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

[carlberry]

So all of the students/staff at Swansea Bay Campus AND Fabian Way P&R users are both expected to use the 8? Not entirely sure on how that will go down.

From the timetables the effect on both services is that half the P&R journeys are merged into the normal service and half are withdrawn so the effect wont be that bad and given the effect on the P&R (half the journeys not being dedicated so less reliable) it'll become less popular over time anyway. Unfortunately without a lot of resources (bus priority, subsidy, limits on city centre parking and good facilities) P&R isn't a popular choice for drivers and it (understandably) isn't a high priority for those resources.
It is a very short notice change however if they've only told VOSA on 6th!

 

[freetoview33]

https://www.business-sale.com/news/business-sale/west-country-bus-company-up-for-sale-218987

So looks like FWoE is up for sale!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

https://www.business-sale.com/news/business-sale/west-country-bus-company-up-for-sale-218987

So looks like FWoE is up for sale!

I think they’ve interpreted it in a certain way to create a story. FWoE is a much for sale as the rest of the group.

 

[BBC]

I think they’ve interpreted it in a certain way to create a story. FWoE is a much for sale as the rest of the group.

In our company news letter James mentions a company buy out he was involved in 30 years ago. The feeling amongst the drivers is he will try and buy Bristol etc from first with employees help.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In our company news letter James mentions a company buy out he was involved in 30 years ago. The feeling amongst the drivers is he will try and buy Bristol etc from first with employees help.

He did lead the ESOP of Provincial.

My point is that all the local rags around the country are trying to put a local spin on what is a generic statement.

 

[diffywood]

Is this what you was on about

http://www.regent8.co.uk/peoples_provincial.htm

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Is this what you was on about

http://www.regent8.co.uk/peoples_provincial.htm

Indeed it was. A young James Freeman (he was only 31) was looking at an MBO but also Devon General were looking to buy. The employees voiced their concerns so very, very quickly, he led an ESOP where the employees owned the business. Of course, they made a tidy sum when First bought them.

 

[Whiteway215]

Surprised to see Solo 53817 on Bath U2 today as I would have thought there were spare purple Uni buses available in the Uni holidays. The U2 is a B&NES contract in Uni holidays and Saturdays with an hourly frequency. Would the council contract specify what type of vehicle should be used (single? double?)

 

[83G/84D]

Volvo B7TL 30930 visible over the pits inside Taunton depot late this afternoon.

 

[freetoview33]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/live-bus-crashes-building-bristol-2968397

A 3/4 branded decker has driven into a building on Old Market roundabout!

 

[KendalKing]

Would the council contract specify what type of vehicle should be used (single? double?)

As a former Transport Manage, I have dealt with contracts that have had clauses such as minimum 30-seats, or unsuitable for large vehicles, due to tight corners, etc.

 

[D2007wsm]

Surprised to see Solo 53817 on Bath U2 today as I would have thought there were spare purple Uni buses available in the Uni holidays. The U2 is a B&NES contract in Uni holidays and Saturdays with an hourly frequency. Would the council contract specify what type of vehicle should be used (single? double?)

There has been a purple B7 on 37 yesterday and today

 

[Whiteway215]

There has been a purple B7 on 37 yesterday and today

Probably 32003 according to Bustimes, along with 30871/77 32008 32009. The 19/19A/37 are great routes if you like old B7TLs!
(To D2007wsm. Presumably no purple Uni B7s will be required this summer in WM.)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Probably 32003 according to Bustimes, along with 30871/77 32008 32009. The 19/19A/37 are great routes if you like old B7TLs!
(To D2007wsm. Presumably no purple Uni B7s will be required this summer in WM.)

Guess it’s because they have got the 5 open toppers out this year plus the repainted Coaster B7 and Trident plus a pair of Bristol B9s.

 

[D2007wsm]

Probably 32003 according to Bustimes, along with 30871/77 32008 32009. The 19/19A/37 are great routes if you like old B7TLs!
(To D2007wsm. Presumably no purple Uni B7s will be required this summer in WM.)

I wouldn’t have thought so, there is enough Coaster liveried bused this year, 5 open top B7TLs, 1 closed top B7TL and the closed top Trident. This is the PVR of the 1 and the 20, with 2 buses on the 1 and 5 on the 20.

Presumably if one of the Coater liveried buses is off for maintenance or a defect, the Urban B7 Gemini or one of the Urban E400s will be used to cover.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I wouldn’t have thought so, there is enough Coaster liveried bused this year, 5 open top B7TLs, 1 closed top B7TL and the closed top Trident. This is the PVR of the 1 and the 20, with 2 buses on the 1 and 5 on the 20.

