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

freetoview33 · 26 Aug 2019

Who knows these Q busters are due to stay until the end of the year and by then we will have more service changes so anything could happen!

RailUK Forums

TheGrandWazoo · 26 Aug 2019

freetoview33 said:
Who knows these Q busters are due to stay until the end of the year and by then we will have more service changes so anything could happen!

The new vehicles are also due to arrive around the new year (IIRC).

Also, wouldn't be at all surprised to see some of the very oldest vehicles disposed of but also some of the later model B7TLs (2005/6) head to Cornwall (think that was mooted) or other OpCos.

Robertj21a · 26 Aug 2019

Whiteway215 said:
In my opinion I doubt if anyone but management know the answer. However I believe 31143/6 32225 have been repainted which seems a bit over the top if they are only short-term as Q Busters. There are several younger buses that could do with a repaint out of Barbie.

With the rapid changes in the fleet across First, I doubt that the management know much more. It seems to change at least weekly.

TheGrandWazoo · 26 Aug 2019

Robertj21a said:
With the rapid changes in the fleet across First, I doubt that the management know much more. It seems to change at least weekly.

I’m sure that they had a plan but the issues with Wright have changed that.

As I said, painting those ones specifically with branded fronts indicates a longer stay. The W regs seem to be on their last legs (but then they painted one and a Trident for use at Weston) and I’d expect the Tridents may exit.

Of course, some just look at the oldest vehicles but as with Stagecoach, First are adept at all sorts of mid life and older cascades.

Robertj21a · 26 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
I’m sure that they had a plan but the issues with Wright have changed that.

As I said, painting those ones specifically with branded fronts indicates a longer stay. The W regs seem to be on their last legs (but then they painted one and a Trident for use at Weston) and I’d expect the Tridents may exit.

Of course, some just look at the oldest vehicles but as with Stagecoach, First are adept at all sorts of mid life and older cascades.

They certainly had a plan, and about 7 more in recent times.

TheGrandWazoo · 26 Aug 2019

Robertj21a said:
They certainly had a plan, and about 7 more in recent times.

How recent? The delayed sale of Bolton, non sale of Oldham and the lack of new Streetdecks for Leeds were all issues.

Robertj21a · 26 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
How recent? The delayed sale of Bolton, non sale of Oldham and the lack of new Streetdecks for Leeds were all issues.

7 in about 7 weeks.

CD · 26 Aug 2019

As the changes to Bath 3/3a/4 start in less than a week, anyone know if any of the 10 ex Bolton B9TLs have arrived in Bath or are they still in Lawrence Hill?

spw24 · 26 Aug 2019

All the Bolton B9s should now be in Bath.

CD · 26 Aug 2019

spw24 said:
All the Bolton B9s should now be in Bath.

Thanks Steve.

TheGrandWazoo · 26 Aug 2019

Wales doesn't get much coverage but whilst looking for the ex Glasgow e200mmc, came across some photos of the first of the refurbished B9TLs (36206) and have to say that I think it looks a lot better than the Mendip Explorer B9s. Think it's a good looking refurb both internally and out.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48607567268/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48607567028/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48593667932/in/photostream/

Apparently (according to reports), there are 17 of them due for refurbishment with 36207/9 away at H&D Trim. 36211-4 are supposedly being refurbished but instead of returning to the Unibus service, they're rumoured to be heading to the X10.

Interestingly, the same poster also has a shot of former Wells B7RLE 66717 under conversion to a driver trainer!

However, saw ex Bath Solo 53812 in Maesteg on Friday. Smartly repainted and looks like it has received the Barbie 2 light purple moquette (unless it already had it).

iantherev · 27 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Wales doesn't get much coverage but whilst looking for the ex Glasgow e200mmc, came across some photos of the first of the refurbished B9TLs (36206) and have to say that I think it looks a lot better than the Mendip Explorer B9s. Think it's a good looking refurb both internally and out.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48607567268/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48607567028/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs-bus-pics/48593667932/in/photostream/

Apparently (according to reports), there are 17 of them due for refurbishment with 36207/9 away at H&D Trim. 36211-4 are supposedly being refurbished but instead of returning to the Unibus service, they're rumoured to be heading to the X10.

Interestingly, the same poster also has a shot of former Wells B7RLE 66717 under conversion to a driver trainer!

However, saw ex Bath Solo 53812 in Maesteg on Friday. Smartly repainted and looks like it has received the Barbie 2 light purple moquette (unless it already had it).

66716 is also being converted as a driver trainer. More Enviro 200 MMCs are arriving from Scotland, this time in the revised Cymru Clipper livery.

TheGrandWazoo · 27 Aug 2019

iantherev said:
66716 is also being converted as a driver trainer. More Enviro 200 MMCs are arriving from Scotland, this time in the revised Cymru Clipper livery.

Cheers Ian. Interesting they’re converting 2004 Eclipses when there’s older Darts still going.

We’ve discussed on the First Glasgow thread about the e200mmc for the X3/X11 with 67101/2/5 received with interior mods and others at Glasgow painted but unaltered and retaining luggage racks (but only for the time being?).

Assume the X10 coaches will be binned off? What’s coming spare from the X3/X11? Saw Darts on the former on Friday.

D2007wsm · 27 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Cheers Ian. Interesting they’re converting 2004 Eclipses when there’s older Darts still going.

We’ve discussed on the First Glasgow thread about the e200mmc for the X3/X11 with 67101/2/5 received with interior mods and others at Glasgow painted but unaltered and retaining luggage racks (but only for the time being?).

Assume the X10 coaches will be binned off? What’s coming spare from the X3/X11? Saw Darts on the former on Friday.

