First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[Busaholic]

In Penzance on Tuesday (3rd March), I noted Optare Solos 53805 and 53826 on route 6 to Mousehole, while silver Solo 53709 was being used on the 11 Penzance Town Circular service.
Volvo B12B coach 23208 drove in to the bus station at around 11.45 picked up a member of staff and then drove out again (to Long Rock depot?). Any ideas of what is was being used for?
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And wishing everyone a happy Gool Peran - St Piran's Day!

23208 going up Market Jew Street at 6 p.m.,empty, being driven very slowly, then to Greenmarket, places where First coaches normally never venture.

 

[brillopad]

23208 going up Market Jew Street at 6 p.m.,empty, being driven very slowly, then to Greenmarket, places where First coaches normally never venture.

About 2:30pm a coach came through doing driver training - (not a bus buff) - it looked vaguely like it was painted in WG green livery.

 

[South Westerly]

Thanks for that.
Its very unusual for Simon to get something wrong. Maybe the original intention was for it to be transferred to BoS but later was cancelled?

No nothing has changed
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I asked the question because 50290/291/292 arrived from East Scotland into Plymouth but only 50291 was visable on my last visit to The Ride. 50290/292 have not been seen in Plymouth so I wondered where they have gone as I am planning a visit to Cornwall on Tuesday.

MOT prep for Cornwall
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I'll bow to local knowledge but would it be that standard M850 Solos (53803/5) won't fit? The ones that will are either slimline or short versions so that's 53709 (AVP)/53801 (KWR)/53826 (CDN) plus 53505 being retained?

Slim AND short is the requirement!
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I had a reason to visit the Ride at the end of last week and did not see any of the Solo's you mention. I recall seeing a report somewhere that two of them had gone to First Potteries at Adderley Green. I think it was on a Yahoo Groups forum.

I also recall seeing something that said one was earmarked for operation at Dartmouth, is there an outstation that serves Dartmouth?

BoS has extra buses in at present for EDF contract work, but from their timetable change in mid April they are having a clear out of 'a substantial number' of non DDA single decks

 

[LAIRA]

I had a reason to visit the Ride at the end of last week and did not see any of the Solo's you mention. I recall seeing a report somewhere that two of them had gone to First Potteries at Adderley Green. I think it was on a Yahoo Groups forum.

I also recall seeing something that said one was earmarked for operation at Dartmouth, is there an outstation that serves Dartmouth?

Yes there is an outstation in Dartmouth which requries 2 Solos for the town service.

 

[83G/84D]

I had a reason to visit the Ride at the end of last week and did not see any of the Solo's you mention. I recall seeing a report somewhere that two of them had gone to First Potteries at Adderley Green. I think it was on a Yahoo Groups forum.

I also recall seeing something that said one was earmarked for operation at Dartmouth, is there an outstation that serves Dartmouth?

I was getting mixed up with the surplus Solo's at Norwich which went to Potteries.Anyway 50292 is at Camborne in the latest colours but not yet in service.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Slim AND short is the requirement!

BoS has extra buses in at present for EDF contract work, but from their timetable change in mid April they are having a clear out of 'a substantial number' of non DDA single decks

Slim and short - with me being 5'7, could almost be the story of my life (if it weren't for my love of beer!) Seriously, is 53826 a slimline version? I thought it was a standard one but obviously a short wheelbase.

Perhaps slightly O/T but what sort of changes will appear with BoS. Some frequency cuts alongside the 26/29 amalgamation? Living at the other end of Somerset, not up to speed with the changes in the fleet up there (esp with various EDF work etc) - are the extra EDF duties including 53503/4 (as has been reported) and are these longer term or will the Solos head back any time soon?

 

[Busaholic]

Marshall Dart on the 16 this p.m. The silver Solo is looking resplendent again following a good wash.

 

[Goldfish62]

About 2:30pm a coach came through doing driver training - (not a bus buff) - it looked vaguely like it was painted in WG green livery.

That would be Green Line livery, the coach coming from First Berkshire.

 

[South Westerly]

Slim and short - with me being 5'7, could almost be the story of my life (if it weren't for my love of beer!) Seriously, is 53826 a slimline version? I thought it was a standard one but obviously a short wheelbase.

Perhaps slightly O/T but what sort of changes will appear with BoS. Some frequency cuts alongside the 26/29 amalgamation? Living at the other end of Somerset, not up to speed with the changes in the fleet up there (esp with various EDF work etc) - are the extra EDF duties including 53503/4 (as has been reported) and are these longer term or will the Solos head back any time soon?

the one that came from Bath via Bridgwater is slim but not short enough!

I understood that the two green Solos are going onto EDF contracts, but from April will move onto Bridgwater bus services, which is part of a bigger plan to get rid of most of the non DDA single deckers, leaving about 5 non DDA singles and 4 or 5 Olympians to be replaced by newer dds later this year.

