48/49 are part of the £20m investment in the Greater Bristol Bus Network funding programme to upgrade buses under the 'showcase' projects.
Total 16 new B9 enter First Bristol this year to replace NC Leyland Olympians.
An investment of £7.8 million by First was made in 2007 and 46 B9TL entered service 1,54,76 &77. The 46 B9TL allows B7TL on 76,77 cascaded to FSA BH to upgrade 234 with low floor buses. Volvo Olympians on 1,54 were cascaded to FSA, First East England, First Scotland East to replace mid-life vehicles.
Further more, another investment of £7.0 million by First made in 2006 allowed buses on 41,43, 44 and 45 replaced by 42 brand new B9TL.
First Bristol now owns more than 70% of low floor buses in it's fleet.
The new one should be leather seated and Air-con on X39, not sure about 376.
In theory, they are two seperate companies- First Bristol is from First Cityline, First Durbin.
First SA is mergered by First Badgerline (based in Bath), First Southern National (Somerset & North Somerset side- based in WSM)
Under the new structure which implemented few years ago First Bristol and FSA are headquartered in LH under the same MD.
NC Leyland will cascade to Devon & Cornwall to replace A-reg Olympians (12years younger!!!)
NC Volvo, as I said before, is rather popular for internal transfer which allows First Scotland East and First East England to replace older buses (possibly Volvo Olympians replace Leyland Olympians in this case)
