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

[TheGrandWazoo]

Can't wait to see and ride some double deckers on the 70 and 71. I purposely made a bit of a detour walking to and from my place and the Filton Road bus stop this morning and this evening, to see if I could see any 70's and 71's. Only walking along a very short stretch of Filton Avenue mind. Didn't see any this morning about 6:40am(there should have been a Northbound and Southbound 70 passing at near enough that time). Didn't have time to hang about. Didn't see any this evening either. From a distance though and from the side I did see two Gemini's back to back heading North. One of them was probably a 73, the other may well have been a 70 or 71 unless one of them was a late running 73.

What a pleasant surprise that after all, it's not going to be boringly and uninterstingly strictly Eclipse's ONLY on the 70 & 71! And that double deckers are being used! I guess First Bristol must have abandoned that silly "health and safety" nonsense about not using double deckers on the route/s serving Temple Meads! I can start getting the 70(and the new 71) again now instead of avoiding them because they're bloody Eclipse's!

Also I might well be able to get a ride on the 72 a lot earlier than I thought I'd be able to(into October). As I finish work early on Thursday and meeting someone in town, I will have a bit of time to kill beforehand. So that would give me enough time to make a route diversion to the UWE and then get the 72 from there to the Centre!

Exciting stuff!

You'll have to be careful. The Eclipses are still running with 69456 following 69451 down Gloucester Rd tonight. That said, a UID B7/ALX was on 70 and a Gemini at TM. I find it baffling when deckers have apparently not been allowed and then the frequency is upped, Eclipses drafted in and then deckers appear.

 

[henairs]

We'll there you go. I'd never have thought that. That will definitely mean more deckers for Bristol next year. Personally, I was expecting the 72 to have deckers and the 70/71 to have solely Eclipses. Very surprising indeed!

First have obviously started to listen to some of the public, at last. More buses in Wells (only 1 more - from me moaning all the time), deckers on the 70 from a lot of people moaning, the introduction of 520 from the public moaning and they're even beginning to listen to Writhlington's constant ramblings and moans. Well done us and the general public I say!!

Guess 62245 is the vehicle Wells have acquired as it was in Yeovil this evening with the last run up to Wells.
Cheers, Mike Russell

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

First have obviously started to listen to some of the public, at last. More buses in Wells (only 1 more - from me moaning all the time), deckers on the 70 from a lot of people moaning, the introduction of 520 from the public moaning and they're even beginning to listen to Writhlington's constant ramblings and moans. Well done us and the general public I say!!

Not quite. It wasn't First who brought back the 520 but BCC. Same with Writhlington being a council initiative though it now has a better service on a Sunday than the rest of the week....now if only someone might use it!!!

 

[freetoview33]

You'll have to be careful. The Eclipses are still running with 69456 following 69451 down Gloucester Rd tonight. That said, a UID B7/ALX was on 70 and a Gemini at TM. I find it baffling when deckers have apparently not been allowed and then the frequency is upped, Eclipses drafted in and then deckers appear.

It is baffling indeed, but maybe it is to just simply try to push Wessex further!

 

[Class 33]

You'll have to be careful. The Eclipses are still running with 69456 following 69451 down Gloucester Rd tonight. That said, a UID B7/ALX was on 70 and a Gemini at TM. I find it baffling when deckers have apparently not been allowed and then the frequency is upped, Eclipses drafted in and then deckers appear.

ALX 400 Volvo B7's on there as well! Good stuff! I don't mind if there's still some Eclipse's on these services, but if there's also some double deckers as well then I'm happy with that. What a fantastic improvement the 70 has got. A new sister service, the 71. Along with an increase in frequency on the shared sections of these services. And now, even some double deckers on these services too. This will certainly help greatly with the over-crowding the 70 had! I can't imagine the 70 suffering from over-crowding now!

I am very surprised that some double deckers are now on these services. I wouldn't have predicted that happening! I would say these services doesn't really need double deckers now that the 71 has been introduced. Not that I'm complaining though! I for one am very happy that double deckers are on the 70 & 71!

On Sundays though, the services might be Eclipse's/single decers only. As it was on Sunday.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm over the moon. First have finally seen sense!

 

[freetoview33]

i'm over the moon. First have finally seen sense!

:d :d :d

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

:d :d :d

This board should be a lot quieter now

 

[ValleyLines142]

This board should be a lot quieter now

I say you hop on a 70/71 and enjoy life

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I say you hop on a 70/71 and enjoy life

I was merely saying that now the 70 has deckers (FFS, it got it's own thread at one point!) and that C33 now has his X74, things will be a lot quieter. Unless we're suddenly going to have a campaign to replace MPDs with e400s on the 520.....

