Ryde Depot

Southern Vectis have not used Ryde bus depot for operational services for a while now, but it is still used as a centre for the coach fleet and still stores a large number of buses on the island. For the first time in a couple of years, I nipped down to the depot to take a few photos of what was there on Saturday. All views were taken from the public footpath.

First thing of note, is that Ryde depot has become London General's Isle of Wight outstation! A large number of the PVLs are stored here - some still have the boards for the Isle of Wight festival. In view in these two pictures are the following: W905WGH, W508WGH, Y704TGH, X572EGK, X573EGK plus another 5 examples at least. Marc M-H has said that 2 of them will become Southern Vectis fleet vehicles in the future to increase capacity on route 9 (Ryde - Newport) - these will of course fit in very well along Southern Vectis' native Volvo B7TLs with Plaxton bodywork, that arrived new in 2002.

Here is an overview of Ryde depot showing most of the buses and coaches stored. Southern Vectis allocate most of their Solos to school work - so therefore they are part of the coach fleet. This is why green livered Solo 2615 (R615NFX) is at Ryde depot.

Finally I thought I would post a close up of one of the coach liveries - here is 598 (VUV246) in Fountain Coaches livery parked out of service. I hope these photos have been of interest - thanks for viewing.

Sunday Lost Scenes #6

This week's Sunday Lost Scene comes from Winchester bus station, taken on Sunday 30th May 2004.

Solent Blue Line 578 - SN03ECD - Winchester bus station

Several things have changed from this view, which means that you cannot recreate the view any longer:

* firstly, the Winchester bus station sign has been taken down, leaving only the red area and a slightly less-faded are where Winchester bus station can still be seen.

* Solent Blue Line MPD 578 is now with Wilts & Dorset.

* Solent Blue Line (BlueStar) no longer operate with this livery.

* Route 47 is now BlueStar 1 - it was rebranded later on this year (2004).

* The Dart in the rear is now withdrawn/moved on - Stagecoach operate the X66 with fleet livered Dart SLFs now as the 66.

In similar news, BlueStar at Eastleigh (Solent Blue Line) are soon to be taking over route 65 from Wilts & Dorset - Eastleigh to Romsey - as their new BlueStar 5 in a change that has been on the cards for a while. The route will also change over to Eastleigh depot and interwork with the E to Winchester. I reckon the route may be Trident operated to cope with Barton Peveril college demands, although as it is interworked with the E we may see Solos or Darts. Certainly will be interesting! I'll post a link to the timetable as soon as it is up and running on the BlueStar website.

A little bit of Wales....

... on the Isle of Wight. Southern Vectis are temporarily operating a small number of former Veolia Cymru Optare Tempos. Purchased back in August, the eventual purpose for these Tempos is not know although they were initially earmarked for Damory. A number have been pushed into service with Southern Vectis, allowing some Scania Omnidekkas to temporarily move over to Salisbury to help with school routes.

My first photo is of Go South Coast's new 2507 (YJ56WVT). As you can see, they retain full Veolia route 600 branding advertising the Cardiff - Pontypridd route. Although they have received some criticism from enthusiasts for this, I am actually with Southern Vectis for leaving the branding on, as the vehicles do look a lot smarter. Also with Southern Vectis now the only bus operator on the island (bar the Ventnor town service), it is fairly obvious who operates these buses. However, I do wonder how many "single to Cardiff please!" jokes the drivers get a day though...

The Tempos are mainly found on routes 5 (Newport - East Cowes) and 9 (Newport - Ryde), and three were out and about on the 9 today. 2508 (YJ56WVU) is pictured earlier today in the October sunshine as it departs Ryde for Newport.

My final view from today is of Optare Tempo 2509 (YJ56WVV), heading out from Union Street and heading for the bus station. It will be sad from an enthusiast's point of view when these move on - I do like a bit of variety! It will also be interesting to see where these end up across the Go South Coast empire...

First in Bath

The bus scene in Bath has changed a bit since my last visit two years ago - the city now has former Sheffield Super Pointer Darts, fewer step entry buses, and new Volvo B7RLEs with Eclipse 2 bodywork arriving every hour on the 173 from Wells. Here are some photos from First.

