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

[ValleyLines142]

I saw one of the X74 buses going up the M32 looked fairly busy. (If it was actually an X74 service I don't know)

It would either have been the X46, X47 or X74. The X74 does have branded buses. The X7 also does but these are dark blue and gold.

 

[ryson357]

It would either have been the X46, X47 or X74. The X74 does have branded buses. The X7 also does but these are dark blue and gold.

Possibly the X73 too!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Possibly the X73 too!

And, of course, there are only three X7 liveried deckers so if one is VOR, a standard vehicle deputises. It was probably an X74 but it probably has won the "Vague News" award in that "unspecified service is fairly full"! I'm only joking btw

 

[freetoview33]

I think it was most likely an X74 (maybe an X73) but still seemed to have good loading whatever one it was! I really can't wait to see how the 71 and 72 do and also if the 71 does take any people away from the 73 as they do share a lot of the route from Filton - Centre.

On Tuesday morning I did have a very interesting chat with a driver. Main bus related points from that convo was mobile ticketing will be coming very soon and the lack of change on early morning buses. (Also the stupidly long time some drivers have to wait inbetween trips) apparently there is one county service where the driver has to wait 4/5 hours until the return trip any ideas what service this is? I'm trying to think but nothing obvious springs to mind.
Im also guessing that it would be an MH service!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

(Also the stupidly long time some drivers have to wait inbetween trips) apparently there is one county service where the driver has to wait 4/5 hours until the return trip any ideas what service this is? I'm trying to think but nothing obvious springs to mind.
Im also guessing that it would be an MH service!

I doubt you can tell and is probably an individual duty rather than a service. Most services are at least hourly Mon to Sat; the only less frequent are 161/184 to Frome, 179 and 224 that spring to mind

 

[ValleyLines142]

Possibly the X73 too!

Ooh good point actually. The X73 is usually very full upon departure from Bristol (had to laugh once when a Volvo B10L was on the route instead - cringe!)

As for the X7, even at the peaks I've never seen this service fully loaded (I actually think the busiest section of the route is between Chepstow and Cribbs), so I doubt it would have been that.

My guess is that it was either the X73 or the X74.

I think it was most likely an X74 (maybe an X73) but still seemed to have good loading whatever one it was! I really can't wait to see how the 71 and 72 do and also if the 71 does take any people away from the 73 as they do share a lot of the route from Filton - Centre.

Personally I don't think so because the 73 still is the only service which links Bradley Stoke with Cribbs and the Centre via Parkway (the latter excluding the X74). If anything the 71 will only be mainly people from UWE and those on Filton Avenue and Gloucester Road waiting for the first bus that turns up (similar to the 73/75/76).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ooh good point actually. The X73 is usually very full upon departure from Bristol (had to laugh once when a Volvo B10L was on the route instead - cringe!)

As for the X7, even at the peaks I've never seen this service fully loaded (I actually think the busiest section of the route is between Chepstow and Cribbs), so I doubt it would have been that.

Personally I don't think so because the 73 still is the only service which links Bradley Stoke with Cribbs and the Centre via Parkway (the latter excluding the X74). If anything the 71 will only be mainly people from UWE and those on Filton Avenue and Gloucester Road waiting for the first bus that turns up (similar to the 73/75/76).

We've discussed the X7 before. The rail service is the preferred Newport to Bristol option as it's so much quicker. However, the Bristol to Magor (peaks), and Cribbs to Chepstow/Newport are the busiest flows.

I'd interpreted ftv33's question about the 71 as referring to the Filton Avenue section

 

[Private Baxter]

One thing I've recently noticed is that, even though Bath doesn't control Wells any more, Wells still seem to rely on Bath whenever one of their vehicles breaks down. With 66106 away (will this come back does any one know?), 66356 is in its place, whilst X reg B10 62193 (or whatever its number is) is filling in for something else I'm not sure what. I thought Bath were short, maybe Weston are shorter??

