Trips by Bus and Coach: Your reports

[RELL6L]

Historically August has been my worst month for the number of trips outside the winter. But this year I have been making up for it with three trips already and yesterday I managed a fourth. The weather forecast for my home area was rain – at last – but for South Wales west of Cardiff the predictions were much better. So the alarm was set for an unearthly hour and by 7.20 I was parked in the large car park west of the station in Neath. Time to grab a coffee, a roll and buy some lunch before my first journey. The good weather was just arriving at Neath, the eastern sky still cloudy but the western sky was blue.

My first journey was with First South and West Wales (as were all but one journey) so I bought a day ticket on the Volvo B7RLE that was on the X8 up the Dulais Valley. This passes Aberdulais Falls and we paused for a moment beside this, then on past the Cefn Coed colliery museum and through Seven Sisters. The further up the valley the quieter this became and it did not seem at all prosperous. I didn’t expect the X8 to be busy as it was against the flow, we did have a few passengers most of the way but I was the only one left after Banwen. The X8 we met seemed busier but it was hard to be sure. I alighted at Coelbren, the terminus. This was a very run-down village, most of the cars seemed pretty old, little money spent on the houses, one store, a health centre that was closed and a school long closed. Some views of surrounding country but not inspiring and 45 minutes here was about 44 minutes much more than necessary. The top of the valley here is linked a few times a day with the valley of the River Tawe, the Swansea Valley, by the Adventure Travel 62. This was on time, an E200, and came with one passenger already on board but, sadly, none of the good people of Coelbren came out to use the service and we only picked up a few more going round an estate as we entered Ystradgynlais. I have been here before and then visited the remains of the old iron works on the edge of town, worth seeing. This time I did not have long but Ystradynlais is well-presented in the centre of town including a couple of well patronised cafes with outdoor tables.

There are two routes from Ystradgynlais to Swansea, the T6 from Brecon, via Neath and run by Adventure Travel, and the First X6 running more directly, but much slower, down the Swansea Valley and, deliberately or not, both leave at 5 minutes past each hour. At 10.05 the T6 was pretty busy, very few of us on the X6 and all the others left before we were far out of town, although more joined. First in South Wales is not on BusTimes so I felt rather naked as regards information, I had thought the X6 was mainly double deckers but my bus was a Streetlite. I took this as far as Pontardawe, a journey of 6 miles which First manages to spin out to half an hour. The reason is simply that it goes very slowly and takes a few diversions including one up the side of the valley. I got off at Pontardawe and had a look around the town centre, seemed quite pleasant with a small river running through it. I then continued towards Swansea on the next X6, the service is every 20 minutes from here into Swansea, and this one was a double decker, a Volvo B9TL. Overall I saw all 7 buses, 4 were deckers and 3 were Streetlites. A reasonable journey in and we were quite busy especially at Morriston where we picked up a good number, by the end the downstairs was full with standing.

In Swansea I alighted at the station and took a train to Burry Port. This trip was knitting together a couple of gaps in where I had been and the train was the quickest way to get from one to the other. Burry Port is a little gem with a very attractive harbour area. It would have been better still if it had not been really low tide and there had been some water in it as opposed to boats sitting on mud. There is a small beach too and a number of people enjoying the sunshine on it as well as others wandering around and sitting outside. Not much of the town but it seemed pleasant. I spent just over half an hour here before proceeding on an X11 to Kidwelly, an E200 in the Cymru Clipper livery. The journey passes Pembrey but there’s nothing of interest visible from the road here. Kidwelly is another delightful small town with attractive castle ruins, a section of river and quite a pretty town centre. Another half an hour here before getting another X11 (also an E200) back through Burry Port to Llanelli. In Burry Port a weight limit on the bridge by the station means the bus has to go via a level crossing east of the town centre and we were held up here for some time. Checking Real Time trains the one we were waiting for was the lunchtime train from Fishguard which misses out Swansea, to my surprise it had a handful of passengers. We were nearly 10 minutes late arriving at Llanelli and I hopped straight onto a 111 heading east having visited the town before. I got off the 111 straight after the bridge over the estuary at Loughor to spend 20 minutes here before the next 110 onwards. A lovely spot here down by the estuary (out of earshot of the bridge) and there are remains of a castle as well. Both 110/111 journeys were red E200s and were very short of passengers although I did see one later which was more well loaded. I alighted from the 110 at Gorseinon, took a brief look at the stone circle adjacent to the bus station - yes, really, but they are not ancient, they were put there for an Eisteddfod. Then I took another red E200 on the 16 back to Swansea through Gowerton by way of variety having not been this way.

I have explored Swansea thoroughly before so I did not take much time here, just took a quick look at the Grand Theatre before boarding another E200 on the X1 to Port Talbot. This was quite busy but it was now late afternoon departures from the city. I hadn’t been to Port Talbot before and I don’t think I will bother to go again, I couldn’t find anything of interest. Back to Neath on a Streetlite on the 87 through the massive Aberavon and Sandfields estates, I noted there were a couple of double deckers out on this route. Neath was now much sunnier than first thing so I had a short wander before setting off home.

Everything went according to plan, all buses ran and were pretty much on time and quite a bit of sitting about waiting time on some routes. Good value (petrol excepted) for all day of First for £7.60 while the short Adventure Travel trip and the train were not expensive. Of course overall not a patch on my two days in the Borders and Northumberland but I like to keep visiting a variety of places.

My allowance of 10 pictures:



Aberdulais


View from Coelbren


Pontardawe


Burry Port


Kidwelly castle


Kidwelly castle and river


Kidwelly

Loughor


Gorseinon

Swansea

 

[DunsBus]

Those are gorgeous photos @RELL6L - @DunsBus is a lucky person to live in such an area. Never done that route from Berwick, having tended to head out through Kelso and that area to Coldstream (which is again beautiful).

Another on the never-ending list of places to visit (whilst we still can)

Thanks, TGW. I like the photo of Duns which @RELL6L managed to get from the bus. The street furniture adds to the scene!

The usual route which the 60 takes out of Berwick is just as scenic as the coastal route. Once the bus has climbed up from the A1 and starts heading west, you're treated to a grand panorama of the north Northumberland coast and the Cheviots. You can even see as far as the Eildons if you're really lucky.

 

[RELL6L]

Thanks, TGW. I like the photo of Duns which @RELL6L managed to get from the bus. The street furniture adds to the scene!

The usual route which the 60 takes out of Berwick is just as scenic as the coastal route. Once the bus has climbed up from the A1 and starts heading west, you're treated to a grand panorama of the north Northumberland coast and the Cheviots. You can even see as far as the Eildons if you're really lucky.

It is a lovely area and this was one of the best trips I have ever managed to do. I would like to do the roughly parallel run from Berwick to Kelso, I have a cunning plan to achieve this but whether or when I can make it up this way again remains to be seen!

 

[ian1944]

I concur with the attractiveness of Duns. My wife and I go occasionally to the nice little cafe at Pearsons, the local builders' merchants and garden centre, then have a circular walk to the town centre via the park.

Re. the Berwick-Gala 60, a point en route not likely to be photographed is Gordon, a nondescript crossroads largish village which is as likely as not to have nobody on the streets as you pass through. Its only claim to fame is the gravestone in one of the cemeteries commemorating the family of John Pitt, a soldier who had daughters dying 122 years apart.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It is a lovely area and this was one of the best trips I have ever managed to do. I would like to do the roughly parallel run from Berwick to Kelso, I have a cunning plan to achieve this but whether or when I can make it up this way again remains to be seen!

It took me about years to finally sort it and do it! I always wanted to do it when United/Lowland ran it but there was never the time, and then when it was Northumbria and Swan's Coaches. Eventually managed it and it's really pleasant as it criss-crosses the old railway line.

I concur with the attractiveness of Duns. My wife and I go occasionally to the nice little cafe at Pearsons, the local builders' merchants and garden centre, then have a circular walk to the town centre via the park.

Re. the Berwick-Gala 60, a point en route not likely to be photographed is Gordon, a nondescript crossroads largish village which is as likely as not to have nobody on the streets as you pass through. Its only claim to fame is the gravestone in one of the cemeteries commemorating the family of John Pitt, a soldier who had daughters dying 122 years apart.

Wow - now that's a bit of trivia!

***** NEW REPORT *****

Been a bit delayed in posting but another one of my regular summer haunts is a trip on the Jurassic Coast and thought I'd share my experience of it. As I have said before, this area was one of my first trips to the South West over 30 years ago, and I still have a lot of affection for the area. I love it and would definitely recommend people visit the beautiful countryside and places.

It was a short day by necessity, with real life getting in the way and a need to be back home by a certain time. I had driven down and after some chores, I ended up in Poundbury, the large almost model village built by Prince Charles on his land near Dorchester. It is supposed to be some idyllic throwback to yesteryear and the architectural styles of the 1700s! I'm not a fan but you can park your car easily enough and wait for your bus. Mine was the X51 Jurassic Coaster and I had my First mticket on my phone.

This is a route I've done in the past as the 31, when it was careworn Southern National VRs before new Darts came in just before First bought out Cawlett Holdings. More recently, it's been Omnidekkas, standard First Geminis and then e400s. What has escaped me were the small number of ex Green Line Geminis but I was in luck and one duly arrived. Well, I can tell you that irrespective of any other type, these are the best vehicles I've experienced on this route. Comfortable leather seating, wifi, USBs and a decent turn of speed, these are superb machines. Escaping Poundbury, we headed along the A35 and across rolling Dorset countryside at pace until the summer congestion at Bridport slowed us up. We looped around the bus station in Bridport (where the outstation still exists as it always has to me) and then we carried on past stunning scenery including Golden Cap, the highest cliffs on the south coast. Loadings were pretty healthy to Bridport but after that, we began to fill up at Charmouth and onwards, being nearly full on reaching Lyme Regis. Again, we slowed up because of the awful congestion; not enough were using the park and ride on which First were using another two older Geminis. I had a connection at Lyme which did worry me but as we passed the car park, I could see my next bus there and was satisfied it would have to follow us into the town.




I had no time in Lyme Regis but I have visited it before and walked along The Cobb and visited the museum. First have done a superb job with the Jurassic Coaster in promoting it. Whilst I saw plenty of people with leaflets on board, there were none to be had and there was a surprising lack of internal promotion. However, that was nothing compared to the next run. Stagecoach had just withdrawn their Lyme Regis extension of the 9/9A from Seaton. Instead, Axe Valley Mini Travel operate a partial replacement with a leisurely timed 378 to Seaton. It was operated by another Gemini but instead of ex Green Line, this was ex Metroline. In fact, it had originated at First London and whilst it had been refurbished at some point, it had regained some ex First moquette. It was very much as withdrawn with lots of TfL adverts inside and looking rather scruffy, as much of the AVMT fleet is. I asked about a day ticket but the surly driver advised me to just get a single for this and my next trip. We climbed out of Lyme and then trundled around to Seaton on a route I'd not done since it was the old First X53 to Exeter. We were about 10 mins late but managed to recoup most of that by reaching Seaton.



I had a little time at Seaton and was able to have an ice cream as well as wander the short distance to the AVMT depot. This was the old Western National depot, rebuilt in the 1960s and closed in the early 1980s (I think). I suspect that it will be redeveloped as a prime site soon enough but it's a survivor. More ex London deckers and some smaller fleet was laying over. I walked back into town and the sun was blazing so a drink and some food were required before my next trip. This was a long standing target - a trip on the main AVMT service 885 to Axminster (that had once been a through route as Western National 213 to Taunton). The machine was slightly more interesting for an e200 being a former Bus Eireann example, still with various internal notices on the cab door in English and Gaelic. I had a quick chat with the lady driver whilst she had a cigarette and then we headed off with not many more that 4/5 passengers as we climbed from the coast. We passed through some pleasant countryside and "the most rebellious town" in Devon in Colyton - a strapline derived from the Monmouth Rebellion. The e200 was a decent enough machine and we soon reached Axminster. I alighted at the station, ready to grab some beans on toast at the superb cafe there.



Axminster used to have a decent bus service with the hourly 885, and the combined hourly service to Bridport from the X51/X53. Sadly, its companions in the 30 from Taunton and the 44 from Exeter have been reduced from hourly to every 90/120 mins respectively, thus making interchange with the trains (the station has a rare passing loop) and other buses much more difficult!

I had my lunch and then went out for my next bus. It was another ex Green Line example - you wait years for one and then two come along! The contactless payment was not playing ball for some German tourists but eventually, things were sorted and we were away on the X53 to Bridport, with a sumptuous ride again (such good machines) and then into Lyme and retracing my earlier route.



