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

[THarris123]

The loss of the 171 was one of the more obvious candidates - it was on my list of 2017 predictions!! All it does is abstract traffic from the 172-4 except for a extension to the Circle hospital.

The 175 is more of a surprise but guess that the additional traffic generated has not offset the costs.

As for the deckers currently working the U1 in Bristol, wasn't it the case that their future was dependent on the outcome of the other Metrobus services? IIRC, there was some speculation that if First wasn't going to be running more of those services, then they could head to the X39. That could just be enthusiast dreaming though! Can't say the base livery excites me but perhaps it'll look better with vinyls applied. Interesting that they are ADL chassis rather than Scania though.

The reports of B7LAs heading down from Aberdeen.... Do we have any sort of credible source for this? It would be very surprising if they did head south as a) they're massively thirsty, b) there's nothing readily apparent for them to go on and c) they've relegated the existing bendies to peak hour working anyway.

First have won another Metrobus contract so the U1 Scanias will go on that

 

[freetoview33]

Another case to prove my point, I saw a 76 at The Venue this afternoon, heading towards Henbury with a good 20+ people on, I will stick to what I said that it is the best used service Between Cribbs and Henbury.

 

[freetoview33]

I would at least say the 76 should start at Tormarton Crescent rather than Crow Lane, at least around school times!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Another case to prove my point, I saw a 76 at The Venue this afternoon, heading towards Henbury with a good 20+ people on, I will stick to what I said that it is the best used service Between Cribbs and Henbury.

To be fair, there's no shortage of buses from Henbury to Cribbs and you would think that First (with all the ridership info they have) will have made an informed decision.

 

[freetoview33]

To be fair, there's no shortage of buses from Henbury to Cribbs and you would think that First (with all the ridership info they have) will have made an informed decision.

It's an odd one, it is a well used service but out of any of the busses it is the only one that could be cut, it will just annoy a lot of passengers.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It's an odd one, it is a well used service but out of any of the busses it is the only one that could be cut, it will just annoy a lot of passengers.

Will it really inconvenience a lot of passengers? North of Bemmie, it generally mirrors either the 75 or 2 apart from two very short sections (and one of those is covered by the 1 and 3), and whilst there may be some people from Hartcliffe or Bishopsworth who might want to go to Cribbs, I wonder how many it actually is??

You can see why First are cutting it back - will probably save them 2 or 3 vehicles and for what, I suspect, is relatively little discomfort.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Another case to prove my point, I saw a 76 at The Venue this afternoon, heading towards Henbury with a good 20+ people on, I will stick to what I said that it is the best used service Between Cribbs and Henbury.

To be fair it's only because it's Black Friday weekend and people have gone shopping.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

To be fair, there's no shortage of buses from Henbury to Cribbs and you would think that First (with all the ridership info they have) will have made an informed decision.

What it will do is halve the number of buses per hour between Crow Lane and Cribbs, and between Doncaster Road/Greystoke Avenue and Cribbs. If the 1 and 2 were more reliable this wouldn't be a problem, but they do have a tendency to bunch (as does the 76). Perhaps more real time information at stops would compensate for the loss of the 76.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What it will do is halve the number of buses per hour between Crow Lane and Cribbs, and between Doncaster Road/Greystoke Avenue and Cribbs. If the 1 and 2 were more reliable this wouldn't be a problem, but they do have a tendency to bunch (as does the 76). Perhaps more real time information at stops would compensate for the loss of the 76.

Appreciate all of that but the point still stands in that most of the links can be retained using other services. Also, the 4 still runs from Crow Lane so not quite a halving of the frequency

 

[THarris123]

Steve White says on his website that most of the B7ls have now been withdrawn (apart from 66355 which is in Bath, covering for 66936 which is in Wells replacing 66721)

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Appreciate all of that but the point still stands in that most of the links can be retained using other services. Also, the 4 still runs from Crow Lane so not quite a halving of the frequency

That's one reason why there needs to be better real time information, because if a 4 turns up on the other side of the road there isn't usually time to get across the traffic to catch it (often it will pass the stop in Station Rd without stopping).

