First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[KendalKing]

My guess either from 53861 or 53871 and possibly from 53761 for the smaller Solos.

There already is 53761 which is registered YJ66 AOD, that was acquired from McGills.

 

[Accelerator59]

There already is 53761 which is registered YJ66 AOD, that was acquired from McGills.

Ah in that case, could be 53771 maybe?

 

[Goldfish62]

A2, A3 start running on 14th April twice a day until full service starts on 26th May.

Yes, combined in the full circuit with the A1. Hopefully they'll finish a bit later in the year as well. Mid September is just too early.

 

[Goldfish62]

The problem is mainly a lack of trains to run the services. GWR are struggling to maintain the current services and are losing trains in the new year. Delays to the electrification programme (amongst other things) means cascades of trains from elsewhere on the network, to replace those leaving, are delayed.

The timetable for May is now showing on Realtime Trains. While the Cross Country services have yet to be added there's a huge increase in the number of services on the main line due to the introduction of new local services.

 

[Busaholic]

The timetable for May is now showing on Realtime Trains. While the Cross Country services have yet to be added there's a huge increase in the number of services on the main line due to the introduction of new local services.

Let's home it won't be a Thameslink or Northern situation, with theoretical rather than actual services!

 

[Blackpudding]

Merry Xmas all. Catching up and thought it was a good call 'TGW' but just reading the Kernow facebook page it says Volvo Gemini. Also stated they would prefer mid life vehicles. I wouldn't have 36216-36220 down as mid life. More likely, in my view to be 07-09 B9TL or very late B7TL from Glasgow/Leeds

Quoted elsewhere by what I consider to be a reliable source is that the current plan is that Kernow should receive three Volvo B7TL from the batch 37150-155/37172-177 that have recently moved from Glasgow to Sheffield. A further two will move direct from Glasgow. I would have thought all five would come from the '07' batch 37166-37185 but that is just guesswork on my part. As always plans can change.

 

[DaveHarries]

The timetable for May is now showing on Realtime Trains. While the Cross Country services have yet to be added there's a huge increase in the number of services on the main line due to the introduction of new local services.

Some of the timetables are anyway. I am waiting to see whether the planned revisions to Paignton / Barnstaple to Exmouth services mean more trains between Barnstaple and Exeter.

Dave

 

[iantherev]

Some of the timetables are anyway. I am waiting to see whether the planned revisions to Paignton / Barnstaple to Exmouth services mean more trains between Barnstaple and Exeter.

Dave

It’s off topic I know, but how do you fit more trains on a line that’s already operating at capacity?

 

[MB162435]

There was a Tinner E400 MMC on A1 duties today, kept missing the fleet number as I was always in a shop when it went pass

 

[richw]

Some of the timetables are anyway. I am waiting to see whether the planned revisions to Paignton / Barnstaple to Exmouth services mean more trains between Barnstaple and Exeter.

Dave

Safe to say there won’t be more between Barnstaple and Exeter. The line is at maximum capacity.

 

[83G/84D]

Trident 33056 on a T1 service earlier today.

 

[Peter Heath]

Streetcar 19010 has now turned up at SPS. Did it and 19005 ever enter service with First Kernow and if so where have they been since?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Streetcar 19010 has now turned up at SPS. Did it and 19005 ever enter service with First Kernow and if so where have they been since?

19010 was stored in Yeovil

 

[Peter Heath]

Was/are any others of the 'missing' withdrawn vehicles stored at Yeovil and I also understand some have been stored at Minehead?

 

[83G/84D]

Streetcar 19010 has now turned up at SPS. Did it and 19005 ever enter service with First Kernow and if so where have they been since?

I saw 19010 at SPS last summer, think I posted it on here. Anyway 19010 was briefly at the Eden Project then moved on to Yeovil depot for storage. It barely got used at Eden from what I was told.

19005 never made it to Cornwall AFAIK.

 

[83G/84D]

Was/are any others of the 'missing' withdrawn vehicles stored at Yeovil and I also understand some have been stored at Minehead?

