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

[Marcus Fryer]

Yes it does meet the standards, should be better when there are more in the standard red metrobus livery.

Isn't it one of the 'South Glos Lynx ' branded buses?

 

[spw24]

No its the one that's not yet branded

 

[carlberry]

Yes it does meet the standards, should be better when there are more in the standard red metrobus livery.

The red is for M1 so you'll have to wait for CT Plus to actually start having deliveries.

 

[carlberry]

I did wonder how long it would be before non-standard MetroBus buses turn up on the M3. Wouldn't surprise me too much if there are some occurrences of Gemini's turning up.

Surely better than a bus not turning up!

 

[freetoview33]

The red is for M1 so you'll have to wait for CT Plus to actually start having deliveries.

Nope! M1 is Magenta, M2 is Orange, M3 is Green, Red can be used on any of the routes.

 

[CD]

Buses of Somerset have gained a Dorset County Council tendered route beating Damory and South West Coaches.

First Bus Yeovil - Somerset
1 hr ·
NEW service X10 Yeovil-Blandford Forum

Starting on Monday 25th June 2018, Buses of Somerset will introduce NEW service X10 which will operate on Mondays to Fridays on behalf of Dorset County Council and replaces the service previously operated by South West Coaches. Please check the timetable shown here for the new journey times. In Sherborne, the bus will no longer operate via Sherborne Railway Station but will run along the A30 via Greenhill and Coldharbour.

Timetable:

...See more

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Buses of Somerset have gained a Dorset County Council tendered route beating Damory and South West Coaches.

First Bus Yeovil - Somerset
1 hr ·
NEW service X10 Yeovil-Blandford Forum

Starting on Monday 25th June 2018, Buses of Somerset will introduce NEW service X10 which will operate on Mondays to Fridays on behalf of Dorset County Council and replaces the service previously operated by South West Coaches. Please check the timetable shown here for the new journey times. In Sherborne, the bus will no longer operate via Sherborne Railway Station but will run along the A30 via Greenhill and Coldharbour.

Timetable:

...See more

Bit of a surprise there Ron. Wonder why SWC have relinquished it after less than a year.

The irony after BoS introduced the 59 and then didn’t get the gig when DCC retendered. Interesting to see how this pans out!!

Note that the website address is
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/dorset

 

[CD]

Bit of a surprise there Ron. Wonder why SWC have relinquished it after less than a year.

The irony after BoS introduced the 59 and then didn’t get the gig when DCC retendered. Interesting to see how this pans out!!

Note that the website address is
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/dorset

Yes that`s one out of the blue.
I wonder what vehicles will operate it. That 1510 from Sturminster School the last time I did it with a Damory Olympian was completely full !
First last operated the full route as the 68 in 2005.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes that`s one out of the blue.
I wonder what vehicles will operate it. That 1510 from Sturminster School the last time I did it with a Damory Olympian was completely full !
First last operated the full route as the 68 in 2005.

Good point - I did it last year to enjoy Damory’s last knockings. That was done by an Omnidekka. Other workings were Solos - what do SWC use?

 

[carlberry]

Nope! M1 is Magenta, M2 is Orange, M3 is Green, Red can be used on any of the routes.

Apologies, I hadn't read that anywhere. It strikes me as as a stupid idea as it's too close to one of the actual routes and, as CT Plus wont need any, it's only First that'll use it anyway. Either one with all three colours (like the P&R scheme) or just one in Metrobus Grey would make more sense to me!

 

[Anthony ross]

would anybody happen to know if the west of England or west of England plus day ticket take me to Newport on the seven express service or would that be a different ticket I would need to purchase many thanks

 

[Dai Corner]

would anybody happen to know if the west of England or west of England plus day ticket take me to Newport on the seven express service or would that be a different ticket I would need to purchase many thanks

The West of England ticket will get you to Newport. I live there and have used it the other way.

 

[Dhassell]

would anybody happen to know if the west of England or west of England plus day ticket take me to Newport on the seven express service or would that be a different ticket I would need to purchase many thanks

A regular West of England Day Ticket will suffice all the way to Newport.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

would anybody happen to know if the west of England or west of England plus day ticket take me to Newport on the seven express service or would that be a different ticket I would need to purchase many thanks

The WoE ticket is sufficient - see page 25 of this https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/node_images/Fares Guide (May18).pdf

The Plus version is only if you're looking to do both FWoE and onto Buses of Somerset.

In terms of multi operator tickets, The South East Wales Network Rider is not valid on the Severn Express at all, and the Avon Rider ticket only within the former Avon area so between Bristol and Aust Services. Hope that helps.

