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

[starrymarkb]

I'm not surprised. Traveline don't have them yet either. Worse the old timetables have been deleted from the Traveline system already! Try planning journeys in Cornwall on Traveline SW and after it offers a 3 bus journey (with a direct service that is missing) you get a note....

Service Data missing from 3rd November
Please note that many bus timetables in Cornwall will be changing from Sunday 3rd November 2013. We do not have full details for 2, 2A, 14, 18, 46, 47 in Cornwall until Thursday 7th November. Please use the link below to access the new timetables.
Link to First Cornwall timetables from 3rd November 2013[Link is blank]

Of course if the non local checking the website don't know about the missing services when planning a journey, they are going to be put off by a marathon multiple bus trip and head for the car/train

And they wonder why Traveline has such a bad reputation.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So much better than the old First livery. And also the newer First livery, which still has too much white on and not enough purple!

There isn't white on the new livery. Do you mean the light shade of lilac?
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Ah thanks, I wondered if it was. They've gone through a few repaints in the last year then!

Not those ones. The three vehicles concerned never made it out of Bath P&R base livery.
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I don't know the exact fleet number,but it's from the old bath park&ride buses
Fleet. I think it's 32688 wonder which others be in the X7 livery

32684/5 are the others, according to Steve White

 

[Private Baxter]

Not those ones. The three vehicles concerned never made it out of Bath P&R base livery.

Oh I see, I thought only those that went to Weston stayed in Bath P&R livery. Anyway, good choice of vehicle for the service.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oh I see, I thought only those that went to Weston stayed in Bath P&R livery. Anyway, good choice of vehicle for the service.

They were the Weston ones. Moved back to Bristol (initially at LH and now to MH)

 

[DaveHarries]

Good news about the Streetlites then in that they have now actually arrived and will soon enter service on Bristol services. Give it a few weeks though till will start seeing them running around.

I am not sure that all of them have yet arrived. When I was up at Hengrove yesterday a driver told me that 47449-47458 were in, along with 47462. I gather that 47460 and 47463 were at Heysham this weekend so that leaves, I think, 47459 & 47461.

My guess on the registrations yesterday was wrong so my revised list, now that 47460 & 47463 are this side of the Irish sea, is:

47449, SK63 KKJ
47450, SK63 KKL
47451, SK63 KKM
47452, SK63 KKN
47453, SK63 KKO
47454, SK63 KKP
47455, SK63 KKR
47456, SK63 KKS
47457, SK63 KK-
47458, SK63 KK-
47460, SK63 KKX (just arrived at Heysham: not yet at Hengrove)
47461, SK63 KK-
47462, SK63 KK-
47463, SK63 KLA (just arrived at Heysham: not yet at Hengrove)

Now that Severn Express on the X7 does look very nice indeed! So much better than the old First livery. And also the newer First livery, which still has too much white on and not enough purple!

Yes the livery is similar to that used on the Versas used by First Cymru for the Cardiff - Porthcawl route as well as on the Enviro400s of First Eastern England's X1 service as seen here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84786657@N08/10588455443

and the StreetLites that recently entered service in Portsmouth.

Steve White's website has a photo of the new X7 branding on this page:
http://www.swhite.org.uk/steve/nov.htm

I like the way they have incorporated at least some of the (first?) Severn Bridge into the gold on that livery too. Wonder if they also refurbed the inside?

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I am not sure that all of them have yet arrived. When I was up at Hengrove yesterday a driver told me that 47449-47458 were in, along with 47462. I gather that 47460 and 47463 were at Heysham this weekend so that leaves, I think, 47459 & 47461.

My guess on the registrations yesterday was wrong so my revised list, now that 47460 & 47463 are this side of the Irish sea, is:

47449, SK63 KKJ
47450, SK63 KKL
47451, SK63 KKM
47452, SK63 KKN
47453, SK63 KKO
47454, SK63 KKP
47455, SK63 KKR
47456, SK63 KKS
47457, SK63 KK-
47458, SK63 KK-
47460, SK63 KKX (just arrived at Heysham: not yet at Hengrove)
47461, SK63 KK-
47462, SK63 KK-
47463, SK63 KLA (just arrived at Heysham: not yet at Hengrove)


Yes the livery is similar to that used on the Versas used by First Cymru for the Cardiff - Porthcawl route as well as on the Enviro400s of First Eastern England's X1 service as seen here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84786657@N08/10588455443

and the StreetLites that recently entered service in Portsmouth.

