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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

Lizard1324

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Joined
19 Feb 2020
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685
Location
Cornwall
those were Cummins engined tridents. The open tops are Volvos.

SN55HFE visible at Stuart’s Volvo truck and bus at Victoria.
My mistake alot of tridents going to scrap around the country so they probably can find a volvo one.
Is SN55HFE going for repaint/ repair
 
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richw

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10 Jun 2010
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Liskeard
My mistake alot of tridents going to scrap around the country so they probably can find a volvo one.
Is SN55HFE going for repaint/ repair
No tridents have a Volvo engine!
It will be a repair at the Volvo engineering place
 

Lizard1324

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19 Feb 2020
Messages
685
Location
Cornwall
No tridents have a Volvo engine!
It will be a repair at the Volvo engineering place
Meant plaxton presidents but there are alot of older b7tl will be going to scrap like Bristol, not sure if any alx 400 also have volvo engines, but if they have b7 chassis then likely they do
 

richw

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Meant plaxton presidents but there are alot of older b7tl will be going to scrap like Bristol, not sure if any alx 400 also have volvo engines, but if they have b7 chassis then likely they do

Its having a new engine from Volvo!
 

Jamesbus80

Member
Joined
24 Jun 2016
Messages
44
Location
Fareham, Hampshire
Hi all,

I have just returned from a few days down staying at Fowey and visiting the wider area in Cornwall.

Despite the turbulent recent months, First seem to run a tight and professional outfit. All buses were spotlessly clean on the outside (yes, some of the old brand were left on the Volvos but these are being sorted in due course) with internal cleaning very clear. I spent some time around Truro and St. Austell bus stations, and each bus came in with social distancing stickers by the door and sashes over seats out of use. A member of staff cleaned each bus on arrival or designated stand time - for example, at St. Austell, each of the 24s and 27s were cleaned.

Loading-wise, they seemed to be positive with around most of the given capacity taken on most trips. One 24 departed St. Austell as ”bus full” yesterday morning, for Fowey. As mentioned previously, the 24s are largely 44951/2/3, but Solos 53863/4 were out on the 24 on 30th July. Although I won’t get into my personal thoughts of the politics, it does seem one of the companies - potentially First as it has to be commercial - is missing a trick with the 24s and 25s on the Fowey to St. Austell leg. Lots of customers were disgruntled about having to wait for a red one or a green one, in both Fowey and St. Austell. I wonder if on next year’s summer uplift, First register the Fowey to St. Austell leg of the 25 commercially. Both seemed to be doing well, capacity restraints considered.

The buses in Kernow liveries looked marvellous - great to see some of the MMCs back and in use. The U Lines MMCs are mostly not back, which left the U1 in the hands of other buses - certainly, this week, the Lizard Tridents seem to have found a home on this service.

I have some photos, which are still on the camera so will see what I can find over the next few days.

I hope this is of relevance and interest.
All the best,
James
 

richw

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I won’t get into my personal thoughts of the politics, it does seem one of the companies - potentially First as it has to be commercial - is missing a trick with the 24s and 25s on the Fowey to St. Austell leg. Lots of customers were disgruntled about having to wait for a red one or a green one, in both Fowey and St. Austell. I wonder if on next year’s summer uplift, First register the Fowey to St. Austell leg of the 25 commercially. Both seemed to be doing well, capacity restraints considered.

the alternative option could be make the First 24 half hourly frequency. There is sufficient e200 and solo SR to cover either option, and they are fairly economical buses.

I trust the commercial department have ideas for uplifting services but covid funding from government doesn’t allow at the moment.
I’ve driven a few 24s this week and I’ve been socially distant full every run between pentewan and mevagissey in the afternoons. The bus seems a popular afternoon choice for the holiday makers at pentewan.
 

Jamesbus80

Member
Joined
24 Jun 2016
Messages
44
Location
Fareham, Hampshire
the alternative option could be make the First 24 half hourly frequency. There is sufficient e200 and solo SR to cover either option, and they are fairly economical buses.

I trust the commercial department have ideas for uplifting services but covid funding from government doesn’t allow at the moment.
I’ve driven a few 24s this week and I’ve been socially distant full every run between pentewan and mevagissey in the afternoons. The bus seems a popular afternoon choice for the holiday makers at pentewan.

