First Wells Depot

[matt_splat]

First will be doing the shuttle bus from Castle Cary to Glastonbury Festival when it is on.

They've dragged all the Wells drivers backed from all the other depots and any experienced drivers will be doing the shuttles.

No idea what buses they'll be using, but it's a fairly good bet that we'll see some old Tridents or B7TLs from somewhere. Surely we won't see new deckers/vehicles turn up for it.

it sounds like first are doing the shuttles that go ahead use to do i would expect abus and centurion who normally bring companies in will have been involved with bringing them in

 

[THarris123]

it sounds like first are doing the shuttles that go ahead use to do i would expect abus and centurion who normally bring companies in will have been involved with bringing them in

If you look at VOSA it shows Abus and Centurion still doing their routes, but Go Ahead have cancelled theirs.
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32014 in Wells
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53401 on 174 as usual
32014 currently only festival vehicle in Wells

69446 on 376

 

[childwallblues]

How far is Castle Cary to the festival site?

 

[matt_splat]

quite a way if you want to do photos of glastonbury stuff i would recomend on the roundabout on the A37 on the pilton / castle carry junction.

the Bath and west is worth visiting on the Sunday as well for lots of interesting day trip shuttles

 

[THarris123]

An Urban liveried ALX400 (presumably a LH vehicle) is in Wells now too
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An Urban liveried ALX400 (presumably a LH vehicle) is in Wells now too

32285 also in Wells. Little bit surprised they sent down something that new really. Would have preferred to see some W reg stuff come down. Glastonbury will basically wreck most vehicles (usually) - that's why Abus and Centurion send down such old vehicles.
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So as far as I can tell the Glastonbury line up looks like this:-

Free Shuttle bus run by First from Castle Cary to Glastonbury Festival
GF1 (Glastonbury to Glastonbury Festival) on VOSA as Centurion
GF2 (Shepton Mallet to Glastonbury Festival) on VOSA as Libra
GF3 (Bristol to Glastonbury Festival) no idea - maybe Abus?
GF4 (Castle Cary to Worthy View) no idea - maybe Libra?
GF5 (Worthy View to Glastonbury Festival) on VOSA as Libra
GF6 (Wells to Glastonbury Festival) on VOSA as Centurion

If I've worked it out right First should have 5 buses running tomorrow (4 to cover the shuttle and 1 spare), presumably all ALX400s (certainly 3 are - 32014, 32285 and an urban ALX400). It'll be interesting to see how Wells will be working it if its only going Castle Cary to the festival.
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174s running about 30-40 mins late getting into Wells this evening. Just seen 53401 coming in on its usual duty.

 

[DaveHarries]

Quite a lot of public transport for the festival.

In terms of trains you have the usual services from London Paddington operated by GWR using HSTs. However this year you also have, for the first time, SouthWest Trains getting in on the act with services from London Waterloo with 8 services running to Castle Cary instead of the usual 4. I admit to being surprised that CrossCountry trains aren't laying services on as well: I wonder if they have ever considered the idea?

National Express are also in on the act with 33 coach services from as far away as Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow). What strikes me is the large amount of dead-running for National Express, especially with the Scottish journeys, unless the coaches are being stabled somewhere fairly local for the duration of the festival. You also have the likelihood of having to rustle up drivers for extra duties and the added potential headache(s) involved if a coach breaks down a few hours into the journey. I guess some of the NatEx drivers will not head back until the day after arrival (some of the services are running multiple trips, other only 1 trip at the start and end of the Festival). I had planned the idea of a day off work to make notes of who operates what but I am not sure if I will do so.

Timetables for the Glastonbury Festival NatEx routes are on Traveline SouthWest.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[THarris123]

32281 in Wells
60912 on 174 this morning

Correction - 60912 on 174 coming in, 32281 on 174 going out
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Wells seem to be doing ok, considering the traffic chaos on A37.

174 went out on time at 13.15 with a B7
173 came in on time at 13.30ish

But...

