Marcus Fryer
Member
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2014
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The First bus 'West of England fare zone map' explicitly states you can use it to Salisbury on the D1. The Avon Rider ticket is, of course, only valid in the area of the eponymous former county.
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First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
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I am not at liberty to comment on the cause of the damage to these 2 vehicles.
I was looking at the WECAvon transport corridors improvement plan today, https://travelwest.info/projects/bristol-streets-transport-corridor-improvements, and couldn’t help but think that they must consider the previous GBBN infrastructure a failure?
Wasn’t the aim of all the bus priority measure of the GBBN to keep buses moving and give them priority at key junctions to aid reliability and here we are 10 years later doing it again. I still can fathom who though the Old Market island and outbound bus lane on the A420 were good ideas....
Wasn’t the aim of all the bus priority measure of the GBBN to keep buses moving and give them priority at key junctions to aid reliability and here we are 10 years later doing it again. I still can fathom who though the Old Market island and outbound bus lane on the A420 were good ideas....
Attachments
Most of the major destinations within close reach to Bristol are operated by First, so a FirstWeek West of England Zone would suffice. As others have said there are a few other services operated by different operators which an Avon Rider Week would cover. At the end of the day, it’s where you would like to go and if it is a service operated by First.
The X5 is once again temporarily operated by First but truncated from Cribbs Causeway to Portishead, so yes a FirstWeek West of England Zone ticket would be valid on this service.
A FirstDay West of England Zone does not allow travel on Buses of Somerset services e.g. Taunton and Minehead. You would need to buy a FirstDay West of England Plus ticket to go past Street on the 376 and change or Burnham-on-Sea on the 20 and change to the 21.
Marcus Fryer
Member
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 736
Is the Avon Rider valid to Wotton-under-Edge? The website says it's available on the X31 to Chippenham and the D1 to Westbury, but no mention of Wotton, which is in Gloucestershire.
freetoview33
Established Member
It is slightly different to the GBBN and if anything building upon it, if anything this new plan is more a case of adding more cycle lanes, replacing any old stops/shelters that still remain and asking first nicely to run a few more services as with the 2A. I'm not sure if the Muller Road plans are part of this scheme or part of BCC general plans.
Here’s the latest fare zone map, as mentioned the Plus ticket allows travel on BoS services as well.
Here’s a link to the Ticket guide with all prices and area/validity details - https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/node_images/J12914 Fares Guide Jan20 V1.pdf
johnnychips
Established Member
Thank you for all your most helpful replies. Really looking forward to visiting Bristol again. Definitely my favourite city.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,790
Glad to hear, and feel free to share your experiences!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I don't think it is. It directs you to the journey planner and that just has the map/zones and Wotton is outside of that.
Depending on what you want to experience (i.e. bashing particular buses or just wanting the scenery), depends what ticket you want. However, some of my personal favourite routes that you might fancy trying....
First
Y5 Bristol to Yate - quite a nice run on a decker via some very rural parts out through Pucklechurch
m2 Bristol to Long Ashton P&R - metrobus service that usually uses the guided busway including the S shaped viaduct
91 Hengrove to Bristol - in this direction, you get some great views of the city from Knowle
5 Downend to Bristol - not the fastest route but from Fishponds into the centre, you go through some interesting parts of the city such as St Pauls
T1 Thornbury to Bristol - an interesting thrash down the A38 and using the metrobus infrastructure and Thornbury is a pretty little town
X5 Portishead to Weston - lovely scenery through the Gordano Valley
19 Kingswood to Bath - one of the best ways to arrive in Bath as you head via Kelston
178 Radstock to Bristol - some really delightful scenery to Keynsham as you head through the countryside from Paulton (and good to tie in with Bath to Radstock services)
6/7 Lark Hall to Bath - just city services that give you a different perspective on seeing Bath (and usually Solo operated)
2 Combe Down to Bath - more common view of Bath but probably the best
D1/D1x Bath to Trowbridge - allow you to do a loop to Trowbridge (which is surprisingly naff) so you could go to Bradford on Avon which is a bit pretentious but still nice
Other operators
511/2 Knowle to Bedminster - BCT (part of CT Plus) use small minibuses on these routes that traverse very narrow roads around Knowle - very interesting
620 Yate to Bath - Stagecoach route that drops you into Bath via Lansdown and goes through some very rural spots
179/768 Bath to Midsomer Norton - CT Coaches (local firm with no connections to CT Plus) run Solos through some nice villages and tight corners; the 768 is especially rural
77 Bristol to Thornbury - Stagecoach route that takes in a lot of Bristol that isn't otherwise seen
Hope this gives a few ideas
903/983 have turned up at BoS in Bridgwater, I’ve heard they might be for extra capacity come September.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I agree with you. It's probably more an evolution of GBBN though not certain what commitment First have to make in return for these improvements.
