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

[ValleyLines142]

The Gemini 3 does look ugly! I don't like the upstairs windows. I can see what First don't like them. Much prefer the Gemini 2 or 1.

They look as if they've been designed by Ikea!

Here is a picture of Stagecoach Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 13019 (BJ 14 KSX) on the 53 to Whitehall.

And as for the rear of them, don't even get me started on vile this is!

It seems unusual as well as it is mainly First that are fans of the Geminis, not Stagecoach! Stagecoach seem to be a lover of the Enviro 400.

 

[ryson357]

They look as if they've been designed by Ikea!

Here is a picture of Stagecoach Wright Eclipse Gemini 13019 (BJ 14 KSX) on the 53 to Plumstead.

And as for the rear of them, don't even get me started on vile this is!

They do! Haha. I don't like the rear of them, they look old and ugly. The Enviro 400 look so much nicer and smarter!

 

[ValleyLines142]

They do! Haha. I don't like the rear of them, they look old and ugly. The Enviro 400 look so much nicer and smarter!

I can understand Wright wanting to try and be more innovative and update the design of the vehicle, just like any other manufacturer would, and I can't blame them, but this is just awful!

Although saying that the Enviro 400s are huge circular bubbles!

 

[ryson357]

I can understand Wright wanting to try and be more innovative and update the design of the vehicle, just like any other manufacturer would, and I can't blame them, but this is just awful!

Although saying that the Enviro 400s are huge circular bubbles!

Yeah, Do wright still make Gemini 2's?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Yeah, Do wright still make Gemini 2's?

I believe so yes. Arriva London have a batch of 63-reg ones at Brixton for the 319 (and other routes!)

Here is Arriva London Gemini 2/Volvo B5LH HV135 (LT 63 UJR) in Sloane Square on the 319 to Streatham Hill.

 

[Class 33]

Of course!
At the moment, I can't see the 77 ever returning, although I wasn't in Bristol at the time it ran (my earliest memories of Bristol was the 75 displaying Patchway Asda as opposed to Cribbs Causeway and the 41 going to Cherry Gardens). Gloucester Road is already very busy, with the very highly frequent 73, 75 and 76, as well as additions such as the 309/310 and Wessex's 11, 12, 15 and 19.

Having said that, I think something does need to be done about the 76, as it currently takes a bit of a detour, going from Cribbs Causeway to Henbury AND Southmead before going down Gloucester Road. If the 76 was altered to only serve Southmead then I think that would make a lot of sense, as Henbury is already served by the 1 and the 40. Southmead at present only has the 2 and the not-so-frequent 82.

What was the full route of the 77? Was it just a shortened version of the current 76? Or did it go Henbury straight to Gloucester Road, the Centre and Hartcliffe?

The route of the 77 from Henbury to the Centre, basically ran via Knole Lane, straight down Pen Park Road(rather than the silly fiddling about turning off Pen Park and going all through Southmead as the 76 does which adds about 10 to 15 minutes more to the journey time), Monks Park Avenue, and Gloucester Road. There were variations over the years of the routes it took to Hartcliffe. See my opening post of the City Line, Badgerline, and Bristol Omnibus thread for a bit more detail if you've not read it before. In it's last few years though it would have ran via Bedminster, Headley Park, and Hareclive Road.

Having the 76 shortened to terminate at Southmead, and having no 77 to Henbury though would not be a good idea. As that would mean people in Henbury and Brentry having no direct link to Horfield and Gloucester Road.

Three alternative suggestions I mentioned before(including the one yesterday) would be....

a) 76 Hengrove Depot-Southmead Charlton Road, every 20 minutes. 77 Hengrove Depot-Henbury(maybe extending to Cribbs Causeway, though it's debatable really if that is really required) via a slightly different route through Hartcliffe and Bishopsworth. Every 20 minutes.

b) 76 Hengrove Depot-Cribbs Causeway, every 15 minutes. 77 Hartcliffe-Henbury via the alternate route I mentioned yesterday, every 15 minutes.

Or even

c) 76 kept as it is. 77 Bristol Bus Station-Thornbury via Henbury(the old direct route via Pen Park Road that is!), onto Cribbs Causeway, and Thornbury. Every 30 minutes. And two new faster limited stop X services from Bristol-Thornbury, each running hourly. One running via Gloucester Road(and not via Cribbs Causeway!), and the other via M32 and M4 to Almsondsbury and onto Thornbury.

Two more photos of the 77 here!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ff17285/3950449970
This one from around 1993.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/11983592443/in/set-72157594232293978
And this one going way back to 1979! I don't know when the 77 actually started, it might go back as far as the 60's or even the 50's.

 

[freetoview33]

The 77 went from Henbury Crow Lane Lay by to Hatcliffe (right down Pen Park avoiding most of Southmead) and the 76 went as it does now but stopped at the Lay by in Southmead.

The 76 is busy through Henbury and Southmead. I really can't see it changing again any time soon. Now if the 75 and 76 had been split at the centre then maybe but it's never going to happen.

