TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
32015 parked outside Weston Island depot today. Still VOR and look sad for itself.
Assuming that the Bath Unibus deckers are on RR duties with 66728/32 working the U1. 53820 was working the 5!
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First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
- Thread starter Ivo
- Start date
32015 parked outside Weston Island depot today. Still VOR and look sad for itself.
Assuming that the Bath Unibus deckers are on RR duties with 66728/32 working the U1. 53820 was working the 5!
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Marcus Fryer
Member
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2014
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- 735
Are SPS still operating a free public bus service between Bridgwater and Minehead?
Whiteway215
Established Member
Thanks for the note about 32015. I think you said before it was over the pits so it may have moved or been moved a few yards. Do you think it looks a terminal case?
Re the Uni deckers-wasn't there a quote a while back that Bath Uni U1 and U2 has to be single deck for the time being because of work at the bus terminus at the Uni? The U1 seems to be all bendis at the moment certainly not decker operated. Thanks.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Must’ve missed that about the U1/U2
I was last at the Uni 2 weeks ago. Buses not going to the usual terminus as its a building site, instead carry on around at the far car park where there is a stop. Then to outside the Sports Hall where they now pick up.
Marcus Fryer
Member
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- 27 Dec 2014
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- 735
Answered my own question by phoning SPS, who emailed me a copy of the timetable. It still runs; the timetable changed slightly in May as the route now serves Lidl in Minehead.
DaveHarries
Established Member
The 1 & 2 in Bristol are included in the same registration but changes to the route are being made to Service 2. There was a recent consultation about Service 2, as a result of which buses on this service are being rerouted in Henbury between the Old Crow and Clifton Rugby Club to follow the same route as Service 1. This is to avoid delays which can sometimes be caused to Service 2 by heavy traffic on Wyck Beck Road.
Dave
Whiteway215
Established Member
The 3/3a in Bath is reverting to its original route at the Foxhill Estate end down Foxhill and not diverting via the Mulberry Park estate.
EnviroExplorer
Member
From the linked Twitter post, one can see that former Manchester Volvo B7TL ALX400s 30936 X357VWT & 30945 YJ51RPZ are the next transfers for the Bristol Q Busters
https://mobile.twitter.com/thomas_hughes/status/1156594407224807425
https://mobile.twitter.com/thomas_hughes/status/1156594407224807425
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
They look a bit modern!!!! Think I've seen 30871/77 working for Wells depot this weeks so surely we can find some W regs from somewhere?
It is very odd that, with the progress that's been made with dedicated liveried vehicles, new vehicles for various services and marketing FWE still has a problem with old tat that looks like old tat.
I was in Leicester on Saturday and everything is in the latest livery, with Leicester identifiers and even the ex Mendip Explorer vehicles have already had all the old logos removed properly and special vinyls added saying that the livery is only temporary. There is nothing as good as the best of FWE, however there's nothing as dire as what turns up on the 75/76 most days either!
Whiteway215
Established Member
So is there a policy emerging that FWE are gathering older buses from around the First empire to form its Q Buster fleet? I wonder what the intention is for extra vehicles when the Unis start? Is it a question of acquire rather than hire?
NorthernSpirit
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Jun 2013
- Messages
- 2,184
If that's the case then can First West of England please please please take the tired, battered and knackered Zest503 B7's from Halifax and the X63 branded B7's from Huddersfield to use as the Q Busters. Halifax and Huddersfield can have the cast offs from Leeds and Bath (the latter only for the Solo's).
freetoview33
Established Member
"Some" September changes.
Bristol:
1: Minor timetable change
2: Rerouted to serve Crow Lane
5: Bromley Heath will no longer be served in the morning peak, first bus to Bromley Heath at 09:32
X5: Change to Stagecoach, no other changes
6: Minor timetable change
7: Minor timetable change
19/19A: Services will now use Chalton Boulevard in Charlton Hayes
35/35A: 35A trips renumbered 35
37/37A: Minor timetbale change and a new 37A running from Hanham to Bath Bus Station to serve Oldfield School
42/42A: Minor timetable change
43: Minor timetable change
44/44A: Minor change of route in City Centre and new 44A running weekday afternoons from Nelson Street to Furber Road, no return trips
45: Minor change of route in City Centre
48: Extended into Lyde Green
48A: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
49: Extended into Lyde Green
X49: New service from Staple Hill - City Centre, in the morning peak only, calling via Fishponds then direct down the M32
70: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
71: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
72: Frequency decrease to every 60 mins
73: Minor timetable change
75: Minor timetable change
76: Most services will now terminate at Crow Lane again instead of Tormarton Crescent. (I am guessing a few ones at school times will continue)
7XP: Change to Stageocach, no other changes
84/85/86: Stagecoach services, minor timetable change
M1: Frequency decrease Monday to Saturday off peak to every 12 mins, due to low demand, and Saturday mornings and evenings decreased to every 20 mins
M3/M3X: Minor timetable change, M3X might use the new M32 Junction when traffic is bad, but will not use any of the additional stops
T1: Minor timetable change
T2: Change to route around Cribbs Causeway, will no longer serve retail park
T3: Service cancelled.