 

[Anthony ross]

Yes thanks that helps a lot

 

[Anthony ross]

Now I’ve just need to find Out if my partner can use her disability freedom pass to Newport or not

 

[Dhassell]

Now I’ve just need to find Out if my partner can use her disability freedom pass to Newport or not

Deleted

 

[Marcus Fryer]

On the Severn Express yes, don't believe so on any other Welsh services.

Are you sure? I thought that only applied only to passes issued by the former Avon authorities, not other authorities such as London.

 

[Dhassell]

Are you sure? I thought that only applied only to passes issued by the former Avon authorities, not other authorities such as London.

Not 100%, but that's how I thought it worked. Happy to be corrected.

EDIT, after seeing its a London pass, I am not 100% sure.

 

[Dhassell]

I have just found this page, it states:
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/using-pass/using-your-pass-outside-london
"The Freedom Pass allows you to travel on local bus services across England during off-peak times - 9.30am to 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at other times. The red rose symbol on your pass denotes that you have this right - known as the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). It does not allow you to use trams, trains or any other modes of transport."

Which makes me assume as long as it has the red rose symbol it is valid on the Severn Express. I know first defiantly make the exception because of the bus being partly in England and partly in Wales.

 

[D2007wsm]

Now I’ve just need to find Out if my partner can use her disability freedom pass to Newport or not

English concessionary bus passes are valid on services as long as your journey at least starts or finishes in England.

So on the Severn Express an English Concessionary pass can be used in both directions, but once in Wales can only be used to return into England. So you can't get off in Chepstow then travel onto Newport or technically not travel from Newport to Chepstow.

Likewise Welsh passes can be used in both directions, but once in England can only be used to return to Wales. So if a Welsh concessionary pass holder gets off at Cribbs Causeway and then decides to travel into Bristol, they would have to pay to get into Bristol, but could use their pass to return from the Bus Station to Chepstow or Newport.

 

[CD]

Good point - I did it last year to enjoy Damory’s last knockings. That was done by an Omnidekka. Other workings were Solos - what do SWC use?

SWC use Solos and E200s. Cannot find any DCC sponsored schools contract to Blandford. Vale Coaches do operate some from the school but not to Blandford.
When Damory operated the route the 1340 from Yeovil was a decker, it terminated at Sturminster and formed a 310 from the school to Blandford.
But later it changed to a Solo with a decker coming empty from Pimperne to Sturminster School to do the 310.
Never done the route with SWC so do not know what the loadings are now from Sturminster.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

University open day specials at Bristol Parkway this morning; at least four Geminis plus an E400MMC Unibus.
Also 32280 and 32285 this lunchtime.
And Bath Unibus 33946 is on the 19.

 

[windnoise69]

University open day specials at Bristol Parkway this morning; at least four Geminis plus an E400MMC Unibus.
Also 32280 and 32285 this lunchtime.
And Bath Unibus 33946 is on the 19.

33944 was on the 19 this morning and
33949 out on the 37.

 

[Whiteway215]

33944 was on the 19 this morning and
33949 out on the 37.

And so was 33945! Which probably explains why 10037/178/179 were on U1.66725 on a 172 working as well.

 

[Class 33]

Any news yet on the double deckers going onto the 172, 173 & 174?

 

[freetoview33]

Any news yet on the double deckers going onto the 172, 173 & 174?

I thought that now that the M3 has started there are free buses to let whats on the X39 to let those buses to go for there overhaul, then after the free ones can go onto the 172/3/4

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I thought that now that the M3 has started there are free buses to let whats on the X39 to let those buses to go for there overhaul, then after the free ones can go onto the 172/3/4

Isn’t it that five were released from the 903 and they’ve been sent for refurbishment? Are they being done at Thorntons? Given only a few weeks have passed, would be surprised if they’re back so soon.

As for the other (7??) B9s required, guess they’ll be released at some point though depends on the X39 programme and whatever RR commitments too.

Quick question - what was the contract duration for Bath P&R when it was last tendered?

 

[carlberry]

Isn’t it that five were released from the 903 and they’ve been sent for refurbishment? Are they being done at Thorntons? Given only a few weeks have passed, would be surprised if they’re back so soon.

Oddly this reminds me that at least two of the 903 deckers were back on the 903 today, still in original condition!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oddly this reminds me that at least two of the 903 deckers were back on the 903 today, still in original condition!

Aha.... so the reports of their demise were over-reported!!