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

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes agree the the Bristol-Thornbury services should be speded up. Limited stop between Bristol Bus Station and Patchway, or between those stops on a pick-up only(Northbound) and set-down only(Southbound) basis. Plus with the new half hourly X74 anyone travelling between Centre and the Filton Church to Patchway stretch of Gloucester Road can now use that service for a faster service to Central Bristol, as well as the slower 75.

Likewise with the 376 between Bristol Bus Station and Happy Landings! Rather than a lot of city users slowing down the journey.

Country services should be speded up really. Not slowed down!

Would also help with capacity issues on the 376 when you have people using them for local journeys.

The only other place might be Emersons but the 462 probably is sufficient.

 

[henairs]

Hi There,
Totally agree with Wazoo about stops on 376. should be limited to pick up out to Happy landings and set down only inbound from same point.
Sure years ago when the Rell,s were on route there was a set-up of a similar nature I think. Think it changed when the 57? service which joined the A37 at Whitchurch finished. So that,s I guess when the Lynx's were being replaced.
Cheers, Mike Russell [henairs]

 

[freetoview33]

Maybe reintroduce the 55?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Would also help with capacity issues on the 376 when you have people using them for local journeys.

The only other place might be Emersons but the 462 probably is sufficient.

Does Emersons really have the demand for an express/limited stop service?

I think Kingswood does! It has the X18 but nothing from the centre as of yet!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Does Emersons really have the demand for an express/limited stop service?

I think Kingswood does! It has the X18 but nothing from the centre as of yet!

You need a sufficiently big enough market allied to a long enough journey time to make the difference worthwhile.

Kingswood itself is only 30 mins away and the rest of the market is a bit dispersed across Oldland. Also, quite a bit of the 43 traffic is actually local e.g. Oldland to Kingswood. There was a fast service, a remnant of the CC network (was it X65?) but think it went in 2006 ish, that served Hanham, Barrs Ct and Oldland.

As I say, Emersons does have a market but the 462 covers that.

 

[swifty]

You need a sufficiently big enough market allied to a long enough journey time to make the difference worthwhile.

Kingswood itself is only 30 mins away and the rest of the market is a bit dispersed across Oldland. Also, quite a bit of the 43 traffic is actually local e.g. Oldland to Kingswood. There was a fast service, a remnant of the CC network (was it X65?) but think it went in 2006 ish, that served Hanham, Barrs Ct and Oldland.

As I say, Emersons does have a market but the 462 covers that.

The X67 (Cherry Gardens - Banjo - Cock Road - Hanham - Broadmead) was withdrawn around about 2007 at the same time as the X62 to Emersons. This was also around the same time that the 332 became a stopping service having been set down only past The Fountain. Nowadays as the 37 it's significantly held up by the local 'what ever bus comes first' traffic along Church Road.
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Does Emersons really have the demand for an express/limited stop service?

I think Kingswood does! It has the X18 but nothing from the centre as of yet!

I can't see the point in a limited stop service for Kingswood, it's really not that long a journey! A fast service to Barrs Court/Banjo Island would be ideal. after the withdrawal of the 44 from Craven Way the circular route around the houses the 45 now takes sees you back next to B&Q almost 20 minutes after passing the first time!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The X67 (Cherry Gardens - Banjo - Cock Road - Hanham - Broadmead) was withdrawn around about 2007 at the same time as the X62 to Emersons. This was also around the same time that the 332 became a stopping service having been set down only past The Fountain. Nowadays as the 37 it's significantly held up by the local 'what ever bus comes first' traffic along Church Road.
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I can't see the point in a limited stop service for Kingswood, it's really not that long a journey! A fast service to Barrs Court/Banjo Island would be ideal. after the withdrawal of the 44 from Craven Way the circular route around the houses the 45 now takes sees you back next to B&Q almost 20 minutes after passing the first time!

That's the one, the X67! I remember snapping one of L-SEUs as it climbed up Hanham Mount just before it finished. Also took a photo of an ex West Yorkshire Roe Olym c.2005 as it was one of the last ones to wear Cityline colours, just near Cherry Gardens.