Bath operate a number of Volvo B7TLs that were new to Bristol in 2003 - these buses look fantastic in the Autumn sunshine, as 32282 (WR03YZP) arrives on route 319.

Bath operate Volvo B7TLs with Wright Eclipse bodywork on the Park and Ride routes, wearing this blue, white and green livery. 32687 (WX56HKC) is pictured in Bath city centre on route 41.

This is certainly a well travelled Dart - 40160 (P139NLW) was new to London, which was then transferred to PMT (where it was renumbered), and then transferred to Wales before Bath. 40160 would be numbered 41139 in the correct sequence, but was numbered before any common sense and order was found!

One of a number of former Sheffield Dennis Dart SPDs that now operate around the city, here is 40517 (S512UAK) heading over Broad Quay. I have found that these Darts are primarily allocated to route 14.

6 Volvo B6BLEs new to York are operated in the city, and usually allocated on the country routes. However, last Saturday 40593 (YG02DHY) was pictured operating "Bright Orange" University route 18 - seen passing Bath bus station.

A number of shorter Darts are operated on city services that require reduced capacity - here is 42552 (WX05UAJ), pictured on route 13. It still carries part of the "Get Around Bath" branding that it wore when the Bath network was revitalised in 2005.

The number of step entry buses are ever dwindling in Bath. Dennis Dart 46240 (N240KAE) is one of the few buses in service in the city that was actually new to Badgerline. I don't expect to see this vehicle in service the next time I visit - the clock must be ticking.

The second step entry bus I saw in service on Saturday was former Midland Red Vario 52554 (S554RWP), out and about on route 1. It is pictured heading past Bath bus station.

Finally for today, here is Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 2 69436 (WX59BYN), one of a number of buses introduced late in 2009 for the Bath - Wells and Bristol - Wells - Yeovil/Bridgwater routes. They still look fantastic two years later.

Many thanks for viewing - all comments welcome.

Wessex Connect in Bath

I visited Bath last Saturday, and managed to get nearly 100 photos of the bus operations in one of my favourite cities for the first time in a couple of years. I'll post the First photos later - but today here are Wessex Connect.

The parent company of Wessex Connect is Rotala, and they are slowly beginning to build a significant presence in Bath, competing with First on the 5, 10 and 18, and taking over their own routes. The youngest bus in Bath and leading the fight is Optare Solo SR YJ61CHF, pictured here heading past Bath bus station. This is dedicated to the 20A/20C circular routes that were taken over from First in 2009, and directly replaces Vario minibuses. I believe there are two, although a Dart was on the other working when I visited. 

Some Wessex Connect white and blue is still about in Bath - here is Dennis Dart SLF 877 (T875HGT) heading for the Grand Parade on route 10, one of the routes that Wessex Connect competes with First with.

Wessex Connect are slowly starting to build a very smart fleet of buses in "Royal Bath" royal blue livery, and I have to say this shade of blue is excellent and one of my favourites. It largely appears on a fleet of MPDs that operate around the city - here illustrated first is 1654 (V654HEC) pictured passing Bath cathedral on the 20C, with sister vehicle 1657 (V657HEC) pictured again at Grand Parade, this time terminating on route 5.

 Wessex Connect also operate a fleet of very smart full size single decks (Volvo B7RLEs and others) on Uni route U18 - I didn't manage to capture any of these in a great photo during my visit, so I will not post any of these. Instead, here is another Dart - this time 2501 (MW52PZP), heading along St James Parade.


Thanks for viewing - First to come very soon.

Sunday Lost Scenes #5

Apologies for the lack of posts recently - as warned, a new job and new career has significantly limited my bus time! However, with the weather so excellent today, I decided to go out and about. Today's lost scene is not technically a lost scene yet, but soon will be...

Stagecoach South (Winchester) Dennis Dart SLF 33026 - XSU682 - Wickham Square

Due to Hampshire County Council funding cuts, the Sunday 69 from Fareham - Winchester is being cut later this month. Route 69 on a Sunday is operated by a single deck bus, rather than Rivers branded Tridents as it is Monday - Friday. 33026 is one of the former Winchester Park & Ride Darts, and I haven't caught it on camera since it was in that livery so all round today was good! Wickham is one of several villages that will now not see any bus service on Sunday. You've got a couple more Sundays by my reckoning to recreate this picture if interested.