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

TheGrandWazoo

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

Yeah, I get that. However, for the reasons I've listed, that's why they haven't.

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?

The A1 is paid for by the Airport. No point in running if there's no flights. For those key workers (e.g. maintenance, safety, security) who need to get there, the A2 is sufficient.

Bit puzzled why would First would run the A1 regardless when there's flights, or am I missing something?
 
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freetoview33

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Yeah, I get that. However, for the reasons I've listed, that's why they haven't.





The A1 is paid for by the Airport. No point in running if there's no flights. For those key workers (e.g. maintenance, safety, security) who need to get there, the A2 is sufficient.

Bit puzzled why would First would run the A1 regardless when there's flights, or am I missing something?
To serve Temple Meads/Southville/Cumberland Road/Long Ashton Park & Ride (Which will only be served by the 505) and areas not served by the 24. Whilst still keeping a half hour frequency to the airport. (Which apparently is needed as the A2 is basically the only service running as normal)
 

TheGrandWazoo

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To serve Temple Meads/Southville/Cumberland Road/Long Ashton Park & Ride (Which will only be served by the 505) and areas not served by the 24. Whilst still keeping a half hour frequency to the airport. (Which apparently is needed as the A2 is basically the only service running as normal)

There's just not the need. First have enough empty buses running around as it is
 

freetoview33

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It would be any more buses that will be running!

Just like the X7 and X9 will be running every 2 hours, why not run an X8 (Even if you sent it through Long Ashton) instead of an X9? More people would be served that way.
 

carlberry

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To serve Temple Meads/Southville/Cumberland Road/Long Ashton Park & Ride (Which will only be served by the 505) and areas not served by the 24. Whilst still keeping a half hour frequency to the airport. (Which apparently is needed as the A2 is basically the only service running as normal)
I cant imagine any key workers could afford to use the A1 and running empty buses around isn't actually helping anybody. I suspect the Park and Ride will be closed when the m2 stops. Theres no guarantee that the A2 wont change in the future either.
 

Private Baxter

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On the subject of the gas buses, I have been able to glimpse the new green ones for the 73 from where I am still at work, and must say I really really like them. I know it is subjective, and there are some mixed opinions but I think they look superb, and from what I can see from the outside, the interior is, in my opinion, the best First have come out with. Shame it will probably never get an official launch.
 

D2007wsm

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Noticed this afternoon 39459 has an orange destination not white like the rest of the gas buses
 

Flinn Reed

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To serve Temple Meads/Southville/Cumberland Road/Long Ashton Park & Ride (Which will only be served by the 505) and areas not served by the 24. Whilst still keeping a half hour frequency to the airport. (Which apparently is needed as the A2 is basically the only service running as normal)
I doubt many passengers use the A1 who aren't travelling to/from the airport. It is a limited stop service, and does not accept standard First day tickets - passengers would more likely use the m2.

Note that the A1, A2 and m2 will be all be temporarily suspended soon anyway.
 

Flinn Reed

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On the subject of the gas buses, I have been able to glimpse the new green ones for the 73 from where I am still at work, and must say I really really like them. I know it is subjective, and there are some mixed opinions but I think they look superb, and from what I can see from the outside, the interior is, in my opinion, the best First have come out with. Shame it will probably never get an official launch.
Saw one of these but did not have any vinyls yet. Are they due to receieve a variant of the Citylines branding?
 

freetoview33

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I doubt many passengers use the A1 who aren't travelling to/from the airport. It is a limited stop service, and does not accept standard First day tickets - passengers would more likely use the m2.

Note that the A1, A2 and m2 will be all be temporarily suspended soon anyway.
I fully understand why and agree with the cuts just arguing is there really much point in running any buses when vast areas are starting to become unserved? Or only have a few buses a day?
 

Dai Corner

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I fully understand why and agree with the cuts just arguing is there really much point in running any buses when vast areas are starting to become unserved? Or only have a few buses a day?

In theory for the travel which is still allowed; key workers and those who can't work from home, shopping for essentials, medical reasons.

In practice are most driving instead if they have a car available? I would.
 

freetoview33

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In theory for the travel which is still allowed; key workers and those who can't work from home, shopping for essentials, medical reasons.

In practice are most driving instead if they have a car available? I would.
But still there must be a number of people who now have little to no option but to drive or get a taxi. How useful is the bus for key workers? Then again next weeks proposed services have now been removed from travelwest.
 