I have a great life . I like a trip on a bus but for me, that is secondary. As with life, it's not about the "what" it is but where and why you're making the journey!

And that concludes Radio 4's "Thought for the Day"!

 

[freetoview33]

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Southmead, Arnside Road and Sea Mills, The Pentagon given service number 508 effective from 22-Sep-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

[Class 33]

Can't wait to see and ride some double deckers on the 70 and 71. I purposely made a bit of a detour walking to and from my place and the Filton Road bus stop this morning and this evening, to see if I could see any 70's and 71's. Only walking along a very short stretch of Filton Avenue mind. Didn't see any this morning about 6:40am(there should have been a Northbound and Southbound 70 passing at near enough that time). Didn't have time to hang about. Didn't see any this evening either. From a distance though and from the side I did see two Gemini's back to back heading North. One of them was probably a 73, the other may well have been a 70 or 71 unless one of them was a late running 73.

Did the same thing this morning and this evening! And still for me anyway, no definitive sightings yet of double deckers on the 70 & 71! Spotted a Gemini on a Southbound 73. And this evening, from a distance and from the side a Gemini on an unidentified Northbound service. And also an Eclipse from a distance and from the side on an unidentified Southbound service. Oh well! I will though have a good chance of seeing and hopefully riding a double decker on the 70/71 tomorrow, when I will get a full ride on a 72 from UWE-Centre, and then later a bus back home to Horfield(which will hopefully be a double decker on 70 or 71 as I said!).

 

[CD]

Just heard about 32279 involved in a bridge strike in Bristol today.
Anyone know more?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Did the same thing this morning and this evening! And still for me anyway, no definitive sightings yet of double deckers on the 70 & 71! Spotted a Gemini on a Southbound 73. And this evening, from a distance and from the side a Gemini on an unidentified Northbound service. And also an Eclipse from a distance and from the side on an unidentified Southbound service. Oh well! I will though have a good chance of seeing and hopefully riding a double decker on the 70/71 tomorrow, when I will get a full ride on a 72 from UWE-Centre, and then later a bus back home to Horfield(which will hopefully be a double decker on 70 or 71 as I said!).

Class 33 - are you half-asleep?!

32338, 32345, 32346, 32347, 37017, 37318, 37587, 37588, 37602 and 37612 are all out on the 70/71/72 today!

Just heard about 32279 involved in a bridge strike in Bristol today.
Anyone know more?

Crikey! First I've heard (pardon the pun)! I've besn all over Bristol today. In Filton at the moment will look out!

 

[Class 33]

Class 33 - are you half-asleep?!

32338, 32345, 32346, 32347, 37017, 37587, 37588 and 37602 are all out on the 70/71/72 today!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yesterday and today I only walked only a very short stretch of Filton Avenue in the morning and evening. Literally about a 30 second walk, not really much chance of seeing any during that short time anyway. This evening I looked at the next bus display on one of the Northbound stops and it said the next bus(any bus) wasn't for another 14 minutes. If it was only a few more minutes for a Northbound 70 or 71 I would have walked along a bit more to try and catch a sighting of a double decker on the 70 or 71!

Anyway, never mind. It sounds lik ethe 70, 71, and 72 is doing great with a number of double deckers on these services. I will get a proper chance to see and probably ride some tomorrow.

Is the 72 all double deckers? Or is there some singles on there as well? EDIT: Oh I see from another posting on here, on Monday it was 2 Gemini's and 3 Eclipse's. Hmmm... I'll see what turns up on the 72 I get tomorrow. If it's an Eclipse though I'll give it a miss! And just get a 70 or 71 into town instead, which I'm sure I won't have to wait long for a double decker on one of these services. And if so, I will get a journey on a 72 another time!

 

[swifty]

Just heard about 32279 involved in a bridge strike in Bristol today.
Anyone know more?

Whitby Road, if so I'd imagine it would be quite substantial damage as it's quite a low one. Can't see what it'd be doing down there through?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Whitby Road, if so I'd imagine it would be quite substantial damage as it's quite a low one. Can't see what it'd be doing down there through?

That is a low one. It's only 11ft

32279 is a Hengrove car, so is it a 36 that's gone off route?? Feeder Road is closed because of a burst water main so a clue in this tweet from First Bristol

First Bristol Bath @FirstBSA
Follow Bristol - Feeder Rd is closed. Ser 36 unable to serve Barton Hill. Diverted via Whitby Road St Phillips Causeway in both directions UFN. SDM

In other news, I spotted this little beauty..... http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Reader...istently-let/story-22935363-detail/story.html

 

[ValleyLines142]

Whitby Road, if so I'd imagine it would be quite substantial damage as it's quite a low one. Can't see what it'd be doing down there through?

