First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[83G/84D]

Looks like a 7.9m SL - another useful bus for Mousehole.

Hope they can figure how to change the destination display, might be a tad confusing for passengers as it was in the photograph.:roll:

 

[LateThanNever]

Totally agree...given their fleet would provide a good basis for a heritage fleet their reliability is to be commended and does indeed show just how good their fitters and engineering staff are. I also understand the financial reality of services in Cornwall but given they now have trains and buses sewn up for the next four years I'd kind of hope they improve things and also really sort out integration between buses and train as Ride Cornwall started to do. A nice refurbed train that arrives just as the nice newish streetlite leaves isn't the way forwards. Given they run everything surely they can do better to give the people of Cornwall a public transport service they can be proud of not one that is an embarrassment.

How very sensible this would be - but dangerously radical! Mind you as the train is generally much cheaper than the very expensive Worst buses, being forced to take the taxi won't necessarily incur a lot of extra expense!
I do agree that it must be a hell of a task keeping this heritage fleet on the road. it must be one of the reasons that they never have time to clean them! Either that or because a proper clean would necesssitate a repaint...

 

[matt_splat]

i notice that some changes are happening from Sunday

the 556/557 are becoming one the 556 it looks like one bus will operate from Padstow the other will be Newquay based with a earlier start from Padstow in the morning makes operational sense I noticed a ex padstow outstation driver form back in the day for greyhound was in Camborne depot yesterday so maybe now they are getting more drivers at the depots they can make more tweeks to the services.

also a new newqauy town service number 59 has been created filling some gaps in

 

[83G/84D]

Solo 53701 being readied at Camborne before heading to Penzance for use on the 6.The Streetlite is being prepped and will see use on the 14/18 soon I was told by a member of staff.

 

[richw]

W337DWX a recent arrival in new livery was on penzanze town service today.
YJ56AOU and YK05CDN on Mousehole service
YJ56AOU left Penzance full and standing at 1035.
YK05CDN despite being larger somehow got round the corner into Mousehole easier.

Pictures from my Ride Cornwall today on my Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82289286@N06/

 

[Goldfish62]

W337DWX a recent arrival in new livery was on penzanze town service today.
YJ56AOU and YK05CDN on Mousehole service
YJ56AOU left Penzance full and standing at 1035.
YK05CDN despite being larger somehow got round the corner into Mousehole easier.

Pictures from my Ride Cornwall today on my Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82289286@N06/

YK05 is the normal max length, 7.9m, used into Mousehole. The green ones are shorter 7.1m versions, so a bit odd that the shorter one struggled.

 

[richw]

YK05 is the normal max length, 7.9m, used into Mousehole. The green ones are shorter 7.1m versions, so a bit odd that the shorter one struggled.

Are The green ones narrower as well? The seats were certainly narrower.

 

[83G/84D]

53709 was undergoing repairs at Camborne today along with 53007 that was in trouble in the Par area on Tuesday evening and 53803 that had an incident at St Day on Monday.

 

[Goldfish62]

Are The green ones narrower as well? The seats were certainly narrower.

No, all 2.4m wide.

 

[83G/84D]

Another addition at First Camborne early this morning was Volvo B7L 61594 from First Glasgow....... that arrived on a back of a lorry! Streetlite 63097 was on a stand but I could not stay around to see it depart.

 

[83G/84D]

The Streetlite did not go out this morning but according to a usually reliable source, type training on it should start next week.

Another example is expected for training / trials.

An order for Streetlites has been approved for Cornwall subject to the results of the trials. If the trials are not successful they will go elsewhere.

This is not my speculation (I don't do speculation and rumour on any forums) but what I was told earlier by a First contact so don't blame me if it turns out wrong!

 

[South Westerly]

The Streetlite did not go out this morning but according to a usually reliable source, type training on it should start next week.

Another example is expected for training / trials.

An order for Streetlites has been approved for Cornwall subject to the results of the trials. If the trials are not successful they will go elsewhere.

