ROAD TRANSPORT, MANUFACTURING AND ROADS

The famous vehicle name of Leyland is based on the town of the same name just 5 miles south of Preston. It is preserved there in the British Commercial Vehicle Museum. Paccar now own the plant which still makes thousands of lorries a year under the name of Leyland Trucks.

The first motorway in the UK was built around Preston to ease travel to Blackpool, the Lake District and Scotland from points south and east. Just a short stretch of the M6 at that time. The A6, London to Glasgow, being the main road through Preston before then.

It is believed that more trams were produced in Preston than anywhere else in the UK. At the English Electric plant on Strand Road which later made aircraft, locomotives and large electric traction motors.

Ribble Motor Services of Preston were the North West's major bus company. Atkinsons Vehicles were also based just outside Preston in Walton Le Dale. TVR cars were built in Blackpool. Bond Motors made their 3 wheelers in Preston.

Several bus body builders existed in the area, only East Lancs Coach Builders (now Optare) in Blackburn remain.

Preston is a focal point on the M6, M55, M61, M65, also the former major through routes of the A6, A59 and just south the A49. To the south on the M6 is Charnock Richard Service Station and to the north is Forton Service Station.

Photo M6 Junction 31 heading north:

Click on the links below to find out more about road transport in the area.