I decamped at Bridport - one of my favourite places. The warm weather justified a pint in the micropub on West Street. It was glorious although the town was beginning to feel a bit quiet. I had had a choice. To stay on the X53 and do the run to Weymouth, or get off and wait an hour for the X52 open top option. I was tempted but as I was against the clock, I'd struggled to justify the X53 let alone the hour later X52, even though it was an ex Bristol B7TL Gemini and I did quite fancy the open top trip across to Abbotsbury Hill and the fabulous views of Chesil Beach. As it was, I chickened out and went back for the X51 to Poundbury.

It was another ex Bristol vehicle but was one of the seven e400mmcs that have been cascaded as 6/7 year old machines. Even with their relative youth, they have been refurbished (moquette feels a bit cheap tbh) and have gained internal advertising for the route. If First South West are a leading First opco, they are probably pleased to have been amalgamated with a similarly run business who are making a good fist of pursuing tourist orientated routes. These machines have had 6 years grinding across Bristol and aren't as sprightly as the B9s but it was a nice trip back to Poundbury.


All in all, a pleasant if slightly truncated day. Amongst the depression in the bus industry, this is an example of a firm doing some really good things. A required bit of a Jurassic Coaster themed spruce up for Bridport bus station aside, they really are doing well and it was a lovely day. Definitely recommended, and much better than those days on knackered VRs 30 years ago!

Hope you enjoyed the report

 

[RELL6L]

Been a bit delayed in posting but another one of my regular summer haunts is a trip on the Jurassic Coast and thought I'd share my experience of it. As I have said before, this area was one of my first trips to the South West over 30 years ago, and I still have a lot of affection for the area. I love it and would definitely recommend people visit the beautiful countryside and places.

It was a short day by necessity, with real life getting in the way and a need to be back home by a certain time. I had driven down and after some chores, I ended up in Poundbury, the large almost model village built by Prince Charles on his land near Dorchester. It is supposed to be some idyllic throwback to yesteryear and the architectural styles of the 1700s! I'm not a fan but you can park your car easily enough and wait for your bus. Mine was the X51 Jurassic Coaster and I had my First mticket on my phone.

This is a route I've done in the past as the 31, when it was careworn Southern National VRs before new Darts came in just before First bought out Cawlett Holdings. More recently, it's been Omnidekkas, standard First Geminis and then e400s. What has escaped me were the small number of ex Green Line Geminis but I was in luck and one duly arrived. Well, I can tell you that irrespective of any other type, these are the best vehicles I've experienced on this route. Comfortable leather seating, wifi, USBs and a decent turn of speed, these are superb machines. Escaping Poundbury, we headed along the A35 and across rolling Dorset countryside at pace until the summer congestion at Bridport slowed us up. We looped around the bus station in Bridport (where the outstation still exists as it always has to me) and then we carried on past stunning scenery including Golden Cap, the highest cliffs on the south coast. Loadings were pretty healthy to Bridport but after that, we began to fill up at Charmouth and onwards, being nearly full on reaching Lyme Regis. Again, we slowed up because of the awful congestion; not enough were using the park and ride on which First were using another two older Geminis. I had a connection at Lyme which did worry me but as we passed the car park, I could see my next bus there and was satisfied it would have to follow us into the town.


I had no time in Lyme Regis but I have visited it before and walked along The Cobb and visited the museum. First have done a superb job with the Jurassic Coaster in promoting it. Whilst I saw plenty of people with leaflets on board, there were none to be had and there was a surprising lack of internal promotion. However, that was nothing compared to the next run. Stagecoach had just withdrawn their Lyme Regis extension of the 9/9A from Seaton. Instead, Axe Valley Mini Travel operate a partial replacement with a leisurely timed 378 to Seaton. It was operated by another Gemini but instead of ex Green Line, this was ex Metroline. In fact, it had originated at First London and whilst it had been refurbished at some point, it had regained some ex First moquette. It was very much as withdrawn with lots of TfL adverts inside and looking rather scruffy, as much of the AVMT fleet is. I asked about a day ticket but the surly driver advised me to just get a single for this and my next trip. We climbed out of Lyme and then trundled around to Seaton on a route I'd not done since it was the old First X53 to Exeter. We were about 10 mins late but managed to recoup most of that by reaching Seaton.


I had a little time at Seaton and was able to have an ice cream as well as wander the short distance to the AVMT depot. This was the old Western National depot, rebuilt in the 1960s and closed in the early 1980s (I think). I suspect that it will be redeveloped as a prime site soon enough but it's a survivor. More ex London deckers and some smaller fleet was laying over. I walked back into town and the sun was blazing so a drink and some food were required before my next trip. This was a long standing target - a trip on the main AVMT service 885 to Axminster (that had once been a through route as Western National 213 to Taunton). The machine was slightly more interesting for an e200 being a former Bus Eireann example, still with various internal notices on the cab door in English and Gaelic. I had a quick chat with the lady driver whilst she had a cigarette and then we headed off with not many more that 4/5 passengers as we climbed from the coast. We passed through some pleasant countryside and "the most rebellious town" in Devon in Colyton - a strapline derived from the Monmouth Rebellion. The e200 was a decent enough machine and we soon reached Axminster. I alighted at the station, ready to grab some beans on toast at the superb cafe there.


Axminster used to have a decent bus service with the hourly 885, and the combined hourly service to Bridport from the X51/X53. Sadly, its companions in the 30 from Taunton and the 44 from Exeter have been reduced from hourly to every 90/120 mins respectively, thus making interchange with the trains (the station has a rare passing loop) and other buses much more difficult!

I had my lunch and then went out for my next bus. It was another ex Green Line example - you wait years for one and then two come along! The contactless payment was not playing ball for some German tourists but eventually, things were sorted and we were away on the X53 to Bridport, with a sumptuous ride again (such good machines) and then into Lyme and retracing my earlier route.


I decamped at Bridport - one of my favourite places. The warm weather justified a pint in the micropub on West Street. It was glorious although the town was beginning to feel a bit quiet. I had had a choice. To stay on the X53 and do the run to Weymouth, or get off and wait an hour for the X52 open top option. I was tempted but as I was against the clock, I'd struggled to justify the X53 let alone the hour later X52, even though it was an ex Bristol B7TL Gemini and I did quite fancy the open top trip across to Abbotsbury Hill and the fabulous views of Chesil Beach. As it was, I chickened out and went back for the X51 to Poundbury.

It was another ex Bristol vehicle but was one of the seven e400mmcs that have been cascaded as 6/7 year old machines. Even with their relative youth, they have been refurbished (moquette feels a bit cheap tbh) and have gained internal advertising for the route. If First South West are a leading First opco, they are probably pleased to have been amalgamated with a similarly run business who are making a good fist of pursuing tourist orientated routes. These machines have had 6 years grinding across Bristol and aren't as sprightly as the B9s but it was a nice trip back to Poundbury.


All in all, a pleasant if slightly truncated day. Amongst the depression in the bus industry, this is an example of a firm doing some really good things. A required bit of a Jurassic Coaster themed spruce up for Bridport bus station aside, they really are doing well and it was a lovely day. Definitely recommended, and much better than those days on knackered VRs 30 years ago!

Hope you enjoyed the report

Thanks for your great report. Personally I like Poundbury and have also visited this summer, although it does seem a bit artificial. Good to hear the X51/X53 are busy, now they are only every hour combined west of Bridport you would expect to get good loads during the summer season. Shame you didn't have time to go via Abbotsbury, especially on the open top option. The loss of the Stagecoach 9A to Lyme Regis is a great pity, this couldn't have cost that much to operate and provided much more than the 378. I suspect the 378 will be rather forgotten now - what was the load like? You were lucky to get a decker, this week the Irish E200 is running it. For a really exciting trip head west from Seaton on the 899 via Branscombe, this is on terrifyingly narrow lanes, also try and make time to see Beer, this is an adorable spot.

I concur with the attractiveness of Duns. My wife and I go occasionally to the nice little cafe at Pearsons, the local builders' merchants and garden centre, then have a circular walk to the town centre via the park.

Re. the Berwick-Gala 60, a point en route not likely to be photographed is Gordon, a nondescript crossroads largish village which is as likely as not to have nobody on the streets as you pass through. Its only claim to fame is the gravestone in one of the cemeteries commemorating the family of John Pitt, a soldier who had daughters dying 122 years apart.

I actually did get a photo from the bus in Gordon, although not one of the best due to parked cars. I wonder if the shop owner's name is Gordon!



I am still finding it difficult to believe that I have managed to do this great trip, stored in the file for years and kept up to date on the off-chance! A heck of a long way to go but it was too hot anywhere further south for these couple of days.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks for your great report. Personally I like Poundbury and have also visited this summer, although it does seem a bit artificial. Good to hear the X51/X53 are busy, now they are only every hour combined west of Bridport you would expect to get good loads during the summer season. Shame you didn't have time to go via Abbotsbury, especially on the open top option. The loss of the Stagecoach 9A to Lyme Regis is a great pity, this couldn't have cost that much to operate and provided much more than the 378. I suspect the 378 will be rather forgotten now - what was the load like? You were lucky to get a decker, this week the Irish E200 is running it. For a really exciting trip head west from Seaton on the 899 via Branscombe, this is on terrifyingly narrow lanes, also try and make time to see Beer, this is an adorable spot.

Poundbury is rather artificial and perhaps it will improve once it has weathered. I remember you visited whilst on your slightly calamitous Dorset adventure?

The 31 (back in the day) was always hourly west of Bridport to Axminster with only 4/5 journeys to Dorchester. The year-round service provision is improved anyway. However, the introduction of the old X53 Coastlinx (Poole to Exeter) did change things. Whilst that is now no more, the section of route from Bridport via Abbotsbury has never seen so many buses and especially when you overlay the summer X52 onto it. I have done it in recent years - a rapid trip on an ageing Omnidekka a few years ago was a particular joy on a clear day descending Abbotsbury Hill. It is definitely one of those routes (in that direction) that people really should try.

I suspect that even if funds had been available to Stagecoach, the driver shortage they are experiencing wouldn't have saved the 9A. I can imagine the e200 (or a Solo) being more appropriate for the 378 - we had about 5 passengers leaving Lyme, picked a couple more up at Rousdon, lost a couple at Colyford, and then into Seaton. Beer and Branscombe are lovely and I remember driving in the area when that container ship was beached there! All a bit surreal. Not done the 885; in fact, that area around Seaton/Sidmouth/Honiton is one I've not experienced too much. I have a vague recollection doing the 380 from Exeter to Axminster, and have enjoyed the X53 Bridport to Seaton, and the 357 Exmouth to Sidmouth but otherwise, not really explored East Devon by bus.

 

[RELL6L]

Poundbury is rather artificial and perhaps it will improve once it has weathered. I remember you visited whilst on your slightly calamitous Dorset adventure?

The 31 (back in the day) was always hourly west of Bridport to Axminster with only 4/5 journeys to Dorchester. The year-round service provision is improved anyway. However, the introduction of the old X53 Coastlinx (Poole to Exeter) did change things. Whilst that is now no more, the section of route from Bridport via Abbotsbury has never seen so many buses and especially when you overlay the summer X52 onto it. I have done it in recent years - a rapid trip on an ageing Omnidekka a few years ago was a particular joy on a clear day descending Abbotsbury Hill. It is definitely one of those routes (in that direction) that people really should try.

I suspect that even if funds had been available to Stagecoach, the driver shortage they are experiencing wouldn't have saved the 9A. I can imagine the e200 (or a Solo) being more appropriate for the 378 - we had about 5 passengers leaving Lyme, picked a couple more up at Rousdon, lost a couple at Colyford, and then into Seaton. Beer and Branscombe are lovely and I remember driving in the area when that container ship was beached there! All a bit surreal. Not done the 885; in fact, that area around Seaton/Sidmouth/Honiton is one I've not experienced too much. I have a vague recollection doing the 380 from Exeter to Axminster, and have enjoyed the X53 Bridport to Seaton, and the 357 Exmouth to Sidmouth but otherwise, not really explored East Devon by bus.

