WLTM Transport Blog: November 2013

(Au) Firstly, the First Beeline Green Line new Volvo B9TLs that replace a B7TL and coaches on the 701/702. They offer leather, high backed seats, a table on the upper deck, and Wi-Fi!

First Beeline (Green Line) 37998 (BF63 HDX) on Route 702, Bracknell

First Beeline 37998 on Route 702, Bracknell Bus Station

Lower Deck interior

Upper Deck interior

And there's a power supply!

First Beeline (Green Line) 37998 on Route 702, Bracknell

First Beeline 37998 on Route 702, Bracknell

And they are very comfortable, so as long as you don't need to see the front of the bus! The wi-fi is always a bonus. Why don't we put them on the London buses??

In the background at Bracknell, the Bracknell Bus War continues! Three operators battling for supremacy of Bracknell. Long standing First Beeline is under attack by Courtney, whilst Thames Travel decide to surrender to the other two battlers by January 2014! (for a proper overview, see below the pictures)

The operators:
First Beeline: 151, 151A, 155, 171/172, 190, 191, 194, X94

First Beeline 64018 on Route 171, Bracknell

First Beeline 64013 on Route 172, Bracknell

First Beeline 33141 on Route 190, Bracknell

First Beeline 64017 on Route 171, Bracknell

First Beeline ES64001 on Route X94, Bracknell Bus Station

First Beeline ES64001 on Route X94, Bracknell. A Beeline Citaro is behind, and finally behind all that is a Courtney SoloSR.

First 64012 on Route 172, Bracknell

First Beeline ES64001 on Route X94, Bracknell

First Beeline 33181 on Route 194, Bracknell

First Beeline 64018 on Route 171, Bracknell

First 65602 on Route 191, Bracknell

First Beeline 65624 on Route 194, Bracknell

First Beeline TN33147 on Route 190, Bracknell

First Beeline 64602 (Route 191), Thames Travel 503 (Route 108), Bracknell

First Beeline 64005 on Route 155, Bracknell

Thames Travel: 53, 108, 152, 153, 154, 156, 162.

Thames Travel 507 on Route 162, Bracknell

Thames Travel 709 on Route 153, Bracknell

Thames Travel 401 on Route 53, Bracknell

Thames Travel 503 on Route 108, Bracknell

Thames Travel 714 on Route 156, Bracknell

Thames Travel 718 on Route 162, Bracknell Bus Station

Thames Travel 718 on Route 151A, Bracknell

Thames Travel 718 on Route 162 and later 151A, Bracknell (Route 151A has since passed to First Beeline)

Thames Travel 503 on Route 108, Bracknell

Thames Travel 709 (Route 153), 714 (Route 154), Bracknell

Courtney Buses: 171/172, 194

Courtney YJ62FYH on Route 194, Bracknell

Courtney YJ62FME on Route 171, Bracknell

Courtney YJ62FMD on Route 172, Bracknell

Or here's a more "proper" view of things. First Beeline is the established operator (since the post-privatisation Bee Line) . Courtney decides to expand within Bracknell. They get the tendered 171/172 evening/Sunday and 194 Sunday services. However, Courtney decide to compete with First Beeline with the 155A, 171/172, 194, mainly after they lost the 171/172 evening services to First Beeline (who are running it under tender per de jure, yet de facto commercially). So First decide to make the X94 to get a more direct version of it's own 194 (which is competing with Courtney on the same route. The usual "timetable just ahead of the competitor" then applied until First Beeline conceded and did even spacing between it and Courtney. Then Courtney withdraw the competing 155A, thus leaving just the 155 (First Beeline) to Harmanswater. Courtney however still operate the now lime/green Optare Solo (SR) on Route 171/172 and 194. The spare white bus may also be used.

Thames Travel decide to leave Bracknell, leaving a host of routes to fight for between First Beeline and Courtney. First Beeline will get the 53, 108 and 153. Courtney will get the 152, 154, 156, 162. First Beeline have already claimed the 151/151A already (as of time of writing). This will be quite competitive...

(Au) Hammersmith Bridge Approach southbound closes. This leaves a gap in services across Hammersmith Bridge, affecting the 33, 72, 209, 283 and 419. The solution - split the 72 into East Acton-Hammersmith Butterwick and Castelnau, Lonsdale Road-Roehampton, run the 283 only between East Acton and Hammersmith Butterwick. The rest would terminate short of Hammersmith at Castelnau, Lonsdale Road. But the replacement? Well, that's where 533 comes in.

London United DPS659 on Route 533, Hammersmith Bus Station

London United send DPSs that will run on the K50 eventually, but mainly from 265 and K routes up to Hammersmith to run the evening-night-early morning 533 between Hammersmith, Castelnau and Hammersmith via Chiswick Bridge running from 2100 to 0600hrs.

London United DPS659 runs the first journey of the second night, whilst a temporary timetable adorns a temporary stop at the 33 stand.

London United DPS721 on Route 533, Hammersmith Bus Station

...or rather the second one, as DPS721 decides to take first go.

The final blind display, noting closely at the destination boards for Route 533...

533 to both Castelnau and Hammersmith Bus Station

London United DPS659 on Route 533, Hammersmith Butterwick Bus Station, doing the second journey.

London United DPS650 on Route 533, Hammersmith Bus Station

London United DPS650 on Route 533, Hammersmith Butterwick Bus Station, doing the third journey.

I eventually went home, but I'd cover it the next day. After doing the sixth form open evening on the 12th, I thought it'd be wise to go to a Central London lecture on the 13th. So I did, and got to Hammersmith just in time for the first 533. Again!