I think the trend for converting the B7RLEs and the older B10s to training vehicles is the size. The training buses round here used to be Marshall Darts, but new drivers found it a bit of a shock learning on a shorter bus and then going out on to the road in service on a full length single. I think it is to allow newer drivers to get used to the length rather than anything.

TheGrandWazoo · 27 Aug 2019

D2007wsm said:
I think the trend for converting the B7RLEs and the older B10s to training vehicles is the size. The training buses round here used to be Marshall Darts, but new drivers found it a bit of a shock learning on a shorter bus and then going out on to the road in service on a full length single. I think it is to allow newer drivers to get used to the length rather than anything.

True enough. Just thought they were quite young and there are B7Ls being culled; don’t know if Cymru still have theirs.

Bristol LH · 27 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
True enough. Just thought they were quite young and there are B7Ls being culled; don’t know if Cymru still have theirs.

Both (66350 & 66351) sold locally for scrap in the last month or so

TheGrandWazoo · 27 Aug 2019

Bristol LH said:
Both (66350 & 66351) sold locally for scrap in the last month or so

Thanks for that. Bet they never lost FWoE fleetnames

D2007wsm · 27 Aug 2019

Plaxton President Volvo B7TLs 32222 and 32223 are now parked in Weston Depot.

Whiteway215 · 27 Aug 2019

D2007wsm said:
Plaxton President Volvo B7TLs 32222 and 32223 are now parked in Weston Depot.

In store for the time being perhaps?

Whiteway215 · 28 Aug 2019

Bath Weston Island has acquired 68567 from Kernow. I was also told there are 17 double deckers in total due for Bath.

D2007wsm · 28 Aug 2019

Whiteway215 said:
In store for the time being perhaps?

Haven’t a clue, just seen them there last night

TheGrandWazoo · 28 Aug 2019

Whiteway215 said:
Bath Weston Island has acquired 68567 from Kernow. I was also told there are 17 double deckers in total due for Bath.

Assume that's the 10 ex Bolton ones plus a few more (?) for the 3/3A/4 (assume the PVR is something like 15?)... It is quite incredible when you think how many deckers Bath depot will have when a few years ago, it was only 32281-5 (and 32684-91 for the P&R).

Whiteway215 · 28 Aug 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Assume that's the 10 ex Bolton ones plus a few more (?) for the 3/3A/4 (assume the PVR is something like 15?)... It is quite incredible when you think how many deckers Bath depot will have when a few years ago, it was only 32281-5 (and 32684-91 for the P&R).

I still make the PVR 14. Yes it includes the 10 ex Bolton. Perhaps 32222/3 are due to land up at Bath.

AllanMacF · 29 Aug 2019

Interesting sidewards view on the oldies now arriving is that, apart from the MPDs once used on Wessex Water contracts, 30936 will be the first X-reg'd bus to run with FWoE or its predecessors. Also, 31143/6 are twins of existing 32278, in being from the YU52 batch, although 32278 has always been in Bristol (so missing getting a Nonsensical Northern Number, even if allocated 31136). There again, one-time London 32260 will be re-united here with 32251-9.

Private Baxter · 29 Aug 2019

AllanMacF said:
Interesting sidewards view on the oldies now arriving is that, apart from the MPDs once used on Wessex Water contracts, 30936 will be the first X-reg'd bus to run with FWoE or its predecessors. Also, 31143/6 are twins of existing 32278, in being from the YU52 batch, although 32278 has always been in Bristol (so missing getting a Nonsensical Northern Number, even if allocated 31136). There again, one-time London 32260 will be re-united here with 32251-9.

Wow those are some pretty old buses coming! They wont however be the first X reg ones, a couple of B10s were based in Bath for about two years during the mid 2010s, but that's otherwise it. I think one is still knocking about as a trainer

swifty · 29 Aug 2019

Private Baxter said:
Wow those are some pretty old buses coming! They wont however be the first X reg ones, a couple of B10s were based in Bath for about two years during the mid 2010s, but that's otherwise it. I think one is still knocking about as a trainer

There were of course the four X-HFB Volvo B10M/Expressliners that ran with First Bristol as well as some X reg Marshall Darts that we’re here around 2015 IIRC?

Interestingly some of the WU02 registered B7s look to be heading this way finally. I seem to recall they were diverted north when the infrastructure for the 76/77 showcase routes wasn’t ready back in 2002. Isn’t that also why we ended up with 32278?

henairs · 29 Aug 2019

Private Baxter said:
Wow those are some pretty old buses coming! They wont however be the first X reg ones, a couple of B10s were based in Bath for about two years during the mid 2010s, but that's otherwise it. I think one is still knocking about as a trainer

I remember those, 62193/194. Think one was called Fred Bear or was that the seats.
Later worked for BOS around lesser Somerset.
Cheers, Mike R

90sWereBetter · 29 Aug 2019

35167 has now apparently been repainted into 70/71 livery.

freetoview33 · 29 Aug 2019

90sWereBetter said:
35167 has now apparently been repainted into 70/71 livery.

Interesting but as I said before the Streetdecks seem to do well on the 70/71 route.

TheGrandWazoo · 29 Aug 2019

swifty said:
There were of course the four X-HFB Volvo B10M/Expressliners that ran with First Bristol as well as some X reg Marshall Darts that we’re here around 2015 IIRC?

Interestingly some of the WU02 registered B7s look to be heading this way finally. I seem to recall they were diverted north when the infrastructure for the 76/77 showcase routes wasn’t ready back in 2002. Isn’t that also why we ended up with 32278?

There were 3 Marshall Darts transferred from First Cymru in April 2014. 41389 was written off near Willsbridge, 41400 never entered service and 41394 probably last less than a year

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

Established Member

RailUK Forums

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Member

Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Veteran Member