Thanks for that, may go looking for that tomorrow.
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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)
- Thread starter RPI
- Start date
Thanks for that, may go looking for that tomorrow.
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R
RailUK Forums
It was one of those plans that disappeared when the lockdown came in, but wasn't sure if it was scrapped or not as it wasn't dependent on restrictions being lifted, but good to see the A5 route still being prepped for when it goes open top
fgwrich
Established Member
Oh that's a bit of a shame, as odd as it was it did look rather smart. I wonder if that means it'll be sent for repainting shortly into standard Kernow livery (unless they have a special version in mind).
I must say though, First really has come a long way away from the dreaded Barbie with some of these localised liveries across the new template. That discover base still looks excellent. And a lot more colourful and warming than the new Stagecoach version.
I think the two were planned to be used on a Falmouth park & ride service although I cannot see that operating this summer. It will be interesting to see what the plans are for them now, maybe no change for now then college services come September? Green livery is a good bet.
With them being planned for the Maritime P&R, a maritime based livery would be good, a blue based livery wouldn't look out of place with the Uni buses as well
Would also show what the new service is for, so everyone knows the service exists, maybe the Museum might part fund the livery?
Lizard1324
Member
Is there a new p+r site opening or does it just go around the existing car parks?
Run from existing park and ride car park to maritime museum. There is a low bridge on route hence big single deckers
Yeah still the Ponsharden site
A bus driver already found out you can't get a double decker bus under the bridge by Falmouth Town Station, reports said she was pretty embarrassed, especially as many vehicles has struck it over the years and its well known for its low height
Scanias
They are still specifically for the National Maritime Museum Park and Ride and rail replacement out of season. The NMM contract is an ongoing one not just for this season.
They will be receiving a dedicated livery as part of the contract - the NMMs choice - not ours.
Painting
Painting stopped when 92% of our customers stopped travelling - and paying.
Pretty much every business in the U.K. faced with a similar situation stopped all discretionary spending.
The paint programme is live again but the two external paint shops we use furlough staff and get going Again. We’re waiting on them. Quality in Botley are getting two vehicles next week - a coach from Cornwall and the last E300 from Somerset.
Bodmin can start in 3-4 weeks.
In addition we are starting a number of internal repaints shortly.
Open Tops
The 10 from Ensign have been acquires but the 7 conversions will need recertification and the three that are already open top need MOTs. Dvsa haven’t been undertaking either MOTs or certifications for three months. They may start again in July - albeit undoubtedly with a backlog.
They are still specifically for the National Maritime Museum Park and Ride and rail replacement out of season. The NMM contract is an ongoing one not just for this season.
They will be receiving a dedicated livery as part of the contract - the NMMs choice - not ours.
Painting
Painting stopped when 92% of our customers stopped travelling - and paying.
Pretty much every business in the U.K. faced with a similar situation stopped all discretionary spending.
The paint programme is live again but the two external paint shops we use furlough staff and get going Again. We’re waiting on them. Quality in Botley are getting two vehicles next week - a coach from Cornwall and the last E300 from Somerset.
Bodmin can start in 3-4 weeks.
In addition we are starting a number of internal repaints shortly.
Open Tops
The 10 from Ensign have been acquires but the 7 conversions will need recertification and the three that are already open top need MOTs. Dvsa haven’t been undertaking either MOTs or certifications for three months. They may start again in July - albeit undoubtedly with a backlog.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,045
Great update. Thanks very much.
Lizard1324
Member
So we have one paint shop starting this week for the e300 and a coach then moving to to other buses next and the Bodmin one in a few weeks.
What did the radio say?
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
What was the Radio Cornwall article saying? ps thanks for the update on the fleet
I agree that the Discover scheme is really quite a nice base; when it appeared, I wondered if it wouldn't make a nice Greater Manchester livery but instead, they divested most of the business
The First world is certainly a colourful place nowI would disagree with the "dreaded Barbie". The original scheme and the Barbie 3 weren't bad IMHO - they just ended up symbolising all that had gone wrong with First. Newly applied and kept clean, it looked ok.
However, then you had the Barbie 2 fades that did little to hide the fact that they were clagged onto an increasingly aged and battered fleet. Of course, First Devon and Cornwall seemingly were able to not bother with the pink fades on many occasions
cnjb8
Established Member
Is the Bodmin paintshop owned by First?
No...
