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

TheGrandWazoo · 9 Aug 2019

Private Baxter said:
Ooh, so streetlites on the 37 perhaps? Or maybe some of the B7RLEs will once again go back to to MH, and work 178. I suspect that to me more likely

Who knows!!

EnviroExplorer said:
Apparently 10 of Bolton’s B9/Gemini’s are moving to Bristol this evening, straight after finishing their days work! Departure expected at about 10pm according to a private Facebook group

It did seem likely that this was the source of the mid life deckers but you can never second guess First.

I know it probably won't be happening any time soon, but would be good to see the ones for Bath receive the blue livery that has so far been confined to the Solos and some Eclipses

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carlberry · 9 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
I know it probably won't be happening any time soon, but would be good to see the ones for Bath receive the blue livery that has so far been confined to the Solos and some Eclipses

You've got loads of blue ones, we're still waiting to see if South Gloucestershire Lynx was a one off!!!

TheGrandWazoo · 9 Aug 2019

carlberry said:
You've got loads of blue ones, we're still waiting to see if South Gloucestershire Lynx was a one off!!!

How very dare you.... they painted two of them!! To be honest, they need (IMHO) to prioritise finishing off the Badgerline fleet (which they are apparently doing) and also sort out the Mendip Explorer fleet.

The South Glos Lynx has been the softest of launches!

carlberry · 9 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
How very dare you.... they painted two of them!! To be honest, they need (IMHO) to prioritise finishing off the Badgerline fleet (which they are apparently doing) and also sort out the Mendip Explorer fleet.

The South Glos Lynx has been the softest of launches!

Ok, I was 100% off! Oddly the Badgerline livery is basically promoting Weston town services that haven't really changed whereas South Glos Lynx had quite a lot of improvements that a new livery could sell, especially given the amount of time they'd be on main roads.

carlberry · 9 Aug 2019

Might not be First operating them however two new airport services are being proposed (a bit like one that was tried before), it appears to be part of the PR around getting planning for extra flights.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews/2654675-bristol/0

A six-month trial of two bus services to Bristol Airport for passengers and staff is to take place next year.

One will run from Nailsea and Backwell railway station to the airport while the other will start at Clevedon and go via Yatton railway station and Cleeve.An airport spokesman said the service would be 24/7 based around flight schedules and staff rosters.

TheGrandWazoo · 9 Aug 2019

carlberry said:
Might not be First operating them however two new airport services are being proposed (a bit like one that was tried before), it appears to be part of the PR around getting planning for extra flights.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews/2654675-bristol/0

I share your cynicism - looks rather similar to the old A2 that linked to Yatton, was changed, stretched, cut and eventually died.

Bradley · 9 Aug 2019

Is this true that 10 Double Deckers are transferring to Bristol tonight from Bolton depot.

henairs · 9 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
How very dare you.... they painted two of them!! To be honest, they need (IMHO) to prioritise finishing off the Badgerline fleet (which they are apparently doing) and also sort out the Mendip Explorer fleet.

The South Glos Lynx has been the softest of launches!

Well in the wild the Lynx is a very secretive beast and is a loner so maybe the vehicles are following type. Just tongue in cheek of course,
Mike R

Dai Corner · 9 Aug 2019

carlberry said:
Might not be First operating them however two new airport services are being proposed (a bit like one that was tried before), it appears to be part of the PR around getting planning for extra flights.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews/2654675-bristol/0

Well, at least that would provide a service between Clevedon and Yatton again. Over the years that section has been cut and reinstated more times than I can remember!

D2007wsm · 9 Aug 2019

carlberry said:
You've got loads of blue ones, we're still waiting to see if South Gloucestershire Lynx was a one off!!!

More vehicles will appear in the South Glous Lynx livery, there is a reason why only 2 were repainted last year. All will be revealed soon.

freetoview33 · 9 Aug 2019

D2007wsm said:
More vehicles will appear in the South Glous Lynx livery, there is a reason why only 2 were repainted last year. All will be revealed soon.

Another rebrand on the cards?

D2007wsm · 9 Aug 2019

freetoview33 said:
Another rebrand on the cards?

Nope, the brand is here to stay

CD · 9 Aug 2019

henairs said:
Well in the wild the Lynx is a very secretive beast and is a loner so maybe the vehicles are following type. Just tongue in cheek of course,
Mike R

Take it you mean 69448 Mike.

carlberry · 9 Aug 2019

freetoview33 said:
Another rebrand on the cards?

Another renumbering more likely!

freetoview33 · 9 Aug 2019

carlberry said:
Another renumbering more likely!

I think you might be right! I don't support renumberings for no real point and every few years!

-Colly405- · 9 Aug 2019

Or maybe contracted out?

