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

[htwestern]

I‘m guessing that the X5 will go back to deckers now it’s on the direct M5 route - Although I’m not sure why they stopped when it was rerouted through congresbury, especially as they some appear on certain evening services (perhaps X4 runs returning to Weston depot)

The low bridge at Backwell means that the X7 will lose its deckers and join the rebadged X8 service with exclusively Streetlites i‘m assuming.

 

[markymark2000]

I speak as someone not living in the area but the 47X looks like it will become more complex with the 47 being introduced for a single round trip on a Saturday, all other trips will be the 47x. Would it really have been that hard for First to not complicate this area with just another route number.

Routes like the U3 too, why can't that be renumbered to M3 and incorporated as part of Metrobus route? Seems like a daft additional route to add to the network for little benefit.

 

[freetoview33]

I speak as someone not living in the area but I look at the 47/47X will become a mess with the 47 being introduced for a single round trip on a Saturday, all other trips will be the 47x. Would it really have been that hard for First to not complicate this area with just another route number.

Routes like the U3 too, why can't that be renumbered to M3 and incorporated as part of Metrobus route? Seems like a daft additional route to add to the network for little benefit.

For the U3 to be the M3 it would need to run to Emersons Green otherwise the powers that be wouldn't like it!

 

[markymark2000]

For the U3 to be the M3 it would need to run to Emersons Green otherwise the powers that be wouldn't like it!

But they already run M3 shorts Mon-Fri mornings? And surely the powers that be, if they had even a few brain cells, would see that a high profile route running 24 hours per day most of the week, as being a really good thing, rather than worrying that the bus doesn't run all the way to Emersons Green at night. Metrobus 24 hours per day sounds so much better than 'Metrobus early-late then a random U3 bus covers the nights because we can't be bothered including it in the normal Metrobus scheme'......

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

For the U3 to be the M3 it would need to run to Emersons Green otherwise the powers that be wouldn't like it!

I suspect it's because the m3 goes via Begbrook and then runs to UWE campus (with some heading to Emersons). However, the night time U3s come off at Hambrook into UWE past The Gardens into the UWE campus rather than via Stoke Park. It is quite a distinctly different route so I see why the "logic" in a separate number (though maybe m3N might've been better).

Why it does that, I have no idea. I don't hang around Frenchay after midnight (!) so don't know why it follows that routeing.

 

[markymark2000]

I suspect it's because the m3 goes via Begbrook and then runs to UWE campus (with some heading to Emersons). However, the night time U3s come off at Hambrook into UWE past The Gardens into the UWE campus rather than via Stoke Park. It is quite a distinctly different route so I see why the "logic" in a separate number (though maybe m3N might've been better).

Why it does that, I have no idea. I don't hang around Frenchay after midnight (!) so don't know why it follows that routeing.

Isn't the the M32 Begbrook junction unofficially reserved for Metrobuses, and therefore because the U3 isn't a Metrobus, it doesn't use the Begbrook junction? That is certainly the impression I have gotten over the past few years. There doesn't seem to be any specific reason for the bus to serve 'The Gardens' stop other than to ensure that drivers go that specific way rather than using the Begbrook junction though I could be mistaken and I'm open to hearing why it is done this way, though I am not sure if I can be convinced that it wouldn't be done better if it was part of Metrobus and operated as an M1, M3 or M4.

 

[-Colly405-]

I seem to remember a discussion when it was first introduced, that it is to do with the U3 having older vehicles to cope better with students throwing up than on the then-new metrobus vehicles

Mind you, with the state of the m vehicles now (particularly the rear-facing seats at the rear) i don't think anyone would notice now!

y it does that, I have no idea. I don't hang around Frenchay after midnight (!) so don't know why it follows that routeing.

I ended up using the U3 at Christmas when I mis-judged the time to walk to the Centre for the last m1. It's a long walk from The Gardens along Rosedown Ave at that time of night with no streetlights ..

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Isn't the the M32 Begbrook junction unofficially reserved for Metrobuses, and therefore because the U3 isn't a Metrobus, it doesn't use the Begbrook junction? That is certainly the impression I have gotten over the past few years. There doesn't seem to be any specific reason for the bus to serve 'The Gardens' stop other than to ensure that drivers go that specific way rather than using the Begbrook junction though I could be mistaken and I'm open to hearing why it is done this way, though I am not sure if I can be convinced that it wouldn't be done better if it was part of Metrobus and operated as an M1, M3 or M4.

