West Country Independents

[t rex]

Just to mention that former Bluestar Omnidekka (or is it Omnicity?) 1003 YN56FFE was in Centurion Travel's overflow

Screenshot from a facebook post about the two scanias brought in for there windows

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Screenshot from a facebook post about the two scanias brought in for there windows

I did wonder if it was in connection with the recent vandalism

 

[nick291]

Just to mention that former Bluestar Omnidekka (or is it Omnicity?) 1003 YN56FFE was in Centurion Travel's overflow

Did a quick Flickr of the reg and it's an Omnidekka. Passed onto Bluestsar from Brighton and Hove where it was their 903 from new.

 

[nick291]

Does anyone know who owns Optare Solo YJ59 GHY along with a 55 plate of similar length? Seen them around Long Ashton on GA site shuttles this week, thanks.

 

[t rex]

Does anyone know who owns Optare Solo YJ59 GHY along with a 55 plate of similar length? Seen them around Long Ashton on GA site shuttles this week, thanks.

Travel southwest

 

[Citistar]

It's been a long wait to share this news, but Abus and Centurion Travel have today announced that they will be operating new service 101 from 27th July, which serves as a partial replacement for service 99 in the Chew Valley and service 2V around Norton Radstock. The new route will also provide a much requested daytime link between Farrington Gurney and the Somer Valley. More details on the Abus website.

 

[Mollman]

It's been a long wait to share this news, but Abus and Centurion Travel have today announced that they will be operating new service 101 from 27th July, which serves as a partial replacement for service 99 in the Chew Valley and service 2V around Norton Radstock. The new route will also provide a much requested daytime link between Farrington Gurney and the Somer Valley. More details on the Abus website.

View attachment 207618

Thanks for sharing. Are the two operators working specific journeys each in a 50/50 manner or is one operating more than the other?

 

[Will1am]

I’ve got a list of routes coming to the west, and despite the changes being 12 days away, it’s looking uncertain:
25: First Bus
40: Unknown
65: Unknown
X91: VIA
100: the big lemon
101: abus & Centurion
522: Unknown
525: Unknown
534: Unknown (likely euro)
768: Unknown
K2: Unknown
Y2C: Unknown
Y8: Eurocoaches

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It's been a long wait to share this news, but Abus and Centurion Travel have today announced that they will be operating new service 101 from 27th July, which serves as a partial replacement for service 99 in the Chew Valley and service 2V around Norton Radstock. The new route will also provide a much requested daytime link between Farrington Gurney and the Somer Valley. More details on the Abus website.

View attachment 207618

Thanks for sharing. A pleasant surprise to see Abus/Centurion taking this on; I had thought Euro or CT might have got it.

I’ve got a list of routes coming to the west, and despite the changes being 12 days away, it’s looking uncertain:
25: First Bus
40: Unknown
65: Unknown
X91: VIA
100: the big lemon
101: abus & Centurion
522: Unknown
525: Unknown
534: Unknown (likely euro)
768: Unknown
K2: Unknown
Y2C: Unknown
Y8: Eurocoaches

I missed the 100 being awarded. Where was that?

 

[DaveHarries]

Just to mention that former Bluestar Omnidekka (or is it Omnicity?) 1003 YN56FFE was in Centurion Travel's overflow

Bluestar have announced a new route 26 to start 30-Aug-2026 which will be Southampton - Whiteley via. Bitterne, Thornhill Park, Botley and Hedge End - https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/new-route-bluestar-26 - so I wonder what they will use on that or whether FFE might make a return to Bluestar or do they already have enough vehicles without FFE being needed?

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Bluestar have announced a new route 26 to start 30-Aug-2026 which will be Southampton - Whiteley via. Bitterne, Thornhill Park, Botley and Hedge End - https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/new-route-bluestar-26 - so I wonder what they will use on that or whether FFE might make a return to Bluestar or do they already have enough vehicles without FFE being needed?

Dave

I think it was donating its windows to the vehicles damaged in the vandal attack.

 

[Lynford1976]

Deleted.

 

[-Colly405-]

Thanks for sharing. A pleasant surprise to see Abus/Centurion taking this on; I had thought Euro or CT might have got it.

I haven't seen Centurion mentioned as an operator of public services before - is this their first? Are they linked to Abus in any way?

 

[nick291]

I haven't seen Centurion mentioned as an operator of public services before - is this their first? Are they linked to Abus in any way?

They used to operate some council stuff in Bath I believe, mainly a private hire OpCo. Abus now share the yard with Centurion as Netowrk Rail kicked them out of their site near Temple Meads.

 

[t rex]

I haven't seen Centurion mentioned as an operator of public services before - is this their first? Are they linked to Abus in any way?

 

[Citistar]

Thanks for sharing. Are the two operators working specific journeys each in a 50/50 manner or is one operating more than the other?

I think the best way of describing it is that Abus are looking after the commercial side of it, with it running from Centurion. It's how the R2/R3 in Bath have been run for the past few years.