Yes, I visited Poundbury on a day in July when there was a bad accident just south of Sherborne and I had to get a taxi from Sherborne to Dorchester. Agreed it always used to be hourly west of Bridport but I think there was a brief period where the X51 and X53 combined to give a half hourly service, maybe about 5 years ago? Agreed the X52/X53 between Weymouth and Bridport is a must. I have done it both ways including once with a one hour break in Abbotsbury (so it must have been hourly then). East Devon is well worth a visit, notably very different colour to the architecture and to the cliffs. You are probably right about the driver shortages at Stagecoach but when the 9A was running to Lyme Regis it seemed to have reasonable loads, at least in summer.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes, I visited Poundbury on a day in July when there was a bad accident just south of Sherborne and I had to get a taxi from Sherborne to Dorchester. Agreed it always used to be hourly west of Bridport but I think there was a brief period where the X51 and X53 combined to give a half hourly service, maybe about 5 years ago? Agreed the X52/X53 between Weymouth and Bridport is a must. I have done it both ways including once with a one hour break in Abbotsbury (so it must have been hourly then). East Devon is well worth a visit, notably very different colour to the architecture and to the cliffs. You are probably right about the driver shortages at Stagecoach but when the 9A was running to Lyme Regis it seemed to have reasonable loads, at least in summer.

You're definitely right that, for one summer, they did have a time when the X51 and X53 were half hourly from Axminster. Whilst that was then amended to hourly, you had a summer where X51 short workings meant it was hourly to Dorchester from Bridport. There was also the 2017 Slow Coaster 510 service - almost the precursor to the X52 but ENCTS wasn't valid so it did nothing in terms of passengers. I didn't have the chance to enjoy an asthmatic ex London Trident on Abbotsbury Hill in any case!

With First Wessex joining First South West in the reorganisation, you wonder what (if anything) they might have planned to further exploit opportunities. Mind you, the X52 has been a fine addition to the network and seems to fit in well with the year-round service pattern.

Certainly, the routes have come a long way since my first trip on there on this fine beast (photo: Stephen Day on Flickr) which was still in NBC green in 1991, sliding around on brown vinyl! The Green Line Geminis are superb machines, and the cascaded e400mmc have been nicely refurbished. Perhaps the ex Bolton e400mmc could be replaced by something a bit nicer?

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Currently in Belgium so I thought I'd report here today's trip

Leuven, Mechelen, Lier & Antwerp

Today's trip starts on a train ride on one of Belgium's oldest EMUs (the class AM80/MS80), riding from the beautiful Antwerp Central (Antwerpeen Centraal) to Leuven station. Has some nice scenery but nothing special.

After a visit to the beautiful town of Leuven, I ride on my first bus of the day. A De Lijn VDL Citea LE on route 284 from Leuven to Mechelen. A nice route with some nice countryside views, and goes through a lot of lovely Belgian villages! Definitely recommended.

I like how De Lijn's bus routes are very frequent and well organised, almost always terminating at a railway station interchange.

Mechelen, another lovely place worth visiting. After that, a ride on the 560 to Lier. I liked the route, and this route serves Koningshooikt, which is where the Van Hool factory is located! But, I had a MAN Lion's City on the 560, which was a great bus to ride on so I'm not complaining.

After spending an hour in another lovely town of Belgium (Lier), it's time to head back to my hotel to Antwerp. So I ride another MAN Lion's City, on route 90 to Antwerp Berchem station. Another nice route worth a ride, and, interestingly, in the Antwerp city area, the route follows the tram tracks for a lot of its length, which is rather interesting!

And then, Premetro 9 back to my hotel.

A great trip! I love Belgium, and its public transport system, and want to come back at somepoint!

 

[Ken H]

Currently in Belgium so I thought I'd report here today's trip

Leuven, Mechelen, Lier & Antwerp

Today's trip starts on a train ride on one of Belgium's oldest EMUs (the class 35), riding from the beautiful Antwerp Central (Antwerpeen Centraal) to Leuven station. Has some nice scenery but nothing special.

After a visit to the beautiful town of Leuven, I ride on my first bus of the day. A De Lijn VDL Citea LE on route 284 from Leuven to Mechelen. A nice route with some nice countryside views, and goes through a lot of lovely Belgian villages! Definitely recommended.

I like how De Lijn's bus routes are very frequent and well organised, almost always terminating at a railway station interchange.

Mechelen, another lovely place worth visiting. After that, a ride on the 560 to Lier. I liked the route, and this route serves Koningshooikt, which is where the Van Hool factory is located! But, I had a MAN Lion's City on the 560, which was a great bus to ride on so I'm not complaining.

After spending an hour in another lovely town of Belgium (Lier), it's time to head back to my hotel to Antwerp. So I ride another MAN Lion's City, on route 90 to Antwerp Berchem station. Another nice route worth a ride, and, interestingly, in the Antwerp city area, the route follows the tram tracks for a lot of its length, which is rather interesting!

And then, Premetro 9 back to my hotel.

A great trip! I love Belgium, and its public transport system, and want to come back at somepoint!

De Lijn are the successor to the flemish part of NMVB who ran the rural tramways. These were replaced by buses post WW2. Except for the Kusttram. They also run urban trams in Antwerpen & Gent for example

 

[SouthEastBuses]

De Lijn are the successor to the flemish part of NMVB who ran the rural tramways. These were replaced by buses post WW2. Except for the Kusttram. They also run urban trams in Antwerpen & Gent for example

Of course, of which in Antwerp, some lines go underground! (Known as the premetro)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Currently in Belgium so I thought I'd report here today's trip

Leuven, Mechelen, Lier & Antwerp

Today's trip starts on a train ride on one of Belgium's oldest EMUs (the class 35), riding from the beautiful Antwerp Central (Antwerpeen Centraal) to Leuven station. Has some nice scenery but nothing special.

After a visit to the beautiful town of Leuven, I ride on my first bus of the day. A De Lijn VDL Citea LE on route 284 from Leuven to Mechelen. A nice route with some nice countryside views, and goes through a lot of lovely Belgian villages! Definitely recommended.

I like how De Lijn's bus routes are very frequent and well organised, almost always terminating at a railway station interchange.

Mechelen, another lovely place worth visiting. After that, a ride on the 560 to Lier. I liked the route, and this route serves Koningshooikt, which is where the Van Hool factory is located! But, I had a MAN Lion's City on the 560, which was a great bus to ride on so I'm not complaining.

After spending an hour in another lovely town of Belgium (Lier), it's time to head back to my hotel to Antwerp. So I ride another MAN Lion's City, on route 90 to Antwerp Berchem station. Another nice route worth a ride, and, interestingly, in the Antwerp city area, the route follows the tram tracks for a lot of its length, which is rather interesting!

And then, Premetro 9 back to my hotel.

A great trip! I love Belgium, and its public transport system, and want to come back at somepoint!

That's a little bit different. Thank you for sharing.

Don't think I've done any bus travel in Belgium, other than some City Sightseeing tour in Brussels. Not really the same thing. It sounds similar to Holland where again, you have relatively good services that do start/finish by the train station. The advantage is that in many towns, that station isn't as peripheral as UK ones!

VDL Citea's are some of the better European vehicles, having been on them in Copenhagen. Just a shame that VDL has decided to avoid the RHD market.

 

[RELL6L]

Managed to get my wife on the bus yesterday! We did a round trip on the open top Stagecoach Cumbria 78 from Keswick to Seatoller. Fantastic run. Here’s a picture from our walk today - in the centre of the picture is a 78. Yes- sunny in the Lake District!



I might add to the above that we saw several 78s and they seemed to provide a useful service down the Borrowdale valley used by holiday makers and walkers as a normal service. Saw some X4/X5 that carried reasonable loads and some 555s that looked pretty busy even though it is still half hourly and outside the peak season. On our last afternoon we ventured to Grasmere and a 599 open topper picked up a very good load.

But above all we saw the timetable book all over the place in plentiful supply, even in Whitehaven. Publicity is really helpful important as is the consistent appearance. Stagecoach really try here, the fares are not cheap but it seems to work.

 

[Ken H]

@RELL6L Borrowdale is lovely. I must get there again soon.

I had a day out yesterday Saturday 17th Sept
Started at Skipton where I was to catch the Harrogate Bus Companies Saturdays only Dalesbus 59 to Harrogate at 10:45.
When I got the the bus station, it was already loading. It was BF62 UXZ a Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 body configured CH33/28F
Upstairs seating was 2+1. Didnt look downstairs.


I arrived at about 10:35 and it was already loading. Driver was Damian (Sign by his ticket machine). There were free sweets!. Upstairs all the seats except one single were occupied except for the back seat so thats where I sat. You can see how busy it was in this pic.



The bus station was quite busy. A bus to Settle was due, and there was a Wizz to Burnley loading too.

Anyway the beast set off, picked up a couple in the high street, then out on the A59. Nice views of the moors to the north and south, and across Wharfedale to Simons Seat. And then we arrived at Bolton Abbey. One lady got on. Tight circle for the bus to turn but no trouble. Back on the A59 towards Blubberhouses. But of a struggle up the long hill to Kex Gill summit but clear views of Beamsley Beacon. Down the twisty-turney Kex Gill (Where the council struggle with frequent earth slips, and want to build a bypass) through Blubberhouses and up the hill for a good view of Menwith Hill early warning station.
Then we hit a tailback and it was very slow all the way to the junction with the A61 Ripon Road. But the last bit into Harrogate was slow too so 10 minutes late into the bus stn. I jumped off first to catch a Harrogate Bus Company 36 towards Leeds but that was late too. How do you run a decent bus service in a place that so congested?
The 36 came in from Ripon. BL65 YYX, a Volvo B5TL with a Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 body configured CH35/28F. Best pic I could get...

We left 7 minutes late. This is a route I know well travelling it many times as a kid in the 60's and 70's in Lodekkas and Bristol RE's so it was nice to travel it by bus again. The usual snarl up at Harewood then down to Alwoodley, Moortown and Chapel Allerton where I got off.
The 36 is an old route number. Definitely in use in 1936 by West Yorkshire Road car Co Ltd.

I walked to the next stop, by the Three Hullats Pub. Was the Mexborough when i pulled pints in there in the 70's. BTW a Hullat is an owl.
I was to catch a 91. This is the only non radial route in N Leeds, a route taking in Stanningley in the east, then round to Kirkstall, past the Rugby union/cricket ground at Headingley then Chapel Allerton, Harehills Osmanthorpe and Halton Moor. this is a route established by Leeds City Transport in the 1930's and became the 44 in the 1937 numbering. Always amused me 44 rhymed with Halton Moor. First runs the 91's today approximately half hourly.
Anyway, I had done all the route except for the bit south of York Road to Osmanthorpe and Halton Moor so this was a box ticking trip!

First Leeds provided YJ08 CEA, a Write Eclipse Urban configured B44F see here by the Three Hullats pub

Down through Harehills with people getting on or off at most stops. It runs through an area of high density pre WW1 housing. But crossing the York road it all changed to 1930's council housing, and the bus was much quieter. The 5 into the city follows the same route. We pass Neville Hill railway depot then into the Halton Moor estate. the old 44 used to be a double decker. Can modern double deckers not fit under the rail bridge by the train depot?
Short wait for a 5 into town for my first go on an electric bus.
First Leeds again with YD70 CGG, a Yutong E10 configured B34F. Pic is as it turns into Ullswater Crescent.

Yes its quiet and seemed an easy drive. Lots of space for push chairs - we had 2 mums with pushchairs on this run. 20 minute service. and if there is a 91 it may be quicker to grab that and change when it gets to York Road
back the way we came then down York Road into Leeds. But the volume of cars overtaking us showed the amount of journies public transport is not capturing.
I got off in York St by the bus station. here is a bus station pic for you. John Lewis store behind.


Needed the facilities on the bus station then coffee. So walked through town to a Nero (corner of Headrow and Park Row). Then went for an X84 to Ilkley. But Bustimes showed they were in disarray. they are digging the road up between Bramhope and Otley where the Harrogate - Bradord road crosses - where the Dyneley Arms pub was. Knowing the last bus from Ilkley to Skipton was 1605, I wimped and went for a train. The train does Ilkley in under 30 minutes while the bus takes over an hour.
Just missing the 1503, I wait half an hour for the 1533. Its 331101. and it runs to time getting me to Ilkey with 5 minutes to get the bus
Back in Transdev territory, a 62 comes in from Keighley and becomes the 64 to Skipton. Its YJ04LYH, a Volvo B7TL with Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini body configured CH41/28F. Keighley Bus Company livery. Pic is in Ilkley Station Forecourt. Bit of an old rattler


This bit of route used to on the First Leeds X84 from Leeds till a couple of years ago. The X84 only does Leeds - ilkley now, so Transdev Keighley Bus Company do Ilkley - Skipton.
Out on the A65 towards Skipton. This was part of the old 74 West Yorkshire Road car route from Skipton to Scarborough via Ilkley, Otley, Harrogate and York. Timetable here - https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=11172c92-d9b1-4952-a393-f47d28c8ba2e (Link goes to image of 1936 timetable page)
6 shillings and 9 pence single. Probably quite a lot of money then...

