Residents in Blackpool and the Fylde will see a major overhaul of bus services starting on 29 March 2026 to make journeys more frequent and easier to understand. The update will bring more direct links to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone while simplifying route names.
Service 5 will be extended from Cleveleys to Fleetwood via Larkholme Shops after Blackpool Transport won a Lancashire County Council tender. While Service 12 is being withdrawn because of low passenger numbers, Service 18 will be extended to reach Bispham and Poulton to ensure residents in those areas retain access to the hospital.
To make the network easier to use, the 11B bus will be renumbered as Service 10 as the company moves away from using suffix letters on several routes. People using the St Annes Road area will also see more buses, as a new Service 7 will pair with existing Services 5A and 5B to double the number of rides available during the day.
These changes follow a decision by Lancashire County Council to update bus contracts across the area as part of the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. Passengers should also note that a new and simpler pricing system for tickets is set to begin on 1 March 2026, shortly before the new routes start.
Local officials say the revisions will improve travel for workers and hospital visitors, but they are urging regular passengers to check the new timetables before they travel. Some familiar stops and route numbers will be different starting in late March.
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