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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jun 2, 2012 21:04:59 GMT 1
was a wonder to behold! I wonder what happened to the 1985/6 "Centenary" class 641-8? These were the first bespoke driver only trams in Britain, although they looked like buses with electronic paraphenalia. I suppose 25 is a reasonable if short lifespan for these trams. They were withdrawn at the end of the season last year. A few Balloon trams (traditional style and millennium class) have been made accessible so should be able to operate alongside the new trams this summer.
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Post by Arriva Wakefield on Jun 2, 2012 22:48:07 GMT 1
Seems my hunch was right. 365, 403,410, currently having wraps for Golf Championship. 405,413,415,416 and 417 are expected to follow. Well isn't that a treat for the people paying £5 for a return ticket to get to the tournament? Just as a matter of interest, what have other operators used on services to the Open? I would have put money on it that nobody in an attempt to encourage them to come back, would have used vintage travel. There are also two East Lancs Olympians to be done making 10 in total. Info from Fylde Bus Blog Do you not remember the year (95?) when Routemasters were used.
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Post by Arriva Wakefield on Jun 2, 2012 22:49:39 GMT 1
was a wonder to behold! I wonder what happened to the 1985/6 "Centenary" class 641-8? These were the first bespoke driver only trams in Britain, although they looked like buses with electronic paraphenalia. I suppose 25 is a reasonable if short lifespan for these trams. They were withdrawn at the end of the season last year. And apparently 648 is going to come back into use as part of the Heritage fleet.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 3, 2012 0:58:57 GMT 1
centrebus elland- Good news about 648!
It looks as if the Open Golf will be 365's swan song unless its preserved.
Talking about AEC Routemasters Blackpool acquired about a dozen in 1986 and they ran for a decade or so. They were fitted with Leyland engines but still sounded like AECs. I rode one in 1994 on route 40 which ran from the Tower to Pontins.
They were used on the 1996 Golf Open shuttle then and their engines were clearly heard on BBC tv . Peter Alliss commented how noisy they were and the camera focussed on them briefly. I dont suppose they were any noisier than in London althoiugh Lytham is a quieter place so they stood out more!
sconehead85
P.S. Post modified because of additional information!
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 3, 2012 10:44:04 GMT 1
I started at BT in June 1996, the Routemasters were parked up, and I believe delicensed. Sometime in the next couple of years some were reinstated and used for a short while. Just trying to remember when.
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Post by dwarfer1979 on Jun 3, 2012 10:55:04 GMT 1
Is DDA for passenger use or school buses too. DDA covers all regular scheduled bus/coach services, the DfT say that 'closed' school contracts (i.e thoses unregistered that are only available to specific pupils and no fares are paid) but the wording of the legislation is somewhat less clear so there is a concern if someone tested it in law whether the operator would win. All services where individual fares are paid (including schools that charge fares - including season tickets - and National Express services) are covered and must be operated by DDA compliant vehicles by the respective dates (2015, 2016 or 2017 depending on type). Trams & Trains are also covered but have longer, until 2020 I think.
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 3, 2012 11:02:16 GMT 1
Have investigated, and found out that the Routemasters were reinstated for the 1996 Golf Championship, and then were used spasmodically on service 21 to the Zoo, although I do remember one o n a 14 disgorging its raucous load of Collegiate High School pupils at this time.The last on e was used in the October and they were then sold. Thanks to Fylde Bus Blog.
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Post by lbaspotter on Jun 3, 2012 17:42:59 GMT 1
Suprised Blackpool Transport have never been eaten up by Stagecoach, Go Ahead, Arriva or First.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 3, 2012 17:59:46 GMT 1
Go-Ahead only seem interested in the south and East Anglia, apart from its north east origin.
Stagecoach would not be allowed to touch Blackpool Transport due to it dominating the west coast up to and beyond the Scottish border. They behave as if they were still Ribble. I think BT should take over the 84 and 86 routes as that is all thats left at Fleetwood (Stagecoach would still have the 42, 61, 68 and 89 routes.))
First may have been interested but they are cutting back and are unlikely to take on a detached operation.
Arriva could take over if they wanted to but I think Rotala or Transdev would be the favourites if the company was sold.
sconehead85
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jun 3, 2012 23:54:22 GMT 1
I think having to deal with the trams would have put potential buyers off, this is now less of a problem, but the fact that it isn't very profitable still is an issue.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 14, 2012 5:08:30 GMT 1
Judging by photos on the Fylde Bus Blog the competitor route 12 is not exactly over-run with passengers. I think it will only survive if the summer weather is good. Its a pity this is competing with the City Sightseeing service as I think there is a small market for a vintage bus service but not this "12". Too frequent and up against heritage trams on occasions, which is where the "heritage passenger £" will go.
It looks also as if the Open Golf will definitely mark the final use for the remaining 400s (inc 365) as the school year ends and Manx DAFs enter service (356 being the latest, 357-363 to come).
P.S It might be an idea for City Sightseeing to quit the Promenade service and let the independent take over the service in place of the 12. Then Blackpool Transport can pull out of open top operation altogether.
sconehead85
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 15, 2012 7:34:46 GMT 1
The 12 is hardly competing with the City Sightseeing operation, as that stays in the garage until the July school holidays, and even then only operates for the 6 weeks and the October half term.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 20, 2012 23:06:23 GMT 1
Line 15 is withdrawn wef 22nd July but is being replaced by putting a double run on to Line 2 so it runs Blackpool-Staining Rd End-Bibby Drive-Staining Rd End-Poulton.
