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

Volvo BZL Electric Demonstrator

Volvo BZL demonstrator BV72 KPF passing Tithebarn Park in Poulton on service 24

Transporabus had a Volvo BZL electric demonstrator in use on their service 24 between Blackpool and Fleetwood on 22nd December. BV72 KPF has an MCV body and the demonstrator is due to be in service on the Fylde for the next two weeks.

Volvo BZL MCV demonstrator interior

BV72 KPF descending Tithebarn Street railway bridge in Poulton-le-Fylde

The Volvo BZL demonstrator on Cleveleys Promenade

BV72 KPF on Victoria Road West in Cleveleys

White Enviro200 in Cleveleys

Transporabus Enviro200 LK09 ENM at Cleveleys bus station on the 1515 to Blackpool

An all white Enviro200 was spotted in Cleveleys today operating on the Transporabus service 24. LK09 ENM was new to Metroline of London as their fleet number DE1010, latterly it was with Omega Busways of Warrington, where it was repainted from London red into white.

LK09 ENM at Cleveleys bus station on 8th December.

A rear view of LK09 ENM leaving Cleveleys bus station

LK09 ENM on Cleveleys Promenade turning into Rough Lea Road

LK09 ENM leaving Cleveleys bus station on the 1515 to Blackpool

New Overall Adverts for 011 & 014

Flexity 011 at Anchorsholme with a new advert for Miss Saigon at the Winter Gardens

Two new overall advert trams were noted in service in Blackpool this weekend. Flexity 014 is in a very stylish black and orange advert for Elite Competitions, with orange cars on both sides of the tram at each end. Flexity 011 is carrying new adverts for the Winter Gardens, with a red based advert on one side of the tram for Miss Saigon, and a blue based advert on the other side for Mamma Mia.

Flexity 014 leaving Thornton Gate with a stylish new advert for Elite Competitions

Flexity 011 at Gynn Square with a new advert for Mamma Mia at the Winter Gardens

Flexity 014 at Gynn Square with its new advert for Elite Competitions

Blackburn Bus Company

Blackburn Bus Company 11.7m Optare Versa 237 at Preston in 2022, in a Covid key workers tribute

A prior engagement at Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday evening enabled a flying visit to be made to the nearby bus station first. My last visit to Blackburn photographing buses was when the bus station was located next to the railway station, and 1940s Blackburn Corporation Guy Arab IIIs and Ribble Albion Lowlanders were still in regular operation. The current bus scene consists of 11.7m long Optare Versas and the ubiquitous ADL Enviro 200s, etc.

Blackburn Bus Company Optare Versa 229 reversing out of Blackburn bus station on 23rd November

Blackburn Bus Company Enviro200 503 in route 1 branding at Blackburn bus station

Transdev Rosso Plaxton Centro 1761 (former Blackpool 525) arriving at the bus station

Blackburn Bus Company Optare Versa 229 leaving on route 7 to Accrington

Blackburn Bus Company Enviro200 and Optare Versa on the stands at the bus station

Blackpool Driver Training Buses

Mercedes Citaro 974 on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys in October 2024

Blackpool Transport currently have three buses dedicated to driver training duties. Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE trainer buses 977 and 978 were originally numbered 527 and 528 in the passenger fleet, becoming driver training vehicles in 2020. A couple of years later in 2022, Mercedes-Benz Citaro 554 joined the two Centros and become driver trainer 974.

Volvo Plaxton Centro 978 turning into Pharos St in Fleetwood in July 2024

Volvo Plaxton Centro 977 turning right onto Rossall Road in Cleveleys in November 2022