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

vicbury · 18 Feb 2020

Class 33 said:
Lynx liveried Eclipse single decker on the 1 today. And last week there was a 70/71 liveried streetdeck on the 1 too! Wonder how long it will be before the new Citylines East liveried gas buses stray onto other services.

And there was a 1/2 branded Enviro 400 on the 49 today, for the second time in recent days!

RailUK Forums

D2007wsm · 18 Feb 2020

Buses in Bath said:
The 37 school service is operated by Bath depot

It’s the 07:10 and 13:25 37 departures from Bristol and the 08:40 and 14:50 37 departures from Bath which are operated using a Scania E400. Even with the morning 37A from Hanham and afternoon 19 from Oldfield School, a B7RLE or Streetlite on the regular 37 overloads. A Scania is generally taken off of a T2 board for these trips, with the single operating a round trip in it’s place.

Great_Western said:
Slightly random question, are there still any Enviro 300's or Tridents left in Bristol or have they all gone now?

Great_Western said:
Many thanks. Is there any particular route/corridor that would be most likely to get a trident?

There are a few Tridents operating out of Hengrove, so I would say a safebet is the 75/76. These tend to churn out anything aNd everything. The 24 may be a possibility if they meed a substitute for a B7 Gemini.

There is also a Trident operating in Weston on the 1 or 20 Somerset’s Coaster services which has been repainted and branded to match the open top ALX400s and a closed top ALX400. So that is another possibility and it would be on country work rather than city work. This maybe longer lasting than one in Bristol.

D2007wsm · 18 Feb 2020

Class 33 said:
Lynx liveried Eclipse single decker on the 1 today. And last week there was a 70/71 liveried streetdeck on the 1 too! Wonder how long it will be before the new Citylines East liveried gas buses stray onto other services.

I was wondering when the South Glos Lynx buses are delivered, how long it will take for one of these to stray onto a city service and a Citylines one onto a country service.

Tommy Walters · 18 Feb 2020

D2007wsm said:
It’s the 07:10 and 13:25 37 departures from Bristol and the 08:40 and 14:50 37 departures from Bath which are operated using a Scania E400. Even with the morning 37A from Hanham and afternoon 19 from Oldfield School, a B7RLE or Streetlite on the regular 37 overloads. A Scania is generally taken off of a T2 board for these trips, with the single operating a round trip in it’s

The 37A & Morning R2 runs in Bath are currently operated from the U1 allocation - normally using 339** MMCs. Shows the capacity on both really is needed. The afternoon R2 is taken from the U2 allocation and thus is usually some form of B7 or B9!

Whiteway215 · 18 Feb 2020

freetoview33 said:
So am I right in thinking this week 20 new Citylines East buses have started and 15 old buses have currently been withdrawn.

Also LH lost 32004/8/9 to Bath.

Private Baxter · 19 Feb 2020

D2007wsm said:
The 126 is definitely being rebranded into it’s own scheme, to highlight that route and where it serves. I cant say any more than that.

You would hope that not all of the Scanias are sent to Bath. It would possibly allow them to be used on the T2 and Y2 and as spares for the gas busses.

Personally, I can envisage when work gets done at Temple Meads and stopping arrangements can be changed, the 8/9/72 will be converted to deckers, which they need at times. The Streetlites off of the 8 and 9 then being put onto the 5 and 35. These routes can operate using deckers, but they don’t warrant them.

It’s also worth thinking about what will replace the Weston town Badgerline fleet when those Darts expire?

Whilst I certainly dont oppose 126 getting its own own brand, (it is after all quite a unique route, and doesnt quite fit with the other ME services), I question whether it needs to be done just yet, especially with so much else going on atm. It wasnt that long ago those buses were all done, they still all look great imo, yet now it seems they are off to get another repaint. It's getting hard to keep up!

Private Baxter · 19 Feb 2020

D2007wsm said:
The board was a B7RLE all day, but there was a defect inbound on a 178 which meant it was swapped to a Scania.

