Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[richw]

They should be, but with various features and fittings 'disappearing' over the years (one has the tail lift plated over) neither currently comply. Of course, when required in 2020 the features can be reinstated.

Although by 2020 they will be a minimum of 15 years old I believe, (edit should read newest Thanks Volvo142 for pointing out) Oldest WG Vario I've seen is 2005, will they be gone anyway?

 

[Volvo142]

No, oldest Varios in use are the reinstated S reg vehicles, which date from 1997. They're still in very good condition though...and are young in comparison to some wrecks still in use by Firstbus! During a recent holiday in the Duchy, I saw Olympians that were over 20 years old.

 

[richw]

No, oldest Varios in use are the reinstated S reg vehicles, which date from 1997. They're still in very good condition though...and are young in comparison to some wrecks still in use by Firstbus! During a recent holiday in the Duchy, I saw Olympians that were over 20 years old.

I meant newest, hence the youngest being 15 years old. The oldest Olympians in normal operation down here are L reg now (1994 I believe). the older ones went over a year ago. There is possibly one K reg left though thinking about it

 

[SWTH]

Latest arrival at WGL is Trident/ALX400 Y447 NHK, ex-Stagecoach 17447.

WK51 CAF/441 Trident/President is due to leave, with 443 due to follow in the near future.

 

[Goldfish62]

Latest arrival at WGL is Trident/ALX400 Y447 NHK, ex-Stagecoach 17447.

WK51 CAF/441 Trident/President is due to leave, with 443 due to follow in the near future.

It strikes me as a bit odd to be withdrawing those buses.:roll:

 

[richw]

It strikes me as a bit odd to be withdrawing those buses.:roll:

I had the same thoughts, more so due to having a shortage of deckers, and still having loan vehicles.

 

[SWTH]

I believe the phrase 'as reliable as an African dictatorship' has been used by WGL staff in relation to 441/3, and that more than a few drinks will be sunk toasting their demise. I'm led to believe the intention is to standardise on the ex-London ALX400's, not least because of their far superior condition.

 

[richw]

I'm led to believe the intention is to standardise on the ex-London ALX400's, not least because of their far superior condition.

Are the ex-London ALX400s to get the green paintjob?

 

[SWTH]

I'm told one is already in the paint shop.

 

[richw]

I'm told one is already in the paint shop.

I will look forward to seeing that come out. What routes are they earmarked for?

 

[starrymarkb]

ex-Stagecoach stock does have a good reputation for being maintained well. IIRC the Presidents are 3rd hand IIRC via Oxford

 

[richw]

ex-Stagecoach stock does have a good reputation for being maintained well. IIRC the Presidents are 3rd hand IIRC via Oxford

wk51caf is on its 3rd registration as well, previously r5oxf (which suggests where its been!) and nk51ucm (go ahead north east)

 

[83G/84D]

ex-Stagecoach stock does have a good reputation for being maintained well. IIRC the Presidents are 3rd hand IIRC via Oxford

Another local bus operator in Cornwall, Roselyn, has purchased ex Stagecoach buses for quite a few years now although the latest batch of deckers came from Arriva North East.

 

[richw]

Another local bus operator in Cornwall, Roselyn, has purchased ex Stagecoach buses for quite a few years now although the latest batch of deckers came from Arriva North East.

An operator in Hayle also has some ex Stagecoach vehicles. Aquarius travel have K716ASC and M302DGP. Aquarius also have a BlueBird Q Bus registration N735EOT which is a very unusual sight.
Rosevidney Travel also have X353NNO. Aquarius and Rosevidney use the same storage yard at Angarrack, where there was also 2 other unidentified ex-Stagecoach vehicles parked in the storage yard and I am unsure which operator they are with however are both still in Stagecoach livery.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I believe the phrase 'as reliable as an African dictatorship' has been used by WGL staff in relation to 441/3, and that more than a few drinks will be sunk toasting their demise. I'm led to believe the intention is to standardise on the ex-London ALX400's, not least because of their far superior condition.

Just a thought are the reliability issues with the current deckers down to the Trident parts? ALX400s are also Tridents will there also be similar reliability issues?

