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

[DaveHarries]

I think the biggest complaints I've seen is the 3 no longer serving Avonmouth.

Indeed, and people describing it as a "third world bus service" on Facebook which I think is very OTT. I don't entirely blame First for taking the 3 out of Avonmouth: I work from a business premises on the Chittening Estate, just north of the rail bridge where the A403 passes over the Hallen to Filton line, and I regularly have to go to Avonmouth Docks as part of my working day. The traffic on the A403, roadworks or no, is very hit-and-miss during the day which must be causing First a real headache with keeping buses to time on the 3 so when you look at it like that the removal of the 3 from Avonmouth is probably a wise idea as a means of aiding punctuality.

Dave

 

[Citistar]

Given how much money the Combined Authority and it's constituent members are wasting on the 10/11/12/13 services, there ought to be some way of getting an Avonmouth - Cribbs link out of them.

 

[Callum15632]

When are the Manchester B9s coming and what depots will they be for?

 

[stait.john]

When are the Manchester B9s coming and what depots will they be for?

They will be collected on Saturday 23rd March and will be for Lawrence Hill. 37383, 37412, 37417, 37418, 37419, 37422, 37425, 37426, 37676, 37677, 37678 & 37679.

 

[Whiteway215]

When are the Manchester B9s coming and what depots will they be for?

From limited information on First Glasgow Bus Group Facebook those for West of England are PLANNED to transfer over the weekend 23/24 March.

 

[Callum15632]

They will be collected on Saturday 23rd March and will be for Lawrence Hill. 37383, 37412, 37417, 37418, 37419, 37422, 37425, 37426, 37676, 37677, 37678 & 37679.

Okay was also told that wells will get some B9s for the new 374/375/376/376a routes. Will they be from Lawrence hill then?

 

[CD]

Okay was also told that wells will get some B9s for the new 374/375/376/376a routes. Will they be from Lawrence hill then?

374/375 likely not to be double deckers as both go via Windmill Hill. When a decker is on the 29/75 it terminates at Glastonbury Town Hall and restarts there.

 

[Private Baxter]

374/375 likely not to be double deckers as both go via Windmill Hill. When a decker is on the 29/75 it terminates at Glastonbury Town Hall and restarts there.

Didn't know that abouy deckers on the hill. Years ago B7RLEs (WX54 XXX) went up there on the 163/375, but it became too difficult due to their size, so 375 was rerouted via the main road, and 29, which used smaller vehicles, went via the hospital and Wimdmill Hill.

If what you suggest is the case, I wonder why they don't reroute the 77 up the hill instead?

 

[Callum15632]

374/375 likely not to be double deckers as both go via Windmill Hill. When a decker is on the 29/75 it terminates at Glastonbury Town Hall and restarts there.

They are. Callum Watts said they are due deckers for those routes. Also they will need to be double deckers as they go into Bristol.

 

[Citistar]

Didn't know that abouy deckers on the hill. Years ago B7RLEs (WX54 XXX) went up there on the 163/375, but it became too difficult due to their size, so 375 was rerouted via the main road, and 29, which used smaller vehicles, went via the hospital and Wimdmill Hill.

If what you suggest is the case, I wonder why they don't reroute the 77 up the hill instead?

It was suggested on the Somerset Bus Advisory Panel meeting that Windmill Hill was very much living on borrowed time as a section of route unless it starts generating some seriously improved patronage. From the numbers that First suggested, it's hard to justify an argument for anything more than having the contracted 668 going around there.

 

[CD]

Didn't know that abouy deckers on the hill. Years ago B7RLEs (WX54 XXX) went up there on the 163/375, but it became too difficult due to their size, so 375 was rerouted via the main road, and 29, which used smaller vehicles, went via the hospital and Wimdmill Hill.

If what you suggest is the case, I wonder why they don't reroute the 77 up the hill instead?

From April 77s are all deckers apart from the duty that does the morning and afternoon 55. Currently either 2 or 3 of the 4 vehicles on 77 are usually deckers. The 77 had its first E400 MMC today, 33937 on 0600 from Wells,0730 from Yeovil and 1640 from Wells, 1820 from Yeovil.

 

[Whiteway215]

From April 77s are all deckers apart from the duty that does the morning and afternoon 55. Currently either 2 or 3 of the 4 vehicles on 77 are usually deckers. The 77 had its first E400 MMC today, 33937 on 0600 from Wells,0730 from Yeovil and 1640 from Wells, 1820 from Yeovil.

I’m sure the centre door helped speed up loading/unloading times !!

 

[WelshBluebird]

Looks like route maps are on travelwest for the new and amended routes now.

 

[Private Baxter]

It was suggested on the Somerset Bus Advisory Panel meeting that Windmill Hill was very much living on borrowed time as a section of route unless it starts generating some seriously improved patronage. From the numbers that First suggested, it's hard to justify an argument for anything more than having the contracted 668 going around there.

It's been a few years admittedly, but from my experience Windmill Hill always had plenty of passengers. The diversion only really added five minutes to the journey. One wonders whether they would really pick up any more by running along the main road, which is already served by a half hourly service.

