Talk:Lancashire United

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Contents

[edit] Splitting up article

I think it's a good idea to split this article into sections, instead of having all information on LUT squashed into 'Lancashire United - 2001 onwards'

Sections could include

  • introduction
  • services
  • Transdev buy out
  • Buy out of Blackburn Transport

More knowledge would be welcome from anyone here, and I have already sectionned 'Awards' and 'Bus Types'.

It just makes the article tidier. Lradrama 21:19, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

I agree, now that there is more substance to the article, we should probably move the section on the older company to Lancashire United Transport or some such - what do you reckon? Divy 14:10, 1 March 2007 (UTC)


Yeah, that's a good idea - it looks...well...awkward there in the middle of the modern day Lancashire United article. Yes.

(i won't be able to make many changes in the next three days - i'll be on a theatre trip, but i'll get to it good and proper after that.) Lradrama 14:18, 1 March 2007 (UTC)


I've now split up the article a bit, and when i've got more time, i'll see if it can be improved, OR, someone else can do it Lradrama 18:35, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Info Box

Though it'd be nice to have an LUT info. box, and i've put it on.

I've moved the logo here.

If you have any comments on it, put them here. Lradrama 19:35, 28 February 2007 (UTC)


Thanks to 210.0.201.145 (Talk) for fixing the logo image at the top of the box. Lradrama 12:28, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New buses

Lancashire United have recently got some brand new buses - don't know exactly what they are yet though. I'm going to create a new section stating the history of the fleet - there's lots that can go in there. Lradrama 13:19, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

I've incorporated that in a new section called 'Fleet history'. Feel free to improve that section. Cheers, Lradrama 12:26, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fleet list issues

The Lancashire United fleetlist (i.e. the buses that've always belonged to LUT) are just a typed list. As such, the former Blackburn Transport fleetlist is in a table. It'd be better if both fleet lists were the same. Lradrama 14:39, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks to David Graham for sorting that out :-) Lradrama 17:34, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spot On repetition

We need to be careful with the information about Lancashire United's new 'SPOT ON' routes. Going through the article today, there were three paragraphs in different places in the article, giving the same detailed descriptions of 'Spot On'. I think we'll just keep the info in the 'Present day' section of the article.

If anyone has any other ideas, please don't hesitate to come forward, and put forward your opinions here. With regards, Lradrama 08:45, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Right, I've sorted out now, it's a bit better. The core details of the 'Spot On' series should be in 'Fleet history'. Any different views, or agreements? Say so here. Lradrama 11:31, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Up to date fleetlist?

Does anyone know if there's an up-to-date Lancashire United fleetlist on the internet? Anywhere? Because it would be really useful for making progress with the article. I know books are good, but the company change their fleet seemingly every few months so it's not that brilliant. Please reply here, many thanks, Lradrama 09:36, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

Come on guys, we really need one fast. I can't seem to find one. Lancashire United have brought in some new Leyland Olympians (Eastern Coach Works) I know, and I know they've seem to have taken use of MPDs on one of their Spot On routes, but we can't write about them until we have a fleet-list. :-( Lradrama 09:51, 21 September 2007 (UTC)
Thanks once again to David Graham for sorting this out. Where did you get it from? Lradrama 17:17, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

The MPDs in Spot on Route 2 branding are 663, 664, 665, and 667, and the branding is in green hope this is of help--86.150.170.25 (talk) 00:09, 14 February 2008 (UTC)ewood.eddie

The 6 Optare versas seemed to have arrived in blackburn, i saw one on 03/03/08 in white unbranded spot on livery on driver training dutys, bit overdue but as soon as these enter service i'll update the Optare versa section in the fleetlist.David Graham (talk) 17:50, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Saw an ex Blackburn Transprt Transbus dart today in a brown variation of the spot on livery and its interiors refurbished, also saw an ex burnley and pendle Transbus dart also refurbished operating Spot On route 21. David Graham(talk) 14:45, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Well spotted. I'm really glad that we now have at least three or four dedicated Wikipedians working tirelessly on this article and making it look brilliant. Keep up the great work. Lradrama 19:05, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

One MetroRider? they still operate some of the ex-Blackburn Transport lot and some from northern blue/Accrington Transport, these can now be found operating around accrington while one of these still retains its Blackburn Transport livery and used as a staff bus.David Graham (talk) 13:21, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

Went past the mannor sutton st depot on 16th may and saw what seemed to be a Wright eclipse urban painted in a black, red and silver lancashire way style livery, this could either been transferred from Harrogate and District swapping the geminis that was badly damaged or one of the buses from burnley and pendle that is mentioned in the article, i'll update when i find out more.David Graham (talk) 13:44, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Northern Blue

Now this is something I didn't know about! (And that, I might add, is quite rare ;-) )

