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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

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richw

richw

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10 Jun 2010
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Liskeard
Yarp1 said:
I have noticed on several routes that First Kernow (FK) don't do any more (except for college runs), that FK flags are still up but no TfC flags!

I did notice that as soon as TfC came along they took down FK flags and put their own flags up on routes that FK still do.
Click to expand...
Yet in the Liskeard area there are numerous Western Greyhound flags and even a Liskeard and District flag. The photos attached show two examples from my recent walks.
You would think priority would be given to remove defunct operators rather than those of operators who are still running at that stop!
 

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fgwrich

fgwrich

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Joined
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9,314
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Between Edinburgh and Exeter
richw said:
Yet in the Liskeard area there are numerous Western Greyhound flags and even a Liskeard and District flag. The photos attached show two examples from my recent walks.
You would think priority would be given to remove defunct operators rather than those of operators who are still running at that stop!
Click to expand...

It is, utterly bonkers and more than a little bit petulant from TfC. You do have to wonder who authorised that job - remove the fairly new FK flags and replace them with TfC, but ignore everything else left dotted around Cornwall.
 
richw

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
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Messages
11,254
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Liskeard
fgwrich said:
It is, utterly bonkers and more than a little bit petulant from TfC. You do have to wonder who authorised that job - remove the fairly new FK flags and replace them with TfC, but ignore everything else left dotted around Cornwall.
Click to expand...
I have. been told there is also some old Truronian flags still about in the TfC operating area where only TfC serve.
I wonder how many other old independents flags are still out and about!
 
Lizard1324

Lizard1324

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2020
Messages
685
Location
Cornwall
richw said:
I have. been told there is also some old Truronian flags still about in the TfC operating area where only TfC serve.
I wonder how many other old independents flags are still out and about!
Click to expand...
TFC have added some new flags to random bus stops around the Lizard, but left the old first flag on the main bus stop that people use.
Also TfC still have there covid reduced timetables on bus stops after nearly a year
 
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TechDan2002

TechDan2002

Member
Joined
4 Oct 2019
Messages
215
Location
Penryn
richw said:
I have. been told there is also some old Truronian flags still about in the TfC operating area where only TfC serve.
I wonder how many other old independents flags are still out and about!
Click to expand...
I spotted this one along Plain-an-Gwarry, Redruth this morning during my driving lesson. Google Streetview image from 2009 but the flag still exists today!A0492FE4-ACF1-40F2-B4E9-33AD6ADD4B58.jpeg
 
Busaholic

Busaholic

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83G/84D

83G/84D

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Busgeek

Member
Joined
30 Mar 2021
Messages
64
Location
Kernow
So. Helston has its new routes starting soon. Looking at Traveling SW. The new timetable is up for the L3 and L5 but not the L1. Well not that I can see.

I'd love to know if the L1 will alternate Ruan minor now it is hourly, so to go in there on the way back from the Lizard? Surely travelers will want to go from Lizard to Cagwith? Seems like it would be the smart thing to do?

It's good to see they are running hourly Monday to Sunday on ALL routes too! It might persuade people to use them. Better ticketing and prices should come in though, I do feel that it maybe a bit steep compared to the competition.

From a publicity stand point, working with local businesses to promote etc, such as Paradise Park. 15% off entry to certain parks or places would maybe help get more people on the buses?

As a enthusiast, I do feel that it's a risk, but to entice people, good smart ticket ideas will help.
 

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RELL6L

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19 May 2014
Messages
992
I have been looking at the long awaited timetables for the summer services. They look quite exciting but a few caveats.

First the D services centred on the Eden Project. A great idea and they do have Cheltenham style arrivals and departures at 10.30 and 14.30. Seven routes in (D1-5, D8,D9) with a second D5 from St Austell one hour earlier. Then eight routes out, D1 and D5-D11, to a great selection of places: Newquay, Mevagissey, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Charlestown, Fowey, Polperro, Lanhydrock and Padstow. They give a reasonable amount of time in some places but only about 2 hours or so in Newquay, Polperro and Padstow. I'm not sure this is enough, I think if I visited one of these places for a day trip, being there at lunchtime, I would want a bit longer for a wander round and some lunch. Especially Polperro where it takes some time to walk down to the village, you will struggle to get time to eat anything and be back for the bus at 13.30. I totally get it that the buses have to be back for the college services and this is a major constraint in the afternoon but I do think a later departure would be better. Perhaps once the college has finished the afternoon times will be pushed back an hour or two. The other point is that there is only 5-10 minutes connection time at the Eden Project. What if one bus in (or back) is late - are they going to hold all the others? For how long? And what if one breaks down?

