First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[83G/84D]

Broken down Atlantic Coaster 32097 is in Camborne joining broken down trainer B7TL 30880.

The Optare Metrodecker was still there this afternoon.

 

[83G/84D]

Seems like most posters on this thread have gone into winter hibernation but here goes anyway......

Anyone ‘on the inside’ know when the new buses will be delivered? December was previously mentioned but no signs yet.
Do ADL /Optare have a Christmas shutdown?

 

[Goldfish62]

Seems like most posters on this thread have gone into winter hibernation but here goes anyway......

Anyone ‘on the inside’ know when the new buses will be delivered? December was previously mentioned but no signs yet.
Do ADL /Optare have a Christmas shutdown?

Stated on the First Kernow behind the scenes FB page that they're being signed off at the factory on 10 January. They're Optare, not ADL.

Other news is that 5 mid-life Volvo Gemini double decks are due. No idea where from.

 

[goldisgood]

Stated on the First Kernow behind the scenes FB page that they're being signed off at the factory on 10 January. They're Optare, not ADL.

Other news is that 5 mid-life Volvo Gemini double decks are due. No idea where from.

Maybe the 5 currently on loan at Bristol?

 

[83G/84D]

Stated on the First Kernow behind the scenes FB page that they're being signed off at the factory on 10 January. They're Optare, not ADL.

Other news is that 5 mid-life Volvo Gemini double decks are due. No idea where from.

Thanks for the update.

 

[83G/84D]

Maybe the 5 currently on loan at Bristol?

Good call, would make sense but then this is First we are talking about so anything is possible.

 

[mic]

Maybe the 5 currently on loan at Bristol?

are those the ones at Bristol on loan from First West Yorkshire if so they are 32616 to 20

 

[83G/84D]

are those the ones at Bristol on loan from First West Yorkshire if so they are 32616 to 20

They are the ones. Used initially on rail replacement during the Filton four tracking. Rode on one and seemed to be decent buses.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

are those the ones at Bristol on loan from First West Yorkshire if so they are 32616 to 20

Correction - they are 36216-20.

I’d have expected FK to get e400 rather than B9s - FSW aren’t keen on Volvos

 

[83G/84D]

Optare Metrodecker MD1 (YJ17 FXX) is at Camborne, looks like the one that was at Tremough recently although I did not see it so cannot confirm.

Still parked up at Camborne.

 

[Goldfish62]

Still parked up at Camborne.

It's going to be in service soon on the U3.

 

[83G/84D]

Thanks.

 

[83G/84D]

Dart 42558 seen at the Eden project today looking very smart in its recently applied green paint.

 

[Blackpudding]

Correction - they are 36216-20.

I’d have expected FK to get e400 rather than B9s - FSW aren’t keen on Volvos

Merry Xmas all. Catching up and thought it was a good call 'TGW' but just reading the Kernow facebook page it says Volvo Gemini. Also stated they would prefer mid life vehicles. I wouldn't have 36216-36220 down as mid life. More likely, in my view to be 07-09 B9TL or very late B7TL from Glasgow/Leeds

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Merry Xmas all. Catching up and thought it was a good call TGW but just reading the Kernow facebook page it says Volvo Gemini. Also stated they would prefer mid life vehicles. I wouldn't have 36216-36220 down as mid life. More likely, in my view to be 07-09 B9TL or very late B7TL from Glasgow/Leeds

Not disputing the post - just thought it odd as they’ve tended to have Tridents and e200/e300s cascaded into FSW (FK and BoS) whilst shipping out Volvos. Would sooner have those B9s in Bristol and send 5 e400s down instead - just personal prejudice

 

[Blackpudding]

Not disputing the post - just thought it odd as they’ve tended to have Tridents and e200/e300s cascaded into FSW (FK and BoS) whilst shipping out Volvos. Would sooner have those B9s in Bristol and send 5 e400s down instead - just personal prejudice

Ha! The beauty of this hobby is that we all have different viewpoints. I accept your view but I always wondered why Kernow would keep 32097, a single closed top 2002 Volvo B7TL, in daily service rather than replace it with a Trident. In addition I wouldn't send E400's down but remove the three they have (33420-33422 inc.) and replace them with Volvo of which First have far more mid life vehicles than ADL products.

