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

[Callum15632]

Do you know where 32351 & 32358 are heading as they are still in Lawrence Hill Depot.

 

[Whiteway215]

Do you know where 32351 & 32358 are heading as they are still in Lawrence Hill Depot.

32358 was taken away yesterday. I have little doubt it would have been Wigleys as that company went to Hengrove yesterday and removed 32353. Wigley wreckers tend to hunt in pairs!

 

[LAIRA]

32358 was taken away yesterday. I have little doubt it would have been Wigleys as that company went to Hengrove yesterday and removed 32353. Wigley wreckers tend to hunt in pairs!

Wigleys hunt in pairs as one wrecker tows the other one to the collection point saving fuel.

 

[Whiteway215]

Wigleys hunt in pairs as one wrecker tows the other one to the collection point saving fuel.

I had no idea that was the case. Thank you for the information.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

It was originally envisaged for February. That the Bradford ones haven't been completed or come across yet suggests that the Weston ones might be a while yet.

The Bradford examples began arriving yesterday (four of them arrived). Fourteen have already been registered out of an expected twenty-eight, according to a poster elsewhere who checks DVLA/etc - and indeed quite a number of the Bradford StreetDecks have been seen (and photographed) by locals around Ballymena over the past month - so the Weston examples arriving late Feb/early March isn't out of the realms of possibility.

 

[Volvodart]

Probably the ones registered are those expected before the 22 registration starts.

 

[stait.john]

According to the MD newsletter, deliveries of the new Streetdecks to WSM are expected from mid-February through to the end of March.

37358 and 37388 have transferred from Bath to Lawrence Hill.

 

[Whiteway215]

According to the MD newsletter, deliveries of the new Streetdecks to WSM are expected from mid-February through to the end of March.

37358 and 37388 have transferred from Bath to Lawrence Hill.

37358/88 transferred out from Bath as a result of the service reductions last weekend (D1X, 37 etc) presumably?

 

[Callum15632]

According to the MD newsletter, deliveries of the new Streetdecks to WSM are expected from mid-February through to the end of March.

37358 and 37388 have transferred from Bath to Lawrence Hill.

Wonder why though? I though 37388 did because it was tracking as a 2a this afternoon as it replaced 37336 which broke down but 37388 only ran from Lawrence Hill Depot to City Centre. 33960 replaced it so the 17:01 2a to Stockwood didn't run as 33960 was supposed to run it but it replaced 37388 which replaced 37336.

 

[stait.john]

37342 and 37769 are the latest repaints at Hengrove into citylines|blue albeit without any branding as yet.

 

[Callum15632]

37342 and 37769 are the latest repaints at Hengrove into citylines|blue albeit without any branding as yet.

Thanks. Do you know any other vehicles that are in Hengrove that are being repainted into Citylines Blue? Will the streetdecks 35148,35160-35164 get repainted into Citylines Blue?

37334,37339,37344 are rumoured to be transferring to HDB in exchange for Streetlites for the Bristol 5.

 

[carlberry]

37334,37339,37344 are rumoured to be transferring to HDB in exchange for Streetlites for the Bristol 5.

I'm sure it would be quicker for First to delivery all repainted buses directly to Dorset/Hampshire instead of running them around Bristol for a few months first on the grounds that they had a plan!

 

[Callum15632]

I'm sure it would be quicker for First to delivery all repainted buses directly to Dorset/Hampshire instead of running them around Bristol for a few months first on the grounds that they had a plan!

I don't know what streetlites are coming to Bristol for the 5. Maybe @stait.john will be able to answer the question on which streetlites are coming to Bristol and how many?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm sure it would be quicker for First to delivery all repainted buses directly to Dorset/Hampshire instead of running them around Bristol for a few months first on the grounds that they had a plan!

To be honest, it was a bit of a surprise when the 5 went to become deckers. It had been Darts for long enough.

 

[CD]

Thanks. Do you know any other vehicles that are in Hengrove that are being repainted into Citylines Blue? Will the streetdecks 35148,35160-35164 get repainted into Citylines Blue?

37334,37339,37344 are rumoured to be transferring to HDB in exchange for Streetlites for the Bristol 5.

Another "rumour" is that the Streetlites are going to First Essex not FWOE.

 

[Ancelljb]

Another "rumour" is that the Streetlites are going to First Essex not FWOE.