The metrobus infrastructure is reserved for vehicles that meet certain criteria. I thought it was emissions (in which case any B9 could use it) but perhaps there's an age limit as well. It's a fair point if Begbrook is reserved solely for metrobus routes; the other major pieces of metrobus infrastructure (Ashton Avenue bridge and the Ashton Gate flyover) were used by the Airport Flyer until 2020 though.

@-Colly405- mentions the use of older vehicles for students who may have "had a bad bag of crisps" so that may well be the reason. Certainly won't be to serve The Gardens at night (which is mainly offices for defence firms as it's close to Abbey Wood).

 

[kei.8532]

If I remember correctly, the m32 bus gate does close after the last m1 drive past. It remains close overnight, hence why U3 is there and using a different exit.

I don't get why can't they operate the bus gate 24/7 though, surely using the bus gate to get to Frenchay campus is less mileage than using junction 1. They can also serve Stoke Park as well, where loads of uni students live in.

 

[Buses in Bath]

I‘m guessing that the X5 will go back to deckers now it’s on the direct M5 route - Although I’m not sure why they stopped when it was rerouted through congresbury, especially as they some appear on certain evening services (perhaps X4 runs returning to Weston depot)

The low bridge at Backwell means that the X7 will lose its deckers and join the rebadged X8 service with exclusively Streetlites i‘m assuming.

I think the X5 being singles had more to do with the fact it interworked with the 5 in Weston. I would assume it will be deckers again however it is once again being interworked with Weston Town Routes. This time the 7B and 7H and although i believe those routes can get away with dekcers they may not use them. Guess we will have to wait and see.

I speak as someone not living in the area but the 47X looks like it will become more complex with the 47 being introduced for a single round trip on a Saturday, all other trips will be the 47x. Would it really have been that hard for First to not complicate this area with just another route number.

Routes like the U3 too, why can't that be renumbered to M3 and incorporated as part of Metrobus route? Seems like a daft additional route to add to the network for little benefit.

Hard agree on the 47. As for the m3 as others have said it has something to do with the type of buses they use on the route not always being metrobus compliant so it cant use the bus gate.

 

[John R]

Daytime service X7 seems to be rerouting to A370 and Backwell rather than going through Long Ashton and Wraxall, assuming this is also replacing the current X8 when both X7 and X9 will cover the current route?

Yes, the X8 is going with the X7 replacing it. Benefit for current X8 passengers is that it skips Long Ashton (as it used to) which will considerably reduce the journey time into Bristol, particularly as it can take advantage of the bus lane on the by-pass.

The other interesting point is that you will potentially be able to take the train to Nailsea and then hop on the X8 to Clevedon.

 

[markymark2000]

Hard agree on the 47. As for the m3 as others have said it has something to do with the type of buses they use on the route not always being metrobus compliant so it cant use the bus gate.

What a silly system for Travelwest/Bristol Council to set up, and how daft for everyone to not put their heads together and realise that politically and commercially, there are benefits to be had by relaxing the rules for these few trips at night. There are huge gains for all sides to not enforce these rules as strongly.

 

[DaveHarries]

Yes, the X8 is going with the X7 replacing it. Benefit for current X8 passengers is that it skips Long Ashton (as it used to) which will considerably reduce the journey time into Bristol, particularly as it can take advantage of the bus lane on the by-pass.

I think this may not go down too well: I wonder how many will prefer double-deckers to get to Nailsea, particularly at peak times and therefore use the X9 over the X7: the former would give a more direct, and probably quicker, route - a Streetlite would be packed on a peak hour trip.

On another note, and in reply to my own reckoning (post 32,049, page 1069 of this thread) where I said:

I guess they will add an extra journey on another route (X4?) to get a vehicle for the 02:15 journey.

I was correct. Some of the new timetables are on Traveline and the Friday & Saturday arrangements for the late evening X4s are different from the Mondays to Thursdays.

On Mondays to Thursdays the 2240 & 2340 Bristol to Portishead do the whole circuit of Portishead and finish back at Combe Road (Stop B) at 2344 & 0044 respectively. On Fridays the 2240 & 2340 Bristol to Portishead do return journeys back to Bristol Bus Station arriving at 0031 & 0131 respectively (although on Saturdays, for some reason, the journeys take longer so the return journeys get into Bristol at 0042 & 0142 respectively instead) following which I presume the drivers on those journeys get a break before taking the 0115 and 0215 journeys on the X14. I was wondering how the driver diagrams will work out on that arrangement but thinking about it the driver hours regs call for that length of break so that sorts it.

