Sunday, 17 August 2025

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

Saturday, 16 August 2025

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

Wednesday, 13 August 2025

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

Sunday, 10 August 2025

Blackpool Airshow Tram Service & Promenade Barriers

Flexity 004 passing the northern tramway barrier, shortly before through operation was curtailed

The 2025 Blackpool Airshow took place over the weekend of 9th & 10th August. Previous years have seen a split tram service in operation, with trams on the northern section operating between Fleetwood Ferry and North Pier, and the southern section seeing trams turning back using the Foxhall crossover with the service running between Manchester Square and Starr Gate. This year the split service lasted from 1200 until around 1830, with the southern section operating the same as last year, with trams turning using the Foxhall crossover. Unlike last year when trams did not use the Talbot Road line, this year just saw a regular Fleetwood Ferry to North Station tram service. During the 2024 Airshow Blackpool Transport chose to terminate the tram service at North Pier, and not use the already opened North Station extension. This year saw heavy duty crash barriers installed on the central area of the Promenade, to protect the public from any potential terrorist attack, with road and tramway barriers near Victoria Street and Chapel Street, and road barriers on New Bonny Street. Note that all the photos used here were taken on day two of the airshow on Sunday 10th August.

The tramway barrier at Victoria St closed, with 001 marooned in a fenced off area on the North Pier siding

Flexity 013 passing a replica Red Arrow Hawk aircraft on the Tower headland
The heavy duty crash barrier at Victoria Street, with police and marshals in attendance
The heavy duty tramway crash barrier near Central Pier
The Promenade road crash barrier near Central Pier
The road and pavement crash barriers close to Central Pier
The Promenade traffic diversion sign just south of Chapel Street and Central Pier
Flexity 013 at the northern end of the southern split service, near Central Pier
Flexity 004 about to return south using the Foxhall crossover
Flexity 018 at the northern end of the southern split service, near Central Pier
Flexity 004 returning south, passing people walking the wrong side of the tramway barriers
Flexity 006 using the Foxhall crossover to return back south again
Tactical Firearms police enjoying the airshow on Sunday afternoon
The RAF Avro Lancaster bomber finishing its display routine with a flypast of the Tower

Thursday, 7 August 2025

New route branding for Transpora North West's Service 24

Transpora Volvo Evora BD74FKE on Meadows Avenue in Thornton on 7th August
Transpora North West are introducing a new livery and route branding for their service 24, in partnership with Lancashire County Council & Blackpool Council. The first bus to carry the new colour scheme is Volvo B8R MCV Evora BD74FKE, which is seen here on 7th August on its first day in service in the new blue livery.

Evora BD74FKE on Westbourne Road in Cleveleys on service 24
Evora BD74FKE in its new blue livery on Bold Street in Fleetwood
Evora BD74FKE at Fleetwood, with BTS Enviro 445 on route 14 and Flexity 008