Have we any references or anything? Maybe it's pointless asking because 80% of the time, I'm the only user who uses this talkpage. :-S Lradrama 13:57, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

Two and a half months later, and still no response. I'll look for some myself, although that will be when I have enough time on my hands. I'm not even supposed to be on now - I'm on a Wikibreak! :-S Lradrama 14:28, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lack of references and uncertain facts

This article contains loads of unreferenced material and uncertain facts "Approx 164 buses", "About 4 of these are in green..." - history, services, current fleet and liveries all lack citations. How can anyone trust this material? Current fleet missing vital numbers eg how many ECW Leyland Olympians are there?? And Optare Versa description seems to be in wrong place. Needs sourced facts, not speculation, guesses or conjecture.81.151.203.219 (talk) 22:17, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I understand what you are saying - you have a valid point and it needs addressing. And fast. This discussion links to an older one I started up there ^ about anyone knowing of there is an online fleetlist which we can use. Do we have one? I'll have to look again. It's best if we have one of those bus handbooks at hand and use paper refs instead. Lets hope someone else takes part in this discussion and we can move forward. Lradrama 09:41, 21 January 2008 (UTC)
Hope David Graham agrees, as he's adding most of the info but not citing it. Obviously he's getting it from somewhere, but I don't think there's ever been an official LU fleetlist online and this article will just be a bus enthusiasts' online blog if we're not careful based on personal observations, guesses, speculation etc. Perhaps he is a driver there??

Unfortunately other websites just rely on people's observations and conjecture too, and "bus handbooks" are always out of date before they are published, particularly with a fleet like LU that changes so much. I think one approach is to at least provide photographic evidence of vehicles in different liveries, also route info. is online at various places - LU website, BwD BC website, LCC website, VOSA (Traffic Commissioners) etc. Wonder if contacting LU themselves will yeild a fleet list? All we need is hard facts, and sources!149.254.192.192 (talk) 09:52, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Thankyou to those who've participated in this discussion. We do have to keep a close eye on this article, because it is expanding at a very rapid rate. In time, I aim to have some pictures on the website - ones which I will take myself so they aren't deleted. I agree with you about bus handbooks - they quickly become out of date. I have suggested to LUT that they have an enthusiasts section on their website when the updated it, but that doesn't seem to have materialised. I think contacting LUT is the only option we have left. Any other ideas? Lradrama 11:11, 21 January 2008 (UTC)
OK, two of us have now contacted David Graham - who appears to know more than anyone else the details of this fleet & operations - and like previous times he has been contacted, he has failed to reply. I don't know exactly why or what it means. However, I can't see him referencing the article in the near future. It's something that, despite being rather difficult, will have to be done by myself or anyone else who's up for the job. I must say however, that I'm very busy, both on and off Wikipedia, and it will take a while. Lradrama 13:37, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] My apoligies

Regarding Lradramas comments about my contributions to this artical I sincerely apologies for the lack of refferences and replys, I have a history with Blackburn Transport, I did a modern apprentice in admin with them in 2002 - 2003 before they got taken over and I was very enthusiastic into their fleet, services and oprations, I gathered fleet details from the old company website, enthusiasts sites and I read BUSES magazine every month though I have'nt read the mag for a few months until now so I have almost clear knowledge of their fleet history plus I travelled with this company all my life and still do, some drivers still know me.

As for the fleet list and refference I had added, I digged as deep as could on the internet and is the best i could do, obviously its not 100% perfect but to me it looks more or less official. I will continue to update the fleet section the best i can and find more refferences. I would also like to thank everyones support to this artical especialy Lradrama. —Preceding unsigned comment added by David Graham (talk • contribs) 15:49, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

That is absolutely fine, and thankyou for replying :-). At least we know where we stand when it comes to getting this article up to scratch, and I hope we can carry on all helping each other improve it. If anyone finds anything that will help us reference the article and get it up to scratch can they please let us know on here. Im currently trying to get some of my own photographs onto the article, but after trying - and failing - to scan some of them in, I'm going to have to try another method. I also read the BUSES magazine, but it tends to be a quick whiz through while in WHSmith ;-). This article is looking fine apart from the references, which are starting to be added, so lets all pull together and work hard. :-) Lradrama 19:26, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Photographs

I have finally got some photographs into the article! About time! I took these today while I was in Accrington, and I think the article is now starting to really look great. Everyone keep up the good work! :-) Lradrama 15:38, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

