First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)

[TheGrandWazoo]

For anyone interested there is currently a decker out on routeroute 70. It is LK53LZG. And it went into Temple Meads.

70 is all Gemini because of the cricket (washed out) as 32637 was also at work with a load an S-Max could've carried. Also a fleet of Geminis operating a PR1 service with a couple laying over at Muller Road.

Trident 32931 (ex Glasgow) now has front row status in the former depot. Wonder if these will simply be added to the 50/51/90 pool of vehicles making them all DD and allowing 70/71/72 to be SD


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[QUOTESo it's arguably more for aesthetics than physical condition? I know that R types had a weakness for water ingress to affect the frames (and create a lovely musty smell like a cow barn inside)!

I'm not sure that there's a clear distinction![/QUOTE]

Believe me, R types are very fond of water ingress particularly those of the early 1990s.

 

[CD]

Just checked this - there are 5 Varios left now in the First fleet. 1 in Yeovil, 2 in Hilsea depot and 2 in Cambourne (not quite sure about the Cambourne ones though).

1 S reg solo is left (supposedly) in Edinburgh.
According to Steve White's list there are 37 of the 5**** range that are old. 9 of which are V reg and before, the rest are W and Y reg. I would have thought the W and Y reg solos are DDA compliant?

I would have thought that they would meet the deadline with the minis.

Is 53001 still in Bridgwater?

Dont forget Solo 50270 at Yeovil is S reg.
53001/9/13/14 all still at Bridgwater.

 

[83G/84D]

Dont forget Solo 50270 at Yeovil is S reg.
53001/9/13/14 all still at Bridgwater.

Camborne based Vario's were still going as of a week or two ago. They are mainly used at Penzance. Several older W reg Solo's still in use (53007 & 53015 along with some originally from further afield with 502xx serials).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Dont forget Solo 50270 at Yeovil is S reg.
53001/9/13/14 all still at Bridgwater.

50270 reported withdrawn.

As mentioned here before, FDC Varios are required for Penzance to Mousehole. Wonder what will replace them? Slimline Solos?

 

[Class 33]

8 Former London Trident have been acquired from First Glasgow and will be used on additional work gained by Hengrove from the end of September. All 8 are in Barbie livery and presently stored in Muller Road.

32931 W931ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F
32937 W937ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F
32939 W939ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F
32940 W840VLO u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F
32941 W941ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/24F
32942 W942ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/24F
32946 W946ULL u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F
32950 W132VLO u Ds Trident Ar H45/27F


The last 2 Streetlites have now arrived so 47555/8 should be out soon

Source:- Steve White's website.

I posted this on the other thread but I'll say it again here. What exactly is this "additional work" aquired by Hengrove Depot that will require 8 additional double deckers?

 

[THarris123]

I posted this on the other thread but I'll say it again here. What exactly is this "additional work" aquired by Hengrove Depot that will require 8 additional double deckers?

Service 72 mainly (5 vehicles). A couple added to the new 70/71 services as well - 7 additional vehicles required. I would assume the other is for a spare.

The deckers have come in to displace some of the single decks for 70/71/72.

I would naturally assume they will go on 50/51.
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37763 has now got the X74 branding.

Therefore I'm assuming that 37761/2/3 are all going to be used on the X74.

If anymore are branded with this, either they will be a spare or used for advertising purposes.
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Tested out two services today - the W1 and 37.

Did a large loop - 376 to Bristol, W1 to Weston, 126 to Wells, 173 to Bath, 37 to Bristol and 376 back home.

69444 was on 376 doing OK.

Then W1 had 33412 (one of the WoE livery E400s). I'm not sure what everybody's fascination is about these. Admittedly I've never been on the 338** range, but if they're anything like 33412, they aren't that great. I prefer the Geminis (apart from the comfortable seating).

66722 was on 126 nearly falling to pieces. The seats on this are terrible.

69443 was on 173.

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly. Just a suggestion of course.

Then 69442 was on the 376.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Service 72 mainly (5 vehicles). A couple added to the new 70/71 services as well - 7 additional vehicles required. I would assume the other is for a spare.

The deckers have come in to displace some of the single decks for 70/71/72.

I would naturally assume they will go on 50/51.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
37763 has now got the X74 branding.

Therefore I'm assuming that 37761/2/3 are all going to be used on the X74.

If anymore are branded with this, either they will be a spare or used for advertising purposes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Tested out two services today - the W1 and 37.

Did a large loop - 376 to Bristol, W1 to Weston, 126 to Wells, 173 to Bath, 37 to Bristol and 376 back home.

69444 was on 376 doing OK.