Dai Corner

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But still there must be a number of people who now have little to no option but to drive or get a taxi. How useful is the bus for key workers? Then again next weeks proposed services have now been removed from travelwest.

You're now seeing in Bristol, over a period of weeks, what has happened in rural areas over the last decades. Bus services reduced to the point where they're only used when people have no alternative.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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You're now seeing in Bristol, over a period of weeks, what has happened in rural areas over the last decades. Bus services reduced to the point where they're only used when people have no alternative.

It's not really the same thing. Rural bus services have declined gradually over time - this is an unprecedented event.
 

Flinn Reed

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I think it is because the East red buses serve a main corridor and common sections of route. The 1 will probably be done yellow too, but buses should be branded 1 & 2.

The 71 was one of those routes that didn’t have the old branding. People on the 6/7 will be used to red gas busses by now, so the green on the 73 shouldn’t be an issue as it’s only Broad Quay they went anywhere near the 6 & 7. The only thing which could logically be grouped with the 73 is the 70 and 71, but a UniBus brand may be introduced for them.


They don’t have the windows up the stairs, so where the windows are on the metrobuses, the panels are painted black.
First could perhaps introduce the green branding across the Gloucester Road corridor - for routes 70, 71, 73, 75 and 76.
 

Flinn Reed

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It’s just a plain colour, that’s a bit boring, and not very inventive, and possibly worse than the current coloured front liveries. You can have colour coded liveries and still have a bit of flair, look at Reading or Nottingham.

What’s with the strange stairs arrangement on the gas buses?
Would be improved if the citylines scheme simply added the diagonal section at the rear to mirror the standard First scheme, in a darker version of the route colour. For example, the 73 livery could end up looking similar to the green gas bus demonstrator.

Also surprised that route 2's new citylines branding does not have a single scheme branded route 1 as well, for better flexibility between the two routes.

If the 90/91/92 ever gain a version of the citylines scheme, the red colour may need to be changed to avoid clashing with the citylines east branding. Could perhaps revert to the orange previously used for the 91/92 on the E400s?
 

Private Baxter

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First could perhaps introduce the green branding across the Gloucester Road corridor - for routes 70, 71, 73, 75 and 76.
It remains to be seen what will happen with those routes, but at the moment the green buses have been specifically branded for the 73. I think yours is a good idea, though as someone else has suggested, it could be that 70/71 gain a uni livery, whilst 75/76.... who knows, those routes have been neglected for years.
Would be improved if the citylines scheme simply added the diagonal section at the rear to mirror the standard First scheme, in a darker version of the route colour. For example, the 73 livery could end up looking similar to the green gas bus demonstrator.

Also surprised that route 2's new citylines branding does not have a single scheme branded route 1 as well, for better flexibility between the two routes.

If the 90/91/92 ever gain a version of the citylines scheme, the red colour may need to be changed to avoid clashing with the citylines east branding. Could perhaps revert to the orange previously used for the 91/92 on the E400s?
I thought so too with 1/2. In fact they could even add 3/4 to that brand, though that doesn't seem to be happening.
With the 90s, yes, a change of colour scheme seems reasonable, and indeed the 6/7 and 17 have just changed colour, so perhaps a uniform Citylines South brand might eventually come in. However considering a number of ex Wells streetdecks were recently painted with red front, this is probably bottom of the list at the moment.
 

freetoview33

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It remains to be seen what will happen with those routes, but at the moment the green buses have been specifically branded for the 73. I think yours is a good idea, though as someone else has suggested, it could be that 70/71 gain a uni livery, whilst 75/76.... who knows, those routes have been neglected for years.

I thought so too with 1/2. In fact they could even add 3/4 to that brand, though that doesn't seem to be happening.
With the 90s, yes, a change of colour scheme seems reasonable, and indeed the 6/7 and 17 have just changed colour, so perhaps a uniform Citylines South brand might eventually come in. However considering a number of ex Wells streetdecks were recently painted with red front, this is probably bottom of the list at the moment.
You have to remember as the 1/2/75/76 are cross city routes they need to be branded separately as they wouldn't fit into North or South
 

TheGrandWazoo

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You have to remember as the 1/2/75/76 are cross city routes they need to be branded separately as they wouldn't fit into North or South

I think @Private Baxter was suggesting only the 90/91/92/96 for a Citylines South.

whilst 75/76.... who knows, those routes have been neglected for years
Perhaps a nice shade of Bristol blue?

