TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Did Webber own those or, I suspect, on long term lease from Mistral? I think Mistral also lease the P&R Streetlites to BoS??
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First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
- Thread starter Ivo
- Start date
Did Webber own those or, I suspect, on long term lease from Mistral? I think Mistral also lease the P&R Streetlites to BoS??
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diffywood
Member
if you google Mistral and Webberbus you can find more than a few hits saying that
freetoview33
Established Member
Someone at BoS is going to have a long night sorting everything for the morning.
What is likely to happen long term to the routes? Obviously some routes will be put out to tender again. But will for instance the 26 be replaced by more 126 trips or can the 126 cope on it's own again ...
What is likely to happen long term to the routes? Obviously some routes will be put out to tender again. But will for instance the 26 be replaced by more 126 trips or can the 126 cope on it's own again ...
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
The 126 has been hourly for many years and coped with that 2 years ago.
They'll need to be retenders but what cash have SCC got?
I'm not sure how true it is or the coincidence etc, but there was talk on FHD that 53065, 53140 and 53206 were off sharpish. That would make a big dent considering HI are struggling to meet PVR as it is. On top of that 53140 probably wouldn't make it to Somerset under its own steam anyway!
Good luck to everyone trying to get to work or school this morning during this testing time.
Good luck to everyone trying to get to work or school this morning during this testing time.
THarris123
Established Member
37 just gone out of Wells. Streetlite with a Webberbus driver.
55 just come in - is that an extra bus? 67600 was in it.
55 just come in - is that an extra bus? 67600 was in it.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Don't know if anyway related to the need to mobilise fleet to Somerset but 32283 is working the 178. 63074 seen NIS heading south on A37 near Farrington
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THarris123
Established Member
When did that last happen?
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53401 just gone out of depot, not sure what its on though
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
About 4 years was last time I saw a decker on 178.
Ps amended earlier post to include 63074 on the move
THarris123
Established Member
Think I saw one in 2013.
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A Barbie B10 in Wells about 20 mins ago
69445 and 69443 on 376
Out of all days to have 2 Streetdecks not on 376, is it a really good idea?
48270 coming in on 55 into Wells
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
May be unfortunate but if there's two VOR....
THarris123
Established Member
62242 just gone out on 55
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No notices up in bus station about Webberbus.
Don't know what's happening with 67
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
No notices up in bus station about Webberbus.
Don't know what's happening with 67
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I imagine they have a raft of "things to do" in terms of just obtaining vehicles and drivers. FSW will be working like hell just to ensure that people actually get a bus. The Western Greyhound collapse that had a certain amount of visibility (Cornwall Council had been informed in advance and drew up contingencies though as soon as the dodgy duo of Smith and Bishop were involved, collapse was almost assured).
This appears to have happened more swiftly despite the fact that it was apparent that it was going to happen. The weakening of the finances was a matter of public record. Moreover, the whole business strategy was doomed, and the introducing new services with new vehicles in very sparsely populated areas that cannot sustain it.
I do feel for the staff left high and dry by this. Also, who knows which smaller firms are creditors as well.
I hope this illustrates, and some now appreciate, that there is no secret in running a service in intensely rural areas. Few passengers, little revenue vs. modern fleet and a route network of infinite possibilities/excessive frequencies is a circle that cannot be squared.
Hopefully, FSW and Somerset Council will be able to sort this out in time, and even in a year or two, the financial stability will enable some sensible, sustainable investment into the BoS fleet.
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What next? Get the ones back from Leicester as well?
matt_splat
Member
- Joined
- 19 May 2012
- Messages
- 897
the 178 decker is a regular working in the morning it starts in keynsham on arrival in bath it goes onto the 19s for the day
THarris123
Established Member
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
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- 1,790
I have only ever used WB once, and it was about six weeks ago when I used the 38 from Tauntom to Wells. (I didn't want to wait for the 29). The driver on that day was genuinely very good, and I am sympathetic to those who have found themselves without a job this morning, though I hope that in the long run this works in their favour. But it just shows that there simply wasn't room in rural Somerset for two operators, especially when competing on long established routes.
Hopefully things will settle down a bit now, and there will be more realistic number of services covering certain coridoors. The 19 is an old route previously operated by Bridgwater depot but will that be maintained alongside all the others? What of the new 73? Surely that will go now that 375 is back?? And I do wonder about the new 55 as well. Yes it's a new service which needs time to establish itself, but the half hourly 54 Tauntom to Somerton didn't last, so will the half hourly Someton to Wells? Time will tell of course but I imagine 375 will be the preferred option. Just wonder if it's any coincidence this has happened just after BoS brought in all the changes this week. I'm nonetheless shocked with this news.
