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

[Streamr_MXP]

Currently onboard 32338 on route 174. Presumably this has replaced a poorly Enviro, or is just at Wells to help out until it eventually dies

 

[GusB]

Mod's can you post this in the first South West thread to explain what you have done and why. If someone is not looking at this thread and only the South West one (like I was earlier) they might wonder what is going on.

Done. Sorry for causing any confusion!

 

[Tommy Walters]

Fun Fact on the artics. Aside from running at the Balloon Festival, Air Tattoo etc., the last time one worked out of Bath in service was when 10178 was used on an emergency rail replacement to Chippenham and back in early 2018 (think due to serious signalling issues) while being spare between uni peaks! Can't imagine that would've been a comfortable trip somehow!

 

[D2007wsm]

D2007wsm, post: 4642253,

I heard Weston will be inheriting around 15 preloved deckers from Lawrence Hill. These will be used to continue a double deck service on the 3, supplement the 7 when it goes to every 10 minutes, cover the boards on the 1 & 20 summer timetable which is not covered by the Coaster fleet and 32222/3 and the X5s.

I heard a couple of weeks ago 15 double deckers were heading from Lawrence Hill to Weston. No mention was made of vehicles transferring from Bath. This may be the usual transfer from Bath to supplement the Coaster fleet, particularly now that the Trident is deceased.

From Monday the Monday to Friday PVR of Weston will be 55 buses, consisting of 53 double deckers and 2 single deckers. This is broken down into:

- 32 x double deckers for excel services (X1/X1x/X2/X3/X3a/X3x/X4/X5/X6/X7)
- 6 x double deckers/open toppers for Coaster services (1/20)
- 15 x double deckers for Badgerline services (6 for the 3/9 for the 7)
- 2 x Streetlites for Badgerline services (5)

Usually Weston has 45 double deckers:

- 29 x E400 (27 x excel /2 x Urban)
- 6 x ALX400 Volvo B7TL (Coaster - 5 x open top and 1 x closed top)
- 2 x President Volvo B7TL (Urban)
- 8 x Gemini Volvo B7TL (Badgerline)

So Weston needs a total of 8 extra double deckers to cover the PVR, plus a couple to act as spares. So far 9 have transferred in.

 

[martyjon]

Here is a little observation but no prizes for the first and correct observation. What makes gas bus 39459, South Glos liveried vehicle different to all the rest of the gas buses unless there is another with the same uniqueness.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Here is a little observation but no prizes for the first and correct observation. What makes has bus 39459, South Glos liveried vehicle different to all the rest of the gas buses unless there is another with the same uniqueness.

Isn't that the one with the orange destination display? I'm sure that was mentioned on here before somewhere!

On a similar note, 33950 in Bath was delivered with a white rear display, the only one to do so. It lost this about 2 months into service, however!

 

[martyjon]

Isn't that the one with the orange destination display? I'm sure that was mentioned on here before somewhere!

On a similar note, 33950 in Bath was delivered with a white rear display, the only one to do so. It lost this about 2 months into service, however!

Gosh that was quick, yes orange destination display on the front with the side and rear number display white, any reason, display package labelled white in error or mixed bag when kitting up units for installing at factory ?


W

 

[D2007wsm]

Here is a little observation but no prizes for the first and correct observation. What makes gas bus 39459, South Glos liveried vehicle different to all the rest of the gas buses unless there is another with the same uniqueness.

Correct, this bus has an orange Hanover display. It arrived with a white one which was faulty, a orange one was pilfered from another bus to get it into service and is yet to be rectified. It is a bone of contention for some.

 

[Buses in Bath]

Isn't that the one with the orange destination display? I'm sure that was mentioned on here before somewhere!

On a similar note, 33950 in Bath was delivered with a white rear display, the only one to do so. It lost this about 2 months into service, however!

Wasnt 33950s rear display a colour changing display set to green or am I losing my mind?

 

[Westonian]

I heard a couple of weeks ago 15 double deckers were heading from Lawrence Hill to Weston. No mention was made of vehicles transferring from Bath. This may be the usual transfer from Bath to supplement the Coaster fleet, particularly now that the Trident is deceased.