Muller Road was always the one that I found a bit baffling. Some major works and it really only has the 17 on it, aside from the odd interjection from the 70 and 24.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Hmmm.... they could have had 4 of the Eclipses that stopped off at BoS from Cornwall a few years back!
The M2 is currently on diversion again as the guideway is once again closed. So after Cumberland Road they’re out on to the Cumberland Basin and round the A370 to the Park & Ride site. I don’t know how long for this time.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,790
I think the 379 was part of the original GBBN, and a requirement was that they used what was then the most modern buses, so 69435-48 were used. Sadly only lasted a few years as an hourly service
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Hence why I said "usually" - the guided busway hasn't seen too much use this year what with Covid and the collapse of the wall on Spike Island!! Perhaps "theoretically" might have been a better word to use
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Think the 379 was actually a s106 developer funded service courtesy of the firm building at Paulton (Bovis?) on the old paper mill site, starting April 2012. It was hourly and interworked with the 376; not certain why Wells had it. Possibly because they had newish vehicles or perhaps more scope in terms of staff?
It was subsequently extended to (and transferred to) Bath when they upped the MSN to Bath corridor from 3bph to 4pbh. 69435-7 moved over and it was then interworked with the 178 but reliability was terrible. You'd often have a 178/379 following a 173/184 (or 174 latterly) through Dunkerton to Bath.
That and the end of the s106 funding explains why they split the 178 to work Bristol to Radstock, speeding it up and culling the 379 in August 2016. Then BaNES were lobbied to introduce a peak hour service plus a morning shopper run (177), returning things to the pre 2012 situation where there was a tendered 378/9?
Wait what? First WOE tickets accept on A4 service?
Also the new WOE zone map still states Chippenham but X31 is no longer operated by First
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
When First withdrew the 38, there was an agreement that RATP would accept First tickets on the A4. It might actually only be between Keynsham and Bath (might be confusing Highridge with the Avon Rider).
I can't find anything on the RATP site nor the First booklet so wonder if it's been dropped but you certainly could a couple of years ago!
And rumour has it, when the A1 returns it will revert to it’s original route through Bedminster. So that may signal the end of the A2 and the guideway will solely be used by the m2. It’s strange they didn’t choose to do the repairs on the guideway when neither the A1 or m2 were running. It would have saved the m2 having to operate the diversionary route.Hence why I said "usually" - the guided busway hasn't seen too much use this year what with Covid and the collapse of the wall on Spike Island!! Perhaps "theoretically" might have been a better word to use
By all accounts at the moment the A2 is doing well even with the limited number of flights going from Bristol Airport
I believe, this was only between Keynsham and Bath. Bristol to Keynsham is covered by the 178 and 349, but Keynsham was left with no other direct service to Bath in the daytime until the 19a, now the 18 was introduced.
I don’t think the fact a First ticket is accepted on the A4 between Keynsham and Bath is widely publicised.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Sorry @carlberry - 3rd and final travelogue from my week off. Hope it's of interest to folks etc.
I began my day driving to Bradford on Avon, ready to experience the newly introduced, socially distanced D1x. I had my 3 ply facemask ready and hand sanitiser, ready for the delights of some journeys on the Covid Capsules that politicians now regard buses as. I didn't have long to wait and my first machine was newly arrived ex Manchester/Diamond e400 33715. I'd scanned my e-ticket; the app is now really reliable so no issues and I went upstairs. I was looking forward to this trip as, even in the old days of the X4 when it ran that way, I'd never done the trip through Monkton Farleigh and Sally in the Woods. It's a nice trip even though there are few opportunities to pick up passengers. 33715 was actually pretty tidy internally if rather dull, and it went well. The London Road traffic was very light and so much stopping to wait time. I had some chores to do in Bath so bailed at the Podium, before making my way to the bus station for the 19. This was my golden oldie for the day in B7TL 32545, one of the few remaining ex Glasgow ones. As with 32544 earlier in the week, it was really quite tidy inside so wonder if a mid life refurb was undertaken in 2012/3? The one depressing aspect is the internal adverts.... Perhaps some promotion from First would be good rather than multiple NHS adverts regarding Hepatitis C?? Just a thought. It was a good journey and these are still decent machines, if a little old now.
