First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[Busaholic]

There's one Mousehole solo been out everyday recently: I've no idea of its identity, but it displays a stuck-on route number on the windscreen.

The situation regarding the lack of suitable buses for the M6 is starting to attract the local press i.e. the 'Cornishman' local weekly paper. In today's edition, a joint letter from residents of Mousehole, Newlyn and the Alverton Estate has been printed under the headline 'What's going on with our bus services?'. apparently on 28th September there were no buses entering Mousehole over a period of two hours, on a theoretical half-hourly headway. They have asked for an answer from the head of First Kernow. I suggest anyone interested watch this space: this has been going on far too long, and needs taking to another level.

 

[richw]

There's one Mousehole solo been out everyday recently: I've no idea of its identity, but it displays a stuck-on route number on the windscreen.

The situation regarding the lack of suitable buses for the M6 is starting to attract the local press i.e. the 'Cornishman' local weekly paper. In today's edition, a joint letter from residents of Mousehole, Newlyn and the Alverton Estate has been printed under the headline 'What's going on with our bus services?'. apparently on 28th September there were no buses entering Mousehole over a period of two hours, on a theoretical half-hourly headway. They have asked for an answer from the head of First Kernow. I suggest anyone interested watch this space: this has been going on far too long, and needs taking to another level.

Half the problem is there is no new buses available on the market that fit into mousehole with a suitable capacity. Portloe being the same issue on the 51. It means aging vehicles are having to be limped and nursed on to maintain a service. Very few small original Solos come up for sale second hand. There isn’t a solution currently on the market!

 

[Goldfish62]

Half the problem is there is no new buses available on the market that fit into mousehole with a suitable capacity. Portloe being the same issue on the 51. It means aging vehicles are having to be limped and nursed on to maintain a service. Very few small original Solos come up for sale second hand. There isn’t a solution currently on the market!

I don't see how that's true. There's the 7.9m Solo SR which is a mere 10 cm longer than the current Mousehole Solos and the same width and wheelbase. Considering 8.5m MB 811s have been used to Mousehole I'm sure the Solo SRs will fit.

 

[busKernow]

53709 has spent a while (at least 5-6 weeks) at Summercourt in the corner with a VOR sticker but it’s now gone.

53040 was on 22/50 duties today. First time I’ve seen that one for a while

53040 has been about still at Helston & Falmouth of late .

 

[MB162435]

Marshall Dart 41490 still going strong with Kernow. Currently working out of Falmouth Depot, seen on the 17:40 69 service to Mylor Bridge today

 

[richw]

Found a Kernow escapee in Portsmouth today

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

Indeed it is an escapee, it was meant to come back to us along with 32757 after they were finished with rail replacement runs, but it looks as if they're staying there for the long haul now!

OWB243 suffered a leak yesterday so it won't be back in service for a few days.

@Goldfish62 It's the width that's the issue, not the length. Another thing is that they're sometimes short of buses because of breakdowns that are caused by age-related reasons, though they haven't got the time to take the old buses out of service for long-term maintenance either.

 

[Warwick]

There's one Mousehole solo been out everyday recently: I've no idea of its identity, but it displays a stuck-on route number on the windscreen.

The situation regarding the lack of suitable buses for the M6 is starting to attract the local press i.e. the 'Cornishman' local weekly paper. In today's edition, a joint letter from residents of Mousehole, Newlyn and the Alverton Estate has been printed under the headline 'What's going on with our bus services?'. apparently on 28th September there were no buses entering Mousehole over a period of two hours, on a theoretical half-hourly headway. They have asked for an answer from the head of First Kernow. I suggest anyone interested watch this space: this has been going on far too long, and needs taking to another level.

I too saw that letter. I've noticed when I've been in my garden which overlooks Alverton Road that the occasional double-decker is on the M6. The driver of one which I took told me that they turn outside "The Coastguard" as they can't get into the village. Perhaps that's given rise to the no bus for hours. Incidentally, it was disappointing to see that the summer service wasn't it's usual 20" service but kept to the 30" interval.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

@Goldfish62 It's the width that's the issue, not the length.

In fairness, Goldfish did say

There's the 7.9m Solo SR which is a mere 10 cm longer than the current Mousehole Solos and the same width and wheelbase.

