I beleve that Leicester Streetdecks may visit the area to be used on rail replacment during April In Bath
15 are due soon for the work before heading back up to Leicester.
I beleve that Leicester Streetdecks may visit the area to be used on rail replacment during April In Bath
15 are due soon for the work before heading back up to Leicester.
In fact these 15 should be delivered from brand new, for the Rail Replacement work, and will only then get to Leicester (by mid-April).
Do we know from which depot(s) the Leicester Streetdecks will operate?
Do we know from which depot(s) the Leicester Streetdecks will operate?
How many are they due? Looks like we might just end up with more cast offs to replace 32001-24.
Worked from MH then. Since it is an hourly service, expect it to be interworked with just one of these routes. Means also we might see B7RLEs work the 6. But what about Abus and their contribution to X8/X9?X8/9/6 timetable amendment on VOSA - so 6 will be interworked with X8/9.
Worked from MH then. Since it is an hourly service, expect it to be interworked with just one of these routes. Means also we might see B7RLEs work the 6. But what about Abus and their contribution to X8/X9?
I know what's happening in Wells. I won't reveal what's happening to 377 and 375 without authority from FSW official to do so.
However, i'm going to reveal the following:-
Wells are no longer overstaffed - they have a full crew
Wells will be running shuttles to Glastonbury Festival this year - not sure what vehicles will be used though - maybe BoS Tridents?
Wells will be getting 379 and 178 which is truly stupid in September
Wells depot will be its own independent depot as of April (not sure when, but early April) and no longer tied to Bath or Weston.
Not sure on the vehicle allocations though, but i'm hoping that Wells keep most of the B7s. In theory i'd like to think it'll be - 173/4/126/161 - 69437-45, 3 spare - 69446-8. Then the solo goes and the 02 reg B7s too and 69457/8 go to Weston for their 126.
Thanks for sharing. I await with interest news on 375/377.I know what's happening in Wells. I won't reveal what's happening to 377 and 375 without authority from FSW official to do so.
However, i'm going to reveal the following:-
Wells are no longer overstaffed - they have a full crew
Wells will be running shuttles to Glastonbury Festival this year - not sure what vehicles will be used though - maybe BoS Tridents?
Wells will be getting 379 and 178 which is truly stupid in September
Wells depot will be its own independent depot as of April (not sure when, but early April) and no longer tied to Bath or Weston.
Not sure on the vehicle allocations though, but i'm hoping that Wells keep most of the B7s. In theory i'd like to think it'll be - 173/4/126/161 - 69437-45, 3 spare - 69446-8. Then the solo goes and the 02 reg B7s too and 69457/8 go to Weston for their 126.
Will Bath have anything left soon? At this rate it will be a depot soley for uni services.I would expect maybe the current Uni Busses in Bath could be handy for Glastonbury Shuttles.
Also if it moves in September i wonder if this is a indication that maybe more work is going to be taken on in Bath for the Uni services....
Usually I am one to defend First but today has been an absolute shambles. Bristol has been exceptionally busy today, with the weather being so glorious, and families have headed to the harbourside, Clifton and a funfair on The Downs. Unfortunately First just haven't prepared for it. 8 and 9 services full and standing from College Green for the majority of the day. I tried to get on the 8 but the driver shut the door in my face, even though there was still enough room to get people on. In an ideal world deckers should have been used on the 8/9 today. I find it ridiculous that First are operating a Sunday service. The frequencies and vehicles used are totally inadequate and a Saturday service should have been in place (many other operators across the country are operating Saturday service - I don't understand what the obsession is with a Sunday service but it has totally flopped today). Wessex were using deckers on their 1 today in preparation for Funderworld on The Downs. 43 service left town full and standing, and the 1-4 and the 70s have also seen heavy loads. Totally inadequate service levels today, buses have been all over the place and people have had to let 1 (in some cases 2) buses pass as they haven't been able to board, particularly those with pushchairs/wheelchairs, which on a Sunday level of service is totally unacceptable. Next year, First, operate a Saturday service!!
Thanks for sharing. I await with interest news on 375/377.
I thought Wells was already running under its own steam, so to speak. At least it's been heading that way for the last couple of years.
Agree with you on allocations, and hope that most if not all the B7RLEs stay. And yes, working the 178/379 from Wells doesn't seem to make sense and I don't like it but maybe they've figured a way around it.
Will Bath have anything left soon? At this rate it will be a depot soley for uni services.
It's not just a bank holiday issue but a Sunday issue in general!Many drivers have said the same, buses running 20 mins late as there isn't sufficient running times on the cards to cope with the huge passenger numbers.
