First Wells Depot

[matt_splat]

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.

As I heard the same from the same source as you Tom I can vouch fir it being rather genuine

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

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

It's not Midsomer (Norton) Murders or some Wikileaks issue - a simple "a First Senior Manager told me" would've sufficed. Not after names, NINO, inside leg...

 

[carlberry]

It's not Midsomer (Norton) Murders or some Wikileaks issue - a simple "a First Senior Manager told me" would've sufficed. Not after names, NINO, inside leg...

Dont tell them your name Pike. Remember; Wells have ears!

 

[Whiteway215]

Dont tell them your name Pike. Remember; Wells have ears!

Don't panic! 60912 on 174 this morning.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Don't panic! 60912 on 174 this morning.

Wells Depot working the 172 and not the 77??? - we're doomed

 

[Private Baxter]

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53401 will be withdrawn from service and not be with First (think it's being sold off)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.

Interesting stuff indeed. I had a feeling (and indeed I hoped) that those three B7RLEs would head back to Wells for the September changes. In fact it makes sense, as the current allocation is enough only to cover the pvr of the new 172/3/4 link. Eleven for those three routes, two for 126 and one spare. Plus they don't actually have much of a role at MH. Btw, 69457 is currently working rail replacement services between Didcot and Oxford, generally working the stopping services calling at Appleford, Culham and Radley, alongside Bath based 66882.

With most of the 54 reg B7s heading to MH, and one staying at WM, I think one might also head to Wells. That is IF they do decide to send 60912 away. You are right though that the solo has been quite unreliable.

There was talk quite a long time ago about all Wells buses being in the same blue livery, so pleased to see that is still on the cards. Think it will be quite suitable for all their services. I actually really do like the interior of 69437-47 but will nonetheless welcome leather seats and a new coat of paint.

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 don't doubt what you heard, but could this really be the case? They invested quite heavily in the streetdecks less than a year ago, and did so in favour of increasing the frequency of the service. (Their original plan which would have seen new streetlite maxes introduced on the service). Can't actually see them going back to what they had before, decreasing capacity, even if they will have just been refurbed. Don't forget they also adjusted the maintenance facilities in order to accomodate deckers, and have had to type train a lot of drivers. Just seems like a really backwards step that's all.

 

[THarris123]

Interesting stuff indeed. I had a feeling (and indeed I hoped) that those three B7RLEs would head back to Wells for the September changes. In fact it makes sense, as the current allocation is enough only to cover the pvr of the new 172/3/4 link. Eleven for those three routes, two for 126 and one spare. Plus they don't actually have much of a role at MH. Btw, 69457 is currently working rail replacement services between Didcot and Oxford, generally working the stopping services calling at Appleford, Culham and Radley, alongside Bath based 66882.

With most of the 54 reg B7s heading to MH, and one staying at WM, I think one might also head to Wells. That is IF they do decide to send 60912 away. You are right though that the solo has been quite unreliable.

There was talk quite a long time ago about all Wells buses being in the same blue livery, so pleased to see that is still on the cards. Think it will be quite suitable for all their services. I actually really do like the interior of 69437-47 but will nonetheless welcome leather seats and a new coat of paint.


I don't doubt what you heard, but could this really be the case? They invested quite heavily in the streetdecks less than a year ago, and did so in favour of increasing the frequency of the service. (Their original plan which would have seen new streetlite maxes introduced on the service). Can't actually see them going back to what they had before, decreasing capacity, even if they will have just been refurbed. Don't forget they also adjusted the maintenance facilities in order to accomodate deckers, and have had to type train a lot of drivers. Just seems like a really backwards step that's all.

Don't forget about 161 too - that'll need a vehicle. I can see 66934-6 heading to Wells (although I would prefer 66732/3 to come back and pop into Wells, alongside 66734, but that probably won't happen).

 

[Private Baxter]

Don't forget about 161 too - that'll need a vehicle. I can see 66934-6 heading to Wells (although I would prefer 66732/3 to come back and pop into Wells, alongside 66734, but that probably won't happen).

Pure, pure guess work here, but the pvr will be 22, so I suppose there should be 25 in the depot. Fourteen B7RLEs, (126, 172/3/4 + 1 spare), nine streetdecks (376 + 1 spare), plus a bus for 175 (e200?), and really only one more vehicle should be required as spare. If 60912 doesn't stay, then yes I suppose that could be something along the lines of 66725.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Pure, pure guess work here, but the pvr will be 22, so I suppose there should be 25 in the depot. Fourteen B7RLEs, (126, 172/3/4 + 1 spare), nine streetdecks (376 + 1 spare), plus a bus for 175 (e200?), and really only one more vehicle should be required as spare. If 60912 doesn't stay, then yes I suppose that could be something along the lines of 66725.