 

[LAIRA]

Visited Cornwall today in Penzance were

53803-11
32878 42872/74/75-10/17
53505/709-6
34259/629-2
42521-39
53826-1A

Camborne Garage

33665
23316/17
41132
42860
A Volvo Open Topper and plus one of the Solos from Scotland in the latest livery.

Redruth

33659-U1

Truro
42558/562 53108-47
42942-200 This was a double decker last month
42473-46
42802-87
31836 34093-90
32880 33664-U1
31820 34096-27
34050-91

33111 also noted not in service

During the day saw

42472 65763 69209/221/223-14
42469/71 69222-69230 on 18

Truro School exit


31846-213
31821 34185-217
31878-223
31830-227
34172-228
34091-216
34093-224
34192-239
33112-222A
34193-226
42872-239
34173-225
34183-240
34116-234
34200-230
34138-235
32876 66126-231
34098-241
34099-238
34051-218
20556 34261-214
42942-226A
Also noted but without route numbers were
34184
34049
34196
23009
31841
23316
53007
32861

 

[richw]

42802-87

33111 also noted not in service

During the day saw

42472 65763 69209/221/223-14

I caught 69221 into Truro on the 14, and then caught 42802 out on the 87 at 1205 (Ride cornwall)

We passed 33111 near Chiverton Cross, as it was working an inbound 87.

 

[83G/84D]

Visited Cornwall today in Penzance were

53803-11
32878 42872/74/75-10/17
53505/709-6
34259/629-2
42521-39
53826-1A

Camborne Garage

33665
23316/17
41132
42860
A Volvo Open Topper and plus one of the Solos from Scotland in the latest livery.

Redruth

33659-U1

Truro
42558/562 53108-47
42942-200 This was a double decker last month
42473-46
42802-87
31836 34093-90
32880 33664-U1
31820 34096-27
34050-91

33111 also noted not in service

During the day saw

42472 65763 69209/221/223-14
42469/71 69222-69230 on 18

Truro School exit


31846-213
31821 34185-217
31878-223
31830-227
34172-228
34091-216
34093-224
34192-239
33112-222A
34193-226
42872-239
34173-225
34183-240
34116-234
34200-230
34138-235
32876 66126-231
34098-241
34099-238
34051-218
20556 34261-214
42942-226A
Also noted but without route numbers were
34184
34049
34196
23009
31841
23316
53007
32861

Laira,

The Volvo open topper at Camborne was 38001 & the Solo in latest colours was 50292. I have not seen Volvo B7RLE 69220 or Fal River Dart 42623 so far this month although they could be in the Newquay / St Austell area.

HTH.
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Laira,

The Volvo open topper at Camborne was 38001 & the Solo in latest colours was 50292. I have not seen Volvo B7RLE 69220 or Fal River Dart 42623 so far this month although they could be in the Newquay / St Austell area.

HTH.

I have just seen the Fal River Dart heading into Truro city centre.

 

[richw]

Laira,

The Volvo open topper at Camborne was 38001 & the Solo in latest colours was 50292. I have not seen Volvo B7RLE 69220 or Fal River Dart 42623 so far this month although they could be in the Newquay / St Austell area.

HTH.
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I have just seen the Fal River Dart heading into Truro city centre.

Fal River Dart was on the 87 yesterday along with one of the Fal River Tridents.
The Dart was in Helston last week.

 

[KendalKing]

Taken from the First Website:-

Replacement buses for Western Greyhound routes from Monday 16 March.

This afternoon, following agreement with Cornwall Council to step in, we can confirm we anticipate well run some form of replacement bus service from Monday, following the cessation of Western Greyhounds services today.

We are currently working on driver duties, schedules and timetables and we are sure you will appreciate this takes time. As well as working on these they also need to have them approved by the Regulators and Cornwall Council before we can publish and implement. Again this takes time. There may be some minor amends to services/timetables so we ask all passengers to check the timetables closely.

We will endeavour to publish timetables on our website and social media feeds as soon as we are able over this weekend. We expect to have everything available by Monday morning. Timetables at the bus stops will also be updated as soon as we can, however, again, we ask passengers to appreciate this is a lengthy process too. We will also try to have printed timetables in our travel shops early next week.
Please keep checking our Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates.

A big thanks in advance to all our team who will be working extra this weekend to arrange these emergency services and timetables.

 

[richw]

KendalKing, much being discussed in the Western Greyhound thread if its of interest to you.

First Kernow has arranged to take 10 vehicles from WG and 8 more to be transferred in from First elsewhere in the country over the weekend in preparation for additional routes from Monday.

First have had representatives at Summercourt depot all day.

 

[robertclark125]

Although I posed the question earlier today in the Western Greyhound thread, I'll ask the question here, albeit slightly revised.

Given that First is taking over most of the work originating from Newquay, how likely is it that First may seek to acquire or lease the Summercourt premises, even just as an interim measure, until they can get a place much nearer to, or in Newquay?

 

[richw]

Although I posed the question earlier today in the Western Greyhound thread, I'll ask the question here, albeit slightly revised.