Then the Coasters. The Lands End one looks pretty good and similar to recent years. I think eight buses are required of which five are out by 09.00, the others maybe can be used for schools in the morning, but not in the afternoon. A bit disappointed with the timetable for the Atlantic Coaster though. The service doesn't start very early, no buses start until 09.25 and the first departure from Padstow isn't until 11.20! Particularly surprising is that the first bus from Newquay heading west isn't until 10.45, I am sure it was an hour earlier on the A4 in the past. I also expected an hourly service to Hayle Towans as in the past. While no buses are out in the morning peak there are five on the road at 15.30 so additional resources are needed for afternoon school journeys. Again maybe there will be more in the main holiday season. I don't know how Cornwall think about such matters but I would be surprised if they proposed cutting the TfC 56 at all between Newquay and Padstow, while the Atlantic Coaster has six journeys it does not provide a comprehensive daytime service.

We don't know everything about the Lizard yet but the hourly L5 service from St Ives to Helston looks interesting and the different routings is clever. I am not sure the L3 Truro route warrants an hourly service given there is also the TfC service 36 but I understand the resources are there. And the L1 is still unknown, again I would be surprised if it provides a sufficiently comprehensive service to withdraw or reduce the TfC 34. The L2 remains unknown, presumably going to Coverack and that area. It would be great if at least one journey each way was able to follow part of the 33 route and include Helford!

Also we have the Dartmoor Explorer. Definitely fancy using this one. On the current timetable it is very much an 'excursion' with just an hour in Moretonhampstead or Tavistock, and it starts later than I would have expected, 10.00 from each end seems late. Shame it doesn't provide any connections in Moretonhampstead with the infrequent services from Newton Abbot or Okehampton. Again I think we are expecting more in the summer.

Really hope we have good weather and the great British stay-at-home summer is a success and these services do well!
 
teggers419

teggers419

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2016
Messages
42
RELL6L said:
I have been looking at the long awaited timetables for the summer services. They look quite exciting but a few caveats.

First the D services centred on the Eden Project. A great idea and they do have Cheltenham style arrivals and departures at 10.30 and 14.30. Seven routes in (D1-5, D8,D9) with a second D5 from St Austell one hour earlier. Then eight routes out, D1 and D5-D11, to a great selection of places: Newquay, Mevagissey, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Charlestown, Fowey, Polperro, Lanhydrock and Padstow. They give a reasonable amount of time in some places but only about 2 hours or so in Newquay, Polperro and Padstow. I'm not sure this is enough, I think if I visited one of these places for a day trip, being there at lunchtime, I would want a bit longer for a wander round and some lunch. Especially Polperro where it takes some time to walk down to the village, you will struggle to get time to eat anything and be back for the bus at 13.30. I totally get it that the buses have to be back for the college services and this is a major constraint in the afternoon but I do think a later departure would be better. Perhaps once the college has finished the afternoon times will be pushed back an hour or two. The other point is that there is only 5-10 minutes connection time at the Eden Project. What if one bus in (or back) is late - are they going to hold all the others? For how long? And what if one breaks down?

Then the Coasters. The Lands End one looks pretty good and similar to recent years. I think eight buses are required of which five are out by 09.00, the others maybe can be used for schools in the morning, but not in the afternoon. A bit disappointed with the timetable for the Atlantic Coaster though. The service doesn't start very early, no buses start until 09.25 and the first departure from Padstow isn't until 11.20! Particularly surprising is that the first bus from Newquay heading west isn't until 10.45, I am sure it was an hour earlier on the A4 in the past. I also expected an hourly service to Hayle Towans as in the past. While no buses are out in the morning peak there are five on the road at 15.30 so additional resources are needed for afternoon school journeys. Again maybe there will be more in the main holiday season. I don't know how Cornwall think about such matters but I would be surprised if they proposed cutting the TfC 56 at all between Newquay and Padstow, while the Atlantic Coaster has six journeys it does not provide a comprehensive daytime service.

We don't know everything about the Lizard yet but the hourly L5 service from St Ives to Helston looks interesting and the different routings is clever. I am not sure the L3 Truro route warrants an hourly service given there is also the TfC service 36 but I understand the resources are there. And the L1 is still unknown, again I would be surprised if it provides a sufficiently comprehensive service to withdraw or reduce the TfC 34. The L2 remains unknown, presumably going to Coverack and that area. It would be great if at least one journey each way was able to follow part of the 33 route and include Helford!

Also we have the Dartmoor Explorer. Definitely fancy using this one. On the current timetable it is very much an 'excursion' with just an hour in Moretonhampstead or Tavistock, and it starts later than I would have expected, 10.00 from each end seems late. Shame it doesn't provide any connections in Moretonhampstead with the infrequent services from Newton Abbot or Okehampton. Again I think we are expecting more in the summer.

