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

[-Colly405-]

Oops.

Although oddly it does go as far as the Ratcliffe Drive roundabout in Stoke Gifford to turn round - for some reason it waits time pointing west in the layby beyond the Parkway station bus stops, then heads off there to turn round - it doesn't turn round in Parkway!

From Sunday, its arrival terminus moves to be stop C rather than stop B, which may change this...

 

[Martin2013]

One observation with the latest round of changes is that several routes have had their Sunday evening service reduced and now finish earlier and the 36 has an earlier last bus every day of the week?

Presumably First have decided that the late sunday evening services are not generating sufficient revenue to operate but I hope that it is not the start of a larger decline in evening/Sunday evening provision as has occured elsewhere in the country before?

I'm surprised the 36 doesn't even retain the 2300ish bus on a Friday and Saturday night but since First went and altered the route to terminate at St Annes I've been less encouraged to use it.

The recent diversion turned out to be a blessing as the bus diverted to the top of Sandy Park Road even if it was about half an hour late arriving in Broadmead due to the diversion. I emailed First and WECA asking if the diversion route could be retained and the good Mr Norris emailed me back advising that WECA have no control over it although they'd like to and its the operators right to decide on the route.

 

[-Colly405-]

And the latest instalment in the "what will the route of the T1 be from Sunday" saga is that the latest WECA TravelWest update of Sunday's changes has changed the T1 listing to show it as going via UWE

SERVICE NUMBER	ROUTE DESCRIPTION	SUMMARY OF CHANGES
T1 (South Glocs) First WoE	Thornbury – Alveston – Rudgeway – Almondsbury – Patchway (Aztec West) – Bradley Stoke (Bradley Stoke Way – Great Stoke Way) – UWE Frenchay Campus – Bristol	Timetable revised and frequency increased.

For what it's worth, here's the link, but it may well change again soon lol

Bus service changes April 2024 - WEST

Planned bus service changes to routes operating within the West of England area from 7 April 2024. List of service changes Last updated 29 Feb 2024. Please note this list may still be subject to change. Please use the search function on the top to search for your service – if your service is not...

travelwest.info

 

[Benjwri]

How is FirstBus expecting to be able to run all these increased frequency routes? Just earlier this week they canned more than half the U1 and U2 services in Bath because there weren’t enough buses, where are these buses magically appearing from in the next week?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

How is FirstBus expecting to be able to run all these increased frequency routes? Just earlier this week they canned more than half the U1 and U2 services in Bath because there weren’t enough buses, where are these buses magically appearing from in the next week?

As has been mentioned, there are vehicles being released from the Bristol Park and Ride services, other withdrawn services, and then some others being cascaded into the fleet.

A bigger concern is having enough drivers to cover the work!

 

[freetoview33]

And the latest instalment in the "what will the route of the T1 be from Sunday" saga is that the latest WECA TravelWest update of Sunday's changes has changed the T1 listing to show it as going via UWE

SERVICE NUMBER	ROUTE DESCRIPTION	SUMMARY OF CHANGES
T1 (South Glocs) First WoE	Thornbury – Alveston – Rudgeway – Almondsbury – Patchway (Aztec West) – Bradley Stoke (Bradley Stoke Way – Great Stoke Way) – UWE Frenchay Campus – Bristol	Timetable revised and frequency increased.

For what it's worth, here's the link, but it may well change again soon lol

Bus service changes April 2024 - WEST

Planned bus service changes to routes operating within the West of England area from 7 April 2024. List of service changes Last updated 29 Feb 2024. Please note this list may still be subject to change. Please use the search function on the top to search for your service – if your service is not...

travelwest.info

The Saga continues!

 

[Marcus Fryer]

The Saga continues!

The timetables on the First Bus website show it running fast Cabot Circus-Harry Stoke and v.v.

Timetables

%%TIMETABLES%%

www.firstbus.co.uk

I know which I believe.

 

[-Colly405-]

The timetables on the First Bus website show it running fast Cabot Circus-Harry Stoke and v.v.

Timetables

%%TIMETABLES%%

www.firstbus.co.uk

I know which I believe.

