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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

83G/84D

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Correct.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


These would be too small. First need the 7.9m versions.

Thought so, thanks for confirming that. Wonder if it will go into service before repainting like the Reading Scania?
 
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Accelerator59

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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.

Hiya. Thought you might like to know that YN05 GXM is currently running the 14/18 route. Not sure if these buses will be getting resprayed into the current livery
 
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Have any Kernow vehicles received the olympia livery? Can only think of Devon repaints and those ex Oldham Eclipses that arrived wearing it?

And the 9 E400s that arrived in it from Plymouth, which have retained it (with branding for 8) for the Unibus network
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hiya. Thought you might like to know that YN05 GXM is currently running the 14/18 route. Not sure if these buses will be getting resprayed into the current livery

One blue Scania has been replaced on the Park and Ride for now by a Citaro bendi, and along with the red/silver and black/cream liveried ones, is operating for now in existing colours. The silver Solo received from Ensign in staying silver for now, with a further two about to arrive in Maroon and Cream. There will be another one later.
At least two of the ex Truronian Solos have been refreshed for now in a simplified version of Barbie for the 2 November competitive services with Western Greyhound.
This is all due to the planned introduction of a new First Kernow livery in the New Year.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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And the 9 E400s that arrived in it from Plymouth, which have retained it (with branding for 8) for the Unibus network
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


One blue Scania has been replaced on the Park and Ride for now by a Citaro bendi, and along with the red/silver and black/cream liveried ones, is operating for now in existing colours. The silver Solo received from Ensign in staying silver for now, with a further two about to arrive in Maroon and Cream. There will be another one later.
At least two of the ex Truronian Solos have been refreshed for now in a simplified version of Barbie for the 2 November competitive services with Western Greyhound.
This is all due to the planned introduction of a new First Kernow livery in the New Year.

The only new kit that FDC has received and I forgot about them!!!

Good to see some secondhand yet modern kit appearing too. It'll never be a 20% margin business but might be a nice little operation by the time Alex C is finished.
 

fgwrich

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The only new kit that FDC has received and I forgot about them!!!

Good to see some secondhand yet modern kit appearing too. It'll never be a 20% margin business but might be a nice little operation by the time Alex C is finished.

Agreed, the new First is certainly a turn around to the day's of old and going for very well looked after Reading Buses Wrightbus Kit should help them too. In fact, I almost wouldn't be surprised if First keep an eye out on Reading given that the average age of their fleet is constantly dropping and allowing for First and other operators to pick up relatively new (or in the case of the Streetlights new) kit for a lower price. FK is unlikely to ever be one of First's most profit making companies, but after years of neglect the newer kit is welcome!
 

83G/84D

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And the 9 E400s that arrived in it from Plymouth, which have retained it (with branding for 8) for the Unibus network
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


One blue Scania has been replaced on the Park and Ride for now by a Citaro bendi, and along with the red/silver and black/cream liveried ones, is operating for now in existing colours. The silver Solo received from Ensign in staying silver for now, with a further two about to arrive in Maroon and Cream. There will be another one later.
At least two of the ex Truronian Solos have been refreshed for now in a simplified version of Barbie for the 2 November competitive services with Western Greyhound.
This is all due to the planned introduction of a new First Kernow livery in the New Year.

Solo's 53402 & 53404 are in a revised Barbie colour scheme.
 

RPI

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Looks like my info a while back on First running the 21 was correct after all ;)
 

RPI

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Funny, speaking to the same person who gave me the heads up about the 21 tonight, Alex Carter wants to make a mark on Cornwall, lots of new commercial routes planned, Bodmin Parkway was mentioned along with more routes around Newquay. Looks like the days of WG are numbered and First will take full advantage of it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
But at the moment they don't have enough vehicles, but some more cascades due over next 12 months
 

Busaholic

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Funny, speaking to the same person who gave me the heads up about the 21 tonight, Alex Carter wants to make a mark on Cornwall, lots of new commercial routes planned, Bodmin Parkway was mentioned along with more routes around Newquay. Looks like the days of WG are numbered and First will take full advantage of it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
But at the moment they don't have enough vehicles, but some more cascades due over next 12 months