Really hope we have good weather and the great British stay-at-home summer is a success and these services do well!
Click to expand...
9 vehicles are needed for the Lands End service plus 1 spare in Penzance, so that's 10 in total plus the 5 needed for the Atlantic Coaster. Also the S1/2/3 services booked for open top when they start. 2 are needed for those.
 
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Lizard1324

Lizard1324

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2020
Messages
685
Location
Cornwall
RELL6L said:
I have been looking at the long awaited timetables for the summer services. They look quite exciting but a few caveats.

First the D services centred on the Eden Project. A great idea and they do have Cheltenham style arrivals and departures at 10.30 and 14.30. Seven routes in (D1-5, D8,D9) with a second D5 from St Austell one hour earlier. Then eight routes out, D1 and D5-D11, to a great selection of places: Newquay, Mevagissey, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Charlestown, Fowey, Polperro, Lanhydrock and Padstow. They give a reasonable amount of time in some places but only about 2 hours or so in Newquay, Polperro and Padstow. I'm not sure this is enough, I think if I visited one of these places for a day trip, being there at lunchtime, I would want a bit longer for a wander round and some lunch. Especially Polperro where it takes some time to walk down to the village, you will struggle to get time to eat anything and be back for the bus at 13.30. I totally get it that the buses have to be back for the college services and this is a major constraint in the afternoon but I do think a later departure would be better. Perhaps once the college has finished the afternoon times will be pushed back an hour or two. The other point is that there is only 5-10 minutes connection time at the Eden Project. What if one bus in (or back) is late - are they going to hold all the others? For how long? And what if one breaks down?

Then the Coasters. The Lands End one looks pretty good and similar to recent years. I think eight buses are required of which five are out by 09.00, the others maybe can be used for schools in the morning, but not in the afternoon. A bit disappointed with the timetable for the Atlantic Coaster though. The service doesn't start very early, no buses start until 09.25 and the first departure from Padstow isn't until 11.20! Particularly surprising is that the first bus from Newquay heading west isn't until 10.45, I am sure it was an hour earlier on the A4 in the past. I also expected an hourly service to Hayle Towans as in the past. While no buses are out in the morning peak there are five on the road at 15.30 so additional resources are needed for afternoon school journeys. Again maybe there will be more in the main holiday season. I don't know how Cornwall think about such matters but I would be surprised if they proposed cutting the TfC 56 at all between Newquay and Padstow, while the Atlantic Coaster has six journeys it does not provide a comprehensive daytime service.

We don't know everything about the Lizard yet but the hourly L5 service from St Ives to Helston looks interesting and the different routings is clever. I am not sure the L3 Truro route warrants an hourly service given there is also the TfC service 36 but I understand the resources are there. And the L1 is still unknown, again I would be surprised if it provides a sufficiently comprehensive service to withdraw or reduce the TfC 34. The L2 remains unknown, presumably going to Coverack and that area. It would be great if at least one journey each way was able to follow part of the 33 route and include Helford!

Also we have the Dartmoor Explorer. Definitely fancy using this one. On the current timetable it is very much an 'excursion' with just an hour in Moretonhampstead or Tavistock, and it starts later than I would have expected, 10.00 from each end seems late. Shame it doesn't provide any connections in Moretonhampstead with the infrequent services from Newton Abbot or Okehampton. Again I think we are expecting more in the summer.

Really hope we have good weather and the great British stay-at-home summer is a success and these services do well!
Click to expand...
A open toppers on the 33 route would be nice, but low trees would be an issue and alot of that route is a squeeze in a car / minibus so unlikely but the L2 could always go Coverack, st Keverne and Helford area.

I'm unsure what will happen with the TfC 34 and 36 becuase First will be providing a service. Surely TfC isn't needed anymore.

Talking about the L1, the tree cutting bus was in the Lizard today. (Bad image as was long distance away)
20210430_140643.jpg
 
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charlie1284

charlie1284

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2020
Messages
69
Location
Penzance
teggers419 said:
9 vehicles needed for the Lands End service plus one spare in Penzance so 10 in total plus 5 needed for the Atlantic Coaster. Also the S1/2/3 services booked for open top when they start. 2 needed for those.
Click to expand...
Where does it say S1/S2/S3 will be run with open toppers?
 
charlie1284

charlie1284

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2020
Messages
69
Location
Penzance
RELL6L said:
Then the Coasters. The Lands End one looks pretty good and similar to recent years. I think eight buses are required of which five are out by 09.00, the others maybe can be used for schools in the morning, but not in the afternoon.
Click to expand...
Why would a school run be run with an open topper?
 
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