Which leads me to another question - what vehicles will First use on their m1 shorts? Presumably they need to be m branded?

Bradley · 10 Aug 2019

Does anyone know when the Uni Double Deckers can go back on the U1 in Bath.

freetoview33 · 10 Aug 2019

Bradley said:
Does anyone know when the Uni Double Deckers can go back on the U1 in Bath.

I think they will need to by the 15th of September at the latest!

Whiteway215 · 10 Aug 2019

Bradley said:
Does anyone know when the Uni Double Deckers can go back on the U1 in Bath.

I'm not sure of the details but there were at least two on the U1 late yesterday afternoon along with a couple of bendis.

Whiteway215 · 10 Aug 2019

EnviroExplorer said:
Apparently 10 of Bolton’s B9/Gemini’s are moving to Bristol this evening, straight after finishing their days work! Departure expected at about 10pm according to a private Facebook group

Not the most pleasant driving conditions on M6/M5 with rain, very strong winds and overnight holiday traffic. Hope they all made it to Bristol safely.

Whiteway215 · 10 Aug 2019

Bradley- according to Bustimes tracker 33943/45/48 are working the U1 at this very moment.

Bradley · 10 Aug 2019

Thanks Whiteway215.

Private Baxter · 10 Aug 2019

D2007wsm said:
More vehicles will appear in the South Glous Lynx livery, there is a reason why only 2 were repainted last year. All will be revealed soon.

Ooh very intriguing! A different fleet on the way perhaps. Though I appreciate it's not for you to say.

TheGrandWazoo · 11 Aug 2019

Private Baxter said:
Ooh very intriguing! A different fleet on the way perhaps. Though I appreciate it's not for you to say.

It may be that part of the reason was the ME Eclipses being reallocated to SGL was part of the fleet but they’ve headed to Leicester/been delayed.

Seen posted the IDs of the first four B9s for Bath but subject to confirmation

Whiteway215 · 11 Aug 2019

I've read 30871 and 30877 are 'robust and reliable' but I'm surprised that according to Bustimes they are running on the 19 on a Sunday. That means they are in use seven days a week. I would have thought something newer would been out on Sunday. Perhaps newer things aren't as reliable!
Just over a year ago they were parked up in the withdrawn compound in Penzance along with 30872/3/5 after Kernow had finished with them.

Whiteway215 · 11 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
It may be that part of the reason was the ME Eclipses being reallocated to SGL was part of the fleet but they’ve headed to Leicester/been delayed.

Seen posted the IDs of the first four B9s for Bath but subject to confirmation

Not wishing to bore you all but I BELIEVE the surplus B9s from Bolton would be 33842/3/5 36279/80 37385/7/8/96/403/5-8/10/15-19/22/25-31/34/35/47/56/71 37546/7/51/4. Of course not all will be coming to FWE. This is my version of the buses made surplus by the Rotala takeover at Bolton and is not official.

TheGrandWazoo · 11 Aug 2019

Whiteway215 said:
Not wishing to bore you all but I BELIEVE the surplus B9s from Bolton would be 33842/3/5 36279/80 37385/7/8/96/403/5-8/10/15-19/22/25-31/34/35/47/56/71 37546/7/51/4. Of course not all will be coming to FWE. This is my version of the buses made surplus by the Rotala takeover at Bolton and is not official.

Aren’t 33842/3/5 e400s?

I have seen that a couple are supposed to be heading to York. The ones reportedly for Bath (unsubstantiated report klaxon o_O

) are 37388/96/403/415.

Think 36279/80 are used in the non busway Vantage extras.

Whiteway215 · 11 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Aren’t 33842/3/5 e400s?

I have seen that a couple are supposed to be heading to York. The ones reportedly for Bath (unsubstantiated report klaxon ) are 37388/96/403/415.

Think 36279/80 are used in the non busway Vantage extras.

Yes GW you are absolutely correct-they are e400s. Sorry about that!
I didn't know 36279/80 were Vantage extras. Thanks for the corrections.

spw24 · 11 Aug 2019

10 b9s from Bolton have arrived at Lawrence Hill 37388 37396 37403.5.6.7.8.10.5.6 all heading to bath

TheGrandWazoo · 11 Aug 2019

Whiteway215 said:
Yes GW you are absolutely correct-they are e400s. Sorry about that!
I didn't know 36279/80 were Vantage extras. Thanks for the corrections.

The two 12 plates, and the three former Eclipse Eclipses were, I think, used for those V3 extras. However, I may be wrong and, of course, there's no guarantee that they'll continue to do that!

spw24 said:
10 b9s from Bolton have arrived at Lawrence Hill 37388 37396 37403.5.6.7.8.10.5.6 all heading to bath

Thanks Steve. I look forward to seeing those permanently on the 3/3a/4 and not being used on every other Bath service

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