Then W1 had 33412 (one of the WoE livery E400s). I'm not sure what everybody's fascination is about these. Admittedly I've never been on the 338** range, but if they're anything like 33412, they aren't that great. I prefer the Geminis (apart from the comfortable seating).

66722 was on 126 nearly falling to pieces. The seats on this are terrible.

69443 was on 173.

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly. Just a suggestion of course.

Then 69442 was on the 376.

I do hope the appearance of Geminis on the 70 today doesn't restart the argument. As per the Balloon Festival, we KNOW that a decker can serve the bottom stop but to serve the stops by the station, then the canopy is the issue. Expect the 70/71 to be single decks, and hopefully Streetlites. 72 is most likely to be single deck but maybe DDs might appear on there.

I can't see why the 37 won't go back as it was. After all, you've got the 17 to link Keynsham to Hanham and most other links are well catered for and quicker. I tend to agree with you about the e400; the older ones have nicer seats but worse decor though I don't see how they're so much better than a Gemini. Don't get me wrong; the 33825-30 batch are nicer than the older ones but hey, they've not got 7 yrs service behind them. Styling wise, they're quite conservative. However, it is all subjective and the new Gemini 3 is difficult to love so the new E400 might have the edge in this area.

 

[Private Baxter]

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly. Just a suggestion of course.

Then 69442 was on the 376.

I like the route of the 37 as well, at least the proper route. There really isn't a need for an extra service along that route to Keynsham. In addition to the X39, the 38 goes to Keynsham every half hour, and in the town itself the 42 serves that route into Bristol. The 37 will revert to its old route as soon as the road reopens. Any idea when that will be? It closed in January if I am correct. That first section is actually the best bit of the route imo.

They do use solos on there on Sundays and bank holidays. On Sundays it is usually enough, maybe not today though. During the week they tend to use B7s, supported by a streetlite.

 

[swifty]

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly.

The 332 and now the 37 is always run by a Solo on Sundays and Bank Holidays, it's only a one bus working on the 2 hourly headway and is usually very lightly loaded between Bath & Hanham. Of course during the week it's part of the 38/X39 cycle and can justify the use of full size singles and deckers loading wise.
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However, it is all subjective and the new Gemini 3 is difficult to love so the new E400 might have the edge in this area.

Seeing as the E400 is now available on the Volvo chassis we could always have that combo here in Bristol? We may end up with something looking like this in the next few years! https://flic.kr/p/nVHZNU

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I like the route of the 37 as well, at least the proper route. There really isn't a need for an extra service along that route to Keynsham. In addition to the X39, the 38 goes to Keynsham every half hour, and in the town itself the 42 serves that route into Bristol. The 37 will revert to its old route as soon as the road reopens. Any idea when that will be? It closed in January if I am correct. That first section is actually the best bit of the route imo.

They do use solos on there on Sundays and bank holidays. On Sundays it is usually enough, maybe not today though. During the week they tend to use B7s, supported by a streetlite.

Think the diversion is there til Dec 2014; due to be open for Xmas. Then a saving of 3 vehicles as the 319 and 37 each have an extra vehicle and the 619 will get withdrawn.

As you say, the only link you lose is Saltford/Keynsham to Church Road. I think the 37 will revert to the traditional route

 

[Class 33]

I do hope the appearance of Geminis on the 70 today doesn't restart the argument. As per the Balloon Festival, we KNOW that a decker can serve the bottom stop but to serve the stops by the station, then the canopy is the issue. Expect the 70/71 to be single decks, and hopefully Streetlites. 72 is most likely to be single deck but maybe DDs might appear on there.

The 70 could just use the set down stop the 70 uses instead of the 8 & 9 & 70 pick-up stop by the canopy. That would solve that issue. Anyway, it really doesn't matter now as in just 3 weeks time the accompanying service 71 is introduced and operating Mondays-Sundays. So double deckers will simply not be required, I'm confident of that.

The 72 I'm sure will be single deckers. And I can't really see passenger volumes to require the use of double deckers on this service really. Mind you the old 99 UWE-Centre service which went via near enough the same route was a double decker service.

 

[iantherev]

50270 reported withdrawn.

As mentioned here before, FDC Varios are required for Penzance to Mousehole. Wonder what will replace them? Slimline Solos?

Reported on the FHD forum that 50270 is back in service at Yeovil after a spell on 'death row' at Weymouth.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The 70 could just use the set down stop the 70 uses instead of the 8 & 9 & 70 pick-up stop by the canopy. That would solve that issue. Anyway, it really doesn't matter now as in just 3 weeks time the accompanying service 71 is introduced and operating Mondays-Sundays. So double deckers will simply not be required, I'm confident of that.