A few got off and on in Addingham and 1 in Draughton. Then over the top past Chelker Reservoir, with views of the other side of Beamsley Beacon. Into Skipton from the A59 down The Bailey. Modern double deckers cant get under the rail bridge in Otley Road. Lodekkas could...

Only the first 2 buses had USB charging. They both had a display with he name of the next stop. No other buses that day had any information. How hard is it retrofit a display?

Anyway, back to the car and drive home for me tea....

Hope of interest...

 

[JonathanH]

To Lydney on Saturday for the Dean Forest Railway Diesel Gala and an attempt to use buses to keep the cost of getting there down.

The West Gold Day Rider now covers a large area so I could make a significant part of the journey by bus and at £7.50 offers very good value for money.

I had originally thought of starting my bus journey in Stroud but noticed that the 882 at Kemble would get me to Gloucester as efficiently. Indeed, I could travel from Swindon with a connection at Cirencester into this bus, but I settled for Kemble in my final plan.

Unfortunately, it didn't go to plan.

I was in Kemble at 0841. The bus was due at 0920 so I had some time to walk around the village. I chose to wait at the Post Office stop which had an open wooden bus shelter. With no bus arriving on time I checked the Stagecoach West twitter feed to find the bus was cancelled, due to a major road incident on the A417.

I had little choice but to take the next train to Gloucester.

On arriving at Gloucester, I crossed the road to the transport interchange and waited for the bus to Norchard at 1030. This arrived shortly before 1030, but unfortunately a person had been taken ill aboard, and the bus was cancelled awaiting an ambulance. Whatever had happened was at the front of the lower deck, as some passengers on the incoming bus had to be allowed to exit from the emergency exit at the back. So, I had to wait for the 1130.

Eventually, Scania N230UD VX13FLB turned up to form the 1130 23 departure for Coleford. This batch of buses retains high backed Stagecoach beachball moquette seats so I had a comfortable journey through to Norchard. The run down the A48 is fairly pleasant with views out over the Severn at various points and journey that feels relatively quick.



I then spent the next few hours on the railway.

My departure from Norchard was just before 5pm. With roadworks outside the railway, I needed to wait down the road a little, but boarded VX13FKY for the journey back to Gloucester.

My eventual destination was Reading, for the train home, a journey that I hadn't initially appreciated I would be able to do entirely by bus.

First step was to get to Cheltenham. I had used the 94 to go from Cheltenham to Gloucester on a previous occasion so thought I would take the 10 instead. However, it appeared from the bustimes website that all of the buses on the 10 were at the other end of the route so I had to fall back on a busy 94 service at 1800 from the bus station. This seemed rather busy but it appeared that was due to earlier buses having been missing. The resulting journey aboard Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC SN66VYA took around 45 minutes, rather than the scheduled 35 minutes. I moved seat a few times trying to find a working USB socket. It is all very well specifying what the operators consider a 'Gold' specification but it needs to be maintained to that standard as well.

The bus to Witney departs from Royal Well Bus Station. Referring to this as a bus station is a bit of overkill as it is just a handful of bus shelters around a coach park. I noted one of the missing 94s parked up in the line up of coaches.


The incoming S2 was shown as having left Witney around 25 minutes late so was not going to make the scheduled 1905 departure from Cheltenham, despite the 15 minutes allowed between its arrival and departure. I noted a few more 94s and 10s arrive in Cheltenham somewhat more lightly loaded while I waited.

ADL Enviro 400MMC SN69ZDS arrived at 1915 and departed fairly shortly afterwards. I hadn't appreciated that the S2 extension to Cheltenham is a fairly recent change, but caught up on the discussion about this on these forums while on the way. The journey seems fairly tightly timed as the bus wasn't able to make up much time on the way through to Witney. The only substantial deviation seems to be to go through Northleach, which was an attractive pass through on what was otherwise a trip along the A40.



We reached Witney at 2018, just in time to see the 2017 to Oxford depart ahead. It seemed that there were four of us looking to travel through to Oxford, all with a wait of 30 minutes for the next scheduled bus. It transpired that this was also late - we passed it heading into Carterton as we had approached Witney. ADL Enviro 400MMC SN69ZFL left Witney around 10 minutes late in the end with a reasonable number of passengers bound for Oxford, some of whom were already aboard from Carterton and Witney's southern estate.


Luckily I didn't have a tight connection in Oxford. Had I made the 2017 from Witney I made have looked to see whether it was possible to get an earlier bus to Reading, but in practice, that would always have been tight. The S1 bus made up a bit of time on its way to Gloucester Green bus station, so arrived around 2130.

Gloucester Green always seems to be full of Oxford Tube coaches whenever I go there and this was no exception but we arrived and I made my way over to Westgate for the X40 to Reading.

I find it quite interesting that there is now an hourly bus service from Oxford to Reading, including late into the evening on a route that never existed historically through Woodcote. Chiltern Queens had had much of the territory between Wallingford and Reading east of the Thames to itself for many years in the last century but the historic routes operated by the National Bus Company Subsidiaries had been the 5 from Reading to Oxford via Pangbourne and the 390 from London to Oxford via Maidenhead and Henley.

My connection at Reading was 14 minutes into the last North Downs Line train. Although the bus from Reading had left late, it seemed to be making up time and arrived in Oxford at around 2155. The stops on Westgate aren't a bus station as such but they feel a reasonable place to wait that is well lit, perhaps better than hanging round Gloucester Green.

Wright StreetDeck SK66HTV was my bus to Reading, which was £5 single, bedecked in a livery for the X3 route to Abingdon, and seemed to have been swapped earlier in the day. I noted that the bus had no defence screen for the driver, which seems unusual these days. Indeed, on the bus from Witney into Oxford, there had been some aggression between a passenger and the driver as we arrived in Oxford. Upstairs, the bus had table bays and a lounge style seat behind the staircase. I took a seat at the table as the front seats had been taken.


Departure was two minutes late at 2202, and the bus then lost further time at High Street boarding passengers. With many passengers only making short journeys to stops on the Iffley Road, it was half an hour before we were through Sandford-on-Thames and out onto the A4074 so I was clockwatching and considering whether Reading would be reached on time. Most of the other passengers had completed their journeys by the time we reached Wallingford.

The deviation via Woodcote isn't just for the centre of the village but also serves a triangle further south, I assume to generate more custom, and approve the attractiveness of the bus as a means of getting to Reading and Oxford. We picked a passenger up in Woodcote.

Once in Reading, the bus took the deviation avoiding St Peters Hill also taken by the town buses, to serve the stop in central Caversham. Two passengers boarded at Caversham Library. Effectively this bus route now provides the evening service to this part of North Reading with Reading Buses no longer providing evening buses on the 22 route, and indeed only being hourly in the day.

By now I was a little more relaxed about making the train, but we were still about 8 minutes late when I alighted at 2329 at Blagrave Street and crossed the road to the station so it was a bit tight for the 2334 train.

Very interesting to be able to travel this sort of distance by bus at this time of the evening but fortunate that the connections weren't critical in any location.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Couple of cracking trip reports from @Ken H and @JonathanH - thanks for sharing.

A couple of routes that I enjoyed last year with the 59 across Blubberhouses Moor. Such a scenic run out and glad to see it surviving. Shame about the traffic in Harrogate - it really is diabolical but neither Harrogate nor North Yorkshire Councils has ever really faced into doing much about it. The flagship 36 is one I remember from not quite so long ago but in the era of United VRs and West Yorkshire Olympians. It is much better now though you wonder if/when that fleet will be due for replacement. Also, nice you had the chance to try a Yutong - I was impressed by them when I travelled on the Go North East examples. Not pretty but well built.

As for Stagecoach West... I've not travelled on them in a while so I'm only aware of their performance from posts on this forum. However, it seems like its in a shocking state in terms of the 10 and 94 especially. The closure of Ross depot has only exacerbated the driver shortage in Gloucester. Shame as I used to explore up there quite regularly and West was one of the better Stagecoach Opcos but now seems to be struggling - management too thinly spread? At least you got home but sadly, the experience of missing journeys and later than expected arrivals home is all too commonplace.

ps love the evening photos

 

[RELL6L]

Great reports from @Ken H and @JonathanH, thank you. Never done the 59 from Skipton to Harrogate, that sounds a good run and an encouraging load.

I have a report from last Friday.

I have had a week in the Lake District as I mentioned above but last Friday, the first day after coming home, I was able to take a day out in the Bristol area including, obviously given its impending demise, the 126. I had planned several iterations of this trip with concerns, since allayed, as to whether the Weston board on the 126 actually ran, about the reliability of the 178 given roadworks and the level of Stagecoach cancellations in the area. In the end I abandoned the 178 and what I did was somewhat different from my original plans!

I started at Portishead, arriving around 8.00 for a little breakfast and stocking up with provisions. My first journey was on the X5 to Weston. This is a route which was threatened with complete withdrawal next month but has now been reprieved between Portishead and Weston. There is clearly heavy college traffic into Weston but my journey was after this. A StreetDeck in the wonderful Badgerline colours turned up pretty much on time and there was some school traffic as far as Clevedon. We did a circuit of the town here but not really close enough to see much of the seafront. Then on the motorway to the edge of Weston where we then crawled through new estates at Locking Castle, narrow roads and tight turns and any badly parked car caused a problem, but quite a few passengers here. Having been 10 minutes late leaving Clevedon we were pretty much on time arriving in Weston. I stayed on to the sea front to get the atmosphere as I like it here, although not enough time to walk up to the more attractive area north of the pier.

I then walked back to the Interchange just as the 126 from Wells came in, the Weston bus in Mendip Explorer livery, 33665 which, as per the discussion in the First West of England thread, was not tracking (it still isn’t). The driver left the bus and walked off, about 10 people already waiting. The departure time of 10.05 came and went and I was getting concerned but then a driver appeared and we set off around 5 minutes down. I had chosen to do the 126 in this direction as I wanted to go through Axbridge – buses towards Weston are currently not going through the village due to road works. I had considered stopping off for an hour but that didn’t work due to later Stagecoach cancellations. There were road works at Axbridge which I thought would cause significant delays but they didn’t seem too bad, although it looks worse today. We kept picking up passengers all along the route, including 12 at Cheddar, with a total of 39 I think as we arrived in Wells. A good load for a route supposedly uneconomic!

I went briefly up to the High Street in Wells but didn’t have enough time to go to the cathedral area although I have been before. I then returned to the bus station to get the 376 to Bristol with a Volvo B9TL which performed very well. A few passengers but nowhere near as many as the 126. We had to wait time a couple of places, including Pensford which I had previously stopped off at, and kept comfortably to the schedule all the way into Bristol, I got off at Cabot Circus and walked through the park towards the shopping area.

As well as repeating some routes I had visited in the past I also wanted to go somewhere new and had identified Severn Beach as such a destination. This involved going by train but I had time to get part of the way there by bus. It wasn’t quite possible to get to Avonmouth before getting the train but Shirehampton looked possible, so I went to Union Street to get the 3 or 4. Three buses parked up there, no drivers. Between the peaks there appear to be 10 boards on the 3/4 and two of them were not running and parked at the terminus and these two boards ran consecutive journeys at 12.40 and 12.55. A driver did appear for the third bus and we did set off as a 4 just 3 minutes late. However the road up to College Green was closed so we had to divert and the traffic lights on the diversion were set in a very unhelpful way for traffic going this way with only one large vehicle able to get through the first traffic lights without blocking the yellow box junction, the second lights only going green as the first went red. Our driver was quite slick here and moved forward just before the first light went red and was just able to get through the second light without stopping in the yellow box. Nevertheless we were now 10 minutes late at Clifton Triangle with plenty of passengers joining at each stop so I thought it might be pushing it to go to Shirehampton, so I alighted at Clifton Down, right by the station. I was glad I did as this was an attractive area with a street nearby closed off for al fresco drinking and dining, a good student atmosphere. On the plus side all the 3s and 4s I saw were Volvo B9TLs in the right colours.

