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

[-Colly405-]

Re the M4 change of route

Copied from the Daily Service Updates page (https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-...service-updates/updates/daily-service-updates)

"Following the earlier postponement to the route change at Brabazon, buses will start serving the Runway Avenue East and Brabazon Park stops from first bus on Thursday 16th April."

 

[swifty]

Where the current A1 fleet will go (?) though fairly certain that 33108-110 are just visiting and will head elsewhere.

I’d expect them head east. The 3 Cities are rumoured to be going to Bath for the A4, with the AirDecker Volvos apparently heading north. Of course they had enough branded for the old 30 minute service pattern.

have the AirDeckers been withdrawn pending a move elsewhere?

As above - they don’t have assault screens so can’t be used from Bath depot.

 

[Callum15632]

I’d expect them head east. The 3 Cities are rumoured to be going to Bath for the A4, with the AirDecker Volvos apparently heading north. Of course they had enough branded for the old 30 minute service pattern.



As above - they don’t have assault screens so can’t be used from Bath depot.

The 3 E400 Cities are going to Bath with 33108 and 33110 supposedly already there seeing as they've not been in service for days on the A1 and now the A1 is operated by some B9TL Geminis alongside the Scania MMCs and 33489.

 

[swifty]

It seems there been some issues in Keynsham with the new routing of the 43 heading both ways around the loop. People don’t like change!

There are stop poles on the ‘opposite’ side of Charlton Road, but no markings and no poles or markings around the estate, so some drivers stop, some don’t. Bad planning or poor route training by First?

Anyway, there’s a lot of finger pointing going on, BANES blaming WECA, WECA blaming First etc. Clearly no one’s picked up on it at any point prior to the changes. I’ve seen talk from BANES to the local councillor of forcing through a short notice route change back to how it was!

It’s funny though the Keynsham Town Council were able to set up the K1 with numerous temporary bus stops all around the town though!

 

[Benjwri]

The 3 E400 Cities are going to Bath with 33108 and 33110 supposedly already there seeing as they've not been in service for days on the A1 and now the A1 is operated by some B9TL Geminis alongside the Scania MMCs and 33489.

Yeah the two that are already in Bath have been driving around the city in the last few days marked as driver training.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I’d expect them head east. The 3 Cities are rumoured to be going to Bath for the A4, with the AirDecker Volvos apparently heading north. Of course they had enough branded for the old 30 minute service pattern.



As above - they don’t have assault screens so can’t be used from Bath depot.

Cheers for that. I didn't even consider the issue of assault screens - makes sense, and I expected them to be heading elsewhere in First. Surprised that 33108-10 are staying with FWoE - I thought they were a temporary measure and again, it does make sense, now you mention it.

 

[Callum15632]

Yeah the two that are already in Bath have been driving around the city in the last few days marked as driver training.

Wonder when they'll be in service?

 

[swifty]

Cheers for that. I didn't even consider the issue of assault screens - makes sense, and I expected them to be heading elsewhere in First. Surprised that 33108-10 are staying with FWoE - I thought they were a temporary measure and again, it does make sense, now you mention it.

I thought they’d have headed over to Ireland to join the rest at Aircoach.

I haven’t seen one, but I presume the ex Kernow MMCs now at Bath have had full assault screens fitted?

 

[Cheers Drive]

As a driver assault screens suck I despise them they cause more aggro these they’re worth even when I worked in Coventry I didn’t want them it’s a lot nicer for the passenger not to have them and Bristol and Bath isn’t rough enough for them blame the union because a few mouthy drivers got assaulted we all have to suffer.

 

[nick291]

30153(YK26 KWC) is out on the A1 today.

 

[Metal Mickey]

As a driver assault screens suck I despise them they cause more aggro these they’re worth even when I worked in Coventry I didn’t want them it’s a lot nicer for the passenger not to have them and Bristol and Bath isn’t rough enough for them blame the union because a few mouthy drivers got assaulted we all have to suffer.

I totally disagree. I think they’re essential especially when being confronted by a threatening passenger and opening the doors in cold weather to keep the draught out of the cab although the sliding perspex is probably the better option and can be adjusted when necessary.

 

[t rex]

30153(YK26 KWC) is out on the A1 today.

Also 30157 yk26kwg out on a1

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also 30157 yk26kwg out on a1

Standard seats albeit with different pleather and moquette? Luggage racks too?

