Trip to Bath 16-10-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 268	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Bath Coach Park	Charter	Copelands Tours
46218	Bath BS	Eastfield Avenue	14	First Somerset & Avon
42901	Eastfield Avenue	Royal United Hospital	14	First Somerset & Avon
42967	Royal United Hospital	Bath BS	14	First Somerset & Avon
46237	Bath BS	Bear Flat	267	First Somerset & Avon
40542	Bear Flat	Bath BS	13	First Somerset & Avon
MIB 268	Bath Coach Park	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Charter	Copelands Tours

Matthew had spotted this trip on the Copelands Tours brochure, and after a bit of persuasion he got mum to book the trip for us. I didn't do as much research as perhaps I should have done, but on the morning of the coach trip I printed out the Bath City zone 1 map, the Bath network map and the Bath Area Bus services map from the First website. I also downloaded the service 178/84 service timetable and the list of low floor services (so I could work out which buses aren't low floor). We set off at around 07:30 to Longton hall Road so we made the 07:55 pick up in good time. MIB 268 was the transport for today. I think Matthew was hoping for a different coach, but he was just glad to be going on such an epic trip. After getting on the coach then came an epic journey around town picking up other passengers. last pick up was Newcastle at 08:50! As per usual the driver called in to say he had picked up all the passengers then we set off. Newcastle, A519, M6, M5.


Mileage machine Copelands Tours MIB 268 in the M5 / M50 Services Southbound(Matt)

After a short break in the M5 / M50 services, we continued south M5 M4
and then into Bath. At the coach park there was a small cafe which we had dinner before moving to the bus station. when at the bus station we decided to stand and watch for a short while to see where the buses were going and to work out what buses were doing what. One the buses we saw was step entranced dart 46225.


46225 enters Bath bus station (Mark)

I left Matthew there for a short while with uncle Dave whilst I picked up some timetables from the office. When I returned we decided to walk up to by the railway station. as we walked up we were able to take further bus and coach pictures. One of the reason I wanted to got to the railway station was to get a photograph from the car park overlooking the bus station. A few weeks before there had been a picture in 'Buses' magazine with the exact same view. here's my best effort...


Bath bus station...Photo inspired by the one that appeared in 'Buses' magazine a month or so ago... (Mark)

We then returned back to the bus station. Matthew spotted 46218 on a local service and we decided to go for it and start riding on the local buses. it was a number #14 service which we saw on the map as a service going to the hospital and with a circular end. we did the bus passed the hospital and we got off in the estate and then waited for the next bus.


46218 disappearing off into the distance along Eastfield Avenue, Weston on service #14 (Matt)

After a short wait 42901 appeared on the following bus. The next stopped appeared to be the terminus as we waited there for a few minutes! We decided to do this bus to the hospital and get off so we could get another different bus.


42901 at the Royal United Hospital, Bath (Matt)

After another wait where we saw a Wessex connect minibus, 42967 turned up and we did this bus.


42967 at the Royal United Hospital, Bath (Matt)

back at the bus station we didn't have loads of time so we decide to try and do another short trip out. Matthew had spotted 46237 on a Frome service so I looked it up on the map and there seemed to be a place where a lot of service diverged call 'Bear Flat'. I thought if we did the bus to here then we would have a few choices of bus back. Matthew got a picture and then we walked around and got on the bus.


46237 in Bath bus station about to work the 1528 service #267 to Frome (Matt)

the bus was very full and we were luck to get a seat at all. Bear Flat is about a mile out of town o the other side of the river and at the top of a very steep hill. as the bus turned and leveled off, we got off the bus and Matthew took another picture.


46237 powers away into the distance away from Bear Flat on service #267 to Frome (Matt)

We then crossed the road and waited for a bus back. We then phoned mum and arranged to meet up back at the bus station. There were a couple of choices and we decided to wait for the number 13 bus. When it eventually appeared it was an ex South Yorkshire bus 40542. we did this back to the bus station where I got a picture.


Ex Doncaster 40542 in Dorchester Street Bath (Mark)

After we arrived back in Dorchester Street, We took Matthew to the exit corner of the bus station and then I went to find where mum was sitting. We all met up together in the corner of the bus station and then made our way back towards the coach park stopping a few times to take pictures.


52554 in Dorchester Street on service #1 (Matt)


46235 in Bath bus station between duties (Matt)

We walked back via, Broad Quay, Ambury and Corn Street to the coach park...


First Somerset & Avon hybrid bus 39000 enters Bath bus station (Matt)


Forget the usual sights of Bath... No trip to here is complete without seeing one of their orange bendy Buses! 10176 in Corn Street (Matt)

We had about 30 minutes at the coach park, where we all used the facilities and Matthew took a few pictures of the coaches parked up. We set of back at 17:00 making 1 stop at the Northbound M5 / M50 services.


MIB 268 in the M5 / M50 Services Northbound(Mark)

We reached the outskirts of Stoke at 20:00 and after dropping off most of the other passengers we eventually reached Longton Hall Road at around 20:50.