I'd still prefer to see the 57 back as a faster route to the centre.

Back on the Thornbury topic my idea is very similar to now just with an additional fast bus an hour to Thornbury. (And through service to Dursley being 30 mins faster than the 309/207 combination.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Having the 76 shortened to terminate at Southmead, and having no 77 to Henbury though would not be a good idea. As that would mean people in Henbury and Brentry having no direct link to Horfield and Gloucester Road.

Sorry, I meant have the 76 run straight from Cribbs Causeway to Henbury and then to Gloucester Road, not just terminating at Southmead. I know that Henbury would have no link to Gloucester Road then. I didn't make myself clear!

I don't think it would be an issue for the 76 to omit Southmead from Cribbs Causeway, as the 2 is currently a lot faster, not serving Henbury first.

On a totally random note, I've just realised the 75/76 takes almost TWO HOURS to do end to end! Wow! And at the frequency they run, that's very impressive but the PVR must be absolutely HUGE!

 

[freetoview33]

Henbury to Southmead link is important though

 

[swifty]

On a totally random note, I've just realised the 75/76 takes almost TWO
HOURS to do end to end! Wow! And at the frequency they run, that's very impressive but the PVR must be absolutely HUGE!

Off the top of my head I believe IIRC its a PVR around 42-45.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Henbury to Southmead link is important though

The 18 and 502 serve both Henbury and Southmead.

 

[freetoview33]

18 doesn't go via Arnside and takes forever and the 502 goes nowhere near Henbury

 

[Private Baxter]

Sorry to break up the conversation, I notice on Steve White's site that the former BoS B7s have been working in mid Somerset to help with the extra Glastonbury traffic. I saw First as a major player in the festival transport, other than on the 376 which traditionally does very well. What are the extra buses for? Do First run shuttles between Glastonbury, Shepton and Pilton?

 

[freetoview33]

I'm not sure I know that someone runs shuttles to f3om castle cary

 

[swifty]

Sorry to break up the conversation, I notice on Steve White's site that the former BoS B7s have been working in mid Somerset to help with the extra Glastonbury traffic. I saw First as a major player in the festival transport, other than on the 376 which traditionally does very well. What are the extra buses for? Do First run shuttles between Glastonbury, Shepton and Pilton?

By extra traffic I think Steve means as in extra congestion on the routes and the buses are being utilised to keep services running to timetable. First don't have anything to do with Glastonbury services anymore, the last time they ran services was when the P-UCWs arrived from Orpington Buses!

All event contracts are with GSC (Bristol TM - Festival) and Centurion Travel (Castle Cary and the Sunday Central Somerset day services) with vehicles provided by Abus, Centurion, Chepstow Classic, GSC, Stgaecoach and South Gloucestershire with various other local independents also popping up.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

By extra traffic I think Steve means as in extra congestion on the routes and the buses are being utilised to keep services running to timetable. First don't have anything to do with Glastonbury services anymore, the last time they ran services was when the P-UCWs arrived from Orpingdon Buses!

That would've been 2005??

 

[swifty]

That would've been 2005??

Sounds about right, I remember the bus station was midway through being rebuilt.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Sounds about right, I remember the bus station was midway through being rebuilt.

Yeah, I moved down in mid 2005 and seem to recall them entering service not long after though there were still LWS-Y Olympians running on peak hour runs on the 41/43/44/45 for a little while

 

[Martin1988]

A streetlite did put in an appearance on the X2/X3 this afternoon doing one round trip from Bristol to Portishead. I made the assumption that it was to do with delays along the route as the traffic was heavier than normal in the long ashton area due to a cycling event and roadworks taking place.

I travelled on the route to Portishead and back on a dart an hour or so previously and I was rather unimpressed with the vehicle. It had that awful vibrating effect and it was also rather messy inside. Would I be right in thinking that as the vehicles are deployed on the route all day there is no time for cleaning in between runs?

Also, would I be right in thinking that these vehicles have built up a lot of mileage since the X2/X3 was introduced last year? I'm aware that as well as being on this route they have also made appearances on journeys to places such as Yate.

 

[swifty]

Sounds about right, I remember the bus station was midway through being rebuilt.

I knew I'd find the picture eventually!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/firstbristol/8682239233/in/set-72157633355883112

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I can understand Wright wanting to try and be more innovative and update the design of the vehicle, just like any other manufacturer would, and I can't blame them, but this is just awful!

Although saying that the Enviro 400s are huge circular bubbles!

IKEA wouldn't have designed something so ugly. It's just a way of having less glass and so saving weight. I did like the earlier incarnations but these are up there with Plaxton Primos in terms of looks

 

[Private Baxter]

Thanks all for your responses on Glastonbury festival. I missed an important word out of my original post. Should have said I NEVER saw First as a major player in Glasto traffic.

Still, tomorrow should see very healthy loadings on 376 as the great getaway begins, and the high street is closed so the main stop is by B&Q. Quite a distance. Other than that, I think First don't really get involved, instad focusing on their usual services and not disrupting their regular passengers.