 

[swifty]

Standard seats albeit with different pleather and moquette? Luggage racks too?

Similar colours to the Bristol P&R moquette but in the style of Kernow’s red print.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Similar colours to the Bristol P&R moquette but in the style of Kernow’s red print.

I thought it looked a similar pattern with those horizontal bars - Worcester had a purple version IIRC. Thought it was just blue but probably an issue with my eyesight

 

[nick291]

Also 30157 yk26kwg out on a1

Very snazzy looking buses!

 

[Cheers Drive]

I totally disagree. I think they’re essential especially when being confronted by a threatening passenger and opening the doors in cold weather to keep the draught out of the cab although the sliding perspex is probably the better option and can be adjusted when necessary.

The screens you mentioned that have the option to pull up or leave half way is the best way forward in my opinion and experience so it’s up to the driver. Having worked all over uk I can see in certain areas where it is needed but not I’m Bristol and Bath. In Cornwall and Devon it’s definitely not needed and I have found over the years the drivers who tend to get assaulted are the ones who it happens to regularly. I used to drive round Knowle Southmead Henbury Hartcliffe etc at night with no screens and £700 cash on me ..never had an issue.
They should at least make the screens have a microphone and speaker because the most trouble is from the passengers not being able to hear the driver. As for the draft I welcome Some fresh air in the bus keeps you alert.
Each to their own where have you driven buses ?

 

[Metal Mickey]

The screens you mentioned that have the option to pull up or leave half way is the best way forward in my opinion and experience so it’s up to the driver. Having worked all over uk I can see in certain areas where it is needed but not I’m Bristol and Bath. In Cornwall and Devon it’s definitely not needed and I have found over the years the drivers who tend to get assaulted are the ones who it happens to regularly. I used to drive round Knowle Southmead Henbury Hartcliffe etc at night with no screens and £700 cash on me ..never had an issue.
They should at least make the screens have a microphone and speaker because the most trouble is from the passengers not being able to hear the driver. As for the draft I welcome Some fresh air in the bus keeps you alert.
Each to their own where have you driven buses ?

Various areas in Scotland

 

[Class707SE]

Wonder when they'll be in service?

33108 was in service yesterday.

 

[Callum15632]

33108 was in service yesterday.

No it wasn't, yesterday it was on driver training. I meant I wonder when it'll enter public service.

 

[Class707SE]

No it wasn't, yesterday it was on driver training. I meant I wonder when it'll enter public service.

Well it was in service yesterday on the racecourse journeys...

 

[Callum15632]

Well it was in service yesterday on the racecourse journeys...

Ah okay.

 

[swifty]

With the entry into service of the new Yutongs, 63206 and 211 have transferred to Glasgow.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With the entry into service of the new Yutongs, 63206 and 211 have transferred to Glasgow.

Given their repaint into ultraviolet, they were destined to move. TBH, I'd forgotten there were still 63***s about. Shame... they'd have been ideal on the X39 (just kiddin')

 

[-Colly405-]

I see that in yesterday's N&P First have a new operating centre at Unit 6 Burnett, with 8 discs in addition to Unit 14-18 which keeps its 30 vehicles. Unit 6 is (was?) the base of High Experiences for their Bath O/T tour (with 5 discs).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69ea8af4d36883a64473b927/np_3061_23_April_2026.pdf

 

[swifty]

The HE Scanias have been given First fleet numbers, at least on paper. I’ve not seen any to check.

 

[ukiki323]

I like seeing B9TLs on the 172, 376 etc. They look terrible but performance wise very well suited to the routes. I much prefer them over the E400s and especially E400MMCs, although I saw the lack of chargers catch passengers off guard on the 39

 

[t rex]

30152 yk26kwb 30164 yk26kwp on a1s
Then 30140 yk26kyv on the 45s
Also a yutong single decker 65173 yk26kzl on 36

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Forgot to mention but saw 37629 on Friday - newly repainted and vinyled but at speed on the M6 near the Bescot Stadium in Walsall. In service now, so guess it was returning from Potteries?

 

[Callum15632]

Forgot to mention but saw 37629 on Friday - newly repainted and vinyled but at speed on the M6 near the Bescot Stadium in Walsall. In service now, so guess it was returning from Potteries?

Yes you are correct.