From Monday the Monday to Friday PVR of Weston will be 55 buses, consisting of 53 double deckers and 2 single deckers. This is broken down into:

- 32 x double deckers for excel services (X1/X1x/X2/X3/X3a/X3x/X4/X5/X6/X7)
- 6 x double deckers/open toppers for Coaster services (1/20)
- 15 x double deckers for Badgerline services (6 for the 3/9 for the 7)
- 2 x Streetlites for Badgerline services (5)

Usually Weston has 45 double deckers:

- 29 x E400 (27 x excel /2 x Urban)
- 6 x ALX400 Volvo B7TL (Coaster - 5 x open top and 1 x closed top)
- 2 x President Volvo B7TL (Urban)
- 8 x Gemini Volvo B7TL (Badgerline)

So Weston needs a total of 8 extra double deckers to cover the PVR, plus a couple to act as spares. So far 9 have transferred in.

These are the extra deckers at Weston for the increase in services on Monday. 32004,32008,32286,32287,32290,32333,32336,32344,32359,32360,37320,37321,37322,37326,37327. That equals the number mentioned by D2007wsm although not all from Lawrence Hill. There may be a couple more. Also, all Coaster open tops now back at Weston for the 1 and 20. I understand some Darts and Streetlites have been taken away, presumably to be stored as space is needed for extra deckers.

 

[D2007wsm]

These are the extra deckers at Weston for the increase in services on Monday. 32004,32008,32286

,32287,32290,32333,32336,32344,32359,32360,37320,37321,37322,37326,37327. That equals the number mentioned by D2007wsm although not all from Lawrence Hill. There may be a couple more. Also, all Coaster open tops now back at Weston for the 1 and 20. I understand some Darts and Streetlites have been taken away, presumably to be stored as space is needed for extra deckers.

The Darts are at Lawrence Hill for storage, but I was told by a driver they heard from management they are not returning. The 3 is going to remain double decker operated permanently. So expect to see some more Badgerline double deckers and possibly Streetlites for the 5.

These Darts have done well for their age and still look very smart painted in Badgerline livery.

The Streetlites which are at Lawrence Hill are 2 of those in excel livery. I would have thought this is for Marlborough Street to use from Monday on the X8, with the X9 being whatever double decker Lawrence Hill decide to churnout.

Of the recent arrivals in Weston, I would guess:

- The ALX400 B7TLs (32004/32009/32286/32287/32290) will mainly be used to supplement the Coaster fleet on the 1 and 20 and allow closed top vehicles to operate the entire service in bad weather
- The B7TL Geminis (32333/32336/32344/32359/32360)
will mainly be used to supplement the Badgerline fleet on the 3 and 7
- The B9 Geminis (37320/37321/37322/37326/37327) will mainly be used to supplement the E400s on excel services.

When the 1/2 E400MMCs were on holiday in Weston, the Darts were parked up at the back behind the other buses where cars are usually parked. The 2 A3 E200MMCs are still on holiday at the airport, so even with the remaining Streetlites there should be enough room. They can’t send away too many of these as they need 2 for the 5s and knowing what Streetlites are like, a couple will be needed as spares.

I seriously hope 32004 or 32009 do not appear on excel services as the seat are horrendously uncomfy. I will be seriously unimpressed if one turns up on an X1 or X1x lol

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Darts are at Lawrence Hill for storage, but I was told by a driver they heard from management they are not returning. The 3 is going to remain double decker operated permanently. So expect to see some more Badgerline double deckers and possibly Streetlites for the 5.

These Darts have done well for their age and still look very smart painted in Badgerline livery.

The Streetlites which are at Lawrence Hill are 2 of those in excel livery. I would have thought this is for Marlborough Street to use from Monday on the X8, with the X9 being whatever double decker Lawrence Hill decide to churnout.

Of the recent arrivals in Weston, I would guess:

- The ALX400 B7TLs (32004/32009/32286/32287/32290) will mainly be used to supplement the Coaster fleet on the 1 and 20 and allow closed top vehicles to operate the entire service in bad weather
- The B7TL Geminis (32333/32336/32344/32359/32360)
will mainly be used to supplement the Badgerline fleet on the 3 and 7
- The B9 Geminis (37320/37321/37322/37326/37327) will mainly be used to supplement the E400s on excel services.