Arriving at Cadbree 'Eeef, I saw a number of vehicles waiting time including a 1 liveried e400mmc! I decided to exit here, just by the pub where a phone box used to exist before a couple of tearaways blew it up with an industrial firework about 15 years ago (I kid you not). Aside from an m3 and original 39401, this was my first trip on one of the gas buses. The plus points.... quiet engines, and the moquette (that I'm not a fan of @Private Baxter - sorry but it reminds me of a 1970s tube train) goes well with the interior, and the USB charging. The downside of 39423 was evident as we moved off. Lord, the squeaks and creaks and all round symphony of plasticness. It was bad and for a new bus too. I got off at Cecil Road in Kingswood, again to undertake a few errands including dropping a card in to my mates house, wandering past the old Cityline depot before continuing up to catch the 17. This was another gas bus but Green 73 liveried 39470. I hopped on and again, the journey was punctuated by all manner of creaks. I've experienced this before on the dual door non city examples (including the diesel ones) and had attributed it to that aspect of the dual doors but no, it was terrible. Also, and it's been mentioned by others but when I got up to exit at Fishponds, the lack of grab poles is also a less than great change.... does this affect the internal strength and leads to the creaks? I don't know but I was disappointed. The other thing was the total lack of any internal promotion on these new vehicles.... This is major investment, a new set of images, green technology and yet nothing.
I grabbed brunch and then waited for the Y2, still on reduced Covid frequency, and headed for Yate. This was B9 37354 looking rather tired and needing a repaint which I'm sure it will get. It's a nice enough run to Yate and I had thoughts of heading back out on the Y6. However, the Y2 and Y6 are evidently interworking (thought it was the Y5/Y6 but perhaps a change related to Covid) so I eschewed that and instead went for the Y1. In all fairness, 39457 was better in terms of build quality than my two previous e400mmc CNGs but perhaps it was the better roads of the A432, ring road and M32. We fairly sped along through Hambrook where SGC had removed some of the bus lane at the end of last year.... Hopefully when/if they remodel the road to permanently remove the right turn to Winterbourne, it can be reinstated?
I got to Bristol and exited without a plan really of where to go next. I thought I might do the 24 and then get the m2 so I caught the next 24 which wasn't a newly refurbed B9, but one refurbed nonetheless in Unibus 37608, doing a turn on there. It was a short trip as I then decided to change my mind and got off at Bedminster and walked through to catch a 90 to Hengrove, hoping to catch the 96 to Briz. However, it seemed that my Melvin Sq connection actually wouldn't work so I just decided to get it anyway, forgetting it doesn't serve Hengrove Park (doh). Still, it was a nice trip through Glyn Vale and Knowle West (yes, really) on Streetdeck 35146, before I aimed for the 91 back into town on similar 35144 for Temple Meads
Now...time for controversy. Most people seem to hate Streetdecks and they certainly couldn't cope with life on the 376 BUT in terms of build quality and passenger comfort, they were better than the e400mmcs I'd had earlier. Also, another whinge....these had adverts internally for the 90 with fares information.... all wrong. A couple of years ago, FWoE were rightly lauded for Marketing Excellence and I still think they're better than many other firms but being honest, it seems to have slipped a bit. This at a time when they are doing some eye catching stuff like bookable buses with all the attendant promotion for that. It's a contradiction....
I arrived at Temple Meads and ready for my first Aquae, and time to contradict myself. Ex m3 (and Bath U1) e400 36804 duly arrived. I'd checked the app (another good First innovation) and could see there was plenty of space on board. I went upstairs where the air cooling was thankfully doing its job. The heat was oppressive by this time in the day but the level of mask compliance was much better everywhere on the day (in comparison with Wales the day previously where, it has to be said, a good few didn't wear masks and they were mainly people under 30). However, the interior of the Aquae did have great internal presentation, route details on the coving and even colour coordinated notices for things like the USB ports. We headed off and again, I confess, that 36804 wasn't beset my the creaking of the earlier City e400s (or previous experience of this batch). It was a lovely comfortable ride.