2 376s came into Wells together

Looks like they have a Streetdeck in spare, as well as an ALX.
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Think I saw 69439 on 174 leaving on time about 10 mins ago
53401 is in the depot (luckily)
32014 and 32281 also in depot, with 69440 in workshop

 

[matt_splat]

GF1 will be a mix of Centurian, Arleen, Bath Bus Company (RATP) Chepstow Classic Bus and First

 

[THarris123]

32007 I think is also in Wells
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Quite a bit of B7 action on 376. Seen both 69440 and 69443 and maybe another
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Been to Cheddar this morning on joyful 60912. Whilst there saw 33506, 32076 and JVA running the Cheddar to Glastonbury Festival Sunday shuttle bus for locals. I thought that deckers werent allowed to go on the section between Cheddar and Wells?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

32007 I think is also in Wells
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Quite a bit of B7 action on 376. Seen both 69440 and 69443 and maybe another
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Been to Cheddar this morning on joyful 60912. Whilst there saw 33506, 32076 and JVA running the Cheddar to Glastonbury Festival Sunday shuttle bus for locals. I thought that deckers werent allowed to go on the section between Cheddar and Wells?

Why? There's no low bridges are there? The only one I recall locally to Wells routes is the Fry's Well one on 173

 

[THarris123]

Also forgot to say that the A reg decker in use on Cheddar Gorge work has now been replaced by a 54 plate ALX400 - surprisingly with an overhang wing mirror - bet that's fun. Who's the company that run that again?

69439 and 69437 on 376

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also forgot to say that the A reg decker in use on Cheddar Gorge work has now been replaced by a 54 plate ALX400 - surprisingly with an overhang wing mirror - bet that's fun. Who's the company that run that again?

69439 and 69437 on 376

Isn't it the Longleat estate that run the Gorge service?

 

[matt_splat]

Deckers always operate the day trippers with coaches

the mass exodus later tonight from glastonbury is quite a sight

 

[THarris123]

Why? There's no low bridges are there? The only one I recall locally to Wells routes is the Fry's Well one on 173

Why did the Streetdecks have to go to Bildgwater on M5 then up to Wells when they were delivered then?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Why did the Streetdecks have to go to Bildgwater on M5 then up to Wells when they were delivered then?

I don't know why they chose that route but tell me where there's a low height obstruction on the A371?

 

[THarris123]

I don't know why they chose that route but tell me where there's a low height obstruction on the A371?

Well there isn't - but there is the old railway bridge at Easton - does that have anything to do with it?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well there isn't - but there is the old railway bridge at Easton - does that have anything to do with it?

That bridge goes over the old line.

I suspect that the consideration was that the taking the direct route (i.e the A371) would be precluded by the low bridge at Winscombe so you'd have to send delivery drivers (unfamiliar with the area?) via some convoluted route. Therefore, keep it simple and send them via the A39.

 

[THarris123]

Haven't seen the solo around for a few days. Anyone seen it?
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Haven't seen the solo around for a few days. Anyone seen it?

It is still here. Only thing in the depot today. So with a B7 on 376, that must mean a Streetdeck is away.

 

[THarris123]

53401 out on 161 now - I assume it'll be on there for time being as schools are out.

60912 on 126.
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29 has 62238 this evening and a whole 3 passengers on it

Strange how First consider this journey viable and yet 379 isn't

 

[Private Baxter]

Is this stuff about 376 getting a frequency increase confirmed, or is it at this stage driver gossip and speculation? If there were some truth in it, it would go some way to addressing the loss of 379, it's just onward passengers would need to connect with 172 at Farrington, or use the 178 from the start.

As a side note, I was on 376 last Friday and the streetdecks can struggle on some of the hills. My return journey was a B7 (69442) and the difference in power was very noticeable.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Is this stuff about 376 getting a frequency increase confirmed, or is it at this stage driver gossip and speculation? If there were some truth in it, it would go some way to addressing the loss of 379, it's just onward passengers would need to connect with 172 at Farrington, or use the 178 from the start.

As a side note, I was on 376 last Friday and the streetdecks can struggle on some of the hills. My return journey was a B7 (69442) and the difference in power was very noticeable.

I suspect that the 376 is speculation. Given that this time last year, the 376 essentially had 86 seats per hour. It now has 146 so does it now need 219, even with the 379 going?

That said, I would naturally like to see the 376 continue to prosper (similar to the 66 from Swindon to Oxford, as I've mentioned previously) and a 20 min frequency may be ultimate aim. However, I doubt if patronage has increased by such an amount to justify it yet.