The fact that it (still) isn't on Traveline yet makes me think that there have been behind-the-scenes discussions going on later than you would have expected, so I'm not going to rush to any conclusion!!!
Traveline usually updates on a Thursday so lets see whether it appears today...

 

[Citistar]

What a farce. There is an upcoming T1 timetable now live on Traveline which agrees with the First website timetable, as it should because i believe that will be derived from the raw data that First supply to BODS (bus open data service).

Doesn't mean it's not all subject to change again though...!

 

[WibbleWobble]

as it should because i believe that will be derived from the raw data that First supply to BODS.

I do believe Traveline is still using data from local co-odinators as they are not happy that the data is comprehensive enough to switch over. They have the facility to do so, they have just chosen not to use it just yet.

 

[stait.john]

Around 60 vehicle transfers this weekend to get vehicles in place for the PVR uplift on Monday.

A recap of the new arrivals:
47670-47672 from Southampton to Weston
37359, 37387, 37682 from York and all three should be Lawrence Hill based
37239, 37240, 37267, 37540 from Glasgow to Hengrove.
So 10 cascades into the fleet.

33931-33934, 33936-33942 Hengrove to Bath (ex Bristol P&R buses)

36807, 36809, 36815, 36822, 36823 Bath to Lawrence Hill

36230, 36232, 36233, 36234 Bath to Hengrove
36229 Bath to Lawrence Hill (possibly onward to Hengrove)

37354 Weston to Hengrove

35108, 35109, 37332, 37627 Lawrence Hill to Hengrove

35165, 35166, 35167 Lawrence Hill to Weston

35119, 35137 Bath to Weston

35142, 35144, 35148, 35161 Hengrove to Weston

37319, 37325, 37333, 37335 Weston to Lawrence Hill

44525 Cymru to Bath
44553 Bath to Cymru

Possibly a few more to come, I believe all the Streetdecks at Bath are due to move to Weston, and Hengrove will just have 35103-35111 left, all others will be at Weston Depot.

John

 

[lachlan]

And the latest instalment in the "what will the route of the T1 be from Sunday" saga is that the latest WECA TravelWest update of Sunday's changes has changed the T1 listing to show it as going via UWE

SERVICE NUMBER	ROUTE DESCRIPTION	SUMMARY OF CHANGES
T1 (South Glocs) First WoE	Thornbury – Alveston – Rudgeway – Almondsbury – Patchway (Aztec West) – Bradley Stoke (Bradley Stoke Way – Great Stoke Way) – UWE Frenchay Campus – Bristol	Timetable revised and frequency increased.

For what it's worth, here's the link, but it may well change again soon lol

Bus service changes April 2024 - WEST

Planned bus service changes to routes operating within the West of England area from 7 April 2024. List of service changes Last updated 29 Feb 2024. Please note this list may still be subject to change. Please use the search function on the top to search for your service – if your service is not...

travelwest.info

I took the T1 out to Aztec West on Monday and can confirm it did not go via UWE. Unfortunately the service was very quiet, probably fewer than ten people on my bus. Took an m1 back which was busier as usual.

Just seen a new service 25 this morning and after a bit of digging can see it is replacing part of the 47. No Saturday service any more.

 

[stait.john]

Just to recap some of last weekends vehicles me moves:

All WoE Streetdecks are now at Weston Super Mare EXCEPT 35103-35111 & 35162.

Update on the 36801-36824 Scanias:
Bath:
36801-36806, 36814, 36816-36821, 36824.
Lawrence Hill:
36807-36813, 36815, 36822, 36823.

B9s 36228-36234:
36228 and 36231 have stayed at Bath (36228 is currently out stationed at Wells)
36229 at Lawrence Hill
36230, 36232, 36233, 36234 at Hengrove

The three ex-York B9s are all in service now at Lawrence Hill (37359, 37387, 37682)

The four ex-Glasgow B9s are all at Hengrove, not sure any are on the road yet (37239, 37240, 37267, 37540)

The three ex-Southampton Streetlites are at Weston Super Mare (47670-47672)



Streetlite Allocations:
Lawrence Hill: 47442, 47443, 47444, 47447, 47544, 47545, 47554, 47556, 47558, 47559. Total of 10 for a PVR of 4 (2 on 36, 2 on X8)

Hengrove: 47435-47441, 47555, 47565, 47568, 47571. Total of 11 for routes 8 & 72.

