First South Yorkshire

[py_megapixel]

Lots of buses are now acquiring interior information boards that seem to have software for the wrong regional subdivision of First Group - they just scroll, for example, "31/05/25 15:17 - WEST OF ENGLAND V3.1"

Stagecoach also made the same mistake with their 73 reg E400s, several of which were delivered set up for Hull!

 

[YorkRailFan]

First has announced some changes from 23 June in response to Arriva's withdrawal of the 51:

From Monday 23 June, we'll be making changes to services 351, 353, 354, 361, 362, 363 following the announcement of Arriva’s withdrawal of service 51.

New timetables can be viewed here

Here's a summary of the changes;

Service 351

Minor changes to the timetable. In Skellow all journeys will now serve Mill Lane.

Services 353, 354

Minor timetable changes.

Service 361

Route and timetable changes.

One bus per hour will be extended from Skellow via Burghwallis, Campsall to Norton. Upon arrival at Norton buses will continue back to Doncaster as service 362. This will provide links from Skellow/Carcroft to Asken, through fares will be available.

Service 362

Route and timetable changes.

One bus per hour will be extended from Askern, Eden Drive via Campsall to Norton. Upon arrival at Norton buses will continue back to Doncaster as service 361. This will provide links from Askern to Skellow/Carcroft, through fares will be available

Service 363

Timetable changes,

Some early morning journeys will be replaced by the additional 362 journeys running to/from Askern and Norton.

Changes to Bus Services in Askern, Campsall and Norton.

From Monday 23 June, we'll be making changes to services 351, 353, 354, 361, 362, 363 following the announcement of Arriva’s withdrawal of service 51. New timetables can be viewed here Here's a summary of the changes; Service 351

www.firstbus.co.uk

 

[ALEMASTER]

First has announced some changes from 23 June in response to Arriva's withdrawal of the 51:

Changes to Bus Services in Askern, Campsall and Norton.

From Monday 23 June, we'll be making changes to services 351, 353, 354, 361, 362, 363 following the announcement of Arriva’s withdrawal of service 51. New timetables can be viewed here Here's a summary of the changes; Service 351

www.firstbus.co.uk

Tendered by SYMCA it appears - https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

Lots of buses are now acquiring interior information boards that seem to have software for the wrong regional subdivision of First Group - they just scroll, for example, "31/05/25 15:17 - WEST OF ENGLAND V3.1"

Stagecoach also made the same mistake with their 73 reg E400s, several of which were delivered set up for Hull!

I assumed those ones had simply come second hand from those areas! On some buses they are actually working though.

 

[py_megapixel]

I assumed those ones had simply come second hand from those areas! On some buses they are actually working though.

That was my initial assumption also, but strangely no! As I write this I'm sat on SN18 XYK, which is showing the West of England message, but has been a Sheffield vehicle for its whole life. Similarly the Hull ones were in fact delivered new to Sheffield.

 

[JD2168]

Streetlite 63038 repainted into Ultraviolet in service at Doncaster.

B9TL Gemini’s 36203 & 36257 both repainted into Ultraviolet. 36203 missing stripes & large side f logo from Olive Grove & 36257 with full branding from Doncaster, images are below.

StreetDecks at Doncaster are now 35261, 35263-35267, 35267 is the first green one at Doncaster.

As mentioned in the Potteries thread 35932-35938 are in service from Olive Grove. Can be seen on any decker route besides the 272.

 

[ALEMASTER]

It appears looking at the Travel South Yorkshire timetable page that First are extending the Sunday 272s beyond Castleton up Winnats Pass to Mam Tor, Blue John Cavern in the summer holidays (from 27 July).

Getting in some competition with Stagecoach's Peak Sightseer? It does look like on some trips they will meet in opposite directions on the pass so can't imagine that'll end well..

 

[TheGuy77]

Service changes and updates - Travel South Yorkshire

Find the latest service changes to bus, tram and train networks

www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

From Monday 27 July a number of services in South Yorkshire will change to a summer timetable.

