Public transport in the Fylde

Kirkham

Lytham

St Annes-on-the-Sea

Wesham

Elswick

Freckleton

Singleton

Warton

Weeton

Wrea
Green

Blackpool

Bispham

Fleetwood

Poulton-le-Fylde

Thornton

Cleveleys

Garstang

Bilsborrow

Carleton

Catterall

Churchtown

Gt Eccleston

Hambleton

Inskip

Knott End

Nateby

Out Rawcliffe

Pilling

Preesall

St Michael's-on-Wyre

Stalmine

Winmarleigh

Cockerham

Preston

Barton

Broughton

Catforth

Lea Town

Woodplumpton

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Towns and villages on the Fylde are denoted with red pins

Public transport in the Fylde is available for three modes of transport—bus, rail and tram—assisting residents of and visitors to the Fylde, a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England, to travel around much of the area's 64 square miles (170 km2).

Although Blackpool, the most populous settlement in the Fylde, has an airport, Blackpool Airport, it is no longer used for commercial flights.

As of 2025, seven operators provide bus and coach services in the Fylde, the largest being Blackpool Transport, which also operates the Blackpool tram network. With Blackpool being the main public transport hub, most of Blackpool Transport's eighteen bus routes have stops in the town. Services with the most frequency include three of "the 5s" (the 5, 5A and 5B), which serve Blackpool Victoria Hospital every fifteen minutes; the 5C, meanwhile, travels to Knott End-on-Sea, via Poulton-le-Fylde, every forty minutes. Coastal routes include the 1 (Fleetwood to Blackpool's North Pier), 7 (Cleveleys to Blackpool) and 11 (Lytham to Blackpool). The 7 and 11 run every ten minutes or so, while the longer route number 1 is every hour. The 853 serves Myerscough College.[1]

The next-most-popular operators are Archway Travel, which runs fourteen routes, and Transpora North West (11 routes), which replaced Nuttall's Coaches in 2007. Some of their routes serve the Fylde's numerous schools. One of Transpora's most popular regular services is the 24, which runs between Fleetwood and Blackpool town centre via Thornton and Poulton-le-Fylde.[2]

The Fylde is home to eleven railway stations, each of which is on one of the two Blackpool branch lines. The two train operators are Avanti West Coast and Northern Trains.

## Bus

[edit]

### Distribution

[edit]

A Blackpool Transport bus running the route 1 service on Blackpool Promenade in 2019

Seven bus operators serve the Fylde: Archway Travel, Blackpool Transport, Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, Preston Bus, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire and Transpora North West.[3]

24 bus routes either begin, end or pass through Blackpool: Blackpool Transport's routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 6, 7, 7A, 11, 11A, 11B, 12, 14 and 18; Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire route 42; Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire routes 61 and 68; Archway Travel's route 76; Transpora North West's routes 21 and 24; and National Express.

Cleveleys is served by ten routes: Blackpool Transport's 1, 2, 3, 3A, 7 and 7A; Transpora's route 21 and 24; and Archway Travel's route 74 and 75.

Poulton-le-Fylde is served by six routes: Blackpool Transport's route 5 and 5C; Transpora's route 24; and Archway Travel's routes 74, 75 and 76.

Lytham and/or St Anne's-on-the-Sea is also served by six routes: Blackpool Transport's 11, 11A and 11B; Archway Travel's 76 and 78; and Transpora's route 21.

Fleetwood is served by five routes: Blackpool Transport's 1 and 14; Transpora's route 24; and Archway Travel's routes 74 and 75.

Thornton is also served by five routes: Blackpool Transport's 5C and 14; Transpora's route 24; and Archway Travel's routes 74 and 75.

Kirkham is served by four routes: Archway Travel's routes 74, 75, 76 and 78.

