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

[Private Baxter]

All 3 of 32636-8 went from BH-LH at the start of the new year. 636 has since come back however!

Ah! Must have missed that then! Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Tommy Walters]

With Bath singles dropping like flies, I'm glad 66732 has been revived and pressed into service!

66732 would be an ideal candidate for repaint into Discover, should the need arise. As I may have mentioned before, inside its tired Barbie paintwork it boasts a refurbished interior, complete with USB ports!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

66732 would be an ideal candidate for repaint into Discover, should the need arise. As I may have mentioned before, inside its tired Barbie paintwork it boasts a refurbished interior, complete with USB ports!

With the D3 being axed, I doubt there’s any requirement for additional Discovers....in fact, quite the opposite.

Given how members of the same batch are now DTVs in South Wales, perhaps it’s time to retire the B10BLEs???

 

[Private Baxter]

66732 would be an ideal candidate for repaint into Discover, should the need arise. As I may have mentioned before, inside its tired Barbie paintwork it boasts a refurbished interior, complete with USB ports!

Indeed 66732 is quite tidy, and even the paintwork isn't too bad compared to others, or at least it was last time I saw it. It may not go on Discover, (for reasons mentioned by GW), but hopefully can be repainted and put to use elsewhere within our region.

 

[swifty]

Indeed 66732 is quite tidy, and even the paintwork isn't too bad compared to others, or at least it was last time I saw it. It may not go on Discover, (for reasons mentioned by GW), but hopefully can be repainted and put to use elsewhere within our region.

Wouldn’t be surprised if that was one of the B7s that ends up in the next new livery in Wells.

 

[Private Baxter]

Wouldn’t be surprised if that was one of the B7s that ends up in the next new livery in Wells.

Wouldn't like to say either way. A handful will still be needed for 126, though I think they will have enough left over once most of them leave for Bath's 5

 

[Buses in Bath]

Wouldn't like to say either way. A handful will still be needed for 126, though I think they will have enough left over once most of them leave for Bath's 5

Bath will need 6 for route 5 so that wouldnt leave enough for the 126 I dont think.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Bath will need 6 for route 5 so that wouldnt leave enough for the 126 I dont think.

Welcome to the forum! Good to see another Bath expert on here!

As far as I'm aware, there are 8 59-plates at Wells, plus 66720 & 66942. So there'd still be 4 left over once 6 come to Bath for the 5. Keep in mind that one 126 board is worked by Weston currently too (I fancy 66732 being transferred for this role, now 885 is long term VOR)

 

[Buses in Bath]

Welcome to the forum! Good to see another Bath expert on here!

As far as I'm aware, there are 8 59-plates at Wells, plus 66720 & 66942. So there'd still be 4 left over once 6 come to Bath for the 5. Keep in mind that one 126 board is worked by Weston currently too (I fancy 66732 being transferred for this role, now 885 is long term VOR)

Thank you very much. I've seen this thread but never really commented so am happy to be here. So they would transfer the 6 eclipse 2s to Bath and there would be 2 left over for the 126. Then 2 spare eclipse 1s as well. I thought Weston did 1 126 because I always saw 1 streetlite so that makes much more sense. Thanks for confirming.

Have you been on 66722 before. I really hope that doesnt go. Would be extremely disappointed.

 

[Private Baxter]

Thank you very much. I've seen this thread but never really commented so am happy to be here. So they would transfer the 6 eclipse 2s to Bath and there would be 2 left over for the 126. Then 2 spare eclipse 1s as well. I thought Weston did 1 126 because I always saw 1 streetlite so that makes much more sense. Thanks for confirming.

Have you been on 66722 before. I really hope that doesnt go. Would be extremely disappointed.

Welcome indeed!
Weston have only been doing the third 126 board for the last month or so, and yes Wells do now only require two buses for theirs, but think four would stay, one as spare for 126, and no harm in having an extra single for other routes. I agree I think moving 66732 to Weston would be a good move!
I have not been on 66722 since it was refurbished but used to use it regularly in its younger years. Don't know what will be happening with the rest of the current 5 fleet.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Thank you very much. I've seen this thread but never really commented so am happy to be here. So they would transfer the 6 eclipse 2s to Bath and there would be 2 left over for the 126. Then 2 spare eclipse 1s as well. I thought Weston did 1 126 because I always saw 1 streetlite so that makes much more sense. Thanks for confirming.

