First West of England

[fleetline6477]

Two Mendip Explorer Volvo B7s having a day away from the Mendips

69440 WX 59 BYS route Y4 Centre - Yate
69441 WX 59 BYT route 1 Cribbs - Broomhill

Both on all day running baords

[Roy]

Some interesting news from Steve White's First West of England website which should appeal to the Streetdeck lovers.

After struggling for nearly 4 years to keep its Streetdecks on the road, Wells will be losing them soon and replacing them with Enviro 400s in a swap with Hengrove.  There should also be some more B9s due to replace the rest of the 59 plate B7RLEs which will go to Leicester.

I assume that the E400s concerned are the ex-First Kernow buses which are currently branded for routes 91 and 92.

[winston]

Some interesting news from Steve White's First West of England website which should appeal to the Streetdeck lovers.

After struggling for nearly 4 years to keep its Streetdecks on the road, Wells will be losing them soon and replacing them with Enviro 400s in a swap with Hengrove.  There should also be some more B9s due to replace the rest of the 59 plate B7RLEs which will go to Leicester.

I assume that the E400s concerned are the ex-First Kernow buses which are currently branded for routes 91 and 92.

Any idea if the B9's will come from within First Bristol or somewhere like Leeds / Manchester ?

[Roy]

Steve's website doesn't say.  However, the 77 new gas buses for Lawrence Hill are not due until early 2020, which would suggest that, if the swap is being down in the short term, the B9s will be cascaded from some other First company. 

My only thought on the Streetdeck issue is based on my experiences on Brighton & Hove Coaster service 12/12A/12X between Brighton and Eastbourne where the buses are excellent on the flat but awful when climbing the hills over the South Downs.  There are some very tasty climbs over the Mendip Hills on Wells service 376.

[winston]

Steve's website doesn't say.  However, the 77 new gas buses for Lawrence Hill are not due until early 2020, which would suggest that, if the swap is being down in the short term, the B9s will be cascaded from some other First company. 

My only thought on the Streetdeck issue is based on my experiences on Brighton & Hove Coaster service 12/12A/12X between Brighton and Eastbourne where the buses are excellent on the flat but awful when climbing the hills over the South Downs.  There are some very tasty climbs over the Mendip Hills on Wells service 376.

That was kind of my thinking.

Are the Streetdeck issues related to engine setup or being under powered?

[fleetline6477]

Three very rare workings seen today

Volvo B9 Gemini 37336 WX 57 HKV operating route 7XP

Wright Streetlite 47554 SN 14 FGF in pink mobile tickets livery operating route 49

Volvo B7 ALX 400 32251 LT 52 WVO in green fronted routes 6 & 7 livery operating the peak afternoon board on routes T3 / T1 !!!!

[LazyGuy222]

37335 was also on the 7XP

[Ally]

The first of the Gas buses are supposedly due in December, according to a newsletter by James Freeman on the wall in the Marlborough Street offices, complete with a mock up of one in the m3 livery, with the tagline "this is the diagram to show how the metrobus m3 livery will be applied to the first buses, expected to be delivered in December".
The m3 will also temporarily be outstationed at the BCT Bedminster Depot until the gas refuelling station at Lawrence Hill is completed.

[fleetline6477]

The first of the Gas buses are supposedly due in December, according to a newsletter by James Freeman on the wall in the Marlborough Street offices, complete with a mock up of one in the m3 livery, with the tagline "this is the diagram to show how the metrobus m3 livery will be applied to the first buses, expected to be delivered in December".
The m3 will also temporarily be outstationed at the BCT Bedminster Depot until the gas refuelling station at Lawrence Hill is completed.

What routes are the 77 gas buses intended for?

[fleetline6477]

A few branded buses straying onto other routes today

Volvo B7 ALX 32099 KP 51 WDE Bath Uni bus on route 37
Volvo B7 ALX 32255 LT 52 WWA route 6 / 7 branded on route 2
Alexander Enviro 400 33952 SN 65 ZCA route 1 operating route 3
Volvo B9 Gemini 37321 WX 57 HKB route 2 operating route 44

Also Alexander Scania 36815 YM 17 FKL operating route 42 

[markcf83]

What routes are the 77 gas buses intended for?

As far as I know it will be the 41/42/43/44/45 corridor which passes Lawrence Hill on their way to and from the centre of Bristol. There might be other routes too.....

[Roy]

If I remember correctly, it was South Gloucestershire Council who obtained a grant which went towards the cost of these vehicles.  The intention was that they be used on Lawrence Hill routes that operated from Bristol into South Gloucestershire.  The m3 is definitely getting some of this batch.  The 42-45 services are strong contenders but would only need about 25 vehicles.  If you add the ones allocated to the m3, there would still be over 40 vehicles to be used on other routes.   

[LazyGuy222]

A few branded buses straying onto other routes today

Volvo B7 ALX 32099 KP 51 WDE Bath Uni bus on route 37
Volvo B7 ALX 32255 LT 52 WWA route 6 / 7 branded on route 2
Alexander Enviro 400 33952 SN 65 ZCA route 1 operating route 3
Volvo B9 Gemini 37321 WX 57 HKB route 2 operating route 44

Also Alexander Scania 36815 YM 17 FKL operating route 42

32099, or any of the Unibus branded ones on non Unibus routes is very common. This would be rare during the University term, but during summer break it is extremely normal.

[Ally]

A few branded buses straying onto other routes today

Volvo B7 ALX 32099 KP 51 WDE Bath Uni bus on route 37
Volvo B7 ALX 32255 LT 52 WWA route 6 / 7 branded on route 2
Alexander Enviro 400 33952 SN 65 ZCA route 1 operating route 3
Volvo B9 Gemini 37321 WX 57 HKB route 2 operating route 44

Also Alexander Scania 36815 YM 17 FKL operating route 42

And 6/7 branded LT52WVZ made it out onto the afternoon 177 service!

[Ally]

As far as I know it will be the 41/42/43/44/45 corridor which passes Lawrence Hill on their way to and from the centre of Bristol. There might be other routes too.....

48/48A/49 are also supposed to be getting them, along with the above mentioned m3 (which are apparently first according to the First Newsletter). Other routes mentioned but as far as I'm aware not confirmed, are the 6/7 and 17. I would assume all of these together would get it close to 77