I duly took the train to Severn Beach including stretches alongside the Avon and later the Severn, although the latter stretch is pretty uninspiring. I alighted at Severn Beach where the train spends about 40 minutes doing nothing and wandered down to the river front. Good view of the M4 bridge and not unpleasant at the waterfront but nothing special. From here I took the Stagecoach 12 towards Cribbs Causeway. This was tracking as 18315, a Trident based in Gloucester. Postings on the Stagecoach West thread had suggested some of the vehicles were tracking wrongly on BusTimes so I was not sure what would turn up, expecting an E200. It was a Dennis Trident but a different one, 18422, which at that time was tracking in Swindon! All very odd, these vehicles have now returned to their correct locations on BusTimes. A trainee driver with a guide but no passengers although a couple joined later on the not very interesting journey to Cribbs Causeway. If I had stopped off earlier in Axbridge and run an hour later then the corresponding Stagecoach journey was cancelled – which I had known first thing in the morning which is a plus point for Stagecoach, although the level of cancellations is obviously a minus point. First meanwhile – no information.

From Cribbs I had intended to take a 3 to Avonmouth and, watching the live locations, it was apparent that the route was running even worse than earlier. The one I intended to catch was well delayed on the incoming journey and indeed when it did arrive 40 minutes late it then returned missing out most of the route. However the previous one was also late and had only just arrived at Cribbs so I got off the 12 at Cribbs Retail Park, the first common stop. This 3 arrived 23 minutes late at Cribbs Bus Station but still managed to spend 11 minutes there before (why?) departing 17 minutes late for the city centre. Having seen a 1 go past which was tracking but not in service I decided to take the next bus which was another 1 as far as Henbury and see what was happening. By the time I got near Henbury it was clear that the 3 had left Cribbs and was following the route, presumably in service, as it was, so after about 5 minutes in Henbury I boarded that. It went further downhill as the traffic congestion in the area was just awful. Some roadworks near Henbury caused us very little delay but the queue from the other direction was horrific. The roadworks were actually little more intrusive than a parked car, of which there were many more a few yards on, but apparently needed traffic lights which were clearly badly set due to the queues the other way, probably exacerbated by school traffic. Along with the diversion at College Green and another diversion between Shirehampton and Avonmouth the service was in a terrible state. No bus left Cribbs on the 3 for Avonmouth between 15.36 and 17.11, then 18.19. Long queues at the stops in Lawrence Weston both for our bus and in the other direction. The 4 was no better. Somehow between the responsible councils and First they need to sort themselves out – I am sure it is not just this corridor – but the service provided on these routes was simply not fit for purpose.

Meanwhile I actually arrived at Avonmouth earlier than I expected. I had not been here before – and OK, I hadn’t missed much. Not sure if Avonmouth counts as a town, a village or just a suburb but it was very faded, pretty much the only decent building describing itself as the Old Bus Depot. Others will confirm for sure and advise when it closed etc but I am sure it was indeed the old BOC depot. Appalling that all Avonmouth has now is the 3 every 30 minutes to the City and Cribbs and the Stagecoach 10/11, presumably contracted, every 30 minutes combined to Southmead and Stoke Gifford. I then walked to the delightful stop described as Avonmouth Roundabout, serving only the X5, and was duly surprised when a 3 and a 4 turned up in quick succession (very late) as well as the Stagecoach bus I had myself caught on the 11 (not late at all), all diverted between Shirehampton and Avonmouth. I expected the X5 to be late as it battled through Bristol traffic on a Friday evening but it was only 4 minutes down (another StreetDeck) and caught this up later in its journey. This was on the section of the X5 which will be abandoned shortly but also had a reasonable load, around 20 upstairs, this providing a somewhat quicker journey to Portishead than the ‘main’ X4 route. Quite a few alighted in the marina area of Portishead and I think most passengers were city centre workers, maybe outside peak times the X5 is quieter. These passengers will also lose out in a couple of weeks – will they stick with the bus?

So I was back at Portishead 9 hours after leaving it, a cheap day out for £7.50 on First and pretty cheap single journeys on the train and the Stagecoach 12. Sadly probably a last journey on the 126 – any signs of a reprieve? Not wall-to-wall sunshine but pretty good, worth the compromise to do this. Travel will be cheaper still now – just received my wrinkly pass!

Looking forward to hearing where @TheGrandWazoo has been….

Some pictures as ever:

Portishead


Weston Super Mare


Axbridge


Wells


Pensford


Bristol


Clifton Down


Severn Beach


Avonmouth


Avonmouth old bus depot

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

As ever @RELL6L, a cracking set of photographs. Shame you had to experience the current challenges of travelling around Bristol at the moment. Appalling congestion has always been the norm - it has now reached a state of near gridlock in certain places. I do have some sympathy with First - it's an area with lots of alternative driving jobs (a mate of mine has his HGV class C license - picks and chooses his days to suit) and they are struggling having previous had a number of Eastern European drivers on the books who aren't around now.

I haven't heard anything of a replacement 126 and I think that the two councils are simply washing their hands of the problem; both are remarkably lacklustre with buses. Somerset has got some BSIP funds but, of course, that's only for new super fab services, and not to save ones with a clear and existing customer base.

Glad you enjoyed Clifton Down - it's actually nicer than Clifton Village in my experience. That pedestrianised street was where my physio used to be, so I know it well. Also, you're right that the Avonmouth bus depot (of which the frontage might be listed or in some conservation area - hence it has survived) was a former Bristol Omnibus and before that, Bristol Tramways shed - think it closed about 1980 when a lot of rationalisation took place. Sadly, the much missed Carl Berry isn't here to tell us - he'd have known. There's a very similar designed one in Westbury on Trym too. However, if it is a conservation area, then I'm not certain what else they are saving - it's a bleak place with a few residential areas tagged onto the docks and an expanding industrial area - it is very much on the other side of the tracks, the tracks being the M5 that separates it from humanity.

The X5 is a good little trip, though Locking Castle is a nightmare. I remember going there on a short Streetlite once and we were up and down kerbs because of inconsiderate parking. You did skate over the 376 though - assume as its one you've done many times. However, it is a great trip though think it's better in the other direction. Still, you had one of the few B9s that Wells operate - they are good machines despite their age.

However, despite my many trips around the area, I have never bothered heading to Severn Beach by public transport. I have stopped off there on occasion in the car; a very strange place that is, like Avonmouth, a place apart but not for the same reasons. It has a faint hint of Lydd or New Romney about it - isolated and coastal.

Glad you had a good day even if it was a little frustrating. I have been tardy/busy but will do my complimentary report in due course.

My trip to Avonmouth - Part 1

Not saying that @RELL6L and me are great minds (I’m certainly not) but we did have much the same idea in sampling some of the bus services around Bristol and North Somerset. Curiously, we did it on adjacent days. Whilst I live locally, I’ve neglected my patch and have only had a couple of trips out since the Covid lockdown in March 2020. My impressions recently have left me with concerns about service and marketing so I was heading out to really understand if my concerns were warranted. Hopefully, this is a fair summary and avoids anything approaching confirmation bias or otherwise. Here’s my observations with some photos, not as good as my compatriot!

I chose to begin my day in Midsomer Norton; my end objective would be the soon to be lost 178, cut back from Radstock owing to two lengthy diversions. I waited patiently tracking my first bus of the day. I was going for the 173 to Wells – a service that was threatened but is now reprieved. It was a 2014 former Bolton e400 in Mendip Explorer. Some enthusiasts have complained about these machines but this was perfectly fine though I do find the ME routes are really in need for a reboot and some TLC. This journey was noticeably quieter than when I’ve used it before. It was into Wells and chance for a quick wander (the home of Hot Fuzz) and to grab a coffee before heading to the bus station. Like my colleague, I was also after the missing Weston board on the 126 and was pleased to see 33665 already on the stand. However, my concerns about the direction of First West of England were raised by the information at Wells bus station. The times for the Bath routes were the old ones (from earlier 2022) whilst the main 376 ones were missing altogether. Things used to be smarter and whilst the travel office still amazingly remains, in a dual role as the post office, First WoE no longer produce printed timetables. I can understand this for local routes like the 2 in Bath, but these are services with major tourist traffic. I’ve seen firsthand from First Wessex and First Kernow with passengers clutching their leaflets on tourist routes – it is a false economy on these routes and the office looked a depressing place.



I got onto 33665 and began my trip across the foothills of the Mendips. The first (and last) time in a decker though I’ve done it on REs, B10Ms, Darts, Renowns and Eclipses over many years. The run across to the coast is more common for me and the views of Cheddar Reservoir and Vale of Wedmore were lovely on a slightly dull morning. We had a few passengers leaving Wells but continued to pick up trade in reasonable numbers – this was pre 0930 so these were fare payers and we seemed to have a disproportionate number of 35 year old Eastern European women! I noted the save the 126 notices on the bus stops in Cheddar, publicising Doug Claringbold’s business email address. The closure of the western access to Axbridge and the A38 meant a long delay on the bypass but were still did ok for time. Loadings were reasonable and still we arrived in Weston with only 12-15 on board yet the queue for the outbound one (which RELL would enjoy the following day) had over 20 people. The withdrawal of the 126 is ridiculous and if the councils allow it to disappear, it will be a shameful dereliction of their responsibilities.



This was my first use of the Weston Interchange. It was perfectly fine though I still think Weston is one of those places that does justify something better. I had time for breakfast and then was back for my next bus – it was the X5. Hope @RELL6L is chuckling… I was heading for Avonmouth!!! This was one of the new Streetdecks – an unprecedented (in recent times) new bus order for the town and I have to say that this was not a bad machine. We ground our way out through Locking Castle to Worle and then belted up the M5 before heading into Clevedon. I’ve never had any issue with Streetdecks build quality and these seem good though the standard First mushroom eLeather seems a regressive step when FWoE used to have moquette. We looped around Clevedon and then had the loveliest bit of the journey as we headed out through the Gordano Valley. I love this bit of the route as its a real backwater to the M5, then passing via Portishead and then the seemingly intensely rural Sheepway (again - this is lovely and a bit of a surprise) as we crossed over the mothballed rail line that is supposed to be returned to use… eventually. It was then over the Avon and dropping down to Avonmouth where I exited, and walked the short distance into the “village” and waited for my next bus. A Stagecoach e200 arrived with a trainee driver and mentor who waited time, blocking the stop for my First 3. However, it wasn’t an issue as my purple B9 arrived and the Stagecoach bus disappeared. The B9 was refurbished in 2013 and it was beginning to look a bit shabby inside. Also, when the 3/4 was first branded with B7TLs a few years ago, the branding extended internally but like with the Mendip Explorer, that sort of marketing began dying out a few years ago in the latter days of the Freeman era. Hard to believe that the 3 through Avonmouth is now only half hourly nowadays. We headed off through Lawrence Weston and Henbury to Cribbs Causeway. Another photo of the former Avonmouth depot harks back to better days in the past.



Part two - Escape from Avonmouth

A toilet stop was all I needed at the retail emporium that is the Mall so I decided to take an m1 to UWE, this being one of the former CT Plus vehicles recently absorbed by First on that business’ collapse. It was a straight forward journey though the driver decided he wouldn’t bother with the bus lanes in Bradley Stoke. We scooted through before arriving at UWE. A few years ago, this was a vibrant centre as First and Wessex were busy competing. Not now – services seem much depleted from when I visited regularly in 2014. The two Metrobus routes are the most frequent and there’s the link to Fishponds (48A) and the Horfield (70/71) but everything else seems barely hanging on. Moreover, it was here that I noticed how filthy and down at heel the Bristol fleet now is. That has definitely declined in recent months.



It was another metrobus in the m3, which took me to the Science Park near Emerald Park, those utilising the bus infrastructure this time. I used to work near here and it was sobering to see how many cars were in the car park; where once you’d struggle to get a space, there was ample parking available. Testimony to how working from home and travel patterns have been affected. I interchanged here and waited for my 49 that duly arrived – a standard e400mmc from 2016. I can see these vehicles being cascaded at some point. We headed off on time and through Mangotsfield and the fleshpots of Staple Hill, passing my second former bus depot on Broad Street. Staple Hill is another microcosm of the challenges for First in Bristol – an illegally parked van outside a charity was taken as an invite for another whose driver dived into the bookies. Roadside parking also means reversing into the road and general congestion. No wonder buses struggle to carve their way through. I was after the Y5, that I last travelled on when it was the hourly X49. It is now two hourly but will disappear from Staple Hill when it and other routes are amalgamated to form the new 47, running instead via Downend. I was expecting something like a B9 so was pleasantly surprised to see another gas powered Scania similar to the metrobus examples, acting as a general spare.