I believe that was an ‘as well as’. Streetdecks have transferred from Leeds to Southampton, with some Streetlites due to go to Essex in exchange. And then the extra geminis heading to Portsmouth, with other streetlites returning in exchange.

 

[baza585]

I believe that was an ‘as well as’. Streetdecks have transferred from Leeds to Southampton, with some Streetlites due to go to Essex in exchange. And then the extra geminis heading to Portsmouth, with other streetlites returning in exchange.

AIUI 4x 6306x Streetlite Max to Essex from Southampton, replaced by the 4 Streetdecks from Leeds.

A number of 47xxx Streetlites to Brissle in exchange for the 3 Geminis to Hoeford.

I speculate that the arrival of the Geminis releases the last of the EL bodied Tridents to Somerset.

It's hard to keep up......

 

[stait.john]

AIUI 4x 6306x Streetlite Max to Essex from Southampton, replaced by the 4 Streetdecks from Leeds.

A number of 47xxx Streetlites to Brissle in exchange for the 3 Geminis to Hoeford.

I speculate that the arrival of the Geminis releases the last of the EL bodied Tridents to Somerset.

It's hard to keep up......

Yes that’s all spot on.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Perhaps it's just me (it probably is) or maybe the new broom and/or the whole uncertainty of the Covid/post Covid bus industry, but I'm not quite sure what to make of the post James Freeman era??

The latest news is the decision not to have printed timetables; I'm not going to get all prissy like a certain elderly blogger and I know some enthusiasts get very bent out of shape, but it seems a retrograde step. Especially as part of the justification is that roadside publicity will suffice in part when I was looking at a stop yesterday that still proclaimed Stagecoach were running the X5!

It's not just that. There's a return to Streetlites entering the fleet when enough time was spent thinning their ranks with a reduction in B9s. Then you have the new fleet for the Excel routes which is to be welcomed except they're Streetdecks... a type not known for enjoying punishing interurban routes. The repainting of vehicles is continuing but many vehicles have received the blue Bath livery yet have run around without fleetnames for many, many months/ There are some plus points with a few tender wins (rumours of something else in the pipeline too) but tempered with some understandable yet bruising cuts.

These are unparalleled times and the loss of an experienced man such as JF means big shoes to fill. Just all feels a bit.... odd?

 

[stait.john]

My thoughts entirely!

 

[matt_splat]

Perhaps it's just me (it probably is) or maybe the new broom and/or the whole uncertainty of the Covid/post Covid bus industry, but I'm not quite sure what to make of the post James Freeman era??

The latest news is the decision not to have printed timetables; I'm not going to get all prissy like a certain elderly blogger and I know some enthusiasts get very bent out of shape, but it seems a retrograde step. Especially as part of the justification is that roadside publicity will suffice in part when I was looking at a stop yesterday that still proclaimed Stagecoach were running the X5!

It's not just that. There's a return to Streetlites entering the fleet when enough time was spent thinning their ranks with a reduction in B9s. Then you have the new fleet for the Excel routes which is to be welcomed except they're Streetdecks... a type not known for enjoying punishing interurban routes. The repainting of vehicles is continuing but many vehicles have received the blue Bath livery yet have run around without fleetnames for many, many months/ There are some plus points with a few tender wins (rumours of something else in the pipeline too) but tempered with some understandable yet bruising cuts.

These are unparalleled times and the loss of an experienced man such as JF means big shoes to fill. Just all feels a bit.... odd?

A very telling bit regarding the new md finding his feet was when he was on radio Bristol recently it certainly felt like some one was spoon feeding him answers and replys.... But at the end of the day I guess the business is Im a differnt place now and a business man might be needed to make the figures look better which might mean some tough choices which might not please everyone

 

[Buses in Bath]

Perhaps it's just me (it probably is) or maybe the new broom and/or the whole uncertainty of the Covid/post Covid bus industry, but I'm not quite sure what to make of the post James Freeman era??

The latest news is the decision not to have printed timetables; I'm not going to get all prissy like a certain elderly blogger and I know some enthusiasts get very bent out of shape, but it seems a retrograde step. Especially as part of the justification is that roadside publicity will suffice in part when I was looking at a stop yesterday that still proclaimed Stagecoach were running the X5!

