First West of England

[Roy]

I noticed today that First are displaying the home depot name of all local identity painted buses.  It is on each side next to the WEST OF ENGLAND branding.  Have any other First subsidiaries done the same?

Picture attached.

[the trainbasher]

Its been going since the first new livery repaints...

[winston]

Latest heritage repaint to celebrate 30yrs since the launch of Bagerline:

[Roy]

Latest heritage repaint to celebrate 30yrs since the launch of Bagerline:

A double decker in City Line livery would be good as well.

[Ashley 60171]

Berkshire Tridents 33142 33145 were on loan for the Balloon festival last weekend.

[Roy]

First West of England have introduced a batch of new Streetdecks, route branded for routes 70/71 in Bristol.  I've attached a photo.     

[JoNi]

Very posh, local Bristol newspaper on recent changes says other routes are going to receive this livery with appropriate colour at front for route. The internal art is different!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/2pF8X4

[Roy]

There's now a third different colour on the front of First Bristol buses after the pink Streetdecks on services 70/71 and red Streetdecks on service 90.  Volvo B9TL's 37321 and 37323 were in service today with yellow fronts, while brand new E400MMC 33952 and three unknown E400MMC's in Lawrence Hill Depot also had yellow fronts.  They are not branded yet, but are for services 1 and 2.

New timetables at Temple Meads station suggest that the Mendip Express liveried Streetdecks should go into service on the 376 Bristol to Street service tomorrow. 

[winston]

There's now a third different colour on the front of First Bristol buses after the pink Streetdecks on services 70/71 and red Streetdecks on service 90.  Volvo B9TL's 37321 and 37323 were in service today with yellow fronts, while brand new E400MMC 33952 and three unknown E400MMC's in Lawrence Hill Depot also had yellow fronts.  They are not branded yet, but are for services 1 and 2.

New timetables at Temple Meads station suggest that the Mendip Express liveried Streetdecks should go into service on the 376 Bristol to Street service tomorrow.

The E400MMC's weren't originally meant to be going on the 1 & 2 and there isn't enough of them to covert the full service to MMC's, hence why they will mixed in with existing B9TL's. Since the appearance of competition from Wessex on the 1, they've now been allocated there.

[Roy]

New timetables at Temple Meads station suggest that the Mendip Express liveried Streetdecks should go into service on the 376 Bristol to Street service tomorrow.

First have now confirmed that these go into service on 23 November.  I may be wrong but I think that they'll be the first ever full-height double-deckers on the route.

[fleetline6477]

R reg MPD Plaxton Darts appear to be doing 'untimetabled' short workings on route 1 Cribbs Causeway - Broadmead.

[winston]

R reg MPD Plaxton Darts appear to be doing 'untimetabled' short workings on route 1 Cribbs Causeway - Broadmead.

I presume First attempting to push Wessex off the 1 using old tat

[Roy]

This was reported by BBC Points West this evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-34919563

[winston]

This was reported by BBC Points West this evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-34919563

@Roy Thanks for posting, I'd seen the First press release stating they had bid for 110 gas powered double deckers, I hadn't realized that Wessex had also put in a bid for 20 bio-buses.

A bit more on the Wessex plans here:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/25/plans-more-poo-powered-buses-bristol-bath

I assume this is the same fund that NX have submitted bids to

[Adam 404]

There is of course First - The Buses of Somerset as well. They appear to be trying to improve after it's various cutbacks last year. They plan to operate a Sunday service for Boxing Day.
http://www.busesofsomerset.co.uk/news.shtml
https://www.facebook.com/369276339910972/photos/a.418230395015566.1073741973.369276339910972/418561174982488/?type=3&theater