Bodmin Parkway is a station surrounded by woods, crematoria, rivers, major roads and not a lot else. If Alex Carter can find commercial opportunities here, then he is a colossus among busmen. Now, if a reopened Exeter to Okehampton railway route not only went to Plymouth but had a new-build section along the A30 to Bodmin Parkway to make a genuine parkway station that might be a different matter!
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Bodmin Parkway is a station surrounded by woods, crematoria, rivers, major roads and not a lot else. If Alex Carter can find commercial opportunities here, then he is a colossus among busmen. Now, if a reopened Exeter to Okehampton railway route not only went to Plymouth but had a new-build section along the A30 to Bodmin Parkway to make a genuine parkway station that might be a different matter!

I don't think that BP is the origin of the passengers but a transitory destination! Why does it sound like the 55 might be on the way back?

In fact, when you step back, you appreciate that Cornwall ain't the most lucrative territory but that there were some really dumb things that they did through the 2000's. The cost of St Austell depot overheads may have been high (?) but the depot closure and withdrawal of routes like that and the 29 were somewhat surprising.

The deep South West is certainly an interesting place to be at the moment
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Given time, could FDC end up reopening full depots (not outstations) in towns where they used to have some?

Really, that's only St Austell. Newquay depot (as we've discussed) was long gone before First got involved, replaced by the existing yard and one opposite. In time, a Newquay base may make sense.

I don't know where FDC (or FWN/WN) had other outstations though. Padstow was one (Old Station Yard?) and Stratton (now Stagecoach). I assume some sort of Liskeard area but I can't recall. I think they also had Delabole in the yard of the depot they vacated in 1971, some 20 years earlier, but I can't really remember!
 

Busaholic

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I don't think that BP is the origin of the passengers but a transitory destination! Why does it sound like the 55 might be on the way back?

In fact, when you step back, you appreciate that Cornwall ain't the most lucrative territory but that there were some really dumb things that they did through the 2000's. The cost of St Austell depot overheads may have been high (?) but the depot closure and withdrawal of routes like that and the 29 were somewhat surprising.

The deep South West is certainly an interesting place to be at the moment

I hope if FDC do make a comeback to these areas they operate a bit more intelligently than before. In the late 1990s, at a time when I was carless, I had to travel from Penzance to the then Probate Office for Cornwall in Bodmin. A train to Bodmin Parkway and the 55 bus onwards seemed the only possibility, but on examining the 55 timetable the buses always seemed to leave a couple of minutes before the London-bound service arrived. As I had an appointment, I therefore had to wait around at BP for 55 minutes, and, on the return journey, it was timed to arrive 5 minutes after the departure of the Penzance train. Now it was a pleasant, mild November afternoon and the buffet was a good one, but it was all too symptomatic of the lack of forward thinking and planning of our transport operators.
 
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Funny, speaking to the same person who gave me the heads up about the 21 tonight, Alex Carter wants to make a mark on Cornwall, lots of new commercial routes planned, Bodmin Parkway was mentioned along with more routes around Newquay. Looks like the days of WG are numbered and First will take full advantage of it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
But at the moment they don't have enough vehicles, but some more cascades due over next 12 months

I suspect what Alex Carter wants is to make Cornwall a profitable viable business.
At the moment good business sense seems to be to lay claim to the commercial services run by Western Greyhound before they close down and anyone else gets a sniff.
Your source can't be that good as vehicles aren't a problem at all. they'll get what they need from within First, and from elsewhere too if needed.
 

matt_splat

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the 555 is a route in which I always feel serves western greyhound well. I suppose it could be ran as a 55 again from Padstow outstation.... what you could also do is bring back the route that was trialed a few summers ago from Padstow - Wadebridge - Truro between collage runs which could be used to change over smaller busses for the 55 route would also mean a bit of competition between Padstow and Wadebridge into Truro (I don't feel Wadebridge to Truro warrents a hourly service)

what other routes from Newquay might first want to have a go at? the 593 in some way or the 597?
 