Lizard1324
Member
According to this bus fleet list : https://bustimes.org/operators/first-kernow/vehicles
There is more b7tl geminis coming from Portsmouth, how many more are left to arrive from other depots and are they all b7tls.
Another question I was looking and our 07 plate b7 geminis were registered in April 2007 (e.g. 37181) and some of the first b9 geminis were registered in may - August 2007 (e.g. 37182), so does that make the kernow b7tl geminis the newest in the first fleet and when did the first (First bus) b9tl enter service
There is more b7tl geminis coming from Portsmouth, how many more are left to arrive from other depots and are they all b7tls.
Another question I was looking and our 07 plate b7 geminis were registered in April 2007 (e.g. 37181) and some of the first b9 geminis were registered in may - August 2007 (e.g. 37182), so does that make the kernow b7tl geminis the newest in the first fleet and when did the first (First bus) b9tl enter service
My Original Gemini suffered a fault earlier today. I’ve received 33176 in its place to finish my duty.
Final working today will be 1805 truro to Newquay 87.
It had just come off the TH051 school run when i needed it.
Final working today will be 1805 truro to Newquay 87.
It had just come off the TH051 school run when i needed it.
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Goldfish62
Established Member
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- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,045
Good to have the Tridents back. Feels like a bit of a step back to normality.
Lizard1324
Member
It looks good for a 18 year old vehicle.
Drives amazing. A really Lovely Bus to drive
fgwrich
Established Member
I have to admit, I do have a liking for the Plaxton Presidents with bonded glazing. They are another rather timeless design, with very little giving away their age. Put them in a very smart livery like Southern Vectis or Atlantic Coaster and they look as good as a new vehicle.
Will miss the remaining Tridents when they one day go, expect they will replaced by more cascades, don't think the services they work justify new buses?
fgwrich
Established Member
I agree that the Discover scheme is really quite a nice base; when it appeared, I wondered if it wouldn't make a nice Greater Manchester livery but instead, they divested most of the business
I would disagree with the "dreaded Barbie". The original scheme and the Barbie 3 weren't bad IMHO - they just ended up symbolising all that had gone wrong with First. Newly applied and kept clean, it looked ok.
However, then you had the Barbie 2 fades that did little to hide the fact that they were clagged onto an increasingly aged and battered fleet. Of course, First Devon and Cornwall seemingly were able to not bother with the pink fades on many occasions
That's true, but I still feel that Barbie 2 was a terrible livery and somehow managed to make any vehicle unlucky enough to be plastered with it look almost instantly dated. Barbie 3 did look smarter though, and I did find the Wrightbus Eclipse 2s & 3s delivered in it to look rather smart. Likewise, it did manage to bring even a relatively old Bristol VR or Leyland Olympian look rather smart, even if it's interior wasn't as new!
They’ve lost their private plates or they could pass as newer vehicles. Always thought they looked a nice smart design from the first time I saw them when the first came to Cornwall many years back
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,045
The President was originally designed to have bonded glazing only, but too many operators wanted gasket. Hence the uneven window line.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Apologies if I wasn't as clear as I should have been. Barbie 2 with the fades was awful IMO. Invariably, they would be scuffed and look shabby or a panel would be replaced and they wouldn't have vinyls available as in this case https://www.flickr.com/photos/capuc...Rq-wqdM9L-q89Jqu-xjcSoa-weDptz-HsMF52-xYhkZ3/
Barbie 3 was much better but in truth, the First image was so badly tarnished by then, it was too late
fgwrich
Established Member
I'm not surprised, there's quite a contrast between the much smarter bonded glazed vehicles and the rather lumpy looking, uneven window lined versions with the cheaper gasket glazing (as picked by Stagecoach, Go Ahead - B&H & GNE and First Centrewest). Even the smart Atlantic Coaster livery tried to make it look smarter than it is.
33235 LT52 WWY
First South West Dennis Trident / Plaxton President LT52 WWY (33235), in Atlantic Coasters c/s, passing through Penzance bus station, 19/02/19
www.flickr.com
That's fine, I was rather tired when I read & wrote that last night, so even I'm surprised my comment made sense
God only knows who or what convinced them to come up with that vinyl fade! Some of my earliest memories of it were from visiting relatives up in Edinburgh and seeing the scruffy Barbie 2 liveried vehicles overtaken by much smarter "Harlequin livery" buses from Lothian.