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

More Trams and Flags

Flexity 012 at Manchester Square on 11th October

Some more photos of Blackpool Flexity trams passing the flags that have recently been erected all along the Central Promenade from the Tower tram stop southwards. Note the yellow public information sign on the traction pole on the photo of Flexity 012 that reads "Two Lines STOP Look out for trams".

011 & 007 passing each other at Manchester Square

Central Promenade bedecked with Flags

Flexity 004 heading south from the Tower tram stop on 10th October

Over the last couple of nights an intrepid group of people have been brightening up the Central Promenade by attaching Union Jacks and Saint George Flags to dozens of lamp posts between the Tower tram stop and Manchester Square. Here are a few photos taken this morning showing trams and flags.

Flexity 006 at the Central Pier tram stop

Flexity 016 and 011 passing at the Manchester Square stop

Flexity 017 heading south at Central Pier

Former Northstar Enviro200 on Service 24

YX11 FZA on Trunnah Road in Thornton on 8th October

A new bus on the Fylde coast today is a two-tone blue ADL Enviro200 (YX11 FZA) which began service with Transporabus on their route 24 this morning. The bus was previously Northstar 201 (K99 NST) of Chester-Le-Street in the North East, being new to London Sovereign in 2011, before transferring to London United in 2019.

YX11 FZA on Queensway in Poulton-le-Fylde

YX11 FZA turning left from Victoria Road into Alexandra Road in Thornton

Second Voodoo Blue bus appears on the 24

YX21 RVK on Cleveleys Promenade approaching the bus station to enter service

Former Cardiff Enviro200 MMC YX21RVK entered service in the new Transporabus route 24 colours this morning. The bus is the second in the Transporabus fleet to be outshopped in the vivid Voodoo Blue colour branding for the 24. YX21RVK was spotted on its first trip in passenger service in the new blue colour scheme, on the 0915 from Cleveleys bus station to Blackpool.

YX21 RVK in Cleveleys at 1415, heading towards Fleetwood

YX21 RVK on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

YX21 RVK in Cleveleys bus station ready to enter service

YX21 RVK leaving Cleveleys bus station on the 0915 service 24 to Blackpool