 

[henairs]

Hi,
Noticed there was an hourly shuttle service from Glastonbury to Worthy Farm over the four day period [Fri - Mon] for the Festival.
This was being run by RIB 8816 an older F reg coach.
Cheers Mike Russell [henairs]

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A streetlite did put in an appearance on the X2/X3 this afternoon doing one round trip from Bristol to Portishead. I made the assumption that it was to do with delays along the route as the traffic was heavier than normal in the long ashton area due to a cycling event and roadworks taking place.

I travelled on the route to Portishead and back on a dart an hour or so previously and I was rather unimpressed with the vehicle. It had that awful vibrating effect and it was also rather messy inside. Would I be right in thinking that as the vehicles are deployed on the route all day there is no time for cleaning in between runs?

Also, would I be right in thinking that these vehicles have built up a lot of mileage since the X2/X3 was introduced last year? I'm aware that as well as being on this route they have also made appearances on journeys to places such as Yate.

The Darts are knocking on a bit at 8 years old. Not seen any of the X2/X3 ones on the Yate services but knowing how vehicles have to be redeployed, I'm sure it's happened on occasion!

 

[swifty]

The Darts are knocking on a bit at 8 years old. Not seen any of the X2/X3 ones on the Yate services but knowing how vehicles have to be redeployed, I'm sure it's happened on occasion!

You'd be surprised how often it happens! They've also put in appearances on the 309/10 routes as well.

I was on a Bath based 05 Dart the other evening and I was surprised at how well they'd held up. It certainly gave a much better ride than the 54 plate Volvo B7RLE from the evening before, much less rattling!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You'd be surprised how often it happens! They've also put in appearances on the 309/10 routes as well.

I was on a Bath based 05 Dart the other evening and I was surprised at how well they'd held up. It certainly gave a much better ride than the 54 plate Volvo B7RLE from the evening before, much less rattling!

Can be a bit variable! I had 66731 and that was really quite nice whereas some examples (esp the ex Taunton 42915/6) are quite rough.

I wouldn't be that surprised. Given how hand to mouth things are at times, it doesn't shock me!

 

[vicbury]

It seems that the suspension is pretty resilient on Darts whereas on B7s it's often in a poor state (though B9s seem to fare better). Conversely Volvo engines on single deckers seem to require less TLC than the Cummins engines on Darts (although B7TLs seem prone to engine cooling fans going into overdrive!).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Can be a bit variable! I had 66731 and that was really quite nice whereas some examples (esp the ex Taunton 42915/6) are quite rough.

I wouldn't be that surprised. Given how hand to mouth things are at times, it doesn't shock me!

Yes the ones that came from Taunton are awful. Also I believe the worst Enviro 200s are the ones which came from Taunton - seems like whoever used to be in charge of engineering in Bath has moved there!

 

[swifty]

It seems that the suspension is pretty resilient on Darts whereas on B7s it's often in a poor state (though B9s seem to fare better). Conversely Volvo engines on single deckers seem to require less TLC than the Cummins engines on Darts (although B7TLs seem prone to engine cooling fans going into overdrive!).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Yes the ones that came from Taunton are awful. Also I believe the worst Enviro 200s are the ones which came from Taunton - seems like whoever used to be in charge of engineering in Bath has moved there!

I have to agree with you on the suspension, it's really bad on a few of the B7s. The Bath B7/ALX400 I was on the other day wasn't too bad actually, the fans were much quieter than any of the Bristol B7s I've been on during the past week, which was quite surprising!

Bath haven't had any E200s from Taunton, they've all come via Hengrove from Plymouth, Swansea and Glasgow.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It seems that the suspension is pretty resilient on Darts whereas on B7s it's often in a poor state (though B9s seem to fare better). Conversely Volvo engines on single deckers seem to require less TLC than the Cummins engines on Darts (although B7TLs seem prone to engine cooling fans going into overdrive!).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Yes the ones that came from Taunton are awful. Also I believe the worst Enviro 200s are the ones which came from Taunton - seems like whoever used to be in charge of engineering in Bath has moved there!

I thought the e200s (449**) were ex Glasgow, some via Plymouth, then Cymru, and then to Bristol @ Hengrove. Don't know if any have been to Taunton (some were at BR but are now at TN). With so many homes, no wonder they've not been cared for!

 

[vicbury]

I have to agree with you on the suspension, it's really bad on a few of the B7s. The Bath B7/ALX400 I was on the other day wasn't too bad actually, the fans were much quieter than any of the Bristol B7s I've been on during the past week, which was quite surprising!

Bath haven't had any E200s from Taunton, they've all come via Hengrove from Plymouth, Swansea and Glasgow.

Really? I could swear some of them have Somerset County Council stickers on the windows, I may be going mad though! I'm surprised they are in poor condition as Hengrove vehicles usually are well maintained. Maybe they didn't bother as they knew the Enviros would only ever be there temporarily?