Couldn't remember if Kernow was directly contacted to run Boardmasters shuttles or First Passenger Solutions were, got a feeling the BoS vehicles were borrowed for Boardmasters rather than hired
Thanks for the info Rich, Boardmasters seems so long ago now couldn't remember who done what nowFirst Passenger solutions
Kernow, BoS, Truronian are all trading names of First South West Ltd.
FSW is just a share holder in Sps which is a completely different company, FSW received dividends from their share holding in most recent accounts. Spas has no common management but I believe Alex Carter is a director
Couldn't remember if Kernow was directly contacted to run Boardmasters shuttles or First Passenger Solutions were, got a feeling the BoS vehicles were borrowed for Boardmasters rather than hired
He is indeed.First Passenger solutions
Kernow, BoS, Truronian are all trading names of First South West Ltd.
FSW is just a share holder in Sps which is a completely different company, FSW received dividends from their share holding in most recent accounts. Spas has no common management but I believe Alex Carter is a director
Thank you for that @Volvodart, looks like an interesting read might make me talk sense for once!This might help:-
Boardmasters 2018 | First Travel Solutions
The challenge Boardmasters is one of Cornwall’s biggest festivals mixing top end music entertainment, beach and surfing activities and sports.www.firsttravelsolutions.com
Nice photo.44952 at Heligan
Anyone know if or when these buses might go back into service in the open toppers,
32027 - open top b7tl Alexander Alx400.
37058 - open top b7tl gemini
Also the b9tl gemini open top
I do wonder how FK get away with so many buses without working side or rear displays, or any actual LED unit in place. I assume the Mousehole Solos get away with it because the side and rear branding are considered to be route information, although of course this doesn't work when they're on different routes.My sightings on the A1:
open top 322002 on it yesterday
open top 321003 on it today, along with the complete open topper (hooray) plus a green closed top that (I think) only carried a 1 blind on the front, and definitely blank rear, but so many FK buses in Pz no longer display route identification there.
The U4 saw a Uni branded MMC.
I don't think the A5 should of went open top till the E400s arrived, it's just putting extra strain on the Presidents with the Geminis not having a brilliant track record on open tops so far, and just kept the open tops at Penzance for the time being till the full fleet is here or enough are available for serviceDisappointed to see that it appears that two closed tops are on the A1/2/3 and one on the A5 today. By my reckoning that means 50% of the open top fleet is unavailable for service!
I don't disagree. Twice last year I went out specially for an open top ride on the wonderful A3 and a closed top turned up.I don't think the A5 should of went open top till the E400s arrived, it's just putting extra strain on the Presidents with the Geminis not having a brilliant track record on open tops so far, and just kept the open tops at Penzance for the time being till the full fleet is here or enough are available for service
The.presidrnts are on the A5 due to having to go over the bridge at harlyn bay. The A5 is purely aimed at tourists as pcb/gc are running their 56 commercially.am.lead to believe that as soon as the other open toppers can be motd they will be put on A5 instead. Pcb/gc are running all kinds of buses on their 56 and this is noticable by the scrape marks on top of harlyn bridge. They are scrapping it and that's with not having many passengers on ! If there is ever any damage to engine on the bridge then it will be over the stream which leads on to the beach 5 yards away.I don't think the A5 should of went open top till the E400s arrived, it's just putting extra strain on the Presidents with the Geminis not having a brilliant track record on open tops so far, and just kept the open tops at Penzance for the time being till the full fleet is here or enough are available for service
Pretty much every time I've gone to Penzance or St Ives I have seen at least one closed top on A1-3, must be even worse for tourists who I would think one of their main things to do in Cornwall is to go on a open top bus, and when a closed top rocks up it must be a bit of a let down, and have never seen a closed top in person or on social media full on a booked open top service so certainly not popular with customersI don't disagree. Twice last year I went out specially for an open top ride on the wonderful A3 and a closed top turned up.
Are the B7s really so unreliable that there are that many off the road all the time?
But if Kernow promise open tops but end up allocating closed tops then Kernow loses their USP of the A5 service compared to the 56, it would be better of Kernow not advertising the use of open tops on Atlantic Coaster services until enough are available, which obviously there isn't at the momentThe.presidrnts are on the A5 due to having to go over the bridge at harlyn bay. The A5 is purely aimed at tourists as pcb/gc are running their 56 commercially.am.lead to believe that as soon as the other open toppers can be motd they will be put on A5 instead. Pcb/gc are running all kinds of buses on their 56 and this is noticable by the scrape marks on top of harlyn bridge. They are scrapping it and that's with not having many passengers on ! If there is ever any damage to engine on the bridge then it will be over the stream which leads on to the beach 5 yards away.
What were the 4 others in addition to a1-5It makes you wonder what the situation would of been like if Kernow ran all 9 of their purposed open top routes, don't think many would of been actually open
Was never revealed, belive it was still treated as commercially sensitive at the time of the lockdown, but was mentioned that the Falmouth 400 open top service was one of themWhat were the 4 others in addition to a1-5
Pretty much every time I've gone to Penzance or St Ives I have seen at least one closed top on A1-3, must be even worse for tourists who I would think one of their main things to do in Cornwall is to go on a open top bus, and when a closed top rocks up it must be a bit of a let down, and have never seen a closed top in person or on social media full on a booked open top service so certainly not popular with customers
Kernow and their staff have certainly been quiet about the lack of appearances of the Gemini's on A1-A3 which certainly says something
Of course sometimes it would be lucky to have a closed top on those routes, and any bus is better then no bus, but only if the weather changes midday and people are caught out, of it is predicted bad people wouldn't plan to use those routesA couple of years back, I had a closed top Trident because it was raining in Penzance and so it was definitely necessary (about 15 mins late after fishing around for it) and pretty full. Two hours later after lunch, we went from Sennen to St Ives, and it was an open topper B7TL. The Trident would see have been making its way round through Marazion in the sun.
It's not a science sadly. As @fgwrich says, any bus is perhaps better than no bus.
IIRC, I think it was mentioned that 37058 had some electrical issues, and didn't @richw say that 37729 was awaiting certification after its conversion.
Correct on both points.IIRC, I think it was mentioned that 37058 had some electrical issues, and didn't @richw say that 37729 was awaiting certification after its conversion.
37058 is on the A1/2/3 today.Of course sometimes it would be lucky to have a closed top on those routes, and any bus is better then no bus, but only if the weather changes midday and people are caught out, of it is predicted bad people wouldn't plan to use those routes
Haven't heard anything about 37058's disappearance last year but electronical issues would be one of the most likely issues, did see on Facebook about 37729 not being registered yet as everyone thought it had broken down
Isn't that the point of the semi-open tops, though, that they're an all weather bus? Pre Covid FK stated that the A1 would be open top all year.Of course sometimes it would be lucky to have a closed top on those routes, and any bus is better then no bus, but only if the weather changes midday and people are caught out, of it is predicted bad people wouldn't plan to use those routes
Fingers crossed it might make the rest of the season this year, although arguably not a full season anyway37058 is on the A1/2/3 today.