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

SarahDFIG

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9 Jan 2019
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Interesting. Wonder what routes they would go onto. I would think that Enviro200 MMCs would be good on the 24 in Bristol in place of those Streets****s.

Dave
They have large luggage racks at front of them so not sure if you have routes that will require this spec of vehicle.
 
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TheGrandWazoo

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Interesting. Wonder what routes they would go onto. I would think that Enviro200 MMCs would be good on the 24 in Bristol in place of those Streets****s.

Dave
They have large luggage racks at front of them so not sure if you have routes that will require this spec of vehicle.

I thought the e200mmc were rumoured to be heading to Wales rather than Bristol? The only route they would be suitable for (in current config) would be the A2 but in any case, you'd expect them to be reconfigured for standard use.


Hypothetically if the 42-45 got a new fleet. What's on there currently should go to the 3,4,5,6,7.

Don't think the 5 would get deckers? Surely it will just get the Streetlites and I'm surprised the Darts are still there? The 6/7 will probably retain the current fleet until the second or third tranche of gas deckers arrive to convert that - that service (and the 17) are part of the award to comply with the AQMA?
 

SarahDFIG

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9 Jan 2019
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381
I thought the e200mmc were rumoured to be heading to Wales rather than Bristol? The only route they would be suitable for (in current config) would be the A2 but in any case, you'd expect them to be reconfigured for standard use.




Don't think the 5 would get deckers? Surely it will just get the Streetlites and I'm surprised the Darts are still there? The 6/7 will probably retain the current fleet until the second or third tranche of gas deckers arrive to convert that - that service (and the 17) are part of the award to comply with the AQMA?
Sorry they are rumoured for Wales not Bristol.

Don't think they will get the racks removed as they never got removed when the e300s left for bos and as far as I am aware they still haven't been .
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Sorry they are rumoured for Wales not Bristol. Don't think they will get the racks removed as they never got removed when the e300s left for bos and as far as I am aware they still haven't been .

To be fair, it actually suited the e300s at Buses of Somerset to keep their luggage racks as they serve the large Butlins camp in Minehead; in fact, they had installed luggage racks into some earlier B7Ls for that requirement.

I'm not certain that there's anything that First Cymru operate that would justify the retention of the racks, and when First WoE replaced the Eclipses on the Bristol Airport service, they did indeed refurb them and removed the racks.

Is it me or is there alot of bash panels.

Appropriately enough, this was one of those former Airport vehicles. The Discover routes do extend into the wilds of Wiltshire and Somerset and whilst they keep to the main roads, they do divert into villages where they have to bump up grass verges etc
 

goldisgood

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5 Mar 2018
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408
Don't think the 5 would get deckers? Surely it will just get the Streetlites and I'm surprised the Darts are still there? The 6/7 will probably retain the current fleet until the second or third tranche of gas deckers arrive to convert that - that service (and the 17) are part of the award to comply with the AQMA?
There were rumours a few months back that a batch of 39 were coming, which is enough to run the 6, 7, 17 and 42/43/44/45 for the AQMA.
 

D2007wsm

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33156 is now parked in Weston Depot, it’s in Coaster livery though is yet to branded. In the dark without vinyls, from the back it could be mistaken for an Excel vehicle.
 

Tommy Walters

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9 Nov 2017
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Ottery St Mary
Chaos on the Bath U2 this morning as two buses broke down (32003 was one of them) in the Twerton/Whiteway area, meaning all the buses behind were stuck!! It adds another saga to the continuing issues with both the U1/2, despite the route changes being introduced!!
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Chaos on the Bath U2 this morning as two buses broke down (32003 was one of them) in the Twerton/Whiteway area, meaning all the buses behind were stuck!! It adds another saga to the continuing issues with both the U1/2, despite the route changes being introduced!!

Not helped by the temporary traffic lights outside the old Rose and Laurel - they got me yesterday adding 15 mins to my journey home so I avoided the area today.

BTW 32673 was working the U2 last night
 

carlberry

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The X3/X4 in Bristol was operating some journeys via the Portway today. This was because of a road closure very close to the M5 junction. I assume there may also be journeys operating via the normal route and turning via Pill.
 

D2007wsm

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There was an accident just off of the Motorway at Easton-in-Gordano where sadly a lady died. A couple of buses were stuck in Pill for quite some time as they could not get out of the village onto the A369 and there was nowhere suitable to turn around. A couple of buses were turned at Ham Green and had to go back to Bristol to get to Portishead. All other buses were sent down the Portway, onto the M5 and over the Avonmouth bridge.

The X3/X4 in Bristol was operating some journeys via the Portway today. This was because of a road closure very close to the M5 junction. I assume there may also be journeys operating via the normal route and turning via Pill.
 
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freetoview33

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There was an accident just off of the Motorway at Easton-in-Gordano where sadly a lady died. A couple of buses were stuck in Pill for quite some time as they could not get out of the village onto the A359 and there was nowhere suitable to turn around. A couple of buses were turned at Ham Green and had to go back to Bristol to get to

Portishead. All other buses were sent down the Portway and over the Avonmouth bridge.
Very sad the A369 is a horrible road!
 

DaveHarries

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There was an accident just off of the Motorway at Easton-in-Gordano where sadly a lady died. A couple of buses were stuck in Pill for quite some time as they could not get out of the village onto the A359 and there was nowhere suitable to turn around. A couple of buses were turned at Ham Green and had to go back to Bristol to get to Portishead. All other buses were sent down the Portway and over the Avonmouth bridge.
I had two X3s pass me on the A4 Portway this morning but no X4s. However when I got to Hotwells, where the A4 Portway joins with the A3029 Brunel Way, an X4 for Bristol appeared from the Bower Ashton direction. I did end up wondering whether the X3 was taking one diversionary route with X4s taking another but perhaps the X4s were running between Bristol and Pill only.