Given that First is taking over most of the work originating from Newquay, how likely is it that First may seek to acquire or lease the Summercourt premises, even just as an interim measure, until they can get a place much nearer to, or in Newquay?

They've only recently acquired a lease on land in Newquay for an outstation, so I am not sure they would need it.

Pollards Mill would probably be more appealing being closer to st Austell and having all the maintenance equipment.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

They've only recently acquired a lease on land in Newquay for an outstation, so I am not sure they would need it.

Pollards Mill would probably be more appealing being closer to st Austell and having all the maintenance equipment.

Exactly the point I made on #1255 on the WG thread. That site would be better with both Eden and First services.

 

[robertclark125]

Many thanks for clearing that all up folks. This is a long shot, but have national fleetnumbers been allocated yet for the ten ex WG vehicles acquired?

 

[pompeyfan]

I also wonder how first are going to get enough destination screens. As I understand it, First use Hannover screens, where as western greyhound use blinds or mobitech, could be some scruffy looking first buses Monday!

 

[robertclark125]

I also wonder how first are going to get enough destination screens. As I understand it, First use Hannover screens, where as western greyhound use blinds or mobitech, could be some scruffy looking first buses Monday!

In the present circumstances, as long as the bus turns up on Monday, and if the destinations are on printed paper or card, the public will be satisfied. In these instances, you want the bus to turn up. Getting things done properly will take time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In the present circumstances, as long as the bus turns up on Monday, and if the destinations are on printed paper or card, the public will be satisfied. In these instances, you want the bus to turn up. Getting things done properly will take time.

Photo evidence of Solo 956 and Darts NA52AWF/AWN/AWO and KN52NFU at Camborne

 

[83G/84D]

Photo evidence of Solo 956 and Darts NA52AWF/AWN/AWO and KN52NFU at Camborne

There were 3 former Western Greyhound Solo's and 4 Dart's at Camborne as of late morning and at least 2 Solo's and a Dart at Penzance. Some were losing their Western Greyhound markings for First titles.

 

[richw]

There were 3 former Western Greyhound Solo's and 4 Dart's at Camborne as of late morning and at least 2 Solo's and a Dart at Penzance. Some were losing their Western Greyhound markings for First titles.

There are 10 vehicles in total moving from WG to First, 5 MPD Darts and 5 Solos, so that would be the full count.
A contact at first had told me only a few weeks ago that First had a shortage of short vehicles, so this may well have solved that problem.

I would love to ride the 556 on a double decker or even an open topper. Lovely scenic route, but cant enjoy the views as much from single decker.

Out of interest could a 8.5m MPD Darts get into Mousehole?

 

[83G/84D]

Many thanks for clearing that all up folks. This is a long shot, but have national fleetnumbers been allocated yet for the ten ex WG vehicles acquired?

Nothing carried by the buses as of late morning today, are these being retained long term or just until other First buses from other areas are drafted in?

I'll check Camborne depot tomorrow.

 

[Goldfish62]

Out of interest could a 8.5m MPD Darts get into Mousehole?

No...

 

[Penwithian]

There are 10 vehicles in total moving from WG to First, 5 MPD Darts and 5 Solos, so that would be the full count.
A contact at first had told me only a few weeks ago that First had a shortage of short vehicles, so this may well have solved that problem.

I would love to ride the 556 on a double decker or even an open topper. Lovely scenic route, but cant enjoy the views as much from single decker.

Out of interest could a 8.5m MPD Darts get into Mousehole?

Did not imagine that Western Greyhound buses would ever return back to Penzance!
Will the former WG buses permanently enter the First Kernow fleet?

I rode to Padstow from Newquay and return in 2009 during WG heritage running day on their Routemaster RM1062. A wonderfully long and scenic trip with many admiring glances from the public.

 

[richw]

Did not imagine that Western Greyhound buses would ever return back to Penzance!
Will the former WG buses permanently enter the First Kernow fleet?

I rode to Padstow from Newquay and return in 2009 during WG heritage running day on their Routemaster RM1062. A wonderfully long and scenic trip with many admiring glances from the public.

The historic vehicles were privately owned by Mark Howarth so I assume these are still owned by him.
I guess whether they remain permanent will depend on how First appraise them and if they are any good. Darts and Solos are certainly in keeping with First's choice of vehicles, so I would think if the buses are any good they will stay.

 

[83G/84D]

Not a lot of interest going on in Camborne today. Solo WK55 BUS (817) arrived from Penzance for attention early on and this afternoon Solo 915 arrived. No other new arrivals noted although viewing parts of the depot was difficult due to the large number of buses present.

I did meet Laira and his companion on a marathon tour of Cornwall and had a good chat with him.

No sign of any former Lothian Dart's.

 

[matt_splat]

could things be getting prepped in Plymouth or even up in Taunton if coming from else where must be some serious effort going on to work on timetables and news must be due soon ready for the start of the new working week