I clambered upstairs and sat back to enjoy the trip via the burbs and into the countryside with the loop around the growing village of Pucklechurch. Now, I’ve mentioned before about the ADL build quality on the buses for Bristol. The standard short e400mmcs are ok but the longer dual door Scanias that arrived later seemed to creak a lot. I don’t know if it was the extra length, and then the gas powered Citys came and they also seem to squeak like hell. This was the worst and the issue is build quality. It is appalling. A bus less than 3 years old (or so) and it has gaps between pillars and panels, and the window frames, that you can stick your finger through. No wonder they’re heading back to Wrightbus for future orders.



We squeaked and rattled into Yate bus station where I had time for a coffee and a toilet stop. It toyed with getting the 620 to Bath (and now wish I had) but decided to get the Y1 back to Bristol. I thought if we made good time, I could just about get the 178. It was another offending e400city but short wheelbase in South Glos Lynx colours and it wasn’t so bad as the one I’d left before. We made good time down the M32 (bus infrastructure that works!) and into Bristol. I then had a brisk walk to Castle Park just in time to see the 178 disappear – amazingly, it was bang on time.

I had some slack in my timetable now (!) so thought I would fit in another route that is about to be amended. The 36 runs via Barton Hill to Brislington but is soon to be cut back to St Annes; another cut to a route that has been incrementally cut over recent years from Withywood to Brislington, as well as frequency cuts so it will be a shortened half hourly service. Despite this, and a record in having the oldest buses in Bristol historically, this was another CNG powered e400mmc – that was 5 in a day! We wound our way through BartNil (as is locally pronounced) avoiding lots of poorly parked cars – a decent load but it seemed more appropriate to have a Streetlite on there rather than rather expensive lumbering decker. We duly arrived at Brislington Square and a good view of a First billboard - I mean, it's good but how effective is it? My plan was a short hop to Keynsham on the 349 before a last run on the 178 to Midsomer Norton. Several X39s passed by on their way to Bath but eventually, the 349 turned up. First time I’d done this by First (rather than Abus) for years and it was a change in having a venerable 2007 B9 – a batch I remember arriving as a big investment in the East side services that passed my then home. It was a steady enough trip through the traffic and into Keynsham.



I thought I had about 10 mins to wait but I thought I’d just check the tracker. No 178 showing! Just the one I’d missed earlier and one that was about to pass en route to Bristol. The Real Time Info screen was showing it still scheduled whilst the next 349 to Park Estate was showing cancelled. Could it be running but not tracking? Of course not – it never turned up. A 10 min wait became elongated – a fellow passenger for the 349 mused about her missing bus and we took shared solace in our predicament. After about 45 mins, I could see the next (and last of the day) 178 was tracking and heading my way – dare I trust it? Nope – I bailed and instead caught the late running A4 to Bath. At least that way, I knew I had a chance of getting back to the car. Naturally, I arrived in Bath literally able to see my 171 loading but by the time we were set down at the stop by the station, it was loaded and about to exit the bus station. As for the A4, it was a decent run in their only Gemini B9 and with a few airport passengers. Good to see it doing well with its mix of local and holiday traffic, helped by decent marketing! I grabbed a coffee and went across to my last bus – another B9 and one of five based at Wells. We left on time, I was relieved, and we made our way smoothly to Radstock; in fact, it dealt with the climb out of Dunkerton wonderfully. I arrived back at my car frustrated but thankful. In all honesty, I’d done well in terms of vehicle and service reliability and it was a shame that it unravelled a bit at the end. It was good after nearly a year where I hadn't had a real explore (save journeys into Bristol and Bath) and to travel on some links that may not survive the year if not next.

Hope you found this travelogue of interest. Perhaps it was confirmation bias but it does feel that, after the leaps forward under James Freeman and his team since 2014, that good work is unravelling and I don’t see the picture getting better. Big shoes to fill. Clearly, both main Bristol firms are struggling for staff and that is impacting on service delivery. First had problems resourcing before Covid and those challenges are much greater. Yet the changes that are being made are curious (in many respects) and service quality and marketing are much worse than they were. As for cuts to strategic routes like the 126 and 178 - between the local authorities and First, there has to be better solutions.

 

[RELL6L]

As ever @RELL6L, a cracking set of photographs. Shame you had to experience the current challenges of travelling around Bristol at the moment. Appalling congestion has always been the norm - it has now reached a state of near gridlock in certain places. I do have some sympathy with First - it's an area with lots of alternative driving jobs (a mate of mine has his HGV class C license - picks and chooses his days to suit) and they are struggling having previous had a number of Eastern European drivers on the books who aren't around now.

I haven't heard anything of a replacement 126 and I think that the two councils are simply washing their hands of the problem; both are remarkably lacklustre with buses. Somerset has got some BSIP funds but, of course, that's only for new super fab services, and not to save ones with a clear and existing customer base.

Glad you enjoyed Clifton Down - it's actually nicer than Clifton Village in my experience. That pedestrianised street was where my physio used to be, so I know it well. Also, you're right that the Avonmouth bus depot (of which the frontage might be listed or in some conservation area - hence it has survived) was a former Bristol Omnibus and before that, Bristol Tramways shed - think it closed about 1980 when a lot of rationalisation took place. Sadly, the much missed Carl Berry isn't here to tell us - he'd have known. There's a very similar designed one in Westbury on Trym too. However, if it is a conservation area, then I'm not certain what else they are saving - it's a bleak place with a few residential areas tagged onto the docks and an expanding industrial area - it is very much on the other side of the tracks, the tracks being the M5 that separates it from humanity.

The X5 is a good little trip, though Locking Castle is a nightmare. I remember going there on a short Streetlite once and we were up and down kerbs because of inconsiderate parking. You did skate over the 376 though - assume as its one you've done many times. However, it is a great trip though think it's better in the other direction. Still, you had one of the few B9s that Wells operate - they are good machines despite their age.

However, despite my many trips around the area, I have never bothered heading to Severn Beach by public transport. I have stopped off there on occasion in the car; a very strange place that is, like Avonmouth, a place apart but not for the same reasons. It has a faint hint of Lydd or New Romney about it - isolated and coastal.

Glad you had a good day even if it was a little frustrating. I have been tardy/busy but will do my complimentary report in due course.

My trip to Avonmouth - Part 1

Not saying that @RELL6L and me are great minds (I’m certainly not) but we did have much the same idea in sampling some of the bus services around Bristol and North Somerset. Curiously, we did it on adjacent days. Whilst I live locally, I’ve neglected my patch and have only had a couple of trips out since the Covid lockdown in March 2020. My impressions recently have left me with concerns about service and marketing so I was heading out to really understand if my concerns were warranted. Hopefully, this is a fair summary and avoids anything approaching confirmation bias or otherwise. Here’s my observations with some photos, not as good as my compatriot!

I chose to begin my day in Midsomer Norton; my end objective would be the soon to be lost 178, cut back from Radstock owing to two lengthy diversions. I waited patiently tracking my first bus of the day. I was going for the 173 to Wells – a service that was threatened but is now reprieved. It was a 2014 former Bolton e400 in Mendip Explorer. Some enthusiasts have complained about these machines but this was perfectly fine though I do find the ME routes are really in need for a reboot and some TLC. This journey was noticeably quieter than when I’ve used it before. It was into Wells and chance for a quick wander (the home of Hot Fuzz) and to grab a coffee before heading to the bus station. Like my colleague, I was also after the missing Weston board on the 126 and was pleased to see 33665 already on the stand. However, my concerns about the direction of First West of England were raised by the information at Wells bus station. The times for the Bath routes were the old ones (from earlier 2022) whilst the main 376 ones were missing altogether. Things used to be smarter and whilst the travel office still amazingly remains, in a dual role as the post office, First WoE no longer produce printed timetables. I can understand this for local routes like the 2 in Bath, but these are services with major tourist traffic. I’ve seen firsthand from First Wessex and First Kernow with passengers clutching their leaflets on tourist routes – it is a false economy on these routes and the office looked a depressing place.

I got onto 33665 and began my trip across the foothills of the Mendips. The first (and last) time in a decker though I’ve done it on REs, B10Ms, Darts, Renowns and Eclipses over many years. The run across to the coast is more common for me and the views of Cheddar Reservoir and Vale of Wedmore were lovely on a slightly dull morning. We had a few passengers leaving Wells but continued to pick up trade in reasonable numbers – this was pre 0930 so these were fare payers and we seemed to have a disproportionate number of 35 year old Eastern European women! I noted the save the 126 notices on the bus stops in Cheddar, publicising Doug Claringbold’s business email address. The closure of the western access to Axbridge and the A38 meant a long delay on the bypass but were still did ok for time. Loadings were reasonable and still we arrived in Weston with only 12-15 on board yet the queue for the outbound one (which RELL would enjoy the following day) had over 20 people. The withdrawal of the 126 is ridiculous and if the councils allow it to disappear, it will be a shameful dereliction of their responsibilities.

This was my first use of the Weston Interchange. It was perfectly fine though I still think Weston is one of those places that does justify something better. I had time for breakfast and then was back for my next bus – it was the X5. Hope @RELL6L is chuckling… I was heading for Avonmouth!!! This was one of the new Streetdecks – an unprecedented (in recent times) new bus order for the town and I have to say that this was not a bad machine. We ground our way out through Locking Castle to Worle and then belted up the M5 before heading into Clevedon. I’ve never had any issue with Streetdecks build quality and these seem good though the standard First mushroom eLeather seems a regressive step when FWoE used to have moquette. We looped around Clevedon and then had the loveliest bit of the journey as we headed out through the Gordano Valley. I love this bit of the route as its a real backwater to the M5, then passing via Portishead and then the seemingly intensely rural Sheepway (again - this is lovely and a bit of a surprise) as we crossed over the mothballed rail line that is supposed to be returned to use… eventually. It was then over the Avon and dropping down to Avonmouth where I exited, and walked the short distance into the “village” and waited for my next bus. A Stagecoach e200 arrived with a trainee driver and mentor who waited time, blocking the stop for my First 3. However, it wasn’t an issue as my purple B9 arrived and the Stagecoach bus disappeared. The B9 was refurbished in 2013 and it was beginning to look a bit shabby inside. Also, when the 3/4 was first branded with B7TLs a few years ago, the branding extended internally but like with the Mendip Explorer, that sort of marketing began dying out a few years ago in the latter days of the Freeman era. Hard to believe that the 3 through Avonmouth is now only half hourly nowadays. We headed off through Lawrence Weston and Henbury to Cribbs Causeway. Another photo of the former Avonmouth depot harks back to better days in the past.

Part two - Escape from Avonmouth

A toilet stop was all I needed at the retail emporium that is the Mall so I decided to take an m1 to UWE, this being one of the former CT Plus vehicles recently absorbed by First on that business’ collapse. It was a straight forward journey though the driver decided he wouldn’t bother with the bus lanes in Bradley Stoke. We scooted through before arriving at UWE. A few years ago, this was a vibrant centre as First and Wessex were busy competing. Not now – services seem much depleted from when I visited regularly in 2014. The two Metrobus routes are the most frequent and there’s the link to Fishponds (48A) and the Horfield (70/71) but everything else seems barely hanging on. Moreover, it was here that I noticed how filthy and down at heel the Bristol fleet now is. That has definitely declined in recent months.

It was another metrobus in the m3, which took me to the Science Park near Emerald Park, those utilising the bus infrastructure this time. I used to work near here and it was sobering to see how many cars were in the car park; where once you’d struggle to get a space, there was ample parking available. Testimony to how working from home and travel patterns have been affected. I interchanged here and waited for my 49 that duly arrived – a standard e400mmc from 2016. I can see these vehicles being cascaded at some point. We headed off on time and through Mangotsfield and the fleshpots of Staple Hill, passing my second former bus depot on Broad Street. Staple Hill is another microcosm of the challenges for First in Bristol – an illegally parked van outside a charity was taken as an invite for another whose driver dived into the bookies. Roadside parking also means reversing into the road and general congestion. No wonder buses struggle to carve their way through. I was after the Y5, that I last travelled on when it was the hourly X49. It is now two hourly but will disappear from Staple Hill when it and other routes are amalgamated to form the new 47, running instead via Downend. I was expecting something like a B9 so was pleasantly surprised to see another gas powered Scania similar to the metrobus examples, acting as a general spare.

