Sunday 14 February 2010

Excel 219 returns and more Tridents arrive

Excel 219 is the latest refurbished bus to return to use - it was first noted on Line 7 on Thursday 11th. It retains pool livery having been repainted in January. Work is understood to have started back in October so this represents a significant acceleration of the 'down time' compared to 217 and 218.

This means 210-213, 216-220 are now in use with new engines with 215 currently at Cummins. 214, 221-226 retain original specification units.

Two further second hand Dennis Tridents are being purchased with PO51UMV noted on delivery on Lytham Road at 1545 today (15 Feb). This was new to Blue Triangle Buses as TL920 in October 2001 and has been purchased from Ensign bus. It is from the same batch as 338/9. Trident 310 has now entered the paint shop for Line 14 livery.

City Sightseeing Line 20 has now been registered for 2010 operation from Easter. The southern terminus this year is Blackpool Pleasure Beach following the closure of Pontins last year. It is understood that the Manchester tour will not be run by Blackpool Transport this year and that three of the open top Olympians will return to Ensign shortly.