Its great to see some photos in this artical, well done to Lradrama. it would good to see some photos in the fleet list, just look at Warrington Borough Transports fleet list we could do something like that, keep up the good work everyone.David Graham (talk) 20:27, 4 February 2008 (UTC)
Yes sure, when I get some mroe together, of different bus types in the fleet, we can do something like that. Good idea. :-) Lradrama 19:32, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
I could provide photograph's of Spot On Buses, taken by myself on Digital camera,New Volvos on Route's 1,6,7 (purple) Route 2(Green) MPDs, Route 8 (red) B10BLEs, Plus both types in Generic Livery.--86.150.170.25 (talk) 00:45, 14 February 2008 (UTC)ewood.eddie
That would be much appreciated. The more the merrier! Although, we do already have two photographs of the Eclipse Urbans, so leave them for now. But other Spot On varieties like the Wirghtbus Renowns and Dennis Darts would be brilliant. I'm still snapping them as I go along. :-) Lradrama 17:17, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
I have uploaded two photoghraphs to the image file Green spot on.jpg is an mpd, and red spot on.jpg is a Wright Renown--Ewood.eddie (talk) 02:47, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
Brilliant! Is there any chance you can bring them up onto to this talkpage so we can have a look at them and then put them into the article? If you need help with this, just ask! Lradrama 14:30, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
It's OK I've had a look at them! They're excellent! Take a look at the article now... Lradrama 14:44, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
This article is looking really good now, do you want me to get photographs of the other types so you can put them on the fleet list like you did with the Dart and the Volvo--Ewood.eddie (talk) 19:01, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
Yes please, that would be very much appreciated :-). Lradrama 19:02, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
I've uploaded three more images taken today(yesterday now!!!)they are Lancasire united 1105.JPG: Lancashire United 642.JPG; Lancashire united 644.JPG on images file--Ewood.eddie (talk) 00:10, 4 March 2008 (UTC)
Just uploaded another image Lancashire United Versa.jpg, also corrected copywright on 642--Ewood.eddie (talk) 00:10, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

Has anyone got a photo of a Volvo B7RLE in Ribble Valley express livery? i cant find it anywhere on the web.David Graham (talk) 20:02, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Ewood.eddie? Can he help us out here? Lradrama 10:11, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
maybe after easter school holidays,won't have time before then--86.155.129.204 (talk) 20:06, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Lancashire United logo.gif

Image:Lancashire United logo.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 22:34, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

I hate things like this - and I suppose it'll be me that has to see to it... I'll get to it as soon as I have time. Lradrama 17:21, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fares

I have added a new section on the artical detailing fares, I have just rearranged it into a table to make it easier to follow and makes the section look less cluttered, hope you like it.David Graham (talk) 20:18, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

It's brilliant, well done. Great work. :-) Lradrama 10:10, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Wikimedia Commons

I've now added a gallery in Wikimedia Commons (www.wikimedia.org) to put the photographs in, so they can be used on all Wiki-projects.

Anyone else who uploads new photographs may want to do the same. Click here to look at the gallery. Lradrama 15:46, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

Can you put them on for me--Ewood.eddie (talk) 00:07, 4 March 2008 (UTC)
Yes, certainly. :-) Lradrama 09:54, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
I've done it now - take a look and see what you think. :-) Lradrama 10:09, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
They look good, but there are two images missing, Lancashire united B6 JPg, and Lancashire United 642.jpg both uploaded on Mar 4--Ewood.eddie (talk) 22:42, 18 March 2008 (UTC)
Those images have been deleted because the details weren't filled in on them correctly. I left you a note on your userpage, but I don't think you got it in time. Just make sure you're careful when filling in the copyright details properly. One of the images was rather blurred too, just be careful of that. And just one more point I'd like to make - can you make as many of the photos you take be of Lancashire United buses in their full / proper livery, rather than unpainted white ones or buses still in Blackburn Transport livery? Thankyou, and keep up the good work. :-) Lradrama 21:23, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
The images I have posted of non Lancashire United vehicles were vehicles which do not carry these liveries the Metreoriders and B6s only carry Blackburn Transport Livery and the B6BLEs are none wheelchair accessible buses, and I don't think will be branded as spot ons.--Ewood.eddie (talk) 14:41, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Commons images

There seems to be a slight problem with the images Lradrama has uploaded on the Commons. I have notified them on their talk page. Apart from that, they are very good! Thanks, -- Arriva436 (talk) 19:35, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

This is being sorted out!! -- Thanks, Arriva436 shout! 21:08, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
Thankyou very much for bringing that to my attention. :-) It is sorted now. Lradrama 19:03, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Service changes

I've added some information on some service changes from june 2008 before i change details on the route lists, may give people an insight to how the services will change, this is tempory however.David Graham (talk) 15:13, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, making it temporary is best, for obvious reasons. Good work all the same. :-) Lradrama 15:39, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Rating

Does anyone think this article desrves a rating? theres so much work done on this, similar and smaller articles have been given at least a Low rating, and should be at least a B rating on the quality scale.David Graham (talk) 18:46, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I do think it deserves a rating. I will look into it when I can, if you don't wish to do so beforehand. Lradrama 15:39, 4 May 2008 (UTC)