• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

SWTH

SWTH

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2013
Messages
418
Location
Shrewsbury/Porthmadog/Exeter
"New looking" - that's because they are new. The engine stops at bus stops because they have stop/start systems fitted for Euro6 emissions compliance. The 'high pitch noise' is probably the turbocharger, most modern buses have it to some degree.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

richw

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,234
Location
Liskeard
busconductors said:
On Saturday I travelled from Bodmin to Hayle and back by bus. I travelled on the number 27 and number 18. The number 27 was the usual uncomfortable double decker. It was interesting to go upstairs for once. Since I was travelling the route end to end, it was possible. Usually I am worried about the time it takes for me to get upstairs and get down again. (I might miss getting off at my stop due to dodderiness).

I was expecting that the number 18 would be an overcrowded single decker, as it was the last time I got on it. I was surprised that it was a new looking red double decker with The Tinner on the side. I took The Tinner to be an advert for something at first, then realised it was the name of the bus. It was very different to the double deck I had just alighted from. The seats were comfy. There was a wide space for wheelchairs and buggies - important in these days of wheelchair user and buggy pusher confrontations. The only down side was the high pitch whirring coming from the engine at times. It seemed to be mostly when the bus was speeding up. Strangely the engine seemed to cut out out at every bus stop - not annoying just odd. It was only the high pitch noise that was annoying. Coming back I went upstairs which solved the noise problem, and surprise - tables and charging points. So that's The Tinner - plush and smart. It is just the noise that is the problem.
Click to expand...

They have stop start technology, much the same as my BMW car. Not sure how it works on the buses, but on my car put it in neutral with hand brake on and the engine turns off...dip clutch to out back in gear and it restarts.
 
F

FSW Official

Member
Joined
4 Feb 2016
Messages
290
richw said:
They have stop start technology, much the same as my BMW car. Not sure how it works on the buses, but on my car put it in neutral with hand brake on and the engine turns off...dip clutch to out back in gear and it restarts.
Click to expand...

It's a First specification, rather than a standard specification.
Because there is a set limit on the number of times it can operate in the hour to maintain operation of the vehicle, First specifies it so that it is operated on the opening of the doors rather than simply when stationary. This is on the basis that bus stop dwell time is greater than traffic dwell time, so maximising the off time in the number of available operations.
The vehicle starts again when the throttle is pressed from memory.
 
KendalKing

KendalKing

Established Member
Joined
4 Mar 2009
Messages
1,644
Location
North Lancs
busconductors said:
I was expecting that the number 18 would be an overcrowded single decker, as it was the last time I got on it. I was surprised that it was a new looking red double decker with The Tinner on the side. I took The Tinner to be an advert for something at first, then realised it was the name of the bus.
Click to expand...

Do you have read other peoples post?, If you did, then you would of known, about the new double decker buses on services 14 & 18.
 
H

henairs

Member
Joined
12 May 2014
Messages
507
Location
Yeovil
KendalKing said:
Do you have read other peoples post?, If you did, then you would of known, about the new double decker buses on services 14 & 18.
Click to expand...

Well where did you go to school then or did you skip that. Bad grammar so no star for you I'm afraid. LOL
 
G

Goldfish62

Established Member
Joined
14 Feb 2010
Messages
10,048
Busaholic said:
The 16A journeys to/from Zennor that are being renumbered 17A will reintroduce buses to the road north from Madron to the coastal road, near to Gurnard's Head. Presumably these journeys will be OK for double deckers: can be recommended for the scenic ride.
Click to expand...

It's fine. VRs and Lodekkas used that road at the last PZ running day.
 
83G/84D

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,960
Location
Cornwall
richw

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,234
Location
Liskeard
Goldfish62 said:
I see that the Mon-Fri half hourly Camborne shorts on the 18 (T1) are being withdrawn.
Click to expand...

But are extending all the way to Penzance/st ives. A quick glance at the timetable there is 15 minute intervals at Hayle,and appears to be half hourly to each Penzance and st Ives, unless I've missed something.
 
iantherev

iantherev

Member
Joined
3 Apr 2011
Messages
801
Location
Brecon Beacons
richw said:
But are extending all the way to Penzance/st ives. A quick glance at the timetable there is 15 minute intervals at Hayle,and appears to be half hourly to each Penzance and st Ives, unless I've missed something.
Click to expand...

That's the case with the present timetable - it's just that there are short workings on M-F at present giving a 10 minute frequency between Truro and Camborne, presumably to give extra capacity. I suspect with decker these can be dispensed with.
 
G

Goldfish62

Established Member
Joined
14 Feb 2010
Messages
10,048
richw said:
But are extending all the way to Penzance/st ives. A quick glance at the timetable there is 15 minute intervals at Hayle,and appears to be half hourly to each Penzance and st Ives, unless I've missed something.
Click to expand...

Which they do at the moment. The half hourly shorts are being withdrawn.
 
G

Goldfish62

Established Member
Joined
14 Feb 2010
Messages
10,048
SWTH said:
"New looking" - that's because they are new. The engine stops at bus stops because they have stop/start systems fitted for Euro6 emissions compliance. The 'high pitch noise' is probably the turbocharger, most modern buses have it to some degree.
Click to expand...

Euro 6 doesn't require stop-start for compliance. It's an optional extra which saves fuel. I understand it's very effective and quickly outweighs the cost of the equipment.
 
Busaholic

Busaholic

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Jun 2014
Messages
14,090
Goldfish62 said:
It's fine. VRs and Lodekkas used that road at the last PZ running day.
Click to expand...

I know: I was on one of the journeys. I reported on here at the time that due to a misunderstanding over the scheduling the two buses had met head to head on the coast road on a single lane section, and the VR had to back up for some distance (also the half dozen cars behind it!)
 
