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

[ValleyLines142]

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.

I thought it'd knock off a bit more than that.

Then again I've only been on that side of Bristol once so I wouldn't know.

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.

I think it's the 09-reg batch (i.e. 37757 - 37772). I was on 37760 on Tuesday and that had some sort of display on the staircase upstairs that I'm presuming showed a list of stops.

 

[Class 33]

I was on a Streetlite on the 75 a few weeks back. And it had that talking next bus stop and map device thing working.

Just thinking about the new X74. I said that I thought single deckers might well be adequate enough for this service. Though I was really thinking of passengers just using it between Bradley Stoke and Broadmead/Centre only, and thinking there's the 73 as well. Thinking about it now, double deckers may well be needed. As it could pick up a fair number of passengers in the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Lodge area alone. Then it goes through to Filton and down to UWE. And may well be a fair number of people who wish to use it for a fast journey down to town. So double deckers would probably be best(and just a few single deckers on Monday-Saturday daytime on the 73 would be sufficent I think(the timetables would have to be diagrammed so that all double deckers are on after 7pm though as the last X74 of the evening runs shortly after). Allthough let's wait and see what happens. They might well have double deckers planned for this service anyway! And if single deckers and journeys are over-loaded, they may well upgrade it to double deckers. At the mo though single deckers or double deckers X74's along with the new 71 and 72 is a brilliant improvement to North Bristol bus services.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Just thinking about the new X74. I said that I thought single deckers might well be adequate enough for this service. Though I was really thinking of passengers just using it between Bradley Stoke and Broadmead/Centre only, and thinking there's the 73 as well. Thinking about it now, double deckers may well be needed. As it could pick up a fair number of passengers in the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Lodge area alone. Then it goes through to Filton and down to UWE. And may well be a fair number of people who wish to use it for a fast journey down to town. So double deckers would probably be best(and just a few single deckers on Monday-Saturday daytime on the 73 would be sufficent I think(the timetables would have to be diagrammed so that all double deckers are on after 7pm though as the last X74 of the evening runs shortly after). Allthough let's wait and see what happens. They might well have double deckers planned for this service anyway! And if single deckers and journeys are over-loaded, they may well upgrade it to double deckers. At the mo though single deckers or double deckers X74's along with the new 71 and 72 is a brilliant improvement to North Bristol bus services.

Which depot will actually run the 71/72/X74? I'm presuming Hengrove will? (although I find it most bizarre that Lawrence Hill still continue to operate the 73!)

It will all depend on that to be honest!

Also, is the bus involved in the Emersons Green crash in June now back in service?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Which depot will actually run the 71/72/X74? I'm presuming Hengrove will? (although I find it most bizarre that Lawrence Hill still continue to operate the 73!)

It will all depend on that to be honest!

Also, is the bus involved in the Emersons Green crash in June now back in service?

Most likely that 71/72 will be HE especially given they run the 70 and are losing the 20. X74 could be either HE or LH though I've a feeling it may be the latter.
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I thought it'd knock off a bit more than that.

Then again I've only been on that side of Bristol once so I wouldn't know.

.

If you think about it, 5 mins even at peak is a saving of >10%. Also, it's not like there's an alternative route an express will take so you're still in traffic on Two Mile Hill and into St George.

I lived in Hanham for 5 years and it was difficult to beat the bus in your car once it got to the Pied Horse at Church Road.

 

[Private Baxter]

I notice that the 06/56 reg former X2/3 darts in Bristol have become First Bristol buses, at least according to the legals, so presumably have moved to the LH city fleet. Not that it made a difference as they are working MH routes as usual, noted on X3/8 etc. Be interesting to see the movemebts that have taken place as a result of the new streetlites.

Also, just out of curiosity, what do people have against the high back seats? I notice they don't seem particuarly popuilar with members here...

 

[Class 33]

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]

The 376 should be ammended to operate as we mentioned.