I can see why they're making the changes. The 379 has developed some patronage as a faster link than the 178; don't know how much it has abstracted from that or indeed the 376 as I've often experienced a 376 and 379 running in tandem along the route.

Instead, they're making the 178 quicker. Currently 1h 18 MSN to Bristol, omitting Old Mills and Chandag will probably bring that down to 1h 10 vs the 1h 02 for the 379 and saving a couple of vehicles (and some drivers) into the bargain
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29 has 62238 this evening and a whole 3 passengers on it

Strange how First consider this journey viable and yet 379 isn't

Depends which journey it was (time and direction)?

 

[matt_splat]

So next week the 174 will not touch shepton at all and run Wells - Oakhill Non stop it will also serve Midsomer Norton High Street next week due to road works in west field

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So next week the 174 will not touch shepton at all and run Wells - Oakhill Non stop it will also serve Midsomer Norton High Street next week due to road works in west field

https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-...ent-issues/a367-wells-road-westfield-radstock

https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-...t-issues/a371-long-road-croscombe-closure-161

 

[THarris123]

44909 on 161 today

 

[Private Baxter]

44909 on 161 today

Saw that one earlier. Is it filling in for something I wonder?

Had 35166 on 376 today. One of the top deck seats has needed new seat cover. The seat has the 2009 style purple seating (as used on 69437-48) whilst the back of the seat has the 2004 (66719 etc) style!

 

[THarris123]

Saw that one earlier. Is it filling in for something I wonder?

Had 35166 on 376 today. One of the top deck seats has needed new seat cover. The seat has the 2009 style purple seating (as used on 69437-48) whilst the back of the seat has the 2004 (66719 etc) style!

Is the seating cover a heritage version?

I'm guessing that 44909 is covering whilst the diversions are on in Radstock and Croscombe? 53401 hasn't moved for a few days, so maybe its broken down again and 44909 is covering?
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Interesting stuff to be happening in Wells

69448/57/8 will be again heading back to Wells
53401 will be withdrawn from service and not be with First (think it's being sold off)
60912 I think will be swapped for something
A Streetdeck from 90 will be going to Wells for 376

All vehicles in Wells will have Mendip Explorer livery

Our lovely B7RLEs will be refurbished - windows redone, seats redone and livery redone. Don't know when it's starting though.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Is the seating cover a heritage version?

I'm guessing that 44909 is covering whilst the diversions are on in Radstock and Croscombe? 53401 hasn't moved for a few days, so maybe its broken down again and 44909 is covering?
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Interesting stuff to be happening in Wells

69448/57/8 will be again heading back to Wells
53401 will be withdrawn from service and not be with First (think it's being sold off)
60912 I think will be swapped for something
A Streetdeck from 90 will be going to Wells for 376

All vehicles in Wells will have Mendip Explorer livery

Our lovely B7RLEs will be refurbished - windows redone, seats redone and livery redone. Don't know when it's starting though.

Dare I ask the source?

As I've said before, the 173/4 would really benefit from a refurb of those 59 plates as it is a corridor that is ripe for extra passenger growth. In that respect, you may as well have the same on the 126 for operational flexibility.

Surprised that they'd sell a Solo of that age when they've much older around the patch. Suspect it's off elsewhere in the group.

 

[THarris123]

Dare I ask the source?

As I've said before, the 173/4 would really benefit from a refurb of those 59 plates as it is a corridor that is ripe for extra passenger growth. In that respect, you may as well have the same on the 126 for operational flexibility.

Surprised that they'd sell a Solo of that age when they've much older around the patch. Suspect it's off elsewhere in the group.

The source is for me to know and you to find out.

I'd expect to see a couple of other B7RLEs head to Wells too - maybe 54 reg or maybe 55.

The solo has proved to be very unreliable. I think that could be why 44909 was here briefly. Solo didn't move for a few days I think. It's had constant issues and really its only required for 161, which needs something bigger at peak during school days.

 

[vicbury]

From what I overheard today the Streetdecks are moving on from the 376 to be replaced with the 59-reg B7s.. Could that make sense if it is being upped to every 20 minutes?

 

[THarris123]

From what I overheard today the Streetdecks are moving on from the 376 to be replaced with the 59-reg B7s.. Could that make sense if it is being upped to every 20 minutes?

I dont think thats very likely. At the moment 1 extra bus is to be added into the timetable to make it more reliable come November.