West Country Independents

[THarris123]

It is complicated! Ensignbus started the brand, but then sold it to the Spanish franchise. The Bath, Cardiff and Windsor operations are still run by RATP under franchise.

What about the Glasgow and Edinburgh ones then? Are they RATP or independent operators?

 

[freetoview33]

City Sightseeing Glasgow is owned and operated by Craig of Campbeltown Ltd, along with West Coast Motors, Glasgow Citybus, Kintyre Express, West Coast Tours and Fairline Coaches.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

City Sightseeing Glasgow is owned and operated by Craig of Campbeltown Ltd, along with West Coast Motors, Glasgow Citybus, Kintyre Express, West Coast Tours and Fairline Coaches.

Someone will know better than I but I think the main firm is West Coast Motors and it's owned by the Craig family. The other subsidiaries are just that?

 

[matt_splat]

I believe Ensign bus have some kind of involvement with BBC the Bristol Tour Bus depot had several western greyhound busses stored there for a bit and I believe has a routemaster for private hires.

 

[winston270twm]

I'm in Bristol on Tuesday and Wednesday I shall try and get a photo for you!

Cheers, much appreciated!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Cheers, much appreciated!

Can't help you on the photos but I did see one of the vehicles heading towards Burnett depot - I was under the impression they were Avonmouth machines but there you go.

Sadly, I was running at the time and feeling like c**p so think it may have been something like 40205 and the reg was LJ03MWU? Noticed the later Arriva seat covers though

 

[winston270twm]

Can't help you on the photos but I did see one of the vehicles heading towards Burnett depot - I was under the impression they were Avonmouth machines but there you go.

Sadly, I was running at the time and feeling like c**p so think it may have been something like 40205 and the reg was LJ03MWU? Noticed the later Arriva seat covers though

Cheers TGW!

They are meant to be for Avonmouth for UWE services I believe, but as the U18 is now Wessex Star branded as well, I guess they can be loaned out as well.

LJ03MWU was still in the West Midlands unpainted on Friday 25th.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcwmetrobuses/21695705201/in/dateposted/

40205 was registered WLT719 (plate thought to be returning to Arriva) but will need to be regaitered as a 53 plate

 

[DaveHarries]

I'm in Bristol on Tuesday and Wednesday I shall try and get a photo for you!

I have to admit that those Scania DDs look really good in that livery IMO.

DAve

 

[Marcus Fryer]

And I saw one leave Parkway 22 mins late towards Southmead, that reappeared 17 mins later going the other way. No way did that to full route at just after 1700 on a weekday!!!!!

I sampled the 625 to Severn Beach and return on Saturday afternoon. Caught the 14:35 from Cribbs Causeway (YJ08 PGV) which left 18 mins late and was 15 mins late at Severn Beach, despite a delay at Easter Compton whilst the driver and a passenger determined which was the best stop for him to get off. Its return from Severn Beach was also 18 mins late, but (assuming it went all the way by the booked route) it managed to get to Southmead and back and was 3 mins EARLY back at Severn Beach. It left Severn Beach at 17:09 (6 mins late, of which 2 mins was because the 16:54 railway bus to Avonmouth was cancelled and a lot of intending passengers for that wanted to know if the 625 would get them anywhere near where they wanted to go) and was 3 mins late back at Cribbs Causeway. The other bus on the route (KX03 HZM) left Cribbs Causeway 14:45 (20 mins late) to Southmead, but arrived Cribbs Causeway on time for the 17:35 to Severn Beach.

 

[freetoview33]

I sampled the 625 to Severn Beach and return on Saturday afternoon. Caught the 14:35 from Cribbs Causeway (YJ08 PGV) which left 18 mins late and was 15 mins late at Severn Beach, despite a delay at Easter Compton whilst the driver and a passenger determined which was the best stop for him to get off. Its return from Severn Beach was also 18 mins late, but (assuming it went all the way by the booked route) it managed to get to Southmead and back and was 3 mins EARLY back at Severn Beach. It left Severn Beach at 17:09 (6 mins late, of which 2 mins was because the 16:54 railway bus to Avonmouth was cancelled and a lot of intending passengers for that wanted to know if the 625 would get them anywhere near where they wanted to go) and was 3 mins late back at Cribbs Causeway. The other bus on the route (KX03 HZM) left Cribbs Causeway 14:45 (20 mins late) to Southmead, but arrived Cribbs Causeway on time for the 17:35 to Severn Beach.

