David Simper likes to let readers know what bus he gets to his various outings for Blackpool Social Club but last week the vehicles were the main event. He nipped down to the Promenade to see what a coach rally entailed.
The UK Coach Rally organisation had brought its 68th event to Blackpool for the sixth time in. I got down for the second day, Sunday 14th April 2024 to see what was happening. The event was sited either side of the North Pier, with trade vehicles and stands to the north against the colonnade, while delegates vehicles were ranked up around the Comedy Carpet.
Since the first event in Clacton way back in 1955, the UK Coach Rally has acted as a great showcase for coaching. It presents and celebrates the very latest models in fleets up and down the country, and celebrates the coachbuilder’s art in preserving the best of the vehicles of the past.

Vehicle manufacturers were present with show vehicles and trailers that magically folded out into sales suites complete with snack bars. Most impressive.

The vehicles looked magnificent parked and interspersed with the seafront gazebos. Not something you see everyday. Likewise the serried ranks of coaches around the Comedy Carpet, which formed an arena for presentations.
I spoke to Andrew McGuinness of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and asked him how the event was going and how he saw Blackpool fitting into a future coach industry agenda.
“We’re delighted to be back in Blackpool again,” he said. “We’re standing here the sun is shining. It’s great to see operators and suppliers from right across the UK.”

“Blackpool is well renowned for its great coach welcome: operators love coming to Blackpool and coach passengers love coming to Blackpool. Our work with partners such as the council and Blackpool Transport is instrumental in supporting the coach and the local economy,” Andrew added.

I moved down the Promenade examing some of the fine machines that were on display. The next big thing is going to be electric or hydrogen powered vehicles, in line with the country and the industry’s net zero aspirations.
Simon Collins, UK Sales Manager for Pelican Bus and Coach showed me around one.
“You are currently sat on the UK’s only three axle full electric coach. We also sell a two axle zero emission vehicle. The three axle does over three hundred miles per single charge. This covers lot of potential trips.
“This vehicle is one a fleet of 14, used for running shuttle services in Scotland. Reliability has definitely increased – with electric vehicles there’s only one single moving part, an electric motor, and so yes the reliability of the vehicles is a distinct improvement versus diesel.”
The coach was certainly very well appointed, so there’s no loss of passenger comfort from moving to a future electric coach fleet. It was time to stroll down to the Comedy Carpet and see what was happening there.

For the operator’s perspective, I spoke to Georgie Woods of Metcalfe Coaches, asking how it is operating into Blackpool at the present time. “We do trips down from the Cumbria area, Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven, down to the Elgin Hotel,” she said. “The hotel hires us in, we just provide the transport. They used to do day trips – the hotel would provide a three course meal and then the people would go to see a show. They don’t tend to do that anymore, which I think is a shame and it would be nice to see that come back. I love Blackpool. Even as a child, I just love it.”

“You’d probably find me in Coral Island,” she added, reflecting on Blackpool’s draw for coach trippers. “I love the 2p slot machines. I think it’s a great place, I do like Blackpool although in places it could do with a bit of sprucing up, especially when you get further from the front.”
It was time to retire for a snack, so that I could return for the awards ceremony to take place on the Comedy Carpet at 15:30, presented by Kevin Rooney, Traffic Commissioner for West of England, and Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Service Ltd., and former president of the CPT.
Awards categories included coach driver of the year, coach of the year and top team of the year. The recipients looked delighted as they received their trophies.
With that it was time to catch the service 3a bus home and sort out the many many photos I had taken, including several Elmers, which were providing a back drop to the event. Let us hope that the 69th coach rally takes place in Blackpool in 2025.
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