If it wasn’t for the fact the 37 interworks with the 178 and there are not more lower height deckers which are not to old, the 37 would be operated by deckers.

Atm with the exception of 37003 on the Y5 and 32259, 36815, 36816 on the T1, the entire South Glos Lynx network is operating using B9 Geminis, rather than the usual assortment of Geminis turned out by Lawrence Hill. Perhaps the plan is because of the release of B9 Geminis from the 42-45, what isn’t operated by a Scania, Gas Bus or 37003 will be a B9 Gemini. This will reduce the number of singles required leaving the 5/35/37/178.

A radical idea I know, but if the number of B7RLEs is being reduced for Marlborough Street work, could 69448 be transferred to Weston to operate alongside 2 of the 69*** B7RLEs on the 126 with a Streetlite taking it’s place? A rebrand is on the cards for the 126, so the Mendip Explorers will need to be repainted too. Then if another couple of Streetlites could be found, B7RLEs could be completely removed from Lawrence Hill.

Another thing I’m wondering, if all of the Scanias head to Bath, what will be used for the 37 school services? One of the new gas busses?

Shame they got rid of the streetlite mazes so quickly. They could have come in handy for T2 and Y4!

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

Private Baxter said:
Whilst I certainly dont oppose 126 getting its own own brand, (it is after all quite a unique route, and doesnt quite fit with the other ME services), I question whether it needs to be done just yet, especially with so much else going on atm. It wasnt that long ago those buses were all done, they still all look great imo, yet now it seems they are off to get another repaint. It's getting hard to keep up!

That was my thought. It is only three years since the routes were rebranded (with repaints in late 2016 through to spring 2017.

Also, the practicality of having a new route specific brand for 3 vehicles split across 2 depots?

Not wishing to be too completer/finisher about stuff but might be an idea to perhaps get the other brands completed (e.g. Bath City, SG Lynx) before embarking on a new one?

Private Baxter said:
Shame they got rid of the streetlite mazes so quickly. They could have come in handy for T2 and Y4!

The T2 and Y4 don't need single deckers so they can just put deckers on there even if the loadings don't demand them. Think JF is keen to get rid of Streetlites as and when he can.

ValleyLines142 · 19 Feb 2020

Could we see the 126 being re-numbered 171? (crawls back under a rock....)

Also, not sure if we have a separate thread for Wales (I remember there being talks of creating a separate thread for Wales due to the WoE dominating this one), but does anybody know if there are any low bridges on the 4 in Swansea that prevent the use of deckers? It's such a busy cross-city route, running every ten minutes serving two hospitals, the university, the railway station and the bus station (and the city centre in general), and it just seems crazy that Streetlites are the main traction. Surely Wales could nab a few more deckers from somewhere for it?

Despite being a Wales boy myself (originally from Cardiff but now living in the delight that is Trowbridge), my knowledge of the Swansea city network is, regretfully, rather poor. I do need a day rover in the summer to explore a few of the city routes.

Great_Western · 19 Feb 2020

D2007wsm said:
It’s the 07:10 and 13:25 37 departures from Bristol and the 08:40 and 14:50 37 departures from Bath which are operated using a Scania E400. Even with the morning 37A from Hanham and afternoon 19 from Oldfield School, a B7RLE or Streetlite on the regular 37 overloads. A Scania is generally taken off of a T2 board for these trips, with the single operating a round trip in it’s place.

There are a few Tridents operating out of Hengrove, so I would say a safebet is the 75/76. These tend to churn out anything aNd everything. The 24 may be a possibility if they meed a substitute for a B7 Gemini.

There is also a Trident operating in Weston on the 1 or 20 Somerset’s Coaster services which has been repainted and branded to match the open top ALX400s and a closed top ALX400. So that is another possibility and it would be on country work rather than city work. This maybe longer lasting than one in Bristol.

Cheers. Think a trip to Bristol may be in order on my day off.

Whiteway215 · 19 Feb 2020

CD said:
Withdrawn from LH are 3 & 4 branded 31146,32073/84/93-5/8 32277 only 2 buses in this livery are still running 31143 & 32225..

