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

[TheGrandWazoo]

These are two of the six that First Leicester was asked to repair when Sheffield couldn't cope.

Have they been repaired?

I confess I thought Bristol would be losing their Streetdecks not gaining more!

 

[Whiteway215]

These are two of the six that First Leicester was asked to repair when Sheffield couldn't cope.

Perhaps Wells might like them!

 

[spw24]

NAT group are running the Severn Express from Monday but only Bristol - Chepstow from 0800 - 1900 from Bristol running our old route via Clifton Down to Cribbs and also the 2 buses extended to?from Magor.

 

[Robertj21a]

Have they been repaired?

I confess I thought Bristol would be losing their Streetdecks not gaining more!

Yes, fully repaired. The remaining 4 are now being worked on.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes, fully repaired. The remaining 4 are now being worked on.

Thanks for that

 

[freetoview33]

Yes, fully repaired. The remaining 4 are now being worked on.

Do you know if they are also heading our way? I wonder if this means anymore streetlites or such else are going the other way?

 

[Robertj21a]

Do you know if they are also heading our way? I wonder if this means anymore streetlites or such else are going the other way?

All 6 are for FWoE. Nothing going the other way.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

All 6 are for FWoE. Nothing going the other way.

Out of interest, what was the plan? Were the Streetdecks just there for repair? Or were they going to work in Leicester? Or was that a plan shelved in favour of the e400s from Bolton?

It's a little surprising only as FWoE haven't been keen on the Streetdecks and First Leicester already have a number of them. However, I'm sure there are logical reasons behind it.

 

[freetoview33]

Out of interest, what was the plan? Were the Streetdecks just there for repair? Or were they going to work in Leicester? Or was that a plan shelved in favour of the e400s from Bolton?

It's a little surprising only as FWoE haven't been keen on the Streetdecks and First Leicester already have a number of them. However, I'm sure there are logical reasons behind it.

I'm not always sure about that one! I was thinking they could be for a new 72/72a. As it was proposed to cut them short of Temple Meads to use doubles and or the new stop at temple meads

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm not always sure about that one! I was thinking they could be for a new 72/72a. As it was proposed to cut them short of Temple Meads to use doubles and or the new stop at temple meads

I was thinking more about the logic behind sending Streetdecks to Bristol and reintroducing e400s to Leicester.

As for which routes.... it could be the 72/72A. In these strange times, who knows....just have to see what colour they come out of the paintshop.

 

[Robertj21a]

I was thinking more about the logic behind sending Streetdecks to Bristol and reintroducing e400s to Leicester.

As for which routes.... it could be the 72/72A. In these strange times, who knows....just have to see what colour they come out of the paintshop.

Not sure that First and logic often turn up in the same sentence.
The original plan was for Leicester to receive these 6 Streetdecks (and 1 Streetlite) from Sheffield with the understanding that they all needed significant attention to make them roadworthy again. Then 7 E400s became available after their hire to Rotala, so they are now allocated to First Leicester instead. It does seem strange.

 

[Volvodart]

It was dependent on Leicester getting funding to make the E400s Euro 6, so that must have happened or else they would have kept the Streetdecks.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not sure that First and logic often turn up in the same sentence.
The original plan was for Leicester to receive these 6 Streetdecks (and 1 Streetlite) from Sheffield with the understanding that they all needed significant attention to make them roadworthy again. Then 7 E400s became available after their hire to Rotala, so they are now allocated to First Leicester instead. It does seem strange.

It was dependent on Leicester getting funding to make the E400s Euro 6, so that must have happened or else they would have kept the Streetdecks.

Makes sense with what @Volvodart says. Bristol and Leicester both need Euro VI so if they can get some funding for the e400s, means the Streetdecks can head to Bristol.

 

[Class 33]

Wasn't there supposed to be a new Temple Meads Transport Hub planned? What's happened to that? Has it been scrapped? That must be a few years or so ago now!

 

[Streamr_MXP]

I was thinking that the Decks could possibly operate routes 177/178 & 37, as the 178 & 37 inter-work, and the 37 will need compliant vehicles to enter Bath. Also the Steel Link Livery that these decks wear, could have a MendipXplorer logo slapped on, and people would just think its a normal Mendip bus, as the 177/8 are technically MendipXplorer routes. I seem to remember 32669/32673 were blue, and just got a logo put on them, so the same thing could possibly happen here

 

[freetoview33]

Wasn't there supposed to be a new Temple Meads Transport Hub planned? What's happened to that? Has it been scrapped? That must be a few years or so ago now!

My understanding is there is 1 new stop to be built on the down exit side of Temple Meads approach for the A1. (This is listed as temporary but will have a shelter ect so think it will be fairly long term) that leaves the current flyer stop free, but not sure if it will be reused.
Then there are a few stops due to be built on the Friary (something I've always wanted to happen)
Also one/two stops are due to be built on Cattle Market Road for the new uni campus.

 

[carlberry]

My understanding is there is 1 new stop to be built on the down exit side of Temple Meads approach for the A1. (This is listed as temporary but will have a shelter ect so think it will be fairly long term) that leaves the current flyer stop free, but not sure if it will be reused.
Then there are a few stops due to be built on the Friary (something I've always wanted to happen)
Also one/two stops are due to be built on Cattle Market Road for the new uni campus.