Weston: 47551, 47552, 47553, 47557, 47561, 47566, 47567, 47569, 47570, 47670-47672. Total of 12.

Hope this helps?

John

 

[AllanMacF]

Just to recap some of last weekends vehicles me moves:

All WoE Streetdecks are now at Weston Super Mare EXCEPT 35103-35111 & 35162.

Update on the 36801-36824 Scanias:
Bath:
36801-36806, 36814, 36816-36821, 36824.
Lawrence Hill:
36807-36813, 36815, 36822, 36823.

B9s 36228-36234:
36228 and 36231 have stayed at Bath (36228 is currently out stationed at Wells)
36229 at Lawrence Hill
36230, 36232, 36233, 36234 at Hengrove

The three ex-York B9s are all in service now at Lawrence Hill (37359, 37387, 37682)

The four ex-Glasgow B9s are all at Hengrove, not sure any are on the road yet (37239, 37240, 37267, 37540)

The three ex-Southampton Streetlites are at Weston Super Mare (47670-47672)



Streetlite Allocations:
Lawrence Hill: 47442, 47443, 47444, 47447, 47544, 47545, 47554, 47556, 47558, 47559. Total of 10 for a PVR of 4 (2 on 36, 2 on X8)

Hengrove: 47435-47441, 47555, 47565, 47568, 47571. Total of 11 for routes 8 & 72.

Weston: 47551, 47552, 47553, 47557, 47561, 47566, 47567, 47569, 47570, 47670-47672. Total of 12.

Hope this helps?

John

I have today done a tally of the total of double-deckers in and out of each of First West of England's five depots.
Bath takes in 11, but loses 20! (So down 9);
Hengrove takes in 13 (including ex-Glasgow), while losing the nine StreetDecks to Weston (up 4);
Lawrence Hill receives 15 (including ex-York) and loses 18 (down 3);
Weston-s-Mare gets the 18 StreetDecks and despatches 6 Geminis (up 12);
Wells receives 3 extras.
As a matter of interest, Bath retains 36231 because it alone of the batch carries Bath City blue livery. Conversely, 33673 and '737, now sent to Wells, were the only two SN12s still in Olympia livery.
Major news is that it appears that Keynsham is no longer in South Gloucestershire - it is in east Bristol! That is to say, South Glos Lynx buses no longer work on to the 349, as, instead, the 349 shares its buses with the 17 ... and the 522, meaning Norton-Radstock and Bath are also "in" east Bristol. Such fun.
Does anybody have any idea what happened to the 4 yesterday afternoon? I was tracking York University branded 37359 on the 4, hoping to photgraph it locally, when it mysteriously tracked to Lawrence Hill depot, as did another 4. By the time 37359 was shown as being back in town, there was not one bus showing active on the 4! 37359 then proceeded up Whiteladies Road on a Henbury 4, while being shown as 58 minutes late! But it was next tracked on Falcondale Road in Westbury! Indeed, it was shown to go over Henbury Hill to Crow Lane, to take up an in-bound 4. At least that meant I was soon able to photograph it with the sun at the right angle when on its way back to town. Oh, and a Badgerline StreetLite undertook a trip on the 4 a little later. A bus is a bus, whatever the colour!

 

[Marcus Fryer]

From personal observation and analysis of bustimes.org, it appears that since Monday a Badgerline streetdeck is now scheduled to perform three return trips to Kingswood on the 17 during the day.
For example:

35673 - MF22 SYC

Wright StreetDeck Micro Hybrid

bustimes.org

 

[father_jack]

From personal observation and analysis of bustimes.org, it appears that since Monday a Badgerline streetdeck is now scheduled to perform three return trips to Kingswood on the 17 during the day.

