ValleyLines142
Established Member
The first three are horrendous!
That explains why 47564 was on the 83, this is usually Darts (i.e. either 42896 or 42900!)
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
- Thread starter Ivo
- Start date
The first three are horrendous!
That explains why 47564 was on the 83, this is usually Darts (i.e. either 42896 or 42900!)
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
These are ALX200 Darts not 400 deckers. The wheel arch issue may preclude their use after this year. It's a problem with Pointers but don't know about Alexander ALXs
Robertj21a
On Moderation
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 7,688
Ah, thanks - had assumed they were 400s. I don't think any Darts (Plaxton or Alexander) have been successfully modified to meet DDA regs.
In any event, there's been plenty of warning - 15 years ! - to get fleets compliant, so no excuses.
In any event, there's been plenty of warning - 15 years ! - to get fleets compliant, so no excuses.
Can't see that happening -evening and Sunday services wouldn't be commercially viable and SCC are only interested in chopping stuff.
Don't think Shepton has had evening services since the 826 extensions were cut c.1991/2 - again, Swifty might know better on that score. Just found my 1992 Somerset CC timetables and the last Wells to Shepton service was the 1815 journey. No Sunday service until the RBC money came (1999?) until the first round of SCC cuts (2012?)
Interestingly, checked the same booklet for the 173 and it was similar to today but was 2 x WS and 1 x BH. Bath did 1005/1305/1605 ex BH and 1139/1439/1739 from Wells arriving 1900 - last departure from Bath was 1805! Sunday 173 was 3 return journeys (all operated by BH) that omitted Binegar running direct from Chilcompton but running through to Glastonbury
Sunday 376 was four journeys Street to Bristol (supported by Avon and Somerset CCs) and evenings were hourly (SCC supported south of Wells) whilst north of Wells were two journeys (supported by Avon CC at 2055 and 2300 from Bristol) - things have certainly improved there!!
Wells to Shepton evening service was resurrected under rural bus grants around 1998, initiialy numbered 661 and later reverted to 161. The evening journeys were running trhough to the hospital at shepton.
The evening buses from Bristol to Wells at one point were 677 which did a loop of Paulton on the way too.
freetoview33
Established Member
It's an old map with the 47 on!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
ValleyLines142
Established Member
47440 on the 21
32940 on the 36
Haven't seen an ex-Leicester Enviro 400 all week!
32940 on the 36
Haven't seen an ex-Leicester Enviro 400 all week!
matt_splat
Member
- Joined
- 19 May 2012
- Messages
- 898
after reading comments today I have wondered if maybe the following service could be a possibility
a every 30 mins 376 as now with a service created which runs along side the 173s as far as biniger which then carry's on along the A37 into Bristol which if timed right could then create a every 15 min service along the A37 section into Bristol
a every 30 mins 376 as now with a service created which runs along side the 173s as far as biniger which then carry's on along the A37 into Bristol which if timed right could then create a every 15 min service along the A37 section into Bristol
windnoise69
Member
And 32330
On the X18! Looking very empty
On the X18! Looking very empty
freetoview33
Established Member
I was on one (Not sure what one) on the 76 yesterday
ValleyLines142
Established Member
I have no idea why deckers are being used on the X18! Even I agree it's a complete waste!
freetoview33
Established Member
Is the X18 still being run in partnership with South Glos council?
I'd imagine with the 6 Darts exchanged for B7s it's likely that all the Darts/Streetlites are on all day boards (or possibly covering earlier failures), and what ever is left at LH and is fairly decent is chucked out. Better than no service at the end of the day.
Last edited:
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Indeed better than no service, but there's clearly an issue somewhere when there are three single deckers on the 1/2, one of Bristol's busiest routes, and a seventy seat decker being used on a service that barely has more than a dozen people on it.
Food for thought....
THarris123
Established Member
Heard another interesting rumour in Wells today.
They were talking about a possibly service running from Bristol to Shepton - i.e. going to Farrington and then running on down the A37 to Shepton.
Can't think there's necessarily that much demand for it, but it would fit in perfectly with the 376 and 379 (if timed right).
Wells depot would supposedly be looking after that.
It would probably take about the same time as the 376. So I would say an increase of about 3 buses to Wells. A driver was telling me today that they may interwork with the 161, something which I heard they were going to do similarly with the 379 back in 2012, before they stopped it going to Shepton.
