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

[freetoview33]

That doesn't surprise me at all. The Scanias are very popular with drivers at Bath, particularly the ones on the uni rotas!

As said above, only the newest buses are being used now.

 

[richw]

32637 sporting her new colours in Cornwall this morning

 

[carlberry]

It looks like First are operating the M1 for the time being. BCT(CT) are only operating the 62 to a normal timetable and the 505 and 506 are every 90 mins Both leave Southmead every 90 mins 07:30, 9:00, 10:30 and so on. So BCT are operating 3 buses only as each route is just 1 bus.

The 62 needs 2, so 50% of BCT vehicles are running for Gloucestershire!

 

[freetoview33]

The 62 needs 2, so 50% of BCT vehicles are running for Gloucestershire!

My bad yes!

 

[richw]

32638 has also had a change of colour since moving to Kernow

 

[Buses in Bath]

Route 4 in Bath seems to have gone aquae as well.

 

[freetoview33]

Route 4 in Bath seems to have gone aquae as well.

I wonder if these were actually ordered with the intention of them being on the X39

 

[Buses in Bath]

I wonder if these were actually ordered with the intention of them being on the X39

That's a good question which I'm not quite sure of. Obviously they never fully painted them SGL so they were planning the biogas buses and same with the m3, the plan was always to go biogas so they were always temporary to those routes. They are the first to be change in accordance to the low emission zone plan that Bath is bringing in and really I think they have been planning a change to the X39 for a while because it is a very important route so I think they were always trying to upgrade the X39 but I'm not sure if they were planning to do it with the Scanias. It would make sense though so most likely.

 

[D2007wsm]

I wonder if these were actually ordered with the intention of them being on the X39

That's a good question which I'm not quite sure of. Obviously they never fully painted them SGL so they were planning the biogas buses and same with the m3, the plan was always to go biogas so they were always temporary to those routes. They are the first to be change in accordance to the low emission zone plan that Bath is bringing in and really I think they have been planning a change to the X39 for a while because it is a very important route so I think they were always trying to upgrade the X39 but I'm not sure if they were planning to do it with the Scanias. It would make sense though so most likely.

They were repainted so after release from use on the South Glos Lynx network, with every intention of being used on the rebranded X39 as the 39x and the 39. A proper launch should have happened this week with all the buses being vinyled. However, due to the current situation the vinyling of the remaining buses was stopped, as was the service changes and the Aquae launch.

The service changes and launch will no doubt happen at a later date. As will the changes to the Portishead services on the excel network.

At the moment it is the case of route branding going out of the window, with the newer and most fuel efficient buses on the road. Currently Lawrence Hill is sending out gas buses in everything apart from 2 Streetlites on the 178.

It’s bizarre not seeing Weston awash with Badgerline B7 Geminis and Darts and seeing excel Streetlites on the 3/5/7/20.

It’s looking like the 320** ALX400 open top Coaster fleet will have limited use this year. The closed top example having been out all winter on the 1 and 20 with the Trident before it’s sad demise.

 

[Private Baxter]

They were repainted so after release from use on the South Glos Lynx network, with every intention of being used on the rebranded X39 as the 39x and the 39. A proper launch should have happened this week with all the buses being vinyled. However, due to the current situation the vinyling of the remaining buses was stopped, as was the service changes and the Aquae launch.

The service changes and launch will no doubt happen at a later date. As will the changes to the Portishead services on the excel network.

At the moment it is the case of route branding going out of the window, with the newer and most fuel efficient buses on the road. Currently Lawrence Hill is sending out gas buses in everything apart from 2 Streetlites on the 178.

It’s bizarre not seeing Weston awash with Badgerline B7 Geminis and Darts and seeing excel Streetlites on the 3/5/7/20.

It’s looking like the 320** ALX400 open top Coaster fleet will have limited use this year. The closed top example having been out all winter on the 1 and 20 with the Trident before it’s sad demise.