Anyone making any suggestions regarding what lies ahead for these? Are there any other First companies that could have a use? Long withdrawn 30875 appears to be marked up to be a library bus somewhere so perhaps a similar use. Or just Alpha Recovery, a Barnsley scrapyard or even Ensign for component recovery?
Bath also has ALXs of the 32279 age group but I assume even 03/53 plates will have to be replaced by November when Bath's Clean Air Zone comes into operation.

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

DanTrainMan185 said:
Could we see the 126 being re-numbered 171? (crawls back under a rock....)

Also, not sure if we have a separate thread for Wales (I remember there being talks of creating a separate thread for Wales due to the WoE dominating this one), but does anybody know if there are any low bridges on the 4 in Swansea that prevent the use of deckers? It's such a busy cross-city route, running every ten minutes serving two hospitals, the university, the railway station and the bus station (and the city centre in general), and it just seems crazy that Streetlites are the main traction. Surely Wales could nab a few more deckers from somewhere for it?

Despite being a Wales boy myself (originally from Cardiff but now living in the delight that is Trowbridge), my knowledge of the Swansea city network is, regretfully, rather poor. I do need a day rover in the summer to explore a few of the city routes.

I thought you were going to live in Bristol. You're in TrowVegas.... I will pray for you.

Clearly they can manage the 4 https://www.flickr.com/photos/12971...8j-JxgDnZ-yWsNMA-H995xT-hTTihz-nDjWVQ-CxJVs8/ but there again, the local ops have never had many deckers because of the many restrictions in the area.

D2007wsm · 19 Feb 2020

The Y4 is again in the hands of 69448, 37003 is on the Y1 and the rest of the Lynx network is a mixture of B7 and B9 Geminis. So an entire allocation of B9s didn’t last long.

Whiteway215 · 19 Feb 2020

D2007wsm said:
The Y4 is again in the hands of 69448, 37003 is on the Y1 and the rest of the Lynx network is a mixture of B7 and B9 Geminis. So an entire allocation of B9s didn’t last long.

Perhaps Bath has taken over allocating the vehicles!

iantherev · 19 Feb 2020

TheGrandWazoo said:
I thought you were going to live in Bristol. You're in TrowVegas.... I will pray for you.

Clearly they can manage the 4 https://www.flickr.com/photos/12971...8j-JxgDnZ-yWsNMA-H995xT-hTTihz-nDjWVQ-CxJVs8/ but there again, the local ops have never had many deckers because of the many restrictions in the area.

The majority of the Swansea City Network was VR operated prior to deregulation. Post 10/86 minibuses became predominant and this continued beyond 2000 (the 53 plate Darts used on city services seated 31 despite being 10.8m because vehicles with more seats would invoke a higher rate of pay). It’s only since Andrew Sherrington became MD that the decker fleet has expanded beyond a few token examples used on Neath Port Talbot college services.

Private Baxter · 19 Feb 2020

TheGrandWazoo said:
That was my thought. It is only three years since the routes were rebranded (with repaints in late 2016 through to spring 2017.

Also, the practicality of having a new route specific brand for 3 vehicles split across 2 depots?

Not wishing to be too completer/finisher about stuff but might be an idea to perhaps get the other brands completed (e.g. Bath City, SG Lynx) before embarking on a new one?

The T2 and Y4 don't need single deckers so they can just put deckers on there even if the loadings don't demand them. Think JF is keen to get rid of Streetlites as and when he can.

I completely agree. The current ones are in such good condition, seems a shame to change them yet again. I'm with you though, I would rather see other projects completed, and older vehicles updated before, perhaps non essential changes occur to other services. So many brands were started, then just abandoned. Mendip Explorer is an example of one that was completed!

I'm a big fan of route branding on buses, but I'm starting to see that it is a never ending project, and logistical nightmare. Still, the painters at Avonmouth will never be short of work at least!

