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The current GWR replacement bus services in the Bristol area for the next few weeks are absolutely DREADFUL!  That's my experience of them already anyway.  And I've only been using them since yesterday.  I shall tell you about my experiences so far of them.

MONDAY 29th OCTOBER
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I started using them yesterday morning.  And to be honest there was no problem atall on my first journey on them.  I got the 0945 service from Redland(the 0935 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads) to Stapleton Road.  And it arrived and departed bang on time, and arrived at the Stapleton Road stop just before the 1001 scheduled departure time.  All good so far I thought.  But then it went downhill fast from there, when I got my homeward bound journey that evening.  The scheduled departure time for a Clifton Down service from Stapleton Road was 1759.  I got to the bus stop just a few minutes before then so that I would get it.  Anyway time was ticking by and it wasn't turning up.  There was supposed to be the next one due at 1814.  But so far no sign of that turning up on time either.  I did notice the 1805 service to Bristol Parkway turned up 11 minutes at 1816.   Anyway, the Clifton Down service didn't turn up till 1825.  Whether that was actually the 1759 or 1814 service I don't know.  I appreciate the traffic is heavy at this time of day and causing delays.  But in that case, what happened to the 1744 service too?  And why weren't these timetables scheduled to accommodate heavier traffic at these peak times?

TUESDAY 30TH OCTOBER
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And today my experience was even worst than yesterday.  I got to the Redland replacement bus stop at 0850, in time for the 0900 service to Bristol Temple Meads - where I would be departing the bus again at Stapleton Road.  But the time was ticking on by 0900, and there was no sign of it.  At about 0916, I did see two rail replacement bus services in a row heading up towards Clifton Down.  I assume these were the late running 0903 service, and the 0918 service.  I notice one of them was a gold liveried bus.  Anyway, with the time now well past 0900 I assumed the 0900 service had been cancelled/not running for some reason.   The next service wasn't due till 0945.  At this point, I could have instead decided to get two normal bus services to work and I'd arrive there at roughly about 1005.  But I decided to just go down to Sainsbury's on Gloucester Road to get a few things, and then get  that 0945 service, and I'd still arrive at that same Stapleton Road bust stop at about the same time anyway.  Anyway, at about 0948 I then saw that same gold liveried bus coming round the corner from Redland Grove and into South Road.  As it was approaching the bus stop I put my hand out for it to stop. It had GWR on the destination display.  But then to my utter astonishment I could see the driver of the bus just shook his head at me as if to say "NO" and then just sailed on by down South Road without stopping at the rail replacement bus stop!  I couldn't believe it.  Why an earth did he not stop??!!  I was seething with annoyance at this point.  There's nothing more annoying than putting your hand out for a bus, and the driver just shakes his head and  doesn't stop for you!!!  This is absolutely appalling and unacceptable!  And with the next rail replacement service towards Temple Meads not then being until 1045, there's no way I was going to wait for that one(if that one actually turned up and stopped there I don't know!).  So I had no choice then but to just give up TRYING to get a rail replacement bus service to Stapleton Road.  And so I just got two normal bus services there instead.  And arriving there about 1 hour 15 minutes later than I should have done!!

And tonight on the homeward bound journey.  Well pretty much the same as last night really.  The 1759 service didn't turn up on time, the 1814 service didn't turn up on time.  By the way, I noticed that the 1805 Bristol Parkway service, arrived 20 minutes late at 1825!   And then at 1828 I could see a double decker bus approaching.  I could see it wasn't a 48, 48A, 49, or 49A, and so I assumed this would be the rail replacement service I want.  But as it got closer I could see it had NOT FOR PUBLIC USE on the destination display.  "Oh god!  That's not it either!".  But I notice it had people onboard the bus, and it was indicating to pull into the bus stop.  Even though it said "NOT FOR PUBLIC USE" on the destination display and thinking it may have been some charter bus service, after it pulled into the bus stop and let a few people out, I then boarded and then asked the driver "Where are you going?".  To which she replied "Montpelier, Redland, and Clifton Down.".  Ah good that's the bus I wanted, so I got on for my journey home.  But whyever did it say "NOT FOR PUBLIC USE" on the destination display?  That's not a very helpful and appropriate destination display is it?   But anyway, as with last night my bus home turned up half hour late than it should have.  Whether that was the 1759, 1814 or 1829 service I don't know. 

Also on the National Rail website on their live departures, is useless as they  show these rail replacement bus services as all being ON TIME.  But they're not all on time!