### Blackpool Transport

[edit]

Main article: Blackpool Transport

An Optare Solo M950 running the former 2C (now the 5C) route between Knott-End-on-Sea and Blackpool town centre in 2013 Route 5C at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 2024

Established in 1885 and owned by Blackpool Council, Blackpool Transport serves Lytham, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Blackpool, Bispham, Thornton, Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde and Knott-End-on-Sea.[3] Its main bus interchange is the Blackpool Bus Hub, on Market Street and Corporation Street in Blackpool town centre, which replaced Blackpool bus station.[4]

There are eighteen routes in operation:[5]

Route  | Frequency  | Origin and destination

|
|

1 | 60 mins  | Fleetwood to Blackpool's North Pier
2 | 60 mins  | Cala Gran Holiday Park to Blackpool Zoo via Cleveleys, Norbreck Hotel, Promenade and Piers
3 | 15 mins  | Mereside Tesco to Cleveleys Crescent via Blackpool
3A | 15 mins  | Mereside Tesco to Cleveleys Park via Blackpool
5 | 15 mins  | Blackpool Victoria Hospital to Poulton-le-Fylde via Halfway House
5A | 15 mins  | Blackpool to Staining via Layton and Blackpool Victoria Hospital
5B | 15 mins  | Blackpool to Blackpool Zoo via Blackpool Victoria Hospital
5C | 40 mins  | Blackpool to Knott End-on-Sea via Poulton-le-Fylde
6 | 20 mins  | Mereside to Department of War Pensions Peel Park via Blackpool town centre and Layton
7 | 9 mins  | Cleveleys to Blackpool
7A | 9 mins  | Cleveleys to Blackpool via Bispham
11 | 9 mins  | Lytham to Blackpool town centre via St Annes
11A | 9 mins  | Lytham to Blackpool town centre via St Annes
11B | 9 mins  | Blackpool to Lytham via Common Edge and St Annes
12 | —  | Blackpool to Baines School via Bispham, Carleton and Poulton-le-Fylde
14 | 12 mins  | Fleetwood to Blackpool via Layton
18 | 60 mins  | Blackpool to Mereside Tesco via South Shore
853 |  | St Annes to Myerscough College via Kirkham[1]

In November 2023, Blackpool Transport announced merges of and additions to existing routes. A Route 1A will run seasonally between Cleveleys and St Annes. Route 3A will run between Cleveleys Park and Mereside, having previously been part of route 3. Route 5 gained the most changes: the base route was extended to Poulton-le-Fylde (formerly part of route 2). Route 5A will run from South Shore to Staining, initially following the base route, then taking the former route 15 to Staining. Route 5B adds a stop at Blackpool Zoo. Route 5C is a "reimagined" 2C from Blackpool to Knott End with increased frequency. Route 6 was extended from Grange Park to the Department of War Pensions office at Peel Park, with hourly extensions to Whitehills Business Park. Route 7 dropped the leg to Lytham, which will now be part of the 11A. Route 7A is a revamped route 9 which runs between Cleveleys and Blackpool via Bispham and Layton. Route 11A continues from Starr Gate to Lytham. Route 17 (Blackpool to Lytham via Common Edge) was rebranded as Route 11B. Route 18 will continue to run hourly, while the changes to the other routes have resulted in shorter connection times (between 9 and 20 minutes for most routes).[6][7]

In April 2025, they announced the introduction of a new route 2 and combined the route 1 with the route 2 for a combined "Resort Rider" brand.[8] The new route 2 runs from Fleetwood's Cala Gran Holiday Park to Blackpool Zoo every 60 minutes. With this, the 1A, which extended the 1 to St Anne's Square during the season, was discontinued.

### Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire

[edit]

Based in Morecambe, Lonsdale routes 88 and 89 serve Pilling and Knott End. Route 88 is slightly longer as it serves Garstang, whereas the 89 travels directly between Lancaster and Pilling before terminating in Knott End.[9]

### Preston Bus

[edit]

Main article: Preston Bus

A subsidiary of Rotala, Preston Bus was founded in Preston in 1904. It was sold to Rotala by the Stagecoach Group in 2009.[10][11][12] Route number 76 runs between Blackpool and St Annes via Blackpool's Victoria Hospital and Booths in Poulton-le-Fylde.[3][13]

### Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

[edit]

Begun in 2011, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire runs one route in the Fylde:[14]

Route  | Origin and destination

|

42 | Blackpool to Lancaster via Garstang

### Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

[edit]

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire's route 68, en route to Preston bus station in 2021

Operates the regional bus and coach services in and out of Blackpool.

