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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

Goldfish62

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14 Feb 2010
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I remember having a day on the Dorset coast when the temperature hit 30 degrees a few years ago. I had a pair of those on the X51 and X53, and there wasn't much chill on those journeys :s
They were never that effective. The heat pumps fitted on current EVs are significantly better. Sometimes a bit too much.

The Mousehole Sprinters have at last had their blind displays updated to show route name, ultimate destination and via point.

They've also been fitted with interior next stop screens (currently non-operational). Here's 54111:
 

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vla50

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Has 36227 entered service yet? Doesn't seem to have tracked yet with Kernow but maybe it's operated out of an outstation on a route which doesn't track.
 

Bazer

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26 Mar 2007
Messages
50
Has 36227 entered service yet? Doesn't seem to have tracked yet with Kernow but maybe it's operated out of an outstation on a route which doesn't track.
No not yet still having defect clearance done before been cleared for service.
 

DaveHarries

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England
First BoS/Truronian starting FlixBus work next year from Taunton
RouteOne says other depots at Bristol, Bath, Slough, Truro, Weston-s-Mare and in Yorkshire also to be involved. The same publication also says 21x Yutong GT12 are on order in connection therewith.

Route One (route-one.net) said:
First Bus is the latest operator to sign up as a FlixBus partner. It will put 21 new Yutong GT12 coaches onto eight scheduled routes over the coming 12 months via a five-year partnership that the operator says will create 65 driver jobs. (...)


Dave
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Somerset with international travel (e.g. across th
RouteOne says other depots at Bristol, Bath, Slough, Truro, Weston-s-Mare and in Yorkshire also to be involved. The same publication also says 21x Yutong GT12 are on order in connection therewith.




Dave
It's interesting to see which depots are involved as some used to do NX work 20 years ago (such as Bath and Bristol) but others like Taunton and Weston never really did as they're not really natural terminus points for routes.

It's an interesting move for certain.
 

henryb

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27 Nov 2021
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Newton Abbot
It's interesting to see which depots are involved as some used to do NX work 20 years ago (such as Bath and Bristol) but others like Taunton and Weston never really did as they're not really natural terminus points for routes.

It's an interesting move for certain.
Post on FlixBus thread shows that they are doing a full expansion. London-Plymouth, London-Cornwall, London-Bath, London-WestonSuperMare
Bristol-Birmingham, Bristol Manchester
 

richw

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10 Jun 2010
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Liskeard
Post on FlixBus thread shows that they are doing a full expansion. London-Plymouth, London-Cornwall, London-Bath, London-WestonSuperMare
Bristol-Birmingham, Bristol Manchester
Some routes are only seasonal. The press release didn’t include that bit of detail though.
 

MarkC

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3 Nov 2016
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Will these First services replace the Roselyn operated Plymouth to London Flixbus operation?
 

fgwrich

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Hampshire
63672 has transferred from Portsmouth to Cornwall for PR1 testing by the looks of things
A couple of photos of its arrival have appeared on Flickr;

Photos show Solent branded Kite at Langarth Park and Ride.


 

richw

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Will these First services replace the Roselyn operated Plymouth to London Flixbus operation?
Roselyn are no longer involved. When they were, their involvement was to loan drivers to Berrys. They’ve never operated a service themselves.
I’m led to believe Berrys served notice to quit as wasn’t making them the money they expected.
 

MarkC

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3 Nov 2016
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233
Roselyn are no longer involved. When they were, their involvement was to loan drivers to Berrys. They’ve never operated a service themselves.
I’m led to believe Berrys served notice to quit as wasn’t making them the money they expected.
Ah I see that makes sense . Thanks for clarification. So by switching to First they will be able to have a much larger presence/operation from the South West. I wonder how/where they will operate Plymouth services from , or will they run empty down to Truro for maintenance etc
 

embers25

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16 Jul 2009
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Berrys are truly awful and their 21 plate coaches have zero legroom with broken recline levers. Worse coaches I've ever travelled on so they won't be missed.
 
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YorkRailFan

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6 Sep 2023
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York
Electrification of First's Taunton and Minehead depots has started:
Buses of Somerset has begun work to electrify its Taunton and Minehead depots, ready to operate 26 brand new electric buses from Spring 2025.

The works will create electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as upgrading the bus depots in Taunton and Minehead.

Once complete, the electric ready depots will enable a fleet of 26 double and single decker electric buses to run across Buses of Somerset’s routes, bringing cleaner, greener travel for local people.

The £14.7m project to bring EV (Electric Vehicle) buses to Somerset will be delivered in partnership with Somerset Council. Working together, an investment of £2.2m was secured for Somerset Council from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) government funding, alongside significant capital investment of £12.5m from First Bus South - which operates Buses of Somerset.