Apologies I may have missed something here. I thought all the new X39 Aquae buses were from the m2. This implies that some are some of those former urban scanias with the temporary SGL branding.

 

[Whiteway215]

Has the Trident gone from WM?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Apologies I may have missed something here. I thought all the new X39 Aquae buses were from the m2. This implies that some are some of those former urban scanias with the temporary SGL branding.

They are from the m3 and the former urban SGL ones

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Has the Tridents gone from WM?

Didn’t it have a terminal mechanical failure?

 

[Westonian]

Has the Trident gone from WM?

Trident Coaster 33156 had a knackered gearbox and hasn't been used since early in February. It was a regular on the 1 to Sand Bay but has been parked in the 'naughty corner' at Weston for several weeks - it was still there a few days ago.

 

[D2007wsm]

Apologies I may have missed something here. I thought all the new X39 Aquae buses were from the m2. This implies that some are some of those former urban scanias with the temporary SGL branding.

They are from the m3 and the former urban SGL ones

Yes the Aquae Scanias are those used by Lawrence Hill for the m3 and the Urban ones some with temporary South Glos Lynx branding used by Marlborough Street. The m2 allocation has not changed.

Didn’t it have a terminal mechanical failure?

Yes it went bang and now is withdrawn.

 

[Private Baxter]

They are from the m3 and the former urban SGL ones

Thank you, I hadnt realised they had gone too. I always suspected they would be destined for something more permanent. Are they also dual door? I forget how many were in the fleet, but I assume some have stayed at MH for other work. Anyone know if this is the case?

 

[Private Baxter]

Yes the Aquae Scanias are those used by Lawrence Hill for the m3 and the Urban ones some with temporary South Glos Lynx branding used by Marlborough Street. The m2 allocation has not .

Yes of course it was the m3 buses, not m2. My bad!

 

[Tommy Walters]

Thank you, I hadnt realised they had gone too. I always suspected they would be destined for something more permanent. Are they also dual door? I forget how many were in the fleet, but I assume some have stayed at MH for other work. Anyone know if this is the case?

AFAIK 36814/22/24 were all working on LH/MH routes prior to the service reductions. 823 meanwhile was at HE, whilst 815 was in Bath as a spare for the P&R routes.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Route 4 in Bath seems to have gone aquae as well.

Pretty sure Bath aren't using any deckers older than the 14-plate e400s now!

 

[CD]

Buses of Somerset Fleet changes.

A little update on fleet changes:

To Disposal
30930
32954
67707
43906
50466
53055
53056
53057
53151
53205
53402
53403
67600
43811
43821
43822
65007

In from Kernow
33235
33242
33175
33177
33233
33234
44918
44919
44920
44921

To Aberdeen
53209

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Buses of Somerset Fleet changes.

A little update on fleet changes:

To Disposal
30930
32954
67707
43906
50466
53055
53056
53057
53151
53205
53402
53403
67600
43811
43821
43822
65007

In from Kernow
33235
33242
33175
33177
33233
33234
44918
44919
44920
44921

To Aberdeen
53209

Was 67707 the one that caught alight?

32954 must be one of the last original Tridents that First still had running? As for 43821/2, I won't believe they've actually gone until I see them in pieces in Carlton - not bad for X reg Darts!!

 

[carlberry]

Buses of Somerset Fleet changes.

A little update on fleet changes:

To Disposal
30930
32954
67707
43906
50466
53055
53056
53057
53151
53205
53402
53403
67600
43811
43821
43822
65007

In from Kernow
33235
33242
33175
33177
33233
33234
44918
44919
44920
44921

To Aberdeen
53209

That's a lot out of Yeovil for very little going in without they're going to use deckers on more services. (Obviously it'll be a while until the full PVR will be needed).
Somebody is going to get the short straw of driving a 13 year old Solo from Yeovil to Aberdeen!!

 

[Buses in Bath]

Somebody is going to get the short straw of driving a 13 year old Solo from Yeovil to Aberdeen!!

