‘Scene’ in Somerset (or should it be Zummerzet). Part 2 of 3

I recently had a short break in the ‘Cider’ county where as usual, I had a look at the local transport scene.

Based in the town of Street which lies just off the A 39 about two miles from Glastonbury of pop concert fame.

 

My first (no pun intended) visit was to the county town of Somerset . Taunton is situated on the A38 and to the west of the M5.

 

“First Somerset and Avon’ are the dominant operator but they do not have it all their own way. Competition comes from a number of sources. The main one being ‘Webberbus’ once more (See part 1).

 

‘First’ have their own small bus station off Tower Street whilst the competition works from street stands on Castle Way. 

 

‘First’s’ fleet seems to be much the same mixture as elsewhere. However, there are not many double deckers and what I saw, were elderly.

 

‘Webberbus’ had more of their Optare Versa’s on show, the odd Solo and they are yet another fleet that is trialling the Wright Streetlite. 

 

To stand at the junction of North Street, Fore Street and Corporation Street is a bus enthusiast’s delight.

S677 AAE seen in First’s bus station is a Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine 2 bodywork.

 

 

While P563 EFL is another Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties earlier Palatine 1 bodywork.

 

 

 

SJ03 DPX an Optare Solo setting off on a local service but spent much of its life in Scotland before coming South.

 

 

N990 HVS a Mercedes-Benz 709D with Alexander’s Sprint bodywork works a longer service to Yeovil.

 

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’ had a number of its Optare Versa’s in service. Here we see YJ60 LTA and YJ62 FBL.

 

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’s  Optare Solo’s YJ10 EJU and DK06 OXD off to Bishops Lydeard where presumably it connects with 

The West Somerset Railway.

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’ Wright Streetlite D/F had just worked on the long and very scenic route from Minehead.

 

 

While the only ‘Stagecoach’ group bus I saw in the time I was in Somerset was this Optare Versa WA09 KWH.

More ‘Scene’ in Somerset here Flickr 

‘Scene’ in Somerset (or should it be Zummerzet). Part 1 of 3

I recently had a short break in the ‘Cider’ county where as usual, I had a look at the local transport scene.

 

Based in the town of Street which lies just off the A 39 about two miles from Glastonbury of pop concert fame. Street has no bus station as such but there are several bus stands near the library in the town centre.

 

Our transport was this immaculately kept DAF SB3000 with Van Hool’s Alize bodywork belonging to long established operator Albert Wilde Coaches who are based in Heage, Derbyshire. Registration K120 SLR.

For most of the time we shared the hotel with a holiday group from Denmark who were ferried around in this Plaxton bodied Volvo registration ODF 561 operated by 'Pulhams Travel' of Bourton in the Water. This a ‘cherished’ registration and has appeared on previous Pulham owned vehicles in the past.

 

The major operator in town is ‘First Somerset and Avon’ who’s main service starts at Taunton and runs on to Bristol via Glastonbury and Wells. Running the full length of the route is WX59 BYM a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE.

 

P262 PAE a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF on its way to Wells on a short working. This now elderly bus started its career with Badgerline who were amongst the early operators in the ‘First’ group.

 

Another Dennis Dart this time with East Lancs ‘Spryte’ body V834 DYD.

‘First’ are not the only operator on this route with ‘Webberbus’ who operate widely in the Bridgewater, Taunton and Minehead areas providing serious competition. 

 

Indeed, conversations with passengers on and off the buses showed that ‘Webberbus’ was the operator most people favoured.

 

YJ58 CEK and YJ62 FBC were two of a number of Optare Versa’s in use.

 

 Another service from Street to Wincanton is provided by ‘nippybus’. Based in the Yeovil area, ‘nippybus’ provide a range of demand responsive services as well as normal scheduled routes in the area.

 Y868 PWT an Optare Solo at one time worked on Park and Ride services in Coventry.

 A further Optare Solo MX09 HHT provides a similar link to Shepton Mallet whilst working for ‘Frome Minibuses.’