 

[freetoview33]

To be fair it's only because it's Black Friday weekend and people have gone shopping.

This is quite typical of 76 on the afternoons, come what may.

 

[freetoview33]

That's one reason why there needs to be better real time information, because if a 4 turns up on the other side of the road there isn't usually time to get across the traffic to catch it (often it will pass the stop in Station Rd without stopping).

If the 4 even runs!

 

[freetoview33]

I also guess with the new tickets First should be able to track people much better and see what busses they get and have better info on what people want.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If the 4 even runs!

Hardly a justification to continue running a service just in case another one doesn't arrive. Perhaps the 4 might be more reliable if there's a lower driver and vehicle requirement?

Excuse my dumbness but with Tom's comment about Metrobus (and First operating another service)..... do we know when Metrobus will actually start (Feb?) and what is the other route?

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Hardly a justification to continue running a service just in case another one doesn't arrive. Perhaps the 4 might be more reliable if there's a lower driver and vehicle requirement

I think the unreliability of services around north Bristol is more often the result of traffic congestion than crew/vehicle shortage?

 

[freetoview33]

I think the unreliability of services around north Bristol is more often the result of traffic congestion than crew/vehicle shortage?

True, but the 3/4 are very unreliable services, between 4pm and 6pm there are suppose to be 12/14 busses, you would be lucky if 6 turn up! Toppled with it being the busiest time for the 76, means the 1 will be overfull! I can't see this change lasting long.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

True, but the 3/4 are very unreliable services, between 4pm and 6pm there are suppose to be 12/14 busses, you would be lucky if 6 turn up! Toppled with it being the busiest time for the 76, means the 1 will be overfull! I can't see this change lasting long.

How would you know that? Are you stood ticking them off?

I'm more certain that this will be a change that lasts!

 

[freetoview33]

How would you know that? Are you stood ticking them off?

I'm more certain that this will be a change that lasts!

A mixture of waiting for busses than never turn up and looking out my window!

 

[THarris123]

True, but the 3/4 are very unreliable services, between 4pm and 6pm there are suppose to be 12/14 busses, you would be lucky if 6 turn up! Toppled with it being the busiest time for the 76, means the 1 will be overfull! I can't see this change lasting long.

Maybe Metrobus will change the overcrowding on the 1.

Although I hate seeing cuts in First I'm actually of the view that the changes in January are quite intelligent for First and long overdue.

171 was never going to work, 175 is (as what someone told me) a glorified school run and 76 just duplicates other services.

Aberdeen have told West of England they need to make cuts so profitability will improve. What other cuts would you make freetoview33? The changes in January save 11 vehicles supposedly at Hengrove.

First have won the other Metrobus route, but not sure which one. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say it'll be Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove. I think there are three contracts and First have currently won two. This was mentioned on Facebook.

I was under the impression that M1 would start in Jan 18.

 

[freetoview33]

Well this is all assuming that Metrobus will actually be faster than the 1 to Cribbs! It really depends what happens with metrobus.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A mixture of waiting for busses than never turn up and looking out my window!

You need to find something better to do with your time

Maybe Metrobus will change the overcrowding on the 1.

Although I hate seeing cuts in First I'm actually of the view that the changes in January are quite intelligent for First and long overdue.

171 was never going to work, 175 is (as what someone told me) a glorified school run and 76 just duplicates other services.

Aberdeen have told West of England they need to make cuts so profitability will improve. What other cuts would you make freetoview33? The changes in January save 11 vehicles supposedly at Hengrove.

First have won the other Metrobus route, but not sure which one. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say it'll be Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove. I think there are three contracts and First have currently won two. This was mentioned on Facebook.

I was under the impression that M1 would start in Jan 18.

