First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[MB162435]

Maybe Optare Solo SR or midi e200 MMCs.

Both would be too big for the harbour, believe even a OTS Strata just about squeezed in

 

[Goldfish62]

Both would be too big for the harbour, believe even a OTS Strata just about squeezed in

The Solo SR is the same length as the current Solos, 7.8m, according to Optare.

But anyway it would have to be secondhand Solos as Optare is currently building its very last diesel buses.

 

[Bazer]

The Solo SR is the same length as the current Solos, 7.8m, according to Optare.

But anyway it would have to be secondhand Solos as Optare is currently building its very last diesel buses.

Solo SR won't fit down onto the harbour side. They have already been tested down there.

 

[Goldfish62]

Solo SR won't fit down onto the harbour side. They have already been tested down there.

Presumably it's something to do with the rear overhang clearance on the Old Post Office Corner, given that the SR sits lower at the rear than the original Solos. The footprint is the same size as the current Solos.

It'll have to be later model original Solos or van-derived minibuses then. Nothing else will fit it would seem.

The largest buses to have routinely gone into Mousehole were Harvey's Wadham Stringer LHS at 8.2m x 2.4m and the MB 811s at 8.5m x 2.3m.

 

[vla50]

Great seeing 53865 in its new livery

 

[Accelerator59]

The Solo SR is the same length as the current Solos, 7.8m, according to Optare.

But anyway it would have to be secondhand Solos as Optare is currently building its very last diesel buses.

What about the ones that (I think) First Glasgow have or used to have that were on hire from SPT (correct me on that if I’m wrong)? Think they were 13/63 plates. Would they fit?

 

[83G/84D]

Solo SR won't fit down onto the harbour side. They have already been tested down there.

The Islesbus i-city was trialled in March 2021 and managed to get down there no problem.

 

[150249]

Great seeing 53865 in its new livery

Are there any photos?

 

[Goldfish62]

The Islesbus i-city was trialled in March 2021 and managed to get down there no problem.

But does it provide sufficient capacity? Listed as 17 seated plus 9 standing, or 20 seated and 7 standing so less than a 7.8m Solo which I think is around 35 in total.

 

[83G/84D]

But does it provide sufficient capacity? Listed as 17 seated plus 9 standing, or 20 seated and 7 standing so less than a 7.8m Solo which I think is around 35 in total.

I thought it was smaller so that would be a consideration when deciding a replacement bus.

 

[Goldfish62]

I thought it was smaller so that would be a consideration when deciding a replacement bus.

What is smaller?

 

[83G/84D]

The Islesbus I-city looked shorter / narrower than a Solo although I didn’t see the two side by side.

 

[Goldfish62]

The Islesbus I-city looked shorter / narrower than a Solo although I didn’t see the two side by side.

It got in the village so clearly it fits so that's a moot point. My point was does it provide sufficient passenger capacity? That's far more important than the absolute size of the vehicle.

 

[83G/84D]

It got in the village so clearly it fits so that's a moot point. My point was does it provide sufficient passenger capacity? That's far more important than the absolute size of the vehicle.

Probably not at certain times of the year but what else is there that fits into the harbour and provides adequate capacity? If something was available and met that criteria I expect it would have been trialled or ordered.

 

[Goldfish62]

Probably not at certain times of the year but what else is there that fits into the harbour and provides adequate capacity? If something was available and met that criteria I expect it would have been trialled or ordered.

This is very true. All we know is that the Ilesbus iCity and an original style 7.8m both fit. Any van-based bus with holes cut for windows is going to fit. It's when you get to the altogether more bulbous Strata with bus bodywork that there are problems.

As I know from some vast experience route tests can be highly subjective. Where one driver might struggle another might sail through.

Do we know if the driver who tested the Strata was both experienced with the bus type and the route? I say that because just about every driver struggles with the corners at Mousehole on first attempt. There's a definite knack to them. There were severe struggles when the Marshall LHSs and MB 811s were first introduced.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It got in the village so clearly it fits so that's a moot point. My point was does it provide sufficient passenger capacity? That's far more important than the absolute size of the vehicle.

The frequency was every 30 mins in the winter and every 20 mins during the summer. If they have a 20 min year round frequency, supplemented by a well ventilated ABB Solo, might that provide the required capacity?

 

[vla50]

Sorry if has been asked already but I somewhat recall some of the short 7.8m Solos used on the Mousehole work some closed door school contracts. Would these closed door school contracts stay with the present Solos if FSW of course do get rid of them off the Mousehole by the end of the year?

Would there also be another 2 or 3 examples kept to become charabancs for the summer season next year?

 

[Goldfish62]

The frequency was every 30 mins in the winter and every 20 mins during the summer. If they have a 20 min year round frequency, supplemented by a well ventilated ABB Solo, might that provide the required capacity?

The frequency stayed at 3bph through last winter. However, during the traditional peaks it's 2bph. I think the biggest pinch point is the 0800 to 0900 period when the service is still 2bph.