Steve White's website has a photo of the new X7 branding on this page:
http://www.swhite.org.uk/steve/nov.htm

I like the way they have incorporated at least some of the (first?) Severn Bridge into the gold on that livery too. Wonder if they also refurbed the inside?

Dave

Absolutely. Looking at the photos, doesn't look like a refurb though I'd have thought leather seating would have been preferable than those HE vehicles on city routes. Wifi might also be a benefit!

 

[Class 33]

First could really doing with having an express X70 service non stop from the Centre to Ashley Down. Even just at peak times to take pressure off the 70 service at these times.

Good idea! Though perhaps a better idea would be for it be extended beyond UWE to somewhere else to get more customers. The old X65 service ran non-stop from Centre and Broadmead to UWE via the M32, Frenchay Park Road, and Stoke Road. Then onto Cribbs Causeway. Only taking about 15 minutes or so to the UWE. I don't know why there isn't such a service nowadays. Mind you the 319 now replicates the old X65 route between UWE and Cribbs Causeway. So perhaps a new X70 service could instead from UWE continue to maybe Filton Church(via the far northern part of Filton Avenue) or Stoke Lodge.

 

[matt_splat]

3 bath solos have arrived at Weston 53807 53806 and 53805 possibly for use on the 121 or A2 maybe?

what else has been transferred about?


Also for a route X70 how about this Southmead Hospital's New Bus Station non Stop to UWE then M32 into Bristol would create great links from across Bristol via the center to the hospital at southmead and would be handy for students

 

[Class 33]

Monday sees the introduction of an additional two buses per hour on the 309 service between Bristol and Cribbs Causeway. This would require three additional buses per day on the 309/310. Wonder which buses these will be?


This Tuesday between 5-7pm First Bristol & Avon are having an online Meet The Manager session via Twitter and Facebook. So if anyone has any comments or suggestions about bus services in the region, it might be worth turning up to. http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/travel_news/news_initiatives/?item=14151&conf=0

 

[DaveHarries]

3 bath solos have arrived at Weston 53807 53806 and 53805 possibly for use on the 121 or A2 maybe?

I suspect the Solos would be for the 121. Looking at the revised timetable I see they have dropped the journey I used to get some from school on (1535 Weston-s-Mare - Bristol which I used to get on at Winscombe after walking down from a nearby school). Used to enjoy that ride home.

Also I think that dropping the 1740 Bristol - Weston is not wise either as that would be the one commuters would, I might have thought, be most likely to use so I think the TT may not last like that for long.

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I suspect the Solos would be for the 121. Looking at the revised timetable I see they have dropped the journey I used to get some from school on (1535 Weston-s-Mare - Bristol which I used to get on at Winscombe after walking down from a nearby school). Used to enjoy that ride home.

Also I think that dropping the 1740 Bristol - Weston is not wise either as that would be the one commuters would, I might have thought, be most likely to use so I think the TT may not last like that for long.

Dave

However, those journeys would be operated by the vehicle that operated the short journeys Weston to Wrington.....but those journeys aren't operated by First so it would require an additional vehicle
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Good idea! Though perhaps a better idea would be for it be extended beyond UWE to somewhere else to get more customers. The old X65 service ran non-stop from Centre and Broadmead to UWE via the M32, Frenchay Park Road, and Stoke Road. Then onto Cribbs Causeway. Only taking about 15 minutes or so to the UWE. I don't know why there isn't such a service nowadays. Mind you the 319 now replicates the old X65 route between UWE and Cribbs Causeway. So perhaps a new X70 service could instead from UWE continue to maybe Filton Church(via the far northern part of Filton Avenue) or Stoke Lodge.

Once again, it's a balance and if the need was there, I'm sure Wessex would have stepped in so probably not.

 

[freetoview33]

I did mean like a few additional journeys between City Centre and Ashley Down college because in the mornings and afternoons the buses are rammed and over full meaning people can't get on buses for over an hour at these times. Many times I have waited up Cheltenham road and have had to wait almost an hour for a non full bus to stop.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I did mean like a few additional journeys between City Centre and Ashley Down college because in the mornings and afternoons the buses are rammed and over full meaning people can't get on buses for over an hour at these times. Many times I have waited up Cheltenham road and have had to wait almost an hour for a non full bus to stop.