I haven't seen Centurion mentioned as an operator of public services before - is this their first? Are they linked to Abus in any way?

Centurion had a school service briefly (a year?) between Midsomer Norton and St Gregorys School at Odd Down (100) and they've also had the school route which was 971 (South Bath - St Marks), although i don't know if this was ever registered. Centurion are working with Abus now in a similar way as Abus and Crown Coaches (Munden) used to operate collaboratively from the depot in Bristol.

 

[Will1am]

I missed the 100 being awarded. Where was that?

The 100 isn’t yet awarded however, Jason Freeman has been heavily hinting towards it

To my knowledge, WECA is a dump and hasn’t even rewarded routes like the 40 yet, so expect some services they’ve promised to not actually come out

 

[markymark2000]

The 100 isn’t yet awarded however, Jason Freeman has been heavily hinting towards it

To my knowledge, WECA is a dump and hasn’t even rewarded routes like the 40 yet, so expect some services they’ve promised to not actually come out

How on earth is a contract not awarded yet for a contract that starts in less than a week? Either it has been awarded and people aren't saying (through choice or not allowed to say), or WECA are insufferably incompetent and every single member of staff needs sacking.

 

[Mollman]

I think the best way of describing it is that Abus are looking after the commercial side of it, with it running from Centurion. It's how the R2/R3 in Bath have been run for the past few years.


Centurion had a school service briefly (a year?) between Midsomer Norton and St Gregorys School at Odd Down (100) and they've also had the school route which was 971 (South Bath - St Marks), although i don't know if this was ever registered. Centurion are working with Abus now in a similar way as Abus and Crown Coaches (Munden) used to operate collaboratively from the depot in Bristol.

Thanks

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think the best way of describing it is that Abus are looking after the commercial side of it, with it running from Centurion. It's how the R2/R3 in Bath have been run for the past few years.

Given that Alan is in his mid 70s, it was one thing to be running a couple of school runs so hence my surprise that something more intensive is being undertaken.

Assume something like Sprinters will be sourced for it; an ex Reading Omnidekka lumbering round might be overkill

 

[Will1am]

WECA are insufferably incompetent and every single member of staff needs sacking.

best description of how it is

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jul 2026 ==

update from yesterdays post (WESTlink is Kempsford)

40: tbc
65: WESTlink
100: the big lemon
101: abus
522: First
525: Eurocoaches
534: Eurocoaches
768: WESTlink
K2: WESTlink
X91: WESTlink
Y2C: Eurocoaches
Y8: Eurocoaches

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

How on earth is a contract not awarded yet for a contract that starts in less than a week? Either it has been awarded and people aren't saying (through choice or not allowed to say), or WECA are insufferably incompetent and every single member of staff needs sacking.

Perhaps it WAS awarded and then the operator threw it back it in? That happens

To my knowledge, WECA is a dump and hasn’t even rewarded routes like the 40 yet, so expect some services they’ve promised to not actually come out

In respect of the 40... if the route isn't changing (or the times?) then arguably not knowing the operator is not much of an issue?



Now given what @Citistar said about the 100 timetable and Big Lemon's record, I'll be interested to see that in practice!

 

[nick291]

Now that The Big Lemon has won/retained routes in this round of WECA tendering maybe it's worth reopening the thread?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Given that Alan is in his mid 70s, it was one thing to be running a couple of school runs so hence my surprise that something more intensive is being undertaken.

Assume something like Sprinters will be sourced for it; an ex Reading Omnidekka lumbering round might be overkill

And lo... two Sprinters have appeared.

WE26ONE and WE26TWO are pictured on Tim Jennings' flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/141674251@N02 with ONE in West green

 

[freetoview33]

Still nothing for my local route the 40!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Still nothing for my local route the 40!

The inference is that the times weren't changing. If it goes from Euro to Lemon (for example), would it be that big of a change?

 

[Citistar]

And lo... two Sprinters have appeared.

WE26ONE and WE26TWO are pictured on Tim Jennings' flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/141674251@N02 with ONE in West green

Following a quick road test after it's arrival this morning to make sure the Next Stop tracking was functional, TWO is already in the paint shop for greening.

 

[DaveLondon]

Thanks for sharing. Are the two operators working specific journeys each in a 50/50 manner or is one operating more than the other?

In practice they are one and the same. Some Abus vehicles owned by Alan Peters but operated by Centurion on their discs.

 

[-Colly405-]

The inference is that the times weren't changing. If it goes from Euro to Lemon (for example), would it be that big of a change?

No, but surely if the existing contracts have finished, the service will stop on the 25th unless there is a new operator? Although I can't find anything online that shows that Euro have given notice to cease the 40...

 

[Buses in Bath]

No, but surely if the existing contracts have finished, the service will stop on the 25th unless there is a new operator? Although I can't find anything online that shows that Euro have given notice to cease the 40...