father_jack
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- 26 Jan 2010
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/145811688@N03/46201349785Primrose Coaches operate the ex Dublin ALX400, it does the 435 Brislington - Broadlands.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/145811688@N03/46201349785Primrose Coaches operate the ex Dublin ALX400, it does the 435 Brislington - Broadlands.
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I suspect they're not yet. Especially the Scanias as they're likely to need vinyls removed and ticket machines installed. My money would be on Hengrove for the Trident and Lawrence Hill for the Scanias so the Trident is bound to end up at Weston and the Scanias at Bath!!!What Depot is 33165, 36070, 36071, 36072, 36073, 36074, 36075 based at.
Today's Bristol's post
This is why First's buses keep breaking down
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/...-3429769#ICID=Android_BristolPostApp_AppShare
For once, a Bristol Post article that seems to be fairly accurate and balanced! Interesting to note that the Wrightbus collapse has already impacted on the availability of spares - presumably most mechanical components aren't unique to Wrightbus and it's more spares for the body and interior that will be affected.Today's Bristol's post
This is why First's buses keep breaking down
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/...-3429769#ICID=Android_BristolPostApp_AppShare
Then there are also drivers who keep a bus on the road no matter what - like the one I had this morning driving a bus with broken front suspension which meant that the front of the bus kept scraping the road when going through undulations or potholes. Although to be fair I was glad I wasn't delayed getting to work!What a wonderful bit of journalism, the Evening Post at it's finest!
I'm sure this example is all above board however, in times past, there always used to be drivers who would have more 'breakdowns' than others, often with faults that then couldn't be found.
Back in the past when Lawrence Hill used to be used for crew reliefs a vehicle would be parked at the end of the garage to be swapped if any vehicles came in that a crew wanted to get replaced. It was usually the oldest or least favored (heavy steering or least power) vehicle on the depot on the grounds that this usually meant the crew suddenly decided that they'd put up with whatever the issue was until the end of the shift. I've been told that the K type that ran at Weston (but was kept at Lawrence Hill over winter) was sometimes parked there on sunny days just to wind the crews up even more.
Faresaver say they will take on the Sunday X31 but not the evenings.
How would you know this? This is a Wiltshire Contract do you have information form either Wiltshire or Faresaver to confirm they are not interested?Faresaver say they will take on the Sunday X31 but not the evenings.
The X31 evening service is a Wiltshire Contract so anyone could operate it from January (including First bus who may have suggested that it is a case of the revenue being too low rather than them not wanting to do it anymore according to a notice seen at Bath Bus Station).Interesting. Hopefully they won't just be lost (as when First threw in the 234). Wonder if Stagecoach might look to expand their network (yet again)
This is an article on Somerset Live today. It only gives half the story. Faresaver were made aware of this last week and we are going to replace the Sunday X31 service and are speaking to Wiltshire Council about the evening service contracts. Contracts to operate bus services do change from time to time and this is nothing more than a change in operator on these services.
The X31 evening service is a Wiltshire Contract so anyone could operate it from January (including First bus who may have suggested that it is a case of the revenue being too low rather than them not wanting to do it anymore according to a notice seen at Bath Bus Station).
I have enough trouble recalling what day it is!It's been a Wiltshire Council contract for many years. My point is that First having thrown it in, and Faresaver not known for doing evenings, would reduce the potential operators that may wish to tender.
The irony being that Faresaver is a Pickford enterprise (as was Fosseway Coaches). Fosseway did a lot of tendered work including evening and Sunday runs on the 271-3. Can't recall if they did the 231 or the Sunday X54 (back in the day) - seem to recall it was Clapton Coaches and Regis Coaches but a Mr C Berry Esq will doubtless recall.
I have enough trouble recalling what day it is!
From the listings I have they appear to have run the 231 in 1999 and never ran the X54. I suspect the 231 runs were the daytime competition as the next year was when Wessex started running on the route because Badgerline had some sort of restraint on changing the service registration.
As TGW said they started out with lots of contracts at random times but have tended to change to mostly Monday-Saturday daytime and lots of commercial stuff. Partly, I suspect, because it's much easier to get drivers like that.
Not entirely sure why it is ironic? but maybe i should have taken more notice during English lessons. I think you will find that Faresaver operated the 231 evening services and 231 sunday services under contract to Wiltshire Council. Not to mention 234, 265, 271/2 evening services and 265/271/272 sundays as well. Maybe they were just keener to 'buy' work back then?It's been a Wiltshire Council contract for many years. My point is that First having thrown it in, and Faresaver not known for doing evenings, would reduce the potential operators that may wish to tender.
