First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[83G/84D]

34096 is the latest arrival from the North West - noted first thing this morning at Camborne. Enviro 400's 33662 & 33664 seen with University bus branding earlier today. 33667 was out of service at Truro with several people looking at the engine with "troubled expressions"on their faces!

A Cummins van parked next to it.

 

[richw]

34096 is the latest arrival from the North West - noted first thing this morning at Camborne. Enviro 400's 33662 & 33664 seen with University bus branding earlier today. 33667 was out of service at Truro with several people looking at the engine with "troubled expressions"on their faces!

A Cummins van parked next to it.

A Trident snuck onto the U1 about 11ish this morning. Probably due to the broken one.
The Uni contract stipulates the buses must be maximum of 5 years old.
Hiding behind the private plate the Tridents are about 15 years old!

 

[Busaholic]

Pz this p.m.Olympian on 241 (?) college route, on electronic blind 'Penzance for St Buryan'. Never seen this before - does it imply guaranteed connection or what?

 

[83G/84D]

A Trident snuck onto the U1 about 11ish this morning. Probably due to the broken one.
The Uni contract stipulates the buses must be maximum of 5 years old.
Hiding behind the private plate the Tridents are about 15 years old!

Yes I did see it in Falmouth this morning, before I saw the failed Enviro in Truro. I would imagine there is some sort of "get out" clause that if there is no suitable aged bus available an older replacement can be provided rather than cancel services?

 

[Busaholic]

Yes I did see it in Falmouth this morning, before I saw the failed Enviro in Truro. I would imagine there is some sort of "get out" clause that if there is no suitable aged bus available an older replacement can be provided rather than cancel services?

Thought First D&C had plenty of aged buses!

 

[83G/84D]

34097 at Camborne today,so that is four ex Oldham Olympian's I have seen so far. Enviro 33658 arrived at Camborne dead bus so won't be out on the U1/U2 this morning.

I have subsequently been advised that a total of seven Olympian's from the Manchester / Oldham area were sent to the South West so given that 34091/3/6 & 7 have been seen, where the other three are I do not know.

Keep a look out folks!

 

[richw]

34097 at Camborne today,so that is four ex Oldham Olympian's I have seen so far. Enviro 33658 arrived at Camborne dead bus so won't be out on the U1/U2 this morning.

I have subsequently been advised that a total of seven Olympian's from the Manchester / Oldham area were sent to the South West so given that 34091/3/6 & 7 have been seen, where the other three are I do not know.

Keep a look out folks!

One of the Camborne fitters I speak with said they were only expecting 4 Olympians from Manchester at Camborne.

 

[83G/84D]

Maybe they are going to Plymouth.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

34097 at Camborne today,so that is four ex Oldham Olympian's I have seen so far. Enviro 33658 arrived at Camborne dead bus so won't be out on the U1/U2 this morning.

I have subsequently been advised that a total of seven Olympian's from the Manchester / Oldham area were sent to the South West so given that 34091/3/6 & 7 have been seen, where the other three are I do not know.

Keep a look out folks!

The new services will require more than 4 vehicles so are more due or more redundant Darts ex Hampshire due?

I'm assuming that the extra services will mean a larger role for the old Truronian depot with the 21 being interworked with Truro to Newquay route? I remember hearing that there was a plan to turn Truro to a full depot. Did that happen?

 

[South Westerly]

The new services will require more than 4 vehicles so are more due or more redundant Darts ex Hampshire due?

I'm assuming that the extra services will mean a larger role for the old Truronian depot with the 21 being interworked with Truro to Newquay route? I remember hearing that there was a plan to turn Truro to a full depot. Did that happen?

Truro is now a full maintenance facility.
The extra vehicles won't be Olympians, but newer Solos.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Truro is now a full maintenance facility.
The extra vehicles won't be Olympians, but newer Solos.

Newer Solos? Newer than Olympians or something a bit more like 2002-5 vintage?

 

[fgwrich]

The new services will require more than 4 vehicles so are more due or more redundant Darts ex Hampshire due?

I'm assuming that the extra services will mean a larger role for the old Truronian depot with the 21 being interworked with Truro to Newquay route? I remember hearing that there was a plan to turn Truro to a full depot. Did that happen?

Almost full circle for some of the Darts then, as some of Southampton/Portsmouths are ex Plymouth already.

 

[richw]

Almost full circle for some of the Darts then, as some of Southampton/Portsmouths are ex Plymouth already.

Several of the Hampshire Darts are ex-Truronian.

