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
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