The Hengrove/Leicester swap has started but I think only 3 buses each way so far have changed hands. I've passed many eclipses on the 70/71 all week
Yep, saw either 69459 or 60 at TM on the 71 yesterday. Photo evidence confirms the existence of 36/49/50 in Leicester.
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If one was delayed another could be started later on along the route, similar to how it is with trains.
Would cutting the 42 back to Cherry Gardens mean that Bitton would lose its link to Keynsham?
Also does the 37 warrant a doubling in service?
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Having a half hourly 37 as opposed to the current set up means 2 not 3 bph running along the A431 and at a balanced clockface timetable. Remember the 319 was only hourly Bath to Oldland before the 318 got chopped.
And no, the 42 doesn't serve Bitton Village but Cherry Gardens. Running a diverted 319 would drop that to half hourly as it would follow the same route as the 42. The 42 isn't exactly busy to Keynsham! Cherry Gardens ain't Bitton - despite what the destination says!
As regards slipping in a vehicle in part route on the 319, a depot at Patchway is hardly the answer. It's at the other end. Also, the 231 tends to use more aged kit and it doesn't suffer in the same manner. It's about traffic congestion (like just before Xmas when it took me 45 mins to go from Emersons to Abbey Wood - could run it faster!!!
Gricer note - saw 32282 in Keynsham yesterday's on 38 with front blind as new (?) LED but retaining flipdot on the side. Looked odd though sure punters don't give a stuff.
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I've always said that my favourite buses are the 54 plate Eclipses. They're just an older version of the 59 plate Eclipses really. Much better than the 55 plate ones as well - the 54 plates are quicker and speed up Dunkerton hill. They're very well suited to country routes. This year I'd like to see 66730-4 move to Wells, replacing the B10s. Then something new on the 376 - not Streetlites - which would displace the 59 plates to Bath for 265, which would then move 66719 to Weston, along with a couple of 55 plates and the remainder of B7s would stay in Bath on 231 and 319. I also think 66728 and 66729 should move down to Weston. That would then replace all their old non-DDA compliant stuff I expect.
I also really can't see the Darts staying around Bath and Bristol. I'm expecting many of them to be replacements for the old R and S Reg Darts elsewhere (along with a few based in Wells).
It would be really nice to see a stack of Streetlites come in this year into Bath, Hengrove and Lawrence Hill, along with some better stuff for 376. A lot of change is coming and I really can't wait.
I think that's wishful thinking. I thought you might see the 377 gain the W regs and see the R and S reg Renowns off but I'm not certain that they'll be going. Whilst the Eclipses would be nice, I can't see them appearing on the 375/X75 and they'd be overkill on the 161! Don't get me wrong- they're nice and I'd love to see them on the X75/377 but just don't expect it to happen.
Like I say, the Darts will probably go with some Solos returning back to WS. Whilst Streetlites will appear, the 2005/6 ones will remain much in evidence on stuff like the 81-3, 267, 234, 231, and appearing on 5 and 36!