 

[Andyh82]

Does anyone know the sort of PVRs and number of buses based at all the various Kernow depots?

With all buses officially allocated to Camborne as per the fleetlists it’s hard to know how many buses I’d expect to see in each area

 

[Busaholic]

The frequency stayed at 3bph through last winter. However, during the traditional peaks it's 2bph. I think the biggest pinch point is the 0800 to 0900 period when the service is still 2bph.

TfC's decision to divert the 5 route away from the Newlyn Bridge stops has caused a lot of problems for The Mousehole passengers. In my opinion, what is needed is an hourly circular service during the day up Market Jew Street, down Alexandra Road, then Newlyn Bridge and along the Coombe to the estate, then round it and back to Penzance via the same route. Ordinary size single deckers per the 5 would be best, and TfC should consider subsidising it. Then the 5 could have a choice of routes into Penzance from Newlyn, maybe via Mount Pleasant, and, if so, The Mousehole could probably revert to half hourly during the winter.

P.S. The current Alexandra Road unsatisfactory bus arrangements could then quietly fade into oblivion.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The frequency stayed at 3bph through last winter. However, during the traditional peaks it's 2bph. I think the biggest pinch point is the 0800 to 0900 period when the service is still 2bph.

It did but before that, it was 2 bph in the winter IIRC.

FSW will have the data to inform whichever decision they make, so will have to wait to see what they do.

 

[83G/84D]

This is very true. All we know is that the Ilesbus iCity and an original style 7.8m both fit. Any van-based bus with holes cut for windows is going to fit. It's when you get to the altogether more bulbous Strata with bus bodywork that there are problems.

As I know from some vast experience route tests can be highly subjective. Where one driver might struggle another might sail through.

Do we know if the driver who tested the Strata was both experienced with the bus type and the route? I say that because just about every driver struggles with the corners at Mousehole on first attempt. There's a definite knack to them. There were severe struggles when the Marshall LHSs and MB 811s were first introduced.

Good point, a Bedford OB got in there one year during the April bus event but I am not sure every driver could manage that.

 

[richw]

Any van-based bus with holes cut for windows is going to fit.

It’s the front and rear overhang not the overall length that needs to be considered. A 7.8m solo might fit, but a 7.8m e200 no chance due to the front over hang from the steering wheels

 

[fgwrich]

It’s the front and rear overhang not the overall length that needs to be considered. A 7.8m solo might fit, but a 7.8m e200 no chance due to the front over hang from the steering wheels

Potentially Controversial choice (given Wright's build quality) but, is the Nu-Track Nu-Vibe still in production, and could something of theirs fit? It does after all offer a similar wheelbase layout to the Optare Solo, but could one be built within a similar footprint to that of the current solos?

And yes, I know those are as unlikely as the next suggestion!

Edit, looking at Google, it appears Nu-Track seem to be mostly concentrating on Mellor style Van conversions and, somewhat surprisingly, Equestrian work instead!

 

[richw]

Do we know if the driver who tested the Strata was both experienced with the bus type and the route? I say that because just about every driver struggles with the corners at Mousehole on first attempt.

Personally I don’t think testing with the driver with most experience of that corner is the best practice. How easy will it be in that vehicle for a inexperienced driver if they work that route. Worse case scenarios need to be considered too.

 

[83G/84D]

Potentially Controversial choice (given Wright's build quality) but, is the Nu-Track Nu-Vibe still in production, and could something of theirs fit? It does after all offer a similar wheelbase layout to the Optare Solo, but could one be built within a similar footprint to that of the current solos?

And yes, I know those are as unlikely as the next suggestion!

Edit, looking at Google, it appears Nu-Track seem to be mostly concentrating on Mellor style Van conversions and, somewhat surprisingly, Equestrian work instead!

I am pretty sure there was one on trial a few years ago, I recall seeing it in Camborne but only parked up.

 

[Goldfish62]

Personally I don’t think testing with the driver with most experience of that corner is the best practice. How easy will it be in that vehicle for a inexperienced driver if they work that route. Worse case scenarios need to be considered too.

It's a difficult one. A lot of drivers have problems at first on those corners but quickly get used to them. If initial experiences with the LHSs and MB811s were taken at face value then they'd have probably deemed to have been unsuitable.

 

[Busaholic]

It's a difficult one. A lot of drivers have problems at first on those corners but quickly get used to them. If initial experiences with the LHSs and MB811s were taken at face value then they'd have probably deemed to have been unsuitable.

I know one driver in particular seems to have made the route his own, but is there a separate rota for it?

 

[GBM]

There used to be a Mousehole roster, but now all merged into 'all other' duties I believe.

 

[Callum15632]

I've noticed with the recent changes that a Yeovil based vehicle starts at 07:30 then runs to Wells on the 77 (the past 2 days being 33508) and then runs the 55 to Taunton then goes on the 54 to Somerton all day then goes back to Yeovil on a 54.