I clambered upstairs and sat back to enjoy the trip via the burbs and into the countryside with the loop around the growing village of Pucklechurch. Now, I’ve mentioned before about the ADL build quality on the buses for Bristol. The standard short e400mmcs are ok but the longer dual door Scanias that arrived later seemed to creak a lot. I don’t know if it was the extra length, and then the gas powered Citys came and they also seem to squeak like hell. This was the worst and the issue is build quality. It is appalling. A bus less than 3 years old (or so) and it has gaps between pillars and panels, and the window frames, that you can stick your finger through. No wonder they’re heading back to Wrightbus for future orders.

We squeaked and rattled into Yate bus station where I had time for a coffee and a toilet stop. It toyed with getting the 620 to Bath (and now wish I had) but decided to get the Y1 back to Bristol. I thought if we made good time, I could just about get the 178. It was another offending e400city but short wheelbase in South Glos Lynx colours and it wasn’t so bad as the one I’d left before. We made good time down the M32 (bus infrastructure that works!) and into Bristol. I then had a brisk walk to Castle Park just in time to see the 178 disappear – amazingly, it was bang on time.

I had some slack in my timetable now (!) so thought I would fit in another route that is about to be amended. The 36 runs via Barton Hill to Brislington but is soon to be cut back to St Annes; another cut to a route that has been incrementally cut over recent years from Withywood to Brislington, as well as frequency cuts so it will be a shortened half hourly service. Despite this, and a record in having the oldest buses in Bristol historically, this was another CNG powered e400mmc – that was 5 in a day! We wound our way through BartNil (as is locally pronounced) avoiding lots of poorly parked cars – a decent load but it seemed more appropriate to have a Streetlite on there rather than rather expensive lumbering decker. We duly arrived at Brislington Square and a good view of a First billboard - I mean, it's good but how effective is it? My plan was a short hop to Keynsham on the 349 before a last run on the 178 to Midsomer Norton. Several X39s passed by on their way to Bath but eventually, the 349 turned up. First time I’d done this by First (rather than Abus) for years and it was a change in having a venerable 2007 B9 – a batch I remember arriving as a big investment in the East side services that passed my then home. It was a steady enough trip through the traffic and into Keynsham.

I thought I had about 10 mins to wait but I thought I’d just check the tracker. No 178 showing! Just the one I’d missed earlier and one that was about to pass en route to Bristol. The Real Time Info screen was showing it still scheduled whilst the next 349 to Park Estate was showing cancelled. Could it be running but not tracking? Of course not – it never turned up. A 10 min wait became elongated – a fellow passenger for the 349 mused about her missing bus and we took shared solace in our predicament. After about 45 mins, I could see the next (and last of the day) 178 was tracking and heading my way – dare I trust it? Nope – I bailed and instead caught the late running A4 to Bath. At least that way, I knew I had a chance of getting back to the car. Naturally, I arrived in Bath literally able to see my 171 loading but by the time we were set down at the stop by the station, it was loaded and about to exit the bus station. As for the A4, it was a decent run in their only Gemini B9 and with a few airport passengers. Good to see it doing well with its mix of local and holiday traffic, helped by decent marketing! I grabbed a coffee and went across to my last bus – another B9 and one of five based at Wells. We left on time, I was relieved, and we made our way smoothly to Radstock; in fact, it dealt with the climb out of Dunkerton wonderfully. I arrived back at my car frustrated but thankful. In all honesty, I’d done well in terms of vehicle and service reliability and it was a shame that it unravelled a bit at the end. It was good after nearly a year where I hadn't had a real explore (save journeys into Bristol and Bath) and to travel on some links that may not survive the year if not next.

Hope you found this travelogue of interest. Perhaps it was confirmation bias but it does feel that, after the leaps forward under James Freeman and his team since 2014, that good work is unravelling and I don’t see the picture getting better. Big shoes to fill. Clearly, both main Bristol firms are struggling for staff and that is impacting on service delivery. First had problems resourcing before Covid and those challenges are much greater. Yet the changes that are being made are curious (in many respects) and service quality and marketing are much worse than they were. As for cuts to strategic routes like the 126 and 178 - between the local authorities and First, there has to be better solutions.

Good to see your report from your day out last week. Yes, a lot of common ground although we did the 126, X5 and 3 in opposite directions.

My original plan had been to start at Yate, then head to Wells via Bath, heading back to Yate from Cribbs. I later changed this with a possible start at Keysham on the 178 or even Midsomer Norton to finish with the 178, but Cribbs to Keynsham isn't easy and the 178 looked in bad shape last week, hence doing what I did. I didn't say much about the 376, I have done this a few times before and I'm afraid a Volvo B9TL climbing up the hill out of Wells is a poor substitute for the cacophony of sounds from an RELL6L! As I say I do like Pensford though and on a previous occasion, when I think the 376 was every 20 minutes, I paused there. It's an attractive run until reaching the city.

I also did think about getting a 36 as part of this route is to go but decided it looked too slow and dull, interested to hear your views. I haven't yet been on any of the Scania gas buses, a pleasure to come if they haven't all fallen apart. Generally a fan of Scanias, going back to the wonderful Metropolitans, but it sounds like it is the bodies letting these down. I agree with you on the StreetDecks, the two I got on the X5 seemed competent buses and adequate performance on the M5, don't know about the hills as these routes are pretty flat. Yes, Severn Beach has a peculiarly depressed air about it, a coastal location that makes nothing of itself, like some places on the Thames or Humber.

Totally agree that withdrawing the 126 is mad, I accept that First is a business and has the right to operate as it chooses but the councils must not let this go. Anything cross-boundary is a particular risk at the moment. And I think the councils all need to up their game considerably, including more encouragement for buses and traffic improvements. You clearly had more time than me in Wells, I very much like the town and the cathedral / Bishop's Palace area. I vaguely recall one of my children watching Hot Fuzz and recognised it as Wells, not sure a plaque is in order though!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Good to see your report from your day out last week. Yes, a lot of common ground although we did the 126, X5 and 3 in opposite directions.

My original plan had been to start at Yate, then head to Wells via Bath, heading back to Yate from Cribbs. I later changed this with a possible start at Keysham on the 178 or even Midsomer Norton to finish with the 178, but Cribbs to Keynsham isn't easy and the 178 looked in bad shape last week, hence doing what I did. I didn't say much about the 376, I have done this a few times before and I'm afraid a Volvo B9TL climbing up the hill out of Wells is a poor substitute for the cacophony of sounds from an RELL6L! As I say I do like Pensford though and on a previous occasion, when I think the 376 was every 20 minutes, I paused there. It's an attractive run until reaching the city.

I also did think about getting a 36 as part of this route is to go but decided it looked too slow and dull, interested to hear your views. I haven't yet been on any of the Scania gas buses, a pleasure to come if they haven't all fallen apart. Generally a fan of Scanias, going back to the wonderful Metropolitans, but it sounds like it is the bodies letting these down. I agree with you on the StreetDecks, the two I got on the X5 seemed competent buses and adequate performance on the M5, don't know about the hills as these routes are pretty flat. Yes, Severn Beach has a peculiarly depressed air about it, a coastal location that makes nothing of itself, like some places on the Thames or Humber.

Totally agree that withdrawing the 126 is mad, I accept that First is a business and has the right to operate as it chooses but the councils must not let this go. Anything cross-boundary is a particular risk at the moment. And I think the councils all need to up their game considerably, including more encouragement for buses and traffic improvements. You clearly had more time than me in Wells, I very much like the town and the cathedral / Bishop's Palace area. I vaguely recall one of my children watching Hot Fuzz and recognised it as Wells, not sure a plaque is in order though!

I was enjoying your travelogue @RELL6L and the fact that we were covering the same ground and routes but in the opposite direction!

I never experienced the 376 with an RE. They were relegated to the 126 and 163 by the time I finally got to Somerset. Instead, my introduction was on nearly new Lynxes that had their own special charms. Still, the B9TLs are good machines - modern classics?

I can appreciate that First do need to make changes and some routes will simply not survive, or that convoluted routes like the new 47 may be the compromise that we have to accept. A toxic mix of staff shortages, burgeoning costs and depressed ridership are not easy challenges for any business. However, the 126 cut and 379/178 change seem like poor solutions to the challenges. We could be in a farcical situation whereby the only service Cheddar has is the tendered Libra service to Street with a lightly loaded short Solo; meanwhile, a route that has a much higher ridership and is perhaps borderline commercial is left to die.

BTW, whilst I enjoy the delights of bounding across the countryside, I do often like to fit in the occasional local service (like the 36). Gives a different perspective to an area and when I did the 5 (Weston to Worle) last year, there were views of Weston I'd never seen. Bath's 2, or 6/7, are similar.

 

[madannie77]

I have several trips written up, but due to my never being satisfied with what I have written nothing has been added here until now. In typical Madannie fashion this is the most recent trip

Last week found myself & Mr Madannie holidaying in Staffordshire, and on Wednesday 21st we took a trip around parts thereof by bus.

It was only when planning this trip that I discovered that the Duo ticket offered by Diamond was also valid on Chaserider and Select services, so this trip was a bargain at £7 for the pair of us!

Base for the week was Abbots Bromley, and first bus of the day was on Diamond route 403 Uttoxeter to Burton upon Trent. I haven’t got used to Midland Classic being part of Diamond yet, not least because I only saw one Diamond liveried bus all week.

There are no bus stops marked at the Butter Cross in Abbots Bromley, but we soon worked out where the bus would stop thanks to three other people waiting by the side of the road in a likely place. The bus was due at 0924 but was late and left the village at 0932. The bus was Enviro 400 40524 (SN11 BNA), the only double decker used on the trip, and we availed ourselves of upstairs seats for a better view of a part of the country neither of us knows at all well. Despite very few stops until the outskirts of Burton were reached more time was lost such that arrival at the terminus was 16 minutes late at 1019.

Next journey in the plan was the X12 to Lichfield at 1110, giving me plenty of time to get some shots of yellow and red Midland Classic buses in Burton town centre.

Bus for the 1110 to Lichfield was Diamond Irizar i3 bodied Scania 30999 (YN17 ONJ). This was our first trip on one of these: rather strange, with quite a climb to the rearmost seats, but ample legroom and plenty of speed for the journey along the A38. Due to roadworks a most convoluted route was followed, including coming off the dual carriageway at a junction and heading back the other way to another exit, and passing Lichfield Trent Valley Station twice. Arrival at Lichfield Bus Station was on time at 1147, the timetable having been amended to take account of the roadworks.

Having spent plenty of time in Lichfield the day before the next journey was on the 1203 service 826 to Stafford. Initial plans for the day included Cannock, but having noted regular late running on some journeys to and from Uttoxeter on previous days I opted for an easier schedule with plenty of time between buses and a later alternative for getting back to base if it all went wrong. Thankfully this wasn’t needed.

The 1203 from Lichfield to Stafford was on Chaserider Enviro 200MMC 2 (YX65 RWL). Departure was 3 minutes late, and by the time we had picked up over 20 passengers in Lichfield City Centre the lateness was rather more than that. Most passengers had alighted by the time we left Armitage but more were gained in Brereton and through Rugeley. A fast trip along the main road and a generous allowance of time between Queensville and Stafford Gaol Square meant we arrived at the latter point only 4 minutes late, at 1322.

The trip doubled as a means of getting to Stafford for a look around as it was somewhere neither of us had ever been to before, and we had almost two hours before our next bus. Quite a bit of photography of buses was done as well as general wandering around the town.

The next journey was the 1510 841 service to Uttoxeter, on Chaserider 67 (MK63 WZX), a Wright Streetlite DF. The 841 is a route whereby whenever a signpost shows Uttoxeter the bus goes the other way! Not quite, of course, but several detours along narrow country lanes to serve villages made for an interesting experience. A pity about the bus, though: it was very hot and had a smell of hot oil, as well as having an extremely rattly interior, by far the worst of the day. This journey detoured via a school on the outskirts of Stafford which worried me slightly, but only about 10 children got on and they were all well behaved. Passengers were dropped off all along the route until the outskirts of Uttoxeter, and we were the only through passengers. Arrival in Uttoxeter was just 1 minute late at 1617.

Last bus of the day was the 1630 Diamond service 402A to Burton as far as Abbots Bromley. There were a lot of people at the appropriate stop, such that I was wondering if we would get seats. It was only when the incoming bus arrived (late) that it became clear that the previous bus (the 1615 401 to Burton) had not appeared, and of the crowd waiting less than half got on the 402A. The bus for this trip was another Scania/Irizar i3, 31000 (YN17 ONH).