The driver also told me that Wells can only have 20 buses in the depot, hence the reason why they're losing the X75.
In all honesty, I can't see them putting in a service such as this. I suspect we will get something like what the 55 used to be (I think other people have suggested this on the forum already). That could then be worked out of Bristol and would add in a 15 minute frequency on the Bristol - Whitchurch corridor - ideal really - past Whitchurch there isn't the demand for anything more frequent than the current service.
They were talking about a possibly service running from Bristol to Shepton - i.e. going to Farrington and then running on down the A37 to Shepton.
Can't think there's necessarily that much demand for it, but it would fit in perfectly with the 376 and 379 (if timed right).
Wells depot would supposedly be looking after that.
It would probably take about the same time as the 376. So I would say an increase of about 3 buses to Wells. A driver was telling me today that they may interwork with the 161, something which I heard they were going to do similarly with the 379 back in 2012, before they stopped it going to Shepton.
The driver also told me that Wells can only have 20 buses in the depot, hence the reason why they're losing the X75.
In all honesty, I can't see them putting in a service such as this. I suspect we will get something like what the 55 used to be (I think other people have suggested this on the forum already). That could then be worked out of Bristol and would add in a 15 minute frequency on the Bristol - Whitchurch corridor - ideal really - past Whitchurch there isn't the demand for anything more frequent than the current service.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,800
As much as I'd like to see this happen, I think Bath are OK for now at least. I suppose though it might be time some of their mid-life darts made a move, and I'm sure would be appreciated elsewhere.
Wow, loads of rumours going round at the moment. This one sounds a bit unlikely to me. I don't think there was ever need for a Bristol - Shepton route, one reason why the old 379 was never increased. In old, old days, there was such a service and I believe it was actually numbered 378.
Why can the depot only take twenty? (There are thwenty three in the depot atm). Surely a recent thing, considering they used to hold a lot more when they ran many additional services.
Ten years ago they ran 376, 161/162, 173, 375 (then numbered 163), 126, 377, 670, 171, 172, 174, 668, 669, 196. Granted the PVR of many of those journeys wasn't high, but still that's a fair bit they used to handle. What changed?
freetoview33
Established Member
Operating Centres Vehicles Trailers
WESTON ISLAND,LOWER BRISTOL ROAD,TWERTON,BATH,BA2 9ES,GB 300 0
SEARLE CRESCENT,WESTON-SUPER-MARE,BS23 3YX,GB 300 0
PRIORY ROAD,WELLS,BA5 1SZ,GB 300 0
BRISTOL BUS STATION,MARLBOROUGH ST,BRISTOL,BS1 3NU,GB 300 0
LAWRENCE HILL,EASTON ROAD,BRISTOL,BS5 0DZ,GB 300 0
WESTON ISLAND,LOWER BRISTOL ROAD,TWERTON,BATH,BA2 9ES,GB 300 0
SEARLE CRESCENT,WESTON-SUPER-MARE,BS23 3YX,GB 300 0
PRIORY ROAD,WELLS,BA5 1SZ,GB 300 0
BRISTOL BUS STATION,MARLBOROUGH ST,BRISTOL,BS1 3NU,GB 300 0
LAWRENCE HILL,EASTON ROAD,BRISTOL,BS5 0DZ,GB 300 0
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Doubt you'll fit 300 there!!
Notice how the outstations at Westbury and Chepstow don't appear - that said, the outstations at Melksham and Frome didn't appear when they existed!
Also, if they still outbase a vehicle at Yeovil, that should also appear as an operating centre
freetoview33
Established Member
I know there is no way 300 would go there, but does give plenty of room to rent additional space close by.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I guess that in those days, the 171/2/4/96 and 668/9/70 were only about 4 or 5 minis. Also, the PVR for 375/6/7 was lower as they ran thru (no duplication between Wells and Street so about 10), 3 x 173 (though I mentioned one board has been a BH car on occasion).
So.... 6 minis, 4 Darts and 17 long SDs (all incl. spares) - 27 for PVR of 24?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Didn't they have an overspill yard near Morrisons but that's been vacated?
South Westerly
Member
- Joined
- 28 May 2014
- Messages
- 341
First don't need any excuses. They have sufficient new buses planned and a small number of conversions to meet the DDA regulations for single decks at the end of this year. It isn't an issue.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,800
As far as I know the overspill yard is still in use, but having said that I can't be sure. If not it would explain the 20 vehicle restriction at the depot. Also I have no idea if WS are still keeping a bus in YL overnight and at weekends, but I suppose they are if only due to space issues. 