47545 worked first Y6 in from Yate this morning. https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fbri-47545​

I have today done a tally of the total of double-deckers in and out of each of First West of England's five depots.
Bath takes in 11, but loses 20! (So down 9);
Hengrove takes in 13 (including ex-Glasgow), while losing the nine StreetDecks to Weston (up 4);
Lawrence Hill receives 15 (including ex-York) and loses 18 (down 3);
Weston-s-Mare gets the 18 StreetDecks and despatches 6 Geminis (up 12);
Wells receives 3 extras.
As a matter of interest, Bath retains 36231 because it alone of the batch carries Bath City blue livery. Conversely, 33673 and '737, now sent to Wells, were the only two SN12s still in Olympia livery.
Major news is that it appears that Keynsham is no longer in South Gloucestershire - it is in east Bristol! That is to say, South Glos Lynx buses no longer work on to the 349, as, instead, the 349 shares its buses with the 17 ... and the 522, meaning Norton-Radstock and Bath are also "in" east Bristol. Such fun.
Does anybody have any idea what happened to the 4 yesterday afternoon? I was tracking York University branded 37359 on the 4, hoping to photgraph it locally, when it mysteriously tracked to Lawrence Hill depot, as did another 4. By the time 37359 was shown as being back in town, there was not one bus showing active on the 4! 37359 then proceeded up Whiteladies Road on a Henbury 4, while being shown as 58 minutes late! But it was next tracked on Falcondale Road in Westbury! Indeed, it was shown to go over Henbury Hill to Crow Lane, to take up an in-bound 4. At least that meant I was soon able to photograph it with the sun at the right angle when on its way back to town. Oh, and a Badgerline StreetLite undertook a trip on the 4 a little later. A bus is a bus, whatever the colour!

Here is the bustimes.org diagram of 37359 yesterday Allan https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fyor-37359?date=2023-04-05

 

[stait.john]

I have today done a tally of the total of double-deckers in and out of each of First West of England's five depots.
Bath takes in 11, but loses 20! (So down 9);
Hengrove takes in 13 (including ex-Glasgow), while losing the nine StreetDecks to Weston (up 4);
Lawrence Hill receives 15 (including ex-York) and loses 18 (down 3);
Weston-s-Mare gets the 18 StreetDecks and despatches 6 Geminis (up 12);
Wells receives 3 extras.
As a matter of interest, Bath retains 36231 because it alone of the batch carries Bath City blue livery. Conversely, 33673 and '737, now sent to Wells, were the only two SN12s still in Olympia livery.
Major news is that it appears that Keynsham is no longer in South Gloucestershire - it is in east Bristol! That is to say, South Glos Lynx buses no longer work on to the 349, as, instead, the 349 shares its buses with the 17 ... and the 522, meaning Norton-Radstock and Bath are also "in" east Bristol. Such fun.
Does anybody have any idea what happened to the 4 yesterday afternoon? I was tracking York University branded 37359 on the 4, hoping to photgraph it locally, when it mysteriously tracked to Lawrence Hill depot, as did another 4. By the time 37359 was shown as being back in town, there was not one bus showing active on the 4! 37359 then proceeded up Whiteladies Road on a Henbury 4, while being shown as 58 minutes late! But it was next tracked on Falcondale Road in Westbury! Indeed, it was shown to go over Henbury Hill to Crow Lane, to take up an in-bound 4. At least that meant I was soon able to photograph it with the sun at the right angle when on its way back to town. Oh, and a Badgerline StreetLite undertook a trip on the 4 a little later. A bus is a bus, whatever the colour!

Not sure those figures are all correct…..

Lawrence Hill lost 35108, 35109, 35165, 35166, 35167, 37332, 37627 but gained 36229, 37319, 37325, 37333, 37335, 37356, 37359, 37387, 37682, 36807, 36809, 36815, 36822, 36823.
I make that 7 transferred out and 14 transferred in, so an increase of 7.

Hengrove lost 8 Streetdecks to Weston and the 11 P&R MMCs to Bath, so 19 transferred out.

36230, 36232-36234 moved in from Bath to Hengrove, 37332, 37627 moved in from LH, 37239, 37240, 37267, 37540 in from Glasgow. 35108, 35109 also moved in from LH. That’s 10 B9s into Hengrove and 2 Streetdecks so a loss of 8 DD overall. That accounts for the withdrawal of 902, 904 and the 91.

Weston card 2041 works on the Bristol 17 service off peak Monday to Friday to avoid sitting in Bristol Bus Station all day.

