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

[vicbury]

The powers that be probably felt that Darts would suffice for the U2, when they clearly can't. Swapping them for the purple B7s from Weston makes sense as they are the right colour allready for the U2 just sans branding and the 20 doesn't need the capacity of a decker for much of the winter, where a Dart would be more than adequate. 32002 was still plying it's trade in the 20 though yesterday morning.

Presumably it was all based on some sort of data; however, with Wessex gone, and the university always growing, it seemed unlikely to work.

Maybe, it was a PR move to shut the complaining residents up. "We tried single deckers like you asked and they didn't work so you have no choice now." Conveniently, they were the right colour to go to Weston-super-Mare, which may have been the plan all along!

 

[Private Baxter]

Presumably it was all based on some sort of data; however, with Wessex gone, and the university always growing, it seemed unlikely to work.

Maybe, it was a PR move to shut the complaining residents up. "We tried single deckers like you asked and they didn't work so you have no choice now." Conveniently, they were the right colour to go to Weston-super-Mare, which may have been the plan all along!

Ooh I like a good conspiracy! You could be on to something, however, how are they the right colour for Weston?

 

[Dhassell]

Dart 42897 working the number 7 in Weston in its purple livery.

 

[Whiteway215]

Dart 42897 working the number 7 in Weston in its purple livery.

Getting a bit confusing now! 42900 is working in Bath now - it's on the 4 today.

 

[D2007wsm]

The Weston and Bath saga with Darts certainley is getting confusing now with 42948 and 42957 going from Weston to Bath in October for Weaton to get back 42897 and 42898 plus possible 42910. At least 42948 fitted in at Weston in Express Yourself.

I know the B7s were purple and have been used on the 20s for the last 2 years and the replacement Darts are also purple, however the branding has been lacklustre, what is needed is some standard busses painted in the Coaster livery as applied to 32001 and 32002. This would ensure that the brand continues over the winter when the open tops are in hibernation.

 

[freetoview33]

Was waiting over an hour and a half today for a 4 in Bristol, it is such a joke! Traffic was heavy but the 1,2 and 76 were running okay.

 

[D2007wsm]

Was waiting over an hour and a half today for a 4 in Bristol, it is such a joke! Traffic was heavy but the 1,2 and 76 were running okay.

Perhaps the thought of Shirehampton is off putting for drivers

 

[henairs]

Does any of you good folk out there know if Wells Depot are running the 669 to the old Nippybus timings as I hope to take a ride on it this Saturday. Also any idea if anything has been loaned to Wells to operate this service.
We at Yeovil have 43823 from Taunton as additional cover. Has been used mainly on route 51 whilst the 52 Martock - Yeovil - West Coker has seen 2 Solos.
Presume this will revert to 1 vehicle on a Saturday when the West Coker section doesn't operate.
Thanks for any replies, Mike R

 

[THarris123]

Does any of you good folk out there know if Wells Depot are running the 669 to the old Nippybus timings as I hope to take a ride on it this Saturday. Also any idea if anything has been loaned to Wells to operate this service.
We at Yeovil have 43823 from Taunton as additional cover. Has been used mainly on route 51 whilst the 52 Martock - Yeovil - West Coker has seen 2 Solos.
Presume this will revert to 1 vehicle on a Saturday when the West Coker section doesn't operate.
Thanks for any replies, Mike R

Yes something has been loaned. Last I heard was 63068 was down here, but think they're using B7s on the route. Not sure really as I'm going to check on Saturday.

Not it's not the same as Nippy Bus - slightly different. Bus terminates at Glastonbury at 12.32, comes back to Wells, then heads to Glastonbury again to head to Shepton at about 13.30.