Surely 9 Streetdecks and 16 B7RLEs? So 14 59 plates and possibly a couple taken at random from elsewhere? The 175 might be best suited for something smaller and, call me suspicious, but I wonder if the Solo has been as unreliable as made out. It seemed to be on the 619 and 266 plus RR work at Bath last summer performing faultlessly but is seemingly now always VOR even on a Sunday :roll:

 

[THarris123]

Surely 9 Streetdecks and 16 B7RLEs? So 14 59 plates and possibly a couple taken at random from elsewhere? The 175 might be best suited for something smaller and, call me suspicious, but I wonder if the Solo has been as unreliable as made out. It seemed to be on the 619 and 266 plus RR work at Bath last summer performing faultlessly but is seemingly now always VOR even on a Sunday :roll:

Talking of the solo, has anyone actually seen it around lately. Last I saw of it was last week. Haven't been past the depot to check either. The only pile of cr*p I've seen in service (obviously apart from the Streetdecks ) is 60912 on 174 today.

 

[DaveHarries]

Interesting stuff to be happening in Wells

69448/57/8 will be again heading back to Wells
[.....]
All vehicles in Wells will have Mendip Explorer livery

If this is true I will probably be down with my camera: methinks an Eclipse 2 would look good in M.E livery.

Dave

 

[D2007wsm]

The Solo was in the workshop in Weston this morning.

 

[Private Baxter]

Surely 9 Streetdecks and 16 B7RLEs? So 14 59 plates and possibly a couple taken at random from elsewhere? The 175 might be best suited for something smaller and, call me suspicious, but I wonder if the Solo has been as unreliable as made out. It seemed to be on the 619 and 266 plus RR work at Bath last summer performing faultlessly but is seemingly now always VOR even on a Sunday :roll:

Possibly, but who knows? If that's the case then it will be larger buses on 175, which certainly isn't a problem as far as I'm concerned, just thought they'd want something smaller.

No idea about the solo. I can't remember the last time I saw it in action, but then I'm not in Wells very often. But you may be on to something with that conspiracy!!

 

[carlberry]

call me suspicious, but I wonder if the Solo has been as unreliable as made out. It seemed to be on the 619 and 266 plus RR work at Bath last summer performing faultlessly but is seemingly now always VOR even on a Sunday :roll:

It's odd how unreliable things can get if the engineers want rid of it!

 

[THarris123]

Some proof that what i say isnt always cr*p
http://m.bathchronicle.co.uk/this-i...om-september/story-29575830-detail/story.html

 

[Private Baxter]

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.

A bath driver randomly mentioned that to me yesterday, so does seem pretty legit. Actually think that will be quite good, and Mendip Explorer will be quite appropriate for all Wells routes (inc 172). Look forward to seeing all buses done, whenever that might be. When complete, Wells will have a really nice, strong and modern fleet. Hopefully the other two to arrive are two 54 plate B7RLEs (even if it means large buses for 175).

 

[THarris123]

Just looking at 172/3/4 timetable.

Of what it looks like 172 will stop on Church Street, then do a loop around the roundabout next to the printing works and then start at the memorial. All of that supposedly takes 3 mins. Can't wait to see some of the queues waiting behind the bus at the memorial!

Also it appears that a poor Wells driver in the evening has a horrid shift - start with 18.30 173, then 20.20 172, 21.09 172 to Bath, 22.05 172, 22.54 172 to Bath, 23.50 172 to Wells, getting into Wells at 1.01. That's a lovely 6.5 hour shift.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just looking at 172/3/4 timetable.

Of what it looks like 172 will stop on Church Street, then do a loop around the roundabout next to the printing works and then start at the memorial. All of that supposedly takes 3 mins. Can't wait to see some of the queues waiting behind the bus at the memorial!

Also it appears that a poor Wells driver in the evening has a horrid shift - start with 18.30 173, then 20.20 172, 21.09 172 to Bath, 22.05 172, 22.54 172 to Bath, 23.50 172 to Wells, getting into Wells at 1.01. That's a lovely 6.5 hour shift.

They would have their break in Bath that meets drivers regs so it's a 20:20 to 01:01 stretch. That and most nights of the week, not too many passengers either so probably not as horrid as you might think. Mind you, it's a late finish (so not great) though I suspect that vehicle will be back before 1

As for Paulton (I think that was what you were saying) then in practice the 172 will wait time up by the old printing works site and then run down as now.

