First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[richw]

I'm back from a few days away in far distant lands!

Open top Volvo B7TL 32027 was being worked on in Camborne depot this afternoon whilst a Vovo Citybus paraded the victorious Cornwall Rugby team through Truro today.

Newells Travel liveried coach also being worked on in Camborne depot today.

It wasn't a Citybus for the rugby parade, it was the Olympian open topper (seen on west country news live. Unless there was 2 open toppers used and the other didn't make the shots on tv)

 

[Busaholic]

It wasn't a Citybus for the rugby parade, it was the Olympian open topper (seen on west country news live. Unless there was 2 open toppers used and the other didn't make the shots on tv)

Both 17B buses I saw today were Citybuses, but the 1 journey that should have been worked by an opentopper was a closedtop decker..

 

[richw]

Travelled on the 56 1200 off Newquay- although it may have actually been the 1100.

The 56 timetable isn't fit for purpose from what I've seen today. 45 minutes lost due to holiday and beach traffic (and a funeral in St Mawgan) arrived in Padstow 50 minutes later than scheduled.

 

[83G/84D]

Some new arrivals at Camborne at the moment:-

Volvo B7TL's 30881 & 30898 from South Yorkshire & B7TL's 32102, 32104 & 32202 from Norwich. At least one had First South West (Kernow) legals applied.

Also here were Trident's 32859 & 32930 from Buses of Somerset.

More details of incoming buses here:-



Presidents to Cornwall
With permission from First, I may now publish that eight of Eastern Counties Volvo B7TL Plaxton Presidents that have been stored at Roundtree Way in Norwich for the past couple of weeks will be transferred down to First's Kernow operations in the South West as early as next week. Employees from Kernow were present today to give the vehicles a once over and they were deemed acceptable and as a result were signed off.

32209 in Yarmouth earlier this year.

The vehicles set to transfer are as follows:

32102 LT02ZCL
32103 LT02ZCN
32104 LT02ZCO
32200 LT52WTE
32202 LT52WTG
32207 LT52WTN
32208 LT52WTO
32209 LT52WTP

A ninth will be coming from Yarmouth iminently.

For those familiar with the Cornwall scene, the guys from Kernow told me that they have six Olympians left in active service and they should all be withdrawn come the Autumn. As for the open toppers, they'll be replaced next year with lowfloor versions.
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest


Source:-http://www.norwichbuspage.com/2016/05/presidents-to-cornwall.html

 

[richw]

At least 5 Olympians were in the Padstow area today. R662NHY, S677AAE, P***UCW and 2 more were parked in the park and ride not in service seen on my travels today.
We keep mentioning Olympians being near the end due to DDA but also a number of Tridents aren't DDA

 

[83G/84D]

As you implied richw, I would think that the new arrivals are primarily to replace the non- DDA Trident's that moved down from Plymouth.

 

[richw]

As you implied richw, I would think that the new arrivals are primarily to replace the non- DDA Trident's that moved down from Plymouth.

Some driver contacts report the 02 and 52 Tridents are configured to cope better with Cornwall than the T plate ones (many on HIG plates) - I'm assuming power/gearing as the older ones really struggle on hills from my observations, but the 02 plate ones already here go ok.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Do we have any idea which 1999-2001 Tridents are DDA compliant? Surely 32802 must be compliant due to its relatively recent repaint.

 

[richw]

Do we have any idea which 1999-2001 Tridents are DDA compliant? Surely 32802 must be compliant due to its relatively recent repaint.

Most of the ex London ones that were originally double doors. They were certified and modified when the centre door was removed.
The ex -Scotland ones aren't.

 

[FSW Official]

The Plymouth W and X reg Tridents are not DDA compliant

The T reg Tridents are DDA compliant, barring one in Somerset and 817 which is being used for spares in Cornwall

The two South Yorkshire B7TLs that have just arrived are non DDA compliant. They were obtained as a source of spare parts, but are entering service in place of Irizar Century coaches which are moving to Somerset to cover additional cchool contracts

All other B7TLs in the fleet are DDA compliant

6 Tridents are also due from Eastern Counties this year, as are 6 (maybe 7 to include the non DDA compliant one in the short term) from Somerset.

More coaches and mini coaches are due later in the year from Scotland and Essex.

The two L reg Olympians are not leaving the fleet - one is now repainted in Fal River livery and is in the process of being retrimmed. It is likely that we will keep the open top Olympian too, and possibly a D10M for conversion to a tree cutter!

 

[richw]

The two L reg Olympians are not leaving the fleet - one is now repainted in Fal River livery and is in the process of being retrimmed!

L311PWR is at Padstow so can safely work out the other is in for repaint.
The malpas run at low tide is a closed contract I'm guessing so not covered by DDA.