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

One thing I've recently noticed is that, even though Bath doesn't control Wells any more, Wells still seem to rely on Bath whenever one of their vehicles breaks down. With 66106 away (will this come back does any one know?), 66356 is in its place, whilst X reg B10 62193 (or whatever its number is) is filling in for something else I'm not sure what. I thought Bath were short, maybe Weston are shorter??

I thought Matt S said that Bath, Weston and Wells are all managed from Bath; I'd guess that Bath (with the largest allocation) has more spare vehicles and hence it is the one that has to cover.

I doubt if 66106 will come back (though I confess I didn't see the photos)

 

[ValleyLines142]

We've discussed the X7 before. The rail service is the preferred Newport to Bristol option as it's so much quicker. However, the Bristol to Magor (peaks), and Cribbs to Chepstow/Newport are the busiest flows.

I know, hence why I said I doubt it was the X7

I'd interpreted ftv33's question about the 71 as referring to the Filton Avenue section

I don't think the 71 will take competition from the 73 personally. It's just like the 75/76.

 

[Private Baxter]

I thought Matt S said that Bath, Weston and Wells are all managed from Bath; I'd guess that Bath (with the largest allocation) has more spare vehicles and hence it is the one that has to cover.

I doubt if 66106 will come back (though I confess I didn't see the photos)

I'm not sure about the extent of the damage for 66106, but I imagine its age, DDA compliency will be the deciding factor. It's not long until they want to take those out of service anyway. I expect they'll have to get a permanent replacement in soon then.

I did read about Bath, Weston, Wells all being under one operation but not sure how official that is.

 

[swifty]

I thought Matt S said that Bath, Weston and Wells are all managed from Bath; I'd guess that Bath (with the largest allocation) has more spare vehicles and hence it is the one that has to cover.

I'm fairly sure Bath & Weston were under the same management, with Wells & Westbury as outstations of Bath?

 

[ryson357]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristo...-replacement/story-22878679-detail/story.html

Good news! Service 20 saved but renumbered as 520 running between Westbury to Centre. Between 6:30am-6pm! This is brilliant

 

[swifty]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristo...-replacement/story-22878679-detail/story.html

Good news! Service 20 saved but renumbered as 520 running between Westbury to Centre. Between 6:30am-6pm! This is brilliant

So it'll start on the same day as the new UWE services then, and I really didn't expect First to be running it after CityFox being so interested.... :roll:

 

[freetoview33]

So basically the council told First to run it again! As they are getting no additional money for it!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So basically the council told First to run it again! As they are getting no additional money for it!

Not quite. Yes they're reallocating funds but one wonders what other journeys they will sacrifice? Eve/Sun 20 will be some and might it be other cuts come April?

I'm frankly amazed that CityFox didn't take it up..... I wonder why?

 

[stait.john]

The Council cannot tell any bus operator what to do! If it's not commercially viable then it's up to the Council to put it out for tender of offer a form of subsidy to an existing operation. There will be some form of payment for this 520 or a re-jig at other payments.

If it's hourly, Lewins Mead to Westbury, then I guess it's a one bus operation from Hengrove? It'll be a bit tight to do a round trip in an hour.

Today's sightings

66162, 42952 1/2
32334 36
42711 8/9

John

 

[freetoview33]

Maybe just withdrawn funding for night buses and first taking them over commercially?

 

[swifty]

Maybe just withdrawn funding for night buses and first taking them over commercially?

That was always going to happen anyway as the money was only to help launch the services.

 

[freetoview33]

Indeed, First do run a lot of services in Bristol commercially now, very little is funded by BCC. A lot more is funded by SGC!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Council cannot tell any bus operator what to do! If it's not commercially viable then it's up to the Council to put it out for tender of offer a form of subsidy to an existing operation. There will be some form of payment for this 520 or a re-jig at other payments.