And a new city service should be introduced to run via that stretch of Wells Road. Maybe the 55 Stockwood-Centre, running half hourly. Or maybe even a new cross-city service. What about service 53 Stockwood-Filton Church? Via Wells Road, Temple Gate, Union Street, Centre, Haymarket, Marlborough Street, then via the old/current service 20 route to Wellington Hill West, then Southmead Road.

 

[ryson357]

The 376 should be ammended to operate as we mentioned.

And a new city service should be introduced to run via that stretch of Wells Road. Maybe the 55 Stockwood-Centre, running half hourly. Or maybe even a new cross-city service. What about service 53 Stockwood-Filton Church? Via Wells Road, Temple Gate, Union Street, Centre, Haymarket, Marlborough Street, then via the old/current service 20 route to Wellington Hill West, then Southmead Road.

I like the sound of the 53 route to cover the 20

 

[freetoview33]

I do like the sound of it but it would still end up like the current service 20 in the end.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The 376 should be ammended to operate as we mentioned.

And a new city service should be introduced to run via that stretch of Wells Road. Maybe the 55 Stockwood-Centre, running half hourly. Or maybe even a new cross-city service. What about service 53 Stockwood-Filton Church? Via Wells Road, Temple Gate, Union Street, Centre, Haymarket, Marlborough Street, then via the old/current service 20 route to Wellington Hill West, then Southmead Road.

Why introduce a 55 if you revise the 376? The change increases capacity on upper Wells Rd whilst the 2 and 50 provide enough for the lower Wells Rd through to Broadwalk and TM
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I do like the sound of it but it would still end up like the current service 20 in the end.

I think you may well be right
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I notice that the 06/56 reg former X2/3 darts in Bristol have become First Bristol buses, at least according to the legals, so presumably have moved to the LH city fleet. Not that it made a difference as they are working MH routes as usual, noted on X3/8 etc. Be interesting to see the movemebts that have taken place as a result of the new streetlites.

Also, just out of curiosity, what do people have against the high back seats? I notice they don't seem particuarly popuilar with members here...

I think it's Class 33 and the 69449-56 on the 70. High backed seats can affect views and make it feel claustrophobic. To be fair, they were specced for the X39 and high backed seats aren't really applicable for city routes. However, for services with longer average journey durations then high backed seats are more desirable. I'd sooner see those Eclipses on something like the 265 than the 70

Away from Bristol, just seen First H&D 42141 making its last journey. Was on a wrecker near Rotherham probably en route to Carlton

 

[THarris123]

Why introduce a 55 if you revise the 376? The change increases capacity on upper Wells Rd whilst the 2 and 50 provide enough for the lower Wells Rd through to Broadwalk and TM

I think a 55 service would help along Wells Road, if it was only at peak. The 2 service is always later than the 376 coming into Happy Landings and the 376 ends up picking up at every stop to Bristol and being delayed even more. The 376, 2 and 379 need revising so the majority of passengers from Happy Landings in use the 2. If that happens, it should work, but I think having the 55 would act as a backup to the 2.

 

[Class 33]

Why introduce a 55 if you revise the 376? The change increases capacity on upper Wells Rd whilst the 2 and 50 provide enough for the lower Wells Rd through to Broadwalk and TM
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Because it sounds like the 376 journey times are being slowed down and some over-crowding as a result of many people using the service to travel between Whitchurch and Broadmead. So there needs to be a city service which covers the upper part of Wells Road(Happy Landings to Staunton Lane) which these passengers can use instead of the 376. And the 376 changed to pick-up only to Happy Landings in the Soutbound direction, and set down only from Happy Landings in the Northbound direction. Basically then the 376 would become more like a country service should be/was, and not a lot of people using it to travel within Bristol.

Another idea is maybe split the service 2 into services 2 & 3. Service 2 via Sturminster Road, and the 3 via Wells Road and Staunton Lane. Oh wait a minute, just rememberd Wessex Connect's 3 gets in the way of that idea!(how annoying!) Maybe old style service numbering such as 2A and 2B instead!

Alternatively and a far simpler idea would be to re-introduce the 55 Centre-Stockwood service at peak times Monday-Fridays only.

