Sunday, 21 July 2024

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

Friday, 19 July 2024

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

Thursday, 18 July 2024

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

Wednesday, 17 July 2024

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