Weston gained all 6 Streetdecks from Bath, 8 from Hengrove and 3 from Lawrence Hill so 17 in, 5 B9s out to LH. Increase of 12.

Bath does Wells engineering with only light maintenance taking place at Wells, so buses are frequently swapped between the two depots.

 

[-Colly405-]

Is the m4 towards Cribbs avoiding Hayes Way by using Gloster Rd and Highwood Rd an official diversion or just the driver trying to avoid the queues on Hayes Way?

 

[stait.john]

Avoiding the roadworks mate.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

Is the m4 towards Cribbs avoiding Hayes Way by using Gloster Rd and Highwood Rd an official diversion or just the driver trying to avoid the queues on Hayes Way?

The one I was on the other day used Charlton Boulevard (not Gloucester Rd) to reach Highwood Rd.

 

[AllanMacF]

Not sure those figures are all correct…..

Lawrence Hill lost 35108, 35109, 35165, 35166, 35167, 37332, 37627 but gained 36229, 37319, 37325, 37333, 37335, 37356, 37359, 37387, 37682, 36807, 36809, 36815, 36822, 36823.
I make that 7 transferred out and 14 transferred in, so an increase of 7.

Hengrove lost 8 Streetdecks to Weston and the 11 P&R MMCs to Bath, so 19 transferred out.

36230, 36232-36234 moved in from Bath to Hengrove, 37332, 37627 moved in from LH, 37239, 37240, 37267, 37540 in from Glasgow. 35108, 35109 also moved in from LH. That’s 10 B9s into Hengrove and 2 Streetdecks so a loss of 8 DD overall. That accounts for the withdrawal of 902, 904 and the 91.

Weston card 2041 works on the Bristol 17 service off peak Monday to Friday to avoid sitting in Bristol Bus Station all day.

Weston gained all 6 Streetdecks from Bath, 8 from Hengrove and 3 from Lawrence Hill so 17 in, 5 B9s out to LH. Increase of 12.

Bath does Wells engineering with only light maintenance taking place at Wells, so buses are frequently swapped between the two depots.

Thanks for being polite and not highlighting a silly mistake I made! That being, that the 11 Park & Ride MMCs had been at Hengrove and not Lawrence Hill.
Lawrence Hill is due to receive 36824 also, I understand, once repairs to an RTA are made, and I did include it in the moves already, hence 15 buses in. But yes, only 7 out, so not down by 3 but up by 8.
Hengrove I think lost 9 StreetDecks to Weston, not 8 - 35142-8/60/1, so 20 buses out.
Weston also lost loaned 37354, back to its rightful home of Hengrove.
It is a disappointment to many living in north-west Bristol that the new schedules show no increase to the poor, 20-minute frequency of the 1 and the appalling 40-minute frequency of each of the 2 and the 2a. The company would probably say, "Yes, but that give a 10 minute frequency through the city and along Whiteladies Road". That's no help to the majority of the passengers, who live beyond The Downs or The Three Lamps. The 1 (at least) was every 12 minutes not that long ago (it became 10 minutes when Wessex were competing with their The One). Number 1s are often well-laden. It's even more frustrating when seeing it pointed out that the sevices between Midsomer Norton or Radstock and Bath give a bus every 12 minutes. Remember the talk, in the recent past, about making the 2 and the A4018 road a special case? That seems to have been quietly forgotten.

 

[freetoview33]

Thanks for being polite and not highlighting a silly mistake I made! That being, that the 11 Park & Ride MMCs had been at Hengrove and not Lawrence Hill.
Lawrence Hill is due to receive 36824 also, I understand, once repairs to an RTA are made, and I did include it in the moves already, hence 15 buses in. But yes, only 7 out, so not down by 3 but up by 8.
Hengrove I think lost 9 StreetDecks to Weston, not 8 - 35142-8/60/1, so 20 buses out.
Weston also lost loaned 37354, back to its rightful home of Hengrove.
It is a disappointment to many living in north-west Bristol that the new schedules show no increase to the poor, 20-minute frequency of the 1 and the appalling 40-minute frequency of each of the 2 and the 2a. The company would probably say, "Yes, but that give a 10 minute frequency through the city and along Whiteladies Road". That's no help to the majority of the passengers, who live beyond The Downs or The Three Lamps. The 1 (at least) was every 12 minutes not that long ago (it became 10 minutes when Wessex were competing with their The One). Number 1s are often well-laden. It's even more frustrating when seeing it pointed out that the sevices between Midsomer Norton or Radstock and Bath give a bus every 12 minutes. Remember the talk, in the recent past, about making the 2 and the A4018 road a special case? That seems to have been quietly forgotten.

