Blackpool buses

[driver6540]

Spent a fair bit of time in Blackpool the other day, and noticed that most of the fleet have had their Metro Coastlines/Line xx branding removed to be replaced by the traditional Blackpool transport logo, I also observed a new version of the generic yellow/black livery applied to a couple of buses, as someone who has taken an interest in Blackpools fleet since i was a kid, i was just wondering the reason for these changes.

[kendall17]

IIRC they're dropping the Metro Coastlines and reverting back to good old Blackpool Transport.

[mollman]

Perhaps they could buy some new buses (which are bigger than solos) while they're about it.

[dwarfer1979]

Aug 2, 2010 11:28:01 GMT 1 mollman said:

Perhaps they could buy some new buses (which are bigger than solos) while they're about it.

Recently they have been buying secondhand Dennis Tridents and from reports they have bought a secondhand batch of Volvo B7RLEs recently for this change. One suspects that Blackpool Transport are one of those operators finding it difficult to fund new buses (Solos are somewhat cheaper than a larger vehicle). At least in the current market there appear to be a number of good quality secondhand vehicles on the market for those in need of a cheaper alternative.

[driver6540]

From what i do know, Blackpool Transport has invested heavily in buying over thirty new Tridents/ELC,s from 02-06 and has taken year on year deliveries of new solos for some time now. I was unaware of the B7RLEs though, Perhaps these may be to replace some of the batch of G/H/J/K reg Optare Deltas.

[Jamie]

The Volvo B7LRE Wright Ecplise's which are due to Blackpool Transport will be the ones at Anglian Bus, Beccles.

[mollman]

The Optare Deltas were what I had in mind for replacement and perhaps the rest of the Olympians.

[Jamie]

Aug 3, 2010 9:40:56 GMT 1 mollman said:

The Optare Deltas were what I had in mind for replacement and perhaps the rest of the Olympians.

As far as i was told it was to the case that the B7RLE's upon there arrival once they have finished serving Anglian was to displace the delta's.

[driver6540]

Aug 3, 2010 9:40:56 GMT 1 mollman said:

The Optare Deltas were what I had in mind for replacement and perhaps the rest of the Olympians.

Ah but, would it be a good thing for all the olympians to go?. I dont know about other forum members but i like travelling on line 1 along the prom on one of these, especially the Roe bodied ex-WYPTE ones, being a middle-aged chap (some say old) i remember these entering service when new in Leeds. The X/Y&A reg ECW examples are also to be found on line 1 and despite their age Blackpool Transport keep them in good fettle. IMO be a shame if they all went.

[mollman]

I suppose they could do what they're doing with the trams and keep the Olympians for summer extra services on line 1, however the low floor cut off is getting closer.

[kendall17]

Aug 5, 2010 9:23:51 GMT 1 mollman said:

I suppose they could do what they're doing with the trams and keep the Olympians for summer extra services on line 1, however the low floor cut off is getting closer.

Only 7 years away.

[mollman]

Yes but I agree with Peter Ship of EYMS that there's going to be a rush to buy low floor, especially from the big operators, right at the last minute.

[kendall17]

Aug 6, 2010 9:18:55 GMT 1 mollman said:

Yes but I agree with Peter Ship of EYMS that there's going to be a rush to buy low floor, especially from the big operators, right at the last minute.

I disagree with Mr Ship. Look at First Leeds. Could quite easily be 100% low floor within the next year and was upto a point until needs must and buses came in due to bus availability.

Come 2017, (if funding & investment from First in Leeds continues) then the (if still standing) 1998/1999 Scania Axcess/Axcess ultralows will be displaced elsewhere into the group. More than likely the 2000/2001(51)/2002(52) ALX400s will be displaced elsewhere into the group - this meaning that whilst First Leeds still operates 99% low floor vehicles, other areas in the group are benefitting from them being 99% low floor from a very early stage.

[timelesstable]

I disagree with Mr Ship as well. The larger operators will have their fleets in place well before the deadline. This might involve tying up a lot of the production pre-deadline, but not a last minute rush from them.

The smaller operators might be the ones who are left fighting round the edges for any slack in the productions runs and those secondhand buses which will meet the criteria.

I'm not sure if the 2017 deadline for Low floor buses or Wheelchair assessable buses, the two are not the same, some low floor buses don't have a wheelchair ramp.

[dwarfer1979]

Aug 6, 2010 12:14:27 GMT 1 timelesstable said:

I disagree with Mr Ship as well. The larger operators will have their fleets in place well before the deadline. This might involve tying up a lot of the production pre-deadline, but not a last minute rush from them.

The smaller operators might be the ones who are left fighting round the edges for any slack in the productions runs and those secondhand buses which will meet the criteria.

I'm not sure if the 2017 deadline for Low floor buses or Wheelchair assessable buses, the two are not the same, some low floor buses don't have a wheelchair ramp.

The deadline for full DDA-compliant specification (wheelchair accessibility is not the only pre-requisite for DDA). This means that any vehicle built before 2001/2 would almost certainly not be compliant without major refurbishment (and remember these vehicles will be 15-20 years old by the date the deadline comes in. The general consensus from those who observe the industry is that the major groups are behind on replacement, Stagecoach are about on schedule & Go-Ahead/National Express are ahead but First & Arriva were behind, although if First keep contracting at the current rate they should catch up with themselves without increasing their replacement rate.

