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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)
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No spare buses in Camborne garage then?
Three Tinner E400MMC's are out on route A17 but there's normally spare vehicles in Camborne.
That what I was thinking, but everyone seemed to get off 33142 and get on 33469 which I was on, there was a couple of 08 plate E400s, Lizard East Lanc, a couple of Tridents and a Coaster Solo, unless they were required for maintenance and couldn't be used for service I don't know
Although Kernow haven't announced on Facebook or Twitter that any T1/T2 services have been cancelled, so they must of found a bus to cover 33142 on its scheduled Tinner duties
Goldfish62
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So, recently Behind the Scenes stated that there was only one double decker left to repaint in the current fleet and separately stated that 17 Geminis are due from next April onwards. There happen to be 17 Tridents still in Barbie or Olympia livery so I would say these are the ones that are going and all the Tridents that have already been repainted are staying.
One of the 3717*, of the 5, 2 are in fleet green, 1 for blood bikes and 1 for Made in Cornwall I think the behind scenes page said
Busaholic
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A Mousehole-liveried bus was back today, but not on the M6 - it operated the 5 instead. By the way, what's happened to the new sds supposed to be working the A17? Not seen one for a couple of weeks, it seems to be predominantly Tinners at the moment.
One is parked up at Camborne - 53704 I think. Lizard Solo 53252 on service 47 today.
Two of the said buses arrived in "Urban" but I don't know if one or both have been repainted.
Three (37175,6,7)arrived in urban, 2 ready painted (37178/9)
Goldfish62
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They seem to be at Camborne. Maybe someone has realised that mid sized single decks can't cope on the A17 in the Summer.
Some are seeing use on services 46 and 47.
TheGrandWazoo
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I did think it was a strange conversion. I did think that the A17 would get new kit but I was thinking e200mmc rather than Solos.
Goldfish62
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Yes, I don't understand it myself. The Solos appear to be adequate outside the holiday season, but I could never see them working in the Summer.
It's a pity because the Penzance area, a main holiday destination, has the scrag end of the fleet. Mainly tired Tridents and ancient, unreliable Solos. Looking at the Bustimes map often illustrates this well.
First Kernow have posted the winter timetable changes commencing next month. The A17 serves the new stops at St Erth railway station (with slightly extended journey times) however it appears that the T1 will not.
On Sundays for most of the winter the A5 will only run between Newquay and Newquay Airport.
https://www.firstgroup.com/cornwall/news-and-service-updates/news/changes-buses-15-september-2019
On Sundays for most of the winter the A5 will only run between Newquay and Newquay Airport.
https://www.firstgroup.com/cornwall/news-and-service-updates/news/changes-buses-15-september-2019
Goldfish62
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It's most welcome that the A2/3/4 continue until mid Oct and start again a week earlier than this year on 5th April. Means that there are only five whole months without them.
Yes indeed. Hopefully the services will be well used (weather permitting) by locals and holidaymakers taking a late season break.
DaveHarries
Established Member
I agree on this. Also from a passenger side of things I find the new MMCs rather better than the previous Enviro200 Darts.
Nothing too substantial but I am rather surprised that the Service 24 is only going to be every 2 hours to / from Mevagissey. I wonder if they have ever tried running it through from Mevagissey to Gorran Haven.
Dave
That’s only Sunday’s is my interpretation that’s 2 hourly. Summercourt travel run between Meva and Gorran Haven I believe
Tinner E400MMC 33459 is on A17 today. I saw it at Penzance earlier.
37058 still at Camborne after very little use this summer, anyone know why?
Goldfish62
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It's a shame that availability of the open top B7s has been so poor this Summer. Today, which is pretty typical, there just six open tops out there of the 10 PVR. Of the other four one is an AC liveried Trident and the remaining three in faded Barbie or Urban livery.
Anyone know why availability has been so poor this year? Are the buses past it?
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Is that 10 just for the A1-3 loop? Is the A4 also supposed to be open top (for the short ones)?
Just looks like there’s very little slack if any so a late arriving 37058 and the regular servicing means there’s a shortage. Add a few breakdowns (these are 17 year old vehicles) and maybe that’s the reason?
Just asking - don’t wish to be accused of pursuing an anti Carter/Morgan-Huws agenda
Overall I honestly don't think it has been that bad. Okay some days have been bad with low availability including today but I reckon that more times than not the majority of the fleet has been in use. Just based on my own observations of the A1-A3 most days there have been a good number of open top vehicles in use.
Having said that 37058 only seems to have worked for two days whilst I have not seen Olympian 34137 in service at all. Has it used any of it's 20 day allocation?
I may have not been observing the routes as much as you Goldfish62 so my take on things might paint a better picture.
It must be annoying though if you come down for a trip on an open top bus and it's not one although if the weather isn't good it may be a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps the age of the vehicles and the nature of the routes is taking it's toll.
The route can be quite demanding with uphill sections and lots of stops and starts to allow vehicles to pass in the opposite direction.
Stagecoach in Stratford Upon Avon has similarly aged buses on it's sightseeing services, being replaced by newer ex London conversions for next summer.
Hopefully I will get a ride on the routes to see how things are going in a week or two.
Having said that 37058 only seems to have worked for two days whilst I have not seen Olympian 34137 in service at all. Has it used any of it's 20 day allocation?
I may have not been observing the routes as much as you Goldfish62 so my take on things might paint a better picture.
It must be annoying though if you come down for a trip on an open top bus and it's not one although if the weather isn't good it may be a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps the age of the vehicles and the nature of the routes is taking it's toll.
The route can be quite demanding with uphill sections and lots of stops and starts to allow vehicles to pass in the opposite direction.
Stagecoach in Stratford Upon Avon has similarly aged buses on it's sightseeing services, being replaced by newer ex London conversions for next summer.
Hopefully I will get a ride on the routes to see how things are going in a week or two.
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Busaholic
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Most of my observations are either in Penzance or in Marazion or Marazion-by-Pass, but are usually several times a day, and I haven't seen the Olympian once this summer.
Goldfish62
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I'd be very surprised if the Olympian had been used. Apart from special heritage services there's rightly an expectation that all buses are accessible.