Hopefully things will settle down a bit now, and there will be more realistic number of services covering certain coridoors. The 19 is an old route previously operated by Bridgwater depot but will that be maintained alongside all the others? What of the new 73? Surely that will go now that 375 is back?? And I do wonder about the new 55 as well. Yes it's a new service which needs time to establish itself, but the half hourly 54 Tauntom to Somerton didn't last, so will the half hourly Someton to Wells? Time will tell of course but I imagine 375 will be the preferred option. Just wonder if it's any coincidence this has happened just after BoS brought in all the changes this week. I'm nonetheless shocked with this news.
overthewater
Established Member
- Joined
- 16 Apr 2012
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- 8,185
Do we know what extra fleet has been drafted in.
At lunchtime in Hippy City (Glastonbury) I too saw one of the hired Streetlites on 37 complete with (ex) WB driver.
Will be interesting to see if these Streetlites remain on hire, or if First bring in their own vehicles.
Some of today's observations: (from Yeovil)
69013 1108 54 62191 1035 77
62192 1208 54 62242 1135 77
62238 1308 54 40570 1235 77
66339 1408 54 62245 1335 77
40570 1435 77
48273 1119 55 ex Wells.
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Traveline says the 19 Street-Bridgwater via the villages is from today operated by Hatch Green and not First as given on SCC information list.
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Isn't the 19 Hatch Green anyway after they won the tender off WB?
SCC list of replacement services seem to think it was WB. It will teach me not to believe anything SCC says.
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Is it?
SCC list of replacement services seem to think it was WB.
Traveline 19 timetable is from today 13/5/16.
I saw that on the list and thought it odd. On Hatch Green's website, their timetable states valid from 13 APRIL 2015!
Wondered if it's a mix up with First actually doing the WB16 from Minehead (as only the school run seemed to be covered by the BoS15).
The only area not covered is the 76; wonder if it will have any sort of replacement. Probably not - the previous 102 was withdrawn and it was another example of the WB madness that saw them replace it commercially at three times the frequency!
THarris123
Established Member
I thought the 76 route was 112.
See RIP Webberbus thread for 19 - Webbers ran 1 journey in each direction, Hatch run the rest.
WoE 20 is what 112 used to be before BoS extended the 21.
Thanks for gen about 19 I didn't know it was a joint operator route.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Yep, the 112 was Weston to Highbridge via Brean becoming BoS 21 and now First 20. Webber competed with the 75 over that route
The 102 was Weston to Woolavington and sometimes Bridgwater via Bason Bridge, Burnham and East Brent and was SCC tendered every 3 hours. When funding was pulled and BoS withdrew, Webber decided to run the 76 that way.
The Webberbus 19 was only a Bridgwater college working from Shapwick to BC apparently
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THarris123
Established Member
BoS actually updated their website for once 
https://www.firstgroup.com/somerset/news-and-service-updates/news/closure-webberbus
Look at the timetable on Traveline for 19. It's on there.
Looks like 37 is being operated by the Webberbus drivers and Streetlites. No idea of 375 or 67.
I got it wrong earlier in saying that First hadn't updated anything in Wells - the timetables on the back of the shelters have been updated with solely First services. No other notices or updates though.
The Streetlites have also had their legals changed.
I've got the lovely 69438 on 376 at the mo.
https://www.firstgroup.com/somerset/news-and-service-updates/news/closure-webberbusLook at the timetable on Traveline for 19. It's on there.
Looks like 37 is being operated by the Webberbus drivers and Streetlites. No idea of 375 or 67.
I got it wrong earlier in saying that First hadn't updated anything in Wells - the timetables on the back of the shelters have been updated with solely First services. No other notices or updates though.
The Streetlites have also had their legals changed.
I've got the lovely 69438 on 376 at the mo.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
From BoS Twitter/FB
There is a limited "16" replacement timetable between Cannington and Minehead. Passengers to/from Bridgwater need to use services x14/14 there is currently no service to Brent Knoll or East Huntspill.
(About 375) It is under contract to the Council. Until the route is assessed etc by SCC we will only run a limited timetable as per the SCC arrangement. It's not going to be on the scale of the "old" 375 service at this stage. (FJ)
There is a limited "16" replacement timetable between Cannington and Minehead. Passengers to/from Bridgwater need to use services x14/14 there is currently no service to Brent Knoll or East Huntspill.
(About 375) It is under contract to the Council. Until the route is assessed etc by SCC we will only run a limited timetable as per the SCC arrangement. It's not going to be on the scale of the "old" 375 service at this stage. (FJ)
matt_splat
Member
- Joined
- 19 May 2012
- Messages
- 897
the 67 looks to have been ran using enviro 200s
THarris123
Established Member
Thought I saw E200s in Wells. Wonder if we'll see them long term.
freetoview33
Established Member
Well the 67 is being operated by FSA so I think there is a strong possibility of them taking it on long term