Old Circular Tour tram track revealed

A close-up view of the junction with the Station Road line and the Promenade

Some of the old tram track which formed part of the Circular Tour route along Station Road in South Shore has been visible for some time now. The junction with the Promenade and part of the eastbound track on Station Road are currently poking through the worn tarmac road surface.

The tram line along Lytham Road was opened in 1895, with an extension to Victoria Pier (now South Pier) via Station Road opening two years later in 1897.

Circular tours using toastrack trams began operating in 1911, running from Talbot Square to South Pier, then turning left into Station Road, Lytham Road and round Marton before returning to Talbot Square. With the closure of the Lytham Road route in October 1961, the track along Station Road ceased to be used.

Looking towards the Pleasure Beach at South Pier, with the old junction visible in the road

The Promenade/Station Road junction visible adjacent to South Pier

Part of the eastbound track currently visible, halfway along Station Road

A 1909 map of the Station Road line, which fails to show the Promenade junction

Catch22Bus roadworks diversion

Catch22Bus 11.1m Optare Versa YJ61JHH on Woodland Avenue near Marsh Mill

Service 24 of Catch22Bus (Fleetwood to Poulton) had to operate via a diversion from Tuesday 23rd until Friday 26th June, due to road resurfacing taking place on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton. Buses were diverted after Thornton Health Centre, turning south onto Fleetwood Road North then left into Woodlands Avenue, rejoining the normal route at Lawsons Road, rather than following the usual route of Fleetwood Road North and Trunnah Road.

Dennis Dart GX54DWO turning from Woodland Avenue onto Fleetwood Road North

10.4m Optare Versa YJ10EYZ passing the 1893 built Hope Villa on Woodland Avenue

Optare Versa YJ61JHH heading for Cleveleys along Woodland Avenue

Saint Petersburg Trolleybuses

Trolza 5265.08 Megapolis 1025 running on battery power along the University Embankment

The first trolleybus route began operation in Leningrad (since renamed St. Petersburg) on 21st October 1936, it ran through Truda Square, Nevsky Prospect and Krasnaya Square (present day Alexander Nevsky Square), its length was 5.8 km. The line was operated by two vehicles produced at the Leningrad Car Repair Plant, later the line was served by YaTB-1 trolleybuses made at the Yaroslavsky Plant. In 1937 a second route was launched linking Finlyandsky Railway Station and Gaza Avenue. By 1940 there were five routes operated by 80 trolleybuses. During the Siege of Leningrad (from 1941 to 1944) all trolleybus service was suspended. In 1947 new MTB-82 trolleybuses were introduced, being replaced by ZIU-5 trolleybuses from 1972. During the 1990s passenger numbers dwindled, and the trolleybus fleet was reduced from 1,315 to 849 vehicles. December 2017 saw the introduction of Trolza Megapolis trolleybuses that can operate over wire free sections of routes using battery power. Today Saint Petersburg is the largest trolleybus system in Russia, with 44 routes operated by around 700 trolleybuses.

Trolza 5265 Megapolis 3502 and the Kunstkamera, the first museum in Russia, built in 1727

Trolza 5265 Megapolis 3519 crossing over the River Neva on The Palace Bridge

A rear view of VMZ-5298.01 "Avangard" 2342 on The Palace Bridge

BKM 321 trolleybus 2431 in an overall advert livery for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup

BKM 321 trolleybus 3451 in Palace Square with the Winter Palace in the background

VMZ-5298.01 "Avangard" 3333 in front of the Admiralty building on Dvortsovyy Proyezd

BKM 32100D trolleybus 3108 on route 10 on Dvortsovyy Proyezd

BKM 32100D trolleybus 3108 passing the Admiralty building on Dvortsovyy Proyezd

New Preston Bus livery on LCC Service 75

Solo 20016 Preston bound in Thornton on 29th February

Preston Bus are continuing the slow process of repainting their buses in the Diamond Bus two-tone blue colour scheme. 2010 built Optare Solo SR 20016 (YJ10 MFV) was the first of the Solos to be outshopped in this livery with full branding, 2008 Solo 20701 followed later, but has been in use for several months without any fleet branding. Solo 20702 was outshopped in the new livery during the first week of June, with 20703 scheduled to follow it a week later. Preston Bus are contracted to run the service 75 between Preston and Fleetwood by Lancashire County Council, providing a rural bus service connecting several villages between the two towns.

Preston Bus 20016 in Thornton on the service 75 to Preston

Fleetwood bound Solo 20701 in Thornton on service 75 on 15th June

Preston Solo SR 20701 in Cleveleys on route 75 to Preston on 15th June