 

[83G/84D]

An operator in Hayle also has some ex Stagecoach vehicles. Aquarius travel have K716ASC and M302DGP. Aquarius also have a BlueBird Q Bus registration N735EOT which is a very unusual sight.
Rosevidney Travel also have X353NNO. Aquarius and Rosevidney use the same storage yard at Angarrack, where there was also 2 other unidentified ex-Stagecoach vehicles parked in the storage yard and I am unsure which operator they are with however are both still in Stagecoach livery.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Just a thought are the reliability issues with the current deckers down to the Trident parts? ALX400s are also Tridents will there also be similar reliability issues?

I forgot Aquarius! I used to see them regularly in Camborne receiving maintenance at a local garage but not any more.

Perhaps the two unidentified Stagecoach buses at Angarrack are for spares.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just a thought are the reliability issues with the current deckers down to the Trident parts? ALX400s are also Tridents will there also be similar reliability issues?

No. Trident parts aren't an issue. The differences may be...

A) previous maintenance standards of earlier operators
B) differences in vehicle spec (high speed diffs, engine output)

Even vehicles in the same batch can be markedly different; some are just pups

 

[SWTH]

Just a thought are the reliability issues with the current deckers down to the Trident parts? ALX400s are also Tridents will there also be similar reliability issues?

It would be unwise of me to publically document the multiple issues that 440-445 all suffered with, at least until I no longer work for WGL. The management get very twitchy over negative details posted online.

Early indications with Y524 NHK are good, having driven it several hundred miles in service on various routes it's much better than I was expecting. However I maintain that the 3-speed Voith gearbox is going to become the Achilles heel of them - fine for plodding round London on urban routes, but decidedly not suited to country/dual carriageway work. The big advantage they have though is a far better turning circle than the other Tridents (or even the Volvo Olympians) - for some of the tighter parts of the WGL network it really makes a difference.

As for allocation, chances are they'll be used like previous deckers - if they'll fit on the route, then they'll probably end up on it at some stage, although the 593 Newquay - Plymouth still won't see decker operation as the ALX400's are 14' 5", still too tall for Goss Moor bridge (14' 3" clearance) near Victoria. The only time I have known a decker go to Plymouth on the 593 was last year as a result of a vehicle availability crisis - I took Bristol VR/ECW LFJ 858W/258, which is 13' 8" tall.

 

[trentside]

Early indications with Y524 NHK are good, having driven it several hundred miles in service on various routes it's much better than I was expecting. However I maintain that the 3-speed Voith gearbox is going to become the Achilles heel of them - fine for plodding round London on urban routes, but decidedly not suited to country/dual carriageway work. The big advantage they have though is a far better turning circle than the other Tridents (or even the Volvo Olympians) - for some of the tighter parts of the WGL network it really makes a difference.

Yourbus had similar issues with their ex-London Tridents up in Nottinghamshire. Comments from a few of the drivers suggest that they were decent enough to drive, but the 3-speed gearbox mean't that the engine spent most of its time running flat out. The interiors were also unchanged from their London days (bar crude removal of iBus and neater removal of the centre door) which mean't that most seats were filthy and threadbare - not the image Yourbus cultivated at their main base of operations!

 

[SWTH]

I have to say the interiors of the 3 that have arrived so far are in good, clean condition. They do seem to have been looked after.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Latest departures from the WGL fleet are:
Mercedes Citaro 206 (left earlier this week)
Volvo Olympians 455/476 (taken out of the active fleet this morning).

Another ALX400 is due to arrive today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
455 was pressed into service this afternoon on a school run, but is now due to be stripped of destination gear and ticket machine, ready for collection. LX51 FLZ (Trident/ALX400) is the latest arrival.

The last Olympian in service. 455 in Summercourt, returning to base this afternoon:

 

[DaveHarries]

Western Greyhound have registered a number of changes and cancellations to bus services today wef 03-Nov-2013. The changes seem to imply that WGL will cease to operate around Penzance although it could be that the contracts are simply up for renewal. Details as follows:

Registered:
547 Wadebridge - Truro

Revised:
RT: Route | SP: Stopping Places | TT: Timetable

510, 599 Okehampton - Exeter (TT)
520 Truro - St. Austell (RT, SP, TT)
547 St. Agnes - St. Ives (TT)
550, 551 Truro St. Mawes (TT)
572 Looe - Plymouth (TT)
573 Polperro - Liskeard (TT)