A Slimline Solo SR is 2.35m wide and has a range of wheelbase options which is what I think Goldfish was stating https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...ew+Euro+6+-+UK+Solo+Spec+Sheet+March+2018.pdf

 

[Goldfish62]

In fairness, Goldfish did say


A Slimline Solo SR is 2.35m wide and has a range of wheelbase options which is what I think Goldfish was stating https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...ew+Euro+6+-+UK+Solo+Spec+Sheet+March+2018.pdf

Yes, that's exactly what I was saying. Indeed, there is a smaller version than the current old Mousehole Solos.

 

[MB162435]

Dennis Dart 42876 on T1/T2 duties today, seen it on the 10:20 T2 service from Truro to St Ives

 

[Busaholic]

Dennis Dart 42876 on T1/T2 duties today, seen it on the 10:20 T2 service from Truro to St Ives

I saw it on the T1 at St Erth 5 p.m.ish with a good load, followed by an almost empty Uni MMC on the A17!

 

[MB162435]

Green E400 MMC 33320 on Rail Replacement duties today between Truro and Penzance, with Tridents, Tinners and Truronian Coaches also appearing

 

[VRT fan]

After a few months finally managed to catch a pic of this one. Plaxton President 33141 LR02 LWW at Padstow old railway station this morning.

 

[Accelerator59]

Some of you might already know and it might have already been said, so apologies if I’m echoing this, but FK has stated they have 6 brand new buses ordered for the 22/50/51 routes in a comment on their Facebook page and 32762 has had a makeover: https://www.facebook.com/630732460322814/posts/2094269890635723/

 

[83G/84D]

Trident 33155 on service T1 today. E400 33421 on service T2.

 

[83G/84D]

Tinner E400MMC 33457 on service A17 this afternoon and Trident 33002 on service U4 at Penzance early afternoon. Trident 32762 is at Camborne awaiting branding for routes L1 / L2.

 

[richw]

33142 laying over at Padstow this afternoon

 

[83G/84D]

Uni E400MMC on a T1 service westbound at Camborne before 9am then about an hour later Trident 33155 on an eastbound T2.

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

Caught a lovely shot of two passing vehicles earlier, I believe PJ02PZY was on a Truro college run at the time.

 

[83G/84D]

Legoland Trident seen in Camborne on service T1 earlier today.

 

[CD]

DVSA taking an interest in the Trident fires.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/two-fires-first-bus-double-2119580

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

MIG 3844 (KP51 WCY) has been seen in service at Penzance, glad to know it's finally out on the road again!

And out of nowhere after doing the Duchy college run today, TFO319 has now got a flat tire!

Any news on N528LHG?

 

[KendalKing]

DVSA taking an interest in the Trident fires.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/two-fires-first-bus-double-2119580

Why isn't DVSA, taking interest in all the bus fires, that there have been this year?

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

Maybe they like to pick on the smaller companies (and franchises of bigger companies like First Group PLC), which normally results in a sanction or a license removal. In my opinion they should go deal with the bigger issues and let the smaller companies (and franchises) investigate the problems themselves. (Though saying that, DVLA won't know how true their statements will be, even if they are always true)

 

[richw]

Why isn't DVSA, taking interest in all the bus fires, that there have been this year?

I googled the subject of bus fires, I’ve found articles relating to 50+ fires nationally in last 12 months of which over 20 were Tridents!

 

[KendalKing]

I googled the subject of bus fires, I’ve found articles relating to 50+ fires nationally in last 12 months of which over 20 were Tridents!

That is alarming, to say the lest! Which average's to a bus being on fire every six-days.

So there is a serious problem somewhere, with there being so many bus fires nationally.

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

I bet you if there was a tiny independent company with only a few staff and about 6 or 7 buses and 2 routes, the quality would be beyond amazing, cause you wouldn't need to stress about dealing with so many buses and so many staff members all the time. Saying that, bigger companies = bigger communities and more profit etc, but what of the passengers' view?

 

[Volvodart]

Why isn't DVSA, taking interest in all the bus fires, that there have been this year?

They do take an interest in bus fires. Stagecoach Highland was up before the Traffic Commissioners for a bus fire a while back because the coach should not have been on the road.

 

[richw]

That is alarming, to say the lest! Which average's to a bus being on fire every six-days.

So there is a serious problem somewhere, with there being so many bus fires nationally.

It’s still a tiny proportion of buses that are on the road.
Cars, lorries, trains are all having fires too.
Fires are much more likely on extreme high mileage engines. These old Tridents have several million miles on them.