I think the plan is to wait for the passage road/crow lane/Knole Lane improvements to be made first. Before improving the 1 and 2

 

[stait.john]

Thanks for being polite and not highlighting a silly mistake I made! That being, that the 11 Park & Ride MMCs had been at Hengrove and not Lawrence Hill.
Lawrence Hill is due to receive 36824 also, I understand, once repairs to an RTA are made, and I did include it in the moves already, hence 15 buses in. But yes, only 7 out, so not down by 3 but up by 8.
Hengrove I think lost 9 StreetDecks to Weston, not 8 - 35142-8/60/1, so 20 buses out.
Weston also lost loaned 37354, back to its rightful home of Hengrove.
It is a disappointment to many living in north-west Bristol that the new schedules show no increase to the poor, 20-minute frequency of the 1 and the appalling 40-minute frequency of each of the 2 and the 2a. The company would probably say, "Yes, but that give a 10 minute frequency through the city and along Whiteladies Road". That's no help to the majority of the passengers, who live beyond The Downs or The Three Lamps. The 1 (at least) was every 12 minutes not that long ago (it became 10 minutes when Wessex were competing with their The One). Number 1s are often well-laden. It's even more frustrating when seeing it pointed out that the sevices between Midsomer Norton or Radstock and Bath give a bus every 12 minutes. Remember the talk, in the recent past, about making the 2 and the A4018 road a special case? That seems to have been quietly forgotten.

35160 is still long term VOR at HG so I assume that would transfer to WM in exchange for 37355 at some point in the future.

I agree about the 2 frequency, it’s a ridiculous frequency every 40 minutes, I wonder when the new bus only Road through the old Airfield will be built and in use for the m4 and the 2a?

36824 is indeed receiving RTC repairs.

 

[f23]

35160 is still long term VOR at HG so I assume that would transfer to WM in exchange for 37355 at some point in the future.

I agree about the 2 frequency, it’s a ridiculous frequency every 40 minutes, I wonder when the new bus only Road through the old Airfield will be built and in use for the m4 and the 2a?

36824 is indeed receiving RTC repairs.

Is 35160 awaiting a new engine or something else?

 

[freetoview33]

35160 is still long term VOR at HG so I assume that would transfer to WM in exchange for 37355 at some point in the future.

I agree about the 2 frequency, it’s a ridiculous frequency every 40 minutes, I wonder when the new bus only Road through the old Airfield will be built and in use for the m4 and the 2a?

36824 is indeed receiving RTC repairs.

At this rate still a few more years!

 

[father_jack]

(SNIPPED...... )

Lawrence Hill lost 35108, 35109, 35165, 35166, 35167, 37332, 37627 but gained 36229, 37319, 37325, 37333, 37335, 37356, 37359, 37387, 37682, 36807, 36809, 36815, 36822, 36823.

37333 still thinks it's a Weston bus but was at UWE 2015 tonight. Still on bustimes.org from March https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fbri-37333

 

[SouthEastBuses]

What happened with 36824? It hasn't been out since March

 

[Whiteway215]

What happened with 36824? It hasn't been out since March

Has accident damage but is also scheduled to transfer Bath to Lawrence Hill.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Has accident damage but is also scheduled to transfer Bath to Lawrence Hill.

So let me guess, will be a Metrobus spare? (seeing that LH's N250UDs have been doing Metrobus routes recently)

 

[JamesGoldsmith]

Looks like a driver has gone on autopilot here… bus was supposed to turn around at Staple Hill and has not only continued on to Emerson’s Green uneccessarily, but has even gone to the old terminus in Lyde…

33797 - YX66 WLB

ADL Enviro400 MMC

bustimes.org