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

[Tommy Walters]

Not sure whether this has been reported yet, but 36822 has been working down in Wells for the past few days. Think that's the first Scania down there since the ill-fated 376 trial a couple of years ago! 69446 meanwhile has made its debut on the Bath 5.

Also looks like 33497-9 at HE have all been reinstated!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Reported on Facebook that B7TL's 32547, 37005 & 37006 have moved to Colchester. 37004 was due to move but went unserviceable.

Joining 37007 there plus 32669 and the dog 32673. Tbf, First Essex still have a princely number of elderly Tridents.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Joining 37007 there plus 32669 and the dog 32673. Tbf, First Essex still have a princely number of elderly Tridents.

At least someone's now taken a photo of 32673 down there! Mind you, the fact it appears to be plonked in a corner of the depot tells me that it still hasn't seen service since moving!

 

[Class 33]

Early this afternoon I was surprised to see duplicate workings on northbound 70's and 73's. I thought these were only working on some services during the peak morning and evening hours.

Also seen a southbound T2 with CITY CENTRE on the destination display rather than the usual BRISTOL. There was also a sub destination to the side of CITY CENTRE. But didn't quite catch what it said.

 

[-Colly405-]

Early this afternoon I was surprised to see duplicate workings on northbound 70's and 73's. I thought these were only working on some services during the peak morning and evening hours.

Also seen a southbound T2 with CITY CENTRE on the destination display rather than the usual BRISTOL. There was also a sub destination to the side of CITY CENTRE. But didn't quite catch what it said.

Not sure about T2s, but the new gas T1 journeys are running with destination City Centre southbound from somewhere around Almondsbury - the destination changes using the GPS, from what was said much earlier in this thread...

 

[BBC]

It’ll be interesting to see how the buses cope on Wednesday when many more people get go back to work.

 

[Class 33]

It’ll be interesting to see how the buses cope on Wednesday when many more people get go back to work.

Indeed, what with services only running every hour!(albeit with some services having duplicate workings running at times). Might take an early walk down Gloucester Road to see what it's like.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Early this afternoon I was surprised to see duplicate workings on northbound 70's and 73's. I thought these were only working on some services during the peak morning and evening hours.

Unlike other routes (2, 3/4, 17, 24, 43, 45, 48/48A/49, 75/76) these duplicates aren't advertised on the First Bristol website, so might be a late addition. From the bustimes tracker it would appear that the duplicates on the 73 start from Lewins Mead and run as far as Bristol Parkway, starting with duplicating the 12:53 from Temple Meads. From Parkway they appear to run empty back to Lewins Mead via the M32. Last journey shown as duplicated yesterday was the 18:53.

 

[Whiteway215]

At about 19 45 I saw a Discover B7RLE coming down the A36 from Freshford direction heading towards Bath about to stop at the traffic lights by the old Viaduct pub at Limpley Stoke. Marked not in service. I wondered what that one had been working?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

At about 19 45 I saw a Discover B7RLE coming down the A36 from Freshford direction heading towards Bath about to stop at the traffic lights by the old Viaduct pub at Limpley Stoke. Marked not in service. I wondered what that one had been working?

It would have been running back empty to Bath from Warminster via A36 after terminating there at 19:22 - remember that Westbury is closed so all being run from Bath

 

[-Colly405-]

Just seen that the 73 duplicates mentioned above are on the timetable in First's website. Haymarket - Parkway.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Just seen that the 73 duplicates mentioned above are on the timetable in First's website. Haymarket - Parkway.

So they are. I'm sure they weren't there yesterday when I checked. The 70 ones are there too, but you have to look more closely because they run the full route.

 

[spw24]

After work today I did a check on what is parked up in Lawrence Hill depot a couple of surprises 32690 is still here hasn't gone to Cornwall yet , green fronted 32252 still there with back axle issues and 37338 is now all over purple for routes 3 & 4.
All B7s are parked along with 30877 & 32277. Most B9s are there apart from 1 I couldn't identify will check tomorrow 37340/2 and 37354 all last worked from LH, 37356 & 37607 last worked from Hengrove so maybe parked there, and none of 37619-26 all last worked from LH so where are these now ?.
37353 was working but now replaced by 37631.

 

[freetoview33]

Wonder what buses will be next out when the frequencies start to pick up?

 

[martyjon]

I would be interested to know the route the gas buses used to get to Bristol on their delivery run. A driver told me he thought one refueling stop was at Nottingham. Any poster to this forum able to enlighten me, thanks.

 

[Whiteway215]

After work today I did a check on what is parked up in Lawrence Hill depot a couple of surprises 32690 is still here hasn't gone to Cornwall yet , green fronted 32252 still there with back axle issues and 37338 is now all over purple for routes 3 & 4.
All B7s are parked along with 30877 & 32277. Most B9s are there apart from 1 I couldn't identify will check tomorrow 37340/2 and 37354 all last worked from LH, 37356 & 37607 last worked from Hengrove so maybe parked there, and none of 37619-26 all last worked from LH so where are these now ?.
37353 was working but now replaced by 37631.

Presumably some still parked up at CT Plus at Bedminster?

 

[Tommy Walters]

Wonder what buses will be next out when the frequencies start to pick up?