Cancelled:
501 Penzance - Lands End
504 Penzance - St. Just
507 Penzance - Lands End
508 Penzance - St. Ives
509 St. Just - Penzance
512 Penzance - Lansdowne Estate
513 Penzance - Goodrevy
515 St. Erth - St. Erth
530 Bude - Holsworthy
547 See below
558, 559 Newquay Locals
561 Camelford - Bodmin / Wadebridge
594 Wadebridge - St. Columb
547, 591 - 594, 597 & 598 Newquay - Truro

I wonder what else might appear, if anything.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[SWTH]

Could you please provide a link to the source of the info?

Thanks

 

[richw]

Could you please provide a link to the source of the info?

Thanks

http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfserviceopbusregsearchresults_new.asp

bottom of page 2 onwards.

 

[SWTH]

Thank you. Had heard rumblings/rumours but this is the first I've seen in black and white.

 

[Volvo142]

There's also a registration for a new 594 service from the same date, which appears to no longer serve St Agnes...

PH0006741/108 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Wadebridge Bus Station
Finish Point: Truro
Via: St Columb Major, Summercourt
Service Number: 594
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-NOV-2013
Other Details: Daily service


Wonder whether more new registrations will follow in the next few days?

 

[Goldfish62]

Western Greyhound have registered a number of changes and cancellations to bus services today wef 03-Nov-2013. The changes seem to imply that WGL will cease to operate around Penzance although it could be that the contracts are simply up for renewal. Details as follows:

Registered:
547 Wadebridge - Truro

Revised:
RT: Route | SP: Stopping Places | TT: Timetable

510, 599 Okehampton - Exeter (TT)
520 Truro - St. Austell (RT, SP, TT)
547 St. Agnes - St. Ives (TT)
550, 551 Truro St. Mawes (TT)
572 Looe - Plymouth (TT)
573 Polperro - Liskeard (TT)

Cancelled:
501 Penzance - Lands End
504 Penzance - St. Just
507 Penzance - Lands End
508 Penzance - St. Ives
509 St. Just - Penzance
512 Penzance - Lansdowne Estate
513 Penzance - Goodrevy
515 St. Erth - St. Erth
530 Bude - Holsworthy
547 See below
558, 559 Newquay Locals
561 Camelford - Bodmin / Wadebridge
594 Wadebridge - St. Columb
547, 591 - 594, 597 & 598 Newquay - Truro

I wonder what else might appear, if anything.

HTIOI,
Dave

That pretty significant!!! The Council contracts (inc all Penzance routes) don't expire until April 2014. It would therefore appear that WGL have handed them back and CC will need to issue some short-term tenders.

I can only assume that WGL are in dire financial trouble. No other reason for chucking contracts early.

 

[DaveHarries]

That pretty significant!!! The Council contracts (inc all Penzance routes) don't expire until April 2014. It would therefore appear that WGL have handed them back and CC will need to issue some short-term tenders.

I can only assume that WGL are in dire financial trouble. No other reason for chucking contracts early.

It might be financial but seeing as it has been so successful I would think that might not be the cause. The fire back in May can't have helped matters though. Time will tell: perhaps fresh registrations will appear.

Dave

 

[SWTH]

I'm told Penzance outstation is closing, which would tie up with the cancellations.

 

[Goldfish62]

It might be financial but seeing as it has been so successful I would think that might not be the cause. The fire back in May can't have helped matters though. Time will tell: perhaps fresh registrations will appear.

Dave

You don't pull out of Council contracts mid-term unless there's a business emergency. The council will no doubt have to issue short term tenders for these routes as some of them are a lifeline for deeply rural parts.

It's well known that the loss of tendered work in 2012 hit the company hard, and the fire will have compounded things.

Although not the best part of their operation, they will be sorely missed in the Penzance area.

 

[richw]

Earlier in the year I read a local newspaper article that Cornwall council were cutting several million pounds of subsidy from bus routes. In the article a spokesman (can't remember whether WG or First) said routes will be withdrawn as a result. I am wondering if this is related to these withdrawals.

 

[SWTH]

A usually accurate source has told me the reason is Cornwall Council withdrew funding early, and will not retender the routes.