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

[JamesC357]

Which ones

Essex have 44908-10 at Basildon depot and 44913-5 at Chelmsford depot

 

[Buses in Bath]

Essex have 44908-10 at Basildon depot and 44913-5 at Chelmsford depot

Oh I didnt read that properly. I thought he wrote 'no, some had gone to Leeds'. Nevermind. If you look at my original post i wrote I dont think any had gone to Leeds as the person before had said some had. I also wrote about them going to Essex but thanks for the extra info.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oh I didnt read that properly. I thought he wrote 'no, some had gone to Leeds'. Nevermind. If you look at my original post i wrote I dont think any had gone to Leeds as the person before had said some had. I also wrote about them going to Essex but thanks for the extra info.

44916-21 went to Hampshire though 44918-21 are now in Cornwall.

44905/06 and 44911/12 went to Scotland though don’t think they ever graced Bath but Hengrove and Weston.

 

[D2007wsm]

44916-21 went to Hampshire though 44918-21 are now in Cornwall.

44905/06 and 44911/12 went to Scotland though don’t think they ever graced Bath but Hengrove and Weston.

The short E200s when they were here spent their time flicking between Weston and Bath as either of the two depots needed more or less. By the end, it was easy to tell if one had been mainly in Weston and vice versa as Weston’s were repainted into Urban or North Somerset Connect for the A2, whereas Bath’s mainly remained in Barbie.

Thinking not so long ago, these were on the 24s and now it’s deckers! How times change.

 

[Tommy Walters]

44916-21 went to Hampshire though 44918-21 are now in Cornwall.

44905/06 and 44911/12 went to Scotland though don’t think they ever graced Bath but Hengrove and Weston.

44905/6 were in Bath very briefly around May-June 2018. Neither did much, mainly covering on Wessex Water and 1s! They were the two with the leather seats I believe?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The short E200s when they were here spent their time flicking between Weston and Bath as either of the two depots needed more or less. By the end, it was easy to tell if one had been mainly in Weston and vice versa as Weston’s were repainted into Urban or North Somerset Connect for the A2, whereas Bath’s mainly remained in Barbie.

Thinking not so long ago, these were on the 24s and now it’s deckers! How times change.

TBF, the e200s on the 24/25 were usually overloaded anyway, grossly so in peak.

As was the way (and not certain why it was the case) but Weston vehicles (not just e200s but Eclipses and ALXs) often were repainted in Urban and gained eLeather whilst Bath depot remained a bastion of Barbie.

44905/6 were in Bath very briefly around May-June 2018. Neither did much, mainly covering on Wessex Water and 1s! They were the two with the leather seats I believe?

I'll take your word on that - hard to remember with all these changes

 

[RELL6L]

The 29 has fluctuated over the years. Twenty years ago it was a sporadic service, I think five journeys a day, to no particular pattern, but was later upped to hourly. It has, as you say been an hourly service several times, two hourly, 90 mins, and at its lowest I think it was briefly a three hourly service. Sadly Taunton will be another destination cut off from Wells now.

I think this is very sad about the 29. I rode this only last month and reported in this thread many pages ago. My 29 was full and standing - but only between Glastonbury and Street, due to a dearth of 376s. But it had a few passengers across the Somerset levels and several more between Creech Heathfield and Taunton. This section will surely justify some retention and I expect both ends will need some college service.

Wells, Glastonbury, Street, all in Somerset, and going to be cut off from their county town. Great shame, how backward.

 

[swifty]

Looks like there were a few fleet movements over the weekend. 39401 seems to be at LH with the rest of the gas buses now.

 

[Private Baxter]

I think this is very sad about the 29. I rode this only last month and reported in this thread many pages ago. My 29 was full and standing - but only between Glastonbury and Street, due to a dearth of 376s. But it had a few passengers across the Somerset levels and several more between Creech Heathfield and Taunton. This section will surely justify some retention and I expect both ends will need some college service.

Wells, Glastonbury, Street, all in Somerset, and going to be cut off from their county town. Great shame, how backward.

I agree. I've not lived that way for a few years now, but unfortunately I can believe that large sections of the route are under used. For those wishing to travel to Taunton, there really is no viable alternative. The 75 to Bridgwater is slow and only every two hours, so changing there is no good. It would probably be quicker to take the train from Temple Meads!

 

[martyjon]

39401 on the 48A this morning when I saw it in Rupert Street having travelled into the City Centre from my home in Yate on 39492 another CBG powered member of Mr Freemans fleet.

 

[D2007wsm]

Looks like there were a few fleet movements over the weekend. 39401 seems to be at LH with the rest of the gas buses now.

It makes sense as it can be refilled onsite rather than having to be sent to CT Plus.

Now there are lots of gas busses in Bristol rather than just 39401, I’m surprised it hasn’t been sent to be repainted out of it’s unique livery into Urban to act as a spare for everything else.

 

[lx12ddo]

Damage caused to 33948 on the Bath Campus this morning, just before midday. I think it pulled up behind an artic already on the stand way too early (and sharply), and came into contact with the central island's kerb. 33840 has since replaced it on that board. Picture here.

