You must have posted when I was posting as your post wasn't there when I hit 'Post Reply'.
The A1 has had all sorts on it all week including Geminis
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First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
- Thread starter Ivo
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The A1 has had all sorts on it all week including Geminis
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think atm with the A1s it is generally whatever B7 in either form they can lay their hands on. Up until Hengrove received B7RLEs the B7Ls were the regular substitute, they don't like sticking Streetlites onto it. Mindful I did see a Dart on it not so long ago.
g4mby
Member
I travelled on a number of LH/MH and HE services today (27th) but I only saw the new ticket machines on Hengrove vehicles.
For anyone with an iPhone please note, if you have a credit/debit card registered under Apple Pay then your mTicket won't scan, mTickets now include a QR code in addition to the alternating time and "word of the day". Your phone will display your default Apple Pay card rather than your mTicket when you put it under the scanner. If you remove your bank cards from Apple Pay your mTicket should scan within a second or two as mine did once I worked out what the problem might be.
Now I know why I have been having similar problems with Tesco's Pay+.
Isn't technology wonderful?
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The introduction of the Ticketers being introduced was put back a week to the initial plan. Hengrove was last weekend, Lawrence Hill and Marlborough Street should be this coming Sunday and Bath, Wells and Weston next Sunday.I travelled on a number of LH/MH and HE services today (27th) but I only saw the new ticket machines on Hengrove vehicles.
For anyone with an iPhone please note, if you have a credit/debit card registered under Apple Pay then your mTicket won't scan, mTickets now include a QR code in addition to the alternating time and "word of the day". Your phone will display your default Apple Pay card rather than your mTicket when you put it under the scanner. If you remove your bank cards from Apple Pay your mTicket should scan within a second or two as mine did once I worked out what the problem might be.
Now I know why I have been having similar problems with Tesco's Pay+.
Isn't technology wonderful?
Not only do the Mtickets now have QR codes, FirstDay, FirstWeek and FirstMonth tickets will have these which need to be scanned when boarding.
The first former Bristol B7/Eclipse 2 has arrived at Worcester after refurb at Thorntons for the 144 to Birmingham.
They look very smart in green! http://midlandred.net/vehicles/photograph.php?operator=mrw&type=b7&fleet=69435&image=1
They look very smart in green! http://midlandred.net/vehicles/photograph.php?operator=mrw&type=b7&fleet=69435&image=1
Simpler solution: just turn off NFC on your phone before scanning the QR code. That way you don't need to keep removing and adding cards to Apple Pay / Android Pay etc.I travelled on a number of LH/MH and HE services today (27th) but I only saw the new ticket machines on Hengrove vehicles.
For anyone with an iPhone please note, if you have a credit/debit card registered under Apple Pay then your mTicket won't scan, mTickets now include a QR code in addition to the alternating time and "word of the day". Your phone will display your default Apple Pay card rather than your mTicket when you put it under the scanner. If you remove your bank cards from Apple Pay your mTicket should scan within a second or two as mine did once I worked out what the problem might be.
Now I know why I have been having similar problems with Tesco's Pay+.
Isn't technology wonderful?
Not tried it yet on my phone (which has Android Pay). However, I believe Android Pay should not pop up unless the receiving device is trying to take a payment, which the ticket machine should not be doing when scanning an mTicket.
So either the system needs looking at, or we can use the workaround of temporarily switching off NFC.
Dare I say it, but they look like what the Buses of Somerset livery should like! Still on brand, but with a unique identity.
Looks a bit like the First Kernow green as well, very similar shade of green.
Whiteway215
Established Member
I've certainly not seen either of these in use in Bath during October.Of course these were repainted along with 42910 for use on Bath's U2 but deckers took over very quickly after the start of the service in September. WM 32015 has already transferred back to Bath, perhaps 32014 might follow??
32006 was seen this morning moving to Bath.
Had this issue today. Android pay did not pop up on the phone but the card reader detected 'something' and tried to read it instead of the QR code. Can confirm that switching off NFC works, not ideal though!
Glad that worked! Has anyone raised this with First? Seems to be a fundamental flaw in the system that needs to be resolved.
g4mby
Member
NFC can't be switched off on iPhones: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7145210?start=0&tstart=0. Doesn't bother me as I've never actually used Apple Pay.
I would hope that any such flaws were found in testing and that the details have been or will be passed down the line to drivers so they can advise passengers how to overcome or work around the problem.
I have seen several warnings on my mTicket app to say that mTickets are not compatible with Apple Pay. Until the QR codes appeared it was a warning that I could ignore. Perhaps the warning should be a little more informative?
THarris123
Established Member
Not sure if anyone has noticed on spw24s website - 66992/3 have been withdrawn to be converted into trainers. Think thats the youngest fleet I've known of to go into training.
They're 11 years old and the dual doors make them none standard with limited seating capacity. Cardiff Bus did convert some very youthful darts a while back (5 years old I think) to ensure that drivers were trained in something that they'd actually drive instead of life expired vehicles.
I thought I’d ask my question about fares here rather than start another thread.
I’m visiting Bristol for few days towards the end of this month and as I’m leaving my car at home and travelling down from Nottinghamshire by train I will be using buses to explore the area for a few days.
As it will only be for 4 days of travel I will be purchasing paper versions of day tickets, buying them from the driver on the first bus that I travel on each day. Looking at the prices, I might as well get a Bristol Rider or an Avon Rider instead of the First only tickets as they are only about 70p more and will allow more flexibility. Am I likely to experience any difficulty in purchasing or using these tickets?
Earlier this year when visiting Manchester I used a Manchester Wayfarer and I had two occasions when First drivers up there refused to accept it.
