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

[Tommy Walters]

I wonder how those Unibus MMC's are doing out on the 376. Anyone know what gearboxes they've got?

4-speed Voiths.

 

[Streamr_MXP]

4-speed Voiths.

Ahh ok. Not bad voiths in the MMCs. I've had one on the X1 between Coventry - Birmingham, lovely things and the gearboxes are great. The MMCs shouldn't be too bad on the 376 with them

 

[BBC]

Lawrence Hill sadly lost one of its drivers to covid 19 yesterday, stay safe everyone and stay at home !

 

[freetoview33]

Lawrence Hill sadly lost one of its drivers to covid 19 yesterday, stay safe everyone and stay at home !

That's very sad news. Thoughts are with his family and all the drivers.

 

[martyjon]

That's very sad news. Thoughts are with his family and all the drivers.

Ditto.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Lawrence Hill sadly lost one of its drivers to covid 19 yesterday, stay safe everyone and stay at home !

Very sad to hear that. Obviously, thoughts to their family, friends and colleagues.

 

[BBC]

That's very sad news. Thoughts are with his family and all the drivers.

Lucky enough first west of England has signed off everyone with a medical condition for 12 weeks starting today, so fingers crossed we won’t hear of any more..

 

[freetoview33]

Lucky enough first west of England has signed off everyone with a medical condition for 12 weeks starting today, so fingers crossed we won’t hear of any more..

Fingers Crossed.

In other news the M2 is going back to it's normal route as of tomorrow, but NOT the A1.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Lawrence Hill sadly lost one of its drivers to covid 19 yesterday, stay safe everyone and stay at home !

Very sad news indeed. My thoughts go out to the family of said driver.

 

[freetoview33]

Half of the routes are tracking now (well saying what buses are where)

 

[freetoview33]

Also the 29 and 99 are now continuing under BoS after a tender.

Lets face it there are only really 2 options BoS or SCC

 

[Private Baxter]

Also the 29 and 99 are now continuing under BoS after a tender.

Lets face it there are only really 2 options BoS or SCC

That is good news. I had planned a trip out which would have included one last trip on the 29 a few weeks ago, though obviously all on hold for the time being. Though by the time I do finally get to do it, the bus station will have gone.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also the 29 and 99 are now continuing under BoS after a tender.

Lets face it there are only really 2 options BoS or SCC

The 99 could have been Hatch Green but don't get the feeling that they're interested in much more than they currently do. For the 29, it would make more sense to run it from the Glastonbury/Wells end but there's no one especially local. Mind you, Libra do the Shipham service but running down to Taunton might be a stretch!

 

[D2007wsm]

Allocations certainly out of the window now, with the newer, fuel efficient buses in use. Some things I have noticed today whilst out at work, certainly adding some variety to services and the destination displays having to be used rather than looking at the colour of the bus!

• Red gas buses on the 3/4 and 48/49
• A Bristol Unibus E400MMC on the 24
• A Brislington P&R E400MMC and a 90 Streetwreck on the 75
• Excel E400s on the Weston 7
• Aquae branded Scania E400 on the 39
• Bath Unibus E400MMCs on the 376
• The 37/178s were all Streetsh*tes
• Seen one plain purple B9 but don’t know what it was on

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

See Steve advises 37004-6 are heading to Essex.

32669 and 37007 have been photographed working in Essex but 32673 doesn’t look like it has lurched out into service yet!

 

[diffywood]

More cuts to levels 5th april

https://travelwest.info/travel_update/coronavirus-travel-advice

 

[freetoview33]

Most main services hourly, smaller services 2hourly or withdrawn! Marshfield/Wick ect cut off entirely. A1 and A3 withdrawn too

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Most main services hourly, smaller services 2hourly or withdrawn! Marshfield/Wick ect cut off entirely. A1 and A3 withdrawn too

Marshfield gets a daily bus into Bath on the 228. Wick gets the 620 to Bath/Yate.