I arrived in Bath and could have caught the D1x again but decided to have a coffee at the Nero opposite, seeing 33715 duly depart. Instead, with fire blanket in hand (!), I went off the catch the normal D1. This was Eclipse 69508, it looking like the D2 is being Streetlite operated owing to a shortage of combustible Eclipses. The air-con is no longer used on these machines (has it worked in the last five years?) so rather hot with just two opening hopper windows. We made our way on the A36 through the verdant countryside, delayed at Limpley Stoke by someone having problems turning round their Nissan Qashqai as if it was some artic. Then the loop through Winsley and into BoA where the Melksham road is currently closed so the D1 has to run round the loop then double back to drop through on the Bath Road from the Castle pub. Cue massive traffic congestion....probably not good for a service that has enough reliability challenges. Eventually, I was able to exit into the town, day done.
Hope this is of interest. Any info or comments gladly accepted!
I began my day driving to Bradford on Avon, ready to experience the newly introduced, socially distanced D1x. I had my 3 ply facemask ready and hand sanitiser, ready for the delights of some journeys on the Covid Capsules that politicians now regard buses as. I didn't have long to wait and my first machine was newly arrived ex Manchester/Diamond e400 33715. I'd scanned my e-ticket; the app is now really reliable so no issues and I went upstairs. I was looking forward to this trip as, even in the old days of the X4 when it ran that way, I'd never done the trip through Monkton Farleigh and Sally in the Woods. It's a nice trip even though there are few opportunities to pick up passengers. 33715 was actually pretty tidy internally if rather dull, and it went well. The London Road traffic was very light and so much stopping to wait time. I had some chores to do in Bath so bailed at the Podium, before making my way to the bus station for the 19. This was my golden oldie for the day in B7TL 32545, one of the few remaining ex Glasgow ones. As with 32544 earlier in the week, it was really quite tidy inside so wonder if a mid life refurb was undertaken in 2012/3? The one depressing aspect is the internal adverts.... Perhaps some promotion from First would be good rather than multiple NHS adverts regarding Hepatitis C?? Just a thought. It was a good journey and these are still decent machines, if a little old now.
Arriving at Cadbree 'Eeef, I saw a number of vehicles waiting time including a 1 liveried e400mmc! I decided to exit here, just by the pub where a phone box used to exist before a couple of tearaways blew it up with an industrial firework about 15 years ago (I kid you not). Aside from an m3 and original 39401, this was my first trip on one of the gas buses. The plus points.... quiet engines, and the moquette (that I'm not a fan of @Private Baxter - sorry but it reminds me of a 1970s tube train) goes well with the interior, and the USB charging. The downside of 39423 was evident as we moved off. Lord, the squeaks and creaks and all round symphony of plasticness. It was bad and for a new bus too. I got off at Cecil Road in Kingswood, again to undertake a few errands including dropping a card in to my mates house, wandering past the old Cityline depot before continuing up to catch the 17. This was another gas bus but Green 73 liveried 39470. I hopped on and again, the journey was punctuated by all manner of creaks. I've experienced this before on the dual door non city examples (including the diesel ones) and had attributed it to that aspect of the dual doors but no, it was terrible. Also, and it's been mentioned by others but when I got up to exit at Fishponds, the lack of grab poles is also a less than great change.... does this affect the internal strength and leads to the creaks? I don't know but I was disappointed. The other thing was the total lack of any internal promotion on these new vehicles.... This is major investment, a new set of images, green technology and yet nothing.
I grabbed brunch and then waited for the Y2, still on reduced Covid frequency, and headed for Yate. This was B9 37354 looking rather tired and needing a repaint which I'm sure it will get. It's a nice enough run to Yate and I had thoughts of heading back out on the Y6. However, the Y2 and Y6 are evidently interworking (thought it was the Y5/Y6 but perhaps a change related to Covid) so I eschewed that and instead went for the Y1. In all fairness, 39457 was better in terms of build quality than my two previous e400mmc CNGs but perhaps it was the better roads of the A432, ring road and M32. We fairly sped along through Hambrook where SGC had removed some of the bus lane at the end of last year.... Hopefully when/if they remodel the road to permanently remove the right turn to Winterbourne, it can be reinstated?