The Royale bodied Olympians from First Kernow were stored at Minehead some moving from Torpoint outstation when that closed. Nothing significant stored there since.

 

[KendalKing]

19005 never made it to Cornwall AFAIK.

19005 was scrapped in December 2017

 

[Whiteway215]

19005 was scrapped in December 2017

Travel West Yorkshire Forum told me (July 2017) that 19005 was planned to head south but was still sitting at Leeds Bramley so as per 83G/84D it appears never to have left W Yorkshire.

 

[KendalKing]

Travel West Yorkshire Forum told me (July 2017) that 19005 was planned to head south but was still sitting at Leeds Bramley so as per 83G/84D it appears never to have left W Yorkshire.

Correct 19005 & 19010, was supposed to transfer to Kernow then, but 19005 never made it! 19010 was un-poplar, hence why it got stored at Yeovil, before going to SPS.

 

[Whiteway215]

I've seen it reported that 11038 is with SPS. Can anyone confirm this please?

 

[83G/84D]

The electric Metrodecker is in Falmouth today. Not in service during my visit. Mid afternoon it departed in the Truro direction following in part the route of the U3.

 

[Goldfish62]

I'm still perplexed as to why there haven't been any photos.. maybe Optare like to keep things under wraps until they're signed off.. who knows, photos of them being made may have already been taken!

There's photos on the First Kernow behind the scenes FB page now. The Kernow and Atlantic Coaster ones look complete, the Lizard ones still being built.

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

They look pretty nice, can't wait to see them on the road in a few days' time!

Would be nice to know the reg plates and fleetnumbers..

 

[Busaholic]

Two Atlantic Coaster deckers on the A17 today, as should be the case, but rare enough now to mention it here!

 

[83G/84D]

Two Atlantic Coaster deckers on the A17 today, as should be the case, but rare enough now to mention it here!

I wonder what the thinking is behind putting new Solos on the route whilst the M6 and other routes are crying out for new Solos! What will happen to the Atlantic Coaster branded Solos in the summer when the service needs deckers. I thought the whole batch of new Solos would have been green for any route then they could go on the M6 in the summer when not needed on the A17.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I wonder what the thinking is behind putting new Solos on the route whilst the M6 and other routes are crying out for new Solos! What will happen to the Atlantic Coaster branded Solos in the summer when the service needs deckers. I thought the whole batch of new Solos would have been green for any route then they could go on the M6 in the summer when not needed on the A17.

Would a Solo that can access Mousehole be big enough for the A17 even during winter?

 

[83G/84D]

Would a Solo that can access Mousehole be big enough for the A17 even during winter?

The A17 isn’t that busy in the winter and runs fairly regularly and until quite late in the day. Thinking about it are the Solos ordered of a size that can fit into Mousehole?

Presumably not as none are ordered with that route in mind. The A17 doesn’t need the smallest versions and the rest of the order are for services 22/50/51 which should be okay going down to Portloe regardless of model. A Dart and E200MMC will get down there (just)!

I have not seen a confirmed list of Solo versions due and whether any will get into Mousehole but it will be interesting to find out.

 

[Goldfish62]

The A17 isn’t that busy in the winter and runs fairly regularly and until quite late in the day. Thinking about it are the Solos ordered of a size that can fit into Mousehole?

Presumably not as none are ordered with that route in mind. The A17 doesn’t need the smallest versions and the rest of the order are for services 22/50/51 which should be okay going down to Portloe regardless of model. A Dart and E200MMC will get down there (just)!

I have not seen a confirmed list of Solo versions due and whether any will get into Mousehole but it will be interesting to find out.

The new Solos are too big for Mousehole. The smallest are 8.5m and the largest that can fit are 7.9m.

In respect of the A17 it's one of the only routes that can take any size of bus, which is why the Scanias were latterly concentrated on it.

 

[LAIRA]

I've seen it reported that 11038 is with SPS. Can anyone confirm this please?

11038 was at SPS on 23/10/18

 

[Whiteway215]

11038 was at SPS on 23/10/18

Many thanks Laira.