Blackpool Transport Services at 100: On the right route

It’s already been a great journey and there are more interesting stops ahead. Blackpool Transport Services is celebrating 100 years of running bus services, with more ambitious plans in the pipeline.

A century after its first bus set out on the road, millions of locals and visitors continue to rely on its services to get them where they want.

And with major investment underway or planned, the coast’s award-winning transport company and its expanding network are on the right route to a cleaner and greener future.

Blackpool’s bus services began back in July 1921. The first route didn’t actually start in Blackpool but was a service between Thornton railway station and Cleveleys beach, for a fare of fourpence - around 50p in today’s money.

In 1924, a tram replacement bus service was put in place between Talbot Road and the Gynn, which proved to be so popular that it stayed in place once the tracks were complete.

By 1932, 16 bus services were operating, along with a seasonal service to Stanley Park and a popular illuminations tour.

During the Second World War the bus depot at Rigby Road, which is still in use today, was utilised for military purposes and six vehicles were developed to run on gas, carrying a large gas-filled ‘bag’ on their roof.

After the war, no fewer than 100 buses were added to the fleet, which continued to serve the Fylde coast throughout the 50s and early 60s, introducing the green and cream livery that is still remembered fondly across Blackpool and the Fylde coast today.

Fast forward to the 1970s, and 1974 saw the introduction of women bus drivers, after the lifting of a trade union ban.

Following bus deregulation in the 1980s, Blackpool Transport Services became an affiliated arm’s length company of its local authority shareholder, Blackpool Council.

In recent times many millions of pounds have been invested on both the buses and those famous trams.

The tramway re-opened in 2012 following a £100m investment that included the replacement of the track, construction of a new depot at Squires Gate and the delivery of a fleet of ultra-modern trams, which today is 18-strong.

Since 2014 a further £20m has been spent refurbishing and renewing Blackpool’s bus fleet. That was the year managing director Jane Cole was appointed and the vision of renewing the bus fleet to ensure that no vehicle was older than five years came to fruition in the summer of 2020.

Blackpool Transport’s smart fleet of Palladium vehicles is now one of the youngest and most feature-laden fleets in the country with onboard audio and visual announcements, wired and wireless charging, free Wifi and contactless payment enabled ticket machines.

The investment continues. The company is actively researching electric bus technology and has been given planning permission to redevelop the Rigby Road depot in preparation for the introduction of the zero emission vehicles in the future.

Blackpool Transport has also applied for a slice of the government’s £220m zero emissions bus grant to support its green journey.

Work is also ongoing to complete the £22.8m tramway extension from the Promenade to Blackpool North rail station. The aim is to create an integrated network, allowing visitors to step off their train and onto services taking them to the north and south of the resort.

Meanwhile, overall passenger numbers on Blackpool’s trams and its buses continue to rise. Its buses carry around 13 million passengers annually with tram passengers rising from just over three million in 2012 to more than five million today.

Little wonder Jane Cole describes it as a “real success story.” She also highlights the important role the company plays in Blackpool’s visitor economy.

At the height of the summer season Blackpool Transport Services employs up to 650 staff. It also serves a major influx of visitors during Blackpool’s famous illuminations.

Jane says: “One of the attractions of Blackpool is that the resort is accessible for people, it is one reason why they come and keep returning, they can get around easily.

“We look to complement the town’s offer by making travelling around the area an enjoyable experience, whether that’s on a heritage tram or by hopping on one of our modern buses.

“We work hard to play our part in creating Blackpool’s visitor experience.

“But it is not just about the visitors. We are also here to serve the people who work in the town, to get them where they need to be efficiently and in comfort 12 months of the year.”

She adds: “As an organisation we have been very visionary in our approach, and it doesn’t stop here. We’re really keen to see even more connectivity in the future.

“We would like to see the tramway extended further into Wyre, up to Poulton, and south towards Preston. We won’t ever stop wanting to expand and to improve the service.

“We want to create more jobs and make sure people in the area get a really good experience from their transport system.

“What really makes Blackpool Transport Services so successful and so special are our people. The most recently published survey figures by Transport Focus saw a 91 per cent customer satisfaction score, one of the highest in the UK, and that is all down to their efforts and commitment.

“As we to continue our modernisation and journey to zero-emission buses, our people are what will continue to set us apart from the rest of the industry.

“We want our teams to enjoy working at Blackpool Transport, to learn, develop and belong to something special.

“More than ever, I am proud to be able to work with so many dedicated people who are contributing to the continued success of Blackpool Transport and the Blackpool economy.”