Blackburn Transport

Former bus company in Blackburn, England

Not to be confused with Blackburn Bus Company.

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East Lancs Myllennium Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident 2 in January 2004

Parent| Blackburn with Darwen Council
Founded| 1881
Ceased operation| 22 January 2007
Headquarters| Blackburn
Service area| Lancashire
Service type| Bus operator
Depots| 1
Fleet| 124 (August 2006)

Blackburn Transport[1] was a municipal bus company based in Blackburn from 1881 until 2007.

## History

[edit]

East Lancs bodied Volvo B6R (2008) Preserved East Lancs bodied Leyland Atlantean in September 2012

Blackburn Transport's history can be traced back to 1881, when the Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company commenced operating steam trams.[2] From 1898, the routes were operated by Blackburn and Darwen councils. From 1899, work began on converting the network to electric trams. The last route to be electrified was completed on 4 December 1903.

Blackburn's fleet consisted of 48 double deck and 13 single deck trams. Buses started being introduced in 1929, when six routes were put into operation. Twelve vehicles (6 Leyland Tigers and 6 Leyland Titans) were put into service on these routes. Trams and buses operated together for the next 20 years.

The first tramway route was abandoned in favour of buses in 1935, although further plans to put more tramway routes out of action were put on hold due to the interruption of World War II, during which time, tramway maintenance deteriorated markedly. The tram system closed in September 1949.

Blackburn Corporation purchased 83 new buses to replace the defunct trams, and, as a result, it was a further seven years before any more new buses were required. From 1974, due to a re organisation within the local government, the company became known as Borough of Blackburn Transport.

The livery changed from being predominantly green to green at the bottom, then white and also a red roof, recalling the predominant colour of neighbouring Darwen Transport, which Blackburn had absorbed. As a result, they were given the nickname of 'Italian flag'. Twelve Leyland Atlanteans were the first vehicles to receive this new livery, a model of bus that would become a predominant feature of the fleet.

In 1983, the livery changed again. The 'traditional all green livery' style was brought back.

To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the Borough of Blackburn's bus operations were transferred to a separate company.[1] The livery underwent yet another change, with the predominantly green scheme being split by white stripes around the windows. Also in this year, the company began operating holiday trips under the Blackburn Coachlines brand.

In 1990, an all cream coloured, with dark green bands livery was introduced. At this time, the fleet was beginning to show its age, with the major part of the company's vehicles still being made up of Leyland Atlanteans, although some of the older buses had been replaced by 26 new MCW Metroriders in the end of the 1980s.

Second hand buses and some new models were bought consistently from 1999, although intake slowed again after 2005, due to falling profits.

In 2002, the MetroNetwork was introduced. This offered passengers a simpler view of the services network, known as 'tracks', and the fare structure was also amended, with the introduction of many fare-saving schemes. Some buses were given overall advertising to promote these features.

In 2003, the Blackburn Coachlines operation ceased. Also, the new Schools + services were introduced. These buses, mainly Eastern Coach Works bodied Leyland Olympians were given a predominantly yellow livery, but with green relief. They were in full operation by August 2004.

The first introduction of route branded vehicles came in 2006, with the renaming of the old outer circle service the 'OC'. Two double decker buses were given a new orange, purple and yellow livery, and in a similar fashion to what Lancashire United have done, created a new, separate website for the service.