So so far I am not impressed by these rail replacement services atall.  Absolutely bloody dreadful! They're either very late or particular workings are cancelled, and then one driver at least who failed to stop and shook his head at me when I put my hand out!!   That instance was particularly annoying.  And I shall be emailing First Bristol to complain about these services and the driver of that particular service this morning - the 0935 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads. 

Has anyone else here been using these rail replacement services?  Are your experiences of them as bad as mine?

I've read on Twitter complaints of drivers lost such as in one case, a tour of Bristol city centre.

Since the previous post I have come across a GWR reply via Twitter:-

Sorry to hear this, normally replacement bus drivers are well briefed on the stopping pattern and route they need to take - Sorry this wasn't in evidence today and for the delay it caused.

I travelled back from the London direction on Sunday 28th October and was caught up in the wires down chaos meaning it took me two trains to get back to BRI. Wanting a 73 back to Centre to connect with a Y1, the last of a Sunday, I noticed an individual looking at the timetable board on the lampost and turned and was typically 'looking lost'. I called out to him where did he want to go and he said he was looking for the RR service to Parkway. I was able to point him over the other side of the incline to the mass of people lurking in the shadows. As he crossed the road another passenger waiting near me apologised for listening into my conversation said is that right Parkway over there. I reaffirmed and they too headed over to that ever growing queue. The irony of it was, the lamp post I was stood by had a "Rail Replacement" notice attached to it but didn't say where to. It was dark as it was the first day of winter time, traffic in the TM area was at gridlock and no one from GWR, agency/temp Customer Service staff to be seen. I made it my business to announce that if any passengers waiting for a rail replacement bus to Parkway station, these buses were departing on the other side of the incline to which about 8 people moved and headed over the road. There must have been about 200 -250 persons waiting there when 2 coaches approached and as I left on a delayed 73 I guessed that all those waiting from what I could see from the 73 wouldn't all get on those 2 coaches. I missed the last Y1 and had to travel onto the Bus Station for a 50 minute wait for the Y2. I narrated the previous nights event on Monday to the meeting of the Friends of Yate Station at which both the new Parkway Station manager was present as also was a representative from First Bus as the meeting morphed from being The Friends of Yate Station to The Yate and Surrounding Area Transport Forum. I'll try and write up a brief report of that meeting on a new thread when I have an hour or so to spare.

There was a rail replacement bus service in and out of Warminster the other weekend. I mistook it for the annual vintage bus running day !

Saw a RR vehicle on Bristol Centre today, might have been a Severn Riviera Line RR service but the livery intrigued me, X76 Glasgow - Ayr, must be desperate for vehicles to cover the current RR operation to bring vehicles all the way down from Scotland to run the current RR's.

My journeys on these rail replacement buses yesterday and today were thankfully OK, compared to how dreadful they were on Monday and Tuesday.

Yesterday morning, after the 0900 service from Redland not turning up on Tuesday I played it safe by getting the 0830 service instead.  And thankfully that turned up on time.  No more than about 10 people on there though.  And the 1759 service from Stapleton Road towards Clifton Down actually turned up on time too, and no having to wait about for half hour again like the previous evenings.

Today I got the 0845 service from Redland(the 0835 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads).  And unless any people got on at Lawrence Hill, I was the only person on this service!  I guess a lot of people are not bothering with these rail replacement bus services and traveling by alternate means instead, or they gave up after experiencing how bad it was at the start of the week?  And the 1759 service from Stapleton Road towards Clifton Down again thankfully turned up on time too.

I'll see what it's like tomorrow!

I have emailed GWR to complain about that lousy driver on Tuesday who just shook his head at me and didn't stop when I put my hand out when waiting at the clearly marked Rail Replacement bus stop!  Will probably have to wait nearly 2 weeks for a reply!  Let's see what sort of reply I get to that.

I'd say that is most certainly the case!

For my own commute, instead of getting the train from Montpellier to Temple Meads and then onwards to Keynsham I have changed to either walking into town and then getting the number 349 bus to Keynsham or getting the number 73 bus to Temple Meads then the train to Keynsham. It helps that the weather hasn't been too bad this week (just a little cold) so the extra walking has been ok, and I already pay for a monthly bus ticket anyway. Actually it has been decent enough that I may use the buses more often, as whilst they are not as convenient as the train, it saves me money and it has actually been better reliability wise than I expected.

There were the inevitable teething problems to and from SVB at the beginning of this week (29/10 - 02/11/18).

