First's Representation on Fishponds Road
At one stage buses were adorned by blue flashes and proclaimed routes 48 and 49 of longstanding familiarity, plus a novelty service 48A. More recently the badge has changed ...
But the route map adds 46, 47 and 47x to the mix!
Clearly the 'x' refers to buses which do NOT run via the time point at Eastville Robertson Road, a stop which might have been called Stapleton Road Railway Station. This is not the most lavish of transport interchanges!
The 'x' suffix routes use a diddy bit of the M32 and its linking A4032 road from the city.
... running hourly to the UWE (University of the West of England) ...
... and the 47/47x is like this.
Which leaves us with the 48/49 combo.
We know, from old on-line pictures, that both ran to Emersons Green. The 48 ran via Downend, the 49 via Staple Hill. But the current map shows what the 'x' suffix means; the 48 and 49 are short workings (see map above) with both 'x' routes continuing to Emersons Green; then the 49x ambles ever onwards to Lyde Green.
Just to baffle on-line investigators, both suffix-less 48 ...
... and 49 have ventured into the mysteries of Lyde Green in the past.
For current users all four routes via Fishponds Road are shown in one table.
Each route runs half hourly, giving eight buses an hour to Fishponds PLUS the 46 and 47x, each hourly.
So what is happening from the forthcoming April 5th changes?
Not a lot!
But what IS happening, to confuse the regular user, is that the presentation of the 46/47/48/49 group of services will be completely different.
But what IS happening, to confuse the regular user, is that the presentation of the 46/47/48/49 group of services will be completely different.
ALL buses via Eastville (Stapleton Road station) are now shown on one table ...
... but, thanks to First's ludicrously expensive non-AI software implementation, buses no longer run at regular intervals.
Well done First!
A second table brings ALL the 'x' suffix routes together.
Once again, buses run at irregular intervals.
You can't help thinking that bus passengers throughout this network will be beset by confusion and frustration with First's erratic timetables.
What people want is, for example, a bus every 15 minutes at times past each hour that they can remember.
What people want is, for example, a bus every 15 minutes at times past each hour that they can remember.
With First at Fisponds they don't get that!
Why not?
There is no doubt that the Bristol Brabazon aircraft was a disaster. It had propellers when jet was acknowledged as the power of the future. It was designed for luxury travel when all predictions were for a future of cheap flights.
It does seem perverse that part if the humungous new development on the old Filton airfield should be called Brabazon!
But, we are told, work us "under way" on the railway station, also named Bristol Brabazon.
Originally the station was to be called North Filton.
In another dramatic move (?), Brabazon's only bus route, the M4, is being changed from 5th April.
Here is the current route ...
... with the dotty bit showing what is planned.
Get ready for the excitement post 5th April.
Wowsers!
For any passengers on the new bit, eager to speed their merry way into the big city ...
... it goes a VERY long way round.
It will be much quicker when the station opens ...
... which Notwork Rail confidently predicts will be in Autumn 2026.
So 2028 at the earliest!
Next Bristol seaside blog : Fri 27 Mar
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