Incidentally I can't picture First introducing a brand new cross-city service! When was the last time a new cross-city service was introduced? It must be over 20 years ago now I think!

 

[Private Baxter]

I think it's Class 33 and the 69449-56 on the 70. High backed seats can affect views and make it feel claustrophobic. To be fair, they were specced for the X39 and high backed seats aren't really applicable for city routes. However, for services with longer average journey durations then high backed seats are more desirable. I'd sooner see those Eclipses on something like the 265 than the 70

Away from Bristol, just seen First H&D 42141 making its last journey. Was on a wrecker near Rotherham probably en route to Carlton

I agree. Today, I had a free afternoon, and took a ride out on the 265, where the bus in use was 69436 and I must say it was a splendid journey. These I think are perfect for the route and I'd like to see them more often on it. I really BH get the ones at HE at some point as they;re, like you say not really suited to city routes. Failing that they could wait till the WS batch are replaced in a year or so for the rst of theirs, which is probably more likely though they'll prob head to WM.

 

[freetoview33]

Maybe just making the 376, 379 pick up/set down only to happy landings

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Because it sounds like the 376 journey times are being slowed down and some over-crowding as a result of many people using the service to travel between Whitchurch and Broadmead. So there needs to be a city service which covers the upper part of Wells Road(Happy Landings to Staunton Lane) which these passengers can use instead of the 376. And the 376 changed to pick-up only to Happy Landings in the Soutbound direction, and set down only from Happy Landings in the Northbound direction. Basically then the 376 would become more like a country service should be/was, and not a lot of people using it to travel within Bristol.

Alternatively and a far simpler idea would be to re-introduce the 55 Centre-Stockwood service at peak times Monday-Fridays only.

No need. If you change the 376 to be set down only at Happy Landings and into town, you don't need to introduce anything. The 376 is fullish but not standing passengers, and the 379 is never even half full.

 

[freetoview33]

It makes much more sense as it still allows people who want to go to Wells to get on/off on that part of the route.

 

[Rich McLean]

First Plymouth are cutting down the mileage from September, so will be due to release a few buses to BoS

 

[South Westerly]

First Plymouth are cutting down the mileage from September, so will be due to release a few buses to BoS

There are three buses being transferred to BoS. One is an MPD due out now, the others are the last two DDA B6s which are being do changed for a further 2 B7s.

The changes you refer to will release 3 Solos to Weymouth, nothing to BoS.

 

[freetoview33]

http://www.transitmix.net/ try this you can add bus routes/frequency and it will tell you how many buses are needed ect! really good you can type in Bristol and add routes and have a play about and share the links with people

 

[THarris123]

No need. If you change the 376 to be set down only at Happy Landings and into town, you don't need to introduce anything. The 376 is fullish but not standing passengers, and the 379 is never even half full.

Have you ever caught the 376 from Temple Meads at 16.15-17.45? These 4 buses are packed out with no room to stand. It's the same going into Bristol at about 7.30 from Whitchurch. If you get on one of the peak buses (during schooldays usually) you'll see how 'fullish' it is. If they changed the 379 to operate 15 mins between 376, it should distribute the demand. If also the GBBN decide to put in a park&ride at pensford/Whitchurch, that should also decrease demand a little on 376. As I mentioned before, it might be useful to have the 55 as a backup.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Have you ever caught the 376 from Temple Meads at 16.15-17.45? These 4 buses are packed out with no room to stand. It's the same going into Bristol at about 7.30 from Whitchurch. If you get on one of the peak buses (during schooldays usually) you'll see how 'fullish' it is. If they changed the 379 to operate 15 mins between 376, it should distribute the demand. If also the GBBN decide to put in a park&ride at pensford/Whitchurch, that should also decrease demand a little on 376. As I mentioned before, it might be useful to have the 55 as a backup.

Yes I have and no they aren't. Yes, they're pretty full but not standing by the time you reach happy landings on way in. And the 379 is never even half full so overall capacity is not the issue.

