Thank you for that info. I'm surprised its a commecial operation and won't last long if it doesn't serve areas where there is a high proportion of elderly people. I have now been told by a member of First staff that they can't serve parts of the route because 'we don't have any minibuses' - so why bother to run it if they haven't got the right kit. Keeps other potential operators off their patch I guess.
Perhaps it is to protect market share? Makes you wonder why they didn't keep Bath Solos 53806/20 if they had a mind to operate these, perhaps using fully depreciated fleet would also have been preferable
I'm more inclined to go with @swifty's view that it might be to do with their use on country work such as various Mendip Explorer or the D1x routes where their extra length may be an issue. Certainly, the similar aged ones on Bristol P&R look in much better nick. I don't know if the colour matching is poor on the Bath ones or if the paint fades quicker than the factory baked examples but they look a right mess.
These are typical (credit to photographers)
First Bus West of England 'Bath Unibus' Enviro 400MMC YX66 WEV 33946 + YX66 WFA 33948 , Weston Island Depot Bath 16.2.20
First Bus West of England 'Bath Unibus' Enviro 400MMC YX66 WEV 33946 + YX66 WFA 33948 , Weston Island Depot Bath 16.2.20www.flickr.com
On 33947, you can see the obvious panel minus the logo but the n/s corner has also clearly been, and think the o/s and panel beneath the cab window are also replacements. 33948 is even more glaring.
The 65 plate ones don't look too bad but there is the odd scuff etc
I reckon the panel on 946 is what used to be on 948 post-turning circle blunder back in early 2020. Same shade as the replacement panel, which made 948 stand out from the lot. Guess the MMCs might be in for a patching up paint job just before the next academic year begins in September. No point doing it for this year’s cohorts as it’s almost over !
Buses are limited to 50mph on single carriageway roads.
You do realise it's a limit and, even for car drivers, it's not against the law to do less than then limit?
Indeed, and were it to be a goods vehicle, it's 40 mph
I believe they didn't publicise it as 'huge lorries allowed to speed through rural areas' didn't sound like a good press release!
As I learned at my last speed awareness course the speed limits for HGVs were increased from 6th April 2015 to 50mph on a single carriageway road and to 60 mph on a dual carriageway.
With the exception of the A9 between Perth and Inverness where HGVs can do 50MPH as they've found it's safer due to cars being less likely to make dangerous overtakes.
Several Citylines East Scania gas buses on the Chippenham route, Bath City/Discover Volvo B7RLE on the Westbury route and Bath City Optare Solo on the Bradford-on-Avon via Freshford route. The vehicles concerned can be found by reference to the bustimes.org tracker, where they are shown as route 444 or 555.
It does depend as if you are going slow enough you actively become a danger to other road users and so could probably be done for dangerous driving or something similar.
Indeed and at the risk of getting a rebuke from the moderators for going too much off topic it was the same on the A30 over Bodmin Moor when it was upgraded. It was a40 or 50 mph temporary limit with cars tailgating dangerously because someone was going on or just below the speed limit.
Ahem!
Indeed, I was driving back from Melksham on Saturday and seeing a Discover vehicle in the town was a surprise, before passing a couple of gas buses (one SGL, one 73) between Box and Batheaston.
Yes it is new and i think they got put up the weekend the timetbales were changing. They're smart but its a shame as it kind of shows that there may not be an interest in putting open toppers back on the route again in the future even with the trees cut down.
They were swapped over on a weekday last week. I believe to cover the fact Coaster branded vehicles are not being used and instead a lot of the time Badgerline Darts.
This was repainted a few months ago after leaving Bath.
It has received its vinyls and is just waiting to enter service.
