Blackpool Transport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Metro Coastlines | |
 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 |
| Website | Official Website |
Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) is an independent 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
[edit] Fares
Fares on Blackpool Transport buses depend on the distance travelled. Although there is a cap on how much can be charged for one single journey. The cap is £2.00 adult/£1.00 child. Senior citzens travel free under the nowcard scheme. But they can presently only travel for free within their borough of residence. Blackpool has three council borough's Blackpool council, Fylde council and Wyre council. If they travel out of their borough's they must pay 50p.
Blackpool Transport also offer tickets such as returns (which sometimes can be as much as 30% cheaper than two singles). They also offer metro day savers which offer unlimted bus journeys within the central zone for just £3.40 adult/£1.70 child. Blackpool has three zones North,South and Central. The central zone stretches from St.Annes to Clevelys. North and/or South zones can be added for an extra cost. Integrated bus and tram tickets called travelcards are also available. These can be bought to last for either one, three, five or seven days. Monthly zone tickets are available for all or one zone, these last for one month and are valid on buses and trams.
For most fares (singles returns and day savers) you can pay the driver of the first bus you board. You simply place your money in a cash tray and the driver collects it and puts your change(if needed) back into the cash tray. Drivers are happy to give change in small dominations. But sometimes are unable to produce large amounts of change. For Travelcards and monthly zone cards you may need a photocard. You can buy these type of tickets from the transport offices, in Market street, Blackpool. But can also be purchased from various paypoint outlets across Blackpool.
[edit] Routes
- Line 1 - (Summer Only) - Promanade service - Cleveleys - Pontins/Blackpool International Airport - ECW Olympians - (Operated by open top citysightseeing buses in good weather) Extends To Fleetwood on Tuesdays.
- Line 2 & 2c - Poulton le Fylde/Knott End/Cleveleys - South pier/Kirkham & Wesham - Optare MetroRider, Optare Solo (M850/M920)
- Line 3 - Thornton - Mereside (Tesco) - Optare Solo (M850 & M920)
- Line 4 - Cleveleys Park - Mereside (Tesco) - Optare Solo (M850)
- Line 5 - Victoria Hostpital - Halfway House - Extends to Blackpool International Airport, Evenings & Sundays - Optare Solo (M920)
- Line 6 - Grange Park Estate - Mereside (Tesco) - Optare Delta
- Line 7 - Cleveleys - Lytham (Salcotes Road) Extends to Kirkham and Wesham on Evenings & Sundays - Optare Excel
- Line 10 - Blackpool town centre (Market street) - Midgeland Road - Optare MetroRider
- Line 11 - Cleveleys - Lytham square/St.Annes square - Optare Delta, NC Palatine II, East Lancs Olympians, Dennis Trident 2
- Line 14 - Fleetwood - St.Annes square - Dennis Trident 2
- Line 15 - Poulton le Fylde - Mereside (Tesco) - Optare MetroRider
- Line 20 - (Summer Only) - Marton Mere caravan Park - Blackpool Tower - Blackpool zoo - ECW Olympian
- Lifesyle Line 1 - Fleetwood - South shore (Somerfields) - Optare Solo (M850) - Part funded by LCC - Part of the government's Urban Bus Challenge.
All bus routes except the Lifestyle Line 1 pass through Blackpool town Centre.
[edit] Paint Schemes
Each line has its own individual route colour 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.
- Line 1 - Orange (operated by red open top citysightseeing buses in good weather)
- Line 2 - Green
- Line 3 - Light Blue
- Line 4 - Dark Blue
- Line 5 - Red
- Line 6 - Brown
- Line 7 - Purple
- Line 10 - Pale Blue
- Line 11 - Turquise
- Line 14 - Dark Green
- Line 15 - Pink
- Line 20 - Light Purple
- Lifestyle Line 1 - Maroon and cream