Oh God.

 

[CD]

Was 67707 the one that caught alight?

32954 must be one of the last original Tridents that First still had running? As for 43821/2, I won't believe they've actually gone until I see them in pieces in Carlton - not bad for X reg Darts!!

Yes 67707 deemed not to be economically viable for repair.
All Yeovil`s Solos being replaced by E200s.
A visit yesterday to Yeovil depot (not me) saw 43906, 50466,53056/57 all with withdrawn stickers on their windscreens. Together with 53403 and 67600 which have been VOR for some time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes 67707 deemed not to be economically viable for repair.
All Yeovil`s Solos being replaced by E200s.
A visit yesterday to Yeovil depot (not me) saw 43906, 50466,53056/57 all with withdrawn stickers on their windscreens. Together with 53403 and 67600 which have been VOR for some time.

Thanks Ron

Perhaps it's just been luck or whatever but the ex Slough Solos seemed a mixed bag (was one scrapped without entering service?) whilst 53402-4 seemed also to be a bit temperamental. Losing 9 Solos and Dart and receiving 4 e200s - must be due some more stuff?

At least the e200s (even at 11 years old) are a semblance of modernity. Just another stopping off point on their odyssey (excl 44921) that has encompassed Glasgow, Plymouth, Swansea, Bristol, Bath, Portsmouth, Cornwall and now Yeovil!!!

 

[freetoview33]

Had my first trip on one of the new gas buses. Hiw ever nice they are, I can see them being hell in 10 years time! Already rattling as if it was older!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Had my first trip on one of the new gas buses. Hiw ever nice they are, I can see them being hell in 10 years time! Already rattling as if it was older!

Just like any other e400mmc. I find the dual door ones creak and squeak more than the single door examples.

 

[freetoview33]

Just like any other e400mmc. I find the dual door ones creak and squeak more than the single door examples.

The ones on the 1/2 I've found to be not too bad. A dual door one I had on the 76 last year or 2018 was horrible!

 

[CD]

Thanks Ron

Perhaps it's just been luck or whatever but the ex Slough Solos seemed a mixed bag (was one scrapped without entering service?) whilst 53402-4 seemed also to be a bit temperamental. Losing 9 Solos and Dart and receiving 4 e200s - must be due some more stuff?

At least the e200s (even at 11 years old) are a semblance of modernity. Just another stopping off point on their odyssey (excl 44921) that has encompassed Glasgow, Plymouth, Swansea, Bristol, Bath, Portsmouth, Cornwall and now Yeovil!!!

You were thinking of 53053 which never came to Somerset. 53052 withdrawn in 2017, 53054 this time last year, leaving 53055/56/57.
Been suggested a Trident for the 54: From Jason Freeman.
("no fleet reduction at Yeovil so I’m guessing a move around within Somerset 1 will be a decker for the 54 33125/27 and 33031 are staying along with 33377-82")

I would imagine some E200s from elsewhere, Bath or Bridgwater maybe especially if the 21 is going to be Tridents.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You were thinking of 53053 which never came to Somerset. 53052 withdrawn in 2017, 53054 this time last year, leaving 53055/56/57.
Been suggested a Trident for the 54: From Jason Freeman.
("no fleet reduction at Yeovil so I’m guessing a move around within Somerset 1 will be a decker for the 54 33125/27 and 33031 are staying along with 33377-82")

I would imagine some E200s from elsewhere, Bath or Bridgwater maybe especially if the 21 is going to be Tridents.

I think it was 53052 that I was thinking of. Never got painted but went early. It did run about for a bit.

Think you might be right - perhaps 44922-4 might be freed up from Taunton and be replaced by something newer.

Be interesting for Yeovil to gain a decker working and confess I can't remember their last regular decker. I do always remember veteran VR 1122 still hanging around the place, even getting a trip on it when it must have been 25 years old on the Weymouth summer express (X67?)