Have you been on 66722 before. I really hope that doesnt go. Would be extremely disappointed.

I have had many a trip on 66722, and not just on the 5 either! It must have the loudest ZF gearbox on the planet! (Although I'm willing to be corrected on that one!)

 

[Buses in Bath]

I have had many a trip on 66722, and not just on the 5 either! It must have the loudest ZF gearbox on the planet! (Although I'm willing to be corrected on that one!)

Yep 66722 has the loudest zf and so I really hope it will stay. Shame to see that go for sure!!!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wells depot has 69437/43-7/57/8 and 69448 at Lawrence Hill that could also be reallocated.

Just watching Channel 4's Hunted and Volvo B9 37772 has featured as a getaway vehicle!!

 

[Whiteway215]

Welcome Buses in Bath.
Mention of 66942 reminds me it was outside Weston Island workshop today but its nearside body panels had been removed. Not sure what is going on there.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Indeed 66732 is quite tidy, and even the paintwork isn't too bad compared to others

Might be a reflection of how long it's been sat in various workshops! Remember that it was a bit iffy before it headed to Weymouth, had a reputation as being troublesome, came back to Bath where it was again problematic to the extent that it got 66721's engine, and has just returned from another period VOR.

Mind you, it did better than 66733 in Weymouth which got pranged by a rear end shunt from a Streetlite on the sea front.

 

[KendalKing]

Wells depot has 69437/43-7/57/8 and 69448 at Lawrence Hill that could also be reallocated.

Wasn't these earmarked for transfer to Leicester?

 

[DaveHarries]

I'm interested as well the Streetdecks will probably go to Hengrove but I think this will be when the Enviro,s are back in service, hopefully Ill see what's gone from LH tomorrow morning other than the B7s going to Cornwall except 37003-7 I think these may go to Essex instead.
We will probably lose the rest of the Scania,s for repaint and transfer to Bath so more B9s may be on the T1,Y1 until our new buses arrive.
Looks like an interesting couple of weeks ahead Bus times will be worth watching as well.

With the 3 & 4 branded ALX400s gone (or going) from LH I hope we will now see newer vehicles taking their place on those routes. As for the new buses on the T1 & Y1 I have seen pictures of a couple of them already so not long to wait I guess.

Dave

 

[Bradley]

What will they use on the 3/4 from today onwards now.

 

[CD]

Wells depot has 69437/43-7/57/8 and 69448 at Lawrence Hill that could also be reallocated.

Just watching Channel 4's Hunted and Volvo B9 37772 has featured as a getaway vehicle!!

Don`t know what has happened to 69437, not seen it for over two months.

 

[CD]

What will they use on the 3/4 from today onwards now.

Probably Geminis displaced from the 42-44.

 

[vicbury]

First journey on a gas bus on the 42 this morning:

The good:

Interior design
Heating system
Quiet engine
Exterior design
USB ports (because my phone's battery is knackered!)

The bad:

Seating - overpadded and oddly sculpted
Next stop visuals but not audio working
Doesn't absorb bumps as well as a B9

The ugly:

No grab rails upstairs - people will get hurt
As a consequence of above, 50% of seats have no access to a stop button and in 25% of seats you have to reach across someone's lap to reach it
Small front window upstairs and massive diagonal pillar above the stairs make for a rather claustrophobic experience

Overall I'm pleased to see new low emission vehicles but a B9 is better from a passenger perspective in terms of usability and ride quality.

 

[Buses in Bath]

First journey on a gas bus on the 42 this morning:

The good:

Interior design
Heating system
Quiet engine
Exterior design
USB ports (because my phone's battery is knackered!)

The bad:

Seating - overpadded and oddly sculpted
Next stop visuals but not audio working
Doesn't absorb bumps as well as a B9

The ugly:

No grab rails upstairs - people will get hurt
As a consequence of above, 50% of seats have no access to a stop button and in 25% of seats you have to reach across someone's lap to reach it
Small front window upstairs and massive diagonal pillar above the stairs make for a rather claustrophobic experience

Overall I'm pleased to see new low emission vehicles but a B9 is better from a passenger perspective in terms of usability and ride quality.