Busaholic

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the 555 is a route in which I always feel serves western greyhound well. I suppose it could be ran as a 55 again from Padstow outstation.... what you could also do is bring back the route that was trialed a few summers ago from Padstow - Wadebridge - Truro between collage runs which could be used to change over smaller busses for the 55 route would also mean a bit of competition between Padstow and Wadebridge into Truro (I don't feel Wadebridge to Truro warrents a hourly service)

what other routes from Newquay might first want to have a go at? the 593 in some way or the 597?

What about the 547 or a variant thereof? It's almost as though anybody from Redruth or west thereof is not allowed to travel to Perranporth or, more importantly, Newquay, by bus or train, without a ridiculously long-winded journey. It could also be worked by Camborne depot.
 

RPI

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Below from First Devon and Cornwall website:

These are hot on the heels of new routes between St Austell and Newquay and between Truro and Newquay, which start on 3 November.

The extra routes will begin operating in January 2015, and will include services from St Austell to Fowey and Mevagissey. Additionally, First Kernow's Truro to St Austell route will be extended each hour to Bodmin.

As well as these developments, the company's routes between Newquay and Truro via both Perranporth and Fraddon/Quintrell Downs will see further enhancement.

Commenting on these latest developments, Alex Carter, Managing Director of First Kernow, said: "We are delighted to be restoring First bus services to these areas and communities after a long period of absence.

"Over the past year, we have worked hard to recover our business in Cornwall after many difficult years. In September 2013, we were awarded the contract by Cornwall Council to operate Truros Park and Ride service, and have received many favourable comments for the consistent quality of customer service we have provided.

"This is reflected in the numbers using the facility, which continue to increase strongly year on year, with over 400,000 journeys per annum now being made.

"On our own network of commercial routes, we are in a number of cases seeing growth in passenger numbers in excess of 10 per cent, driven by strong delivery and reliability.

"Working with our key stakeholders like Cornwall Council, the Eden Project, Truro and Penwith College and the universities based at Penryn and Falmouth, we have stabilised our route network; and contracts such that these are now viable and sustainable."

Alex Carter continued: "This provides us with a solid platform to improve the scope and quality of our local bus network, and paves the way for further expansion and improvements to customer service for users of our bus and coach services in Cornwall.

"These are exciting times for the company and our loyal, hard-working staff who have supported us for so many years."
 

83G/84D

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Lot's of positive vibes from that statement, hopefully the new services will prosper.I know things are improving with First Kernow and a new livery being launched in the coming months but it would be the icing on the cake if some the older vehicles were phased out and replaced.
 

83G/84D

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Two views of buses that operated in Cornwall in the past taken at the Swansea Bus Museum event yesterday.
 

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TheGrandWazoo

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Lot's of positive vibes from that statement, hopefully the new services will prosper.I know things are improving with First Kernow and a new livery being launched in the coming months but it would be the icing on the cake if some the older vehicles were phased out and replaced.

Not much chance if they're increasing the PVR markedly. Wonder what else will be sent south from across First (B10BLEs, Darts?)

The new services are, not surprisingly, centred on St Austell. As I said on the WGL thread, I think, it's the largest town in Cornwall and I thought they'd perhaps move in there next. It's not that long since the 27 was cut back from Par. At least on the Mevagissey run, they won't have to worry about bus stop flags as many were still in place earlier this year.:lol:
 
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83G/84D

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The other acquired one has gone for repaint. Wonder what livery it will come in.[/QUOTE]

Regards ex Reading Scania YN05 GXO, it has re-appeared at Camborne still in "as originally arrived" condition. It has not been repainted and still has no First markings or fleetnumbers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Olympian 34161 & Dart 46235 were collected from Camborne depot earlier this afternoon by Alpha Recovery. 46235 no doubt on a one way journey but not sure what will happen to 34161.

Photo's to follow later.

Several of the E400's have been in Camborne depot in the last 2 weeks. They have been receiving attention to electrical faults related to the recently installed wi-fi apparently.
 

83G/84D

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As stated Dart 42365 & Olympian 34161 were collected from Camborne by Alpha Recovery this afternoon. I did not witness the loading of the Dart but did see the sight of several members of engineering staff pushing 34161 from it's parking place so the tow truck could hook up to it!
 

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