First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[MB162435]

Trident 33176 on U1/U2 duties today and fellow Trident 33113 on U3 services

For anyone who doesn't know, you can see what buses on are on what routes by going on bustimes by clicking on the route you want to see and it shows what buses are 'online', which shows the bus ID, destination and if it is early, on time or late. Not all buses on that route are shown and some routes don't show any buses sometimes, but handy if you are on the look out for a specific bus. Which might be helpful to see if any of the new buses are out in service, only found out about this when someone mentioned it on Facebook the other day, found it really interesting, works for other operators as well as First Kernow such as Go Cornwall and also other Uk regions

The website address is: https://bustimes.org/operators/first-kernow

 

[Goldfish62]

No new Solos in service at Helston earlier today, all L1/L2 services seen were deckers.

At least 9 new Solos seen from outside Penzance depot.

Again all A17 services seen were deckers.

Given that the Solos seem to be congregating at Penzance when it's only due to receive three of them I do wonder if they're waiting to be re-registered. After all, March is only just over a week away.

 

[Penwithian]

To add to the detail posted by KK, this from First Kernow - behind the scenes.

'Our new Optare Solos are now being delivered to us.
53860 and 53251 were delivered on Wednesday
53861 and 53862 are due today

53860
Fleet Green
WK68 BSO
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53861
Fleet Green
WK68 BSU
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53862
Fleet Green
WK68 BSV
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53863
Fleet Green
WK68 BSX
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53864
Fleet Green
WK68 BSY
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53865
Fleet Green
WK68 BSZ
Optare Solo S/L 8.5m

53251
Atlantic Coaster
WK68 BTE
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53252
The Lizard
WK68 BTF
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53253
Atlantic Coaster
WK68 BTO
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53254
The Lizard
WK68 BTU
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53255
Atlantic Coaster
WK68 BTV
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53256
The Lizard
WK68 BTX
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53257
Fleet Green
WK68 BTY
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

53258
Fleet Green
WK68 BTZ
Optare Solo S/L 9.9m

These will replace the following 12 members of the existing fleet...
42871/2/3/4/5/6
42942
43810
43878
53402
53403
53404

However, with a significant commitment to rail replacement between mid February and mid March, a number of the longer Darts will be covering for coaches on school and college contracts, so will be around for another 6 weeks or so.'

Thanks for this information.
Is it the intention to schedule the 3 Atlantic Coaster liveried Solo's on the A17 Pendeen to St Ives route? If so as a regular user of this service I can say that the move will be unpopular with the public. It is true that there are a low number of passengers during the daytime between Penzance and St Just/Pendeen, however in particular the 9am and 10am departures from Pendeen and 4.20pm from Penzance include students. Often a full sized double decker can be almost full. I can envisage standing room only to and from St Just and Penzance if this is the case.

 

[Goldfish62]

Thanks for this information.
Is it the intention to schedule the 3 Atlantic Coaster liveried Solo's on the A17 Pendeen to St Ives route? If so as a regular user of this service I can say that the move will be unpopular with the public. It is true that there are a low number of passengers during the daytime between Penzance and St Just/Pendeen, however in particular the 9am and 10am departures from Pendeen and 4.20pm from Penzance include students. Often a full sized double decker can be almost full. I can envisage standing room only to and from St Just and Penzance if this is the case.

They will be on the A17. The route has a PVR of five and two double deckers will remain on the route, covering these busiest journeys.

 

[Penwithian]

They will be on the A17. The route has a PVR of five and two double deckers will remain on the route, covering these busiest journeys.

That is good to know it will be interesting to see how they perform.

 

[83G/84D]

All three trainer Volvo B7TL's are now in branded training scheme, 30880 was the last to receive branding this week. Trident 32758 was towed into Camborne last night by Jose Recovery. New Solo WK68 BTY was in Camborne today.

 

[MrKnow]

All three trainer Volvo B7TL's are now in branded training scheme, 30880 was the last to receive branding this week. Trident 32758 was towed into Camborne last night by Jose Recovery. New Solo WK68 BTY was in Camborne today.

good to hear Kernow have prioritised branding up their trainer fleet while there are still repainted buses going around in service without any branding! With it being half term and surplus buses being available due to no schools or colleges you'd think this week would be an ideal opportunity to get them done!

 

[MB162435]

Dennis Trident 33111 made a very rare appearance today on PR1 services between Langarth P&R and Tregurra P&R

 

[richw]

An unusual visitor to St Austell today... After a Dart breakdown this morning, uni mmc worked one leg of a 22. Here it is parked up in St Austell. It was hastily swapped for a Dart that was parked in St Austell on staff taxi duty.
It later worked staff taxi to Summercourt about 1530.

 

[Busandrail]

32758 has a damaged exhaust from what iv been told. Also 53254 has just appeared in Helston this evening for service on Monday.

