First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[32625]

Interesting to note is that 53860, 53863 and 53864 are coming back from Scotland. Shown here: https://mobile.twitter.com/MarcMorganHuws/status/1573454102327066637 (I hope that’s done right)

 

[Busaholic]

Partially. There’s an unpaid maximum time after which the remainder becomes paid. Also if your break is in a location without minimum facilities it’s paid through

Do you know how this compares with GCB, and, if so, are you prepared to reveal it?

 

[150249]

Interesting to note is that 53860, 53863 and 53864 are coming back from Scotland. Shown here: https://mobile.twitter.com/MarcMorganHuws/status/1573454102327066637 (I hope that’s done right)

I swear they've covered more miles than some 02-05 plates.

 

[Goldfish62]

From looking at the adverts, it seems the hourly rate is only £11.00 which seems really low unless duties are paid through.

The offer which has been rejected is £12ph basic backdated to August for existing staff and £11ph basic for new starters.

 

[richw]

Do you know how this compares with GCB, and, if so, are you prepared to reveal it?

From speaking to GCB drivers about a year ago, their entire breaks are unpaid. Don’t know if that’s still the case. Our duties are currently in general more relaxed too from the GCB ones I’ve seen.

First drivers also have considerably better T&Cs, as well as our rail ticket offer- I saved approx £3000 through the rail offer available on First operated TOCs. We get standard class day rover for £6 and first class day rover for £30 (kids half price). Numerous days out across GWR territory. We went on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight, and another to South Wales by train.
We get 4% off in Asda too.

 

[Goldfish62]

From speaking to GCB drivers about a year ago, their entire breaks are unpaid. Don’t know if that’s still the case. Our duties are currently in general more relaxed too from the GCB ones I’ve seen.

First drivers also have considerably better T&Cs, as well as our rail ticket offer- I saved approx £3000 through the rail offer available on First operated TOCs. We get standard class day rover for £6 and first class day rover for £30 (kids half price). Numerous days out across GWR territory. We went on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight, and another to South Wales by train.
We get 4% off in Asda too.

But then they've settled for this year.

 

[E-Rail]

The offer which has been rejected is £12ph basic backdated to August for existing staff and £11ph basic for new starters

From speaking to GCB drivers about a year ago, their entire breaks are unpaid. Don’t know if that’s still the case. Our duties are currently in general more relaxed too from the GCB ones I’ve seen.

First drivers also have considerably better T&Cs, as well as our rail ticket offer- I saved approx £3000 through the rail offer available on First operated TOCs. We get standard class day rover for £6 and first class day rover for £30 (kids half price). Numerous days out across GWR territory. We went on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight, and another to South Wales by train.
We get 4% off in Asda too.

That is a serious priv perk to have. Can you also use it on the Night Riviera if you pay the cabin supplement?

 

[Busaholic]

From speaking to GCB drivers about a year ago, their entire breaks are unpaid. Don’t know if that’s still the case. Our duties are currently in general more relaxed too from the GCB ones I’ve seen.

First drivers also have considerably better T&Cs, as well as our rail ticket offer- I saved approx £3000 through the rail offer available on First operated TOCs. We get standard class day rover for £6 and first class day rover for £30 (kids half price). Numerous days out across GWR territory. We went on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight, and another to South Wales by train.
We get 4% off in Asda too.

That's a good perk for those able and willing to use it, well done.

Don't quite understand why the Asda one but, what the hell, I'd use it.

Only my observations, but seeing both First and GCB buses in Market Jew Street and Greenmarket, where 'give and take' is required on an almost continuous basis, the two companies' drivers in the main seem professional and considerate when they encounter each other, but not many signs of being familiar with the 'other' drivers.

 

[richw]

Can you also use it on the Night Riviera if you pay the cabin supplement?

The night riviera is excluded from the offer, as is Heathrow express.

Don't quite understand why the Asda one but, what the hell, I'd use it.

There’s an entire app with discounts, the Asda one being the one I use most coming to mind. 2% off TUI holidays as well has saved me a few quid too.

 

[Goldfish62]

I'm really not sure what the relevance of comparing FSW pay and conditions to GCB pay and conditions is.

The fact is that the latter have settled while RMT members at FSW have voted for strike action in respect of their company's pay offer.

Let's leave it at that rather than debating the rights and wrongs as such threads tend to get rather heated.

Meanwhile...

The Mousehole continues to be well loaded, benefitting from the 20 min off peak frequency.

From Newlyn towards Penzance this lunchtime 24 seated, eight standing. Mostly locals. Fortunately there were only two further passengers joining at Alverton.

I hope the new Sprinters have sufficient capacity!

 

[Callum15632]

Interesting to note is that 53860, 53863 and 53864 are coming back from Scotland. Shown here: https://mobile.twitter.com/MarcMorganHuws/status/1573454102327066637 (I hope that’s done right)

I saw 53863 at Crow Lane Lay By in Henbury, Bristol this evening about 18:00 ish I was wondering what it was doing in Bristol?

 

[32625]

I saw 53863 at Crow Lane Lay By in Henbury, Bristol this evening about 18:00 ish I was wondering what is it doing in Bristol?

Probably staying overnight to go to Cornwall

 

[Callum15632]

Probably staying overnight to go to Cornwall

It was driving around Henbury and through small roads behind Henbury though. If it was staying overnight to go to Cornwall wouldn't it just stay in depot?

 

[Accelerator59]

37584 has reappeared on the Kernow fleet list on the website I posted the other day (even though it was scrapped last year), as well the other B9TLs that are allegedly being transferred here.