 

[THarris123]

First
SHEPTON MALLET - STREET 669 via Pilton, West Pennard, Glastonbury

Monday to Friday Ref.N0.: Q32
Service No 669 669 669 669 669 669
Shepton Mallet, Cenotaph 0758 0958 1158 1358 1558 1725
Ridgeway Estate, Lockey Road 0800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1727 Shepton Mallet Cenotaph 0810 1010 1210 1410 1610 1737 Shepton Mallet Community Hospital 0815 1015 1215 1415 1615 1742
Pilton, Post Offce 0820 1020 1220 1420 1620 1747 West Pennard, The Retreat 0825 1025 1225 1425 1625 1752 Glastonbury Town Hall 0832 1032 1232 1432 1632 1759
Glastonbury, Actis Road 0835 1035 1435 1635
Street, Strode College 0840 1040 1440 1640
Street, Bove Moor Lane 0842 1042 1442

Street, Hindhayes School 0845 1045 1445

Street Crispin Hall 0846 10461446
Street, The Library 1646
Streetl Fielding Road 0852 1052 1452 Streetl Houndwood Close 0856 10561456 Street, Sainsburys 0859 1059 1459



STREET - SHEPTON MALLET via Glastonbury, West Pennard, Pilton 669
Service No 669 669
Street, Sainsburys 0905 1105 669 669
1505 569 669
Street, Houndwood Close 0908 1108 1508
Street, Fielding Road 0912 1112 1512
Street The Library 0919 1119 1519 1646 Street The Surgery0920 1120 1520 1647 Street Berkeley Road 0923 1123 1523 1650 Street Strode College 0925 1125 1525 1652
Glastonbury, Actis Road 0930 1130 1530 1657
Glastonbury, Town Hall 0933 1133 1333 1533 1700 1803 West Pennard, Sunnymead 0940 1140 1340 1540 1707 1810 Pilton, The Crown Inn 0945 1145 1345 1545 1712 1815
Sheplon Mallet, Community Hospital 0950 1150 1350 1550 1717 1820 Shepton Mallet, Cenotaph 0956 1156 1356 1556 1723 1826

31/1 0/2017 16:19 (669MFQ32)

Saturday is the same I believe

 

[Private Baxter]

Does any of you good folk out there know if Wells Depot are running the 669 to the old Nippybus timings as I hope to take a ride on it this Saturday. Also any idea if anything has been loaned to Wells to operate this service.
We at Yeovil have 43823 from Taunton as additional cover. Has been used mainly on route 51 whilst the 52 Martock - Yeovil - West Coker has seen 2 Solos.
Presume this will revert to 1 vehicle on a Saturday when the West Coker section doesn't operate.
Thanks for any replies, Mike R

Only just read about this Nippy Bus stuff. So 669 is temporarily back with Wells - sounds like a job for the e200s!

 

[freetoview33]

Perhaps the thought of Shirehampton is off putting for drivers

The service really is useless.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Perhaps the thought of Shirehampton is off putting for drivers

After what apparently happened there a few days ago, I wouldn't blame them!

 

[Whiteway215]

32003 in Bath today ex Weston

 

[henairs]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for info on 669. Hope to have a run on it sometime tomorrow probably after a Martock run in the morning. Have a good day out tomorrow. Cheers, Mike

 

[Westnat]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for info on 669. Hope to have a run on it sometime tomorrow probably after a Martock run in the morning. Have a good day out tomorrow. Cheers, Mike

Saw 44914 on the 13.33 669 from Glastonbury on Saturday.

 

[Private Baxter]

Saw 44914 on the 13.33 669 from Glastonbury on Saturday.

That makes a lot of sense to me, the ideal vehicle for the 669 in my opinion. They were also used when First briefly did the 67 last year following the collapse of Webber Bus.

 

[henairs]

Enjoyed a return run to Martock and a G/bury to Shepton run yesterday. Both scenic rides with fine weather. Hoping to do a 667 run next Saturday from Wincanton to Street via the 58 Yeovil service.
Off 1045 Yeo 58 arrive W/ton 1139 the 1200 667 can be rode across to Street arriving at 1325.
Be interesting to see what stays with who after tenders are announced.
Cheers, Mike R

 

[Whiteway215]

Enjoyed a return run to Martock and a G/bury to Shepton run yesterday. Both scenic rides with fine weather. Hoping to do a 667 run next Saturday from Wincanton to Street via the 58 Yeovil service.
Off 1045 Yeo 58 arrive W/ton 1139 the 1200 667 can be rode across to Street arriving at 1325.
Be interesting to see what stays with who after tenders are announced.
Cheers, Mike R

Mike, what were the loadings like on your 669 trip?