Dave

 

[BrumKev]

I'm personally quite pleased with the changes to services in North Somerset.

The change of the X5 route is something I really welcome. It's basically gone back to how it was before they sent it via Yatton,Claverham and Congresbury to Weston. Going back to using the M5 between Clevedon and Worle really shortens it again as the journey time between Portishead and Weston was too much. The areas of Yatton and Claverham needed their own standalone route which they will have in these changes although it should be more frequent, especially with the newer housing estates popping up in Yatton and local area. Interesting it isn't serving Locking Castle, am I right in thinking that's the narrow housing estate it currently goes from Worle interchange to Weston?. If so, I do wonder if Streetdecks will be used again although Streetdecks have been used round there before much to my amazement, given how tight it is and some of the locals parking.

The other change I quite like is the increased frequency of the X6 from 60 mins to 30 mins plus now an hourly Sunday service. I can get the X7 from Clevedon to Bristol but I prefer the X6 as it's a bit quicker and more direct. Even more so now with the change to the X7 going via Backwell/A370. Also will be single deckers on the X7 with the railway bridge at Nailsea and Backwell station.

There seems to have been a big backlash of the decision to remove the X8 and X7 from Long Ashton. There's a lot of comments on the NSC Facebook post with many tagging the local MP. Also the X9 isn't being increased in frequency to compensate and I believe the Westlink area doesn't include long Ashton. Many parents that send their kids to schools in Nailsea or Backwell will be hindered without these two routes as it seems the X7/X7A is bypassing the village!. Will be interesting to see if this gets changed

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What a silly system for Travelwest/Bristol Council to set up, and how daft for everyone to not put their heads together and realise that politically and commercially, there are benefits to be had by relaxing the rules for these few trips at night. There are huge gains for all sides to not enforce these rules as strongly.

It was fairly understandable to put in rules to ensure the quality of vehicles meets age and emission standards. I'd assume that non metrobus vehicles that can use that junction (e.g. they could send the T1 as it uses CNG powered e400s?) as clearly, modern non-metrobus vehicles were able to use the Ashton Avenue/Ashton Gate infrastructure?

That said, I'm not certain that there are great benefits to be had that are being missed. I bet the students and any UWE workers know there's a night bus and that will be the market. I agree with @-Colly405- that when the buses were new, you might have wanted to protect them from queasy students. The vehicles are now a good few years old (at least five and possibly older) so put some of the 2018 vehicles out and have an m3N?

 

[-Colly405-]

The vehicles are now a good few years old (at least five and possibly older) so put some of the 2018 vehicles out and have an m3N?

Or just plain m3 - there have always been short journeys that only operate as far north as UWe - currently 1/day I think, but rememebr that the current m4 journeys were in effect converssions of short m3s...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Or just plain m3 - there have always been short journeys that only operate as far north as UWe - currently 1/day I think, but rememebr that the current m4 journeys were in effect converssions of short m3s...

I was thinking it could be a marketing thing but then again, none of the other 24 hr routes are so yeah, I agree with you.

 

[DaveHarries]

There seems to have been a big backlash of the decision to remove the X8 and X7 from Long Ashton. There's a lot of comments on the NSC Facebook post with many tagging the local MP. Also the X9 isn't being increased in frequency to compensate and I believe the Westlink area doesn't include long Ashton. Many parents that send their kids to schools in Nailsea or Backwell will be hindered without these two routes as it seems the X7/X7A is bypassing the village!. Will be interesting to see if this gets changed

Two things on this:

- Firstly the X7 will operate direct via the A370 but the X7a will operate via. Long Ashton.
- Secondly there will be a new X1s: this will provide additional capacity for pupils travelling to Backwell School and will operate via. Long Ashton.

The timetables are both on TravelineSW.

Dave

 

[lewesroad]

The other change I quite like is the increased frequency of the X6 from 60 mins to 30 mins plus now an hourly Sunday service. I can get the X7 from Clevedon to Bristol but I prefer the X6 as it's a bit quicker and more direct.

Also good that the X6 will run later in the evening from Bristol with a 20:45 departure.