I got to Bristol and exited without a plan really of where to go next. I thought I might do the 24 and then get the m2 so I caught the next 24 which wasn't a newly refurbed B9, but one refurbed nonetheless in Unibus 37608, doing a turn on there. It was a short trip as I then decided to change my mind and got off at Bedminster and walked through to catch a 90 to Hengrove, hoping to catch the 96 to Briz. However, it seemed that my Melvin Sq connection actually wouldn't work so I just decided to get it anyway, forgetting it doesn't serve Hengrove Park (doh). Still, it was a nice trip through Glyn Vale and Knowle West (yes, really) on Streetdeck 35146, before I aimed for the 91 back into town on similar 35144 for Temple Meads
Now...time for controversy. Most people seem to hate Streetdecks and they certainly couldn't cope with life on the 376 BUT in terms of build quality and passenger comfort, they were better than the e400mmcs I'd had earlier. Also, another whinge....these had adverts internally for the 90 with fares information.... all wrong. A couple of years ago, FWoE were rightly lauded for Marketing Excellence and I still think they're better than many other firms but being honest, it seems to have slipped a bit. This at a time when they are doing some eye catching stuff like bookable buses with all the attendant promotion for that. It's a contradiction....
I arrived at Temple Meads and ready for my first Aquae, and time to contradict myself. Ex m3 (and Bath U1) e400 36804 duly arrived. I'd checked the app (another good First innovation) and could see there was plenty of space on board. I went upstairs where the air cooling was thankfully doing its job. The heat was oppressive by this time in the day but the level of mask compliance was much better everywhere on the day (in comparison with Wales the day previously where, it has to be said, a good few didn't wear masks and they were mainly people under 30). However, the interior of the Aquae did have great internal presentation, route details on the coving and even colour coordinated notices for things like the USB ports. We headed off and again, I confess, that 36804 wasn't beset my the creaking of the earlier City e400s (or previous experience of this batch). It was a lovely comfortable ride.
I arrived in Bath and could have caught the D1x again but decided to have a coffee at the Nero opposite, seeing 33715 duly depart. Instead, with fire blanket in hand (!), I went off the catch the normal D1. This was Eclipse 69508, it looking like the D2 is being Streetlite operated owing to a shortage of combustible Eclipses. The air-con is no longer used on these machines (has it worked in the last five years?) so rather hot with just two opening hopper windows. We made our way on the A36 through the verdant countryside, delayed at Limpley Stoke by someone having problems turning round their Nissan Qashqai as if it was some artic. Then the loop through Winsley and into BoA where the Melksham road is currently closed so the D1 has to run round the loop then double back to drop through on the Bath Road from the Castle pub. Cue massive traffic congestion....probably not good for a service that has enough reliability challenges. Eventually, I was able to exit into the town, day done.
Hope this is of interest. Any info or comments gladly accepted!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
That all makes sense... I began to think Highridge was wrong and think I did conflate that with the twirly pass or other local fares rules!
I think the interavailability with Abus on the 349 came about when the 38 was still running (brokered by BaNES) but the A4 came about as you say.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Yeah, I saw some cabin crew catching the A2 on Friday to the Airport. And yes, there's many roadworks at the moment that you might have hoped would have been done during lockdown but then again, perhaps a lack of people available through self isolation/shielding?
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,790
Of course it was. I'm normally pretty sharp with all that.... must be the heat.
But I believe a requirement was that those buses were used, hence Wells operated it. Prior to April 2012, the 379 had been a daily return Radstock to Bristol service, which inter worked with one 376 journey, usually using an older B10BLE. It was later extended to Shepton, a journey that was retained when the 379 became hourly. The Shepton working was eventually dropped when Bath took on the service.
You're right 69435-7 did move to Bath, but rarely, as far as I am aware, worked the 178/379. They didnt stay particularly long in Bath.
It’s almost a local secrect that they’re accepted between Keynsham high street and Bath to allow interchange from the estates via the 349.
No need to apologise, I look forward to reading them. Anybody who can write something that can make a journey through Knowle West (*) sound appetising has a special skill! With Covid issues and combustible Eclipses it's more like a report from a war zone!
* - Other areas of Bristol that have had bus services withdrawn owing to vehicle damage are available!
Both the Y2 and Y5 are currently interworking with the Y6. This is due to the Y6 being hourly but the Y5 being 2 hourly. However, it the bus leaves Bristol as a Y2, the Y6 starts and finishes in Yate rather than Chipping Sodbury.
It has been noticed marketing on the 90s being wrong regarding fares, this is being dealt with.