Appears First are introducing a 'summer timetable' on its routes. Judging by the new timetables it seems like it's just a poor excuse for more cuts to services.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Appears First are introducing a 'summer timetable' on its routes. Judging by the new timetables it seems like it's just a poor excuse for more cuts to services.

Not necessarily, I don't know about South Yorkshire but it has occurred elsewhere in the country for the best part of 20 years. Timetables just went back to normal in the September - they weren't always frequency cuts but usually speeding up of peak journeys to account for much lower traffic on the roads.

 

[JD2168]

Appears First are introducing a 'summer timetable' on its routes. Judging by the new timetables it seems like it's just a poor excuse for more cuts to services.

An excuse to run a Saturday service throughout the holidays. Strange on 76/76a which serve the busy Meadowhall & get full on this section

 

[TheGuy77]

An excuse to run a Saturday service throughout the holidays. Strange on 76/76a which serve the busy Meadowhall & get full on this section

A Saturday service? Just ten years ago it would've been a Sunday service.

Not necessarily, I don't know about South Yorkshire but it has occurred elsewhere in the country for the best part of 20 years. Timetables just went back to normal in the September - they weren't always frequency cuts but usually speeding up of peak journeys to account for much lower traffic on the roads.

Nonetheless, it'll still only be three buses per hour in the new Summer timetables, not just for the 76 but pretty much all of First's other routes. At least Stagecoach don't use such excuses (yet!)

 

[py_megapixel]

How on earth does First expect anyone to rely on their service if they keep changing it every few months?

Buses in Sheffield seem stuck in a state of managed decline and this constant mucking around cannot be helping to build confidence in the service and get passenger numbers up.

 

[Galaxy]

Do FSY still have Rotherham links for drivers' duties or are they now just consumed into Olive Grove or Doncaster generically? When Midland Road closed, they still had duties which were focused on Rotherham work but looking at the timetables these days, it doesn't appear that is the case.

Appreciate that Donny used to have a town link, Thorne link etc many years ago, but didn't know what they had done since Rotherham had been closed.

 

[G760XRE]

Walking past First Potteries depot earlier and noted on site were at least 6 ex Weston Badgerline Wright Streetdecks which are apparently due to South Yorkshire. All presumably here for repaint into Ultraviolet livery before making the transfer.

First Potteries Depot 24.7.25

Several ex Weston Badgerline liveried Wright Streetdecks at the depot. Noted the following, but may be more. 35666 MF22SXU 35667 MF22SXV 35668 MF22SXW 35677 MF22SYJ 35679 MF22SYP 35680 MF22SYR All showing on bustimes as being due for transfer to First South Yorkshire

www.flickr.com

Also on site was Streetdeck 35283 SL67VXM and Streetlite 63120 SN14DVO, both repainted into the new livery.

35283 SL67VXM

First South Yorkshire Wright Streetdeck. Seen 24.7.25 at Potteries, freshly painted in Ultraviolet livery

www.flickr.com

63120 SN14CVO

First South Yorkshire Wright Streetlite. Seen 24.7.25 at Potteries paintshop in newly applied Ultraviolet livery

www.flickr.com

 

[ALEMASTER]

A Saturday service? Just ten years ago it would've been a Sunday service.

Nonetheless, it'll still only be three buses per hour in the new Summer timetables, not just for the 76 but pretty much all of First's other routes. At least Stagecoach don't use such excuses (yet!)

Before Covid Stagecoach used to run summer timetables on the more frequent routes (25, 52, 120) which saw the weekday service run to the lower Saturday frequency due to lower demand (no University students, no school travel and many commuters on holiday).

In the case of the 25 it saw buses every 15 minutes instead of every 12 minutes. That's the normal timetable now.

It does however look like in September there are reductions to the Saturday service on both First and Stagecoach to allow for slower journey times with traffic congestion worsening.