It would have been more sensible to extend half hourly journeys on Line 5 from Victoria Hospital instead.
sconehead85
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Post by lbaspotter on Jun 21, 2012 0:11:04 GMT 1
Always thought Blackpool trams were very profitable.
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 21, 2012 11:05:00 GMT 1
Tried extending 5's to Staining every half hour several years ago, didn't work then, so probably would not work now.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 21, 2012 13:38:58 GMT 1
If you live between Staining and Staning Road End the Mon-Sat daytime frequency is four buses per hour, whereas my Line 5 idea would be every 30 mins and would cut out the possibility of two virtually empty buses following each other on the Staining section. Also the Blackpool service should become 2B (or not 2B) that is the question, or whether it be nobler to call it 2A.
sconehead85 (with some assist from the late W. Shakespeare.)
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 22, 2012 20:48:37 GMT 1
No its not. The daytime frquency of the 15 has always been half hourly in its current format during the day to Staining. Even when the 5 went to Staining previously, it was only half hourly, when it was the 23 it was half hourly, and when it was the original 15 I believe it was hourly. I do actually live on the 15 route, admittedly at the Bispham end, and I have also been in meetings with management when changes to the Staining service have been put forward. I'll just put forward one point, as I don't work there anymore. Could the 2 being diverted via Staining possibly be anything to do with the fact that BT pulled the evening service to Staining some 18 months ago? The cynical in me suggesting it is a token effort by BT to put the evening service back on, to appease the restless natives.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 23, 2012 0:02:03 GMT 1
Apologies, the TENSE was wrong. The diverted Line 2 WILL provide 4 buses per hour between Staining Lane End and Bibby Drive. There is no indication as yet of an evening service.
sconehead85
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ratty
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Post by ratty on Jun 23, 2012 0:30:42 GMT 1
No, the 2 is every 30 minsand that is what is being diverted between Staining ROAD End and Bibby Drive. The 2C which operates the other half hours services has diverted for some time at the Hospital, to serve Grange Park Estate and then follow the road to Poulton that passes the left turn for Carleton Crossing, ( where the 14 turns left). Both services operate hourly at night and Sundays, making a combined 30 minute service to Poulton. So combined Mon -Sat the Poulton to Blackpool service is evry 15 mins, but 2 go one way and 2 go the other Nobody seems to know however, what is happening to the 15 at my end of the route, or is it that the people responsible dare not tell anyone, that they are taking it off. Again me being cynical perhaps.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jun 24, 2012 2:09:17 GMT 1
The north end of the 15 is LARGELY covered by other services, but there will be one or two small gaps.
On the fleet , 417 is now the last second hand Leyland Olympian, barring the six set aside for the Open Golf at Lytham.
It looks like just 368-373 will represent the Leyland Olympian in the new school year along with Volvos 374-379 and any Trident that may chip in on school duties.
sconehead85
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Post by sconehead85 on Jul 5, 2012 14:02:17 GMT 1
The final line up for the Open Golf is 365, 370, 402/3/5/10/3/5-7.
All but 370 are due to be finally withdrawn on 27th July when the Olympics start, ironic given these buses are OLYMPIANS!
I still think the 2 Staining diversion is daft and the 5 should be extended (30 minutes Mon-Sat daytime and all evening and Sunday journeys) instead.
sconehead85
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LukePA
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Post by LukePA on Jul 5, 2012 14:21:39 GMT 1
Blackpool Transport have already tried extending the 5 to Staining but this did not work. The extended number 2 requires no extra buses during the day anyways.
Also to note at Blackburn exIOM DAF 354-8 are now all completed awaiting collection by Blackpool Transport.
14 Flexities are now in service with the début of 016 on 3/07/2012. 001 is receiving work at Starr Gate and 002 is still in Germany being repaired.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jul 5, 2012 15:10:05 GMT 1
Grand Central- I am aware of a previous 5 running to Staining but I thought it would make more sense to have one bus every 30 minutes on the Staining Road End/Staining section rather than two 2s following each other, one for Poulton and the other for Town Centre. This diversion requires ONE extra bus of the four taken off the 15. Returning the 5 to Staining only requires one extra vehicle (every 30 mins daily all day)
The northern bit of the 16 is being rerouted to replace the 15. The 16 will start at Bispham Library and wind its way around to North Station. By putting a section in between Bispham and North Station could enable the 16 to become a circular, 6C and 6A representing clockwise and anti-clockwise circuits.
sconehead85
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LukePA
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Post by LukePA on Jul 6, 2012 20:05:16 GMT 1
What Im saying is not matter how many times you try things they will never work like the extension of service 5.....The Blackpool Transport network is fine as it is withour circulars everywhere.
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Post by sconehead85 on Jul 7, 2012 0:07:54 GMT 1
Grand Central- We will agree to differ on route 5, but as for the 16 Bispham Library and North Station are about 1.5 miles apart and it would make operational sense to turn that route into a circular. The "6C/6A Orbital" would be the only such route in Blackpool, especially useful if it could connect with trains at Blackpool North Station. One extra bus would be needed, this could come from Line 1.
6C North Station-Promenade-Bispham Library-Moor Park Ave-Kincraig Rd-Norcross-Rington-Castle Gardens-Poulton-Garstang Rd W-Poulton Rd-Victoria Hospital-East Park Rd-Preston New Rd-Mereside-Marton-Highfield Rd-Pleasure Beach-Spen Corner-Town Centre-North Station (6A reverse)
sconehead85
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