I was thinking today that the 56 would make a great open top route, far more scenic than the Lands end run.

 

[FSW Official]

L311PWR is at Padstow so can safely work out the other is in for repaint.
The malpas run at low tide is a closed contract I'm guessing so not covered by DDA.

I was thinking today that the 56 would make a great open top route, far more scenic than the Lands end run.

1. Yes
2. Correct
3. Except that the upper deck capacity is needed regardless of the weather. However, the 57 would...

 

[THarris123]

The Plymouth W and X reg Tridents are not DDA compliant

The T reg Tridents are DDA compliant, barring one in Somerset and 817 which is being used for spares in Cornwall

The two South Yorkshire B7TLs that have just arrived are non DDA compliant. They were obtained as a source of spare parts, but are entering service in place of Irizar Century coaches which are moving to Somerset to cover additional cchool contracts

All other B7TLs in the fleet are DDA compliant

6 Tridents are also due from Eastern Counties this year, as are 6 (maybe 7 to include the non DDA compliant one in the short term) from Somerset.

More coaches and mini coaches are due later in the year from Scotland and Essex.

The two L reg Olympians are not leaving the fleet - one is now repainted in Fal River livery and is in the process of being retrimmed. It is likely that we will keep the open top Olympian too, and possibly a D10M for conversion to a tree cutter!

So the ex Manchester W reg B7s are DDA compliant?

What's going to displace the 6/7 Tridents out of Somerset?

 

[mic]

So the ex Manchester W reg B7s are DDA compliant?

What's going to displace the 6/7 Tridents out of Somerset?

the ex Manchester 30871 to 80 where converted before entering service at Manchester 30871 to 73/75 to 80 seat 28 downstairs and 30874 seats 27 downstairs

 

[Goldfish62]

The Plymouth W and X reg Tridents are not DDA compliant

The T reg Tridents are DDA compliant, barring one in Somerset and 817 which is being used for spares in Cornwall

The two South Yorkshire B7TLs that have just arrived are non DDA compliant. They were obtained as a source of spare parts, but are entering service in place of Irizar Century coaches which are moving to Somerset to cover additional cchool contracts

All other B7TLs in the fleet are DDA compliant

6 Tridents are also due from Eastern Counties this year, as are 6 (maybe 7 to include the non DDA compliant one in the short term) from Somerset.

More coaches and mini coaches are due later in the year from Scotland and Essex.

The two L reg Olympians are not leaving the fleet - one is now repainted in Fal River livery and is in the process of being retrimmed. It is likely that we will keep the open top Olympian too, and possibly a D10M for conversion to a tree cutter!

Great plan to have a tree lopper again. Councils no longer have the resources to deal with trees so it will doubtless pay for itself by avoiding plenty of expensive repair bills.

 

[Busaholic]

Travelled on the 56 1200 off Newquay- although it may have actually been the 1100.

The 56 timetable isn't fit for purpose from what I've seen today. 45 minutes lost due to holiday and beach traffic (and a funeral in St Mawgan) arrived in Padstow 50 minutes later than scheduled.

On Thursday I observed a 17B at Chyandour at 12.48 bound for PZ bus station, so would have got there about 12.50, some 45 minutes late. At 12.55 I passed the next inbound 17B at Marazion Cemetery, some 7 minutes late, but in reality 20 minutes behind on an hourly service. Marazion can present its own problems of course, which may affect only one journey, whereas St Ives will be a problem for the whole service on a bad traffic day.

 

[KendalKing]

Great plan to have a tree lopper again. Councils no longer have the resources to deal with trees so it will doubtless pay for itself by avoiding plenty of expensive repair bills.

This is something, which I keep bring-up in my local area. But, unfortunately, nobody taking any notice. My greatest fear is that it is only a matter of time, before somebody gets seriously hurt or killed.

 

[henairs]

32859 was seen today in Bridgwater so still up in Somerset.
32883 also on 21s with another Barbie live red Trident on Depot (unknown)
Thinking maybe it was 32858 seen at Camborne.
Cheers, Mike R

 

[Busaholic]

This is something, which I keep bring-up in my local area. But, unfortunately, nobody taking any notice. My greatest fear is that it is only a matter of time, before somebody gets seriously hurt or killed.

It was almost Nigel Farage the other day on his open-top 'battle bus' : no doubt EU bureaucracy could be blamed for the trees not being pruned!

 

[richw]

1. Yes
2. Correct
3. Except that the upper deck capacity is needed regardless of the weather. However, the 57 would...

3 - Although you have passenger numbers, my observations suggest otherwise. There was only 1 other person using the upper deck other than myself this week on a glorious sunny day in the school holidays when I travelled - This is typical of many journeys in recent months on this route. Western Greyhound operated the route at the same frequency using coach certified Mercedes Beaver, so no standing capacity all year round in their latter years - They interworked the route with Padstow to Bodmin, with the same vehicle running through from Newquay-Padstow- Bodmin so could only use single deckers to get under the low bridge at Bodmin Parkway -
Where have all the extra passengers appeared from to warrant needing double in capacity within 18 months? On a wet day its even quieter as nobody heading to the beach, so cant see an open topper being insufficient on a poor day.