That’s great news - I heard passengers in St. Austell waiting for “the quick one” and wanting the 24. It seemed to be doing really well - considering the circumstance.
I’m not an expert, but the “turn up and go” element of First having the 24 and 25 last year was successful, whereas the change seemed to be causing a few extended waits and questions this year. The 24 running half hourly, hopefully in a less-Covid-affected summer next year could be great if it was considered.
 

richw

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That’s great news - I heard passengers in St. Austell waiting for “the quick one” and wanting the 24. It seemed to be doing really well - considering the circumstance.
I’m not an expert, but the “turn up and go” element of First having the 24 and 25 last year was successful, whereas the change seemed to be causing a few extended waits and questions this year. The 24 running half hourly, hopefully in a less-Covid-affected summer next year could be great if it was considered.
The “quick” one depends where on route you want. Both are similar timings to Par and Fowey, the 25 goes round the houses at the st Austell/Charlestown end of the route whereas the 24 goes round the houses later in the journey around St Blazey and Par area. (The 25 is also prone to popping into St Austell Tesco for diesel mid route but that’s another story)
Once covid bus funding has ended I expect We will see changes, albeit i don’t know where or if we will have to wait until summer 2021.
Being fully commercial gives a lot of freedom compared to a Heavily subsidised operator, who Only get to jump if the council say jump etc.
 

Jamesbus80

Member
Joined
24 Jun 2016
Messages
44
Location
Fareham, Hampshire
The “quick” one depends where on route you want. Both are similar timings to Par and Fowey, the 25 goes round the houses at the st Austell/Charlestown end of the route whereas the 24 goes round the houses later in the journey around St Blazey and Par area. (The 25 is also prone to popping into St Austell Tesco for diesel mid route but that’s another story)
Once covid bus funding has ended I expect We will see changes, albeit i don’t know where or if we will have to wait until summer 2021.
Being fully commercial gives a lot of freedom compared to a Heavily subsidised operator, who Only get to jump if the council say jump etc.

thanks Rich - that’s good news. I thought both were fairly similar in end-to-end journey time etc (I caught them from Fowey to Par station and back last year but drove this year due to the aforementioned operator swap (and minimising Covid risk)).

I will look forward to see what happens in due course!
 

Goldfish62

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14 Feb 2010
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9,932
Better late than never, here's the very nice Atlantic Coasters leaflet:


I see that there will be changes to the A4 and A17 from 13 September, but the rest are "until further notice".

FK are also advertising a £5 day ticket for use on Atlantic Coasters only.

Bright, positive marketing!
 

richw

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10 Jun 2010
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Liskeard
The £5 offer:

☀ Welcome back ☀
To celebrate the return of our spectacular Atlantic Coaster buses, we want to give you an EXCLUSIVE welcome back offer: enjoy 1 full day’s travel for up to 5 people travelling together for just £5 (usually £30)*. Available only on the First Bus App.

Our team is ready and waiting to welcome you back on board!

* Offer valid on Atlantic Coaster services only and not on the rest of the Kernow Network. The mTicket will expire one month after purchase.

as it’s for up to 5 people (no restriction on 2 adults 3 kids etc) that’s a quid each for a group!
 
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83G/84D

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28 Oct 2011
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5,952
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Cornwall
Volvo B7TL 32549 in Camborne. It looks like it may have been towed in as missing front panels.
 

fgwrich

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Joined
15 Apr 2009
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9,250
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Between Edinburgh and Exeter
Better late than never, here's the very nice Atlantic Coasters leaflet:


I see that there will be changes to the A4 and A17 from 13 September, but the rest are "until further notice".

FK are also advertising a £5 day ticket for use on Atlantic Coasters only.

Bright, positive marketing!

Another excellent looking leaflet and what I've come to expect from the Best Impressions / FK partnership. But, my first thought what, god, is that all that's left of the FK operations out of Penzance now? (of course I'm aware of TfC / The tendered council / commercial routes).
 

Goldfish62

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Another excellent looking leaflet and what I've come to expect from the Best Impressions / FK partnership. But, my first thought what, god, is that all that's left of the FK operations out of Penzance now? (of course I'm aware of TfC / The tendered council / commercial routes).
FK is still the dominant operator in the area, more so than much of the rest of Cornwall. They've *only* lost the 5, 16/A and 39A in the Penzance area.
 

stait.john

Member
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17 May 2013
Messages
371
Does anyone know what vehicles are earmarked to be used on the College Contracts recently won in Plymouth and Exeter from September? I assume they’ll have to be changed over when Inspections are due anyway.
thanks
John
 

Lizard1324

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19 Feb 2020
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685
Location
Cornwall
Does anyone know what vehicles are earmarked to be used on the College Contracts recently won in Plymouth and Exeter from September? I assume they’ll have to be changed over when Inspections are due anyway.
thanks
John
Marc said something about the next 12 buses due for paintig are for cornwall college so you will see in due time
 
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83G/84D

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Cornwall
I had a look at the Truro Park & Ride operation during a visit to Truro this morning.