There are no substantive plans for a P&R at Whitchurch and certainly not at Pensford.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Have you ever caught the 376 from Temple Meads at 16.15-17.45? These 4 buses are packed out with no room to stand. It's the same going into Bristol at about 7.30 from Whitchurch. If you get on one of the peak buses (during schooldays usually) you'll see how 'fullish' it is. If they changed the 379 to operate 15 mins between 376, it should distribute the demand. If also the GBBN decide to put in a park&ride at pensford/Whitchurch, that should also decrease demand a little on 376. As I mentioned before, it might be useful to have the 55 as a backup.

I agree, the 376 is RIDICULOUSLY busy at these times. This is another route that I think needs double deckers at peak times.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I agree, the 376 is RIDICULOUSLY busy at these times. This is another route that I think needs double deckers at peak times.

And how will they fit in Wells depot???

 

[swifty]

And how will they fit in Wells depot???

And more importantly, what will they do for the other 16 hours a day and weekends?

 

[ValleyLines142]

And how will they fit in Wells depot???

What do you mean how will they fit?

 

[Private Baxter]

Wells has never had double deckers, although in the past when a Taunton bus was outstationed in Wells, it did occasionally host a decker, albeit rarely.

 

[swifty]

What do you mean how will they fit?

It's the shed behind the Darts, how would deckers fit in there for maintainace?http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/7058499093_0baeb2b1c8_o.jpg

It's more feasible to sort the 376/379 timetable spacing to alleviate overcrowding that it would be for Wells to have deckers for the 376!

 

[Private Baxter]

It's a tricky thing for the 376/379, because there are three an hour along that section of road, but they cannot run at twenty minute intervals as the 376 must be half hourly. There isn't enough demand to make 379 half hourly, so they could put it in between two 376s, but that would still leave a half hour gap with nothing.

 

[THarris123]

Yes I have and no they aren't. Yes, they're pretty full but not standing by the time you reach happy landings on way in. And the 379 is never even half full so overall capacity is not the issue.

There are no substantive plans for a P&R at Whitchurch and certainly not at Pensford.

If you say they're not, you must be travelling on the wrong service. When I used to catch (for the last 6 months) the 16.44, 17.14 or 17.44 from Temple Meads to Wells there was no room left to stand. It would usually empty out by the time it got to Maes Knoll. As far as I can remember, after travelling into and out of Bristol for the last 4 years on 376, all buses at peak from Temple Meads have no room left and only since the changes in Feb has the 376 seen people standing at Knowle to Bristol in the morning peak times (if there isn't a 379 just before). I do agree with you about the overall capacity - there isn't much when you look at it. If the 379 was improved (as mentioned before), along with the 2, it would distribute the demand more and mean people aren't standing on the 376 at all. If it was limited stop between Bristol and Happy Landings, it would solve that problem overall.

I thought I read in the GBBN that there was some plan to have a P&R along the A37. Must be wrong.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It's the shed behind the Darts, how would deckers fit in there for maintainace?http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/7058499093_0baeb2b1c8_o.jpg

It's more feasible to sort the 376/379 timetable spacing to alleviate overcrowding that it would be for Wells to have deckers for the 376!

Exactamundo!

Wells depot (in its current location) has never had deckers allocated as they cannot fit into the maintenance bay.

Swifty is spot on. The solution is not to allocate deckers; a hilarious idea. The 379 runs along there with next to nothing on it so solution is to retime and also make them set down only after HL.

After all, if the solution was to introduce some sort of 55 service, then why haven't Abus done so? Because it doesn't make financial sense!

 

[THarris123]

Wells has never had double deckers, although in the past when a Taunton bus was outstationed in Wells, it did occasionally host a decker, albeit rarely.

Wrong. Not sure whether the depot has had Deckers, but the services definitely have - the 376 used to have Deckers according to my dad (quite a while ago) and they could be used. However, demand is not good enough. I also saw a lorry going along the road past the Wells depot - hitting every last tree - so no deckers would be no good in Wells.