U3: Returns for the night services to U.W.E
Otherwise there are quite a few changes to school buses. And there will be more changes, this is only services that effect South Gloucestershire.
Bristol:
1: Minor timetable change
2: Rerouted to serve Crow Lane
5: Bromley Heath will no longer be served in the morning peak, first bus to Bromley Heath at 09:32
X5: Change to Stagecoach, no other changes
6: Minor timetable change
7: Minor timetable change
19/19A: Services will now use Chalton Boulevard in Charlton Hayes
35/35A: 35A trips renumbered 35
37/37A: Minor timetbale change and a new 37A running from Hanham to Bath Bus Station to serve Oldfield School
42/42A: Minor timetable change
43: Minor timetable change
44/44A: Minor change of route in City Centre and new 44A running weekday afternoons from Nelson Street to Furber Road, no return trips
45: Minor change of route in City Centre
48: Extended into Lyde Green
48A: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
49: Extended into Lyde Green
X49: New service from Staple Hill - City Centre, in the morning peak only, calling via Fishponds then direct down the M32
70: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
71: Frequency increase to every 15 mins
72: Frequency decrease to every 60 mins
73: Minor timetable change
75: Minor timetable change
76: Most services will now terminate at Crow Lane again instead of Tormarton Crescent. (I am guessing a few ones at school times will continue)
7XP: Change to Stageocach, no other changes
84/85/86: Stagecoach services, minor timetable change
M1: Frequency decrease Monday to Saturday off peak to every 12 mins, due to low demand, and Saturday mornings and evenings decreased to every 20 mins
M3/M3X: Minor timetable change, M3X might use the new M32 Junction when traffic is bad, but will not use any of the additional stops
T1: Minor timetable change
T2: Change to route around Cribbs Causeway, will no longer serve retail park
T3: Service cancelled.
U3: Returns for the night services to U.W.E
Otherwise there are quite a few changes to school buses. And there will be more changes, this is only services that effect South Gloucestershire.
freetoview33
Established Member
The 9 could be changing as well, but not sure of the Bristol only changes yet.
freetoview33
Established Member
Few other bits.
M1: Looks like there will be a few M1 shorts by First from Aztec West - U.W.E - City Centre (So I am guessing these will be in place of the T3)
SB1: New service from Soundwell - St Brendans (1 return trip a day)
M1: Looks like there will be a few M1 shorts by First from Aztec West - U.W.E - City Centre (So I am guessing these will be in place of the T3)
SB1: New service from Soundwell - St Brendans (1 return trip a day)
The 72 is only going down to hourly on Saturdays so not too much of an issue on weekdays.
First seems to be having its way with Metrobus. I thought the Quality Partnership guaranteed 6 buses per hour all day Monday to Saturday with the M1? The fares also seem to be increasable at will, with no consultation on such a major change.
The 72 may only be experiencing a decrease on Saturdays, but it's another way that Redland passengers are getting a worsening service.
The 72 may only be experiencing a decrease on Saturdays, but it's another way that Redland passengers are getting a worsening service.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It's looking rather like that acquisition is the way forward. Remember that, as Bolton depot transfers to Rotala, they'll be a load of B9s available to cascade. I doubt they'll head to Bristol but they may also other stuff to cascade.
I doubt the B7s will head from Halifax/Hudds to Bristol. There are plenty of older B7TLs that need replacing in West Yorkshire, not least the ex Leicester ones that Bristol sent up to Huddersfield.
It does feel (and I may be being pessimistic) like FWoE is struggling a bit and that we've seen the peak reached. Some issues are outside of their control - the congestion, the exit of Wessex increasing the PVR, etc. So when they ordinarily may have had the scope to repaint vehicles etc, they just haven't. Aside from a Bath Solo, a Weston Dart and Trident and now 66726 into Discover, I'm struggling to think of many more repaints in the last year. As you say, the best and worst are worlds apart and yet can often appear together when you see something like 66729 working a Discover journey. With the summer reduction, I'm assuming that amongst the RR duties and other special workings, they'll be busy getting vehicles repainted and prepared (e.g. more B9s for Wells to release Eclipses).