From April 77s are all deckers apart from the duty that does the morning and afternoon 55. Currently either 2 or 3 of the 4 vehicles on 77 are usually deckers. The 77 had its first E400 MMC today, 33937 on 0600 from Wells,0730 from Yeovil and 1640 from Wells, 1820 from Yeovil.

Ah I hadn't realised it was already mostly decker, although I have seen them on there. Thanks for clarifying plans for April. Another route, once thought highly unlikely, to become fully decker operated in due course.
Wonder what will become of the various streetlites, which had otherwise found a good home in Wells.

 

[47550]

They will be collected on Saturday 23rd March and will be for Lawrence Hill. 37383, 37412, 37417, 37418, 37419, 37422, 37425, 37426, 37676, 37677, 37678 & 37679.

Presumably they will be needed for service on Saturday 23rd as the Manchester franchising starts the following day ?

 

[CD]

It's been a few years admittedly, but from my experience Windmill Hill always had plenty of passengers. The diversion only really added five minutes to the journey. One wonders whether they would really pick up any more by running along the main road, which is already served by a half hourly service.


Ah I hadn't realised it was already mostly decker, although I have seen them on there. Thanks for clarifying plans for April. Another route, once thought highly unlikely, to become fully decker operated in due course.
Wonder what will become of the various streetlites, which had otherwise found a good home in Wells.

The Streetlites have been very unreliable. last night for example.

https://twitter.com/FirstBSA/status/1763620669290319945

SERVICE ALERT - 29/75 We are currently having issues with vehicles operating both Service 29 and Service 75. We are trying to rectify this but currently the last service to Taunton and Bridgwater are suspended pending attendance.

 

[Citistar]

It's been a few years admittedly, but from my experience Windmill Hill always had plenty of passengers. The diversion only really added five minutes to the journey. One wonders whether they would really pick up any more by running along the main road, which is already served by a half hourly service.

Except it won't be a half hourly service along the main road on the upcoming timetables. 376 and 77 run within ten minutes of each other towards Wells (some within a couple of minutes) and 20/40 gaps heading towards Street. The Somerset Bus Advisory Panel meeting suggested average passenger usage of less than one per journey from Windmill Hill and regular problems with inconsiderately parked vehicles.

 

[Callum15632]

Presumably they will be needed for service on Saturday 23rd as the Manchester franchising starts the following day ?

Maybe not as it's a Saturday so they won't need as many vehicles. Or they will get picked up on Saturday 23rd evening.

 

[stait.john]

Oldham have a large number of schools contracts so these 12 B9s will finish on Friday evening and will not be used on Saturday so they can be transferred down on that day (23rd)

 

[Whiteway215]

Oldham have a large number of schools contracts so these 12 B9s will finish on Friday evening and will not be used on Saturday so they can be transferred down on that day (23rd)

Thank you for clarifying that John

 

[Callum15632]

Oldham have a large number of schools contracts so these 12 B9s will finish on Friday evening and will not be used on Saturday so they can be transferred down on that day (23rd)

Will you be driving one down to Bristol?

 

[father_jack]

Anyone who sees 39444 please can you tell it hasn't tracked since 29th February because I'm on it in Bristol

 

[Callum15632]

Anyone who sees 39444 please can you tell it hasn't tracked since 29th February because I'm on it in Bristol

What route was it on? Was it tracking as a different bus?

 

[father_jack]

What route was it on? Was it tracking as a different bus?

Wasn't tracking at all, 43 ex Kingswood around 1725

 

[Callum15632]

Does anyone know what was happening with 39469 about an hour ago? I got on it about an hour ago on the Y6 and the driver said to me when I and a few other passengers got on that we couldn't go upstairs as it was closed. And he also said it to other passengers when they got on aswell.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Does anyone know what was happening with 39469 about an hour ago? I got on it about an hour ago on the Y6 and the driver said to me when I and a few other passengers got on that we couldn't go upstairs as it was closed. And he also said it to other passengers when they got on aswell.

Probably someone's been sick and needs to get it back and swapped over

 

[Callum15632]

What B9s are going to wells and I heard e400s are going to Worcester from Wells?

 

[father_jack]

Just notice 33737 abandoned broken down at Temple Cloud since 1530 or so...... https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fbri-33737#journeys/553127217

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just notice 33737 abandoned broken down at Temple Cloud since 1530 or so...... https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fbri-33737#journeys/553127217

It has to be said that the fleet at Wells is pretty knackered now. Not surprising given the terrain and the age of the fleet.

Talking about sending B9s to Wells... well, the newest are 12 plates (and there's only 7 of those currently), and does that mean we're looking at what was a flagship route in the 376 being operated by a fleet that will have many that are more than 15 years old? That's absolutely shocking. In fact, you'll have most the Wells fleet older than the Eclipses that were new there in 2009

 

[LeylandLynx]

Also 35101 is coming from First South Yorkshire and someone also said 15 of something are coming from FWY (First West Yorkshire)?

35101 has just come out of the workshop at Leicester, so I'm told.

But what could these mysterious 15 rumored vehicles from First West Yorkshire be?