As for the 90s.....beige as befits a bus trundling around Whitchurch. Will go well with the cardigans and Farah slacks worn by most of the passengers out that way.

Also surprised that route 2's new citylines branding does not have a single scheme branded route 1 as well, for better flexibility between the two routes.
It is a little surprising but then again, most are currently branded for individual routes whilst just a few others have joint branding
 

freetoview33

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I think @Private Baxter was suggesting only the 90/91/92/96 for a Citylines South.

Perhaps a nice shade of Bristol blue?

As for the 90s.....beige as befits a bus trundling around Whitchurch. Will go well with the cardigans and Farah slacks worn by most of the passengers out that way.

It is a little surprising but then again, most are currently branded for individual routes whilst just a few others have joint branding
I think it is because of the new 2A, the 1 will operate independently of the 2/2A now
 

Buses in Bath

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All changes from the 5th April other than the D3 have been postponed including the X3X and the Portishead town fares.
 
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D2007wsm

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Have they been actually cancelled OR just postponed until the emergency timetable finally comes to an end.
Been postponed until later on including the new Portishead town fare, it will still happen at some point.
Would be improved if the citylines scheme simply added the diagonal section at the rear to mirror the standard First scheme, in a darker version of the route colour. For example, the 73 livery could end up looking similar to the green gas bus demonstrator.

Also surprised that route 2's new citylines branding does not have a single scheme branded route 1 as well, for better flexibility between the two routes.

If the 90/91/92 ever gain a version of the citylines scheme, the red colour may need to be changed to avoid clashing with the citylines east branding. Could perhaps revert to the orange previously used for the 91/92 on the E400s?
I reckon the Citylines livery should have gone along the same lines as the new Badgerline scheme, looking to the orignal City Line. Correct shade of yellow base with blue and red lines where Badgerline has green, with the front coloured wedges to signify route where again Badgerline has green.
 

freetoview33

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Been postponed until later on including the new Portishead town fare, it will still happen at some point.
Just guessing legally it will have to be as soon as the emergency timetable stops, unless they put in another variation to go back to the old timetable, then another to go back to the new timetable
 

D2007wsm

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I would’ve thought due to the current situation as normal services start to resume, the pre-emergency timetable will be reinstated for a period of time. Hardly any publicity has been made about the service changes, particularly the Portishead network so people travelling know what goes where. It would be unfair to come straight out of the emergency timetable onto a new one with different routes. I think it’s best for some normality to happen first. Plus driver rotas and duties would have to be recast etc. and route training would need to happen for the new routes.
Just guessing legally it will have to be as soon as the emergency timetable stops, unless they put in another variation to go back to the old timetable, then another to go back to the new timetable
 

TheGrandWazoo

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I would’ve thought due to the current situation as normal services start to resume, the pre-emergency timetable will be reinstated for a period of time. Hardly any publicity has been made about the service changes, particularly the Portishead network so people travelling know what goes where. It would be unfair to come straight out of the emergency timetable onto a new one with different routes. I think it’s best for some normality to happen first. Plus driver rotas and duties would have to be recast etc. and route training would need to happen for the new routes.

Think you're probably right. Also, the legalities are perhaps more open to sympathetic interpretation by the TCs, as we are seeing at the moment.
 

Private Baxter

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You have to remember as the 1/2/75/76 are cross city routes they need to be branded separately as they wouldn't fit into North or South
You're right. Red fronted streetdecks (the ones that say serving south Bristol) do appear on the 75 sometimes, which is apt for half the journey, though not so much when up in Patchway! I expect in time those routes will simply be Citylines 75/76, rather than anything else, but you never know.
I think @Private Baxter was suggesting only the 90/91/92/96 for a Citylines South.

Perhaps a nice shade of Bristol blue?

As for the 90s.....beige as befits a bus trundling around Whitchurch. Will go well with the cardigans and Farah slacks worn by most of the passengers out that way.

It is a little surprising but then again, most are currently branded for individual routes whilst just a few others have joint branding
Haha I think the beige suggestion would be most suitable! ;)

And yes, in time I expect that the 90/91/92/96 will be grouped together in much the same way as the 6/7, 17 and 42-45 have been.
 

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