 

[THarris123]

They would have their break in Bath that meets drivers regs so it's a 20:20 to 01:01 stretch. That and most nights of the week, not too many passengers either so probably not as horrid as you might think. Mind you, it's a late finish (so not great) though I suspect that vehicle will be back before 1

As for Paulton (I think that was what you were saying) then in practice the 172 will wait time up by the old printing works site and then run down as now.

Yes I did mean Paulton, but it won't actually stop at the Printing works - it goes around the roundabout next to the fire station. Timetable says it terminates at Church Lane and then starts at War Memorial. Really the only way you can turn a B7 around easily in Paulton is going around that roundabout. Can't wait to hear the headline - bus gets stuck in Paulton though.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes I did mean Paulton, but it won't actually stop at the Printing works - it goes around the roundabout next to the fire station. Timetable says it terminates at Church Lane and then starts at War Memorial. Really the only way you can turn a B7 around easily in Paulton is going around that roundabout. Can't wait to hear the headline - bus gets stuck in Paulton though.

That's the roundabout I was on about - the end of Farrington Road. Easily get a B7 round that as that's where the evening and Sunday 178 shorts turn.

What you have highlighted though is an odd discrepancy in that the inbound terminate there but outbound start well in the village. Cock up on someone's part?

 

[THarris123]

That's the roundabout I was on about - the end of Farrington Road. Easily get a B7 round that as that's where the evening and Sunday 178 shorts turn.

What you have highlighted though is an odd discrepancy in that the inbound terminate there but outbound start well in the village. Cock up on someone's part?

War memorial is the next stop after printing works. Church lane is basically the one on the opposite side of the road to war memorial (it's the closest after the traffic lights). No cock up as far as i see.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

War memorial is the next stop after printing works. Church lane is basically the one on the opposite side of the road to war memorial (it's the closest after the traffic lights). No cock up as far as i see.

Church Lane is actually round the corner opposite the Post Office and near the fire station. It's opposite the Bovis Homes development on what was the old Print works. It is served by the inbound 172 as its terminus point but not in the outbound.

Instead, it commences at the War Memorial stop which is outside the Coop.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Church Lane is actually round the corner opposite the Post Office and near the fire station. It's opposite the Bovis Homes development on what was the old Print works. It is served by the inbound 172 as its terminus point but not in the outbound.

Instead, it commences at the War Memorial stop which is outside the Coop.

In fact, perhaps I'd best clarify what I meant, thinking about it!

The current 178/379 currently provide a half hourly Paulton to Bath service. From Bristol, they serve a stop on the Hallatrow side of the roundabout at the end of Farrington Road, serving the Bovis Homes development on the old Printworks site before turning right at the Red Lion, serving the stop adj the Coop opp the War Memorial and the Lamb before heading out past the Hospital.

Coming in, the come past the hospital and then turn left at the Red Lion and serve the stop at Church Lane opposite the Post Office before heading out to Hallatrow.

In future, the 172 will come in from Norton and the hospital and then terminate at the Church Lane stop. Now, it could have that as the start point of the 172 back to Bath meaning it serves the Printing Works development. Instead, as I read it, it will not and will simply do a 180 at the roundabout and then run NIS to start the 172 to Bath from the War Memorial stop.

So I guess the cock up bit to my is...

a) Have First missed a trick by starting the 172 from the Church Lane stop and giving that end of Paulton a half hourly service to Radstock and Bath (though it will get an hourly 178) or
b) Was it supposed to start there and someone in DVSA or First simply got it wrong

It just seems a bit of an anomaly. Apologies if I wasn't so clear before but always time consuming when on an iphone

 

[THarris123]

Church Lane is actually round the corner opposite the Post Office and near the fire station. It's opposite the Bovis Homes development on what was the old Print works. It is served by the inbound 172 as its terminus point but not in the outbound.

Instead, it commences at the War Memorial stop which is outside the Coop.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


In fact, perhaps I'd best clarify what I meant, thinking about it!

The current 178/379 currently provide a half hourly Paulton to Bath service. From Bristol, they serve a stop on the Hallatrow side of the roundabout at the end of Farrington Road, serving the Bovis Homes development on the old Printworks site before turning right at the Red Lion, serving the stop adj the Coop opp the War Memorial and the Lamb before heading out past the Hospital.

Coming in, the come past the hospital and then turn left at the Red Lion and serve the stop at Church Lane opposite the Post Office before heading out to Hallatrow.

In future, the 172 will come in from Norton and the hospital and then terminate at the Church Lane stop. Now, it could have that as the start point of the 172 back to Bath meaning it serves the Printing Works development. Instead, as I read it, it will not and will simply do a 180 at the roundabout and then run NIS to start the 172 to Bath from the War Memorial stop.