Like I say, it is a balance. People can suggest this, or extra fast services on the Bristol to Bath corridor, but throwing in 4 extra vehicles needs £500k of extra revenue.

That said, given the work that First are doing on the network, if it needs bolstering then they could do it.

 

[freetoview33]

To be honest I think most services seem to be running fairly well, just needs more buses which First do seem to be doing, this is just making up for years of cuts and under investment

 

[Class 33]

I did mean like a few additional journeys between City Centre and Ashley Down college because in the mornings and afternoons the buses are rammed and over full meaning people can't get on buses for over an hour at these times. Many times I have waited up Cheltenham road and have had to wait almost an hour for a non full bus to stop.

Ah I see now! Read your post initially and somehow thought you meant the UWE! I also didn't realise the situation with over-crowding on the 70 was quite as bad as you say. People having to wait for an hour to get on, that's crazy! First seriously need to get double deckers back on the 70! And your suggestion of additional peak morning and evenings between Centre and Ashley Down College is a good one too. If you can make it, you should make your comments and suggestions about the 70 to the online Meet The Manager event on Tuesday evening.

Back in the late 1990's the 70 was as frequent as every 7 to 8 minutes during the day, and reduced to every 20 minutes after 7pm. Then served by double decker Bristol VR's! https://web.archive.org/web/20010103211600/http://www.firstcityline.co.uk/tt/070frame.htm Nowadays it's a little less frequent AND served by single deckers only! Service improvement? I think not!

 

[freetoview33]

It was last year when I was there. I was very bad between 8am and 9am only 4 buses (some were doubles) but were still totally packed and a lot were singles. I know resources are limited but just can't help thinking that there needs to be small improvement in buses through that area especially as parking around Ashley Down is non existent so buses are really the only option.

I got so fed up of it I ended up walking 6 miles a day to avoid the buses I needed to get, (And walking was actually much faster)

 

[ryson357]

I've noticed some Hengrove darts gone to Lawrence hill/Marlbourgh street bus station. Saw 42951 on service 4 downend and 42953 on X3. The new streetlites were in routes 8,9 Today with one or two old darts on. Wonder what else would move ?

 

[Private Baxter]

Well the three Bath solos have been replaced by three 05 reg darts, which had only recently arrived in Weston from Taunton and painted in new livery. One of them, 42915 has leather seating. I'm pleased with this transfer, as all three are of course originally from Bath!

 

[freetoview33]

Streetlites on the 8 and 9 then?

 

[ryson357]

Streetlites on the 8 and 9 then?

I'm not sure if it's for 8/9 or 24/25 but seen quite a few on 8/9's.

More and more cuts on buses in Somerset !!:-x

http://m.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/updates/type/update/id/9741

14 reduced to every 60 minutes
25A withdrawn

 

[vicbury]

Well the three Bath solos have been replaced by three 05 reg darts, which had only recently arrived in Weston from Taunton and painted in new livery. One of them, 42915 has leather seating. I'm pleased with this transfer, as all three are of course originally from Bath!

Oh good! Will be good to see them back. Hopefully they will see off some of the S-reg Darts from the 14. And, as they have spent most of their lives not enduring Bath's 'maintenance' regime, they will hopefully be in better nick than the rest of the batch.

 

[freetoview33]

Has anyone been on the X6 or X8? I still Can't help but think how the X8 numbered is confusing, with there being 3 different variations.

 

[matt_splat]

surprised those darts moved to Bath unless maybe the plans changed and 3 enviros from Hengrove could end up on the 121 I expected those darts to go onto the 121.


been told the X6 is being ran by Weston depot at well

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm not sure if it's for 8/9 or 24/25 but seen quite a few on 8/9's.

More and more cuts on buses in Somerset !!:-x

http://m.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/updates/type/update/id/9741

14 reduced to every 60 minutes
25A withdrawn

14 is losing the additional runs put on to counter Webberbus; would anyone who has local knowledge say if this because of the Bridgwater College work being lost?
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Oh good! Will be good to see them back. Hopefully they will see off some of the S-reg Darts from the 14. And, as they have spent most of their lives not enduring Bath's 'maintenance' regime, they will hopefully be in better nick than the rest of the batch.

Surely 42914-6 are just in place of the Solos so that won't affect the SPDs? However, the new Streetlites might lead to cascades that could though replacement of the step Darts plus the oldest P reg Darts (PAE and Marshall ones) and R-BAEs might be a more pressing matter?