Think that's a pretty fair assessment. My view (FWIW) was that the 171 was really only registered as a spoiler when Tim at Somerbus was looking to move into semi-retirement, rather than risk someone like Wessex registering it and thereby establishing a monopoly over the corridor.

Aberdeen really only do the financial reporting? More likely to come out of UK Bus which is based (ahem) elsewhere.

Are they really dropping 11 vehicles at Hengrove? Be surprised if the savings on the 50 and 76 are that extensive (or am I missing something else?)

 

[swifty]

First have won the other Metrobus route, but not sure which one. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say it'll be Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove. I think there are three contracts and First have currently won two. This was mentioned on Facebook.

I was under the impression that M1 would start in Jan 18.

I didn't realise there were any Metrobus 'contracts' to win? I was always under the impression that any operator was welcome to provide a commercial service along the route providing the vehicles met the basic specification the council set?

I'd assumed that was why the Scanias have been put on the UWE route so that they can make use of the M32 junction when it opens.

 

[freetoview33]

I didn't realise there were any Metrobus 'contracts' to win? I was always under the impression that any operator was welcome to provide a commercial service along the route providing the vehicles met the basic specification the council set?

I'd assumed that was why the Scanias have been put on the UWE route so that they can make use of the M32 junction when it opens.

The M32 bus junction is going to be for Metrobus only, other coaches and busses won't be allowed to use it.

 

[THarris123]

You need to find something better to do with your time


Think that's a pretty fair assessment. My view (FWIW) was that the 171 was really only registered as a spoiler when Tim at Somerbus was looking to move into semi-retirement, rather than risk someone like Wessex registering it and thereby establishing a monopoly over the corridor.

Aberdeen really only do the financial reporting? More likely to come out of UK Bus which is based (ahem) elsewhere.

Are they really dropping 11 vehicles at Hengrove? Be surprised if the savings on the 50 and 76 are that extensive (or am I missing something else?)

I was rather surprised by that one too. It might be that it's a saving of 11 vehicles on a Sunday (with P&R cancelled would make sense).
50 might save 1 vehicle. I suspect 76 will be the big saver though.

 

[THarris123]

I didn't realise there were any Metrobus 'contracts' to win? I was always under the impression that any operator was welcome to provide a commercial service along the route providing the vehicles met the basic specification the council set?

I'd assumed that was why the Scanias have been put on the UWE route so that they can make use of the M32 junction when it opens.

Only reporting whats been said. Think there is Metrobus stuff which states it's in three parts.

 

[swifty]

The M32 bus junction is going to be for Metrobus only, other coaches and busses won't be allowed to use it.

But will it be, Metrobus seem quite good at hiding the facts. A quick look on the web doesn't mention other buses being prohibited. Hence my comments above about the Scania meeting the requirements to use the infrastructure.

 

[freetoview33]

But will it be, Metrobus seem quite good at hiding the facts. A quick look on the web doesn't mention other buses being prohibited. Hence my comments above about the Scania meeting the requirements to use the infrastructure.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/almost-new-metrobus-lanes-open-702197

 

[Marcus Fryer]

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/almost-new-metrobus-lanes-open-702197

Having read this, I think you have been mislead by the way it is written. I think they are really saying all the extra bus lanes (such as those round the Centre) will be open to other buses, taxis, cyclists and emergency vehicles (as is the case with existing bus lanes) EXCEPT that cyclists can't use the M32 bus ramp because cyclists can't use the M32, but this exclusion for the M32 ramp doesn't apply to other buses, taxis or emergency vehicles? Also, the guided busway between Long Ashton and Cumberland Road will only be able to be used by guided buses (but not necessarily only Metrobus, e.g. buses on the A1 if they have guide wheels)?

 

[THarris123]

Changes that have currently come up on Vosa for Jan:
Bath - U1, 3, 4 and 37 all timetable changes. 171 cancelled
Weston - changes to timetables 5, 7, A2 and X8/9
Wells - cancellation of 175
Bristol - 22 timetable change