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Post by greenboy on Jan 17, 2023 23:29:28 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 29, 2023 13:51:36 GMT
Somerset County Council is using some of its BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) funding to cut fares in Taunton - a £1 single fare within the County Town was introduced on 5th December and will be funded until 2025, by which time it is hoped that buses will be the core means of travel into town and the fare will be able to continue without subsidy. The cross-town Park & Ride service and the hospital route PR1 have had a £1 fare since September.
The Council is also supporting the reintroduction of evening buses on key routes from Taunton, including services to Bridgwater, Chard, Minehead and Wellington. Buses of Somerset will introduce evening journeys on route 30 between Taunton, Ilminster and Chard from Monday 30th January.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 24, 2023 19:02:05 GMT
First Bus Leicester is to convert its Leicester depot to full electric operation, and expects to have 86 electric vehicles on the city's streets by March 2024. The buses are part-funded by the ZEBRA fund.
To coincide with the announcement, First displayed the first of its Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliner BEV single-deckers for Leicester, 63501 (BK23 HCP).
As well as Leicester, First will also convert its Norwich and York depots to full electric operation with the help of ZEBRA funding.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 28, 2023 15:40:23 GMT
First is to build a new "Super Depot" in Portsmouth. It will be on the site of a former Daily Mail Group priniting site that was closed down last year, and is located opposite First's existing Hilsea Depot. The depot is intended to be all-electric and will charge up to 90 vehicles overnight. First already has plans to operate 62 electric buses in the Portsmouth area, with an additional order for 28 Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliners having been placed recently. These will operate from Hoeford Depot, at least initially. First has not yet decided on whether to close either or both of its Hilsea and Hoeford Depots, saying the situation will become clearer as work on the new Depot progresses. www.route-one.net/bus/first-bus-to-build-super-depot-in-portsmouth/
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Post by bustavane on May 21, 2023 22:42:33 GMT
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Post by vjaska on May 22, 2023 2:02:36 GMT
I've very little sympathy for the driver after having a look on Google Maps of the road layout - there are several signs telling the driver not only the height of the bridge (three right in front of the bridge, one on the bridge and another just as you pass under the first bridge) but also under the sign by the first bridge, there is a sign directing the driver to an alternative route which has a picture of a lorry on it. Now whilst it could be argued it should have a picture on a bus on or a message saying alternative route avoiding low bridge, it doesn't excuse not knowing the height of the vehicle your driving.
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Post by greenboy on May 22, 2023 13:18:53 GMT
The bus involved is SN11 FPA. Fleet number 33908. As with most such incidents, baffling as to how a driver fails to notice such an obvious low bridge.
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Post by SILENCED on May 22, 2023 13:27:21 GMT
The bus involved is SN11 FPA 33908. Again, baffling as to how a driver fails to notice such an obvious low bridge. It is puzzling, but wonder if it is down to over familiarity with an area or lack of it. I mention the former, as I know when we had an LTN (think we were the only one in Croydon to get theirs removed) a couple of times auto-pilot took over, and went the way I had thousands of times before, only to be meet by the barrier. Could it be the driver drives under this bridge on a regular basis, in a different bus/vehicle, and auto-pilot took over?
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Post by northlondon83 on May 24, 2023 21:08:52 GMT
The bus involved is SN11 FPA. Fleet number 33908. As with most such incidents, baffling as to how a driver fails to notice such an obvious low bridge. Drivers should really know what levels are acceptable for a bus to head under a bridge, I believe 4.4m and greater. The picture shows 3.8m by the looks of things which is way off.