When the 1/2 E400MMCs were on holiday in Weston, the Darts were parked up at the back behind the other buses where cars are usually parked. The 2 A3 E200MMCs are still on holiday at the airport, so even with the remaining Streetlites there should be enough room. They can’t send away too many of these as they need 2 for the 5s and knowing what Streetlites are like, a couple will be needed as spares.

I seriously hope 32004 or 32009 do not appear on excel services as the seat are horrendously uncomfy. I will be seriously unimpressed if one turns up on an X1 or X1x lol

32287 was also one of those vehicles parked up in Westbury. I agree with the view on the seats on 32004/8 - purgatory!

Interesting to see that Weston had 45 deckers pre-Covid. What was it when it was at the lowest ebb? A dozen??

I remember Bath was down to the P&R deckers (8) plus 5 B7TLs.... Hard to comprehend how few deckers there were at times.

 

[northken]

Correct, this bus has an orange Hanover display. It arrived with a white one which was faulty, a orange one was pilfered from another bus to get it into service and is yet to be rectified. It is a bone of contention for some.

Do you (or anyone) by any chance know why there has been a shift from the orange to white displays?

 

[D2007wsm]

32287 was also one of those vehicles parked up in Westbury. I agree with the view on the seats on 32004/8 - purgatory!

Interesting to see that Weston had 45 deckers pre-Covid. What was it when it was at the lowest ebb? A dozen??

I remember Bath was down to the P&R deckers (8) plus 5 B7TLs.... Hard to comprehend how few deckers there were at times.

I think it was 33411/33414-33418 and 33825-33830 so 13. This was for a brief period when the X6 along with 33412/33413/33419 (I think it was these 3) transferred to Marlborough Street.

Do you (or anyone) by any chance know why there has been a shift from the orange to white displays?

I think it is because in certain lights they are easier to read than the orange ones. Personally I agree with this and think they look much better.

 

[Streamr_MXP]

I seriously hope 32004 or 32009 do not appear on excel services as the seat are horrendously uncomfy. I will be seriously unimpressed if one turns up on an X1 or X1x lol

Are you sure you don't mean 32008? As I believe 32009 still remains at Wells. Also those seats aren't any worse than those on the wheel arches and back rows of the Enviro 400s, and partnered with the really soft suspension those have, a full length journey on the X1/X1X is easily do-able, having done the full length of the 174 on 32008 myself.

 

[lx12ddo]

Wasnt 33950s rear display a colour changing display set to green or am I losing my mind?

Not to my recollection - but I would personally give the last word on this to Tommy, who probably remembers better than I do...!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Are you sure you don't mean 32008? As I believe 32009 still remains at Wells. Also those seats aren't any worse than those on the wheel arches and back rows of the Enviro 400s, and partnered with the really soft suspension those have, a full length journey on the X1/X1X is easily do-able, having done the full length of the 174 on 32008 myself.

Give over. Those W regs are absolute sheds and the seats are nothing more than some fabric stretched over hard plastic. We don’t like e400s - we get it.

 

[D2007wsm]

Are you sure you don't mean 32008? As I believe 32009 still remains at Wells. Also those seats aren't any worse than those on the wheel arches and back rows of the Enviro 400s, and partnered with the really soft suspension those have, a full length journey on the X1/X1X is easily do-able, having done the full length of the 174 on 32008 myself.

Are you sure you don't mean 32008? As I believe 32009 still remains at Wells. Also those seats aren't any worse than those on the wheel arches and back rows of the Enviro 400s, and partnered with the really soft suspension those have, a full length journey on the X1/X1X is easily do-able, having done the full length of the 174 on 32008 myself.

Apologies, that’s what I meant. I was flicking between 2 different screens on my phone sat on a bus.

It is only the older E400s (334** and 335**) which have the uncomfy back seat downstairs. The 336**, 337** and 338** have a proper back seat downstairs.

Personally, I choose to sit elsewhere on the bus as:

A: Where these seats are located there isn’t enough leg room. If I sit there my knees are rammed into the seat or bulkheadin front
B: The back seat downstairs when it is warm is unbearable with the heat coming from the engine.

I’ve travelled on 32001 in the past when it was on an X1 and it wasn’t fun.