2017 refers to the date for replacement of double-deckers, single-deckers is 2015. When you think of all the step-entrance school buses are also covered and would need to be replaced so the industry as a whole is running somewhat behind and whilst the big groups should be able to meet the requirements (Arriva still have extensive step-entrance fleets in service around the country and haven't even started on replacing low-floor but non compliant vehicles for example) there is going to be a bit of a rush for the big guys to get the vehicles in place in time, particularly on the replacement/refurbishment of all the early Dart SLFs etc that pre-date the relevant legislation and as such are not compatible.

[LukePA]

Blackpool Transports new boss didn't like the colour branded buses so therefore has dropped the color coded buses and replaced this with a new livery and he has also reverted back to the old Blackpool Transport. There has also been major service changes which has resulted in Service 6 being withdrawn replaced by service 11 Grange Park to Blackpool and Service 14 to Mereside.

Fleet Changes included the withdrawal of all exLine 6 Optare Deltas, Withrawal of the exWYPTE Olympians. Arrival of the Volvo B7RLE will see the remainning G/H reg Deltas withdrawn. Futher plans in the Autum include some more seconhand Low Floor Deckers and Low Floor Single Deckers to replace the remmaining Deltas and to make a start on replacing the exTrent Olympians.

Hope this helps

[driver6540]

Thankyou, Grand Central your response has been very helpfull, youve told me what i wanted to know. Could i ask if you or any other forum member know how many B7RLEs are coming or when they are due to enter service?. many thanks.

[LukePA]

5, The five vehicles are AU06BOV, AU06BPE, AU06BPF, AU06BPK and AU06BPO of which BPF and BPK are confirmed in Blackpool colours. They were new in March 2006 and carry 44 seat Wright Eclipse bodies. 2 Have arrived and are waiting for the others. Not sure when they will enter service though.

HTH

[mollman]

Cheers for the info Grand Central. Saw the new livery at the weekend on a Solo, looks good but not sure about the black, think it might look better with green instead.

As far as Leeds is concerned, I have no doubt that big cities like Leeds, Oxford and Newcastle might have a 100% low floor network but what about places like Huddersfield, Hull and Preston where new buses are rare with one of the operators. As far as Hull is concerned it may be the only Stagecoach area without Enviro 400s.

[humberside]

Hull isn't that far off being fully low floor. For EYMS to have a non-low floor vehicle doing anything other than schools or contract work is rare. Stagecoach still have quite a few Olympians but the only non-low floor single deck route is the Grimsby depot operated Humber Flyer. Though if Stagecoach Hull could get their hand on a few mid-age Tridents from elsewhere in the group they could go fully low floor too. The UN Buses fleetlist says Stagecoach Hul has 16 Olympians so 10-12 Tridents could probably replace Olympians on service work

When I say low floor I do include buses like EYMS's Optare Excels which I'm pretty certain aren't DDA compliant, but EYMS, and to a lesser extent Stagecoach, have made progress in moving towards a fully low floor network

[mollman]

I knew EYMS had become practically 100% low floor in Hull, didn't realise Stagecoach had so few low floor vehicles but Hull still seem to rely on cast offs (the Enviro 300s were the first brand new Stagecoach Hull buses in at least 5 years).

Additionally I should point out (apologies I have not before) that Peter Shipp said about the rush before the low-floor deadline was move so perhaps there may not be a rush now.

[humberside]

Stagecoach Hull did get 2 Enviro 300's in 2009 as well for the Humber fastcat launch (though that was expansion rather than 'high floor' replacement)

With regards to EYMS they do still have quite a few 'high floor' vehicles in the rural areas, like in Hull often for schools but also on some more marginal services. However EYMS should make the deadline for DDA compliance I think. Over the past few years as Hull as received new Gemini's, more B7TL's have been making their way to the rural depots, and EYMS have bought Gemini's for the main interurban routes anyway. Recently EYMS have cut their investment in new vehicles - this year just 6 Volvo single deckers that were cheap dealer stock - due to the recession/fuel prices. However when things pick up I'm sure EYMS can make the necessary investment to meet the DDA deadline. As you said, they started early which has really helped them

[driver6540]

For those of you interested(i know i am), Blackpool Transport have purchased nine new Plaxton Centro/Volvo B7RLE,s. The first to arrive are 525 BF60 UVJ. 530 BF60UVO and 533 BF60UVS. Another three Tridents have been aquired these being 340/1/2. The first two have the older ELC body same as 338/9 as they are from the same batch PO51 U**. 342 is PL52 XAD and has the newer type loline body, this bus was bought from South Lancs Travel. The remaining Optare Deltas are being withdrawn rapidly now. I have been informed some are already at PVS for scrapping.

[driver6540]

Sept 1, 2010 22:42:54 GMT 1 driver6540 said:

For those of you interested(i know i am), Blackpool Transport have purchased nine new Plaxton Centro/Volvo B7RLE,s. The first to arrive are 525 BF60 UVJ. 530 BF60UVO and 533 BF60UVS. Another three Tridents have been aquired these being 340/1/2. The first two have the older ELC body same as 338/9 as they are from the same batch PO51 U**. 342 is PL52 XAD and has the newer type loline body, this bus was bought from South Lancs Travel. The remaining Optare Deltas are being withdrawn rapidly now. I have been informed some are already at PVS for scrapping.

Trident 340 is PO51 UMT. 341 is PO51 UMV.

[mollman]

Thanks for the information, so what happened to the 2nd hand B7RLEs?