You're right about the 37. It is more direct but does get caught on Church Road with local traffic.

 

[freetoview33]

Isn't the 462 till funded/part funded? It was only introduced when First got rid of the X62.

 

[swifty]

Isn't the 462 till funded/part funded? It was only introduced when First got rid of the X62.

Not quite. The 462 was introduced by Eastville Coaches in 1996 and passed to Durbin in 2005 as part of the Eastville/Durbin merger. All journeys were commercial until Downend & Bromley Heath parish council asked for a 'shopper' service to be operated after 0900 and provided funding for it and the 1700 return.
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You're right about the 37. It is more direct but does get caught on Church Road with local traffic.

What annoys me the most is that the 37 and 45 are timetabled to run at the same time into Bristol all day. If, once the 45 changes to hourly in the evening, it was the other side of the hour we'd have a nice 30 min frequency instead of 2 buses within 5 minutes and the nothing for 55 minutes.

The timetable also causes the 37 to pick up the slack on a morning too, if the 45s running late and the 37 arrives first. It's not uncommon to wait up to 10 minutes extra for the 45 and still catch up with the 37 before you've reached Lawrence Hill.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I can't see the point in a limited stop service for Kingswood, it's really not that long a journey! A fast service to Barrs Court/Banjo Island would be ideal. after the withdrawal of the 44 from Craven Way the circular route around the houses the 45 now takes sees you back next to B&Q almost 20 minutes after passing the first time!

It is only half an hour away or so but it can take longer, especially with the traffic by Lawrence Hill and on the 43 going through the High Street.

What annoys me the most is that the 37 and 45 are timetabled to run at the same time into Bristol all day. If, once the 45 changes to hourly in the evening, it was the other side of the hour we'd have a nice 30 min frequency instead of 2 buses within 5 minutes and the nothing for 55 minutes.

Good point actually. I noticed this when I went on the eastern Bristol corridor and caught the 45 into the centre. The 37 was running in front of us, yet despite it (from the start of Hanham) running more or less the same route into town from this point, most people were still opting to catch the 45 and not bother with the 37!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It is only half an hour away or so but it can take longer, especially with the traffic by Lawrence Hill and on the 43 going through the High Street

Yeah but still not too bad. How much would an express save? 5 mins? Also, you'd have to contend the Kingswood town centre anyway.

 

[Colly405]

Really looking forward to the X74. If I was living in the East Filton or North Filton area I'd aim to allways get the X74 instead for my journeys to and from the Centre. Rather than the 73 or 75 and constantly stopping all down/up Gloucester Road! A limited stop journey via the M32, Stapleton and UWE is a far more pleasant journey

But the problem is the lack of bus stops on the route. After the 501, 502, soon-to-go 13, and soon-to-be X74 leave the McDonalds stop east of the railway, the next stop is after they have been through Filton Roundabout. The stop by the George that the old 74 used to use is no more, and the council will not be putting it back due to safety concerns on the junction, and parked cars.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Trowbridge T1 just caught my eye, what's happening down here? The link supplied to Traveline posted yesterday doesn't work anymore

 

[swifty]

A press release from First regarding the new services to UWE.

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/travel_news/news_initiatives/?item=20511&conf=0

Local bus operator First West of England has responded to calls from students at the University of the West of England (UWE) for improvements to be made to bus services used by the students in Bristol.

The calls, for a radical overhaul of the way services are provided for students, followed a consultation, launched by the University and the Students Union, which took place earlier this year. It gathered feedback from 1024 people " both existing bus users and non users - asking them what they thought of the bus services delivered by the incumbent operator (Wessex) for students, while also asking them how they felt public transport could be improved to encourage greater use.

Following the consultation, a report - 'The Only Way is Wessex?' - was published (in July) by the Students' Union President Charlie Roper and UWE's Vice Chancellor Steve West. The report details the level of concern with the current provision of public transport (provided by Wessex), while asking for some changes to be made.