 

[henairs]

Hi Whiteway,
Not good only 4 of us as such but this was a short journey as opposed to a through Street trip which may get more footfall.
Need to do a trip at a more favourable time to get a clear picture.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Not had much luck with getting tickets on the buses with the new ticketer machines at the moment!
As previously noted in my last thread, none of the 3 drivers could find the Avon Day Rider.

Yesterday, I couldn't get a lift in to work so took the bus from Trowbridge to Hawke Ridge Business Park. So got on the 265 and asked to a single to Hawke Ridge Business Park. After a few seconds he said 'I can't find it'. I said I think it comes under Link Road. He kept tapping the screen, shrugged and said 'I dunno, can't find it...oh just take a seat'. I left the fare on the front anyway. I couldn't see the screen as it was a glare so didn't see the options.

I don't know what's changed on it but with the old machine it only took a couple of seconds to get a ticket, so wasn't sure how he couldn't find it...

 

[Dai Corner]

I don't know the area, but looking on Google Maps, Traveline SW and Bustimes.org suggests the stop might be called Hawkeridge Business Park Roundabout or just Business Park Roundabout.

Is this the location?

https://goo.gl/maps/CcD1D4RvGgy

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I don't know the area, but looking on Google Maps, Traveline SW and Bustimes.org suggests the stop might be called Hawkeridge Business Park Roundabout or just Business Park Roundabout.

Is this the location?

https://goo.gl/maps/CcD1D4RvGgy

Yes that's the one, on the old machines it used to print out as Link Road but wasn't sure with the new machines if it changed.

It's the driver change point and First's outstation so he must have known where I meant, but as I say I did mention that it usually comes up as Link Road but still couldn't find it.

I wonder if they've changed the bus stop name in the ticketer machine as it is a new-ish bus stop that replaced the one on Link Road.

 

[Dai Corner]

Yes that's the one, on the old machines it used to print out as Link Road but wasn't sure with the new machines if it changed.

It's the driver change point and First's outstation so he must have known where I meant, but as I say I did mention that it usually comes up as Link Road but still couldn't find it.

I wonder if they've changed the bus stop name in the ticketer machine as it is a new-ish bus stop that replaced the one on Link Road.

NaPTAN is the database of National Public Transport Access Nodes. I expect all the online sources I mentioned, as well as the makers of the Ticketer machines use it.

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/naptan

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-public-transport-access-node-schema

 

[freetoview33]

Bad accident on blackberry hill with a 48A and a car http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/man-seriously-injured-after-car-743095

 

[g4mby]

66992 still in full pink mTicket livery seen on driver training duties in Chipping Sodbury this afternoon. "Private Charter" was on destination display.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Yes that's the one, on the old machines it used to print out as Link Road but wasn't sure with the new machines if it changed. It's the driver change point and First's outstation so he must have known where I meant, but as I say I did mention that it usually comes up as Link Road but still couldn't find it.

I wonder if they've changed the bus stop name in the ticketer machine as it is a new-ish bus stop that replaced the one on Link Road.

I'm guessing that the stop name may have changed to West Wilts Trading Estate Link Road (although I'm going off the 265 timetable dated 30th April 2017) as Hawkeridge became Hawke Ridge.

 

[Whiteway215]

Question for D2007wsm if I may. 32003/6/14 were reported as due to transfer WM-BH. 003 and 006 are definitely in Bath but I wondered if 14 was still working at Weston?

 

[Dhassell]

Question for D2007wsm if I may. 32003/6/14 were reported as due to transfer WM-BH. 003 and 006 are definitely in Bath but I wondered if 14 was still working at Weston?

A quick search on Flickr shows a picture from the 8th November of it working on the 20 still. I think the dart takeover on the route has taken place now, as one of the purple darts was on the 20 yesterday.

 

[Dhassell]

33014 is currently on the 20 in Weston