 

[-Colly405-]

I also see that there is yet another route change on the 74 in Bradley Stoke North - from April it will operate to the top of Brook Way, then anticlockwise around what is currently the clockwise loop (Bowsland Way, Trench Lane, Woodlands Lane) to turn right at the Toby and terminate properly at the current 'terminus' stop on Great Park Road. It will then start there and retrace its outward route back to Brook Way. I imagine the residents who use the Woodlands Park stop will be up in arms again that they have no bus service, but I'm presuming that after all the earlier fuss, which resulted in First reinstating a service to that stop, they've not been using it...

I think this is now the fourth version of this end of the 74 (ex-73) since it ceased serving Cribbs...
- initially as per what will be the new route, but terminating at the Eagles Wood stop on Woodlands lane. No service for Woodlands Park
- resident pressure leading to an extension of that at certain times to terminate on the Aztec West Approach Road, giving Woodlands Park a limited service
- the current loop, giving Woodlands Park a regular service, but also giving everyone on the loop a longer journey in one direction or the other while the bus sat at Great Park
- the future plan. No service for Woodlands Park

 

[nick291]

I also see that there is yet another route change on the 74 in Bradley Stoke North - from April it will operate to the top of Brook Way, then anticlockwise around what is currently the clockwise loop (Bowsland Way, Trench Lane, Woodlands Lane) to turn right at the Toby and terminate properly at the current 'terminus' stop on Great Park Road. It will then start there and retrace its outward route back to Brook Way. I imagine the residents who use the Woodlands Park stop will be up in arms again that they have no bus service, but I'm presuming that after all the earlier fuss, which resulted in First reinstating a service to that stop, they've not been using it...

I think this is now the fourth version of this end of the 74 (ex-73) since it ceased serving Cribbs...
- initially as per what will be the new route, but terminating at the Eagles Wood stop on Woodlands lane. No service for Woodlands Park
- resident pressure leading to an extension of that at certain times to terminate on the Aztec West Approach Road, giving Woodlands Park a limited service
- the current loop, giving Woodlands Park a regular service, but also giving everyone on the loop a longer journey in one direction or the other while the bus sat at Great Park
- the future plan. No service for Woodlands Park

I'm just happy the southern end where I live isnt changing

 

[Streetdecks]

Weston's new electrics are supposedly due as early as next week and will arrive in batches

 

[DaveHarries]

Weston's new electrics are supposedly due as early as next week and will arrive in batches

That would make sense: been waiting for the switchover from '74' plate to '25' plate. IIRC a photo appeared on a Facebook group showing a '25' plate at Pelican Yutong's yard in Castleford. Weston's electric charging points all wired in then? I haven't been past there of late.

Dave

 

[htwestern]

Weston's new electrics are supposedly due as early as next week and will arrive in batches

Does anyone know if they’ll be in Badgerline livery, the new purple First colours, or WestBus?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Does anyone know if they’ll be in Badgerline livery, the new purple First colours, or WestBus?

They won’t be in Badgerline - that’s dead.

Expect they’ll be in green

 

[htwestern]

They won’t be in Badgerline - that’s dead.

Expect they’ll be in green

Interesting as Weston technically isn't in the WECA area.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interesting as Weston technically isn't in the WECA area.

That's very true. I was thinking that FWoE would probably just want the one livery for their fleet but yes, the buses will spend much of their time in the quasi-kingdom of North Somerset. Whatever they do wear, Badgerline has been consigned to history for a second time.

NOTE: discovered another 1985 era Badgerline bus stop sign on Saturday. That's four I know survive

 

[htwestern]

NOTE: discovered another 1985 era Badgerline bus stop sign on Saturday. That's four I know survive

Wow - where are they?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wow - where are they?

I won't give firm directions as someone will turn up with a screwdriver.

One is in the Chew Valley (@Citistar knows where - it also has an Avon CC logo), one is near Warminster, another is near Calne, and the latest one is near Burnham on Sea - all are very rural which is probably why they survived.

Also, there are a couple of roads in Midsomer Norton/Radstock that have the original FirstBus Badgerline ones, as well as one in a village not far away from them. Photos from flickr friend (with permission)

 

[Callum15632]

Weston's new electrics are supposedly due as early as next week and will arrive in batches

One has arrived at Weston this evening, its fleet number is 30025.