Route  | Origin and destination

|

61 | Preston to Blackpool via Wrea Green
68 | Preston to Blackpool via Warton and Freckleton

### Transpora North West

[edit]

Main article: Transpora North West

Transpora's route 24 at Cleveleys bus station, en route to Poulton-le-Fylde (via Thornton) in 2021

A rebirth of Nuttall's Coaches and established in 2007, Transpora serves Blackpool, St Annes, Cleveleys, Thornton and Fleetwood.[3]

Eleven routes exist:[15]

Route  | Origin and destination

|

21 | St Annes to Cleveleys
22 | Blackpool Tower to Blackpool Zoo
24 | Fleetwood to Blackpool town centre via Poulton—le-Fylde and Cleveleys
26 | Marton Mere circular
523 | Carleton to Saint Aidan's, Preesall
524 | Fleetwood West View to Saint Aidan's, Preesall
568 | Cleveleys to Millfield, Thornton
594 | Weeton to Staining via Hodgson Academy, Poulton-le-Fylde
648 | Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde schools
660 | Cleveleys to Hodgson Academy, Poulton-le-Fylde
916 | St Annes Queen's Manor to St Bede's, Lytham

### Archway Travel

[edit]

Main article: Archway Travel

An Archway Travel coach in Poulton-le-Fylde (2024)

Fourteen routes in operation:

Route  | Origin and destination

|

74 | Fleetwood to Preston via Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Great Eccleston, Elswick, Kirkham, Inskip, Catforth and Lea[16]
75 | Fleetwood to Preston via Thornton, Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde, Staining, Weeton, Kirkham and Newton with Scales[17]
76 | Blackpool to St Anne's via Poulton-le-Fylde, Weeton, Kirkham, Wrea Green, Warton and Lytham[18]
78 | Great Eccleston to St Anne's via Elswick, Kirkham, Freckleton, Warton, Lytham and Ansdell[19]
525 | Rossall Point to Saint Aidan's Church of England High School in Preesall[20]
526 | Larkholme Parade, Fleetwood to Saint Aidan's[21]
527 | Ship Inn in Elswick and Saint Aidan's via Great Eccleston[22][23]
541 | Pilling to Hodgson High School and Baines High School, Poulton[24]
552 | Derby Arms, Inskip, to Bowgreave via Elswick, Great Eccleston, St Michael's on Wyre and Churchtown[25]
567 | Knott End to Lancaster schools[26]
607 | Thistleton to Baines High School via Elswick, Great Eccleston, Little Singleton, Singleton and Little Poulton[27]
675 | Elswick to Broughton[28]
813 | Hambleton to Garstang Academy[29]
SF1 | Lytham to Blackpool Sixth Form College via Freckleton, Warton, Wrea Green, Kirkham, Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton, Elswick and Great Eccleston[30]

National Express coaches serve Blackpool's Central Coach Station.[3]

## Rail

[edit]

The Fylde has eleven railway stations. Each is on one of the two Blackpool branch lines, while those between Kirkham and Wesham and Blackpool North are also on the Calder Valley Line, which continues on towards Preston. The two train operators are Avanti West Coast and Northern Trains.

Poulton-le-Fylde's Victorian-era railway station

From west to east:

* Blackpool Pleasure Beach
* Squires Gate
* Blackpool North
* Blackpool South
* St Annes-on-the-Sea
* Layton
* Ansdell and Fairhaven
* Poulton-le-Fylde
* Lytham
* Moss Side
* Kirkham and Wesham

## Tram

[edit]

Main article: Blackpool Tramway

An 11-mile (18 km) dual stretch of tramways run between Starr Gate, on Blackpool's South Shore, and Fleetwood.[3] Blackpool Tramway, operated by Blackpool Transport, was established in 1885.[31] It carried 4.9 million passengers in 2022–23.[32]

## See also

[edit]

