Palladium Premiere

Mercedes Citaro 559 approaching Blackpool Victoria Hospital along Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool Transport's new Palladium branded Mercedes Citaros made their passenger service debut on Sunday 31st May. As expected the vehicles were in use on Service 5 between Victoria Hospital and Halfway House, and with it being a Sunday service only three buses were required to operate the route, these being 557-559.

Mercedes Citaro 559 arriving in Blackpool town centre along Talbot Road

Mercedes Citaro 557 departing the number 5 bus stop for Victoria Hospital in Whinpark Avenue

The rear of Mercedes Citaro 557 as it heads away from Blackpool Victoria Hospital along Whinpark Avenue

Mercedes Citaro 559 at the new bus station and car park at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Mercedes Citaro 558 turning into Whinpark Avenue at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Excel Swansong

Optare Excel 224 heading along Talbot Road towards Knott End on the 2C service on 30th May

Blackpool Transport's fleet of Optare Excels saw their last day of normal passenger operations on Saturday 30th May. With the new fleet of Mercedes Citaros due to enter service the following day, the Excels saw their last hours out on the 2, 2C and 17 routes, with all nine of the surviving buses being used, ie 216 and 218 to 225. It is understood that five of the Excels are to have a temporary reprieve until after the planned BTS route changes that are due to come into effect at the end of June.

225, the numerically highest of the Excel survivors, on Market St bound for St Annes on route 17 on its last day of use

Mercedes Citaro 555

Citaro 555 displaying "Victoria Hospital via Blackpool Town Centre", one of the displays that will be used on service 5

Mercedes Citaro 555 was parked on Corporation Street on Friday 29th May, allowing passing drivers the chance to familiarise themselves with the controls and features of the Palladium branded buses.

A rear nearside of Palladium branded Citaro 555 parked up in Corporation Street, for driver familiarisation purposes

Palladium 554

Palladium branded Mercedes Citaro 554 parked up in Corporation Street for driver familiarisation

Since the launch of their new Palladium branded Mercedes Citaros last week, Blackpool Transport have been parking one of the new buses in Blackpool town centre, so that BTS bus drivers can look over and familiarise themselves with the new vehicles before their inauguration into passenger service on route 5.

A rear view of Palladium branded Mercedes Citaro 554 parked up in Corporation Street

Blackpool Dungeon Advert on Trident 331

Dennis Trident 331 at Central Pier with a rather gloomy black based overall advert for The Blackpool Tower Dungeon

A fourth Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident has recently received a new overall advert. Trident 331 is carrying vinyl advertising for The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, unfortunately this is yet another black based advert.

A rear view of the new Blackpool Tower Dungeon overall advert on Dennis Trident 331 at Talbot Square

Flexity and Blackpool Tower Trident

Flexity 002 and Dennis Trident 330 passing each other at the Imperial Hotel

Flexity 002 southbound at the Imperial Hotel passing northbound Dennis Trident 330 which is carrying the new 2015 overall advert for The Blackpool Tower.

Dennis Trident 330 with its new overall advert for The Blackpool Tower is seen passing the Imperial Hotel

The Three Queens

The Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria line abreast in the River Mersey on Bank Holiday Monday

A unique event took place on the River Mersey at Liverpool on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May. To celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Cunard Line, all three of Cunard's ships were due to meet on the Mersey in a spectacular coming together of the whole fleet, which is unlikely to be seen again in Liverpool for a very long time. RMS Queen Mary 2 had arrived in the port on the morning of the preceding day, Sunday 24th May. At 1045 on Bank Holiday Monday, the Queen Mary 2 departed from the Pier Head and made its way down to the mouth of the River Mersey, where it performed a 180 degree turn to await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. While the Queen Mary 2 remained on station at the mouth of the Mersey, she was passed by the Queen Elizabeth, which had sailed from the Orkney islands in Scotland, and the Queen Victoria, which had arrived from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The Queen Mary 2 took up her position at the rear of the flotilla and all three ships sailed line astern along the River Mersey towards the Liver Building, they then slowed to a stop adjacent to the Echo Arena and performed a choreographed 180 degree turn until they were facing north. The ships then slowly manoeuvred into a line abreast formation in the centre of the river opposite the Liver Building. As the ships held their position mid-river, the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team made a flypast overhead on their way to a perform a display at Blackpool. At 1410 the Queen Mary 2 departed the city to continue with her cruise to Guernsey, while the Queen Elizabeth berthed at the Pier Head landing stage and the Queen Victoria remained anchored in the centre of the River Mersey. A few facts about the three Queens, the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are both cruise ships that weigh around 90,000 tons and have a capacity of just over 2000 passengers. The Queen Mary 2 is a full ocean going liner and weighs in at 148,000 tons with a capacity of 2,600 passengers. The Queen Mary 2 is the last major ocean liner to be built since the QE2 back in 1969, and was constructed with 40% more steel than an equivalent cruise ship in order to be able to withstand the rigours and storms of regular transatlantic crossings.

The Mersey ferry Snowdrop in a WW1 style dazzle camouflage scheme approaching Seacombe landing stage

The Queen Mary 2 leaving the Pier Head at Liverpool in order to make its way towards the mouth of the River Mersey

The Queen Mary 2 performing a 180 degree turn around at the mouth of the River Mersey beyond New Brighton

Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria passing the Queen Mary 2 at the mouth of the River Mersey near New Brighton

The Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, with the Queen Mary 2 passing by Seaforth container terminal

The Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 being led up the River Mersey by the tug Svitzer Bidston

The Queen Elizabeth leading the Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 up the River Mersey in line astern formation

The Queen Victoria leading the Queen Mary 2 up the River Mersey towards the Liver Building

The cruise ship Queen Elizabeth leading the flotilla of three Cunarders up the River Mersey

The Queen Victoria passing the similarly named Victoria clock tower at the entrance to Liverpool Docks

The Queen Mary 2 bringing up the rear of the flotilla of three ships

The RAF Red Arrows display team performing a flypast over the three Queens and the Liver Building

The Queen Mary 2 leaving Liverpool in order to continue with her cruise towards Guernsey

The Queen Mary 2 departing for Guernsey as the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria remain on station in the river

The Queen Mary 2 passing the Seacombe landing stage as she heads off down the Mersey bound for Guernsey

The Queen Elizabeth draws up to the Liverpool Pier Head landing stage as the Mersey ferry Royal Iris passes by