It joins 944 in the VOR category, leaving only 6 MMCs in action for the Uni of Bath! Hopefully it's a quick fix at the depot.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It makes sense as it can be refilled onsite rather than having to be sent to CT Plus.

Now there are lots of gas busses in Bristol rather than just 39401, I’m surprised it hasn’t been sent to be repainted out of it’s unique livery into Urban to act as a spare for everything else.

To be fair, 39401 is in livery that isn't particular to any one group of routes (Citylines East, SG Lynx, or even whatever the new 73 will be) so it is sort of spare like the pink m-tickets act.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Just noticed that 32084 is out tracking on the 4 in Bristol. Clearly they've had second thoughts about withdrawing it!!

 

[D2007wsm]

To be fair, 39401 is in livery that isn't particular to any one group of routes (Citylines East, SG Lynx, or even whatever the new 73 will be) so it is sort of spare like the pink m-tickets act.

I was thinking more along the lines advertising it’s ‘Bristol’s Gas Bus’ and now there are loads of them, so it is no longer the only one and has nothing special to promote about it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I was thinking more along the lines advertising it’s ‘Bristol’s Gas Bus’ and now there are loads of them, so it is no longer the only one and has nothing special to promote about it.

True but it's not doing any harm and there's many more vehicles needing a repaint before it!!

 

[CD]

I agree. I've not lived that way for a few years now, but unfortunately I can believe that large sections of the route are under used. For those wishing to travel to Taunton, there really is no viable alternative. The 75 to Bridgwater is slow and only every two hours, so changing there is no good. It would probably be quicker to take the train from Temple Meads!

77 to Somerton Square, 26 minute wait for 54 to Taunton. Similar on the return.
I`ve noticed some people already doing this.

 

[martyjon]

39492 route learning again today, after yesterday spent solely on the Y1, this member of Mr Freeman's fleet is currently learning the Y6 following its learning of the Y5 to position it at Chipping Sodbury for its run on the Y6 to Southmead Hospital and back to CS. Will catch it on its return to Bristol BS to go to Staple Hill from my home in Yate.

 

[swifty]

True but it's not doing any harm and there's many more vehicles needing a repaint before it!!

That was my thinking as well that the exact wording on it isn’t relevant anymore. No need to paint though - just some new vynil.

On the subject of 39401, looks like it’s swapped with 36823. It’s on the 96 this morning.

Interestingly there was a Portway P&R E400 on the 76 yesterday morning and evening. Not sure if it stayed out all day though.

 

[Whiteway215]

Just noticed that 32084 is out tracking on the 4 in Bristol. Clearly they've had second thoughts about withdrawing it!!

Withdrawn(??) 66728 shown as tracking on 44 this morning.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Withdrawn(??) 66728 shown as tracking on 44 this morning.

Given that it's allegedly been working the 42-45 since Saturday, I'd lay good money it's a gas bus with an acquired ticketer.

 

[BBC]

Just noticed that 32084 is out tracking on the 4 in Bristol. Clearly they've had second thoughts about withdrawing it!!

Yep it’s back. I think the 31*** that they kept has died so needed a bus back to replace it.

 

[Whiteway215]

Given that it's allegedly been working the 42-45 since Saturday, I'd lay good money it's a gas bus with an acquired ticketer.

Entirely agree!!

 

[freetoview33]

Hopefully the 1 and 2 will go back to every 12 mins. On a 2 now and it is standing room only! Cribbs to Stockwood bound. Not even in Henleaze yet!

 

[Tommy Walters]

Yep it’s back. I think the 31*** that they kept has died so needed a bus back to replace it.

I think somebody said that the 31***s were very unreliable, so makes complete sense!

 

[spw24]

39446 is tracking as 66728 on the 44 today saw it earlier in St George. 32084 also out today on the 3 & 4.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

39446 is tracking as 66728 on the 44 today saw it earlier in St George. 32084 also out today on the 3 & 4.

My wallet is safe today

I know that @Whiteway215 was drawing attention to the rogue reporting of bus times.

Mind you, there's plenty of people out there who seem to believe bustimes as gospel "OMG.... A B7TL worked the Airport service!!!!!"....whilst simultaneously working a 76

Certainly as regards First West of England, it's only right about 80% of the time

 

[carlberry]

My wallet is safe today

I know that @Whiteway215 was drawing attention to the rogue reporting of bus times.

Mind you, there's plenty of people out there who seem to believe it as gospel "OMG.... A B7TL worked the Airport service!!!!!"....whilst simultaneously working a 76

In it's defense I'd point out that bus times reporting is 100% accurate, however it's reporting communications from ticket machines and people should understand that before using it, and especially when quoting it.

 

[BBC]

32073 3/4 branded bus looks like it may be back. Seen heading into LH not long ago.

 

[BBC]

I think somebody said that the 31***s were very unreliable, so makes complete sense!

That was me and looks like I was right