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

DAF DB250LF makes its first outing on coastal Service 21

DAF LJ51 DKO arriving in Cleveleys on the 0945 service 21 from St Annes on Friday 26th September

DAF DB250LF LJ51 DKO, which is in the Blackpool area for use on the Transpora illuminations tours, made its first daytime outing in passenger service on the route 21 between Cleveleys and St Annes on Friday 26th September. LJ51 DKO was converted to open top condition by TootBus for use on their London sightseeing tours, being new to Arriva London.

LJ51 DKO at Norbreck on the 1030 service 21 from Cleveleys bus station

LJ51 DKO passing Wilton Parade in Blackpool on service 21 to St Annes

Transpora Open Top DAF operating an Illuminations Tour

Transpora open top DAF LJ51 DKO loading up for an Illuminations tour on Thursday 25th September

Transpora open top DAF LJ51 DKO operating a Blackpool Illuminations tour at 1930 on Thursday 25th September. LJ51 DKO is a DAF DB250LF with Plaxton President body, previously with TootBus on London sightseeing tours and new to Arriva London. The illuminations tours are operating daily at 1930 (excepting Mondays and Saturdays) until 2nd November.

LJ51 DKO and a passing Flexity near Blackpool Tower

LJ51 DKO loading for the 1930 illuminations tour on 25th September

Another day another Open Topper on the 21

Trident W501 RBB crossing the tram tracks in Cleveleys on 24th September

Service 21 to St Annes saw Dennis Trident W501 RBB with fully open top Alexander ALX400 bodywork in use on Wednesday 24th September. This bus must be one of the most travelled vehicles in the fleet, having been used on tours in Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth and Cardiff, to name a few, and it currently carries 'London Bus 4 Hire' lettering above the doors.

W501 RBB climbing the hill alongside Anchorsholme Park

W501 RBB at Cleveleys bus station ready for the 1200 departure to St Annes

All-Over Advert Bus on Transpora Sea Front 21 Service

V158 MEV at Anchorscholme on the 1030 from Cleveleys bus station on 23rd September

Dennis Trident V158 MEV with an Alexander ALX400 body was spotted on Transpora's sea front route 21 on Tuesday 23rd September. This bus is normally assigned to Sightseeing Manchester service, and since June has had an all-over wrap advertising Slice Mobile. The bus was back on normal Sightseeing Manchester duties the following day.

V158 MEV at Cleveleys bus station about to leave for St Annes

V158 MEV heading south at Gynn Square roundabout

V158 MEV northbound towards Cleveleys at Talbot Square

Flexity 013 in a new Mini Golf advert

Flexity 013 at Fleetwood Ferry with its new 'The Hole in Wand' advert on 22nd September

Flexity 013 has appeared in service this week carrying new T-Bar adverts on both sides for The Hole In Wand indoor crazy golf course in Blackpool.

The centre section of Flexity 013 showing the new advert

013 at Fleetwood Ferry with its new T-Bar advert for 'The Hole in Wand' crazy golf course

Transpora open-top Scania on route 26 to Marton

LX58CEV on Bond Street, passing the Nickelodeon Streak roller coaster in the Pleasure Beach

One of Sightseeing Manchester's open-top Scanias was in use on Transpora North West's service 26 to Marton again this weekend. Scania N230UD Omnicity LX58CEV (ex Stagecoach London) has been in all day service on Beach Bus 26, from Marton Mere holiday village to Blackpool, on both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August.

LX58CEV passing South Pier on the Promenade

LX58CEV heading inland along Station Road in South Shore

LX58CEV heading into Blackpool with a full load from Marton Mere Holiday Village

LX58CEV passing the Royal Oak at the junction of Waterloo Road and Lytham Road

LX58CEV arriving in New Bonny Street with a full load of holidaymakers from Marton

LX58CEV unloading passengers at the New Bonny Street stop near the Promenade

Overhead problem at Norbeck causes tram service delays

Flexity 011 waiting behind a stop sign just before Little Bisham loop

There was disruption to the tram service in Blackpool on Saturday afternoon caused by overhead wiring problems. An overhead line crew was seen at Norbreck attempting to rectify the problem on a centre pole on the tramway reservation. Both northbound and southbound trams were delayed while the repairs took place. Flexity 011 was noted on the southbound track just before Little Bispham loop at 1315, parked behind a red stop sign that had been positioned between the rails. Stationary southbound trams were also observed at the Anchorsholme Lane and Cleveleys stops, presumably there was a similar backlog on the northbound line.

Overhead crew making repairs to the damaged wiring at Norbreck

A loose wire hanger insulator on the northbound line at Norbreck

New Overall Advert for Flexity 014

Flexity 014 near South Pier heading towards Starr Gate

Flexity 014 is carrying a new black overall advert for Season 2 of the Netflix TV Series "Wednesday". The tram was first spotted near South Pier on the morning of Wednesday 13th August, on its first day in service with the new advert.

Flexity 014 passing the Tower on its way to Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 014 heading north past the Sandcastle centre

The centre section of Flexity 014 showing off its new Netflix advert