I'm assuming that the extra services will mean a larger role for the old Truronian depot with the 21 being interworked with Truro to Newquay route? I remember hearing that there was a plan to turn Truro to a full depot. Did that happen?

Truro is now a full maintenance facility.
The extra vehicles won't be Olympians, but newer Solos.

Truro do all MOTs for First Kernow now rather than sending them to Plymouth.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Newer Solos? Newer than Olympians or something a bit more like 2002-5 vintage?

First Dorset and Hampshire have all sorts of Solos including brand new ones.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

First Dorset and Hampshire have all sorts of Solos including brand new ones.

Indeed but no one would expect the new ones at Hoeford or Weymouth to move? Hence why I was asking what likely age and if they were relatively newer such as 2002-5 rather than merely new than the Olympians. Newer than that and you could get back the W-PAFs

Besides, are these Solos coming from FHD?

 

[South Westerly]

Indeed but no one would expect the new ones at Hoeford or Weymouth to move? Hence why I was asking what likely age and if they were relatively newer such as 2002-5 rather than merely new than the Olympians. Newer than that and you could get back the W-PAFs

Besides, are these Solos coming from FHD?

I never said anything about the Solos coming from FHD did I? I believe the PVR increase is actually 4, plus a variety of off peak work.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I never said anything about the Solos coming from FHD did I? I believe the PVR increase is actually 4, plus a variety of off peak work.

No you didn't - Richw did. That was what I was querying.

I think you mentioned FHD Darts being sent to Somerset and perhaps more besides so wondered if some of those might be on offer. However that was before you said they'd be newer Solos. I guess they could come from Plymouth, Somerset or indeed elsewhere from across the group!

 

[South Westerly]

No you didn't - Richw did. That was what I was querying.

I think you mentioned FHD Darts being sent to Somerset and perhaps more besides so wondered if some of those might be on offer. However that was before you said they'd be newer Solos. I guess they could come from Plymouth, Somerset or indeed elsewhere from across the group!

Indeed!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Indeed!

I shall watch with interest - 2014 ones would be up there with loaves and fishes

 

[South Westerly]

I shall watch with interest - 2014 ones would be up there with loaves and fishes

...and would bring a hefty amount of depreciation!

 

[83G/84D]

Reading Transport Scania L94's 1010 (YN05 GXM) in black and cream colours & 1011 (YN05 GXO) in red & silver colours at Camborne today undergoing cleaning & inspection.

Unsure if these are additional buses for Truro Park & Ride or for other uses.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Think it was mentioned (SW?) that these are to allow 3xB7RLEs to head to Taunton???

 

[83G/84D]

Think it was mentioned (SW?) that these are to allow 3xB7RLEs to head to Taunton???

I must admit it but I missed this update:-

http://www.buszone.co.uk/Up0914.html

See entry under 12th September (first paragraph).


There seem to be less B7RLE's at Camborne and more Dart's on the 14/18.Last week a B7 was on the 27 (Truro - St Austell - Bethel).

 

[richw]

The Solos coming - 2 are newer short ones to replace the remaining MB Varios the rest are older ones I've learnt today.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Solos coming - 2 are newer short ones to replace the remaining MB Varios the rest are older ones I've learnt today.

How old and where from?

 

[South Westerly]

How old and where from?

Only 1 narrow one so far. There are 3 from within FSW.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Only 1 narrow one so far. There are 3 from within FSW.

More shuffling of the deck. However, whilst a fleet of Streetlites and Enviros for the Deep South would be welcome in many ways, stabilisation and returning to a commercial footing is clearly the priority.

Getting rid of their battles by retreat or failure of their competitors would naturally help but First are where they are and it's looking a better outfit in Cornwall and Somerset than it was.

 

[83G/84D]

Only 1 narrow one so far. There are 3 from within FSW.

Solo 53005 from South Wales was in Plymouth garage last week albeit off the road.

 

[South Westerly]

Solo 53005 from South Wales was in Plymouth garage last week albeit off the road.

This is one of two into Plymouth but these are older stop gap additions.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

More shuffling of the deck. However, whilst a fleet of Streetlites and Enviros for the Deep South would be welcome in many ways, stabilisation and returning to a commercial footing is clearly the priority.

Getting rid of their battles by retreat or failure of their competitors would naturally help but First are where they are and it's looking a better outfit in Cornwall and Somerset than it was.

Cornwall is a good business now by all accounts!

 

[Goldfish62]

Only 1 narrow one so far. There are 3 from within FSW.

The slimline one is from Ensign. Another two are being sought.

 

[South Westerly]

The slimline one is from Ensign. Another two are being sought.

Maybe another one