 

[DaveHarries]

Allocations certainly out of the window now, with the newer, fuel efficient buses in use. Some things I have noticed today whilst out at work, certainly adding some variety to services and the destination displays having to be used rather than looking at the colour of the bus!

• Red gas buses on the 3/4 and 48/49
• A Bristol Unibus E400MMC on the 24
• A Brislington P&R E400MMC and a 90 Streetwreck on the 75
• Excel E400s on the Weston 7
• Aquae branded Scania E400 on the 39
• Bath Unibus E400MMCs on the 376
• The 37/178s were all Streetsh*tes
• Seen one plain purple B9 but don’t know what it was on

Good to see the new vehicles earning their keep on routes they wouldn't normally work. For my part I saw 39404 on Service 1 and 39444 on Service 4 during the afternoon.
Dave

 

[freetoview33]

Marshfield gets a daily bus into Bath on the 228. Wick gets the 620 to Bath/Yate.

True, just thought they might have done a Kingswood to Marshfield shuttle

 

[Buses in Bath]

True, just thought they might have done a Kingswood to Marshfield shuttle

It only requires 1 bus though to get between Marshfield and Bristol so the shuttle is kind of pointless as it wouldnt reduce the amount of buses needed.

 

[Dai Corner]

It only requires 1 bus though to get between Marshfield and Bristol so the shuttle is kind of pointless as it wouldnt reduce the amount of buses needed.

You could give Marshfield a more frequent service if you made through passengers change at Kingswood.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You could give Marshfield a more frequent service if you made through passengers change at Kingswood.

But why? Even during normal times, the number of passengers is pretty minimal and most of those are in the plus 70 age bracket.

My local bus (a council tendered service) is still running as there are no alternative services and yesterday, I saw it about 6 times - about 2 passengers in all that time. They've ensured Marshfield and Wick have essential services at this time but that's it.

 

[Dai Corner]

But why? Even during normal times, the number of passengers is pretty minimal and most of those are in the plus 70 age bracket.

My local bus (a council tendered service) is still running as there are no alternative services and yesterday, I saw it about 6 times - about 2 passengers in all that time. They've ensured Marshfield and Wick have essential services at this time but that's it.

I was just suggesting what could be done if Marshfield was considered worthy of a service towards Bristol.

 

[freetoview33]

With Bristol airport now closed, I think the new timetable next week needs changing.
You have
A1 withdrawn.
A2 every 30 mins
A3 withdrawn
A4 every 60 mins
M2 gone back to its normal route for a few days before being withdrawn!

Surley it would be better to run an A1 route every 60 mins (picking up at all stops) and stop the A2 or reduce that to hourly too.

 

[Dai Corner]

With Bristol airport now closed, I think the new timetable next week needs changing.
You have
A1 withdrawn.
A2 every 30 mins
A3 withdrawn
A4 every 60 mins
M2 gone back to its normal route for a few days before being withdrawn!

Surley it would be better to run an A1 route every 60 mins (picking up at all stops) and stop the A2 or reduce that to hourly too.

As I understand it the A1 is operated under contract to the Airport. They're not going to pay for a service while they're closed.

 

[freetoview33]

As I understand it the A1 is operated under contract to the Airport. They're not going to pay for a service while they're closed.

Surely there's nothing stopping first running it regardless? Just would bein benefit to more people, as it stands there will be areas like bedminster with 5bph still, other areas with 0.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Surely there's nothing stopping first running it regardless? Just would bein benefit to more people, as it stands there will be areas like bedminster with 5bph still, other areas with 0.

Presumably there are key workers in the Bedminster area who still need to travel to and from the airport even though it is closed to air passengers?

 

[martyjon]

Surely diverting the A2 via TM would cover the A1 cos the A1 is currently diverted via Bedminster due to the Cumberland Road problems.

 

[freetoview33]

Surely diverting the A2 via TM would cover the A1 cos the A1 is currently diverted via Bedminster due to the Cumberland Road problems.

The M2 is off diversion for this week only, so people have regained a service for 6 days ......