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

[Blackpudding]

We’re aware of the tax issue - DVLA made a mistake, as it’s recently lost its cherished plate and reverted to its original.

23011/012 have gone to an operator in Ireland, 013/014/15/19/20 have been sold to an operator in Liverpool allegedly.

Cheers. Appreciate the informative reply.

 

[Nailseabus]

A dart with First Kernow fleet names passed through Nailsea heading for Bristol at 2.00pm today. Unfortunately I was unable to get either the fleet number of registration mark.

 

[Andyh82]

ABus were using two Solos on the X8 this morning, with an orange citaro on the 349 as a result. Is that normal?

 

[spw24]

A dart with First Kernow fleet names passed through Nailsea heading for Bristol at 2.00pm today. Unfortunately I was unable to get either the fleet number of registration mark.

42871 now owned by Carmel arrived this afternoon

 

[vicbury]

Interesting allocations on the 4 in Bath today, with at least four double deckers, including:

• One standard livery B7
• One purple B7 with stickers removed
• Two blue B7s with blue Unibus livery

What's happened to all the Streetlites?

 

[thameslink2000]

Deckers on the 4 probably allowing Streetlites/Volvo B7RLEs to be used on Bristol-Westbury rail replacement today.

 

[Whiteway215]

One of the Tridents has emerged at last! 33064 reported on 76 yesterday.

 

[B7rleThrasher]

Interesting allocations on the 4 in Bath today, with at least four double deckers, including:

• One standard livery B7
• One purple B7 with stickers removed
• Two blue B7s with blue Unibus livery

What's happened to all the Streetlites?

Multiple vehicles out on Rail Replacement.

I had Wells 69437 for my stint on rail this morning (Bradford-Westbury-Chippenham-Bath) followed by 30871 on my 19!

 

[Whiteway215]

Multiple vehicles out on Rail Replacement.

I had Wells 69437 for my stint on rail this morning (Bradford-Westbury-Chippenham-Bath) followed by 30871 on my 19!

Can you give us any idea on the state of 30871 as its fellows 30872/3/5 have fallen by the wayside leaving only 71 and 77?

 

[spw24]

well 30871/7 are both still running so cant be that bad. 30875 is engine trouble think 72/3 were both corrosion

 

[B7rleThrasher]

Can you give us any idea on the state of 30871 as its fellows 30872/3/7 have fallen by the wayside leaving only 71 and 77?

30871 is as good as a 20 year old B7 is going to be - it certainly didn’t struggle on the hills!

 

[henairs]

Hi,
Interesting visitor to Wells on 376 this afternoon was LH based 37627 which was deputising for a failed Streetdeck which I was informed was 35148
Another standard livery Trident on Taunton depot this morning. Thought it was 32955 but there was one in that livery on Bridgwater depot a short time later so any clues folks ?
Yeovil's 53205 also in naughty corner Taunton depot. E300 67600 out on route 21 seen Bridgwater.
Cheers, Mike R

 

[D2007wsm]

ABus were using two Solos on the X8 this morning, with an orange citaro on the 349 as a result. Is that normal?

It isn’t uncommon to see a Solo on an X8. Generally the 349 Monday to Friday it is a decker, but anything can make an appearance.

Usually on a Saturday, the 349 is Citaros on Abus’ boards and a Gemini on the First board. They don’t need the Citaros for the X8s as all boards on a Saturday are usually First B7RLEs, for now!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not previously reported (I think) but 69442 has departed for Leicester joining 69438. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2ECw-8WwAAwd6-.jpg

 

[Private Baxter]

Not previously reported (I think) but 69442 has departed for Leicester joining 69438. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2ECw-8WwAAwd6-.jpg

I'll be sorry to see these all go, if that is indeed still the plan.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'll be sorry to see these all go, if that is indeed still the plan.

I guess Leicester have the pressures of a Clean Air Zone with a number of aged B7Ls so makes sense but yes, it’s a shame.

 

[Private Baxter]

I guess Leicester have the pressures of a Clean Air Zone with a number of aged B7Ls so makes sense but yes, it’s a shame.

With all the rage about deckers in our area, I still think these are amongst the best buses in our region. Smart, powerful buses.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With all the rage about deckers in our area, I still think these are amongst the best buses in our region. Smart, powerful buses.

Victims of the success of the Mendip Explorer reboot. They’re good machines but have seen some packed out (though with the caveat of possibly late vehicles skewing loadings). Just can’t cope.