We need to get to the bottom of these odd timings!

 

[DaveHarries]

Wasn't sure where else to put this. Today's VOSA Bus Service registrations for the Western Traffic Area includes this item: seems as if someone has decided to step in and fill the gap left by the withdrawl of First's runs between Nailsea and Clevedon:

PH1127110/1 - CAROLYN ALDERTON T/A CARMEL BRISTOL, COATES INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, SOUTHFIELD ROAD, NAILSEA, BRISTOL, BS48 1JN
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Nailsea Stockway and Nailsea Stockway given service number 88 effective from 01-Nov-2015. To amend Timetable.

Service 88 is currently Congresbury - Portishead- Yatton - Clevedon so sounds like an extension in prospect. Shouldn't this be to amend Route and Timetable though?

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[ValleyLines142]

First's 48A is an exact copy of Wessex Star 13 & First are doing exactly the same as you are accusing Wessex of doing on the One. As the TGW said, First turned their nose up to serving UWE & those services have built up substantially over the years due to Wessex/UWE partnership.

I hope Wessex's new 'the One' & it's low fares are successful & and further new routes are added in competition with First in due course. If First want to dish it out, they also need to expect to be on the receiving end as well......

Potentially so but it all links down to where in Bristol they operate. I am under the impression that Wessex have done this just because First already have a service there. With the 48A, First already operate the 48/49 so it made sense. I don't understand why Wessex think they'll succeed in mirroring the 1 (and I also find it ridiculous that it is numbered the same). They would have been better off divertiing it to UWE instead and numbering it the 18.

 

[matt_splat]

two wessex dafs are in bath on U18s providing poor customer service, some drivers go to oldfield park others don't which some times results in people going back to the uni on the bus......

first really seem to be doing well and have reduced the number of passengers standing on busses using deckers.

 

[winston270twm]

Potentially so but it all links down to where in Bristol they operate. I am under the impression that Wessex have done this just because First already have a service there. With the 48A, First already operate the 48/49 so it made sense. I don't understand why Wessex think they'll succeed in mirroring the 1 (and I also find it ridiculous that it is numbered the same). They would have been better off divertiing it to UWE instead and numbering it the 18.

First have only done the 48A because Wessex have a service 13 already there, it's not as though First have introduced a completely new route variation to add to existing services 48/49. The same logic applies to your points.

Wessex are competiting with First 1 offering low fares, you're hardly going to provde a service mirroring a existing route & give it a completely different number. There are only so many routes than can serve UWE. You watch First lower their fare on their 1 when they know what Wessex will be offering.

 

[Marc]

Wasn't sure where else to put this. Today's VOSA Bus Service registrations for the Western Traffic Area includes this item: seems as if someone has decided to step in and fill the gap left by the withdrawl of First's runs between Nailsea and Clevedon:

PH1127110/1 - CAROLYN ALDERTON T/A CARMEL BRISTOL, COATES INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, SOUTHFIELD ROAD, NAILSEA, BRISTOL, BS48 1JN
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Nailsea Stockway and Nailsea Stockway given service number 88 effective from 01-Nov-2015. To amend Timetable.

Service 88 is currently Congresbury - Portishead- Yatton - Clevedon so sounds like an extension in prospect. Shouldn't this be to amend Route and Timetable though?

I think 88 is being extended to from Nailsey at the start and end of the day as there are more changed to th A2 coming.

Potentially so but it all links down to where in Bristol they operate. I am under the impression that Wessex have done this just because First already have a service there. With the 48A, First already operate the 48/49 so it made sense. I don't understand why Wessex think they'll succeed in mirroring the 1 (and I also find it ridiculous that it is numbered the same). They would have been better off divertiing it to UWE instead and numbering it the 18.