 

[Bazer]

Dennis Trident 33111 made a very rare appearance today on PR1 services between Langarth P&R and Tregurra P&R

It had to cover 64057 for a trip because it had a DPF regeneration fault come up, which the 15 plate citaros have a problem with as they build for long runs not short 20 minute trips across town. For a 16 year old Trident 33111 isn't a bad bus, goes quite well and the noise it makes with the cooling fan locked in is quite pleasing

 

[83G/84D]

I have today been out observing and travelling on the rail replacement service between Exeter and Taunton. First and numerous other coach companies were involved in the operation and everything seemed to run smoothly. There were plenty of staff on hand including some familiar faces from First Kernow. All the drivers were helpful and friendly whilst also reminding all passengers to ensure they used the seatbelts provided.


First South West / Kernow observations were:-

Scania K114:- 23325, 23318, 23315, 23322, 23011.

Volvo B12B;- 20556, 20557.

Volvo B9R:- 20808, 20811, 20809.

Dart:- 43907 (Bike Bus).

E200:- 44508 (staff shuttle @ Taunton).


Ex SPS hire in’s were:-

Mercedes Benz Tourismo:- BN17 JHV (920), BF65 HVN (923), BN17 JHZ (921).

Yutong;- YG65 APZ (2), YJ14 JFK (17), YC15 WDF (1), YJ14 JFG.


All the former SPS vehicles carried FSW legals.

 

[Busaholic]

Dennis Trident 33111 made a very rare appearance today on PR1 services between Langarth P&R and Tregurra P&R

Damn! I don't often get to Truro these days but had a Treliske appt earlier. I saw the bus, but assumed it was on the T1/2 or something.

 

[83G/84D]

Volvo B9R 20801 arrived in Camborne yesterday after refurbishment joining 20803 that arrived on Thursday. Both are in plain coaching / GWR green.

 

[83G/84D]

32758 has a damaged exhaust from what iv been told. Also 53254 has just appeared in Helston this evening for service on Monday.

32758 was on an early morning road test at Camborne today.

 

[Wessexbuses]

53254 is out today due into Redruth at 1411 no other details sorry

seen on a first kernow facebook group

 

[MB162435]

Damn! I don't often get to Truro these days but had a Treliske appt earlier. I saw the bus, but assumed it was on the T1/2 or something.

I initially thought it was on the 87 as Tridents so still appear on Newquay services from time to time, until it got closer and I realised it was on a PR1 service!

 

[philthetube]

good to hear Kernow have prioritised branding up their trainer fleet while there are still repainted buses going around in service without any branding! With it being half term and surplus buses being available due to no schools or colleges you'd think this week would be an ideal opportunity to get them done!

I is good to hear, encouraging enough people to drive their services is far more important then having their service busses looking pretty.

 

[83G/84D]

New Solos 53252, 53254 and 53256 in Lizard branding plus 53257 and 53258 in standard green at Helston outstation today.

Also here were Trident 32762 in Lizard branding and 32756 still in basic Lizard colours without branding.

 

[MB162435]

Ah

It had to cover 64057 for a trip because it had a DPF regeneration fault come up, which the 15 plate citaros have a problem with as they build for long runs not short 20 minute trips across town. For a 16 year old Trident 33111 isn't a bad bus, goes quite well and the noise it makes with the cooling fan locked in is quite pleasing

Ah, thanks for explaining 33111's appearance on the P&R. I have seen normal Kernow buses cover for the Citaros in the past, the solar's were often the first pick being ex-P&R anyway, but Tridents and double deckers in general are always a rare but welcome surprise on the P&R services

 

[co-tr-paul]

New Solos 53252, 53254 and 53256 in Lizard branding plus 53257 and 53258 in standard green at Helston outstation today.

Also here were Trident 32762 in Lizard branding and 32756 still in basic Lizard colours without branding.

That's the full Lizard fleet ??!

 

[MrKnow]

I is good to hear, encouraging enough people to drive their services is far more important then having their service busses looking pretty.

I'm fairly confident the vast majority of the general public see more 'Pretty service buses' going around then the odd trainer! Keeping a tidy smart fleet that encourages people to use the bus which in turn pays for the company to recruit more drivers is the better option you'd think....

 

[83G/84D]

That's the full Lizard fleet ??!

No sign of any in service yesterday. The L1 was worked by a Trident and E200MMC.

Presumably all will be out in service today.

 

[richw]

Presumably all will be out in service today.

The behind the scenes Facebook page posted last night that all 14 were positioned for service today.

 

[83G/84D]

Thanks, 53257 working the 0739 Helston to Pool college service 39.

 

[83G/84D]

53252 working 0732 Coverack to Truro service L2.

 

[83G/84D]

53258 working the 0907 Helston Tesco to St Keverne. No ticket machine fitted!

 

[83G/84D]

53258 working the 0907 Helston Tesco to St Keverne. No ticket machine fitted!

Swapped at Helston on return with Trident 33084 continuing to Truro.

 

[83G/84D]

No new Solos on L1 services due to the rear overhang bottoming out and scraping the ground somewhere between Helston and the Lizard apparently.

Trident 33071 & Atlantic Coaster Trident 33235 on U4 services.

 

[83G/84D]

Atlantic Coaster Solo 53251 working the 1100 St Ives to Madron and 53253 in the 1130 St Ives to Pendeen.