DanTrainMan185 said:
Could we see the 126 being re-numbered 171? (crawls back under a rock....)

Please don't say that! I really hope it doesn't get a new number. There is no real need for it, especially as there is no real route which is similar. I know we (I) have spoken about this quite a lot over the last week or so, (for that I am sorry), but I think 126, as a continual service number, is older than 376, and thus the oldest country number going.

northken · 19 Feb 2020

The new proposed 72A routing (replacing the 9) looks interesting. I think it should share stops with the 72 in City Centre and not go via the BRI. The frequency on Saturdays for Redland, with just the hourly 72 passing through, seems mean.

Thoughts on consultation?

https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/customer-consultations

diffywood · 19 Feb 2020

First just opened consultation on 9 and 72 routes

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2726129614138505&id=205684076183084

carlberry · 19 Feb 2020

One of the 368xx scanias on the T1 this evening. In x39 livery!

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

northken said:
The new proposed 72A routing (replacing the 9) looks interesting. I think it should share stops with the 72 in City Centre and not go via the BRI. The frequency on Saturdays for Redland, with just the hourly 72 passing through, seems mean.

Thoughts on consultation?

https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/customer-consultations

diffywood said:
First just opened consultation on 9 and 72 routes

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2726129614138505&id=205684076183084

Not wishing to do the full consultation, can someone please summarise the plans?

I’m not shocked the 9 is being looked at. It’s generally carrying half a dozen pass holders when I’ve been on it/seen it albeit on Whiteladies.

Private Baxter · 19 Feb 2020

carlberry said:
One of the 368xx scanias on the T1 this evening. In x39 livery!

Yes, I forgot to mention I saw it on the T1 this morning as well. Despite my positive comments a week or so ago, having seen it in the flesh I'm not as convinced it will look right on the X39, though will make final judgement once all branding has been applied.

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

Private Baxter said:
Yes, I forgot to mention I saw it on the T1 this morning as well. Despite my positive comments a week or so ago, having seen it in the flesh I'm not as convinced it will look right on the X39, though will make final judgement once all branding has been applied.

I think you have to reserve judgement until the vinyls are applied. The Atlantic Coaster base looked a bit dull until it was finished off.

Given the usual standard of BI, have to say that the Citylines East branding has left me underwhelmed. I did wonder if it was going to be some Midland Red East to Midland Fox transformation but evidently not.

freetoview33 · 19 Feb 2020

The 72 would be as is every 30 mins, 72A would be as 72 but serving BRI instead of CIty Centre and then up Whiteladies up to the downs, then Redland Road to Redland Station where it would pick up the main 72 route, also every 30 mins (Mon to Fri day times only)

martyjon · 19 Feb 2020

A gas bus 39491 is on the T1 going to Thornbury at the moment.

martyjon · 19 Feb 2020

Private Baxter said:
Yes, I forgot to mention I saw it on the T1 this morning as well. Despite my positive comments a week or so ago, having seen it in the flesh I'm not as convinced it will look right on the X39, though will make final judgement once all branding has been applied.

Saw one on T1 Monday.

martyjon · 19 Feb 2020

39491 gas bus inbound from Thornbury at present.

BBC · 19 Feb 2020

No idea if this has been posted but from April the 2A will start. Will go via Southmead road, penn park road then turn right on to chartlon road and turning around at the end of the road (apparently this used to be a route back in the day)

no idea if this will run from stockwood up or start in the centre. We’ll find out soon anyway.

freetoview33 · 19 Feb 2020

BBC said:
No idea if this has been posted but from April the 2A will start. Will go via Southmead road, penn park road then turn right on to chartlon road and turning around at the end of the road (apparently this used to be a route back in the day)

no idea if this will run from stockwood up or start in the centre. We’ll find out soon anyway.

It did used to be a route!

Private Baxter · 19 Feb 2020

freetoview33 said:
It did used to be a route!

until about a year ago!

freetoview33 · 19 Feb 2020

Private Baxter said:
until about a year ago!

Longer than that! It was withdrawn around 10 years ago

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