Give over. Those W regs are absolute sheds and the seats are nothing more than some fabric stretched over hard plastic. We don’t like e400s - we get it.

Agreed, they are horrible things. Everyone’s preference is difference, but at least with an E400 you can choose not to sit in a different place on a proper seat.

 

[georgeloxton02]

Are you sure you don't mean 32008? As I believe 32009 still remains at Wells. Also those seats aren't any worse than those on the wheel arches and back rows of the Enviro 400s, and partnered with the really soft suspension those have, a full length journey on the X1/X1X is easily do-able, having done the full length of the 174 on 32008 myself.

I find the Enviro 400s very comfy, both the normal seats and the back row seats.

Give over. Those W regs are absolute sheds and the seats are nothing more than some fabric stretched over hard plastic. We don’t like e400s - we get it.

I agree, after catching a DWX with those seats on the 174 I can safely say they are terrible seats

 

[georgeloxton02]

Is Bath operating the 172 today and onwards or tomorrow onwards?

 

[Tommy Walters]

Not to my recollection - but I would personally give the last word on this to Tommy, who probably remembers better than I do...!

Wasnt 33950s rear display a colour changing display set to green or am I losing my mind?

I have no recollection of it being green at all. The only buses I know with that are the A4 Air Deckers!

This is the one photo I can find of it with a white rear display!

Give over. Those W regs are absolute sheds and the seats are nothing more than some fabric stretched over hard plastic. We don’t like e400s - we get it.

It's that kind of seat design in general (I'm no expert, so if someone knows the company name who manufactured them then please say) that are so awful. At least the ones used on the KP51s & the W-CWR bendis have some degree of padding on them, but as for the W-regs and indeed the Hengrove Tridents, I think wooden benches would be more comfy! I even came across 32008 with a back seat cushion missing one time downstairs, and someone still sat in that seat! Probably didn't see much of a difference!

 

[Private Baxter]

Do you (or anyone) by any chance know why there has been a shift from the orange to white displays?

It might be a DDA requirement. Supposedly it is easier to read for those who are partially sighted and so all new buses and information screens will be white. Regardless, I agree it looks better.

 

[Private Baxter]

It's that kind of seat design in general (I'm no expert, so if someone knows the company name who manufactured them then please say) that are so awful. At least the ones used on the KP51s & the W-CWR bendis have some degree of padding on them, but as for the W-regs and indeed the Hengrove Tridents, I think wooden benches would be more comfy! I even came across 32008 with a back seat cushion missing one time downstairs, and someone still sat in that seat! Probably didn't see much of a difference!

Buses from the period 1999 - 2002 seem to all have those awful seats with virtually no padding, and a few survive in our region, though with recent mass withdrawals, the majority I think have now gone.

 

[Tommy Walters]

It might be a DDA requirement. Supposedly it is easier to read for those who are partially sighted and so all new buses and information screens will be white. Regardless, I agree it looks better.

I think this was also the reasoning behind the switch from Dayglo to White blinds in London a few years back!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Buses from the period 1999 - 2002 seem to all have those awful seats with virtually no padding, and a few survive in our region, though with recent mass withdrawals, the majority I think have now gone.

Yeah, First took leave of their senses. Remember the dread when a B10BLE would come into view then realise it was 62193/4. The B7Ls were even worse and whilst ok on the 5 (shorter journey lengths), they appeared on Chippenham or 319s regularly!

 

[ValleyLines142]

Its tracking on the 21 today. When did they say it transferred?

36228 is still in Bath. It's currently on the 19 in Warmley en route to Cribbs.

 

[Streamr_MXP]

I spotted 36232 between Paulton & Hallatrow this morning, running Not In Service. Is this bus back at Wells, or was that just Bath dead running via the A39 to Paulton, to start their operations of the 172?

 

[matt_splat]

Bath took over the running of the 172 from this morning

 

[D2007wsm]

32004 and 32290 out plying their trade in Weston this morning. 32290 going to Sand Bay on the 1 and 32004 going to Burnham-on-Sea on the 20.

The yellow flipdot displays really do look old fashioned now after seeing mainly orange and white LED displays about.

 

[Whiteway215]

Bath took over the running of the 172 from this morning

I think it was a 172 I passed near Radstock this afternoon worked by 33948