Oh, and having travelled on 42914 and 16 earlier this year, you may be disappointed as they rattle like hell!

 

[Class 33]

Has anyone been on the X6 or X8? I still Can't help but think how the X8 numbered is confusing, with there being 3 different variations.

I noticed the timetable for the X8 recently and thought it was a bit confusing. Both circular services, one going via Clevedon, the other via Nailsea! If they go a different route, they should have individual service numbers!

 

[Private Baxter]

Surely 42914-6 are just in place of the Solos so that won't affect the SPDs? However, the new Streetlites might lead to cascades that could though replacement of the step Darts plus the oldest P reg Darts (PAE and Marshall ones) and R-BAEs might be a more pressing matter?

Oh, and having travelled on 42914 and 16 earlier this year, you may be disappointed as they rattle like hell!

I think the streetlites for Hengrove will lead to some of the Bath step darts being replaced, but plans could have easily changed by now. There are no marshalls in Bath, though Wells has two. Can't see the P PAEs going any time soon, they're actually in pretty good nick imo and worth keeping hold of. Definitley better then the SPDs! Saying that P258 was recently withdrawn and presumably going for scrap.
And yes, I remember riding one of those 05 reg darts on the 29 a couple of years ago, and oh how it rattled!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think the streetlites for Hengrove will lead to some of the Bath step darts being replaced, but plans could have easily changed by now. There are no marshalls in Bath, though Wells has two. Can't see the P PAEs going any time soon, they're actually in pretty good nick imo and worth keeping hold of. Definitley better then the SPDs! Saying that P258 was recently withdrawn and presumably going for scrap.
And yes, I remember riding one of those 05 reg darts on the 29 a couple of years ago, and oh how it rattled!

I wasn't just thinking of Bath depot but the entire fleet, hence reference to Marshall Darts and the two that Wells have!

I'd assume the step Darts in Bristol, Bath and Wells will be first on hit list.

As an aside, saw 42711 in Briz and didn't realise that it still carried its old fleetnumber plate (1711) and WE depot code!

 

[matt_splat]

when I went past Weston depot yesterday there wasn't a single step dart in site.

on the subject of Bridgewater changes I would expect the dropping of the 14s which they added because of Webberbus will be to free up a bus and a driver for the 21 extension I wouldn't be at all surprised the bus that comes up from Minehead in the morning could end up on the 102 during the day would make sense instead of it running about on the 14s

 

[Colly405]

I noticed the timetable for the X8 recently and thought it was a bit confusing. Both circular services, one going via Clevedon, the other via Nailsea! If they go a different route, they should have individual service numbers!

The first version of the timetable on Traveline showed it as 3 different routes : the X8P for the Portishead runs, X8C for Clevedon and X8N for the Nailsea short workings.
Equally, the X7 (Newport, not Clevedon!) Was initially on Traveline with different numbers for the Filton run, the non-stop and the 'normal', something like X7A, X7B,etc.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

when I went past Weston depot yesterday there wasn't a single step dart in site.

on the subject of Bridgewater changes I would expect the dropping of the 14s which they added because of Webberbus will be to free up a bus and a driver for the 21 extension I wouldn't be at all surprised the bus that comes up from Minehead in the morning could end up on the 102 during the day would make sense instead of it running about on the 14s

Not quite what I meant.

The short 14s that were introduced were done so using a spare decker from Bridgwater College work off peak. Was wondering that if First have lost some BC work (as Webberbus have gained some deckers to operate some that they've won) then perhaps that was the reason?

However, it might be that they're using that vehicle from the additional 14's on the 102 instead?
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when I went past Weston depot yesterday there wasn't a single step dart in site.

on the subject of Bridgewater changes I would expect the dropping of the 14s which they added because of Webberbus will be to free up a bus and a driver for the 21 extension I wouldn't be at all surprised the bus that comes up from Minehead in the morning could end up on the 102 during the day would make sense instead of it running about on the 14s

Do you mean Weston as in super Mare, or Weston Island?

One of the trusty step floors was operating the 173 on Friday (think it was 46240). According to Steve White's October fleetsheet, there were 22 step floor Darts to get rid of. After that you have, 4 x P regs (PAE) and 2 ex London Marshalls so think the Yorkshire SPDs have probably got a year or two left,