Whitby Road is in between Brislington and Barton Hill, so I can only presume it was on the 36 but was diverted maybe for some reason?

 

[swifty]

That is a low one. It's only 11ft

32279 is a Hengrove car, so is it a 36 that's gone off route?? Feeder Road is closed because of a burst water main so......

Again?! That would explain as last time it was shut the diversion First used was via Whitby Road and the Causeway to Lawrence Hill.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In other news, I spotted this little beauty..... http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Reader...istently-let/story-22935363-detail/story.html

Yes but 30 minutes late isn't as good a story as an hour.....

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Again?! That would explain as last time it was shut the diversion First used was via Whitby Road and the Causeway to Lawrence Hill.
QUOTE]

The story hasn't made it onto the Post online but the water main story did and yes, photo shows Feeder Road is closed at the junction with Whitby Road by the bridge over the river. And yes, I seem to recall that the Feeder has been closed before for that reason!

Assume it's a 36 - depending on the extent of the damage, could be another open topper to join 32027!!!

 

[swifty]

Assume it's a 36 - depending on the extent of the damage, could be another open topper to join 32027!!!

32278 was repaired after it went under Nailsea and Backwell bridge, but then that was going back 6 years and it wasn't too bad!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

32278 was repaired after it went under Nailsea and Backwell bridge, but then that was going back 6 years and it wasn't too bad!

Indeed, it would've only been 5 years old then whereas 32279 is 11 but yes, depends how bad the damage is. Of course, the most important aspect is the safety of the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other motorists. Given the absence of the news on the BBC or Post websites, one can only assume it was something less serious

 

[Colly405]

So the November changes are on Traveline...
82 extended to Wotton under Edge (?!)
83 is the extension of the short 81s to Thornbury via Brook Way and Hortham, and taking the current 17 route through Hillfields & Fishponds
17 diverted via Cock Rd (daytimes) and Staple Hill
24 is now coming into Southmead Hospital via Dorian, calling at the Brunel stop and terminating at Dorian outbound...
41 extended to Crow Lane.
40A withdrawn, replaced by hourly 40 and hourly 41 extended back to Cribbs
6/7 operating via Nelson St

This is getting silly. There are also changes to the 37, 319, 42-45, 309-311, 178/379 and X6.
The new timetable for the 309/310 on Traveline shows in the small print the services as 78 and 79...

And I've stumbled upon a new First 88, Bristol = M32(?) = Falfield = Berkeley = Sharpness = Dursley. 5 journeys each way M-F, 3 on Sats. One jounrey looks to be replacing the 224, but not the Filton College bit...

And an 87. Cribbs = Thornbury = WottonUE = Dursley, every 2 hours (the old 311 and 622?)

 

[ValleyLines142]

I was merely saying that now the 70 has deckers (FFS, it got it's own thread at one point!) and that C33 now has his X74, things will be a lot quieter. Unless we're suddenly going to have a campaign to replace MPDs with e400s on the 520.....

Haha I know. I really like the X74.

Ooh a good idea putting Enviro 400s on the 520. Stick 'em on the 376 whilst you're there!

I have a great life . I like a trip on a bus but for me, that is secondary. As with life, it's not about the "what" it is but where and why you're making the journey!

Indeed so. I went to London last week and I was supposed to have a Megabus Gold, but it was a normal coach instead! Didn't let it ruin my trip though!

82 extended to Wotton under Edge (?!)

Interesting! It's already been extended to Chipping Sodbury! It'll be going to Birmingham via Gloucester soon!

17 diverted via Cock Rd (daytimes) and Staple Hill

My friend will be pleased with this. She lives in Cock Road (what a name haha)

41 extended to Crow Lane.

Felt this coming to be fair, so it'll now go Shirehampton to Avonmouth to Henbury? Won't be long before this is extended to Cribbs like the 40!

6/7 operating via Nelson St

So they'll follow the 42-49 out of town now then?

This is getting silly. There are also changes to the 37, 319, 42-45, 309-311, 178/379 and X6.

Oh no, what are they doing to the 319?! That's my bus (sadly), hope they don't fart around with it!

Anyway, yesterday I went out and around Bristol and I had a lovely day. It all started off when I got a Newport Transport Enviro 400 on the 0925 X30 Cardiff to Newport, where I then got the 1015 train to Taunton and decided to bail at Filton Abbey Wood (which my friends and I call Fabbywood or Scabbywood as I was able to get a 70/71 into town NOW THAT THERE ARE GEMINIS PRESENT! Yay

So I got to the bus stop on McDonald's and 32346 emerged on the 72, on what I believe was the 1050 UWE - The Centre service. I let that one go as I wanted to try that later. 37328 passed on the 73, a service I would have got by now, and then dreams came true and 32338 appeared on the 70, also the 1050 from UWE-Temple Meads. My face was like a Cheshire cat at this point, it should have happened months ago!

