Post by jay38a on Feb 27, 2011 20:23:55 GMT
Hi all
Yesterday i sampled one of Britain's longest bus routes taking 4.5 hours to travel the 110 mile route from Poole to Exeter. Until recently it was run with Tachographs however in January 2011, it was taken off and registered in 4 parts which means it now only needs 2 drivers to do its route instead of 3. One Driver does Poole to Weymouth taking 1 hour 10 mins, then another driver does Weymouth to Exeter taking 3 hours 20 mins with a 5 mins break at Bridport (i feel sorry for that driver), but its the same bus that does the whole route. The route goes through some of the most stunning scenery on the UK coast including a spectacular view over the bay at Lyme Regis and Beer and from Weymouth sea front the view of Weymouth Bay and Portland.
My Transport on the X53 was 37583 an Volvo B9TL with a Wright Gemini with High Backed Seating which performed great and tacked the many hills on the route with ease, partly cause it is not restricted in power and has trottle kickdown enabled. We kept very good timing throughout which is quite good for a route which is so long. A Picture of the bus is here:
jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/February-2011-photos/DSCF1675
and a Video of the bus here:
A regular team of drivers operate the route and know the regulars so as in most country routes they will drop them outside their house or at the end of their road.
First's Weymouth Depot in my eyes pride themselves as actually transforming travel with the ways they go out of their ways to help passengers. Every single Weymouth Depot bus ive been on has been very very clean and the driver extremely friendly and helpful, shame all First Depots can be like that. Normally i will avoid using a First bus outside London but any route run by First Weymouth's Depot is great, as its not the X53 i have sampled.
While i was waiting for the X53 in Poole i took some photos and also some in Exeter when i arrived there and can be found here:
jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/February-2011-photos
Yesterday i sampled one of Britain's longest bus routes taking 4.5 hours to travel the 110 mile route from Poole to Exeter. Until recently it was run with Tachographs however in January 2011, it was taken off and registered in 4 parts which means it now only needs 2 drivers to do its route instead of 3. One Driver does Poole to Weymouth taking 1 hour 10 mins, then another driver does Weymouth to Exeter taking 3 hours 20 mins with a 5 mins break at Bridport (i feel sorry for that driver), but its the same bus that does the whole route. The route goes through some of the most stunning scenery on the UK coast including a spectacular view over the bay at Lyme Regis and Beer and from Weymouth sea front the view of Weymouth Bay and Portland.
My Transport on the X53 was 37583 an Volvo B9TL with a Wright Gemini with High Backed Seating which performed great and tacked the many hills on the route with ease, partly cause it is not restricted in power and has trottle kickdown enabled. We kept very good timing throughout which is quite good for a route which is so long. A Picture of the bus is here:
jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/February-2011-photos/DSCF1675
and a Video of the bus here:
A regular team of drivers operate the route and know the regulars so as in most country routes they will drop them outside their house or at the end of their road.
First's Weymouth Depot in my eyes pride themselves as actually transforming travel with the ways they go out of their ways to help passengers. Every single Weymouth Depot bus ive been on has been very very clean and the driver extremely friendly and helpful, shame all First Depots can be like that. Normally i will avoid using a First bus outside London but any route run by First Weymouth's Depot is great, as its not the X53 i have sampled.
While i was waiting for the X53 in Poole i took some photos and also some in Exeter when i arrived there and can be found here:
jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/February-2011-photos