So you can perhaps appreciate some of the pressures they've had to experience out of their control. That said, First also have the troublesome Streetdecks in Wells - is there culpability there? Moreover, it APPEARS to also be down to a lack of available capital. There are 6 e400Hs new in Nov 2012 that have been laid up for over a year - are they being repowered? New gas buses were originally expected in 2019 and now its 2020. To enable Leicester to hit its CAZ target, Eclipses that were expected to make up much of the SGL Lynx and ME177/178 fleet are now being sent north. It seems that FWE is being constrained, having had few new vehicles in nearly three years for general service (e.g. aside from contracts/Metrobus etc).
It is no surprise that we're seeing the changes to the m1 - the evening service especially seemed very generous and a number of people have suggested this change before. Not surprised about the 72 either as it seems to be a bit of Cinderella route. I'm still amazed the 42 in Bath is still going and likewise, the 179 seems to be in terminal decline.
Whiteway215
Established Member
I've just been looking up those ex First Oldham B7TLs we are getting (30936/45). According to my notes 30945 was withdrawn last Sept 2018. Unless they have gone elsewhere in the meantime, I think there may be others available from Oldham. 30912 withdrawn Sept 18, 30915 delicenced in March 19, 30935 withdrawn Nov 18, 30944/46 withdrawn Sept 18. It was just a thought!
Perhaps a deal has been reached for Oldham depot, dependent on somebody clearing the scrap line!
Whiteway215
Established Member
Nice one Carl! Do you mean dependent on FWE clearing the scrap line??!!
Robertj21a
On Moderation
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- 22 Sep 2013
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- 7,518
Sounds like FWoE can't release any more Vo B7RLEs to Leicester (presumably due to the Mendip Streetdeck problems), so only 5 are going (gone).
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Where’s that come from? And what of the Bath long StreetLites?
Robertj21a
On Moderation
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From a respected source. I think the Bath Streetlites are still pencilled in.
There's been quite a few repaints in the last year with vehicles at Press in Avonmouth most weeks. A lot of the m2 fleet was painted from unbranded First followed by a few more of that batch into m3 livery this year. The ex P&R Geminis were painted into Unibus & ME livery as well as 35147, the ex AirportConnect Streetlites into Excel, 32006 in Coaster, 8 of the Weston Geminis (and Darts) into Badgerline livery as well as various colour changes across the fleet (6/7 green to 3/4 purple etc).
Admitidley most of those repaints had previously had recent repaints whilst certain vehciles still carry shabby and faded barbie!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Sorry, I should’ve been a little more precise in saying the academic year as the university demands have impacted the availability to undertake repaints and so they are concentrated into the summer months. Granted, you’re right that some of the Badgerline repaints were done in the autumn (thought they were all last summer) and the two air connect StreetLites and 35147 had slipped my mind.
Based on Steve White’s page, it was 13 repaints during the academic year.
According to yesterday’s edition of ‘The Word’, as well as the end of life deckers brought in to act as the ‘Q Busters’ from September through to December, there will be more mid-life deckers arriving for scheduled work. These will be in exchange for Streetlites and E200s.There are several routes due to be deckorised.
Also, the three Severn Express E400s will be repainted into standard livery and used on other services.
Two B7RLEs will be also freed up from Weston when the X5 transfers to Stagecoach. I can’t see these staying in Weston as they are really too long for the X2 which interworks with the X8. There are also enough Streetlites to cover the X2/X8, the A3 E200MMCs and the 3 & 5 Darts. There will also be slack in the 2 E400s freed up from the X5 to cover the other Excel services, with the two Urban E400s able to cover the 1, 7 and 20.
Also, the three Severn Express E400s will be repainted into standard livery and used on other services.
Two B7RLEs will be also freed up from Weston when the X5 transfers to Stagecoach. I can’t see these staying in Weston as they are really too long for the X2 which interworks with the X8. There are also enough Streetlites to cover the X2/X8, the A3 E200MMCs and the 3 & 5 Darts. There will also be slack in the 2 E400s freed up from the X5 to cover the other Excel services, with the two Urban E400s able to cover the 1, 7 and 20.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Thanks for that update.
I had wondered if routes like the 4 in Bath might gain deckers in order to release the StreetLite Maxes. Mid life deckers.... might we hope that might indicate some ex Bolton B9s might head south rather B7TLs that are much closer to end of life? I’m probably reading too much into that!
I had hoped the 7XP (plus some 48/49) examples would be the enviros heading for the 376 but clearly not. Going to be an interesting couple of months.
The e200s leaving - wonder if that’s the final few short ones (aside from the WW ones) and if the Bath 3 may also gain deckers?