At the Tregurra site Solo's 53865 and 53255 along with Volvo B7TL 37161 were seen but not in use during the period I was in the area.

At Langarth were Volvo B7TL's 32624, 37163 and 37162, the latter was in use on PR1 services. Four Citaro's noted.

Scania 65724 was seen at Trafalgar roundabout in the city displaying "Park & Ride" but I didn't see it at either of the sites.
There did seem to be passengers on board.
 

Jamesbus80

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24 Jun 2016
Messages
44
Location
Fareham, Hampshire
Quick question - does anyone know what Truronian are doing up in Hampshire recently?
Noted 20561 up in Portsmouth Saturday-last (see photo attached, taken in utterly appauling weather conditions).
Today, I noted a Truronian-livered Volvo B7R that my have been 20360 in difficulties on the westbound M27 earlier at approximately 12:00 with First transit van in attendance - queues weren't too bad but there is a contra-flow in place so no hard-shoulder...

Thanks in advance for your help.
 

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83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,952
Location
Cornwall
Quick question - does anyone know what Truronian are doing up in Hampshire recently?
Noted 20561 up in Portsmouth Saturday-last (see photo attached, taken in utterly appauling weather conditions).
Today, I noted a Truronian-livered Volvo B7R that my have been 20360 in difficulties on the westbound M27 earlier at approximately 12:00 with First transit van in attendance - queues weren't too bad but there is a contra-flow in place so no hard-shoulder...

Thanks in advance for your help.


May be connected to post #11869 or something unrelated like private hire.
 

farwest

Member
Joined
25 Apr 2008
Messages
127
At the start of the year Central and west Cornwall had a comprehensive timetable except for the independents. There were M tickets you could use on all these services at a sensible price. More and more new buses had arrived with WiFi and USB points and passenger information displays. Even greatly improved vehicle liveries had been introduced. Now most trips require two companies which makes bus travel too expensive and the latest TFC vehicles do not have any modern facilities. At Redruth station the other day a woman with a young child and pushchair was going to Bodmin and changing vehicles. She tried to get on a Tinner to Truro but could not with a TFC ticket. This meant she had to get on a 46 to Truro which takes 59 minutes on a very roundabout route not designed for an end to end service. Before this Cornwall Council contract this would have been a simple journey. Unless the Council can come up with a sensibly priced all company ticket I think the bus usage in Cornwall is going to very rapidly decline. We have certainly gone backwards in a big way.
 

richw

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Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,213
Location
Liskeard
At the start of the year Central and west Cornwall had a comprehensive timetable except for the independents. There were M tickets you could use on all these services at a sensible price. More and more new buses had arrived with WiFi and USB points and passenger information displays. Even greatly improved vehicle liveries had been introduced. Now most trips require two companies which makes bus travel too expensive and the latest TFC vehicles do not have any modern facilities. At Redruth station the other day a woman with a young child and pushchair was going to Bodmin and changing vehicles. She tried to get on a Tinner to Truro but could not with a TFC ticket. This meant she had to get on a 46 to Truro which takes 59 minutes on a very roundabout route not designed for an end to end service. Before this Cornwall Council contract this would have been a simple journey. Unless the Council can come up with a sensibly priced all company ticket I think the bus usage in Cornwall is going to very rapidly decline. We have certainly gone backwards in a big way.

Trying emailing A complaint to the relevant personnel at the council making this point?
 

Yarp1

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2020
Messages
74
Location
Cornwall
I had a look at the Truro Park & Ride operation during a visit to Truro this morning.

At the Tregurra site Solo's 53865 and 53255 along with Volvo B7TL 37161 were seen but not in use during the period I was in the area.

At Langarth were Volvo B7TL's 32624, 37163 and 37162, the latter was in use on PR1 services. Four Citaro's noted.

Scania 65724 was seen at Trafalgar roundabout in the city displaying "Park & Ride" but I didn't see it at either of the sites.
There did seem to be passengers on board.
2 geminis at langarth and 1 at tregurra as standby/dupes. Parking charges have changed for hospital staff and extra buses drafted in incase of over load as buses still have max capacity loadings with distancing in place. They mainly there for the peak times and probably will be for upto a month
 

Lizard1324

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19 Feb 2020
Messages
685
Location
Cornwall
Have all the geminis arrived that were entirely due and any other buses that were due apart from the open toppers that are being converted
 

Whiteway215

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15 Sep 2015
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1,989
Location
Bath
Dan Shears has 11041 LK05FDC for sale on EBay if anyone fancies a bendibus. I thought Kernow were keeping that one?
 

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