If it's hourly, Lewins Mead to Westbury, then I guess it's a one bus operation from Hengrove? It'll be a bit tight to do a round trip in an hour.

Today's sightings

66162, 42952 1/2
32334 36
42711 8/9

John

It is tight but could always interwork it with a couple of the 5 boards or something?

The decker on the 36 isn't uncommon but usually only one or two boards (unless it was one of the others). That said, you do get Streetlites occasionally amongst the knackered MPDs and B6LEs

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous about the 520. Should have just kept it as the 20, as the 520 is just isolated from all of Bristol's other routes. And why go through all the hassle of withdrawing it when it's only been reinstated?!

It just makes First look stupid now!

 

[windnoise69]

Isn't the 5Xx series of bus routes supported with full council funding across the whole of Bristol?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous about the 520. Should have just kept it as the 20, as the 520 is just isolated from all of Bristol's other routes. And why go through all the hassle of withdrawing it when it's only been reinstated?!

It just makes First look stupid now!

Have you read the article?

The service is now less than half the length (Centre to Westbury) and half the frequency. Vehicle requirement goes from 3 to 1. Also, First get paid to do it, getting revenue they were destined to lose anyway, and aren't continuing to lose money on it. They've drawn a line in the sand; I think it's BCC who haven't come out of it well.

In what way is it isolated?

 

[baza585]

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous about the 520. Should have just kept it as the 20, as the 520 is just isolated from all of Bristol's other routes. And why go through all the hassle of withdrawing it when it's only been reinstated?!

It just makes First look stupid now!

Why is it ridiculous?

The 20 was losing money. First gave appropriate notice they would stopped running it. It is then up to BCC to decide whether they wish to support a replacement service because of social needs. Eventually (very late in the day) they got their act together and decided that they wanted/could afford a partial replacement service, spoke to a number of potential operators and chose First, who are presumably happy to operate the 520 for the subsidy offered.

That is exactly how the deregulated environment is meant to work outside London. You or I (and maybe operators) might disagree with this environment, but only HMG can change it and I see no prospect of any change under this Government at least.

First come out of it having behaved correctly IMHO; BCC cut it fine but got there in the end.

 

[DaveHarries]

Bristol City Council getting their act together on anything is rather rare.

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Why is it ridiculous?

The 20 was losing money. First gave appropriate notice they would stopped running it. It is then up to BCC to decide whether they wish to support a replacement service because of social needs. Eventually (very late in the day) they got their act together and decided that they wanted/could afford a partial replacement service, spoke to a number of potential operators and chose First, who are presumably happy to operate the 520 for the subsidy offered.

First come out of it having behaved correctly IMHO; BCC cut it fine but got there in the end.

Once again, I tend to agree with you though I think you're being charitable to BCC. They've not just "cut it fine" but left it to the last minute and beyond. They could and should have sorted this weeks ago.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I suppose reducing the PVR from 3 to 1 is good but to be honest I just don't get it.

And when I said isolated, I meant in terms of the route number, as you have the Bristol city routes, then the 319, 376, 379, 520 and then the 902/3/4. Seems very backwards!!

 

[freetoview33]

Not really it's perfectly understandable being 520. At least we don't have 20 and 520 like in days of old! That was just confusing.

 

[swifty]

I suppose reducing the PVR from 3 to 1 is good but to be honest I just don't get it.

And when I said isolated, I meant in terms of the route number, as you have the Bristol city routes, then the 319, 376, 379, 520 and then the 902/3/4. Seems very backwards!!

And you've also got the 501/2, 505/6, 508 and 511-14 which are also BCC supported routes. It's been like that since Avon CC days, 'services numbered 500-599 are council supported routes' or whatever the red stickers used to say!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Not really it's perfectly understandable being 520. At least we don't have 20 and 520 like in days of old! That was just confusing.

Especially during the period when Eurotaxis had a stint at operating the evening and Sunday services.