The 72 I'm sure will be single deckers. And I can't really see passenger volumes to require the use of double deckers on this service really. Mind you the old 99 UWE-Centre service which went via near enough the same route was a double decker service.

The whys and wherefores of that lower bus stop have been debated ad nauseum. Good for lovers of double deckers but not so good for people with luggage or wishing to shelter from today's weather

I'd expect the 72 to be single deck but might see the occasional decker as per the 14 in Bath.
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Reported on the FHD forum that 50270 is back in service at Yeovil after a spell on 'death row' at Weymouth.

Because the ex BR ones are needing attention?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Just to travel on a decker? Still, takes all sorts, as Bertie Bassett once said. It's why I never worry about "ticking off" specific buses as you can be sure that something will go wrong.

Not at all, I would have made a day of it.

Still, it just shows that the 70 can have deckers on it. Whether or not this is needed with the 71 and 72 I don't know.

The last 2 Streetlites have now arrived so 47555/8 should be out soon

All of 47551 to 47558 are out in service now.

37763 has now got the X74 branding.

Therefore I'm assuming that 37761/2/3 are all going to be used on the X74.

If anymore are branded with this, either they will be a spare or used for advertising purposes.

I'm praying that 37760 gets the X74 branding. This one is my lucky Gemini!

Just to travel on a decker? Still, takes all sorts, as Bertie Bassett once said. It's why I never worry about "ticking off" specific buses as you can be sure that something will go wrong.

Not at all, I would have made a day of it.

Still, it just shows that the 70 can have deckers on it. Whether or not this is needed with the 71 and 72 I don't know.

The last 2 Streetlites have now arrived so 47555/8 should be out soon

All of 47551 to 47558 are out in service now.

Then W1 had 33412 (one of the WoE livery E400s). I'm not sure what everybody's fascination is about these. Admittedly I've never been on the 338** range, but if they're anything like 33412, they aren't that great. I prefer the Geminis (apart from the comfortable seating).

That's quite unlucky (although still better than 69459 and 69460). The emerald green interior of these Enviros is really sickly. The newer 63-plate batch are much, MUCH nicer, with leather seats, Wifi and pink interiors.

66722 was on 126 nearly falling to pieces. The seats on this are terrible.

Yeah, this was on the 7 in Weston on Friday. Literally a state!

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly. Just a suggestion of course.

Again very unlucky. Everytime I've seen the 37 in Bristol, it has ALWAYS been one of the 13-reg Streetlites (63068-63078).

Then 69442 was on the 376.

Saw this in Knowle on the 376 on Friday too

The 70 could just use the set down stop the 70 uses instead of the 8 & 9 & 70 pick-up stop by the canopy. That would solve that issue. Anyway, it really doesn't matter now as in just 3 weeks time the accompanying service 71 is introduced and operating Mondays-Sundays. So double deckers will simply not be required, I'm confident of that.

The 72 I'm sure will be single deckers. And I can't really see passenger volumes to require the use of double deckers on this service really. Mind you the old 99 UWE-Centre service which went via near enough the same route was a double decker service.

Well we all thought the X74 was going be operated by Darts but look what's happened?! so watch this space!

 

[iantherev]

The whys and wherefores of that lower bus stop have been debated ad nauseum. Good for lovers of double deckers but not so good for people with luggage or wishing to shelter from today's weather

I'd expect the 72 to be single deck but might see the occasional decker as per the 14 in Bath.
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Because the ex BR ones are needing attention?

Possibly. I don't think it's got a destination display at the moment so may be only short term.

 

[Class 33]

Well we all thought the X74 was going be operated by Darts but look what's happened?! so watch this space!

Good that the X74 will be a double decker service. Myself I did actually think the service will require double deckers and was confident First Bristol would make it a double decker service.

 

[THarris123]

Think the diversion is there til Dec 2014; due to be open for Xmas. Then a saving of 3 vehicles as the 319 and 37 each have an extra vehicle and the 619 will get withdrawn.

As you say, the only link you lose is Saltford/Keynsham to Church Road. I think the 37 will revert to the traditional route

This is what I was trying to get at with keeping the 37 and introducing a 32 service, as some places will lose links to Keynsham. I know there won't be tonnes of demand, but a 2 hourly 37 service would be good. The links into Keynsham are perfectly good to Bristol and Bath. Does the 42 go through places such as Warmley? If it doesn't that's one place that will lose a link.

