Blackpool Transport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Double-deck Balloon tram at Bispham |
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| Founded | 1885 |
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| Headquarters | Blackpool |
| Locale | Lancashire |
| Service area |  United Kingdom |
| Service type | Tramway, urban and interurban bus services, school bus |
| Destinations | Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Kirkham, Knott End, Poulton le Fylde |
| Fleet | 170 buses, 75 trams |
| Operator | Blackpool Transport Services Ltd |
| Chief executive | Steve Burd |
| Web site | Official Website |
Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) is a bus and tram operator running within the boroughs of Blackpool and Fylde and into the surrounding area, including Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Poulton le Fylde and Kirkham. BTS is a limited company wholly owned by Blackpool Borough Council, which makes it one of the few remaining municipal bus companies in the UK today.
The company's network was relaunched in April 2001 under the name Metro Coastlines. Along with the new name came a new colour-coded service: each core bus route is operated by vehicles painted in a livery heavily featuring that route's colour. There are twelve such core bus routes, and the historic tramway along the promenade also has its own variation of the livery.
- See also: Blackpool tramway
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[edit] Bus types
The company operates many bus types, including:
- DAF SB220/Optare Delta
- Optare Excel
- Optare MetroRider
- Optare Solo (M850/M920)
- Leyland Olympian/ECW
- Leyland Olympian/Roe
- Leyland Olympian/East Lancs
- Volvo Olympian/NC Palatine II
- Dennis Trident 2/East Lancs Myllennium Lolyne
[edit] Fares
Fares on Blackpool Transport depend on the distance travelled. Although there is a cap on buses to how much can be charged for one single/Return journey. Most tickets can be purchased from the bus driver of first bus boarded. On trams, most tickets can be purchased from the conductor or driver. Pensioners who hold a valid nowcard (concessionary travel card scheme in Lancashire) can travel FREE within their borough of residence, crossing a border costs 50p. Children under five also travel FREE. Drivers and conductors are happy to give change in small dominations.
| Fare | Adult | Child (5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | £2.00 or less | £1.00 or less |
| Return | £3.80 or less | £1.90 or less |
| Metro Saver - day ticket, central zone (bus only) | £3.80 | £1.90 |
| Metro Saver + - day ticket, all zones (bus only) | £4.00 | £2.00 |
| Day travelcard (Bus+Tram) All zones | £5.25 | £4.75 |
[edit] Routes & Paint Schemes
Each line has its own individual route colour which is painted with a contrasting colour of yellow, and there are also Black generic painted buses which can be used on any line if a branded vehicle cannot be used for any reason. Each bus stop also features the line colour and timetables are also colour coded.
Since 2002 local bus services have not used the 1960s bus station located on Talbot Road. The town centre Blackpool Transport offices were relocated to Market Street. The two parallel roads Corporation Street (Northbound) and Market Street (Southbound), are both located near the Promenade, North pier, town hall and shopping district. They are now classed as the main town centre stops for bus services 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 20. The other services, 2, 2C, 3,4,6 and 15 main town centre stop is located at the Winter Gardens/Abdingdon Street (Northbound and Southbound)
| Route Number | North Terminus | Major Stops | South Terminus | Vehicle | Monday - Saturday Day frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Cleveleys | Cleveleys, Little Bispham, Gynn Square, Blackpool Tower, Rigby Road, Pleasure Beach, Starr Gate | Pontins | Leyland Olympians, Dennis Trident 2 | 10 mins, high season, 15mins, low season until Nov |
| Line 2 | Poulton/Cleveleys | Cleveleys, Thornton, Poulton, Blackpool North Train Station, Oxford Square, Waterloo Road, St. Annes Square, Lytham Square, Kirkham | Wesham | Optare Solo/Optare MetroRider | 10 mins/30 mins |
| Line 2C | Knot End Ferry | Knott End, Stalmine, Hambleton, Poulton, Blackpool North Train Station, Oxford Square | South Pier | Optare Solo/Optare MetroRider | 30 mins |
| Line 3 | Thornton | Gardeners Arms Pub, Cleveleys, Bispham College, Gynn Square, Talbot Road, Oxford Square, Penrose Avenue, Mereside estate | Mereside Tesco | Optare Solo | 20 mins |
| Line 4 | Cleveleys Park | Cleveleys, Norbreck, Little Bispham, Talbot Road, Sanley Park, Oxford Square, Mereside estate | Mereside Tesco | Optare Solo | 20 mins |
| Line 5 | Victoria Hospital | Layton Square, Market Street, Coronation Street, Waterloo Hotel, Farmers Arms Pub, Blackpool Business Park | Halfway House | Optare Solo | 10 mins |
| Line 6 | Grange Park Estate | Layton Square, Winter Gardens, Market Street, Bloomfield Road, Asda, Mereside Estate | Mereside Tesco | Optare Delta/DAF SB220 | 10 mins |
| Line 7 | Cleveleys | Bispham Library, Devonshire Arms Hotel, Corporation Street/ Market Street, Halfway House, St. Annes Square, Lytham Square | Saltcotes Road | Optare Excel | 20 mins |
| Line 10 | Market Street (Blackpool Town Centre) | Rigby Road, Watson Road Bridge, Highfield Road Booths | Midgeland Road | Optare MetroRider | 60 mins |
| Line 11 | Cleveleys | Bispham College, Bispham village, Layton Square, Corporation Street/ Market Street, Somerfields, Blackpool Airport, St Annes Square, Ansdell, Lytham Square | St. Annes Square, Lytham Square | Dennis Trident 2, Optare Delta, Volvo Olympian | 7-8 mins Cleveleys - St Annes Square/ 15 mins Cleveleys - Lytham Square |
| Line 14 | Fleetwood Freeport | Fleetwood Ferry Terminal, Four Lane Ends, Sixth Form College, Corporation Street/Market Street, Spen Corner, Spring Gardens ' | St. Annes Square | Dennis Trident 2 | 10 mins Fleetwood - Blackpool/ 20 mins Fleetwood - St.Annes |
| Line 15 | Poulton | Castle Gardens, Bispham College, Gynn Square, Dickson Road, Victoria Hospital, Staining Village' | Tesco Superstore | Optare MetroRider | 30 mins |
| Line 16 | Beach Road Roundabout | Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Norcross, Bispham, Grange Park, Victoria Hospital, Stanley Park, Mereside Tesco, Blackpool Airport, Manchester Square | Market Street | Optare Solo | 30 mins |
| Line 20 City Sightseeing | Marton Mere | Blackpool Zoo, Stanley Park, Winter Gardens, Blackpool Tower, Pleasure Beach | Pontins | Open top MCW Metrobuses and Leyland Olympians | 30 mins |
- All routes above either terminate or pass through Blackpool Town centre (Stopping at either Market Street, Corporation Street or Abingdon Street bus stops).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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