So I guess the cock up bit to my is...

a) Have First missed a trick by starting the 172 from the Church Lane stop and giving that end of Paulton a half hourly service to Radstock and Bath (though it will get an hourly 178) or
b) Was it supposed to start there and someone in DVSA or First simply got it wrong

It just seems a bit of an anomaly. Apologies if I wasn't so clear before but always time consuming when on an iphone

That's clearer now, but I don't think it would be much of an issue. I think most (although not all) Wells drivers would let anyone wanting to go from Church Lane to Bath board there and I suspect the drivers will change the display anyway there.
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Anyone seen 60912 around lately? I haven't seen it the last few days.

 

[Private Baxter]

Anyone seen 60912 around lately? I haven't seen it the last few days.

I was in Wells on Wednesday, and I'm almost certain I saw it on 161.

 

[THarris123]

I was in Wells on Wednesday, and I'm almost certain I saw it on 161.

Yes it was about Wednesday/Thursday time, but I haven't seen it since. Might be in the depot I suppose, but hasn't been on 161 in a few days, nor have I heard it come in on any other service.

 

[THarris123]

Wells drivers are being trained on 172 today. Appears they're doing the whole route (3 hours training). 69437 is being used - wonder how long it is before its missing the overhang wing mirror (i.e. Paulton)!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Wells drivers are being trained on 172 today. Appears they're doing the whole route (3 hours training). 69437 is being used - wonder how long it is before its missing the overhang wing mirror (i.e. Paulton)!

Not learning whole route sorry. Think its just up to Norton and back (only 1.5 hours or so training, although i thought I was told 3 hours).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just noticed on new 173/4 timetable the Chilcompton school service in the afternoon. If it's a school day, 173 runs at 15.26 only from the blue school, all the way up to Bath. 174 is at 14.07 and then 16.12. On non school days it runs as 174 at 15.12.

But frustrating that.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wells drivers are being trained on 172 today. Appears they're doing the whole route (3 hours training). 69437 is being used - wonder how long it is before its missing the overhang wing mirror (i.e. Paulton)!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Not learning whole route sorry. Think its just up to Norton and back (only 1.5 hours or so training, although i thought I was told 3 hours).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just noticed on new 173/4 timetable the Chilcompton school service in the afternoon. If it's a school day, 173 runs at 15.26 only from the blue school, all the way up to Bath. 174 is at 14.07 and then 16.12. On non school days it runs as 174 at 15.12.

But frustrating that.

Hardly the greatest problem and not uncommon.

However, given that the code NS - Not Saturday is used on that journey (on the Mon - Fri table), it perhaps should be NSD - Not Schooldays. As it reads now, it's saying that there are two journeys on a school day whereas my interpretation is as yours in that it's one journey with NSD and SD variants.

 

[Colly405]

Hardly the greatest problem and not uncommon.

However, given that the code NS - Not Saturday is used on that journey (on the Mon - Fri table), it perhaps should be NSD - Not Schooldays. As it reads now, it's saying that there are two journeys on a school day whereas my interpretation is as yours in that it's one journey with NSD and SD variants.

Definitely an error in the booklet, I would say, for 2 reasons
- Just checked Traveline, which shows the SSuX 174 at 1512 as being Somerset School Holidays, so it is one journey which is a 174 in school hols and a 173 from the Blue School schooldays...
- Why would they put a note "Not Saturdays" on a Monday to Friday timetable?!

 

[THarris123]

Anyone know why 47570 is in Wells? 35161 appears to be off road, but I think 35167 might be off road too and maybe the Streetlite is covering that (35167 not in depot, but not seen for a while). Could be covering for a B7 in repaint I guess.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
47570 appears to have gone. There was an urban E200 in the depot earlier (don't know what though. No Streetdecks are in depot. 1 B7 at the back though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
60913 is back in Wells unfortunately

It's on 9.43 174
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
69445 in as spare
69440 has been naughty and is at back of depot
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm on 69438 10.43 174 in case anyone wants to join

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Anyone know why 47570 is in Wells? 35161 appears to be off road, but I think 35167 might be off road too and maybe the Streetlite is covering that (35167 not in depot, but not seen for a while). Could be covering for a B7 in repaint I guess.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
47570 appears to have gone. There was an urban E200 in the depot earlier (don't know what though. No Streetdecks are in depot. 1 B7 at the back though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
60913 is back in Wells unfortunately

It's on 9.43 174
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
69445 in as spare
69440 has been naughty and is at back of depot
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm on 69438 10.43 174 in case anyone wants to join

I am probably worrying close to you at the moment