What is supposed to use the stops on the Friary?

 

[Whiteway215]

My understanding is there is 1 new stop to be built on the down exit side of Temple Meads approach for the A1. (This is listed as temporary but will have a shelter ect so think it will be fairly long term) that leaves the current flyer stop free, but not sure if it will be reused.
Then there are a few stops due to be built on the Friary (something I've always wanted to happen)
Also one/two stops are due to be built on Cattle Market Road for the new uni campus.

Not a Bus Forum question I know but can any of you Bristolians tell me has the old derelict Royal Mail Sorting Office on Cattle Market Road been demolished?

 

[freetoview33]

Not a Bus Forum question I know but can any of you Bristolians tell me has the old derelict Royal Mail Sorting Office on Cattle Market Road been demolished?

Yes it has

 

[freetoview33]

What is supposed to use the stops on the Friary?

Not sure if it is supposed to be the 8, 70, 72, 73 and A1 as the original plan was to close Temple Meads approach to all traffic.
Or the other now old plan of splitting some routes. Although WECA seems to want to create more through routes again! So time will tell.

 

[Whiteway215]

Yes it has

Thank you. For so long it was not a pretty welcoming sight for rail passengers newly arriving at Bristol Temple Meads!

 

[carlberry]

Not sure if it is supposed to be the 8, 70, 72, 73 and A1 as the original plan was to close Temple Meads approach to all traffic.
Or the other now old plan of splitting some routes. Although WECA seems to want to create more through routes again! So time will tell.

If the new stops are appearing on the approach then the Friary stops aren't needed then, especially as it would be less convenient.

 

[Tommy Walters]

I was thinking that the Decks could possibly operate routes 177/178 & 37, as the 178 & 37 inter-work, and the 37 will need compliant vehicles to enter Bath. Also the Steel Link Livery that these decks wear, could have a MendipXplorer logo slapped on, and people would just think its a normal Mendip bus, as the 177/8 are technically MendipXplorer routes. I seem to remember 32669/32673 were blue, and just got a logo put on them, so the same thing could possibly happen here

Can Streetdecks get under the bridge at Bitton though?

 

[swifty]

Can Streetdecks get under the bridge at Bitton though?

Nope - hence the use of low height Scania/E400 on the 37 and the old ALX400s on the 19/37 circuit when Bath based.

The vehicles used on the 37 in the main are complaint and the B7s can be upgraded if needs be.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Can Streetdecks get under the bridge at Bitton though?

No, Streetdecks cannot pass under the bridge.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Nope - hence the use of low height Scania/E400 on the 37 and the old ALX400s on the 19/37 circuit when Bath based.

The vehicles used on the 37 in the main are complaint and the B7s can be upgraded if needs be.

It's been mentioned before I know, but I think the use of an SGL gas bus is far more likely on those School diagrams!

 

[freetoview33]

If the new stops are appearing on the approach then the Friary stops aren't needed then, especially as it would be less convenient.

Well the new stop on the approach is listed as Temporary, so I guess this is a short term solution until a more long term plan comes into effect, it does allow the A1 to stop nearer to the entrance to the station, with no interruption of normal passengers, it also frees up some capacity at T6, which I would like to think would be used for the 72/72A, I can't see the 9 coming back, and I still don't think we will see them go double yet. Also it is more likely for the 72 to go double than the 178 remaining double (Once the pandemic is over).

On the Friary stops my own personal opinion is that if services 1,2,75,76 were ever split that the Northern sections would terminate at these stops, as plans were for them to at least serve Temple Meads. BUT I agree this is not likely to happen.

 

[Tommy Walters]

Well the new stop on the approach is listed as Temporary, so I guess this is a short term solution until a more long term plan comes into effect, it does allow the A1 to stop nearer to the entrance to the station, with no interruption of normal passengers, it also frees up some capacity at T6, which I would like to think would be used for the 72/72A, I can't see the 9 coming back, and I still don't think we will see them go double yet. Also it is more likely for the 72 to go double than the 178 remaining double (Once the pandemic is over).

On the Friary stops my own personal opinion is that if services 1,2,75,76 were ever split that the Northern sections would terminate at these stops, as plans were for them to at least serve Temple Meads. BUT I agree this is not likely to happen.

Do you reckon the Bath 9 or 18 will come back? I can honestly see both of them going, with the 18 possibly being replaced by a diverted 37 to allow deckers to be used on there!

 

[freetoview33]

Do you reckon the Bath 9 or 18 will come back? I can honestly see both of them going, with the 18 possibly being replaced by a diverted 37 to allow deckers to be used on there!

I personally think they will come back, once things return to more normality.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Do you reckon the Bath 9 or 18 will come back? I can honestly see both of them going, with the 18 possibly being replaced by a diverted 37 to allow deckers to be used on there!

The 18 (19a), 19 and 37 have seemingly been messed around too much in recent years. A return to normality and stability, as @freetoview33 would be welcomed