The main complaint of the driver(s) was that they weren't given enough route training. With the evenings being dark - it led to quite a few missed turnings, circuitous routes and protracted journey times.

Today, things seem to have settled down (from my SVB-CFN-SVB journeys anyway) - I just pray they remain stable for the rest of the scheduling. I understand the schools were on half term this week - so I can only assume all transport systems will be under a much greater strain next week.

Scheduling aside - the biggest problem I've found is coping with travel-sickness as the buses swing and judder their way around the route! The first couple of days - I did not feel well...  :(

I have seen reports that a bus - believed to be an empty rail replacement vehicle - has collided with Bristol Road bridge near Bristol Parkway and lost its roof as a result.

As discussed on the electrification thread: (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18592.0)

Me again with a further update.  And from my experience, things haven't settled down today!

I mentioned that Wednesday and Thursday I actually found no problems with the services I boarded.  They all turned up on time.  I did mention yesterday that the 0835 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads it appeared I was the only person onboard for the whole service(unless anyone boarded at the final intermediate stop Lawrence Hill).  I was concerned that because I was the only person on that service yesterday, that I thought GWR wouldn't bother running this service today because of lack of passengers.  And guess what, I waited for it and it didn't turn up!

My journey home tonight was horrendous.  I got to the Stapleton Road bus stop at a few minutes before the 1759 service.  And the same problem as Monday and Tuesday but a bit worst.  The 1759 didn't turn up, the 1814 didn't turn up, and the 1829 didn't turn up on time.  Just as I was about to give up and get two normal First Bus services home instead, a bus finally turned up at 1840.  After being stuck at that bus stop waiting for 45 minutes!  Incidentally, I noticed that the 1805 Bristol Parkway service still hadn't turned up by then!  What happened to that? - service cancelled altogether or the driver went completely the wrong way again?!

These services are absolutely hopeless!

As mentioned I have complained in particular about that lousy driver on Tuesday morning that just shook his head at me and failed to stop for me to board.  And I'll have to wait nearly 2 weeks for a reply!  My gut feeling though is that because the Rail Replacement Bus Service bus stop toward Clifton Down is now in Redland Grove, rather than South Road where it used to be located - is that that driver probably thought that the Rail Replacement Bus Service bus stop towards Bristol Temple Meads was the nearest bus stop on the other side of Redland Grove, and wasn't informed that it's actually in South Road where the Rail Replacement Bus Service bus stop is clearly marked.  It's very clear by the looks of it that a lot of drivers have not been fully trained of the routes to take and the bus stops to stop at for these services.  This should have been done well in advance of these 3 weeks of Rail Replacement Bus Services! Either way, I'm still mad that that driver just shook his head at me and failed to stop. 

Many thanks for the updates.   Reports I heard in Bristol today suggested inadequate bus provision for the peak train off Severn Beach (presumably on the expectation that there would be a lot lot less people than normally catch the train) and buses taking twice as long as planned between Parkway and Temple Meads, even though they were scheduled very generously.

I am at a loss to understand how that Applegates double decker lost its roof near Parkway this afternoon, that bridge is used by dozens of double deckers daily, the 19 and the 73 being just 2 of the routes I can think of for now and there has been all the RR traffic to Abbey Wood in the past weeks too, mysterious.

Arched bridge, side of arch??

Yeah if you watch the rather disturbing dashcam clip on this link, you can see the bus starts ok thru the flat bridge section, but doesn't go into the centre of the road and you see the top getting ripped off as it hits the side of the arch

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46077532

As said above, all doubledecker through this arched bridge have to centre themselves, otherwise the above will happen.

Being somewhat experienced of GWR replacement bus services this year from Bristol Parkway, I think this will complete almost three months of bus services this year, I can safely say find another route.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of  a replacement bus from Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Parkway, and the bus driver did not know the route.

The on going work at Temple Meads Gyratory  means any schedule plans for buses to/from Temple Meads can only be aspirational. So for me a 73 bus in the morning to St Mary Redcliffe, avoiding the last bit to Temple Meads, and the T1 in the evening. Both seems reliable, but definitely slower. At a guess I have lost 45 minutes per day.

And Christmas is coming!

Another update from me about my experiences with the replacement bus services this week.

Yesterday
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I didn't use them in the morning, as the scheduled departure times of 9am and 9:45 weren't that convenient when I had to start work at 10.  So I walked to town and got a 48A from there instead.