That doesnt seem that good. I'll be on them later so I'll check them out too. No grab polls seems stupid though.

 

[vicbury]

That doesnt seem that good. I'll be on them later so I'll check them out too. No grab polls seems stupid though.

A lot of it is subjective - I'm sure lots will like the seating however for me the type of seats fitted by First in the mid-late 2000s on the B9s, B7s, Darts etc. has not been surpassed.

Couple of other points of note. It is good to see that the assault screens are retractable; this makes interactions with the driver more personable. Also note the very limited height clearance as you descend the last two stairs!

 

[Whiteway215]

Ex LH 32008/9 on Bath U2 this morning. 30877 still running in Bristol according to the tracker!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wasn't these earmarked for transfer to Leicester?

Move was cancelled apparently after 69438-42 went

 

[Private Baxter]

I did wonder if my sighting of 30877 on Court Road on a 42 yesterday might be it's last day but it's still about according to bus times

Another thought.... 32008/9 have had spells at Bath depot (and 32009 was also at Hengrove for a few months). However, I think 32004 may have been at LH since delivery in May 2000.

That's quite an impressive record! Twenty years.... or very nearly anyway. Seems almost a pity for it to move on at this stage!! I wonder how much longer it will go on, and whether any other buses in our region can match that record?

 

[Private Baxter]

A lot of it is subjective - I'm sure lots will like the seating however for me the type of seats fitted by First in the mid-late 2000s on the B9s, B7s, Darts etc. has not been surpassed.
!

I agree about the seating from the late 2000s, although I do like some of the more recent styles to have emerged. Have to admit I was never a fan of the e leather as seen on buses introduced between 2012 and about 2016, of which the streetlites and streetdecks are an example.

Move was cancelled apparently after 69438-42 went

I reckon 69457&8 will stay in Wells for 126, along with 66720, a d perhaps 66942. The others will head to Bath.

 

[Private Baxter]

That's quite an impressive record! Twenty years.... or very nearly anyway. Seems almost a pity for it to move on at this stage!! I wonder how much longer it will go on, and whether any other buses in our region can match that record?

Just to answer my own question, I believe step dart 46225 was new to Bath in 1994, and stayed there its entire working life until withdrawal in 2015.

 

[Luk3y]

Just witnessed YN69EJD In South Gloucestershire links livery Heading south by Stroud on the M5

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I reckon 69457&8 will stay in Wells for 126, along with 66720, a d perhaps 66942. The others will head to Bath.

Would they have 4 single decks for 2 boards? Just keep a pair of them and 66720. Then five others plus 69448 can be used for the Bath 5.

I agree about the seating from the late 2000s, although I do like some of the more recent styles to have emerged. Have to admit I was never a fan of the e leather as seen on buses introduced between 2012 and about 2016, of which the streetlites and streetdecks are an example.

The eLeather depends. Not great on a Streetlite (as generally a choppier ride anyway) but thought it ok on the Streetdecks and the 2013 e400s. Certainly not a great fan of it in the e400mmcs though, especially the 368** Scanias. The one batch of vehicles, and apologies for mentioning again, that have superb interiors (IMHO) are the U1 33491-9

However, I just tend to prefer moquette. The mk2 Barbie lilac moquette.(which is only now worn by the ex Bolton B9s) seemed to fade really badly, worse than the older original. The use of the original in 69437 et al to replace the lilac was an improvement and it compliments the interior.

Now I know you like the green and blue moquette that first appeared on the Bristol P&R fleet, and on those, it looks ok. However, it doesn't quite go with the interior of the Solo SRs. As for it being used on 37605 etc.... Light grey interiors with lilac accents and dark purple seat backs with green/blue discordant patterned fabric..... I think it looks terrible. It was clearly a bloke who selected that as no woman would choose that combo!!! They really should've chosen the something like this https://www.flickr.com/photos/34016627@N07/49394717362/in/photolist-2ifQQzY-2ifwvC5-FXP5Av

Hopefully, the withdrawals will remove the final purveyors of the 1999-2002 seating that was some of the worst going. I can remember travelling on B10BLEs 62193/4 and they were great buses but very uncomfortable.

EDIT: passed 66732 on the D1 this morning!