 

[JD2168]

The issue of low hanging trees is currently causing issues on several Olive Grove run services. These are:
X1 - single deck only due to trees around the Clifton Park area.
X2 - all Olive Grove boards except one on Monday to Saturday are Single Deck due to interworking early & late journeys with X1. Doncaster operated journeys continue to run deckers.
18/18a - single deck only
20 - single decks only resulting in the branded StreetDecks going on other routes.
76/76a/76e - been on diversion for 3 weeks due to trees, seen on First Website set to go to single deck only as well.

In other news:
37117 is withdrawn
69349 is withdrawn
63038/63039/63120/63121 at Doncaster are repainted in service
35283 repainted & in service

 

[ALEMASTER]

The timetables and registrations for the 31 August changes now appear to be uploaded and feeding through to the bustimes site - https://bustimes.org/licences/PB0002307

 

[TheGuy77]

The timetables and registrations for the 31 August changes now appear to be uploaded and feeding through to the bustimes site - https://bustimes.org/licences/PB0002307

Appears to have reverted to First running 15-minute weekday services.

 

[ALEMASTER]

The timetables and registrations for the 31 August changes now appear to be uploaded and feeding through to the bustimes site - https://bustimes.org/licences/PB0002307

A summary of changes is now on the Travel South Yorkshire website at https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes#Sheffield

Changes seem to fall into broad categories of
- summer timetables ending and normal timetables returning
- minor timetable tweaks
- evening/Sunday tendered service enhancements in north Sheffield
- cuts to Saturday daytime frequencies on some major routes
- minor changes to school bus times

Additionally route change in Sheffield City centre to first bus 51 (in one direction only) and Stagecoach 52 cutting back to Crookes leaving just First 52a continuing to Hillsborough.

 

[py_megapixel]

Stagecoach 52 cutting back to Crookes leaving just First 52a continuing to Hillsborough.

Well, that didn't last long, did it!!

For those unfamiliar - Stagecoach only extended to Hillsborough about a year ago...

 

[JD2168]

A summary of changes is now on the Travel South Yorkshire website at https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes#Sheffield

Changes seem to fall into broad categories of
- summer timetables ending and normal timetables returning
- minor timetable tweaks
- evening/Sunday tendered service enhancements in north Sheffield
- cuts to Saturday daytime frequencies on some major routes
- minor changes to school bus times

Additionally route change in Sheffield City centre to first bus 51 (in one direction only) and Stagecoach 52 cutting back to Crookes leaving just First 52a continuing to Hillsborough.

Every 20 minutes each on 52/52a & 120 with 10 minutes frequency on the combined sections on a Saturday is what the Sunday service frequency was a few years ago.

 

[G760XRE]

More ex Weston Streetlites seen on site today at First Potteries. I believe these are coming to FSY following repaint. 35666, 35667 & 35679 have recently been painted so I expect these will be heading over fairly soon.

First Potteries Depot 8.8.25

Various Ex Bristol Streetlites for repaint before onward transfer including 35666 MF22SXU (repainted), 35680 MF22SYR & 35681 MF22SYS. To the right, also here for repaint and onward transfer is Ex Portsmouth B9TL 37581 HF08DHF

www.flickr.com

35667 MF22SXV

Ex First Bristol Wright Streetdeck. Seen freshly painted into Ultraviolet livery at Potteries depot, ahead of onward transfer to South Yorkshire on 8.8.25.

www.flickr.com

35679 MF22SYP

Ex First Bristol Streetdeck, at Potteries on 8.8.25. freshly painted into Ultraviolet livery ahead of transfer to South Yorkshire

www.flickr.com

 

[YorkRailFan]

First has announced changes to services in Sheffield and Doncaster from 31st August, most of which are services reverting to their pre-holiday timetables:

We're making some changes to our services across South Yorkshire from Sunday 31st August to improve punctuality and help you get where you need to be.

You can find a summary of the changes below:

Doncaster

Service

Change

315

Minor timetable changes with two school day services journeys serving Sir Thomas Wharton School at 15:10 and 15:20

357/357A

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

376

Service changes back to pre-summer holiday timetable

381/382

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

384/384A

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

387/387A/388

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

To view 'forthcoming' timetables, click here.