The introduction of the state-of-the-art electric buses to Buses of Somerset’s fleet is a first for bus travel in the area and leads the way in reducing emissions and improving air quality. The electric buses will replace part of Buses of Somerset’s diesel fleet and overall, it is expected that each electric bus will save up to 75 tonnes of tailpipe emissions per year.

The electric buses will provide smoother, quieter bus journeys for passengers and will run on routes including:

Route 28: Taunton to Minehead
Route 21: Taunton to Bridgwater
Route 22: Taunton to Wellington
Route 1: Taunton Town Service
Route 2: Taunton Town Service
In support of the Taunton and Minehead projects, representatives from Somerset Council including Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead member for Transport and Waste Services, and Somerset Bus Partnership visited Taunton depot to mark the start of works. The group were able to meet the depot team and see plans for the transformation of the depot.

Simon Goff, First Bus South Managing Director, said: “Today is an important milestone as work starts to transform Taunton and Minehead depots into electric ready bases for our new EVs. We look forward to getting these state-of- the-art new buses on the road for customers by Spring 2025.

“The 26 zero-emissions buses are fantastic news for passengers, bringing cleaner, greener vehicles to our routes, helping to improve air quality, and making bus travel even more sustainable. What’s more, the transformation of these depots will also bring smart new facilities for our staff at Taunton and Minehead.”

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead member for Transport and Waste services at Somerset Council, said:

"This is an important moment in our journey to bring electric buses to Somerset. The partnership with First Bus South has enabled us to take huge steps in the right direction to support the switch to sustainable methods of travel. We have a vision to transform bus services in our towns and working together, we are able to achieve that. I look forward to seeing the development of the Taunton and Minehead sites, and the arrival of electric buses next year."

The electrification of Taunton and Minehead is the next step in the company’s mission 2035 pledge to operate a fully zero emission fleet. In March this year, First Bus announced £89 million investment in 178 zero-emission buses and infrastructure across four regions of the UK.

Additionally, from Sunday 1 December, Tap On Tap Off will be introduced on Buses of Somerset:
Local bus operator, Buses of Somerset is launching Tap on Tap off (TOTO) technology across its routes in Somerset to provide customers with easy contactless payments.

From Sunday 1 December, customers traveling on Buses of Somerset routes in Somerset will be able to use their contactless device - bank card, smartphone or smartwatch - to pay for travel. The technology will also launch for First Wessex bus routes in neighbouring Dorset.

The Tap on Tap Off (TOTO) technology not only provides frictionless travel but also allows for speedy boarding and no need to ask the driver for tickets.

The TOTO technology offers:

Payment via contactless cards and contactless phone payments (including watches).
No need to pay the driver or choose a ticket to buy upfront, simply Tap on with the driver and Tap off on the dedicated reader (with the same form of payment) as you leave
Customers can check their fares and payments by logging in here: Somerset | First Bus
James Eustace, Commercial Director for Buses of Somerset, said: “Tap on Tap off technology allows our customers ultimate flexibility. We’re delighted that everyone using our routes in Somerset and Dorset will now be able to benefit.

“With rising costs, we know bus travel is a cost effective way to get around. Whether customers use the bus every day, or only travel occasionally, TOTO ensures a quick and easy way to pay for their journey.”

Two very positive stories, in particular, TOTO sounds very positive, especially in light of the £2 cap rising to £3.
 

Goldfish62

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Two very positive stories, in particular, TOTO sounds very positive, especially in light of the £2 cap rising to £3.
Seems better than the Cornwall scheme, which if taken as read charges you the full one day pass rate irrespective of whether you only travel one journey. Hence why no one uses it!
 

Goldfish62

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Journeys in Cornwall services are charged at £2 each and the caps applied if reached.
The publicity doesn't make that at all clear though. I'm not sure why the council went to the expense of installing the equipment when such a half-hearted approach is taken. I've never ever seen anyone taking advantage of it, yet in other areas almost every passenger uses Tap-on, Tap-off.
 

Snozzel

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12 Apr 2020
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Mid cornwall
The publicity doesn't make that at all clear though. I'm not sure why the council went to the expense of installing the equipment when such a half-hearted approach is taken. I've never ever seen anyone taking advantage of it, yet in other areas almost every passenger uses Tap-on, Tap-off.
Its used a lot around Falmouth and penryn.
 

Goldfish62

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Its used a lot around Falmouth and penryn.
Students who will be used to it from elsewhere? I also use it elsewhere when available but shy away from it in Cornwall because of the somewhat ambivalent way it's promoted. Nowhere in the publicity does it make clear that you will be charged less than the day ticket price if you don't reach the cap.

In the Penzance area I've noticed the Tap-off reader isn't even working on a lot of buses.

I think one of issues is that it can't apply the daily cap for town zone journeys, ie £3.50 instead of £7.50.
 

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