And excuse my ignorance, what does that list actually indicate? Not seen that before. Both premises adjacent to the depot were recently empty. And do MH actually have an outstation at Chepstow? That has only ever been a myth to me!!
And excuse my ignorance, what does that list actually indicate? Not seen that before. Both premises adjacent to the depot were recently empty. And do MH actually have an outstation at Chepstow? That has only ever been a myth to me!!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
As far as I know the overspill yard is still in use, but having said that I can't be sure. If not it would explain the 20 vehicle restriction at the depot. Also I have no idea if WS are still keeping a bus in YL overnight and at weekends, but I suppose they are if only due to space issues.
And excuse my ignorance, what does that list actually indicate? Not seen that before. Both premises adjacent to the depot were recently empty. And do MH actually have an outstation at Chepstow? That has only ever been a myth to me!!
The list is a DVSA list of operating centres and their vehicle authorisations as listed on the O license. It should detail every operating centre (even if it's one vehicle outbased) but the records can often be inaccurate/out of date.
There has long been a Chepstow outbase (got a photo somewhere of two Badgerline Van Hool Volvos 2600/1?? parked there) and was in the old R&W Central works compound, adjacent to the old depot. The X7 still has two vehicles starting/finishing there but they could always run light from MH these days?
Would make sense because as well as time/fuel, you do save on two lots of bridge tolls!!
freetoview33
Established Member
As far as I know the overspill yard is still in use, but having said that I can't be sure. If not it would explain the 20 vehicle restriction at the depot. Also I have no idea if WS are still keeping a bus in YL overnight and at weekends, but I suppose they are if only due to space issues.
And excuse my ignorance, what does that list actually indicate? Not seen that before. Both premises adjacent to the depot were recently empty. And do MH actually have an outstation at Chepstow? That has only ever been a myth to me!!
What depots are registered and the maximum number of buses they are allowed to keep there
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I am having a look through a lot of N&P's trying to find some info
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
How many new ones.... I was suspecting c.400-450, based on recent years. Like you, I suspect they'll be fine for DDA though the use of B10BLEs of 1998 vintage is a bit unfortunate. Good servants they've been but seeing 66104 repainted indicates they're hoping to get a few more years out of them.
One would hope that the turnaround with BoS and Kernow will provide a business case that allows some further fleet updating with newer cascades than 2001/2 B10BLEs.
Another little observation struck me the other day with the 55 plate Greyhound coaches - two days earlier, I'd caught my first sight of Stagecoach's new X5 fleet as I drove home from Milton Keynes. Wonder when the 100 might benefit from some investment?
freetoview33
Established Member
I can't find anything on N&P's saying they removed the Chepstow outstation I know it was in use in 2004! From what I can gather it was based at Bulwark business park Unit 5 which is now A bus and coach bodywork place. (Please correct me if I am wrong). I think it closed sometime not too long after 2004. But without a little more digging that is all I have found.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
The X7 timetable does look like there's two based that way, but as I say, they could always run empty from MH. So it wasn't mythical - it did exist!
Bulwark was the former Red & White central works - the depot closed by Stagecoach was next door. However, doesn't explain why Westbury isn't on there....
Hi,
Browsing through the streetlite website I notice that Wrightbus supply streetlite Max's with both 4.5L and 6.7L engines. Now certainly all the SLmax's at my depot are 4.5L, does anyone know if first actually spec'd any Max's with the bigger engine, or at all if any operator went for the bigger engines?
Browsing through the streetlite website I notice that Wrightbus supply streetlite Max's with both 4.5L and 6.7L engines. Now certainly all the SLmax's at my depot are 4.5L, does anyone know if first actually spec'd any Max's with the bigger engine, or at all if any operator went for the bigger engines?
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think the Arriva Sapphire ones in the North East have the bigger engine. The hills that they encounter are much larger the 173/376 - Lythe Bank is a 1:4 climb so makes sense to have the bigger lump.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm with you on that one. I can't see the real need for a Shepton to Bristol service nor a Wells to Binegar to Bristol service. Apart from Gurney Slade, there's not much else (Ston Easton...) to serve, and the 376/9 provides enough capacity on the A37 (but is it spaced appropriately?)