Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[SWTH]

All four have been acquired by WGL, numbered 921, 922, 923, 924. If I remember correctly only 924 has had vinyls applied so far.

540 (T400 CBC, Vario/Beaver, ex-Anglian) has been repainted in all-over green with new style vinyls.

Either one or two of the Norfolk Green Solos have been retained, but at least one has been returned to NG - not seen any of them around the last week or so, I guess whichever ones have been bought are not currently in service.

The deckers are still running around in full Stagecoach livery (including fleet names and in at least one case legal lettering). 495 (Y437 NHK) remains the only one so far painted, it has at last gained new Western Greyhound vinyls.

 

[richw]

All four have been acquired by WGL, numbered 921, 922, 923, 924. If I remember correctly only 924 has had vinyls applied so far.

It was X***HBC registration I saw yesterday with vinyls, so I will assume this has become 924?

 

[83G/84D]

I am in Newquay this week so will look out for them and report my findings.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All four have been acquired by WGL, numbered 921, 922, 923, 924. If I remember correctly only 924 has had vinyls applied so far.

540 (T400 CBC, Vario/Beaver, ex-Anglian) has been repainted in all-over green with new style vinyls.

Either one or two of the Norfolk Green Solos have been retained, but at least one has been returned to NG - not seen any of them around the last week or so, I guess whichever ones have been bought are not currently in service.

The deckers are still running around in full Stagecoach livery (including fleet names and in at least one case legal lettering). 495 (Y437 NHK) remains the only one so far painted, it has at last gained new Western Greyhound vinyls.

Seen in Newquay today was X239 HBC which has become 922. It is still in 2 tone green (base is dark green) but with Western Greyhound titles on the rear and sides.

Four ex Stagecoach London Tridents were observed in the space of around 30 minutes:-

LX51 FLZ (ex 17482), Y437 NHK, Y522 NHK (498) & LX51 FMG (483/ex 17488).

Y437 NHK is green with Western Greyhound titles on the nearside (boarding) only and no fleetnumbers carried.

The other three are still red with Stagecoach markings and LX51 FMG still has it's London destination blind fitted and still has Stagecoach legals although a paper in the window saying on loan/ operated by Western Greyhound.

 

[SWTH]

Y437 NHK's fleet number is 495.

As it happens I drove both 495 and 922 yesterday.

 

[richw]

Four ex Stagecoach London Tridents were observed in the space of around 30 minutes:-

LX51 FLZ (ex 17482), Y437 NHK, Y522 NHK (498) & LX51 FMG (483/ex 17488).

The other three are still red with Stagecoach markings and LX51 FMG still has it's London destination blind fitted and still has Stagecoach legals although a paper in the window saying on loan/ operated by Western Greyhound.

LX51FMG today in Truro


London or Truro? by Rich.W., on Flickr

 

[DaveHarries]

A big WELL DONE to all at Western Greyhound. The way things were handled and normal service so quickly resumed after the depot fire at Summercourt back in May this year was recognised at the 2013 UK Bus Awards where WGL picked up a Special Award for Overcoming Adversity.
http://www.ukbusawards.org.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=797&Itemid=507

Very well deserved IMO.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[richw]

Western Greyhound have today posted on their Facebook page a picture of one of their new Solo's, YG52DHL, Acquired from Norfolk Green. It has been on hire since May, and is now owned by WG. Here is a picture of it in WG new livery.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...618.1073741828.488468821219947&type=1&theater

 

[83G/84D]

I was thinking that WG were going to buy some new buses to replace some of the one's lost in the fire but so far they have all been ex loan buses or ex Stagecoach. I am sure that the company know the condition of the buses before purchase and are happy with them but I am a little suprised.

It could be that new buses still come of course and I suppose insurance and other factors have to be taken into account.

I am sure someone else knows more about it and I am not "having a go" at Western Greyhound as they know a lot more about running a bus company than me.

I wonder if some of these "loan bus purchases" are short term or longer?

 

[richw]

I am guessing the insurance has only recently paid out as they have only just started buying buses in. Cornwall council/First ordered new deckers in September for Truro park and ride in September and are saying they won't be ready until march or April earliest, therefore if insurance has only just paid, then we are looking at 6 months until new buses arrive.
This would also explain why some if the recent stagecoach London arrivals are believed to be on loan, and not purchased.
Also to bear in mind that very few of the lost buses were new buses, so would expect very few new replacements.

 

[starrymarkb]

I was thinking that WG were going to buy some new buses to replace some of the one's lost in the fire but so far they have all been ex loan buses or ex Stagecoach. I am sure that the company know the condition of the buses before purchase and are happy with them but I am a little suprised.

It could be that new buses still come of course and I suppose insurance and other factors have to be taken into account.

I am sure someone else knows more about it and I am not "having a go" at Western Greyhound as they know a lot more about running a bus company than me.

I wonder if some of these "loan bus purchases" are short term or longer?

Almost all of WG's deckers were second hand (only the two E400s were new), Insurance will pay the value of the vehicle at the time of the fire - (they don't do new for old for vehicles!) so it makes sense that most of the replacements will also be used vehicles.

 

[83G/84D]

Almost all of WG's deckers were second hand (only the two E400s were new), Insurance will pay the value of the vehicle at the time of the fire - (they don't do new for old for vehicles!) so it makes sense that most of the replacements will also be used vehicles.

Of course you are spot on, don't know why I was thinking that new buses were coming.

 

[richw]

Almost all of WG's deckers were second hand (only the two E400s were new), Insurance will pay the value of the vehicle at the time of the fire - (they don't do new for old for vehicles!) so it makes sense that most of the replacements will also be used vehicles.

Even the 2 E400s were 4 1/2 year old, on a 58 plate.