The 57 on the other hand has been full up and down and standing downstairs whenever I've used it, especially on the Portreath to St Ives leg.

 

[83G/84D]

32859 was seen today in Bridgwater so still up in Somerset.
32883 also on 21s with another Barbie live red Trident on Depot (unknown)
Thinking maybe it was 32858 seen at Camborne.
Cheers, Mike R

Mike,

I have checked my photo's from Friday and it was 32859 at Camborne. 32207 noted there today.

 

[henairs]

Mike,

I have checked my photo's from Friday and it was 32859 at Camborne. 32207 noted there today.

Blimey that's odd. 32858 is down your way isn't it? Two of us both saw 3 Barbie liveried Tridents around Bridgwater yesterday afternoon.
One was on the Depot so not certain on that one but unusual for transfer vehicles to call there as Taunton the favoured rest point.
The other two passed on 21 route both at slow speed within the town area so close views. Intriguing !
Cheers, Mike R

 

[matt_splat]

the 56 before summer timetable requires two deckers because each bus either runs to or from the school during the day and it can be busy last summer i saw decker full loads several times as well so it can get busy

 

[83G/84D]

Blimey that's odd. 32858 is down your way isn't it? Two of us both saw 3 Barbie liveried Tridents around Bridgwater yesterday afternoon.
One was on the Depot so not certain on that one but unusual for transfer vehicles to call there as Taunton the favoured rest point.
The other two passed on 21 route both at slow speed within the town area so close views. Intriguing !
Cheers, Mike R

32858 in Camborne today, not sure if 32859 (or 32930) is still around.

 

[FSW Official]

3 - Although you have passenger numbers, my observations suggest otherwise. There was only 1 other person using the upper deck other than myself this week on a glorious sunny day in the school holidays when I travelled - This is typical of many journeys in recent months on this route. Western Greyhound operated the route at the same frequency using coach certified Mercedes Beaver, so no standing capacity all year round in their latter years - They interworked the route with Padstow to Bodmin, with the same vehicle running through from Newquay-Padstow- Bodmin so could only use single deckers to get under the low bridge at Bodmin Parkway -
Where have all the extra passengers appeared from to warrant needing double in capacity within 18 months? On a wet day its even quieter as nobody heading to the beach, so cant see an open topper being insufficient on a poor day.

The 57 on the other hand has been full up and down and standing downstairs whenever I've used it, especially on the Portreath to St Ives leg.

It's a predominantly local service - the only local service. We don't therefore consider it to be appropriate for open top.

 

[83G/84D]

Wrightbus Streetlite 47540 (MX62 ARU) seen today in all white colour scheme with First South West legals on the PR1 service in Truro. Newly transferred in Volvo B7TL 30881 worked the 1149 "36" St Keverne to Truro whilst 32208 was on the 1449 "14" St Ives to Truro.

Dart 42875 in the Heart radio scheme has lost it's Barbie front which is now white.

 

[richw]

Last week I saw 2 citaros being recovered by heavy towers. Didn't catchh identity as they passed me being towed I was driving opposite directions.
A ex reading Scania was on the park and ride this morning.
The new Citaros seem to be suffering a fair amount of break downs apparently from a driver I speak with.

 

[CD]

Wrightbus Streetlite 47540 (MX62 ARU) seen today in all white colour scheme with First South West legals on the PR1 service in Truro. Newly transferred in Volvo B7TL 30881 worked the 1149 "36" St Keverne to Truro whilst 32208 was on the 1449 "14" St Ives to Truro.

Dart 42875 in the Heart radio scheme has lost it's Barbie front which is now white.

Ex FEC B7TLs on their way to you.

Today 32200 was at Taunton depot and 32103 at Bridgwater.

 

[DaveHarries]

Wrightbus Streetlite 47540 (MX62 ARU) seen today in all white colour scheme with First South West legals on the PR1 service in Truro.

ONe of the ex. Webberbus (Bridgwater) ones I see.

I saw its sister, MX62 AXN, enter Dulverton (Somerset) today on Service 25 from Taunton: it was carrying fleet number 55105.

Dave

 

[83G/84D]

Trident 32930 on the 14 to St Ives this morning.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Ex FEC B7TLs on their way to you.

Today 32200 was at Taunton depot and 32103 at Bridgwater.

32103 has made it to Cornwall. I saw it on the westbound A30 at Summercourt at just after 1pm today.