B

busconductors

Member
Joined
13 Sep 2015
Messages
84
83G/84D said:
News release from First on the launch of the "Tinner" buses:-

https://www.firstgroup.com/cornwall...new-£74m-fleet-high-tech-green-buses-hit-road
Click to expand...

Thank you 83G/84D. I see the launch was quite recent - 23rd January. Perhaps they should have left those security screens in place. It would have been less noisy for the passengers. The drivers must be closer to that high pitched whirring than the passengers, and I am wondering how they are able to stand it. I expect they all end up with tinnitus.
 
83G/84D

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,960
Location
Cornwall
busconductors said:
Thank you 83G/84D. I see the launch was quite recent - 23rd January. Perhaps they should have left those security screens in place. It would have been less noisy for the passengers. The drivers must be closer to that high pitched whirring than the passengers, and I am wondering how they are able to stand it. I expect they all end up with tinnitus.
Click to expand...

There wasn't a launch as such, the buses were put into service in batches starting mid December. I don't recall any excessive noise when I rode on one a few days ago, very few rattles and certainly no noticeable whining noises or anything similar.

I have only spoken to a couple of Camborne based drivers but all the feedback I've heard about the new buses is positive. I would imagine the passengers must be happy as well, extra capacity and brand new buses just doesn't happen very often down here.
 
richw

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,234
Location
Liskeard
busconductors said:
Thank you 83G/84D. I see the launch was quite recent - 23rd January. Perhaps they should have left those security screens in place. It would have been less noisy for the passengers. The drivers must be closer to that high pitched whirring than the passengers, and I am wondering how they are able to stand it. I expect they all end up with tinnitus.
Click to expand...

The buses are rear engined, so the driver is furthest away.
 
Busaholic

Busaholic

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Jun 2014
Messages
14,090
Can anyone in the know (which is at least one person reading this) tell me, definitively, whether the general public are always/sometimes/never allowed to use school/college buses, the route-numbered ones, that is? I'm assuming never, but FK are hardly forthcoming on the subject publically, but then that is the case for most bus companies in my experience. I've never seen published timetables for these services, but tbh I've not searched diligently either. Some companies publish these timetables, but don't allow non-scholars: others don't publish, but do (in some cases) allow other passengers. It's not that I've any burning desire to catch one, just interested to know whether it's possible.
 
MrKnow

MrKnow

Member
Joined
25 Jul 2016
Messages
83
Busaholic said:
Can anyone in the know (which is at least one person reading this) tell me, definitively, whether the general public are always/sometimes/never allowed to use school/college buses, the route-numbered ones, that is? I'm assuming never, but FK are hardly forthcoming on the subject publically, but then that is the case for most bus companies in my experience. I've never seen published timetables for these services, but tbh I've not searched diligently either. Some companies publish these timetables, but don't allow non-scholars: others don't publish, but do (in some cases) allow other passengers. It's not that I've any burning desire to catch one, just interested to know whether it's possible.
Click to expand...

All of the Truro & Penwith college services run by First are open to the public. The reason they aren't advertised in the book is mostly down to the services that run throughout the day in the area the college route serves (E.g. Truro - Newquay has the 93, 90 etc)., it would just be like a duplicate working plus the fact you'd have a bus full of students to contend with!
 
Last edited:
L

LAIRA

Member
Joined
25 Oct 2014
Messages
358
Busaholic said:
Can anyone in the know (which is at least one person reading this) tell me, definitively, whether the general public are always/sometimes/never allowed to use school/college buses, the route-numbered ones, that is? I'm assuming never, but FK are hardly forthcoming on the subject publically, but then that is the case for most bus companies in my experience. I've never seen published timetables for these services, but tbh I've not searched diligently either. Some companies publish these timetables, but don't allow non-scholars: others don't publish, but do (in some cases) allow other passengers. It's not that I've any burning desire to catch one, just interested to know whether it's possible.
Click to expand...

I have used the Truro school service to travel back to Marazion once successfully in mid term but when I went a second time in September all services were full as students must attend every day for the first two weeks.
 
B

busconductors

Member
Joined
13 Sep 2015
Messages
84
Busaholic said:
Can anyone in the know (which is at least one person reading this) tell me, definitively, whether the general public are always/sometimes/never allowed to use school/college buses, the route-numbered ones, that is? I'm assuming never, but FK are hardly forthcoming on the subject publically, but then that is the case for most bus companies in my experience. I've never seen published timetables for these services, but tbh I've not searched diligently either. Some companies publish these timetables, but don't allow non-scholars: others don't publish, but do (in some cases) allow other passengers. It's not that I've any burning desire to catch one, just interested to know whether it's possible.
Click to expand...

I have often caught the college bus which, starting from Cornwall College, brings students back to St Austell and Bodmin. I catch it from Penwithick. It follows a more direct route missing out Higher Bugle, Stenalees and Trezaise. It is a lot quicker.
 
Busaholic

Busaholic

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Jun 2014
Messages
14,090
LAIRA said:
I have used the Truro school service to travel back to Marazion once successfully in mid term but when I went a second time in September all services were full as students must attend every day for the first two weeks.
Click to expand...

You WERE unlucky that second time as I often pass through Marazion when it's coming through, with very few passengers on board. From Penzance I've seen it go on to Marazion completely empty (a decker as well!)
 
83G/84D

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,960
Location
Cornwall
Volvo B7RLE's 69221 & 69229 are parked up still awaiting a move to Somerset. 33460 & 33469 have both been seen this week attached to a tow truck whilst Dart 43859 was seen being towed into Camborne. Dart's 42873 & 42924 were on the 18 earlier this week.
Finally Scania 65759 was on service 21 earlier this week and 65761 was on service 10 on Wednesday.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top