 

[SWTH]

To the best of my knowledge all the ex-London Tridents delivered so far are owned by WGL - work has already begun in order to adapt them for use in Cornwall, all have had the assault screens removed, at least two have digi-blinds (1x Brightech, 1x Gorba).

The loan buses which had screens (Blackpool Solos and Stagecoach Darts for example) weren't altered as part of the loan agreement.

 

[richw]

Western Greyhound have updated their fleetlist on their website today according to their facebook
http://www.westerngreyhound.com/enthusiasts.php

 

[richw]

Western Greyhound has had 3 buses damaged in an arson attack at their Liskeard outstation overnight. No further information at present as just heard on local radio.

 

[ECML180]

A fire which broke out at a bus depot in Liskeard this morning is thought to have been caused by arson. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attended a blaze involving three Western Greyhound buses at the Trevecca industrial estate in Liskeard at 4.50am. Three crews from Liskeard and Callington were sent to the incident. The cause of the fire is thought to be arson and the incident has been handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police.

Managing director of Western Greyhound, Mark Howarth, told BBC Radio Cornwall that he feared the company might be being targeted.
The bus provider has said that some services from Liskeard may be delayed or subject to alterations today.


Read more: http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Ar...tory-20493307-detail/story.html#ixzz2rJ9KxA4n
Follow us: @thisiscornwall on Twitter | thisiscornwall on Facebook

From the company's Facebook page it looks like the buses are fine and will be operating as soon a police let them out.

 

[plymothian]

It's also affected Plymouth Citybus as they have 2 school buses stationed there.
As usual there are people moaning that because of this PCB are a shower of ****e.

 

[Volvo142]

BBC Cornwall is reporting three vehicles destroyed. Their picture shows a burnt out Merc, along with another undamaged Merc and an undamaged Solo.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-25875939

 

[SWTH]

I'm told three Mercedes Varios are toast. Possibly 522, 568 and 575.

 

[ECML180]

Plymouth Herald agrees, the buses look like Varios.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Bus...ck-bus-depot/story-20493294-detail/story.html

 

[richw]

I'm told three Mercedes Varios are toast. Possibly 522, 568 and 575.

Three Varios were shown burnt out on BBC news. Assuming that was the relevant footage and not archive footage.

 

[DaveHarries]

The website of the Cornish Guardian reports that Mark Howarth fears the company is being targeted.

I feel very sorry for Mark and his hard-working teams as well as the passengers and I hope the scum who did this are caught pronto. As I said on an enthusiast group (UKBSW) this morning I can't help wondering why someone would pick on WGL but it seems possible. If I was a betting man I would bet either someone with a grudge, or even an employee from a rival operator. It may well not be the latter but for an operator to have two fires in a year is too much of a coincidence for my liking.

Dave

 

[richw]

Agreed Dave. There's one more thing not mentioned, but may spring to some minds, which I hope is not the case, insurance jobs. I am pretty certain this won't be the case as there was the arrests from the first fire, although this is something some may ask.

 

[DaveHarries]

Agreed Dave. There's one more thing not mentioned, but may spring to some minds, which I hope is not the case, insurance jobs. I am pretty certain this won't be the case as there was the arrests from the first fire, although this is something some may ask.

There were indeed arrests from the Newquay blaze so I think that, although it may cross some minds, insurance jobs are unlikely here. And in view of the fact that MH and his staff put so much work into making WGL the success it is I would also think it unlikely.

Some people will wonder though.

Dave

 

[anthony263]

If this is an isurance scam I cannot see the manager Mark Howarth being involved.

Personally there is something going on but I have my doubts about it being an insurance scam especially when it is very likely that the insurance companies will be doing a very close investigation.

If it does prove to be someone froma rival company then lets hope the traffic commisioner gets involved as well as other parties in the industry. Western Greyhound are well like in the bus industry since they tend to just keep their heads down and get on with it so the bus industry are going to want to support one of their own.

 

[richw]

I cant see it being a rival, as there aren't really any rivals other than First, and they wouldn't bother with torching WGH, The three arrests were 3 men from Bristol.

I think its most likely someone they've upset, possibly an ex-employee even.

 

[SWTH]

There is an excess of speculation and a distinct lack of fact with regard to WGL in the public domain. There are also many assumptions about the company that simply aren't true. As much as I would like to correct some of this, due to the company's rather restrictive social media policy I can't.

I will say that little surprises me anymore at WGL, and this fire certainly did not come as a surprise. I am not saying the company has anything to do with it, but I am saying that life is always eventful down in Cornwall.

 

[robertclark125]

Whatever the cause, and whatever the reason, fire damaging buses in a depot or outstation is both unwelcome, and if deliberate, disgraceful.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There is an excess of speculation and a distinct lack of fact with regard to WGL in the public domain. There are also many assumptions about the company that simply aren't true.

Indeed! People mentioning "insurance jobs" and the like....really, you shouldn't be.

Whatever the reason, let's hope that Mark and his team get everything working asap

 

[Rich McLean]

This maybe of interest

Western Greyhound operate "on the edge" and are currently being investigated for possible fraud by Cornwall Council. After they recently lost the council subsidised Truro Park and ride contract it was noticed by Cornwall Council that the new operators takings were much higher than those declared to the council compared to the previous operator Western Greyhound and are they are therefore not allowed to bid for any council bus contracts in the mean time. Western Greyhound operates bus routes subsidised by an increasingly cash strapped Cornwall Council. So I wont say any more, nod nod wink wink. I heard that the transport group "Go ahead" who own Plymouth City bus want to extend their bus operation into Cornwall and are interested in taking over Western Greyhounds operations, leaving the rest of Devon's bus operations outside Plymouth in the hands of the other big transport group "Stagecoach".

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Bus...tory-20493294-detail/story.html#ixzz2rRzz8afR