Passing Muller Road Depot, I noticed 41727 and accident-damaged 41389 has been withdrawn. I knew about 41389 but not 41727! 41389 didn't look that badly damaged either to be fair.

Also saw ex-Bath resident 40534. This was only going about recently on the 319!

Later on 37588 emerged on the 1813 UWE-Temple Meads service but the heating was on and I was sweating like a fart. I then met my friend later on in town and we decided to have a late night trip up to Cribbs before it shut at 9pm and I got a bit carried away in the sales but oh well!

The day ended as I caught the 2141 Bristol Parkway to Swansea service home, finally tucking into beddington at 11pm! Amazing day out!

 

[DaveHarries]

So the November changes are on Traveline...
[.....]
41 extended to Crow Lane.
40A withdrawn, replaced by hourly 40 and hourly 41 extended back to Cribbs

Just looked on Traveline and searched for the TTs for the 41 but only got the current one. But why run the 41 in the evenings? And, as someone who uses them, what of the late-night 40A journeys? They may well run as 40s but TBH I think the lack of late-night running via. Avonmouth may cause debate.

Dave

 

[freetoview33]

Seriously where have this new First come from? Seems like years and years of services being withdraw have been reversed in a year. Madness!

 

[Colly405]

Just looked on Traveline and searched for the TTs for the 41 but only got the current one. But why run the 41 in the evenings? And, as someone who uses them, what of the late-night 40A journeys? They may well run as 40s but TBH I think the lack of late-night running via. Avonmouth may cause debate.

Dave

To clarify, there will be a half-hourly Cribbs - Broadmead via Shire service. One as a 40 and one as a 41, so Avonmouth keeps an (hourly) eve/Sun service, but interestingly Coombe Dingle gains an hourly eve/Sun service.

On Traveline search for journeys from Cribbs to Avonmouth on or after Nov 2nd and you will find the timetable.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Seriously where have this new First come from? Seems like years and years of services being withdraw have been reversed in a year. Madness!

It is almost unbelievable. Good, but unbelievable 12 months ago...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So the November changes are on Traveline...
82 extended to Wotton under Edge (?!)
83 is the extension of the short 81s to Thornbury via Brook Way and Hortham, and taking the current 17 route through Hillfields & Fishponds
17 diverted via Cock Rd (daytimes) and Staple Hill
24 is now coming into Southmead Hospital via Dorian, calling at the Brunel stop and terminating at Dorian outbound...
41 extended to Crow Lane.
40A withdrawn, replaced by hourly 40 and hourly 41 extended back to Cribbs
6/7 operating via Nelson St

This is getting silly. There are also changes to the 37, 319, 42-45, 309-311, 178/379 and X6.
The new timetable for the 309/310 on Traveline shows in the small print the services as 78 and 79...

And I've stumbled upon a new First 88, Bristol = M32(?) = Falfield = Berkeley = Sharpness = Dursley. 5 journeys each way M-F, 3 on Sats. One jounrey looks to be replacing the 224, but not the Filton College bit...

And an 87. Cribbs = Thornbury = WottonUE = Dursley, every 2 hours (the old 311 and 622?)

Well.....I'm truly flabbergasted, and apologies to FTV33 . Having done the 224 and seeing how few passengers it takes, I'm amazed that they're putting on the 88 off peak.

Whilst we'd speculated about the 309/10 being renumbered to the 78/79, I thought a move to every 20 mins would've been likely. Instead, we see an hourly service from Yate to Wotton, and Thornbury to Parkway.....

Again, the questions come thick and fast.... What impact on the PVR? More aged kit being kept going? Are they actually going to make money on these services.... especially when they're pulling other services (2 and part of 4 in Bath).

Perhaps a cynic might think that some of these are loss leaders to further undermine Wessex? However, that doesn't answer why they're putting in the fast Dursley nor the 312 replacement!

 

[freetoview33]

I guess the 18 might be rerouted to Avonmouth or Portway p and r if the 41 is coming to Henbury.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oh no, what are they doing to the 319?! That's my bus (sadly), hope they don't fart around with it!

Passing Muller Road Depot, I noticed 41727 and accident-damaged 41389 has been withdrawn. I knew about 41389 but not 41727! 41389 didn't look that badly damaged either to be fair.

Also saw ex-Bath resident 40534. This was only going about recently on the 319!

Known locally as Shabby Wood!!!

There's a few SPDs on the front row with 40534 - at this rate, they'll be getting put back in service!! I think it's 41721 that you saw; 41727 was working the 17 the other night! Think 41389 was beyond economic repair.