First Bristol / First S&A changes, 04-Nov-2012

[DaveHarries]

Hi all,

Some, if not all, bus enthusiasts on this group may be aware that the VOSA publish a daily list of all registrations for new / changed / cancelled bus services and the list is categorised by traffic area.

The lists for Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th September have contained a number of registrations from First Bristol / First S&A. Here is a list of the routes affected, as is known so far:

NOTE:
All services given are subject to timetable changes only except:
CN = Cancelled Route, NR = New Route,
RT = Route & TT change, SP = Stopping Place change also.


First Bristol:
6, 7, 42/43 (RT), 44, 45, 70, 903

First Somerset & Avon:
Bath & Bristol Area: X39/339/649 (RT), 1 (RT), 4 (RT), 5 (RT), 6/7 (RT), 10 (RT), 13 (RT), 13D (CN), 14/14A (RT), 17 (RT), 173 (RT), 178 (RT), 179 (RT), 318/319 (RT), 332 (RT), 337 (CN), 349 (CN)

South Gloucestershire: 309/310 (RT), 311, 327/329

WSM & North Somerset: 1, 5 (SP), X1/352/353, X23/X24, 102 (SP), 112 (SP), 125, 126 (SP)

Bridgwater Area: 1 (SP), 3 (NR), 14/614/615 (RT)

Taunton Area: 1/1A (RT), 2 (CN), 3 (RT), 29 (RT), 54, 92/192

That is the full list as of this evening. Some thoughts on this though:

- I have a hunch that the 318/319 will both end up running to Bath. Service 318 currently operates the south Keynsham loop to the Town Centre then changes to Service 337 so it could be that the 318 will now run to Bath instead of terminating at Keynsham Town Centre. But.....

- Someone has suggested on another forum that the loss of the 337 & 349 may result in loss of the X39 with all journeys running as Service 339 like they used to do many years ago (until the opening of the A4 Keynsham Bypass I believe). If this proves to be correct it could be a way of finding another use for the B7TL / Wright that will be deposed from the Bath P&R routes by the arrival of the new Enviro400 Hybrids onto those routes. Also, if this does prove to be correct, what would happen to the '54' plate B7RLE / Wright single-deckers currently used on the X39?

- Changes to Service 3 in Taunton are probably related to the loss of Service 2. A good bet may be that the buses currently used on Service 2 in Taunton may go to Bridgwater in connection with the start of Service 3 there.

- Service 3 in Bridgwater: the places referred to in the service registration are both newbuild housing areas: Kings Down is next to the M5 while Stockmoor is off the A38 where the road comes in from the M5 J23. I had wondered how long it would be before an operator took up a route through here although I had thought that Webberbus would be first. The First S&A registration for Service 3 provides a half-hourly Monday to Saturday service.

- The registration for Service 92/192 in the Taunton area is an odd one. IIRC when Service 92 was curtailed from Exeter to Taunton the registration was changed to be between Taunton and Tiverton. The registration in today's VOSA bulletin gives the registration as being between Taunton and Exeter...

If I get any more registrations I will update the above list.

Edit: Apparently the Bath - Keynsham - Bristol corridor is being "juggled extensively" according to a post on another forum. Details to follow.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[SF-02]

They'll probably throw more yet padding into the timetables too. I've never been on a slower, more frustrating form of transport than First buses around Bristol. Every other stop there was a 2 minute wait. Excruciatingly slow. They timetable as if every inch of every road is gridlocked 24/7. Doesn't matter if it's late at night, or during a once-in-a-year major gridlock, your journey will still take the same time.