Saturday, 22 November 2014
Red Rocket lifts off for 2014
The "Red Rocket" has lifted off again today and will be operating Christmas weekend shuttles to Manchester. The first journey is depicted showing bendybus BL52ODK showing its Manchester Express destination display.
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
Volvo 139 enters service
Former London United Volvo B7TL W139 EON (ex VA103) made its debut on service 22 after temporary destination blinds and Catch22Bus vinyls were applied. It was planned to convert to single door and repaint in new fleet livery before it entered service, but this year has slipped by so quickly and the decision was made to simply get 139 out on the road earning its keep with a planned makeover now scheduled for Spring 2015.
 |
| 139 at Cleveleys on service 22 to Mereside (photo by Alan Robson) |
Tuesday, 4 November 2014
Volvo 139 gets ready for service
We have finally got around to submitting ex-London UnitedVolvo B7 no.139 (W139EON) for MoT which is passed today. It was planned to convert 139 to single door before it entered service with us but the year has slipped away so quickly. Instead, 139 will now be pressed into service over the winter months and the door conversion and repaint will be re-scheduled for Spring 2015.
 |
| 139 following its MoT pass at Martins of Middlewich. |
Monday, 3 November 2014
Throwing a Six to start
Today we started our new service 6 operating between Grange Park Estate and Blackpool Town Centre, via Layton, every 15 minutes. The service represents an interesting throwback to earlier years when service 6, operated by Blackpool Transport, ran to Grange Park - although its ancestry owes more to Mereside estate than Grange Park.
Our new 6 operates 07:25 to 17:10 from Grange Park with the last departure from Blackpool Town Centre departing at 17:35. Unlike almost all BTS services operated from Grange Park over the last generation or so, our service 6 provides a more direct link into Blackpool, operating along Talbot Road as opposed to either Caunce Street (BTS 11) or via Victoria Hospital & Newton Drive (BTS 2A).
Service 12 has now finished for the winter after a busy summer and open tops 69 & 326 are back in store. In other fleet news, 617 (X617JCS) entered service on 12s last week.
Our new 6 operates 07:25 to 17:10 from Grange Park with the last departure from Blackpool Town Centre departing at 17:35. Unlike almost all BTS services operated from Grange Park over the last generation or so, our service 6 provides a more direct link into Blackpool, operating along Talbot Road as opposed to either Caunce Street (BTS 11) or via Victoria Hospital & Newton Drive (BTS 2A).
 |
| 356 was the first bus to depart from Grange Park on the new service 6. The bus is depicted here in poor winter light. |
 |
| 617 finally entered service on 30 October after passing its MoT and having been treated to a repaint in Catch22Bus fleet livery earlier in the year. |
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Fleet Update
As predicted, Dart 163 returned to passenger service on 22s during July and subsequently sister bus 162 still retaining red livery has been placed in store.
During August we reawakened Bendybus BL52ODK back into service on SeaFront 12 whereas in early September, former Big Bus Tours MCW Metrobus F326UJN was returned to service for the first time since 2009 wearing its Nickleodeon all-over advert livery. (Pictures thanks to Alan Robson)
During August we reawakened Bendybus BL52ODK back into service on SeaFront 12 whereas in early September, former Big Bus Tours MCW Metrobus F326UJN was returned to service for the first time since 2009 wearing its Nickleodeon all-over advert livery. (Pictures thanks to Alan Robson)
Thursday, 10 July 2014
July Fleet Update
Former Transdev Dennis Dart 512 (X512UAT) has returned to service today following a much needed repaint which has completely refreshed its appearance after operating since 2012 in ex-Transdev red and grey.
617 (X617JCS) has also returned from Poulton following a repaint but awaits gearbox attention before it enters service whilst work on 163 (V163MVX) is now completed and will allow 163 to return to service later in July.
As a result of 512's return, sister 533 (X533UAT) is now stored awaiting a repanel and paint whilst 163 will replace sister 162 upon entry to service on 22s.
617 (X617JCS) has also returned from Poulton following a repaint but awaits gearbox attention before it enters service whilst work on 163 (V163MVX) is now completed and will allow 163 to return to service later in July.
As a result of 512's return, sister 533 (X533UAT) is now stored awaiting a repanel and paint whilst 163 will replace sister 162 upon entry to service on 22s.
 |
| Three recently repainted buses to have received the Catch22Bus fleet livery are ex-Stagecoach 617 and other Darts 163 and 512. |
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
June 2014 - Fleet Update
At Poulton, work has progressed on the repainting of ex-Stagecoach Dart 617 (X617JCS) which will soon be joining the operational fleet. Meanwhile, 512 (X512UAT) has received panelling repairs ready for repainting.
Returning from overhaul work off-site are Volvo B6 611 (W611CWX) which now awaits a repaint whereas Volvo B7TL 139 (W139EON) has returned from work at Volvo in Liverpool to some electrical & brake components.
On the heritage side, the work programme to return to service and upgrade buses to Class VI standard continues. The programme involves Ribble buses 366, 1805 & 1997 and Lytham buses 34 (Leyland Lion) & PD2 no.70.
Returning from overhaul work off-site are Volvo B6 611 (W611CWX) which now awaits a repaint whereas Volvo B7TL 139 (W139EON) has returned from work at Volvo in Liverpool to some electrical & brake components.
On the heritage side, the work programme to return to service and upgrade buses to Class VI standard continues. The programme involves Ribble buses 366, 1805 & 1997 and Lytham buses 34 (Leyland Lion) & PD2 no.70.
 |
| 617 now taking shape in Catch22 fleet colours |
 |
| After a long absence, Volvo 611 has returned from brake overhaul work at Optare aftersales in Manchester |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)