I’m visiting Bristol for few days towards the end of this month and as I’m leaving my car at home and travelling down from Nottinghamshire by train I will be using buses to explore the area for a few days.
As it will only be for 4 days of travel I will be purchasing paper versions of day tickets, buying them from the driver on the first bus that I travel on each day. Looking at the prices, I might as well get a Bristol Rider or an Avon Rider instead of the First only tickets as they are only about 70p more and will allow more flexibility. Am I likely to experience any difficulty in purchasing or using these tickets?
Earlier this year when visiting Manchester I used a Manchester Wayfarer and I had two occasions when First drivers up there refused to accept it.
Dhassell
Member
- Joined
- 22 Mar 2015
- Messages
- 1,011
It shouldn't too hard to get a Bristol/Avon Rider. Last time I had one issued it only took a minute or two searching. You shouldn't have issues with it being accepted on first bus routes, if it is issued on a first bus, nor should you have issue with Abus, as there is many partnerships between the two. I would keep the website open to show proof if the driver is being a bit funny about it!
When I last used the Avon Rider, back in April 2016, The only issue I had was in Bath, trying to board the A4 Air Decker service as far as Keynsham, this is a valid journey on this route, as it states on the website, but the driver was having none of it, saying my ticket price didn't match his machine, even though I told him 5 or more times it was a child ticket. Eventually I jumped off and got the extremely slower First Bus back towards Keynsham and onwards to Bristol... (I think the A4 is only valid on the AvonRider and not Bristol Rider, I had the Avon version.)
I would recommend trying to get your ticket on a bus departing the bus station or where the bus starts/terminates its journey if possible, so the driver does not become late searching for it. If not, it isn't really your problem if they don't know where it is! Just trying to be nice to the staff.
I have not had any other experiences and can't comment on any other operators, I am sure someone else can! Just don't be surprised if some drivers want to take a second look at it.
Have a good time!
When I last used the Avon Rider, back in April 2016, The only issue I had was in Bath, trying to board the A4 Air Decker service as far as Keynsham, this is a valid journey on this route, as it states on the website, but the driver was having none of it, saying my ticket price didn't match his machine, even though I told him 5 or more times it was a child ticket. Eventually I jumped off and got the extremely slower First Bus back towards Keynsham and onwards to Bristol... (I think the A4 is only valid on the AvonRider and not Bristol Rider, I had the Avon version.)
I would recommend trying to get your ticket on a bus departing the bus station or where the bus starts/terminates its journey if possible, so the driver does not become late searching for it. If not, it isn't really your problem if they don't know where it is! Just trying to be nice to the staff.
I have not had any other experiences and can't comment on any other operators, I am sure someone else can! Just don't be surprised if some drivers want to take a second look at it.
Have a good time!
I've had quite a few Avon Rider tickets over the years. mostly not issued by First and never had an issue. Even one incident where what I ended up with was two parts of a ticket and a driver's signature (thanks to Severnside Transport!) was accepted by First drivers after they'd had aread of it. Make sure you confirm the price before you pay for it as some drivers will still try to sell you their rover ticket instead!
If you are coming down after the 12th of November adult Bristol rider tickets will actually be the same price as First Bristol Day Tickets bought with cash.
I haven't heard of any issues with the Bristol Rider tickets but others may have had different experiences.
An Avon Rider currently is actually 30p cheaper at £7.20 rather than £7.50 for a FirstDay West of England, except on the Mticket where is is £7.00.
A driver shouldn't have a problem with accepting a Bristol/Avon Rider as if it is issued by First, it'll have a QR code and the Ticketer will decide whether it is valid or not. Unless there is a problem, the driver will not even see the ticket.
A driver shouldn't have a problem with accepting a Bristol/Avon Rider as if it is issued by First, it'll have a QR code and the Ticketer will decide whether it is valid or not. Unless there is a problem, the driver will not even see the ticket.
Thanks for all of that useful information. I just couldn’t see the point of getting First only tickets when these multi operator tickets at similar prices are also available. I remember when I was in Essex last year there was a multi operator Essex Saver Ticket available for approx the same price as a First Essex Day but First didn’t advertise it and would try to sell you one of their own tickets instead.
So many helpful people in these forums who can supply information which often is not easy to find online or indeed at bus stations.
So many helpful people in these forums who can supply information which often is not easy to find online or indeed at bus stations.
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Dhassell
Member
- Joined
- 22 Mar 2015
- Messages
- 1,011
In case you have not seen the Avonrider website yet, here is the page https://travelwest.info/bus/fares/rider-ticket-information/avonrider
I can understand why the multi operator tickets are not overly promoted by operators, a percentage of each ticket sold goes to each operator in the scheme. Where as if an operator's own product is sold e.g. a FirstDay as aposed to a Bristol Rider, the operator would keep 100% of the revenue.
In a business sense, it's a no brainer to offer the operator's own products unless specifically asked otherwise.
In a business sense, it's a no brainer to offer the operator's own products unless specifically asked otherwise.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,789
Yes, I had noticed that, and yes surprisingly young for it. But I must say they've never really had much of a role anywhere, they've done spells on various services but never for too long, just not very suitable for much so can partly see why.
Also see that the three purple darts 42987/9/910 will be moving to Weston shortly. Not really sure what the point in all that was....
The powers that be probably felt that Darts would suffice for the U2, when they clearly can't. Swapping them for the purple B7s from Weston makes sense as they are the right colour allready for the U2 just sans branding and the 20 doesn't need the capacity of a decker for much of the winter, where a Dart would be more than adequate. 32002 was still plying it's trade in the 20 though yesterday morning.