Fleetwood Festival Trams & Buses

Balloon 700 arriving at the end of Lord Street on Sunday morning

The 2024 Fleetwood Festival of Transport took place on Sunday 21st July, the event had initially been cancelled in May due to funding problems, but was saved by the formation of a new committee. Sadly the number of older vehicles attending was minimal compared to previous events, but the day was still very popular with the general public. There were very few sales stalls of interest to transport enthusiasts, and the festival now seems to have transformed into a general day out for the public, but in this respect it can be deemed to have been a success thanks to the hard work of the new committee members. Blackpool's tram service terminated at Fisherman's Walk, with all trams running via North Station during the day. A heritage tram service was in operation from Blackpool to Fisherman's Walk, with mini tours running every 30 minutes between Fleetwood and Rossall Beach using Boat 600. Blackpool Transport and Transpora North West buses were using a temporary bus terminus in Station Road opposite the Fisherman's Walk tram stop, due to Bold Street being inaccessible throughout the day.

Flexity 002 up against the barrier stopping trams from running down Lord Street

A busy scene at Fisherman's Walk, with Flexity 015, Boat 600 and 718 as the heritage shop

Transpora Evora 1306 passing by on route 24 and Bolton 66 at Fisherman's Walk

Balloon 723 passing Flexity 006 at Fisherman's Walk

ADL Enviro200s 224 & 1332 with Enviro400 City 426 in Station Road, Fleetwood

Transpora South West buses on the Fylde Coast

Transpora Volvo MCV Evora 1306 at Fleetwood on service 24 to Blackpool on 19th July

The past few months have seen occasional appearances of Transpora South West buses operating on local Transpora North West routes around the Fylde Coast. This week two buses made the long journey from Bristol, following the cessation of Transpora operations in that city a week ago, and they are now based in Blackpool. Volvo B8R MCV Evora 1306 (BV24LNA) and ADL Enviro200 1332 (YX68ULW) have both entered service on route 24 between Blackpool and Fleetwood, a second Evora is expected to join the fleet soon. Shown here are some of the Transpora South West buses that have been seen around Blackpool in recent months.

Transpora ADL Enviro200 1332 on Stanah Road in Thornton on route 24 on 19th July

Transpora ADL Enviro200 YX68ULY at Cleveleys on 7th May

Transpora Enviro400 2606 in Cleveleys on route 21 to Fleetwood on 24th April

Transpora Volvo B9TL 2802 on route 26 on Blackpool Promenade on 8th June

Evora 1306 on Cleveleys Promenade on route 24 with a rather unhelpful destination display

Transpora ADL Enviro200 1332 on Hillylaid Road in Thornton

A rear view of Volvo MCV Evora 1306 on route 24 on Meadows Avenue in Thornton

Transpora Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2802 on route 26 in Blackpool on 8th June

Transpora Volvo B9TL 2802 parked up at Blackpool Coach Station on 8th June

Transpora Volvo MCV Evora 1306 parked up in Cleveleys before entering service on 19th July

Transpora Volvo MCV Evora 1306 at Cleveleys Bus Station with Enviro400 2602

Evora 1306 leaving Cleveleys Bus Station at 0915 for its debut outing on route 24 on 19th July

Transpora South West ADL E200 Moves to Blackpool

Transpora ADL E200 YX68ULW on the 1715 departure to Blackpool from Cleveleys Bus Station

Following the cessation of Transpora Bus operations in the Bristol area during the last week, some of their buses are moving north to begin a new life on the Fylde Coast with Transpora North West. ADL E200 YX68ULW was spotted working on Transpora's route 24 in Cleveleys this afternoon, after only having left Bristol a couple of days ago. The yellow, orange and grey livery over a white base introduces yet another colour scheme to Transpora North West's varied fleet.