It did look like they’d stay for 178,T2 and Y3 (?) but will the older ones get tarted up instead?

 

[DaveHarries]

I'll be sorry to see these all go, if that is indeed still the plan.

So will I. I wouldn't have thought that double-deckers will be good on all routes.

Dave

 

[henairs]

So will I. I wouldn't have thought that double-deckers will be good on all routes.

Dave

Would be an interesting trip on the 126 Wells - Weston route with a Decker though. More of a Streetlite route I suppose in the future after the B7s.
Very good to see the Mendip routes doing so well though.
Cheers, Mike R

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Would be an interesting trip on the 126 Wells - Weston route with a Decker though. More of a Streetlite route I suppose in the future after the B7s.
Very good to see the Mendip routes doing so well though.
Cheers, Mike R

Don't think a decker would last long on the 126!! Mind you, loadings are such that I reckon it will be on Eclipses for a while longer.

It is good to see the ME routes doing well. I would a) be intrigued to see what they could do further to improve the 376 in terms of vehicle quality and b) like to see them remove the tired bus flags on the routes and replace with fresh ones (as they did with Discover).

The odd thing with Discover is they replaced the flags in places like Urchfont and Sells Green (served only at night and Sunday) but missed ones in places like Hinton Charterhouse that they serve every 30 mins!!! I'd be really curious to know how Discover has done at both growing the market and/or disrupting Faresaver.

 

[freetoview33]

What routes again can't be double deckers? Other than the 24 in Bristol.

 

[AB93]

What routes again can't be double deckers? Other than the 24 in Bristol.

5 in Bath.
Discover D1.

Bristol 8/9/72 (Temple Meads canopy).
Bristol m2 and A1 low height only.
37/19/19A low height only.

Sure there must be more.

 

[freetoview33]

5 in Bath.
Discover D1.

Bristol 8/9/72 (Temple Meads canopy).
Bristol m2 and A1 low height only.
37/19/19A low height only.

Sure there must be more.

As said before it is only fairly recently they have decided the Temple Meads Canopy is an issue. M2 and A1 is because of the Ashton Ave bridge.

What is the obstruction with the 5/D1/37/19/19A?

 

[B7rleThrasher]

As said before it is only fairly recently they have decided the Temple Meads Canopy is an issue. M2 and A1 is because of the Ashton Ave bridge.

What is the obstruction with the 5/D1/37/19/19A?

The 19/19A can be a high decker - but the running cards interwork with the 37 where there is a low bridge in Bitton.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

As said before it is only fairly recently they have decided the Temple Meads Canopy is an issue. M2 and A1 is because of the Ashton Ave bridge.

What is the obstruction with the 5/D1/37/19/19A?

This is the bridge at Willsbridge https://flic.kr/p/nxZUsb

The 5 is Twerton Arch https://flic.kr/p/FLcqi3

The D1 is the bridge at Wilton - think it’s only about 14’ or something? Been hit by many lorries

 

[Whiteway215]

As said before it is only fairly recently they have decided the Temple Meads Canopy is an issue. M2 and A1 is because of the Ashton Ave bridge.

What is the obstruction with the 5/D1/37/19/19A?

Well the 5 in Bath has the very low railway arch where the buses turn off from Lower Bristol Road into Twerton. At least two deckers have found out they were too high! One of them was 39920 which explains why it is an open topper / tree lopper now. Is 39920 still around anywhere?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well the 5 in Bath has the very low railway arch where the buses turn off from Lower Bristol Road into Twerton. At least two deckers have found out they were too high! One of them was 39920 which explains why it is an open topper / tree lopper now. Is 39920 still around anywhere?

Parked up out of use outside Weymouth depot yesterday

 

[AB93]

One of the Tridents has emerged at last! 33064 reported on 76 yesterday.

Been out for a while now, 33064 since 3rd April.

Also 33061 was out on Wednesday (10th).

 

[AB93]

It isn’t uncommon to see a Solo on an X8. Generally the 349 Monday to Friday it is a decker, but anything can make an appearance.

Usually on a Saturday, the 349 is Citaros on Abus’ boards and a Gemini on the First board. They don’t need the Citaros for the X8s as all boards on a Saturday are usually First B7RLEs, for now!

Abus run all three 349 workings on Saturdays now. So First only have the last journey, like on weekdays.