Aside ffrom the route numbering, Wessex are doing to First exactly the same as has been done to them on the 13/48A route. Both are running destructive competiton on the city rather than trying to improve services or coverege.

 

[THarris123]

I would assume that the A2 changes are something to do with NSC looking into changing the 672 route, having a service though Felton and various funding changes in Blagdon and the surrounding area? Or is it just solely a few minor changes to A2?

 

[matt_splat]

I would assume that the A2 changes are something to do with NSC looking into changing the 672 route, having a service though Felton and various funding changes in Blagdon and the surrounding area? Or is it just solely a few minor changes to A2?

Felton has a service..... in the form of a community minibus that runs Dundry, Winford, Felton, Bristol Airport to connect into other services.

 

[Marc]

Felton has a service..... in the form of a community minibus that runs Dundry, Winford, Felton, Bristol Airport to connect into other services.

Also Felton have 135 to Weston.

 

[THarris123]

Bugler seem to have a new bus on 672 some old age ALX200 type thing. Good to see they've gone back in time again.

Abus have also now got some T reg thing working the 52 - didn't that used to be with Bath Bus co?

 

[matt_splat]

the dart is online to Abus i beleve as wells as DUS from first.....

 

[Marc]

As i passed throguh temple gate at lunchtime, i noted an orange Wright single deck parked in one of the car parks. as i was curious, i went to have a look - apparently SF08RR0, ex of wheelers connect in Romsey. It had a vinyl on it saying "cityfox". Dothey have an operators licence now?

 

[Stompehh]

Saw it last night dropping passengers off at Temple Meads - the blind showed their website address

 

[TheLastMinute]

As i passed throguh temple gate at lunchtime, i noted an orange Wright single deck parked in one of the car parks. as i was curious, i went to have a look - apparently SF08RR0, ex of wheelers connect in Romsey. It had a vinyl on it saying "cityfox". Dothey have an operators licence now?

If they do, it wasn't being displayed on the bus!

 

[winston270twm]

Does anyone have any idea why SGBC has cancelled 17 of it's services from 21st Decemebr on VOSA yesterday? Mainly schools / students services by the looks of it.

It is something as simple as they are moving them on to a seperate new license?

 

[carlberry]

Does anyone have any idea why SGBC has cancelled 17 of it's services from 21st Decemebr on VOSA yesterday? Mainly schools / students services by the looks of it.

It is something as simple as they are moving them on to a seperate new license?

The cancellations are on licence PH0007145, they have a new one PH1129879 which is likely to be where they're moved to (if they're keeping them). The only none school/contract service they run is the peak hours 462.

 

[winston270twm]

The cancellations are on licence PH0007145, they have a new one PH1129879 which is likely to be where they're moved to (if they're keeping them). The only none school/contract service they run is the peak hours 462.

Thanks for the reply, so they're are just potentially splitting the coaching & bus side then?

 

[carlberry]

Thanks for the reply, so they're are just potentially splitting the coaching & bus side then?

There hasnt been a 'bus' side to the business since they sold it to Rotola/Wessex. The 462 is run by a coach, they do have a few darts that buzz around Aztec West on staff contract services. I suspect it's just a licence change.

 

[freetoview33]

Or the school services becoming closed services?

 

[winston270twm]

There hasnt been a 'bus' side to the business since they sold it to Rotola/Wessex. The 462 is run by a coach, they do have a few darts that buzz around Aztec West on staff contract services. I suspect it's just a licence change.

Yes, the bus side of SGBC was sold Rotala to effectively form Wessex Connect. SGBC kept their coaching activities & depot.

Rotala have recently transferred 3 x Volvo B12B/Plaxton coaches in to Wessex's Avonmouth depot (11520, 11522 & 11523) & Merc Minicoach 15516, but no idea what they are for. One photogrpah of a coach appearing on Wessex route 3 appeared on a Flickr account

 

[swifty]

I'm surprised it's not been mentioned yet that Faresaver have acquired Ex Arriva London B7/Gemini LG52DDE for increased loadings on the X34.