Iveco Turbo City / Alexander R Type J80BUS (J227OKX)

J227OKX is the only Iveco Double Deck built for the UK bus market. New in September 1991 to Iveco/Ford as a demonstrator with an Alexander R type body with an H52/31F layout, it was an uneasy vehicle with the standard Alexander R type body having to be modified to accommodaite the Iveco front with an entrance needing three steps up to the lower saloon floor. It was a one-off expensive vehicle that was too heavy with a non standard interior layout based on a single deck vehicle. It was the only example built by Iveco as they wanted to enter the UK double deck market but launched at a time when Bus Grant had ceased and few were buying double deckers. After life as a demonstrator it was bought by Bluebird, Middleton. In May 2002 it was purchased by Somerbus (Paulton) for the school contract 997 Timsbury-Midsomer Norton to start in September 2002. Somerbus repainted it and re-registered it J80BUS and gave it considerable restoration. However difficulty in getting low trees cut and lower than expected loadings lead to it being quickly sold and replaced by a more practical Leyland Tiger/Alexander P B61F seated 12m single deck bus D615ASG. Sold to Alan Peters Abus operation in Bristol it remained with them until until 2004 when it was sold to Phoenix Travel (Wilts). Eventually passing to Calne Travel (Wilts) it was eventually scrapped after suffering a breakdown and accident damage. I am happy to be corrected/updated on this one as my knowledge of it's past is not 100%!

First 44902 WX08LNN

First Alexander-Dennis Enviro 200 B28F 44902 WX08LNN - one of 3 new in 2008 and allocated to Bath and liveried for use on Wessex Water contracts is seen in Bath in April 2009. 

First West of England Wright StreetLite DF 47553 SN14FGE

The bus routes between Portishead and Bristol were for a long time numbered 358 or 359 with the additional 357 route being introduced in 2008 to serve the new developments around Portishead Marina. In March 2013 these routes were rebranded as X2 and X3 and gave a 15 min daytime frequency from Portishead into Bristol along with earlier and later services each day. X numbered  routes were traditionally associated with limited stop express services, but in this case it was a simple renumbering with buses continuing to serve every stop - as with many other services in North Somerset around the same time. The service was originally marketed as having buses fitted with leather seats and wi-fi but at the time of launch these vehicles were still "in-build" and existing vehicles were utilised. I do remember one day seeing one of the earliest step entrance Dennis Darts still in service being used! In 2014 a batch of eight Wright StreetLife DF B37F buses fitted with leather seats and wi-fi were delivered and allocated to Marlborough Street for use on the routes and branded in the "Express Yourself" livery. Seen on a very dull and rainy Saturday 20th February 2016 Wright StreetLife DF B37F 47553 SN14FGE starts its descent down the steep Avon Way towards Combe Road and High Street Portishead whilst working an X2 towards Bristol.