Specifically students have called for:

* Timetables that better suit students' needs (53.2% of users thought that the current timetables could be improved, with 16.8% stating that the current timetable did not meet their needs at all)

* Buses that run earlier, and later than at present, and better services on weekends

* More reliable timetables (88% of users believe the current timetables are either somewhat, or very, unreliable)

* Better consistency between online and printed timetables, and more use of electronic real time passenger information displays.

* More information about the overall punctuality of services to be shared with the student body

* Better customer service provision, including more timely responses to queries and complaints.


In response to the report managers from First West of England met with the President of the Students' Union, Charlie Roper.

To address many of the concerns raised, First West of England has committed to adjust many of its local services. Specifically it will:

* Provide additional late night journeys on Service 70 from 14 September 2014, with the last bus from Frenchay Campus departing at 0300 and from the City Centre at 0330 (Monday - Saturday).

* Provide a new Service 71 from 14 September 2014 to provide later buses from Frenchay Campus to Gloucester Road. Buses will run every 15 minutes during the day time (Monday - Friday), every 20 minutes on Saturdays, every 30 minutes during the evening until 2300 (Monday - Saturday) and every 30 minutes until 1900 on Sundays and Public Holidays.

* Provide a new Service 72 from 14 September 2014 to provide links to Lockleaze, Gloucester Road, Redland and Whiteladies Road. Buses will run every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturday.

* Provide a new Service X74 from 31 August 2014, linking UWE with Filton and Bradley Stoke and also to the City Centre via the M32, providing services during the day until around 8pm, Monday to Saturday.

* Look at requests from students on placements for earlier or later journeys (to consider their viability)

* Provide up to date timetable information both online and at the relevant bus stops, with steps taken to promote Firsts own smartphone app (which offers timetable information, real time bus information and fare information at the touch of a button).

* Share data regarding the punctuality of services - so students understand how they are performing

* Further improve the way customer feedback is handled and responded to. The company already have a strong presence on Twitter and Facebook and is willing to look at other solutions that will aid the sharing of feedback from the student body.


Talking about its plans, Simon Ford, Commercial Manager for First West of England said: "We welcome the report that UWE has published and its findings. It offers useful data regarding what students want, and the type of things that will encourage them to use the bus even more. We have read it in full and have met with the university and the students' union to consider the findings more fully. We have explained how we are adjusting our services to deliver more of the things that the student body has been calling for, and hope that in time well be able to welcome more UWE students onto our services in the city."

Charlie Roper, President of the Students' Union, said: "It is fantastic that First is engaging with student feedback from our report and have begun to respond to it. Bus travel has always been at the centre of a lot of student feedback and I am pleased with the response. I will make sure that we regularly engage with First in order to make sure students are getting the best service in Bristol."

For more information about First, log onto www.firstgroup.com/bristol.

For more information about the bus services specifically serving UWE, see www.firstgroup.com/uwe

First is on Facebook and Twitter, at www.facebook.com/FirstWestofEngland and www.twitter.com/FirstBSA

If you dig a little deeper into the UWE page on the First website the timetables are also now up, as well as the promise of mobile tickets coming to Bristol soon on the First ticket app.

 

[CD]

Hi There,
Totally agree with Wazoo about stops on 376. should be limited to pick up out to Happy landings and set down only inbound from same point.
Sure years ago when the Rell,s were on route there was a set-up of a similar nature I think. Think it changed when the 57? service which joined the A37 at Whitchurch finished. So that,s I guess when the Lynx's were being replaced.
Cheers, Mike Russell [henairs]

If I had a £1 for every time I've been on a 376 that's been on time Pensford,then stopped practically every stop to the bus station arriving 10-15 late,I would be very rich!

 

[Class 33]

Ah I see the new 71 and 72 don't actually start untill Sunday 14th September, not Monday 1st September as I thought and as the timetables on TravelineSW suggested! Guess I'll have to shorten my planned afternoon out on these new services on Monday 1st then, and just do a few journeys on the X74 instead. But I'll do a trip on the 72 and 71 on Sunday 14th.

