From 29th August 2015, First Berkshire withdraw from Bracknell. The B-prefixed routes and, unfortunately Route 191 will be withdrawn. Route 90 has moved to Reading Buses on the 26th July 2015 (yes, it's to be renumbered 4/X4 and be branded Lion), and Route 94 will move to Stagecoach South on the 29th August 2015.
The start of the end was on the 13th July 2015, when the 53, 108, 151, 151A, 153 (150) all move from First Berkshire to Courtney Buses.
Courtney YD63 VBO on Route 53, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
Route 53 had initially been the preserve of First Berkshire/Beeline but had passed to Thames Travel before they withdrew from Bracknell, giving it back to First before Courtney won the tenders of Bracknell Forest Council. All of them.
Courtney YJ57 XXE on Route 108, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
Route 108 used to be with Thames Travel also, passing to First for a tad before going to Courtney with their usual offering of Solos that struggle to get out of Bracknell Bus Station!
Courtney KX11 EER on Route 150, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
Route 153 has been replaced by three new routes, thus also curtailing 53 to Bracknell Bus Station. One of which is the 150 (with the least helpful destination of Bracknell Bus Station on the LEDs) covering Priestfield and Binfield.
Courtney YJ08 PJV on Route 157, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
Route 53/153 has been replaced within Whitegrove (the 53 has been rerouted) by Routes 157/158 in a circular fashion. Notice behind the ex-7series branding on the 94, which we won't see when First leave. At least the destinations are a tad better there (and indeed on that 157 as well)!
Courtney YJ08 PJO on Route 158 next to First Berkshire 64018 on Route 90 via John Nike, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
That side-by-side is impossible now, as the 90 has moved to Reading Buses since then. Talking of which:
First Berkshire 33180 on Route 90 via Southern Estates, Birch Hill (© Aubrey)
But note, the 90 via Southern Estates is technically a win for First Berkshire as Courtney's 189 has been massively scaled back to 2 return journeys only going to Wokingham.
The 90 has gone from a load of Tridents and Citaros, with some Enviro 200s here and there to:
Reading Buses 1110 on Route 90 via John Nike, Reading Station (© Aubrey)
This. A load of temporary Scanias, until it gets it own Enviro 400s (some are ex-Claret, the rest are ex-University of Portsmouth) and it will be branded Lion. The 90 will be finally split too, being called the 4 (90 via Southern Estates) and X4 (90 via John Nike). A driver on the 90 told me on the third day of it, but waited until Martjin Gilbert (CEO of Reading Buses) said so on Twitter before saying it out loud. Notice the "on loan to First Beeline" notice. Not all buses on the 90 have this, and some of these buses have strayed onto local Reading routes. But the largest stray was this:
Reading Buses 860 on Route 490, Feltham Station (CC Aubrey)
Yep, a bus apparently "on loan to First Beeline" is on a Tube Strike extra just a few weeks after. Post is WIP.
First Berkshire 33144 on Route 191, Bracknell (© Aubrey)
And the forgotten one. By everyone. In the midst of this lot, there are no known plans by Courtney to increase their 192, nor for First to provide services when the 191 is withdrawn, completely (the 700/1/2 is limited stop). Which to be honest is a massive gap in terms of bus links being broken. The 191 is actually well used, and even a Solo might prove to be too small for the route! There is a petition, hopefully this soon to be broken link will be fixed.
And you ask what will happen to the 700/701/702? Well, it will stay to Bracknell as it is until the end of the summer season,
Minor, but Reading took over the 90 on Sunday 26th July, not 27th. I was stupid enough to go out and snap the first one in the pouring rain!
ReplyDeleteAs you note, Courtney had chucked in the towel on their competing 189 from the 13th July changes, with it going back to how it was before. They'd also thinned out the 171/2 a bit and axed the Sunday service - so it was clear things were being pruned. To be fair, they are putting the 171/2 Sunday service back on now that First are stopping, but it's still evident the whole thing is a creaming off profits job.
First have also had a 'victory' in a way in that Stagecoach have turned up to ensure that Courtney don't win the 194 corridor. That's some serious overbussing though, come September, with five buses an hour!
Apparently, the 702 is going to remain serving Bracknell, over the 191 route, though they've not announced this officially yet. I would guess it may be use it or loose it though.