Transpora ADL E200 YX68ULW at Cleveleys Bus Station on 18th July

A rear view of Transpora ADL E200 YX68ULW at Cleveleys Bus Station

Box Junction repainted at Talbot Square

Workers repainting the box junction while Flexity 016 on route 3 crosses into Talbot Square

The badly worn out yellow box junction, where the tramway crosses the Promenade at Talbot Square, has finally been repainted. Workmen were busy repainting the Talbot Square box junction on Wednesday 17th July, with the southbound Promenade traffic lanes coned off one lane at a time, to enable the work to be completed while maintaining the traffic flow.

Flexity 017 on route 2 to Starr Gate crossing the partially repainted box junction

Transpora Scania Omnicity YT09ZCJ on route 21 passing the newly painted box junction

Flexity 015 & 016 and the faded yellow box junction at Talbot Square on 19th June

North Station Tramway First Week Pictorial

Flexity 012 at North Station on service T3 to Fleetwood Ferry on 19th June

The new North Station tram line along Talbot Road in Blackpool fully opened for passenger service on Sunday 16th June. The first service car, Flexity 015, set off from Starr Gate at 06:55 on route T2 to North Station, stopping at Talbot Square before arriving at North Station at 07:19. Flexity 015 then left North Station at 07:30 on route T3 to Fleetwood Ferry. The photos shown here were all taken during the first week of operation of the Talbot Road tramway, with most of the shots being taken on Monday 17th and Wednesday 19th June. Trams operate every 30 minutes on each of the three routes (T1, T2 & T3) and the peak requirement is four trams for operating the T3 Fleetwood Ferry to North Station route, with only two trams being required for the shorter T2 Starr Gate to North Station service. The Promenade T1 Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry direct service isn't covered by this report.

Flexity 016 crossing Abington Street on the 10:30 T3 service to Fleetwood on 19th June

Flexity 008 (T3) and 018 (T2) at North Station on Monday 17th June

Flexity 012 on a T3 service from Fleetwood Ferry on Wednesday 19th June

The island platform at North Station with Flexity 013 on service T3 to Fleetwood

Flexity 018 on Talbot Road with a service T2 from Starr Gate on 19th June

Flexity 012 on a T2 at Talbot Square on 17th June, notice the wonky platform name sign

Flexity 016 turning into Talbot Square on a service T3 from Fleetwood on 19th June

Flexity 001 leaving Talbot Square on the 17:30 T3 to Fleetwood Ferry on Monday 17th June

Flexity 012 on service T2 passing Stagecoach ADL E400 11698 on route 61 from Preston

Flexity 015 (T2) meets 016 (T3) at Talbot Square on Wednesday 19th June

Flexity 018 heads up Talbot Road on a service T2 from Starr Gate on Monday 17th June

Flexity 012 crossing Dickson Road on the 11:15 arrival from Fleetwood Ferry on 19th June

Flexity 011 arriving at North Station on a T2 on the first day of service on 16th June

Flexity 018 turning south out of Talbot Square on service T2 to Starr Gate on 19th June

Flexity 008 leaving North Station on the 17:00 T3 service to Fleetwood on 17th June

Flexity 008 (T3) and 015 (T2) at North Station on Wednesday 19th June

The T3 terminus buffer stops at North Station, as viewed from the island platform

The pedestrian subway entrance steps and ramp from North Station

A view through the pedestrian subway looking towards the tram station

First Service Tram to North Station

Flexity 015 stopping to pick up passengers at Talbot Square for the very first time at 07:14

Sunday 16th June saw the first day of passenger service on the Talbot Road tramway extension to North Station. Flexity 015 had the honour of being the first tram to North Station. 015 was due to leave Starr Gate at 06:55 on route "T2 North Station", stopping at Talbot Square at 07:14 before making a timetabled arrival at North Station at 07:19. Flexity 015 departed from North Station a few minutes later at 07:30 on route "T3 Fleetwood Ferry".

Flexity 015 turning into Talbot Square to become the first service tram to use the new tramway extension

Riding onboard Flexity 015 between Talbot Square and North Station on the debut run

Flexity 015 departed from North Station on service "T3 Fleetwood Ferry" at 07:30

A public information sign at North Pier advertising the new tram service