuesday 10th March, to lower the road surface in readiness for resurfacing.

The road planer in action on Blundell Street

The Blundell Street & Rigby Road junction after the planer had removed the old road surface

Track Removal near north end of Fitting Shop

A view of the tram track which has been lifted in Blundell Street

A section of tram track has been removed in Blundell Street this week, which now prevents any tram from accessing the fitting shop via the northern (rear) entrance. It is not known why the short piece of track has been removed, as the remaining track along Blundell Street, through the new Foxhall Village housing development, is merely being covered over with tarmac rather than lifted. Access to Rigby Road from Blundell Street has been closed off for the duration of the work.

The track from the northern entrance of the fitting shop in the foreground

The remaining track heading north along Blundell Street still remains in situ

Preston Bus 'Connector'

Wrightbus Streetlight 32255 leaving Preston Bus Station on 3rd March

Preston Bus have given Wrightbus Streetlight 32255 (HF13 FZP) a vinyl wrap 'Connector' route branding. The 'Connector' branding is to promote Service 19, which connects the Larches Estate, Portway Park and Ride, Preston Railway Station, the Bus Station and Royal Preston Hospital. The vinyl wrap portrays a pale blue silhouette of Preston with the word 'connector' in silver letters superimposed over the townscape.

Streetlight 32255 approaching the Bus Station on Carlisle Street

Streetlight 32255 heading west along Lords Walk

Wrightbus Streetlight 32255 on Ringway

A rear view of Streetlight 32255 at the Portway Park and Ride car park

Standard 143 leaves Blackpool

Standard 143 leaving Righy Road on Reid Freight's low loader minus trucks

Standard 143 has departed from Blackpool for a period of loan at the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft in Suffolk. These photos show 143 leaving Rigby Road on a low loader of Reid Freight, after having been lifted off its trucks due to height restrictions. The trucks followed behind on a flat bed lorry.

Standard 143 on Rigby Road about to pass under the Seasiders Way overbridge

Reid Freight's low loader with 143 in the bus yard at Rigby Road depot

New Glass Tower Flexity advert and others

Flexity 015 with its new Glass Tower advert on North Promenade on 17th February

Flexity 015 has received a new overall advert for The Glass Tower hotel on Central Promenade. Here is a selection of overall advert trams that were noted in service on 17th February, along with Flexity 015 wearing its new advert.

Flexity 015 passing 001 at Gynn Square

Flexity 014 with its Elite Competitions advert at Gynn Square

Flexity 011 with its advert for Miss Saigon at North Pier

Flexity 011 turning north out of Talbot Square with an advert for the Mamma Mia show

Flexity 016 with its Coral Island advert turning right out of Talbot Square

Flexity 013 with The Hole in Wand advert heading north to Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 001 carrying an advert for Blackpool Zoo at Gynn Square