I'm sure the 37 and 319 will revert back to the old routes. Just would be nice to see another service.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not at all, I would have made a day of it.

Still, it just shows that the 70 can have deckers on it. Whether or not this is needed with the 71 and 72 I don't know.

We all KNOW the issue is the canopy not the rest of the route; you've mentioned it occasionally but not nearly often enough If the cricket hadn't been rained off, a half hourly Eclipse would've been swamped. Clearly a special case today as per the Balloon Festival but not needed when the 71 appears.

I understand that people want to travel on specific vehicles. Remember a guy travelling down from Scotland to Yorkshire to travel on one bus on a Saturday only to discover it was VOR! That why I don't worry about specific vehicles or even types. If I get the 161, it's for the journey though I might be dismayed if it's 41144. Each to their own; maybe even someone likes Marshalls???
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This is what I was trying to get at with keeping the 37 and introducing a 32 service, as some places will lose links to Keynsham. I know there won't be tonnes of demand, but a 2 hourly 37 service would be good. The links into Keynsham are perfectly good to Bristol and Bath. Does the 42 go through places such as Warmley? If it doesn't that's one place that will lose a link.

I'm sure the 37 and 319 will revert back to the old routes. Just would be nice to see another service.

It'll lose a link it never had til the road closed. If there's extra services to be laid on, I'd sooner see them elsewhere. As for Warmley, the 42 does serve most of it before heading to Cock Road. Deanery Road would lose it's link to Keynsham but again, how many will it lose? Not many! After all, they got rid of the 318...

 

[Class 33]

53811 was on the 37 - not good at all. The solo is fine, but it is not suited to this route. When it got into St George, it was jam packed. It seems like a nice service though. I wonder if they will keep the 37 as it is when Kelston Road is opened again and add in a '32' service that replaces the old 332. The only reason why I think this is for another service to Keynsham. It would be good to see it remain, but cut off the service up to somewhere like Hanham and have it 2 hourly. Just a suggestion of course.

I got a 37 to Bath on a Sunday a few weeks back. The 1320 Bristol-Bath service. Which was a Solo. It picked up a fair number of passengers in The Horsefair and Penn Street. And upon departing Penn Street it was standing room only! It picked up more passengers in Old Market, Lawrence Hill and picked up and unloaded at a number of stops through St. George and Hanham. After Hanham it was about half full and far less claustraphobic! But it had lost time. It arrived into Bath bus station about 10 minutes late.

Personally I think the service should go back to how it was in it's old 332 carnation, limited stop/fast between Bristol bus station and Hanham Maypole.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I got a 37 to Bath on a Sunday a few weeks back. The 1320 Bristol-Bath service. Which was a Solo. It picked up a fair number of passengers in The Horsefair and Penn Street. And upon departing Penn Street it was standing room only! It picked up more passengers in Old Market, Lawrence Hill and picked up and unloaded at a number of stops through St. George and Hanham. After Hanham it was about half full and far less claustraphobic! But it had lost time. It arrived into Bath bus station about 10 minutes late.

Personally I think the service should go back to how it was in it's old 332 carnation, limited stop/fast between Bristol bus station and Hanham Maypole.

I'd second that. 44/45 are frequent enough to cover Hanham to Centre so why not the X37? Btw 47552 was working 46 today

 

[DaveHarries]

Seeing as the E400 is now available on the Volvo chassis we could always have that combo here in Bristol? We may end up with something looking like this in the next few years! https://flic.kr/p/nVHZNU

Absolutely! Very nice!!!

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Absolutely! Very nice!!!

Dave

One wonders if they were going for B5TLs that they might go for Gemini 3s, given their relationship with Wright. Think the new Enviro looks better though I think Wrightbus has better construction.

 

[THarris123]

I have to admit, those new Enviros do look good.

I doubt we'll see them in Bristol/Somerset area though. Possibly somewhere like Glasgow or Edinburgh, if First do ever buy any.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I have to admit, those new Enviros do look good.

I doubt we'll see them in Bristol/Somerset area though. Possibly somewhere like Glasgow or Edinburgh, if First do ever buy any.

Bristol and the former Avon counties - yes. Somerset - no. That's if they move from the current integral Trident version that is the preferred option

 

[swifty]

A good read in Route One about First Bristol includes an interview with Paul Matthews.

An interesting part of the interview was this line, "...the University of the West of England (UWE) wanted to have a commercial operation, instead of its current directly-managed, contracted services, and invited First to design a network. The result is a nine peak-vehicle requirement (PVR) network to provided by First from next month."

http://www.route-one.net/industry/operations/far-good-first-bristol/

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A good read in Route One about First Bristol includes an interview with Paul Matthews.