Sheffield

Service

Change

24/25

Change to Saturday services, which will operate every 20 minutes from 15 minutes

47/48

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

51

Revised route and timetable, providing better access to Sheffield City Centre, now serve Arundel Gate.

Journeys towards Charnock will run via Furnival Gate, Furnival St, Brown St, Paternoster Row, Pond St, Flat St, High St, Arundel Gate, Furnival Gate.

52A

Change to Saturday services, which will operate every 20 minutes from 15 minutes

75/75A

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

76/76A/76E

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable

80

Minor Saturday timetable changes

81/82

Minor timetable changes

95
Minor timetable changes to accommodate new school times at Brinsworth Academy

120/120KChange to Saturday services, which will operate every 20 minutes from 15 minutes
207
Minor timetable changes to accommodate new school times at Brinsworth Academy

X1/X2

Services change back to pre-summer holiday timetable. The 13:25 X2 departure from Sheffield on Schooldays will run a revised route in Balby, running via Springwell Lane, Alverley Lane, Tickhill Road, Sandford Road.
X5Minor timetable changes to accommodate new school times at Dinnington and Wales High Schools

31st August service changes

We're making some changes to our services across South Yorkshire from Sunday 31st August to improve punctuality and help you get where you need to be. You can find a summary of the changes below: Doncaster Service

www.firstbus.co.uk

 

[swinny1990]

Are the Geminis staying or all getting replaced with streetdecks

 

[TheGuy77]

Does anybody know if and when the 76 will go back to using double decker buses? It appears that 37543 and 37520 are both running the 76a, but I'm not sure if that's just an anomaly or a sign that we'll see double deckers returning soon on 76 workings.

 

[JD2168]

Recent fleet changes at First South Yorkshire are:
OLIVE GROVE:
Withdrawn: B9TL's 37116, 37118, 37265, 37494 (Peak Link), 37496.
Streetdeck 35310 withdrawn & sent for EV Conversion
B7RLE Eclipse 69438 has gone for conversion to a Driver Training Vehicle
In are:
Streetdecks: 35666, 35668, 35678, 35679, 35681 all ex Badgerline in Ultraviolet
B9TL Gemini 37580 from Weymouth
B7RLE Eclipse's: 69317, 69445, 69446, 69447 from Bradford, 69453, 69454 from Bristol

DONCASTER:
Withdrawn: B9TL's 37103, 37108, 37112, 37251, B7RLE Eclipse 69462
In are:
Streetdeck's: 35261-35267, 35269, 35271-35274 from Olive Grove. 35265 is now in Ultraviolet
B7RLE Eclipse 69460 from Bristol

 

[G760XRE]

36263 BG12YJV is currently at Potteries, in Mainline livery but soon to be painted into Ultraviolet.

 

[py_megapixel]

Does anyone know what this sticker on the panel by the stairs of one of the Wright Geminis is about?

Image shows the sticker, which reads "Olive Grove Guest Vehicle - 22 August 2021"

 

[EYFanatic]

Does anyone know what this sticker on the panel by the stairs of one of the Wright Geminis is about?

Image shows the sticker, which reads "Olive Grove Guest Vehicle - 22 August 2021"

Refers to a heritage bus event held by First Bus in August 2021 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Olive Grove depot

 

[YorkRailFan]

Some recent fleet changes at First South Yorkshire:
Repaints:
Streetlite 63909, 63911, 63912 and 63913 to Ultraviolet. Ultroliners 35272, 35677, 35279 and 35690 to Ultraviolet. B9TLs 36250 and 36263 to Ultraviolet.
New additions:
Yutong U11DD 30108 and Yutong E12 65146
Transfers:
Streetlite 47596 to Glasgow
Withdrawn:
Ultroliners 35186 and 35187 (for repowering)
B9TLs 37257 and 37262

 

[dodecahedron67]

New additions:
Yutong U11DD 30108 and Yutong E12 65146

These are just loans to test before they go in service in Essex. Not permanently staying iirc