Presumably if one of the Coater liveried buses is off for maintenance or a defect, the Urban B7 Gemini or one of the Urban E400s will be used to cover.

Seems like the loan B9s have been on the 20 quite a bit

 

[90sWereBetter]

Apparently 31146 (YU52VYY) is heading to Bristol from Midland Bluebird (via a repaint in Glasgow?) in the next few days, which would mean after 16 years 32278 will finally be reunited with a sibling from its batch.

I do hope First finally get around to repainting 32283-85/91. I'm back in Bristol in August and these looked so incredibly shabby when I was down there last year, I can't imagine they've got any better.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Apparently 31146 (YU52VYY) is heading to Bristol from Midland Bluebird (via a repaint in Glasgow?) in the next few days, which would mean after 16 years 32278 will finally be reunited with a sibling from its batch.

I do hope First finally get around to repainting 32283-85/91. I'm back in Bristol in August and these looked so incredibly shabby when I was down there last year, I can't imagine they've got any better.

They haven't unfortunately. 32285 in particular was on the 19 last week and looked absolutely shocking. Bath, unfortunately, don't look after their vehicles at all. 66731 is in equally shabby condition.

 

[Private Baxter]

They haven't unfortunately. 32285 in particular was on the 19 last week and looked absolutely shocking. Bath, unfortunately, don't look after their vehicles at all. 66731 is in equally shabby condition.

True that. They made a start on those a good few years back, with 32281 and 2, but then all just seemed to stop. Meanwhile 66731 was involved in an accident a couple of months ago and is, I presume, still off road, so perhaps they are using the opportunity to give it a good repaint and refurb while they are at it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

True that. They made a start on those a good few years back, with 32281 and 2, but then all just seemed to stop. Meanwhile 66731 was involved in an accident a couple of months ago and is, I presume, still off road, so perhaps they are using the opportunity to give it a good repaint and refurb while they are at it.

32283-5/91 are shocking, internally and externally. Think 32284 was laying over in Bath bus station last night and it is dreadful. For some reason, they elected to do most of the Bristol fleet and so some W regs got painted and refurbed yet not 2003 ones in Bath.

Wonder if 31146 will be allowing the replacement of something older OR if there's more swaps with Streetlites?

 

[BBC]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/live-bus-crashes-building-bristol-2968397

A 3/4 branded decker has driven into a building on Old Market roundabout!

Driver all ok and bus is in the mend !

 

[Whiteway215]

Apparently 31146 (YU52VYY) is heading to Bristol from Midland Bluebird (via a repaint in Glasgow?) in the next few days, which would mean after 16 years 32278 will finally be reunited with a sibling from its batch.

I do hope First finally get around to repainting 32283-85/91. I'm back in Bristol in August and these looked so incredibly shabby when I was down there last year, I can't imagine they've got any better.

I caught sight of what I believe was a blue decker in Weston Island Depot around 8.15 but I was aboard a train and couldn't really get a clear view.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Apparently 69441 has arrived in Leicester according to WM bus forum.

69437 not showing as worked on bustimes since 1st June but just seen it. It’s actually showing as 37605!

 

[D2007wsm]

47557 and 47558 were out and about today on X2s and X8s in unbranded Excel Orange

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

47557 and 47558 were out and about today on X2s and X8s in unbranded Excel Orange

Mentioned on Steve White’s site too

 

[B7rleThrasher]

Volvo B7TL 30930 visible over the pits inside Taunton depot late this afternoon.

Suspected blown head gasket.

 

[83G/84D]

Oh dear!!

 

[Whiteway215]

Apparently 31146 (YU52VYY) is heading to Bristol from Midland Bluebird (via a repaint in Glasgow?) in the next few days, which would mean after 16 years 32278 will finally be reunited with a sibling from its batch.

I do hope First finally get around to repainting 32283-85/91. I'm back in Bristol in August and these looked so incredibly shabby when I was down there last year, I can't imagine they've got any better.

Aren’t 31143/47 also surplus and Sorned at Midland Bluebird?

 

[Whiteway215]

Wells Depot in for a treat then! 30877 recorded by Bustimes on the 174 at 20.24 this evening.

 

[CD]

Wells Depot in for a treat then! 30877 recorded by Bustimes on the 174 at 20.24 this evening.

Both 30871 and 30877 not only are quite reliable, but also perform well.
I think that may be yet another error on bus times.org. Probably 37772 not 30871 on 174.