Upon leaving work, I got to the Stapleton Road station at just a few minutes before the expected 1729 service to Clifton Down.  Time was beginning to tick on past 1729 and I was thinking to myself "Oh god. Here we go again!  I'll be stuck here waiting half hour or more yet again!".  But thankfully at 1740 a Clifton Down service arrived, which I presume was the late running 1729 service(the 1709 from Bristol Temple Meads).  So only just under 15 minutes wait.  If it's like that every night for the remaining time of these rail replacement buses, then I can with that.

Today
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I had to start work at 9.  I could have waited for the 0830 service from Redland which would have got me to work on time(providing it turned up and on time).  But no, I didn't trust that that service would turn up on time or even turn up atall.  So I played it safe(so I thought anyway), and waited for the 0815 service instead.  Got to the bus stop at 0810.  And time was ticking on past the due time of that 0815 service.  Several minutes after 0815 I was thinking "Oh god. Here we go again! It doesn't look that 0815 service is going to turn up!!  Let's hope the 0830 turns up!".  I continued to wait.  Time was ticking on past 0830 and it didn't look that one was going to turn up either!  Another service was due at 0845.  So I continued to wait for that one.  And at 0849 just as I was beginning to think the 0845 service isn't going to turn up either, and was going to give up, walk to town and get a normal First Bus service to Stapleton Road instead, a bus finally turned up!  Which I was presume was the slightly delayed 0845 service(the 0835 from Clifton Down).  What happened to the services due at 0815 and 0830???  I asked the driver and he just said "No idea mate!". 

So although things seem to be better with the services heading home in the evenings, they seem to be hopeless and very unreliable in the peak morning times.   Tomorrow I shall trying waiting for the 0800 service!  I hope that turns up!  And if a bus hasn't turned up by about 0820, I'll have to give up, walk to Broadmead and get a normal First Bus from there instead. 

Reading this thread ... I think I'll travel Melksham to Bristol Parkway via Swindon on Thursday ... seems absurd to be doubling back but at present much MUCH quicker.

In geographical terms, you are doubling back whichever way you go. It is just that via Swindon is further in distance than via Temple Meads.

I have said before and am more confirmed now in the view that when there are replacement bus services running between Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, passengers travelling from/to Wiltshire and Bath at least ought to be encouraged to travel via Swindon and avoid the bus replacement service altogether.

Surprisingly no problems for me today.  After the problems yesterday morning, I today waited for an earlier service - the 0800 from Redland.  Which surprisingly actually turned up and on time!   And then this evening, the 1729 service from Stapleton Road turned up on time too!(although maybe a chance it was actually the 1714 service running 15 minutes late). Incidentally, there was only TWO other people on this service when I boarded! I think a lot of people have given up using these rail replacement bus services! But no complaints from me today.  But let's see what it's like tomorrow and Friday!

No reports from me today about my experiences with these replacement bus services, as I was unwell and stayed at home!

But I did notice these two tweets to GWR Help today....



So more examples of at least some of the drivers of these services not being fully trained of the routes they have to take and the bus stops to stop at!  They should all have been trained in advance of the 3 weeks these services are running!

Some idea of the scale of the operation ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/busends.jpg)

Mind - I have seen similar elsewhere - but a bit more consistent and smart looking

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/bus2ends.jpg)

Very few of the drivers are local, they probably were trained, but you can’t expect them to pick up a whole new area!

Even the passenger in mid frame is colour coordinated.  ;D

Indeed.  Everyone who drives a rail vehicle needs route knowledge (or a pilot who knows the route), but anyone with a license can drive on roads they've never been on before without having to sign for the route.

Many of us have stories of helping rail replacement bus drivers find their way, yet such a situation of "can you help me" actually on the rails would result in something of an enquiry.

For local service work I had 4 weeks route training and had to sign the routes. Rail replacement with drivers pulled in from far and wide hasn’t that luxury

But not only were some of the drivers going the wrong way, one of them(at least anyway) when a person was waiting at the correct rail replacement bus stop and put their hand out to stop the bus - just shook his head at them and failed to stop!  Absolutely appalling and unacceptable. This should NOT be happening!  I'm still awaiting my reply from GWR in reply to my complain about that particular lousy driver!

All the drivers should have been trained more intensively in my opinion.  The correct routes to take AND the correct bus stops to stop at.

Are we seriously suggesting that RRB drivers are trained so badly that maybe a passenger should print off the route on google maps highlighting the correct turns etc??
Regardless of who is to blame (GWR, the bus company, the driver, whoever), that simply is not good enough. Unless it is a driver who has only taken the shift as an "emergency" (e.g. a driver who was supposed to do the route didn't turn up so the bus company has had to send out a driver who wasn't due to do the route), there is no excuse at all for a RRB driver going the wrong way. None at all.

