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

[Citistar]

Many years ago (and we're talking Transit or very early Merc 709 era here, if my memory serves me correctly), there was an early morning service numbered 888 which did a short loop around the Worle estates and connected them to Worle Station. There was no demand for bus connections to Worle Station then, and i honestly don't believe there are now.

 

[Will1am]

I do suppose we’re officially in the last week or two of Gemini operations out of Hengrove. It’s been a long time coming but the next batch is inbound and after 20 years of Geminis being the predominant bus out of Hengrove, it’ll be different to see them gone to be honest.

 

[Class707SE]

I do suppose we’re officially in the last week or two of Gemini operations out of Hengrove. It’s been a long time coming but the next batch is inbound and after 20 years of Geminis being the predominant bus out of Hengrove, it’ll be different to see them gone to be honest.

Well if you're after Geminis there's 2 in Bath on uni routes for the short term future. Nice to have something a little different.

 

[thelongestroad]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but why do so many First bus drivers in Bristol not wear uniform? Is it due to a shortage of stock, or other reasons? Not uncommon to see bus drivers in full civvies including tracksuits etc and it looks a bit unprofessional.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but why do so many First bus drivers in Bristol not wear uniform? Is it due to a shortage of stock, or other reasons? Not uncommon to see bus drivers in full civvies including tracksuits etc and it looks a bit unprofessional.

Agency drivers?

 

[Class707SE]

Mix of agency + uniform being ordered and never arriving or taking ages, especially with new uniform coming in.

 

[nick291]

Have TravelWest smart cards been discontinued or something? The prices went up last month and every time I try to top it up I keep getting an error. Thanks.

 

[thelongestroad]

Further to this comment from me in reply #32,553...

... I asked for permission to use the picture with the FB post and the person allowed it so attached here is the photo of the 2x Irizar IE at Weston: if these got put into some kind of Bristol Airport livery the appearence might be very good.

Photo Credit: "BusTim" on the "FirstBus Enthusiasts" Facebook group

Dave

Some of these buses are parked on the Silver Zone side of Bristol Airport now.

 

[DaveHarries]

Some of these buses are parked on the Silver Zone side of Bristol Airport now.

I saw one making its way along the A38 from the Silver Zone to the terminal about 3 or 4 weeks ago so I think they may now be entering service.

Dave

 

[markymark2000]

Cross posting as details relate to the 2 threads.
As of 28th March, Bath Bus Company has deregistered the open top tours, and First West of England has registered these services on their operators licence with Travelwest. Details can be found in the Travelwest registration documents.

From this date, this should lead to the end of the Bath Bus Company operators licence and name unless First randomly have a separate use for it, and should help to simplify the situation with legal lettering and so on.

https://travelwest.info/app/uploads/bus-applications-5-March-2026.pdf

Registration of new services granted under short notice
PH0000132/01010457/0
Operator Name and Address: First West of England Limited, ENTERPRISE HOUSE, EASTON ROAD, BRISTOL, BS5 0DZ
Service number: City Tour
Start: Bath Abbey (0180BAC30606)
End: Bath Abbey (0180BAC30606)
Via: Type of Service: Normal Stopping Service
Received Date: 02 Mar 2026 18:02:08
Effective Date: 28 Mar 2026
Days of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,

PH0000132/01010456/0
Operator Name and Address: First West of England Limited, ENTERPRISE HOUSE, EASTON ROAD, BRISTOL, BS5 0DZ
Service number: Skyline Tour
Start: Manvers Street (0180BAA01346)
End: Manvers Street (0180BAA01346) Via:
Type of Service: Normal Stopping Service
Received Date: 02 Mar 2026 18:02:02
Effective Date: 28 Mar 2026
Days of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
Click to expand...

Cancellations of existing services
Serial Number Details PH0006633/01010002/31
Operator Name and Address: Bath Bus Company Limited, Unit 14 Burnett Business Park, Gypsy Lane, Keynsham, BS31 2ED
Service number: City Tour
Start: Bath Abbey CF_0180BAC30606 Terrace Walk CA_0180BAC30603
End: Bath Abbey CF_0180BAC30606 Terrace Walk CA_0180BAC30603 Via: Queens Square
Type of Service: Normal Stopping Service, 3) Hail & Ride
Received Date: 18 Feb 2026 20:43:18
Effective Date: 28 Mar 2026
Days of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,

PH0006633/01010012/29
Operator Name and Address: Bath Bus Company Limited, Unit 14 Burnett Business Park, Gypsy Lane, Keynsham, BS31 2ED
Service number: Skyline Tour
Start: Bath, Manvers Street (West) BF_0180BAA01346
End: Bath, Manvers Street (West) BF_0180BAA01346 Via: Prior Park GARDENS
Type of Service: Normal Stopping Service, 3) Hail & Ride
Received Date: 18 Feb 2026 20:43:32
Effective Date: 28 Mar 2026
Days of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,

 

[-Colly405-]

Cross posting as details relate to the 2 threads.
As of 28th March, Bath Bus Company has deregistered the open top tours, and First West of England has registered these services on their operators licence with Travelwest. Details can be found in the Travelwest registration documents.