I'd imagine it'll be the 1/2 or 48/49 branded MMCs that haven't been loaned to Wells/Weston, followed by the B9s (a few are starting to re-emerge anyway). In Bath I predict the 12-plate B9s will be next to emerge, with most of the 14-plate E400s heading off to Wells at some juncture.

After work today I did a check on what is parked up in Lawrence Hill depot a couple of surprises 32690 is still here hasn't gone to Cornwall yet , green fronted 32252 still there with back axle issues and 37338 is now all over purple for routes 3 & 4.
All B7s are parked along with 30877 & 32277. Most B9s are there apart from 1 I couldn't identify will check tomorrow 37340/2 and 37354 all last worked from LH, 37356 & 37607 last worked from Hengrove so maybe parked there, and none of 37619-26 all last worked from LH so where are these now ?.
37353 was working but now replaced by 37631.

Just a thought: could 37619-26 be stabled down at Avonmouth following a repaint into 3/4 purple? This would fit in numerically with the other ones already carrying that livery!

 

[Class 33]

Indeed, what with services only running every hour!(albeit with some services having duplicate workings running at times). Might take an early walk down Gloucester Road to see what it's like.

Did a walk up and down Gloucester Road this morning at about 8am-ish. And from what I could see, very very very few people have gone back to work yet. Traffic only marginally busier, and only up to about 8 or 9 people on any of the buses.

Seen one of the duplicate 75's heading south with Hartcliffe on the destination display. Nice to see a bus with Hartcliffe on the destination display again. Think it's probably at least 12 YEARS now since any buses terminated/started at Hartcliffe? The last I remembered was when the 75's & 76's terminated/started at Hartcliffe Sommerfield HQ, before they were extended to Hengrove Depot.

Regarding the current northbound 75's and 76's which have Muller Road on the destination display. Muller Road Top would be more appropriate.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'd imagine it'll be the 1/2 or 48/49 branded MMCs that haven't been loaned to Wells/Weston, followed by the B9s (a few are starting to re-emerge anyway). In Bath I predict the 12-plate B9s will be next to emerge, with most of the 14-plate E400s heading off to Wells at some juncture.

I'd suspect that the 14 plate e400s would be off to Wells (as a couple are now painted) to allow the Bristol mmcs to return back to Bristol. They might keep the Bath ones for the 376 for a while longer.

 

[freetoview33]

A fair few MMCS are at Bridgwater too, so not all can return.

 

[cnjb8]

A fair few MMCS are at Bridgwater too, so not all can return.

With Somerset Passenger Solutions? I thought they had just Kernow MMCs on loan

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With Somerset Passenger Solutions? I thought they had just Kernow MMCs on loan

There were 5 down there

 

[Tommy Walters]

I'd suspect that the 14 plate e400s would be off to Wells (as a couple are now painted) to allow the Bristol mmcs to return back to Bristol. They might keep the Bath ones for the 376 for a while longer.

Agreed there. Only two are needed in Bath for U1/2 anyway (though a Scania or a single deck often appears instead). AFAIK 5 of the 8 are still in Wells (33943-5/8/50), 2 are active in Bath (33947/9) and then 33946 is either SORNed or defective. As mentioned before, the dual doors are a slight aid at enforcing social distancing if the drivers use them!

Wonder whether any of the green Citylines 24 B9s might see service at some stage soon?

 

[freetoview33]

I'd expect the next stage of more services might be moving towards a half hour timetable (On some main routes/the ones that have duplicates) and maybe the M2 coming coming back. I wonder if to help this the M1 might go back to BCT.

 

[carlberry]

I'd expect the next stage of more services might be moving towards a half hour timetable (On some main routes/the ones that have duplicates) and maybe the M2 coming coming back. I wonder if to help this the M1 might go back to BCT.

Given the government's 'Don't use public transport' message then it's going to be a case of what First can afford to operate, I believe there's a minimum level before they get a contribution from the government. I suspect the next bump up in service will coincide with the next step out of lock down (next month) which leaves most vehicles SORN for this month.

 

[freetoview33]

Just looking at Faresaver who have increased the main services from every 90 to every 60 mins again from Monday,

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Talk of Faresaver but in a non Covid sense.

They have removed all the Discover bus stop flags along what was the D3 route (including the ones that First strangely put up after Bowerhill that they only served on eve/Sun). They have replaced them with their own bus stops that have service numbers and fare stage location on them; very professional. They really are becoming a much more polished business, and certainly are able to force First out. Be interesting to see what happens with First's D2 in due course.

 

[Robertj21a]

I'd suspect that the 14 plate e400s would be off to Wells (as a couple are now painted) to allow the Bristol mmcs to return back to Bristol. They might keep the Bath ones for the 376 for a while longer.

Leicester will be sending 6 Streetdecks down to FWoE. They were acquired from FSY a while ago, and still need significant repairs before they can move on.

 

[lx12ddo]

Leicester will be sending 6 Streetdecks down to FWoE. They were acquired from FSY a while ago, and still need significant repairs before they can move on.

more Wrecks incoming....

 

[Whiteway215]

more Wrecks incoming....

I’m sure Wells maintenance would have a look at them!!!!!