Also according to that press release the 71 will actually run every 30 minutes on Sundays. Meaning a 15 minute frequency with the 70! Brilliant news! I can't see there being a problem of packed out single deckers on these services on Sundays now!(as there can at times be on the 70 on Sundays currently). This will also help ease some overcrowding on the 73 on Sundays too. Brilliant!

The new X74 is much better than the previous X74 from several years or so back. Which was near enough the same route as the X73, just a different route through Bradley Stoke. This alternative route via UWE, Filton, Gloucester Road and Stoke Lodge is so much better, giving a new limited stop bus service to/from those mentioned locations.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But the problem is the lack of bus stops on the route. After the 501, 502, soon-to-go 13, and soon-to-be X74 leave the McDonalds stop east of the railway, the next stop is after they have been through Filton Roundabout. The stop by the George that the old 74 used to use is no more, and the council will not be putting it back due to safety concerns on the junction, and parked cars.

I agree, it is a bit of a long gap between bus stops along that section. There could do with there being another bus stop on each side of Station Road just a little further up from the junction with Filton Avenue really. But problem is it's a busy fast road and might not really be suitable to traffic conditions to put bus stops along that section.

 

[THarris123]

If I had a £1 for every time I've been on a 376 that's been on time Pensford,then stopped practically every stop to the bus station arriving 10-15 late,I would be very rich!

I can't agree more, but I personally think the 376 is doing well and the 379 is the problem. I think they should bring back the 55 hourly and improve the 379 (so it runs 15 mins between the 376). However, if the 2 and 51 were running on time, the 376 wouldn't have to pick up anyone from Happy Landings into Bristol, improving the service slightly. The simple fact is that they need to add another bus into the 376 timetable (or something along the lines of that) and increase the time it takes to get to Bristol. If the waiting times in Wells, Street and Bristol were all increased, along with the journey times between certain places (i.e. before February it was timetabled to take 24 mins to go from Wells to Temple Cloud and now 22 mins - and every last one of them is 2 mins late - funny that!), the overall punctuality would be improved. They have to do something about the services along the A37 - I think we could see something changing in November or February and I think it could affect a whole load of services (178, 379, 376, 375, 377, X75, possibly 184 & 173, 2, 51).

 

[swifty]

Ah I see the new 71 and 72 don't actually start untill Sunday 14th September ...... But I'll do a trip on the 72 and 71 on Sunday 14th.

You could.... However the 72 doesn't run on Sundays

 

[Class 33]

You could.... However the 72 doesn't run on Sundays

Ah yes of course! Will just have to do a return journey on the 71 on Sunday 14th then. And will probably have to wait till the following Saturday 20th to try the 72 out.

Looking forward to Monday 1st September in the meantime though. Will do three seperate journeys on the X74. And as the PVR for the X74 will be three buses, my itinerary will be timed so I get a journey on each one. Very intrigued as to what buses will be on this service!

 

[THarris123]

Also forgot to say - Sunday was the first time I saw the Streetlites on X2/X3. I have to say they are looking very smart - much better than the other livery. It makes me wonder what they would look like in BoS livery - quite nice I think. It's just ashame they look very ugly at the front of the vehicle - looks like they've already been piled into wall!

 

[freetoview33]

I think the streetlites look better in First livery than Wessex!

 

[THarris123]

Something interesting that I just spotted on First's website about the Talking buses thingy - it says 13 single decks (some of the Streetlites on 8/9) currently have talking systems (i.e. telling where the next stop is) and 81 deckers are due to be rolled out soon with these systems. Any ideas what ones? Is it the current Gemini's?? Maybe the E400s on Weston? Or are we getting new deckers to Bristol (or other deckers from elsewhere??)
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I think the streetlites look better in First livery than Wessex!

I agree on that completely. And any livery is better than Webberbus - nothing at all - not even the name of the company!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, where are they getting the extra 6 buses needed for the Balloon Fiesta??