From this date, this should lead to the end of the Bath Bus Company operators licence and name unless First randomly have a separate use for it, and should help to simplify the situation with legal lettering and so on.

https://travelwest.info/app/uploads/bus-applications-5-March-2026.pdf

And it also looks as though the timetable between First and High Experiences is going to become co-ordinated, with alternate journeys on both Skyline and City tours being operated by alternate companies.

And the Tootbus (i.e. currently Bath Bus Co) website is only taking bookings thorugh to March 28th, so is it possible that the co-ordinated timetable wll be jsut unde the City Sightseeing (i.e. currently High Experiences) brand and Toot will be no more in Bath?

 

[LeylandLynx]

I wonder what vehicles will operate on the 42, 43 & 17 when they move to Keynsham?

 

[-Colly405-]

I wonder what vehicles will operate on the 42, 43 & 17 when they move to Keynsham?

Tootbus open tops and Airdecker ones?

 

[nick291]

I wonder what vehicles will operate on the 42, 43 & 17 when they move to Keynsham?

Probably diesel E400 MMC's if I had to have gusss, I don't think Keynsham is set up for CNG or electric buses currently nor is it in the pipeline.

Tootbus open tops and Airdecker ones?

One can only hope!

 

[Will1am]

I wonder what vehicles will operate on the 42, 43 & 17 when they move to Keynsham?

I want to presume Geminis and E400s displaced by electrics arriving.

I do want to presume there’s a possibility of the A1 fleet moving onto the A4, so possibly could free up vehicles from the airdecker onto the locals too, considering the A4 is moving to Bath depot.

 

[cnjb8]

I see that the first of the next batch of Yutong’s are starting to be added to BLOTW. Do we have any idea yet what exactly is coming?

 

[aswilliamsuk]

I see that the first of the next batch of Yutong’s are starting to be added to BLOTW. Do we have any idea yet what exactly is coming?

As I recall, it's 113 Yutong U11DD, 7 Yutong E12, 12 ADL E200EV, 5 E100EV and 27 Wright StreetDeck Newpowers. The 21 Yutong U11DD and Yutong E12 (exact split not known) for Airport services are additional to that.

 

[cnjb8]

As I recall, it's 113 Yutong U11DD, 7 Yutong E12, 12 ADL E200EV, 5 E100EV and 27 Wright StreetDeck Newpowers. The 21 Yutong U11DD and Yutong E12 (exact split not known) for Airport services are additional to that.

Thank you, much appreciated!

 

[Will1am]

I’ve heard 37629 and 37630 are off for repaint, presumably into the new blue sightseeing ultraviolet variant. Also I presume the A1 Scanias are next for repaint for the A4.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2026 ==

63209 and 63211 have moved to Lawrence Hill ready for yutongs to enter service imminently

 

[t rex]

Pn10fnr 36361 on driver training duties out of Burnett for routes changes in April seen at Keynsham church today

 

[Callum15632]

Pn10fnr 36361 on driver training duties out of Burnett for routes changes in April seen at Keynsham church today

I saw the back of one in Southmead Hospital the other day.

 

[Will1am]

Anyone know what vehicles will be off to Keynsham depot ready for the changes this Sunday?

 

[father_jack]

LX07 XEU (with alas illegible First fleet number) prepares for the new Kingswood open top tour today.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

LX07 XEU (with alas illegible First fleet number) prepares for the new Kingswood open top tour today. View attachment 201317

Does it take in all the sights... The Kings Head on Kingswood High Street (aka the Swamp), Cathy Barry's old house on Cock Road (don't google that), the Old Kleeneze site in Hanham...??

 

[Will1am]

LX07 XEU (with alas illegible First fleet number) prepares for the new Kingswood open top tour today. View attachment 201317

I’m surprised they’ve debranded multiple of them, surely people need to know what brand it is with the new competition in place.

 

[-Colly405-]

From the Tootbus website https://www.tootbus.com/en/page/about-bath :
The hop-on hop-off bus tour activity in Bath, operated by First Group Plc. is permanently closed, with the last day of operation scheduled for 28 March 2026.

Presumably both operators are now sharing the City Sightseeing brand, alhtough there is no obvious timetable on the CS website to confirm this...

 

[Citistar]

So who actually owns the defunct TootBus brand now? First? RATP? Somebody else?

 

[-Colly405-]

Tootbus still operates in London, Paris, Brussels, Tuscany, Madrid & Barcelona, according to its website. Presumably the London operation is still First?
The toot website says it (the website) is owned by RATP Dev.

 

[nick291]

I've noticed that the 74 is rarely a Yutong U11DD lately, usually a B9TL. Is this in preparation for the streetdeck repowers that are coming? Not that the enthusiast in me is complaining!

 

[Callum15632]

I've noticed that the 74 is rarely a Yutong U11DD lately, usually a B9TL. Is this in preparation for the streetdeck repowers that are coming? Not that the enthusiast in me is complaining!

Streetdeck repowers are for Bath not Hengrove. Hengrove are due another batch of Yutong U11DDs imminently.