The irony being that Faresaver is a Pickford enterprise (as was Fosseway Coaches). Fosseway did a lot of tendered work including evening and Sunday runs on the 271-3. Can't recall if they did the 231 or the Sunday X54 (back in the day) - seem to recall it was Clapton Coaches and Regis Coaches but a Mr C Berry Esq will doubtless recall.
A list of the Fosseway services that I'm aware of, in age order. It's not complete and very little has been added to it post 2010.In Fosseway days, they did the 271 on Sundays but not certain what else they did. Seem to recall that Clapton Coaches were also keen on tendered work and they had the X54 with Regis Coaches. Then Stagecoach replaced Regis and Badgerline bought Clapton. It's all very vague - >25 years ago.
1999 sounds like it was the Badgerline/Wessex episode.
The Faresaver model has been to secure schools work elsewhere. Then find a commercial corridor and then run a skeleton peak service, adding in the schools vehicles to then provide a full competing service.
Ironic in that Fosseway/Faresaver were very keen to operate tendered work incl Eve/Sun yet then adopted a contrary approach and moved away from that (for entirely understandable reasons already explained).Not entirely sure why it is ironic? but maybe i should have taken more notice during English lessons. I think you will find that Faresaver operated the 231 evening services and 231 sunday services under contract to Wiltshire Council. Not to mention 234, 265, 271/2 evening services and 265/271/272 sundays as well. Maybe they were just keener to 'buy' work back then?
Saw both of them earlier too, wondered what had happened. 10176 spent much of yesterday evening at the Bath Uni Campus with the same problems. First clearly don't like that one, it has never been used on the U3 for some reason, possibly due it's lack of power!!10037 and 10176 were parked up on Bath Uni campus around midday with mechanics working on both. Very low suspension on rear wheels of 176, and 037 had a big pile of sand beneath the exhaust. Both had gone by 2pm
Also, 10036 is being tracked as 32553..... oddly enough.
Interesting that 32015 was on the 173....! One of the MMCs did a run on the 39 last week I believe.Another one bites the dust today with 35161 breaking down by Waggon and Horses pub outskirts of Glastonbury. Was towed suspended lift to Wells by tow truck.
Also 37762 on route today running very good with plenty of power it would seem.
32015 seen arriving into Wells at 1220 early afternoon on a 173 board.
Cheers, Mike R
Not completely certain, but 176 was still there around 2150 yesterday evening - wondering if it was left overnight? 10036 on the U3 did compensate for the absense of 177/176 I'd say, good engine that.Saw both of them earlier too, wondered what had happened. 10176 spent much of yesterday evening at the Bath Uni Campus with the same problems. First clearly don't like that one, it has never been used on the U3 for some reason, possibly due it's lack of power!!
Take it that the First WoE Streetlites and 59 plate Eclipses are no longer due for Leicester (or deferred?). These Eclipses have been displaced by the ex Glasgow Airport e200s so are more Eclipses due to move to Leicester?
Just a few queries for your Bristolians..
Planning a trip to Bristol this Saturday to try and find some of the recent cascades.
re, the ex South Wales and Essex Tridents. I assume these are employed on the 70/75/76/90/96 routes from previous experience. The Essex ones don’t track on bustimes but I assume they are in regular service ??
And the Transbus E300s - Hengrove, Bath and Lawrence Hill each have a few. Specifically where am I most likely to find the Hengrove and Lawrence Hill examples please?
Also after the ex Scotland, York & Manchester B7TL / ALXs & Presidents, but most of these seem to track on bustimes with some being branded for the 3/4 too
Any help much appreciated!
Lawrence Hill Enviro 300s have been on the 42/42A/43 but not noticed any during the last few days. Bath Enviro 300 was on the 19 this evening.You're pretty much on the money. The Tridents tend to appear on the 75/76/90 though did see one for Essex example on the 24 the other day. The recent ALX/President cascades are found.... 31143/6/32225 do appear on the 3/4, 30945 has been on the 3/4 but has also been on the 2 and other route whilst 32222/3 have appeared on the 70
Can't help on the Lawrence Hill e300s but think the Hengrove ones have appeared on the 90/91/92
A lot of the ex Scotland stuff is on the 24, some branded. One E300 on the 72 today and one on the 24 a few days ago.And the Transbus E300s - Hengrove, Bath and Lawrence Hill each have a few. Specifically where am I most likely to find the Hengrove and Lawrence Hill examples please?
Also after the ex Scotland, York & Manchester B7TL / ALXs & Presidents, but most of these seem to track on bustimes with some being branded for the 3/4 too
Good Afternoon, Great News! After a lot of work in securing support we are pleased to announce that in conjunction with Somerset West and Taunton Council a Saturday Service will be reintroduced from November 2nd this will run as a trial until March 2020 and we hope to see you all support this great addition. Buses will run every 20 mins between 8:30am and 6pm.