Trams return to Fleetwood Ferry after three months absence

Flexity 013 passing the fire damaged building next to the closed London Street tram stop

On 3rd June 2026 an arson attack on a large store on Lord Street in Fleetwood caused the tram service to be truncated to Fisherman's Walk. At the time little did anyone realise that it would be over three months before the through service to Fleetwood Ferry would resume again. The former Marks & Spencer store, adjacent to the London Street tram stop halfway down Lord Street, was totally gutted by fire, leaving only the weakened outer walls standing. The Ex Catalogue Outlet shop was left in an unsafe condition, and due to various reasons it would be three months before the front wall of the building was safely supported by scaffolding, securely stabilised by heavy concrete beams. Normal tram and bus services were resumed along the full length of Lord Street again on Saturday 12th September. This pictorial of trams along Lord Street, North Albert Street and the Ferry loop was taken on Sunday 13th September, with some earlier shots of the fire damaged building, etc taken on 5th June.

Flexity 017 arriving at the Fleetwood Ferry tram stop in Bold Street

Flexity 006 heading south along North Albert Street

Flexity 011 on Pharos Street with the Lower Lighthouse visible at the right

Flexity 007 and bus 415 at the Fleetwood Ferry stops on Bold Street

Flexity 017 rounding the curve into Pharos Street

Flexity 006 passing St Peter's Church on Lord Street

Flexity 004 on The Esplanade at Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 016 heading south on Lord Street

Flexity 007 passing Fleetwood Hospital on North Albert Street

Flexity 018 having dropped off passengers at London Street, despite a notice saying that the stop is closed

The Stop Closed notice on the tram shelter at the southbound London Street platform

The burnt out building facade supported by scaffolding weighed down with large concrete beams

The fire gutted shell of the Ex Catalogue Outlet store two days after the arson attack

Lord Street barricaded off between Kemp Street and London Street on 5th June

The barricade at London Street blocking all traffic access to Lord Street

Flexity 007 approaching the barrier blocking access to Lord Street on 5th June

2026 Bus Driver of the Year Final

A line-up of buses at the driver changeover point next to the Metropole Hotel

The National Final of the Bus Driver of the Year competition took place in Blackpool on Sunday 5th September. Bus drivers from all around the country compete to be the top driver, and this year saw 9 buses being used, with 7 of them travelling from various parts of the UK. The competition commences from the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel, before proceeding along Middle Walk where a series of tests are set out for the drivers. The buses then navigate the roundabout at Gynn Square before returning south down the Promenade, where drivers are allowed to pick up and set down passengers at temporary bus stops positioned along the route. The weather was pretty miserable this year, starting out with heavy rain, easing to showers later. After the judging had been completed, David Nairn of First Bus West Yorkshire was named Bus Driver of the Year 2026.

Lothian Volvo B5TL ADL Enviro400 MMC 622 on Middle Walk

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire open top Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 13801

McGill's Mercedes-Benz Citaro 3341 on Middle Walk

Bee Network Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 2331

Stagecoach Midlands Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV 80061 on Middle Walk

First York Wright StreetDeck NewPower EV 71029

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 435

Arriva Merseyside VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar 2 3217

A line-up with First York 71029 sporting a large Blackpool Tower on the rear of the bus

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire open top Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 13801 on Middle Walk

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire open top Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 13801 upper deck

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 459

Several of the drivers posing for a group photo next to First York 71029

Red Open Top Enviro 400 on the Beach Bus 26

ADL Enviro400 LK08 NVF at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Red open-top ADL Enviro400 LK08 NVF was put into service on the Beach Bus 26 service from Marton Mere holiday park on the afternoon of 13th August. The bus was new to Metroline in London as TE891 in 2008. and has seen use with Transporabus in various locations such as Manchester, London, Cardiff and Blackpool.

LK08 NVF on Central Drive in Blackpool on the evening of 13th August

LK08 NVF turning out of New Bonny Street on service 26 to Marton Mere on 13th August

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 Transporabus. The bus was withdrawn after receiving some roof damage while in London and was subsequently converted to a full open topper. SN61 DFA 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