Surely it should be possible to print a Google map or even programme a sat nav with the route (including warning of  low bridges) for the driver.

Although I don't blame the drivers Bristol is one place I avoid if posible.

I used one of these services today for the first time, going to and from Sea Mills. The driver certainly didn't take the most obvious route to get there or back.

I see that particular route is advertised as once an hour, whereas when trains run along that line, they are at about 40 minute intervals. The bus ran non-stop to Clifton Down, and there didn't appear to be any other service to go to the intermediate stations (there was very little information at all, certainly nothing on any bus to say where it was going).

I was also intrigued to see the signs saying passengers should buy a ticket at the earliest opportunity, but there was no opportunity on the bus as the driver couldn't sell a ticket. And as the bus picked up half a mile away from Sea Mills station, I'm not sure where that 'earliest opportunity' is supposed to be.

But that driver May have been instructed to run fast to x stop. This is a common practice, bus 1 run fast to y, bus 2 run semi fast calling only x and y, and bus 3 calling all stations.

No, the driver of that service should have definitely stopped at that Redland rail replacement bus stop at that time.  That day, the 0900 service(calling at all stations) to Temple Meads didn't turn up.  Then after that there was supposed to be another service at 0945(calling at all stations), and the next service after that not till 1045(again an all stations service).  The 0945 service came round the corner from Redland Grove into South Road at about 0948.  I put my hand out, and the driver just shook his head and failed to stop!  And continued on down to Montpelier.   For the services, that run non-stop between Clifton Down and Bristol Temple Meads, they wouldn't run via(but not stopping at) Redland and Montpelier.  Anyway, I complained about that particular driver 10 days now.  I'm expecting to get a reply from GWR within the next 4 days.  Let's see what they have to say about it....

On a positive note. My experience of using the services on Friday was positive.  The 0800 from Redland to Bristol Temple Meads turned up just a minute or so late, which is nothing to complain about.  And the 1729 from Stapleton Road to Clifton Down turned up only about 7 minutes late, which isn't too bad. 

I assume you’ve a copy of that drivers running card? If not you’ve no evidence he was due to stop. He may have been non stop and lost!

Well put it this way.  At about 0918 I saw that very same bus and driver going up South Road(Redland) on a Bristol Temple Meads-Clifton Down service.  And then approx 0948 that very same bus and driver came back again, but failed to stop.  It wouldn't have been a Clifton Down-Temple Meads non-stopper, as that would have been the 0913 Avonmouth-Bristol Temple Meads service, calling Clifton Down 0930. I am therefore absolutely positive that that driver was driving the 0945 service(the 0935 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads) from Redland.  And I await GWR's response to this....

My journeys on them Monday-Wednesday this week have been OK and not any problems.  The 0800 service from Redland towards Bristol Temple Meads turning up pretty much on time.  And on the journey home, the 1729 from Stapleton Road arriving no more than about several minutes late.  On a side note though, yesterday evening when a rail replacement double decker bus turned up at 1729 I boarded it, and the driver helpfully mentioned that that was a service to Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway.  So would have been the late running 1705 service.  Good job he mentioned that as otherwise I would have just assumed it was the 1729 to Clifton Down.

This morning though, not so good again.  Whist I know the 0800 service from Redland(the 0750 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads) appears to be a reliable service, it does get me into work miles too early.  So I took a chance and waited for the later 0815 service.  Not a good idea!  As once again as I experienced before, the 0815 service did not turn up, nor the 0830 service!  From my experiences anyway, it seems both these scheduled services - the 0805 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads and the 0820 Clifton Down-Bristol Temple Meads don't actually run atall every day! Crap!  I shouldn't have took that chance, and should have just got the 0800 service as normal.   Anyway, after waiting 40 minutes at that bus stop a bus finally turned up at 0850.  Traffic was ridiculously busy though.  Took about 15 minutes just to get down South Road and Zetland Road!(a distance of only about 1/4 mile for those not familiar with this area).  And further heavy traffic down Gloucester Road and through St. Pauls and St. Werburghs.  The scheduled 16 minute journey time of this service between Redland and Stapleton Road actually took about 35 minutes.

At least with the train services, it tells you on the National Rail website if any of the services are delayed(and with an estimate of how long) or cancelled.  Yet with these rail replacement bus services, they all just show as ON TIME, when they're not all ON TIME!

Only one more day left now of using these services tomorrow.