Dave
 

D2007wsm

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I had two X3s pass me on the A4 Portway this morning but no X4s. However when I got to Hotwells, where the A4 Portway joins with the A3029 Brunel Way, an X4 for Bristol appeared from the Bower Ashton direction. I did end up wondering whether the X3 was taking one diversionary route with X4s taking another but perhaps the X4s were running between Bristol and Pill only.

Dave
As far as I am aware, the Portway and M5 diversion is the standard diversion for X3s, X3As and X4s. The X4 generally doubles back and loops around Pill. However, Pill was inaccessible as I mentioned before. A couple of buses were stuck in Pill as they could not turn out of the village onto the A369.

They may have been operating back to the Ashton Bridge stop to serve UWE Bower Ashton and Ashton Park School or for some reason this bus may have gone through Clevedon, Tickenham and up over Failand if the driver did not get the message about the correct diversion. This was the diversion used when the Portbury Hundred was shut due to the shooting incident.
 

Class 33

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42896 was out on the 71 this morning. Jammed full! Not sure when i last saw a Plaxton Dart on the 70/71...!?

Yes I saw that Dart on the 71 today too. Loads of single deckers about on the 70 & 71 at the moment unfortunately(most of them jammed full), due to the usual double deckers being in Bath. The sooner they're back on the 70 & 71, the better.

Meanwhile today though, I saw a 70/71 branded Streetdeck on the 44!
 

D2007wsm

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There is currently delays to the 35/37/42/42A/44/45 due to roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Church Road in St George. They may have had to step a bus up due to this.
Yes I saw that Dart on the 71 today too. Loads of single deckers about on the 70 & 71 at the moment unfortunately(most of them jammed full), due to the usual double deckers being in Bath. The sooner they're back on the 70 & 71, the better.

Meanwhile today though, I saw a 70/71 branded Streetdeck on the 44!
 

Jordan Adam

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12 Sep 2017
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Rumours on a certain Facebook page that Bath's B7LAs are receiving new Euro6 engines (thus loosing 4 seats) with 10175/79 already done. Can anyone confirm this, and if so does anyone have interior photos of the rear?
 

spw24

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13 Feb 2011
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bristol
I reported that as I was on 10175 this afternoon and noted the seating capacity said 52 not 56 they have lost the 2 sets of offside seats opposite the rear doors.
 

Tommy Walters

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9 Nov 2017
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Ottery St Mary
I reported that as I was on 10175 this afternoon and noted the seating capacity said 52 not 56 they have lost the 2 sets of offside seats opposite the rear doors.
10175/6/8/9 have had those seats missing for over a year now, so perhaps the engine changes are yet to come?? 10174/7 still have the 4 seats there for the moment.
 

THarris123

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Rumours on a certain Facebook page that Bath's B7LAs are receiving new Euro6 engines (thus loosing 4 seats) with 10175/79 already done. Can anyone confirm this, and if so does anyone have interior photos of the rear?
Blimey they're a bit old for that aren't they? Please don't tell me they're doing 10036/7?
 

THarris123

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20 Apr 2014
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Wells, Somerset
Hello ladies, hope you're all well.

Can someone confirm at all how many new biogas buses are due for Bristol this year and what routes they'll be allocated to? I've heard it's 39 or 71 or 77 or something along those lines. Any ideas how the original bid has changed and whether the 110 biogas buses that were on the bid will still be turning up? Only the pvr on 17 was higher then, plus there have been other changes.

Anyway changing the subject - Wells - apparently changes are due in April to change 376 (very minor) and 172. From what I understand, 172 will no longer be serving Tesco, but instead do a loop around Farrington Gurney and Hallatrow, to link up with 376. I don't yet completely know how that will work, but should find out soon enough. 126 on Sundays is due to come back in April too, operated by Wells again and I expect it to be every 3 hours again.

In terms of fleet, its all up in the air a bit at the moment. Nobody really knows what's going on, but the latest I've heard is 66720/26/942 are staying with all the 59 plates leaving Wells. Hasn't yet been confirmed where they are going, nor what will replace them.
35147 is due to Wells soon as another spare bus to 376. The Streetdecks have proved to be rather unreliable and since starting to commute to Somerton every day, I've not yet noticed a day when a bus isnt in naughty corner of the depot. Two Streetdecks and 69444 were in naughty corner on Friday evening. 35148 is yet again off the road and since coming back 35166 has become a bit of a pain too. There's at least one loan each week from Bath at the moment, with a mixture of singles and deckers. Today I saw 32343 on 173, so that seems to be the latest. 32280, 63077, 32636 were all in Wells this week at one point. Several Enviros have been in and out working 126 as well.
The next couple of weeks will be fun, as it seems roadworks and road closures are going on which will affect 174 and 376, so look out for plenty of delays.
Report done , Tom
 

Jordan Adam

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12 Sep 2017
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Aberdeen
Blimey they're a bit old for that aren't they? Please don't tell me they're doing 10036/7?

It was said it would only be the "newer ones" so probably the WX55 plates and the Ex-Aberdeen examples. Keep in mind the Ex-Aberdeen examples were meant to see off 10036/7, but instead they've been kept for additional capacity.
 

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