Saturday 19 February 2011

Yeovil changes

Yeovil will become the latest addition to the First Hampshire & Dorset empire apparently, on the 17th April 2011. With all of the FSA routes cancelled in Yeovil, and new registrations on the town services only expected to be made by FHD, this marks a huge change in bus service for the people of Yeovil.

If we look at the First S&A Yeovil network at the mo:
1 - Town Service connecting Cavalier Way to Abbey Manor Park
2 - Town Service connecting Monks Dale to Lyde Road
3 - Town Service connecting Wessex Road and Lyde Road
4 - Town Service to Yeovil Borough
52 - Yeovil to Martlock
54 - Yeovil to Taunton
57 - Yeovil to Sherborne
58 - Yeovil to Wincanton & Shaftesbury
377 - Bristol - Wells - Yeovil

After the changes, we expect the 54 to be transferred entirely to Taunton with the Volvo B7RLEs going also. 66958 (WX55TZV) illustrates a working on route 54 last summer. Secondly, the 377 will continue to operate from Wells, meaning that FSA won't leave the town entirely.

It has been suggested that the 52, 57 and 58 will be cut from First's network without replacement - who picks these up (if they are picked up) is open to debate. It has been suggested the town services will be run from Yeovil but by FHD - with Yeovil depot reflecting what Bridport is to Weymouth. FHD of course have operated in Yeovil recently - on the 54P service on the RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day - so it won't be the first time. The 47 from Bridport also is operated by FHD's Bridport depot into Yeovil.

Interesting times ahead - Yeovil has come up to the top of my to-do list now.

* Please note; much of this page is what is expected to happen (speculation in reality!) - all that has happened is the FSA services cut on VOSA, with news coming out of various reliable sources FHD will takeover Yeovil depot as an outstation.

2 comments:

  1. Last I heard was that Yeovil depot was closing completely. Not sure how official this was though.

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  2. Hi Graham, I think you are correct. What I was lead to believe is that the depot is closing, and that FHD are opening up a seperate outstation - possibly in the mould of FDC's Stratton or the new Torpoint outstation - to house buses for the town services in Yeovil.

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