* Poulton & Wyre Railway Society

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "853 - St Annes - Mysercough College via Kirkham". bustimes.org. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
2. ^ "Route 24". www.lancashire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Public transport" – Blackpool Council
4. ^ Rabbit, Jane (2022-05-01). "Blackpool Bus Hub and the Old Bus Station • Live Blackpool". Blackpool. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
5. ^ "Routes & Maps" – Blackpool Transport
6. ^ "Your Routes, Reimagined in January 2024" – Blackpool Transport, 14 November 2023
7. ^ "Blackpool Transport to renumber services across Poulton, Blackpool, St Annes, Lytham Cleveleys and Knott End" – Blackpool Gazette, 24 November 2023
8. ^ "New resort bus to make it easier to explore Blackpool's top attractions". Blackpool Gazette. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
9. ^ "Bus Services". klch.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
10. ^ Preston Bus to be Sold[usurped] Competition Commission 11 November 2009
11. ^ Company must sell 'bus war' rival BBC News 11 November 2009
12. ^ "Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus". Lancashire Evening Post. 11 November 2009. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
13. ^ "76 | Preston Bus". www.prestonbus.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
14. ^ "Bus & Train Times – Fylde Council". Retrieved 2023-10-12.
15. ^ "Timetables - Transpora North West". www.coastlinerbuses.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
16. ^ "Service 74 - Archway Travel". 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
17. ^ "Service 75 - Archway Travel". 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
18. ^ Archway Travel - route 76
19. ^ Archway Travel - route 78
20. ^ "School Bus route 525 - Archway Travel". 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
21. ^ "School Bus route 526 - Archway Travel". 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
22. ^ "527 Elswick - Preesall St Aidans CETC (outbound)". www.lancashire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
23. ^ "School Bus route 527 - Archway Travel". 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
24. ^ "School Bus route 541 - Archway Travel". 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
25. ^ "552 Great Eccleston - Garstang High School (outbound)". www.lancashire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
26. ^ "School Bus route 567 - Archway Travel". 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
27. ^ "607 Thistleton - Elswick - Great Eccleston - Poulton High Schools". www.lancashire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
28. ^ "School Bus Route 675 - Operated by Archway Travel". 2018-04-15. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
29. ^ "School Bus route 813 - Archway Travel". 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
30. ^ "SF1 - Lytham - Blackpool Sixth Form College". bustimes.org. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
31. ^ "Route kilometres open for passenger traffic on light rail and trams and undergrounds by system: Great Britain – annual from 1995/96". UK Government Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
32. ^ "Light rail and tram statistics, England: year ending March 2023". GOV.UK. Department for Transport. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of the Borough of Fylde

Transport|

* Blackpool branch lines
* Blackpool Airport
* Freckleton air disaster
* Lytham rail crash
* Lytham St Annes Corporation Tramways
* Preston & Wyre Railway
* Public transport in the Fylde
* Singleton Bank rail crash

Railway stations|

* Ansdell and Fairhaven
* Kirkham and Wesham
* Lytham
* Moss Side
* St Annes-on-the-Sea
* Salwick
* Squires Gate

Disused stations|

* Gillett's Crossing Halt
* Lytham (Station Road)
* Singleton
* Wrea Green

Education|

* AKS Lytham
* Blackpool and The Fylde College
* Carr Hill High School
* King Edward VII and Queen Mary School
* Kirkham Grammar School
* Lowther College
* Lytham St Annes High School
* St Annes College Grammar School
* St Bede's Catholic High School

Sport|

* AFC Fylde
* BAE Warton Rugby
* Church Road Ground
* Fylde RFC
* Lytham St Annes Hockey Club
* Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
* 1961 Ryder Cup
* 1977 Ryder Cup
* Lytham Trophy
* Woodlands Memorial Ground

Arts|

* Lytham Academy of Theatre Arts

Politics|

* Council elections
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011

* Constituencies: Fylde
* Fylde South

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of the Borough of Wyre

Transport|

* Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
* Blackpool Tramway
* Fleetwood branch line
* Garstang & Knot-End Railway
* North Lancs Steam Navigation
* Preston & Wyre Railway
* Public transport in the Fylde

Railway stations|

* Poulton-le-Fylde

Disused stations|

* Brock
* Burn Naze Halt
* Carr Lane
* Cockerham Cross Halt
* Fleetwood
* Garstang and Catterall
* Garstang Town
* Knott End
* Nateby
* Pilling
* Poulton Curve Halt
* Preesall
* Ramper Road
* Roebuck
* Scorton
* Thornton–Cleveleys
* Wyre Dock

Education|

* Baines School
* Blackpool and The Fylde College
* Cardinal Allen Catholic High School
* Fleetwood High School
* Garstang Community Academy
* Hodgson Academy
* Millfield Science & Performing Arts College
* Myerscough College
* Paul Nicholas School of Acting & Performing Arts
* Rossall School
* Saint Aidan's Church of England High School
* Stanah Primary School

Sport|

* Fleetwood Flyers
* Fleetwood Town F.C.
* Fylde Flyers
* Highbury Stadium

Media|

* Fleetwood Weekly News

Politics|

* Council elections
* 2003
* 07
* 11
* 15

Constituencies|

* Fylde
* Fylde North
* Lancaster and Fleetwood
* Lancaster and Wyre
* Wyre and Preston North

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