It's not just that. There's a return to Streetlites entering the fleet when enough time was spent thinning their ranks with a reduction in B9s. Then you have the new fleet for the Excel routes which is to be welcomed except they're Streetdecks... a type not known for enjoying punishing interurban routes. The repainting of vehicles is continuing but many vehicles have received the blue Bath livery yet have run around without fleetnames for many, many months/ There are some plus points with a few tender wins (rumours of something else in the pipeline too) but tempered with some understandable yet bruising cuts.

These are unparalleled times and the loss of an experienced man such as JF means big shoes to fill. Just all feels a bit.... odd?

I agree with everything although the Bath City vinyls is because the company making them are being extremely slow. They have the enviro400 ones done but the B9 designs still haven't come through.

 

[Andyh82]

Sounds like a new manager towing the head office line and not having the clout or reputation to do their own thing like Freeman did. Hence Streetdecks, Streetlites, dropping timetables to ‘go green’ (yeah right)

As long as they don’t decide to go back to normal livery with a coloured front like the less exciting opco’s insist on

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A very telling bit regarding the new md finding his feet was when he was on radio Bristol recently it certainly felt like some one was spoon feeding him answers and replys.... But at the end of the day I guess the business is Im a differnt place now and a business man might be needed to make the figures look better which might mean some tough choices which might not please everyone

TBF, James Freeman was a businessman, and made enough tough choices (like the wholesale pulling out of Frome and Trowbridge excepting the main routes). There are some tough choices to be made. That's without a doubt but things feel a bit imprecise

I agree with everything although the Bath City vinyls is because the company making them are being extremely slow. They have the enviro400 ones done but the B9 designs still haven't come through.

That's not really an excuse. Some of those e400s were running round for 3-4 months (and in some cases longer) without fleetnames whilst some of the e200s and e400s still don't have them (33857/44526 spring to mind). Of the B9s, some of those were repainted in March last year... 11 months to not receive fleetnames? That's not slow, that's glacial.

Sounds like a new manager towing the head office line and not having the clout or reputation to do their own thing like Freeman did. Hence Streetdecks, Streetlites, dropping timetables to ‘go green’ (yeah right)

As long as they don’t decide to go back to normal livery with a coloured front like the less exciting opco’s insist on

Indeed, JF did have that experience and gravitas and it had crossed my mind but there are other experienced people there. I might be being a tad harsh and perhaps the Streetdecks might be uprated versions, and perhaps it makes sense for routes like the mint 5 to have something smaller and cheaper to run?

Given Claringbold's experience at Addison Lee, and the first few tender wins like the 622 and 82, I wonder if there might be more in that direction as well as schools and contracts?

 

[robert west]

Yes that’s all spot on.

63061/3/4/5 all at essex

 

[-Colly405-]

Given Claringbold's experience at Addison Lee, and the first few tender wins like the 622 and 82, I wonder if there might be more in that direction as well as schools and contracts?

Indeed - perhaps already manifesting in the Amazon AZ1/2 and Huboo H1/2...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Indeed - perhaps already manifesting in the Amazon AZ1/2 and Huboo H1/2...

I thought it was Stagecoach doing the Amazon work? Is it First and are they also doing the Huboo stuff?

 

[Dai Corner]

I thought it was Stagecoach doing the Amazon work? Is it First and are they also doing the Huboo stuff?

I've seen a Stagecoach West Gold 'decker waiting in Newport in the late afternoon a number of times and took a photo of 15765 on 30 October. The destination just showed 'Staff Bus'. Is that the Amazon work referred to?


Edit: Having looked on https://bustimes.org/stops/017000064 I see that the AZ1 Amazon-Lewins Mead and AZ2 Amazon-Newport are now operated by First WoE.

 

[Callum15632]

I've seen a Stagecoach West Gold 'decker waiting in Newport in the late afternoon a number of times and took a photo of 15765 on 30 October. The destination just showed 'Staff Bus'. Is that the Amazon work referred to?


Edit: Having looked on https://bustimes.org/stops/017000064 I see that the AZ1 Amazon-Lewins Mead and AZ2 Amazon-Newport are now operated by First WoE.

Not yet. They are taking it over on Sunday 20th February.

 

[Dai Corner]

Not yet. They are taking it over on Sunday 20th February.

Ah yes.

It will be strange to see a First bus in Newport for the, er, first time since they gave up the 7XP. A round trip to Amazon and back is possible. I wonder if they carry passengers other than Amazon staff and accept Welsh concessionary passes?