### Takeover

[edit]

On 16 August 2006, Blackburn with Darwen Council announced that after 125 years of municipal ownership, Blackburn Transport had been sold to Transdev Blazefield which, following a number of delays, took place on 22 January 2007, with Blackburn Transport integrated into Lancashire United.[3][4][5][6]

## Fleet

[edit]

As at August 2006, the fleet comprised 124 buses.[3]

## Garage

[edit]

Blackburn Transport operated out of a garage in Intack, Blackburn, with six buses out stationed on the Fylde Coast.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Companies House extract company no 2003022 Intack Services Limited formerly Blackburn Borough Transport Limited
2. ^ "Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Co. Ltd. 1881-1899". Peter Gould. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
3. ^ a b Burnley buys up Blackburn buses Lancashire Telegraph 16 August 2006
4. ^ Chester for sale and Blackburn for Blazefield Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 21 August 2006
5. ^ a b Completed acquisition by Lancashire United Limited of the business and assets of Blackburn Borough Transport Limited Office of Fair Trading 24 April 2007
6. ^ Blackburn Transport - The End Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Olive Green & Ivory

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Blackburn Transport at Wikimedia Commons
* Flickr gallery
* Olive Green & Ivory - history of Blackburn Transport

* v
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Former bus companies of the United Kingdom

National|

* Associated Motorways
* Blazefield Holdings
* British Bus
* British Coachways
* British Electric Traction
* Fraser Eagle
* GRT Group
* HCT Group
* National Bus Company
* Tilling Group

England|

* v
* t
* e

Former bus companies operating in England

North West England|

* Avon Buses
* Birkenhead Transport
* Blackburn Transport
* Blue Bus & Coach Services
* Bluebird Bus & Coach
* Bu-Val Buses
* ChesterBus
* Citibus Tours
* Crosville Motor Services
* Cumberland Motor Services
* Finglands Coachways
* First Chester & The Wirral
* GHA Coaches
* Glenvale Transport
* GM Buses
* Halton Transport
* Jim Stones Coaches
* John Fishwick & Sons
* JPT
* Lancashire United Transport
* Manchester Community Transport
* Maynes Bus
* Maytree Travel
* Merseybus
* MTL
* North Western Road Car Company (1923)
* North Western Road Car Company (1986)
* Pennine Blue
* Red & White Services
* Ribble Motor Services
* Shearings
* Speedwellbus
* Transdev Northern Blue
* UK North
* Yelloway Motor Services

North East England|

* Black Prince Buses
* BrightBus
* Busways Travel Services
* Cleveland Transit
* Durham Travel Services
* Jolly Bus
* Kingston upon Hull City Transport
* Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company
* Northern General Transport Company
* OK Motor Services
* Samuel Ledgard
* Scarlet Band
* South Yorkshire Transport
* Tates Travel
* United Automobile Services
* Venture Transport
* West Riding Automobile Company
* West Yorkshire Road Car Company
* Yorkshire Rider
* Yorkshire Terrier
* Yorkshire Traction

Midlands|

* Barton Transport
* Birmingham City Transport
* Birmingham Motor Traction
* Central Buses
* Chase Coaches
* First Northampton
* Glossopdale Bus Company
* Go West Midlands
* Hulleys of Baslow
* Ludlows
* North Birmingham Busways
* Premiere Travel
* Probus Management
* South Notts Bus Company
* Stevensons of Uttoxeter
* Travel de Courcey
* Travel Merry Hill
* Travel Your Bus
* Yourbus
* Zak's Buses

East of England|

* Eastern National Omnibus Company
* MK Metro

South West England|

* Abus
* Alexcars
* Badgerline
* Bristol Omnibus Company
* Crosville Motor Services
* Devon General
* Greyhound Motors
* Great Western Railway
* Hants & Dorset
* Nippy Bus
* Shamrock Buses
* Silver Star Motor Services
* South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach
* Southern National
* Sureline
* Trathens Travel Services
* WebberBus
* Wessex Bus
* Western Greyhound
* Western National
* Yellow Buses

South East England|

* Alder Valley
* Aldershot & District Traction
* Badger Vectis
* Boro'line Maidstone
* Cavendish Motor Services
* Countryliner
* Eastbourne Buses
* East Kent Road Car Company
* Epsom Coaches
* Fleet Buzz
* Invictaway
* Kent Top Travel
* King Alfred Motor Services
* Maidstone & District Motor Services
* Maidstone Corporation Transport
* Marchwood Motorways
* Moss Motor Tours
* New Enterprise Coaches
* Portsmouth Corporation Transport
* Shamrock Buses
* Southampton Citybus
* Southdown Motor Services
* Southdown Buses
* Thames Transit
* Thames Valley Traction
* Tillingbourne Bus Company
* Velvet
* Yellow Bus Services