We left Uttoxeter 19 minutes late and after fruitless detours via Tesco and Uttoxeter Station and a convoluted journey including a double run at Draycott-in-the Clay and running for several miles away from Burton to serve Abbots Bromley we arrived back at the Butter Cross at 1723, 13 minutes late.

This was the first day trip we have done for many years outwith our local area, so I was perhaps a bit over-cautious with the planning, but a good time was had and it was a very cheap day out!

The buses used:
Diamond 40524 on New Street, Burton


Diamond 30999 on New Street, Burton


Chaserider 2 in Stafford


Chaserider 67 at Uttoxeter Bus Station


Diamond 31000 at Abbots Bromley

Staffordshire, September 2022 - madannie

Photos taken on a short holiday in Staffordshire in September 2022. Burton, Lichfield, Stafford and Uttoxeter feature here

madannie.smugmug.com

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I have several trips written up, but due to my never being satisfied with what I have written nothing has been added here until now. In typical Madannie fashion this is the most recent trip

Last week found myself & Mr Madannie holidaying in Staffordshire, and on Wednesday 21st we took a trip around parts thereof by bus.

It was only when planning this trip that I discovered that the Duo ticket offered by Diamond was also valid on Chaserider and Select services, so this trip was a bargain at £7 for the pair of us!

Base for the week was Abbots Bromley, and first bus of the day was on Diamond route 403 Uttoxeter to Burton upon Trent. I haven’t got used to Midland Classic being part of Diamond yet, not least because I only saw one Diamond liveried bus all week.

There are no bus stops marked at the Butter Cross in Abbots Bromley, but we soon worked out where the bus would stop thanks to three other people waiting by the side of the road in a likely place. The bus was due at 0924 but was late and left the village at 0932. The bus was Enviro 400 40524 (SN11 BNA), the only double decker used on the trip, and we availed ourselves of upstairs seats for a better view of a part of the country neither of us knows at all well. Despite very few stops until the outskirts of Burton were reached more time was lost such that arrival at the terminus was 16 minutes late at 1019.

Next journey in the plan was the X12 to Lichfield at 1110, giving me plenty of time to get some shots of yellow and red Midland Classic buses in Burton town centre.

Bus for the 1110 to Lichfield was Diamond Irizar i3 bodied Scania 30999 (YN17 ONJ). This was our first trip on one of these: rather strange, with quite a climb to the rearmost seats, but ample legroom and plenty of speed for the journey along the A38. Due to roadworks a most convoluted route was followed, including coming off the dual carriageway at a junction and heading back the other way to another exit, and passing Lichfield Trent Valley Station twice. Arrival at Lichfield Bus Station was on time at 1147, the timetable having been amended to take account of the roadworks.

Having spent plenty of time in Lichfield the day before the next journey was on the 1203 service 826 to Stafford. Initial plans for the day included Cannock, but having noted regular late running on some journeys to and from Uttoxeter on previous days I opted for an easier schedule with plenty of time between buses and a later alternative for getting back to base if it all went wrong. Thankfully this wasn’t needed.

The 1203 from Lichfield to Stafford was on Chaserider Enviro 200MMC 2 (YX65 RWL). Departure was 3 minutes late, and by the time we had picked up over 20 passengers in Lichfield City Centre the lateness was rather more than that. Most passengers had alighted by the time we left Armitage but more were gained in Brereton and through Rugeley. A fast trip along the main road and a generous allowance of time between Queensville and Stafford Gaol Square meant we arrived at the latter point only 4 minutes late, at 1322.

The trip doubled as a means of getting to Stafford for a look around as it was somewhere neither of us had ever been to before, and we had almost two hours before our next bus. Quite a bit of photography of buses was done as well as general wandering around the town.

The next journey was the 1510 841 service to Uttoxeter, on Chaserider 67 (MK63 WZX), a Wright Streetlite DF. The 841 is a route whereby whenever a signpost shows Uttoxeter the bus goes the other way! Not quite, of course, but several detours along narrow country lanes to serve villages made for an interesting experience. A pity about the bus, though: it was very hot and had a smell of hot oil, as well as having an extremely rattly interior, by far the worst of the day. This journey detoured via a school on the outskirts of Stafford which worried me slightly, but only about 10 children got on and they were all well behaved. Passengers were dropped off all along the route until the outskirts of Uttoxeter, and we were the only through passengers. Arrival in Uttoxeter was just 1 minute late at 1617.

Last bus of the day was the 1630 Diamond service 402A to Burton as far as Abbots Bromley. There were a lot of people at the appropriate stop, such that I was wondering if we would get seats. It was only when the incoming bus arrived (late) that it became clear that the previous bus (the 1615 401 to Burton) had not appeared, and of the crowd waiting less than half got on the 402A. The bus for this trip was another Scania/Irizar i3, 31000 (YN17 ONH).

We left Uttoxeter 19 minutes late and after fruitless detours via Tesco and Uttoxeter Station and a convoluted journey including a double run at Draycott-in-the Clay and running for several miles away from Burton to serve Abbots Bromley we arrived back at the Butter Cross at 1723, 13 minutes late.

This was the first day trip we have done for many years outwith our local area, so I was perhaps a bit over-cautious with the planning, but a good time was had and it was a very cheap day out!

The buses used:
Diamond 40524 on New Street, Burton


Diamond 30999 on New Street, Burton


Chaserider 2 in Stafford


Chaserider 67 at Uttoxeter Bus Station


Diamond 31000 at Abbots Bromley

Staffordshire, September 2022 - madannie

Photos taken on a short holiday in Staffordshire in September 2022. Burton, Lichfield, Stafford and Uttoxeter feature here

madannie.smugmug.com

Thank you @madannie77 - your report was a pleasure the read, and I did appreciate your photos. I've not managed to get up to travel in the area this year; last time was when those curious Scanias were first appearing (I think one was on the road) so I'm intrigued to know what they are like.

Sounds like some of the journeys had reasonable loadings. I used to live locally so I know some of those spots very well, and I have always said that the patch between Lichfield, Burton and Uttoxeter is one of the loveliest hidden gems in the country. Villages like Abbots Bromley are delightful. I have to say that I haven't been on the 841 for donkey's years but I've managed most of the others in the last couple of years courtesy of the Knot ticket that I've enjoyed a couple of times, visiting old haunts.

Midland Classic was also a gem of an operator and I have a feeling that the standards they had won't be maintained by Diamond. That said, Diamond has improved from the darkest days. There's been some investment (albeit in Wright Streetlites in the main) and the "brighter Diamond" certainly seems to wear better but the service delivery in WM/Worcs is patchy. That said, things are still a lot better than when Arriva ran Burton. D&G/Chaserider is also a bit of a curate's egg - some decent stuff but then you have some quite iffy bits too. The two big groups, Arriva and First, have been ruinous for Staffordshire over the last 20 years - I'd love to think that someone might continue the good work that James Boddice did at Classic.

 

[ChrisC]

I did a trip around parts of Derbyshire last Saturday. The main purpose of this was to have a walk around Chatsworth Park to see some of the sculpture exhibition that I hadn’t seen on a previous visit in July. I was going to drive there but decided to make it part of a day out by bus using a Concessionary Derbyshire Wayfarer.

As on previous similar trips I drove from my home in Nottinghamshire and parked in a quiet road I know in Swanwick near Alfreton. I waited at the bus stop opposite Swanwick Church to get the Trent Barton Comet to Chesterfield but this bus didn’t turn up. It was part of the daily long list of buses currently being cancelled each day by Trent Barton due to shortage of drivers. I didn’t want to have to wait around one hour for the next one so did a quick change of plan. I crossed the road and caught the Trent Barton 9:3 as far as Ripley where I did a quick change onto the 6:3.
The driver on the 9:3 quickly found the Concessionary Derbyshire Wayfarer on his machine but did say it was a long time since he last sold one of those. The price had risen by 30p to £7 since I last used it but still good value, even without using trains, for anyone aged 60+ who does not yet have a bus pass.

I enjoyed a wander around Belper. It’s a town that I used to visit quite often but I haven’t been for a while. In 2019 Belper for the second time won The Best High Street in England Award and is the only town to win it twice. It’s easily to see why as it was quite bustling and such an interesting variety of independent shops. The Belper River Gardens are also nice to visit and there are some very historic cottages in some of the cobbled streets.

I waited in quite a long queue at the small bus station in Belper for Trans Peak bus which eventually arrived around 15 minutes late. This bus was extremely busy, with a few standing passengers all the way from Belper through Matlock to where I got off at Bakewell. Interesting that earlier this year High Peak Buses had intended to withdraw this hourly service south of Matlock!

I didn’t stop in Bakewell, a town I know well and have visited many times. I got the Hulleys 257 bus for the short journey to Baslow where I got off for the walk into Chatsworth Park. Plenty of space in the huge park but still very busy with people walking around viewing the sculptures. I walked through the park from Baslow past the house and over bridge. I had a walk around the village of Edensor which is on the Chatsworth Estate. The 6th Duke of Devonshire had this village built and a few earlier cottages were demolished so that they didn’t spoil his view from the house. It’s a love.y village with impressive church and made a nice backdrop in my photo of the Hulleys 170 bus heading towards Bakewell. I was to catch this bus on its return journey to Chesterfield.

On arrival in Chesterfield I had a about 20 minutes to wait for the Trent Barton Comet bus back to my car at Swanwick. A good thing that I timed it right for this bus as the following Comet service, an hour later was another of Trent Barton’s cancellations.

An enjoyable day out. Not a very long day but a nice interesting circular journey which passed through parts of the Peak District that I know well. It was good to enjoy it from relaxing on a bus instead of driving.

 

[geoffk]

Good to see Hulley's still running. Why does Trent Barton have to use these mathematical expressions instead of proper route numbers?

 

[ian1944]

Is the Belper bus station still a garage? If so, presumably there is a safe way of segregating people and vehicles. I remember when Digbeth coach station was part of the Midland Red garage, and one time on a London-Manchester night journey, when several services had a break there at the same time (for an hour?) for interchange, I had a walk round and nearly fell into an unguarded pit in a dark corner. The other memory of that occasion was the all-night chippy across the road - it was below zero, but I couldn't stay on the coach with any comfort as my seat had practically no legroom.

 

[ChrisC]

Is the Belper bus station still a garage? If so, presumably there is a safe way of segregating people and vehicles. I remember when Digbeth coach station was part of the Midland Red garage, and one time on a London-Manchester night journey, when several services had a break there at the same time (for an hour?) for interchange, I had a walk round and nearly fell into an unguarded pit in a dark corner. The other memory of that occasion was the all-night chippy across the road - it was below zero, but I couldn't stay on the coach with any comfort as my seat had practically no legroom.

Belper bus station certainly looked like it is still used as a garage. I presume that Trent Barton still stable a few buses there overnight but it was empty on Saturday morning. The side used as a bus station is just like any other bus station with a pedestrian entrance at the side. No passengers are allowed to walk through the he actual garage space.

 

[Simon75]

Belper bus station certainly looked like it is still used as a garage. I presume that Trent Barton still stable a few buses there overnight but it was empty on Saturday morning. The side used as a bus station is just like any other bus station with a pedestrian entrance at the side. No passengers are allowed to walk through the he actual garage space.

One side which was the engineering , is now a tyre place, from what I've heard

 

[43055]

Good to see Hulley's still running. Why does Trent Barton have to use these mathematical expressions instead of proper route numbers?

Probably because it is part of the brand for the route as the routes with numbers are generally the routes run by unbranded buses.

Is the Belper bus station still a garage? If so, presumably there is a safe way of segregating people and vehicles. I remember when Digbeth coach station was part of the Midland Red garage, and one time on a London-Manchester night journey, when several services had a break there at the same time (for an hour?) for interchange, I had a walk round and nearly fell into an unguarded pit in a dark corner. The other memory of that occasion was the all-night chippy across the road - it was below zero, but I couldn't stay on the coach with any comfort as my seat had practically no legroom.

Belper bus station certainly looked like it is still used as a garage. I presume that Trent Barton still stable a few buses there overnight but it was empty on Saturday morning. The side used as a bus station is just like any other bus station with a pedestrian entrance at the side. No passengers are allowed to walk through the he actual garage space.

Belper is still used for overnight stabling of the sixes with maintenance and fueling done at Derby.

 

[Simon75]

Probably because it is part of the brand for the route as the routes with numbers are generally the routes run by unbranded buses.




Belper is still used for overnight stabling of the sixes with maintenance and fueling done at Derby.

Are there still staff facilities there ?