 

[Goldfish62]

There's been an E400MMC, usually a green one, out on the 17 daily for the past few weeks. Is this a permanent allocation? Makes a pleasant change from the sea of Geminis.

 

[Murray J]

37584 has reappeared on the Kernow fleet list on the website I posted the other day (even though it was scrapped last year), as well the other B9TLs that are allegedly being transferred here.

That's pretty irritating, I removed them last time but quite frankly can't be bothered to again.

 

[Accelerator59]

That's pretty irritating, I removed them last time but quite frankly can't be bothered to again.

I know, I’m the same. I changed 37584 to scrapped, destroyed and written off as I knew it had been but has magically appeared at Camborne again. Maybe the best thing to do is ask someone in a First Hampshire and Dorset thread.

 

[Murray J]

I know, I’m the same. I changed 37584 to scrapped, destroyed and written off as I knew it had been but has magically appeared at Camborne again. Maybe the best thing to do is ask someone in a First Hampshire and Dorset thread.

Hmm perhaps, but agreed it's very frustrating.

 

[Busaholic]

There's been an E400MMC, usually a green one, out on the 17 daily for the past few weeks. Is this a permanent allocation? Makes a pleasant change from the sea of Geminis.

There were two out last Friday afternoon, one after the other. Bit of traffic mayhem on Market Jew Street yesterday afternoon around 4.30, four double deckers, all First and all bar one in service, were trying to get down it. These days, with the illogical supposed ban on most vehicles both accessing and parking on MJS before 4 p.m., every possible parking space in the uphill direction is taken at that time of day, some illegally, with insufficient gaps available to allow easy bus access in the opposite direction. What started with two d/ds became three, then four, as cars and vans had to reverse back, and eventually all four got through. I think it's the very first time I've seen four d/ds virtually nose to tail at that location, and that's in 34 years!

 

[iantherev]

I know, I’m the same. I changed 37584 to scrapped, destroyed and written off as I knew it had been but has magically appeared at Camborne again. Maybe the best thing to do is ask someone in a First Hampshire and Dorset thread.

I can assure you that in a report from the Carlton yards on 6th September it was with Trevor Wigley so First no longer own it and it's not coming back.

 

[richw]

I know, I’m the same. I changed 37584 to scrapped, destroyed and written off as I knew it had been but has magically appeared at Camborne again. Maybe the best thing to do is ask someone in a First Hampshire and Dorset thread.

Certain Enthusiasts keep making unverified edits, that are being accepted by bus times. Unfortunately unless a bus is seen working a service in an opco it can’t be taken as gospel.

 

[GusB]

That's pretty irritating, I removed them last time but quite frankly can't be bothered to again.

I know, I’m the same. I changed 37584 to scrapped, destroyed and written off as I knew it had been but has magically appeared at Camborne again. Maybe the best thing to do is ask someone in a First Hampshire and Dorset thread.

It sounds to me as if this was perhaps someone's favourite bus and they're in the "denial" stage of the grieving process!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I can assure you that in a report from the Carlton yards on 6th September it was with Trevor Wigley so First no longer own it and it's not coming back.

Certain Enthusiasts keep making unverified edits, that are being accepted by bus times. Unfortunately unless a bus is seen working a service in an opco it can’t be taken as gospel.

It sounds to me as if this was perhaps someone's favourite bus and they're in the "denial" stage of the grieving process!

Even now, they're donning their foil hats and stating the true 37584 is being secretly held in a unit near Axminster, ready to be restored to service in Cornwall. This picture from Richard Beaumont (in April 2021) is just deep fake trickery

 

[GusB]

Even now, they're donning their foil hats and stating the true 37584 is being secretly held in a unit near Axminster, ready to be restored to service in Cornwall. This picture from Richard Beaumont (in April 2021) is just deep fake trickery

View attachment 121477

Ah - the Strategic Reserve (Omnibological Division)!

 

[Whiteway215]

Even now, they're donning their foil hats and stating the true 37584 is being secretly held in a unit near Axminster, ready to be restored to service in Cornwall. This picture from Richard Beaumont (in April 2021) is just deep fake trickery

View attachment 121477

Axminster you say? I will keep a look out when next passing through!

I think with all this evidence we can safely assume it won’t be appearing again.

I thought there was a bit more to the story. I went back on the First Hampshire & Dorset Enthusiasts’ website.
Under FHD ‘Fleet Movements’ for 1 December 2020 under the heading 32525. That day Wigleys had towed 32525 from West Yorkshire to Weymouth. 32525 was on its way to Kernow, but was deposited at Weymouth.
The Wigley wrecker then attached 37584 and returned north to their yard.

At a later date Wigleys towed 32527 also destined for Kernow.
This time the Wigley wrecker deposited 32527 at Taunton, picked up fire victim 67707 for scrap and returned north.

 

[Accelerator59]

I give up! They’re all back again, including 37584 and now 37668 from First Cymru has been added does somebody know something we don’t?

 

[GusB]

I give up! They’re all back again, including 37584 and now 37668 from First Cymru has been added does somebody know something we don’t?

Where are these changes happening - is it on bustimes.org?

 

[Accelerator59]

Where are these changes happening - is it on bustimes.org?

No mate. On buslists.uk. Here’s the link. Also worth noting, LK59 FCX and LK59 FCY are also on there.

Quack77 - First Kernow fleet list

buslists.uk

 

[richw]

LK59 FCX and LK59 FCY are also on there

Those two are correct, Marc Huws posted a list on Twitter and they feature on that list.
Screenshot of list attached to this post.

 

[Accelerator59]

Those two are correct, Marc Huws posted a list on Twitter and they feature on that list.
Screenshot of list attached to this post.

Ah ok. Thanks for that. Are they going to be open or closed top?