THarris123
Established Member
So as the admins are continuing to move my bus trips threads to trips and planning (and I don't look at any other the other parts of the forum apart from Buses and Coaches), I thought I'd create another thread (and will continue to do so) for any interesting bus trips that we endure.
So I'll start it off....
Yesterday, I woke up early and headed up to Bristol on 376. 35165 was one of the usuals for me. Got into Bristol on time about 8.35ish and went in search for breakfast.
Back into the bus station and onto X7, whilst being greeted by the staff manager of Wells and Weston. This was in the hands of 47552, still in Xpress Yourself livery. We headed out of Bristol, down to Nailsea and into Clevedon. All the way 47552 was rattling, rattling and rattling. The journey itself was lovely. Brilliant views all along the route and we made it perfectly on time into Clevedon. From there the service went through Yatton, picked up a couple of passes and then into Congresbury. We then headed into West Wick, exploring the new developments. Onto A370 and then into Locking Castle we go. The bus then struggled for time, arriving into Weston 10 minutes late. The service is inadequately timed and the choice of vehicles is appalling. Streetlites are way too big for that section of the route and ideally what would be best is having a town service with an E200 or solo on that section of the route, whilst X7 heads off into Weston on A370. I then had a 10 minute wait in Weston, before catching the same 47552 up to Clevedon. The bus turned up 15 minutes late. By the time we got through Locking Castle we had lightened the load of passengers and the two left alighted at Yatton. I got off in Clevedon, only about 20 minutes late.
I then caught the 12.09 X5 up to Portishead, which as usual was a lovely journey. We ended up in Portishead on time, but due to X3 and X4 being up the spout, I had to wait about 20 minutes in Portishead. 33828 turned up on X3 just in front of 33508 on X4. We weaved our way through the marina and into Sainsburys. Up to Sheepway and then express to Bristol. I arrived into Bristol about 15 minutes later than I wanted to be. I met up with a friend and we swapped onto X2 to Weston for a late lunch with 33508. After lunch, we had no time for a donkey ride as 33571 showed up on our next journey. This was X7 to Nailsea this time. Luckily it wasn't just me that was shocked by the idea of running through Locking Castle and we truddled our way to Nailsea. From here we swapped onto 47554 on X8.
Back in Bristol, we then caught 5 to Fishponds with 42969, 17 to Southmead Hospital and then after a short walk a 79 to the centre. After dinner we went our separate ways, i headed to Bath on 39 and then back down to Wells on a rather late and tiring 69457 on 172.
Overall a very enjoyable day out and I would suggest to anyone to try out X7. It is an interesting, but poorly decided route and needs changing. The interworking seems to also be a bit of a nightmare, but when it works, it works well.
Obs from the day:
37007/12/13 17
42965/9 5
66939 79
69457 172
North Somerset:
3 42915, 42947, 42948
5 44905, 44906, 44910
7 66723, 66725, 66734, 66936, 47551, 47553
20 32006, 32014
A3 47557, 47558
Not in service (Nailsea) 47571
A2 44911
126 69439, 66726, 66721
X1/X2/X3/X4 37015, 37016, 37017, 33508, 33547, 33554, 33569, 33556, 33826, 33828, 33830, 33415, 33416, 33417, 33413, 33419
X7/X6 47552, 47555, 47565, 33571, 33565, 33560
X8/X9 66724, 47554
X5 33550, 33564
So I'll start it off....
Yesterday, I woke up early and headed up to Bristol on 376. 35165 was one of the usuals for me. Got into Bristol on time about 8.35ish and went in search for breakfast.
Back into the bus station and onto X7, whilst being greeted by the staff manager of Wells and Weston. This was in the hands of 47552, still in Xpress Yourself livery. We headed out of Bristol, down to Nailsea and into Clevedon. All the way 47552 was rattling, rattling and rattling. The journey itself was lovely. Brilliant views all along the route and we made it perfectly on time into Clevedon. From there the service went through Yatton, picked up a couple of passes and then into Congresbury. We then headed into West Wick, exploring the new developments. Onto A370 and then into Locking Castle we go. The bus then struggled for time, arriving into Weston 10 minutes late. The service is inadequately timed and the choice of vehicles is appalling. Streetlites are way too big for that section of the route and ideally what would be best is having a town service with an E200 or solo on that section of the route, whilst X7 heads off into Weston on A370. I then had a 10 minute wait in Weston, before catching the same 47552 up to Clevedon. The bus turned up 15 minutes late. By the time we got through Locking Castle we had lightened the load of passengers and the two left alighted at Yatton. I got off in Clevedon, only about 20 minutes late.
I then caught the 12.09 X5 up to Portishead, which as usual was a lovely journey. We ended up in Portishead on time, but due to X3 and X4 being up the spout, I had to wait about 20 minutes in Portishead. 33828 turned up on X3 just in front of 33508 on X4. We weaved our way through the marina and into Sainsburys. Up to Sheepway and then express to Bristol. I arrived into Bristol about 15 minutes later than I wanted to be. I met up with a friend and we swapped onto X2 to Weston for a late lunch with 33508. After lunch, we had no time for a donkey ride as 33571 showed up on our next journey. This was X7 to Nailsea this time. Luckily it wasn't just me that was shocked by the idea of running through Locking Castle and we truddled our way to Nailsea. From here we swapped onto 47554 on X8.
Back in Bristol, we then caught 5 to Fishponds with 42969, 17 to Southmead Hospital and then after a short walk a 79 to the centre. After dinner we went our separate ways, i headed to Bath on 39 and then back down to Wells on a rather late and tiring 69457 on 172.
Overall a very enjoyable day out and I would suggest to anyone to try out X7. It is an interesting, but poorly decided route and needs changing. The interworking seems to also be a bit of a nightmare, but when it works, it works well.
Obs from the day:
37007/12/13 17
42965/9 5
66939 79
69457 172
North Somerset:
3 42915, 42947, 42948
5 44905, 44906, 44910
7 66723, 66725, 66734, 66936, 47551, 47553
20 32006, 32014
A3 47557, 47558
Not in service (Nailsea) 47571
A2 44911
126 69439, 66726, 66721
X1/X2/X3/X4 37015, 37016, 37017, 33508, 33547, 33554, 33569, 33556, 33826, 33828, 33830, 33415, 33416, 33417, 33413, 33419
X7/X6 47552, 47555, 47565, 33571, 33565, 33560
X8/X9 66724, 47554
X5 33550, 33564