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

First day of new Transporabus Service 9

The first bus in operation on Service 9 was Enviro400 MMC YX73 PKA, seen on Bourne Way in Thornton

Transporabus have commenced operation of a new route that runs between Burn Naze and Blackpool. The new Service 9 runs from the Burn Naze area of Thornton on Fleetwood Road via Bourne Way, West Drive, Thornton Centre, Norcross, Blackpool & The Fylde College, Bispham Village, Warley Road, Claremont to Blackpool Town Centre. Double deck buses were noted in use on the first day of operation of the new service on Monday 10th November.

ADL Enviro400 MMC YX73 PKA on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton heading for Burn Naze

Scania Omnicity YR59 FYW heading towards Norcross on Fleetwood Road South in Thornton

ADL Enviro400 LF59 XDZ heading north along Fleetwood Road South towards Burn Naze

Remembrance Day Trams and Buses

Flexity 001 leaving North Station for Fleetwood Ferry on 6th November

A selection of Blackpool's trams and buses wearing large poppies to commemorate the fallen members of our armed forces who were killed during wars and conflicts.

Mercedes Citaro 558 heading along Talbot Road on service 5 to Halfway House

ADL Envro 228 at Talbot Square on service 3 to Mereside

Flexity 001 turning into Talbot Square on its way to North Station

Archway Enviro200 YX24 PMV in Talbot Square on service 76 from St Annes

Enviro 416 leaving Market Street on service 11 to Lytham

Stagecoach Gold 15239 in Talbot Square on service 61 to Preston

GB Railfreight Class 66s at Poulton-le-Fylde

GBRf 66710 'Karen Harrison' passing through Poulton station with the exhibition train

The Railway 200 exhibition train 'Inspiration' left Blackpool North railway station on Saturday 8th November after a four day visit. The train was returning to the Derby Railway Technical Centre (RTC) for a short break, before visiting the next port of call on its nationwide tour at Llandudno on 15th November. The exhibition train departed from Blackpool North at 0947 behind GBRf 66710 'Karen Harrison', with 66719 'Michael Portillo' bringing up the rear.

66719 'Michael Portillo' on the rear of the train at Poulton-le-Fylde

Railway 200 Exhibition Train Visits Blackpool

GBRf 66710 'Karen Harrison' at Blackpool North railway station on 6th November

As part of the 2025 celebrations to commemorate 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on 27th September 1825, a Railway 200 exhibition train called Inspiration has been touring the country. This week the train has been visiting Blackpool North railway station, opening to pre-booked visitors from Tuesday 4 Nov to Friday 7 Nov, before travelling onward to its next destination. The train is topped and tailed by two GB Railfreight Class 66 diesel locomotives, these being 66719 'Michael Portillo' and 66710 'Karen Harrison'.

GBRf 66710 'Karen Harrison' on the rear of the exhibition train at Blackpool

The Railway 200 exhibition train at Blackpool North railway station

A closer view of the Railway 200 exhibition train at Blackpool North

The Railway 200 exhibition train with GBRf 66710 'Karen Harrison' on the rear

GBRf 66719 'Michael Portillo' on the front of the exhibition train

Voodoo Blue in Cleveleys

ADL Enviro200 MMC YX21 RVK turning into Rossall Road, Cleveleys on 23rd October

Transporabus now have two of their vehicles painted in the striking Porsche Voodoo Blue livery. ADL Enviro200 MMC YX21 RVK is seen turning into Rossall Road in Cleveleys this morning, and Volvo B8R MCV Evora BD74 FKE was captured crossing the tram tracks in Victoria Square on 30th September.

Volvo MCV Evora BD74 FKE crossing the tram tracks in Victoria Square on 30th September

Yutong E9L Electric Demonstrator on the Fylde

Yutong E9L YE74 VGO in Cleveleys on its way to Poulton, apparently via Fakenham in Norfolk!

A battery electric Yutong E9L demonstrator (YE74 VGO) has been running on various Transporabus routes this week. The Yutong is being given a short trial on a few local services, notably the 24 and 26 so far. Today it was shadowing the regular service 24 buses, shuttling backwards and forwards between Cleveleys and Poulton, giving local residents a chance to sample a true 21st Century bus, and possibly a taste of the future for us all.

Yutong E9L YE74 VGO outside the Teanlowe Centre in Poulton on 15th October

A rear view of the Yutong E9L at Cleveleys bus station

An interior view of the Yutong E9L at Cleveleys bus station

The Illumination Tours Start

The Frigate at Bispham on 15th October, on the first Illuminations Tour of the 2025 season

The Frigate seen passing south through Bispham at 1845 on 15th October, on the first Illuminations Tour of this very brief season that is taking place during the Lightpool Festival, which runs from 15th October to 1st November.

The Frigate heading back towards the Pleasure Beach at Bispham

The Frigate passing the illuminated tableaux at Bispham