I know what's happening in Wells. I won't reveal what's happening to 377 and 375 without authority from FSW official to do so.
However, i'm going to reveal the following:-
Wells are no longer overstaffed - they have a full crew
Wells will be running shuttles to Glastonbury Festival this year - not sure what vehicles will be used though - maybe BoS Tridents?
Wells will be getting 379 and 178 which is truly stupid in September
Wells depot will be its own independent depot as of April (not sure when, but early April) and no longer tied to Bath or Weston.
Not sure on the vehicle allocations though, but i'm hoping that Wells keep most of the B7s. In theory i'd like to think it'll be - 173/4/126/161 - 69437-45, 3 spare - 69446-8. Then the solo goes and the 02 reg B7s too and 69457/8 go to Weston for their 126.
i beleve spare wells drivers are to spend time in Bath and Bristol until september i'd expect to see them a lot on the 178/379
the 23:10 178 from Bath was a fully standing load at the red post tonight
From my observations many more day trippers have been using the 376 since the launch of the Streetdecks, I would say there about 50% more busy than when they where using the Eclipses.
I've done a few journeys on the 376 since the new double deckers were put on there back in November. A couple of return journeys to Glastonbury on Saturdays. Both of these return journeys were very busy down to Wells. Makes me think how an earth people managed when this service was single decker only operated for the 30 odd years before November 2015??!! Must have been very uncomfortable(especially on those claustraphobic Eclipses!!) journeys travelling in packed out single deckers with a number of people having to stand up between Bristol and Wells!!!
A new city service between Centre and either Stockwood or Hengrove via the upper part of Wells Road that runs every half hour and is scheduled to run about 5 minutes in front of the 376 between Broadmead and Whitchurch would be very useful too.
Doesn't really effect me, as I'm only a very occasional user of the 376. But some comments, as I still feel the service needs improvements!
i beleve spare wells drivers are to spend time in Bath and Bristol until september i'd expect to see them a lot on the 178/379
the 23:10 178 from Bath was a fully standing load at the red post tonight
I've done a few journeys on the 376 since the new double deckers were put on there back in November. A couple of return journeys to Glastonbury on Saturdays. Both of these return journeys were very busy down to Wells. Makes me think how an earth people managed when this service was single decker only operated for the 30 odd years before November 2015??!! Must have been very uncomfortable(especially on those claustraphobic Eclipses!!) journeys travelling in packed out single deckers with a number of people having to stand up between Bristol and Wells!!!
Another observation is the long loading times at Bristol Bus Station at busy times. Can be about 10 minutes or so and the bus departs 10 minutes or so late! For example I did a short(distance) journey on there on Friday, between the bus station and Broad Walk. Caught the 1215 service. The bus driver didn't open the doors for passengers to board until 1213. A lot of people boarding which took 12 minutes!! Bus departed 10 minutes late at 1225! Also some annoying heavy traffic too. I didn't arrive at Broad Walk untill 1255!
Whilst it's great and very welcome that the old Eclipse single deckers have been replaced by (mostly) double deckers on this service, I still feel this service needs some refining and maybe also another service to ease passenger numbers a little on this service. Needs a little more lay-over time at Bristol Bus Station, to allow for the inbound service running possibly a little late, change of driver time or existing driver taking a short "comfort break", and to allow for the fact that loading times for this service at busy times can be 10 minutes or so! A new city service between Centre and either Stockwood or Hengrove via the upper part of Wells Road that runs every half hour and is scheduled to run about 5 minutes in front of the 376 between Broadmead and Whitchurch would be very useful too.
Doesn't really effect me, as I'm only a very occasional user of the 376. But some comments, as I still feel the service needs improvements!
I've slowly come around to the dark side and am beginning to prefer the Streetdecks on 376 (although I had 69439 on Tuesday evening which was very pleasant). They have improved the demand levels and due to teething issues being sorted on them, they're starting to become more efficient. It was a good move to put deckers on.
Preferably I would like to see 376 every 20 mins at peak and 30 off peak and would like to see a nearly 24 hour service on it.
The very early morning journeys and late evening journeys are still not very well loaded however.
As much a reflection on drivers getting used to them
I do think we're spoilt with the amount of 24 hour and night bus services in this area. However, for the reasons that you mention, I don't think the 376 is likely to see any extension to the working day.
It would look like they were looking at a 20 min Streetlite service last year; the choice of the deckers means that's probably a while away now. Once they realised that they could modify the depot at Wells, deckers became a bit of a no-brainer
I say a 24 hour service, but that's only because the demand on Friday and Saturday evenings is great and even if it was just Fridays and Saturdays that it was 24 hour.