As an aside although I have not yet looked into the detail I see in the results posted for 2017/18 they made a profit of £525k an improvement of £2.3m on last year. Well done all round.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ha! The beauty of this hobby is that we all have different viewpoints. I accept your view but I always wondered why Kernow would keep 32097, a single closed top 2002 Volvo B7TL, in daily service rather than replace it with a Trident. In addition I wouldn't send E400's down but remove the three they have (33420-33422 inc.) and replace them with Volvo of which First have far more mid life vehicles than ADL products.

As an aside although I have not yet looked into the detail I see in the results posted for 2017/18 they made a profit of £525k an improvement of £2.3m on last year. Well done all round.

They’ve tended to go with Dennis/ADL for Kernow and Somerset as they tend to be better on fuel and parts (Volvos cost a lot when they fail); that’s why the Eclipses were sent north and why Tridents rather than B7TLs were sent down.

32097 was sent down as an emergency when
WG failed and was allegedly to be open topped. It is a bit of an anomaly but that batch is spread far and wide!

Quite right on those results - from being a basket case, they’ve done a superb job.

 

[Blackpudding]

They’ve tended to go with Dennis/ADL for Kernow and Somerset as they tend to be better on fuel and parts (Volvos cost a lot when they fail); that’s why the Eclipses were sent north and why Tridents rather than B7TLs were sent down.

32097 was sent down as an emergency when
WG failed and was allegedly to be open topped. It is a bit of an anomaly but that batch is spread far and wide!

Agree with all your comments, but sometimes the answer is you can't have what you want but what's available and in this case it would appear to be Volvo as it is the dominant mid life chassis in the First fleet.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Granted that Volvos are undeniably much more prevalent. However, there are certainly e400s - a return (of sorts) for 33411-419 (56 plates) back to the deep South West from WoE, 33423-5 or 33504 (onwards - 08/58 plates) from either Essex or WoE and that's before you get to the 12 plates.

I'd certainly prefer keeping some 12 plate Volvos in Bristol and let Kernow have 33658 et al back However, you're right that beggars can't be choosers but they have been rather good at assembling ADLs so far and moving on Volvos so it is a little surprising.

 

[Accelerator59]

36216-220 are 12 plate Gemini’s (BJ12 VWY/VXA/B/C/D)

 

[CD]

36216-220 are 12 plate Gemini’s (BJ12 VWY/VXA/B/C/D)

Its not the first visit of those 5 to the South. They were on the P&R for the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth. I had two of them 36217/8 on it.

 

[83G/84D]

Some of the Darts soon to leave the fleet have been in use today, 42872 & 42874 on service 47 and 42873 on services 38 / 39A.

 

[83G/84D]

Vamooz Trident 33176 on Tinner services this morning. E200 44919 is the first to receive Kernow green, seen today unbranded.

 

[83G/84D]

Just been looking back at this thread, give or take a few days it’s 2 years since the E400MMC’s started on the ‘Tinner’ services.

What an interesting year 2018 has been for First Kernow!

 

[KendalKing]

What an interesting year 2018 has been for First Kernow!

2019 Also promises to be an interesting year!

 

[83G/84D]

32756 is the latest Trident to receive ‘Lizard’ colours although it still waits application of the pictures etc.

 

[DaveHarries]

2019 Also promises to be an interesting year!

In what ways I wonder? Will be itneresting to find out.

Dave

 

[83G/84D]

Is KendalKing in the know or just teasing us? Maybe we’ll find out.

 

[Busaholic]

Saw a U4 coming Into Penzance today with that destination and a 'via Tesco' below it. Which Tesco, given the journey originated in Falmouth? Certainly not PZ's , which is notoriously difficult to visit other than by car or free shopper's service bus. I guess Helston's, but you shouldn't have to guess.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Is KendalKing in the know or just teasing us? Maybe we’ll find out.

Intriguing. More welcome new buses but don't know what else.... route network seems ok, most routes have branding (or are Kernow green) and they've tarted up the bus stations so be interested if more is planned