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Something interesting that I just spotted on First's website about the Talking buses thingy - it says 13 single decks (some of the Streetlites on 8/9) currently have talking systems (i.e. telling where the next stop is) and 81 deckers are due to be rolled out soon with these systems. Any ideas what ones? Is it the current Gemini's?? Maybe the E400s on Weston? Or are we getting new deckers to Bristol (or other deckers from elsewhere??)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I agree on that completely. And any livery is better than Webberbus - nothing at all - not even the name of the company!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, where are they getting the extra 6 buses needed for the Balloon Fiesta??

The Bath Park and Ride fleet already has next stop announcements.

The limited number of new deckers is promised to Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds after the Games. Nothing due for the Deep South!

 

[freetoview33]

If First are determined to have double deckers on the 6/7 and 50/51 then Bristol will need some new buses at some point makes sense sooner and then the current buses that are on the 6/7 and 40 and around and about at LH and move them further south whilst they still have some life in them (to get rid of the seriously outdated stuff down there) and then some new enviro 400s for Bristol services!

 

[Stompehh]

I've seen the displays for the talking bus system installed (but not yet active) on a few Geminis. Sorry not sure which reg, but they were on the 2 and the 40.

The display system on the Geminis is an led matrix screen (albeit quite a large one) and on the Streetlites it is a colour LCD. It's in use on the 8/9 and seems relatively reliable. I've seen one or two occasions when the screen hasn't been working but the audio announcements have still been made.

 

[Colly405]

I've seen the displays for the talking bus system installed (but not yet active) on a few Geminis. Sorry not sure which reg, but they were on the 2 and the 40.

The display system on the Geminis is an led matrix screen (albeit quite a large one) and on the Streetlites it is a colour LCD. It's in use on the 8/9 and seems relatively reliable. I've seen one or two occasions when the screen hasn't been working but the audio announcements have still been made.

Is this the same system that was on the 18/X18 Pointer Darts?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If First are determined to have double deckers on the 6/7 and 50/51 then Bristol will need some new buses at some point makes sense sooner and then the current buses that are on the 6/7 and 40 and around and about at LH and move them further south whilst they still have some life in them (to get rid of the seriously outdated stuff down there) and then some new enviro 400s for Bristol services!

This is the breakdown for 2014:

33831 – 33857 Enviro 400 for Manchester .
33858 – 33872 Enviro 400 for Olive Grove.
33873 – 33890 Enviro 400 for Bramley.

Fact is that Sheffield has had no new deckers since 2008 whilst Manchester needs them for the ex Finglands work where aged Tridents have been shipped in temporarily. Leeds still has 50 or so Olympians. Other places like Southampton haven't had new deckers since 2007, and Leicester hasn't had new deckers since 2004! Hence why no e400s yet.

Bristol did get a lot in 2007-9 with 107 Geminis for GBBN so there was always going to be a lull. That said, I'd expect some new deckers next year but again, the need to get rid of non DDA single decks will be the priority.

 

[freetoview33]

So across the South West how many non DDA buses do First have left?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So across the South West how many non DDA buses do First have left?

In FB/FSA, think it's the 66*** B10BLEs (15 ish?), dozen x Marshall Darts in LH/WS/WM and then 20 x 427** and some oldball Darts. So about 40-50 but in truth, don't know about the W reg B10BLEs/B6LES and new newest Marshalls.

Also, 32001-25 I think but they have a few more years.

The FDC/BoS fleets have plenty of Olympians and elderly Darts. Many Tridents might also be non DDA.

 

[freetoview33]

In FB/FSA, think it's the 66*** B10BLEs (15 ish?), dozen x Marshall Darts in LH/WS/WM and then 20 x 427** and some oldball Darts. So about 40-50 but in truth, don't know about the W reg B10BLEs/B6LES and new newest Marshalls.

Also, 32001-25 I think but they have a few more years.

The FDC/BoS fleets have plenty of Olympians and elderly Darts. Many Tridents might also be non DDA.

So still quite a lot then, even in Bristol. I guess being in Bristol is a positive as it is one of the most likely places in the South West to get new buses with others then being cascaded elsewhere.
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And just looking back and seeing the eclipses on the 8/9 they really were not suited to those routes! Yes I admit the streetlites are not perfect but they are a hell of a lot better than some of the rubbish we have had in the past.