First expanding in Dorchester

First Hants & Dorset have won the short term contracts for two routes in Dorchester. The town service route 101, which First already operate on Sundays, will be taken over from Nordcat and operated by Weymouth. First will also take on Nordcat route D12 - renumbered route 216 - connecting Dorchester and Yeovil.

I managed to capture this working of a Nordcat Solo on route 101 on an absolutely soaking wet day last summer (well, it is England). YJ07VTA is seen heading for the Crossways. First will hire three Solos from Dorset County Council - one may indeed by the Solo pictured above - to operate the two new routes. Two will be allocated at Weymouth (route 101, and one working on the 216) with another at Yeovil (also for the 216). No timetables are available yet but the services have been confirmed by VOSA.

Also - just for clarification - First have now registered the 58, 58A and 158 from Yeovil depot under the FHD company name. Hourly route 58 with a two-hourly 158.

On another note, I apologise for the lack of blog postings recently. They may be slightly reduced over the next few weeks due to other life commitments and fotopic's disappearance. I should be bringing photos from a day trip out tomorrow and Sunday though.