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First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)
- Thread starter Ivo
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Hopefully being freshened up for the Metrobus launch later this month.
freetoview33
Established Member
Most likely being repainted in Lime Green for M3
Whiteway215
Established Member
Personally I haven't seen 36801/2/3/5/7 for a while so perhaps they've left Bath now. Also the Scanias that were at Wells have come to Bath.
90sWereBetter
Member
Are the Scanias with the lilac fronts eventually destined for Metrobus? Wonder if they'll get freshened up.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
36803 (and 7, I think) were definitely there on Monday
Tommy Walters
Member
The U1 PVR drops from this week, so they're probably not needed now.
Whiteway215
Established Member
Would anyone like to speculate how long the Bath Uni bendis are likely to last? They seem to be dying off in the rest of the First empire.
Tommy Walters
Member
I suspect that 10036 may have been withdrawn. I haven't seen it since the new uni term started.
With the new U1 timetable, I believe that there are only 4 extra boards in the peaks, so whether these will be covered by bendis or 36813-6/36824 it remains to be seen.
freetoview33
Established Member
Most likely awaiting a repaint into Green. If the M2 had been first then it wouldn't have needed a repaint.
Bristol LH
Member
- Joined
- 6 Aug 2017
- Messages
- 73
Both were used yesterday on an Arriva Trains Wales rail replacement contract between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, with 33944, 33949, 33950, 36818 and 36820.
36802 was a stand-by vehicle at Cardiff.
ATW158Xpress
Member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2016
- Messages
- 287
They were working the Cwmbran - Newport shuttes the last 2 weeks and look smart Metrobus seats inside with red handles.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Checked and it was 36803/36807 still working in Bath on Monday. Looks like the receipt of 36813/4 and the PVR reduction will allow that batch to receive the appropriate metrobus livery.
I too wonder about whether we will see the bendis back next academic year. They are expensive to run but then again, they still have depreciation on them (I suspect) and they only operate peak extras for which their capacity is beneficial.
Beginning to wonder what the long term destination is for 36808 etc. Perhaps a repaint for m2 but that's only probably 5 vehicles (based on the 903) so maybe some onto the m1 until CT get their gas buses, and then ending up on one of the city services? I had hoped the X39 but evidently, nine year old re-engined B9s are the future there.
I too wonder about whether we will see the bendis back next academic year. They are expensive to run but then again, they still have depreciation on them (I suspect) and they only operate peak extras for which their capacity is beneficial.
Beginning to wonder what the long term destination is for 36808 etc. Perhaps a repaint for m2 but that's only probably 5 vehicles (based on the 903) so maybe some onto the m1 until CT get their gas buses, and then ending up on one of the city services? I had hoped the X39 but evidently, nine year old re-engined B9s are the future there.
Private Baxter
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 1,790
Thanks, I've had a recount!Check your maths
12 x ex A1 Eclipses
3 x Solars
2 x older Eclipses
Actually forgot it was 12 former airport buses, not 11. So that accounts for all then. Still a little surprised the three scanias were chosen for the services but there you go.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Yeah, we’ve all fallen into that trap on occasion - I know I have.
Like you, I was surprised that the Solars were so treated but based purely on my experience of 65725, seem to be relatively lightly used in the past. I’d wondered if they might head to the 72 to replace 66723/4 et al but obviously not.
Another question(s) to the assembled board participants - is there any confirmed news on the conversion of the 172-4 to deckers - is it 368** e400 operation during the summer? Which B9s are lined up to be refurbished? Where are Wells’ Eclipses heading? Just wondering!
As always, the latter part of the year will be an interesting set of cascades etc!
Westonian
Member
A contract for Gullivers Sports Travel fpr Burnham-on-Sea Rugby Festival, providing shuttle buses between Pontins, Brean and Burnham RFU ground. At least 4 Excel E400s on it yesterday.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It’s former 32810 T810LLC (iirc) and yep, it’s a President Trident.
diffywood
Member
Some hints on what is happening when the m1 is bedded in
http://www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/2018/06/03/first-bus-hints-existing-services-metrobus-starts/
Plenty of people have raised concerns about what will happen to existing local bus services once MetroBus starts operating. Up until now, First West of England has been saying it is “too early to say” what might happen to Bradley Stoke’s 73 and X73 services.
With the MetroBus service now having taken a step closer to starting, we asked First Bus for an update on its plans for our current local services. A spokesperson told the Journal:
http://www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/2018/06/03/first-bus-hints-existing-services-metrobus-starts/
Plenty of people have raised concerns about what will happen to existing local bus services once MetroBus starts operating. Up until now, First West of England has been saying it is “too early to say” what might happen to Bradley Stoke’s 73 and X73 services.
With the MetroBus service now having taken a step closer to starting, we asked First Bus for an update on its plans for our current local services. A spokesperson told the Journal:
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freetoview33
Established Member
Is that First realising that the M1 will make things more difficult and worse for many residents of Bradley Stoke and around!
jw
Member
- Joined
- 25 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 167
The 73 provides an invaluable link to East Filton and Parkway Station, not just Bradley Stoke, as well as general capacity on the Filton Avenue/Gloucester Road corridor, so I'd be very disappointed if this was significantly degraded in any way.
This is even more apparent in the summer months when the 70/71 reduce in frequency due to UWE being on break.
This is even more apparent in the summer months when the 70/71 reduce in frequency due to UWE being on break.
If my Maths is correct lol it should be 55, broken down into:
- 12 B7TLs
- 1 for W1 (Open Top)
- 8 for W7
- 3 for 20 (2 x Open Top)
- 6 Darts
- W3
- 2 E200s
- W5
- 2 E200MMCs
- A3
- 29 E400s
- X1/X2/X3/X4 = 19
- X5 = 5
- X6/X7/X9 = 6
- 4 Streetlites
- A2 = 1
- X6/X7/X8/X9 = 3
On the 27/05/18, this will increase overall by 2 to 57 with 1 extra bus on the W1, 2 extra buses on the 20 and the A2 withdrawn.
Class 33
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 2,362
Can anyone confirm if the double deckers are now on the 173 & 174? I might take a trip from Bristol-Wells via Bath soon if so. But if the Eclipse's are still on these services, I'll give it a miss for now!
Also is Bristol going to get any more BioBuses? We've only got just the one so far, operating on the 1 & 2. I've had a couple of rides on it, and they are nice buses. Albeit though my journeys on it have been very short distance journeys between Broadmead/Centre and Clifton Down Station, and the buses were very packed at the time. Would be nice to get some longer journeys on it/them and not so packed out. But I don't really want to spend potentially hours trying to hunt the existing one down to be able get a decent journey on it!
Also is Bristol going to get any more BioBuses? We've only got just the one so far, operating on the 1 & 2. I've had a couple of rides on it, and they are nice buses. Albeit though my journeys on it have been very short distance journeys between Broadmead/Centre and Clifton Down Station, and the buses were very packed at the time. Would be nice to get some longer journeys on it/them and not so packed out. But I don't really want to spend potentially hours trying to hunt the existing one down to be able get a decent journey on it!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
The 172-4 are still Eclipses. Might change after end May when the changes to various routes take place; even then, it might be e400mmcs for a while until the Geminis get sorted.
As for CNG e400s, there are 110 due over the next three years but what the split by year is hasn’t been announced.