Greater London|

* Abellio Surrey
* Bexleybus
* Birch Brothers
* Boro'line London
* Capital Citybus
* Capital Logistics
* Connex
* East Thames Buses
* First London
* Grey-Green
* Harris Bus
* Kentish Bus
* Limebourne
* London Buslines
* London Country Bus Services
* London Country North East
* London Country North West
* London Country South West
* London Easylink
* London Electrobus Company
* London Forest
* London Pride Sightseeing
* London Traveller
* MTL
* NSL Buses
* Quality Line
* Thorpes
* Tower Transit
* Travel London
* Travel Surrey
* Westlink

Scotland|

* v
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Former bus companies operating in Scotland

Scottish Bus Group|

* Central Scottish
* Clydeside Scottish
* Eastern Scottish
* Fife Scottish
* Highland Scottish
* Kelvin Central Buses
* Kelvin Scottish
* Lowland Scottish
* Midland Scottish
* Northern Scottish
* Strathtay Scottish
* Western Scottish

Other operators|

* Arriva Scotland West
* A1 Service
* Dart Buses
* First Scotland East
* First Stop Travel
* Gibson's of Moffat
* McKindless
* Munro's of Jedburgh
* Oban and District
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* Strathclyde Buses
* Western SMT

Wales|

* v
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* e

Former bus companies operating in Wales

Companies|

* Crosville Motor Services
* Express Motors
* GHA Coaches
* Islwyn Borough Transport
* National Welsh Omnibus Services
* Padarn Bus
* Red & White Services
* Rhondda Transport Company
* South Wales Transport
* Western Welsh

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of Blackburn with Darwen

Transport|

* A678 road
* Blackburn Bus Company
* Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company
* Blackburn Boulevard bus station
* Blackburn Corporation Tramways
* Blackburn Transport
* East Lancashire line
* Lancashire Union Railway
* Ribble Valley line
* Witton Weavers Way

Railway stations|

* Blackburn
* Cherry Tree
* Darwen
* Entwistle
* Mill Hill (Lancashire)
* Pleasington

Disused stations|

* Blackburn Bolton Road
* Daisyfield
* Feniscowles
* Lower Darwen
* Spring Vale
* Turton and Edgworth
* Wilpshire

Arts|

* King George's Hall
* Blackburn Cathedral
* Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

Sport|

* Alexandra Meadows
* Barley Bank
* Blackburn Arena
* Blackburn Buccaneers
* Blackburn Hawks
* Blackburn Law F.C.
* Blackburn Olympic F.C.
* Blackburn Park Road F.C.
* Blackburn Rovers F.C.
* Darwen Cricket Club
* Darwen F.C.
* Darwen F.C. (1870)
* Darwen Old Wanderers F.C.
* East Lancashire Cricket Club
* East Lancashire Lions
* Lancashire Raptors
* Lancashire Wolverines
* Lower Chapel F.C.
* Lower Darwen F.C.
* Turton F.C.
* Witton F.C.

History|

* Blackburn (ancient parish)
* Blackburn Rural District
* Blackburnshire
* Sharples
* Turton Urban District
* Quarlton

Media|

* BBC Radio Lancashire
* The Bee
* Lancashire Telegraph
* Radio Rovers

Politics|

* Council
* Council elections
* 2004
* 06
* 07
* 08
* 14
* 15
* Darwen Town Council
* For Darwen Party

* Constituencies: Blackburn
* By-elections: 1869
* 1875
* Darwen
* By-election: 1943
* Rossendale and Darwen
* North East Lancashire
* By-election: 1880

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