An interesting part of the interview was this line, "...the University of the West of England (UWE) wanted to have a commercial operation, instead of its current directly-managed, contracted services, and invited First to design a network. The result is a nine peak-vehicle requirement (PVR) network to provided by First from next month."

http://www.route-one.net/industry/operations/far-good-first-bristol/

One of many interesting points in the article.

 

[CD]

50270 reported withdrawn.

50270 spent some while in the scrap line in Weymouth yard, even the destination display was removed.
It was a great surprise to see it in service on Yeovil route 1 on Saturday. It only lasted half a day before retiring to the depot.
It is not in service today ( Yeovil has no Sunday or Bank holiday services).
Would be interesting to know if it was reinstated or was never withdrawn in the first place.

 

[Class 33]

Just 4 more days of the 20 left! Apparantly Daniel Farr has organised a protest with banners and signs onboard a 20 on Saturday. Should be interesting to see what happens with that! And I hope that some solution will somehow soon be found. It's ridiculous really that the service is being axed. An article about it here http://www.bristol247.com/2014/08/2...-attack-ludicrous-bus-service-closures-28899/

Just a little over 5 days till the introduction of the new X74 service!

 

[DaveHarries]

Just 4 more days of the 20 left! Apparantly Daniel Farr has organised a protest with banners and signs onboard a 20 on Saturday. Should be interesting to see what happens with that! And I hope that some solution will somehow soon be found. It's ridiculous really that the service is being axed. An article about it here http://www.bristol247.com/2014/08/2...-attack-ludicrous-bus-service-closures-28899/

Just a little over 5 days till the introduction of the new X74 service!

Each to their own. The main link lost is Wellington Hill to Westbury: the Cranbrook Road area will have the new Service 72, passengers in Horfield need only do a short walk to Gloucester Road. I, meanwhile, can't recall the last time I saw a Service 20 with any more than 3 or 4 people on it and I think that the route doesn't get much use as there are more direct choices from Westbury & Southmead to the City Centre.

I suppose they could, as a trial, maintain the existing daytime service but remove the evening journeys.

Dave

 

[Class 33]

Each to their own. The main link lost is Wellington Hill to Westbury: the Cranbrook Road area will have the new Service 72, passengers in Horfield need only do a short walk to Gloucester Road. I, meanwhile, can't recall the last time I saw a Service 20 with any more than 3 or 4 people on it and I think that the route doesn't get much use as there are more direct choices from Westbury & Southmead to the City Centre.

I suppose they could, as a trial, maintain the existing daytime service but remove the evening journeys.

Dave

I've been on the 20 a couple of times in the past few weeks on a Saturday. Each time there has been about 15 to 20 people onboard during the journey. I passed the 20 stop in Lewins Meads on Saturday at about 4:05pm. There were about about a dozen people there waiting.

You say a short walk to Gloucester Road to catch one one of the other buses. But you have to take into account that for the eldery, disabled, and people with problems walking this will take some considerable time longer, maybe about 20 minutes at least which is a fair old walk.

And if I could use another example, of say someone wanting to go from Kings Drive to Westbury, Traveline's suggested guidance is to walk 21 minutes to Henleaze, Lake Road to catch an 18, 501, or 502 into Westbury. As before, for the elderly, disabled, and people with problems walking this would take at least double that time to walk that distance. Especially the walk up the hill on Wellington Hill West which could be quite a struggle.

Additionally also, fit and healthy people with heavy luggage going to Temple Meads or the Bus Station will find it a bit of a struggle and hassle to walk over 10 minutes odd to catch an alternative bus on Gloucester Road or Southmead Road

Ridiculous for a city that is trying to get more of us to use public transport instead of cars! And from next week certain parts of Bristol will have no bus service atall!

Should be really interesting how the fate of the 20 pans out over the coming weeks or months. First Bristol are defending their right to axe the service. It will not be running next week onwards. But a lot of people NEED this service. So something must be done.

I do wonder why the 20 was reduced last year from a Hengrove Depot-Southmead service to just a Centre-Southmead service. Was the Hengrove Depot-Centre part of the service a well used service? If so maybe they should have kept as it was, instead of the new 50 covering the old Hengrove Depot-Centre section of the 20 route? Did First Bristol do this just so they could give the 51 a sister service between Centre and Hengrove Depot? Some other people also commenting that it was a mistake that the 20 was reduced from a cross-city service to one that terminates in the Centre.

The number of signatures on the Petition page now currently stands at 183. Doing better than I thought it was to be honest.