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Post by vjaska on May 24, 2023 23:17:39 GMT
The bus involved is SN11 FPA. Fleet number 33908. As with most such incidents, baffling as to how a driver fails to notice such an obvious low bridge. Drivers should really know what levels are acceptable for a bus to head under a bridge, I believe 4.4m and greater. The picture shows 3.8m by the looks of things which is way off. Most modern double deckers nowadays are 14’6” so shouldn’t be passing anything below that and the bridge in the incident is easily below that
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Post by vjaska on May 27, 2023 1:57:42 GMT
I have to say, First Glasgow is coming on leaps and bounds - the fleet has become really modern even more so than when I was last there where the oldest things running around are B9TL's with lots of MMC's & now electric Citys joining the fleet. Bus patronage also looks good and it's not simply propped up by kids & pensioners - lots of different age groups in between are riding the buses as well and I saw and experienced plenty of busy services at different times of the day. The lack of next bus stop information was disappointing with no bus having any that I rode and whilst I got to encounter the tap on and off system, it didn't work on one bus though thankfully, it failed to take the full fare from me which happens if you forget or it's not working (I also wasn't aware you have to speak to the driver in that situation)
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 27, 2023 6:07:29 GMT
I have to say, First Glasgow is coming on leaps and bounds - the fleet has become really modern even more so than when I was last there where the oldest things running around are B9TL's with lots of MMC's & now electric Citys joining the fleet. Bus patronage also looks good and it's not simply propped up by kids & pensioners - lots of different age groups in between are riding the buses as well and I saw and experienced plenty of busy services at different times of the day. The lack of next bus stop information was disappointing with no bus having any that I rode and whilst I got to encounter the tap on and off system, it didn't work on one bus though thankfully, it failed to take the full fare from me which happens if you forget or it's not working (I also wasn't aware you have to speak to the driver in that situation) I was impressed how modern the First Glasgow fleet was by the time I last went there at Easter 2019. I am due to go back once the new Subway trains enter service. McGills also have a lot of electric buses there on former Arriva Scotland West routes. As regards the deroofing, Juliet Dunlop on Good Morning Britain reported that the bus could have been on diversion due to a sporting event. In that scenario, the management should have planned a safe rerouting in advance and advised the driver accordingly.
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Post by vjaska on May 27, 2023 10:11:45 GMT
I have to say, First Glasgow is coming on leaps and bounds - the fleet has become really modern even more so than when I was last there where the oldest things running around are B9TL's with lots of MMC's & now electric Citys joining the fleet. Bus patronage also looks good and it's not simply propped up by kids & pensioners - lots of different age groups in between are riding the buses as well and I saw and experienced plenty of busy services at different times of the day. The lack of next bus stop information was disappointing with no bus having any that I rode and whilst I got to encounter the tap on and off system, it didn't work on one bus though thankfully, it failed to take the full fare from me which happens if you forget or it's not working (I also wasn't aware you have to speak to the driver in that situation) I was impressed how modern the First Glasgow fleet was by the time I last went there at Easter 2019. I am due to go back once the new Subway trains enter service. McGills also have a lot of electric buses there on former Arriva Scotland West routes. As regards the deroofing, Juliet Dunlop on Good Morning Britain reported that the bus could have been on diversion due to a sporting event. In that scenario, the management should have planned a safe rerouting in advance and advised the driver accordingly. Yes, saw some of McGills electric vehicles operating in the city. The First fleet up there was still B7RLE’s, B7TL’s and the odd Trident alongside MMC’s & Enviro 300’s/400’s last time I was up but the the older stuff has gone with the B9TL’s now the oldest double deckers and the Enviro 300’s, oldest single deckers The diversion explanation is no excuse personally because the driver still passed a sign that directs traffic away from the low bridge via an alternative route and ignored several signs detailing the height of the upcoming bridge. If that’s the case, both management and driver are at fault
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Post by LondonNorthern on Jun 6, 2023 11:38:25 GMT
Could we potentially see FirstGroup re-entering London? I reckon they might think about re-entering because their provincial operations have had a bit of a crisis when it comes to middle aged stock, they simply don't have enough at the moment and there are some quite aging fleets across the group. I wonder whether on that basis they would consider re-entering London as they would have 10-15 year old buses able to cascade out to provincial operations and cascade older stock.
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reliance
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Post by reliance on Jun 7, 2023 6:39:54 GMT
Could we potentially see FirstGroup re-entering London? I reckon they might think about re-entering because their provincial operations have had a bit of a crisis when it comes to middle aged stock, they simply don't have enough at the moment and there are some quite aging fleets across the group. I wonder whether on that basis they would consider re-entering London as they would have 10-15 year old buses able to cascade out to provincial operations and cascade older stock. Given that nearly all London Buses are leased and dual door, that doesn't make a very good argument for entering the London Market! First have done a lot to upgrade their age profile in recent years and the last thing they would want to do is cascade 'tired' ex London Buses, not exactly a moral booster is it? I would think that Arriva s London business would make a very good acquisition for First, no competition issues, guaranteed revenue streams, Arriva London are not doing to well at the moment in terms of retaining/winning new contracts. It would also be a defensive move, as it is likely that all the major bus groups will probably have to downsize their operations post Covid, Government support can't go on forever.
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