This is not my speculation (I don't do speculation and rumour on any forums) but what I was told earlier by a First contact so don't blame me if it turns out wrong!

Absolute complete and total fiction

 

[83G/84D]

Absolute complete and total fiction

Only reporting what I was told, what are you referring to the whole statement or part of it?

 

[83G/84D]

Today was the first time I had seen this Marshall Dart in use:-

 

[richw]

The Streetlite did not go out this morning but according to a usually reliable source, type training on it should start next week.

Another example is expected for training / trials.

An order for Streetlites has been approved for Cornwall subject to the results of the trials. If the trials are not successful they will go elsewhere.

This is not my speculation (I don't do speculation and rumour on any forums) but what I was told earlier by a First contact so don't blame me if it turns out wrong!

I've been told the same by one of my contacts at First Kernow.

 

[Penwithian]

YK05 is the normal max length, 7.9m, used into Mousehole. The green ones are shorter 7.1m versions, so a bit odd that the shorter one struggled.

A wet day in Penzance today (27th March) with ex Bristol Volvo Olympian 34165 resting between duties. Another new arrival was Optare Solo 53009 which I saw driving down Market Jew Street on the 1c from Lamorna, you could hear it before you saw it! (a silencer problem?)
Also for the second time I have witnessed this year, yet again an Olympian on the 6 to Mousehole, this time 34051 on the 13:05 departure. Pity the poor passengers waiting at Mousehole harbour for the bus that will not turn up, yet another 30 minute wait for the next one - great service First Kernow!

 

[Temple Meads]

Pity the poor passengers waiting at Mousehole harbour for the bus that will not turn up, yet another 30 minute wait for the next one - great service First Kernow!

Could be worse, could be no bus at all!

 

[83G/84D]

Solo 53826 (which was on the 6 yesterday) was in Camborne with damage to it and 53709 is still VOR here so may explain why an Olympian was on the 6.

The two new Marshall Dart arrivals were being used today with 41490 on the 47 and 41383 on the 39.

 

[Busaholic]

A wet day in Penzance today (27th March) with ex Bristol Volvo Olympian 34165 resting between duties. Another new arrival was Optare Solo 53009 which I saw driving down Market Jew Street on the 1c from Lamorna, you could hear it before you saw it! (a silencer problem?)
Also for the second time I have witnessed this year, yet again an Olympian on the 6 to Mousehole, this time 34051 on the 13:05 departure. Pity the poor passengers waiting at Mousehole harbour for the bus that will not turn up, yet another 30 minute wait for the next one - great service First Kernow!

Even worse yesterday p.m rush hour = single decker too big to get to the Harbour on the Mousehole route but, at the same time, on the 16 a 7.9m bus that could have managed it.

 

[South Westerly]

Only reporting what I was told, what are you referring to the whole statement or part of it?

The bit about the order for Streetlites.

There are no buses on order for Cornwall.

This financial year coming's (April 15 to March 16) order for First Group is fixed and the first deliveries start in April. All the buses are allocated and none is for Cornwall.

The two Streetlites are on loan from Manchester because every First operating company was asked to supply vehicles either on loan or for transfer. Nevertheless, the loan is being used as a handy test for the 14/18 with a view to a subsequent investment,
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A wet day in Penzance today (27th March) with ex Bristol Volvo Olympian 34165 resting between duties. Another new arrival was Optare Solo 53009 which I saw driving down Market Jew Street on the 1c from Lamorna, you could hear it before you saw it! (a silencer problem?)
Also for the second time I have witnessed this year, yet again an Olympian on the 6 to Mousehole, this time 34051 on the 13:05 departure. Pity the poor passengers waiting at Mousehole harbour for the bus that will not turn up, yet another 30 minute wait for the next one - great service First Kernow!

The two green Solos at BoS are expected back in Cornwall during April!

 

[Accelerator59]

Solo 53826 (which was on the 6 yesterday) was in Camborne with damage to it and 53709 is still VOR here so may explain why an Olympian was on the 6.

The two new Marshall Dart arrivals were being used today with 41490 on the 47 and 41383 on the 39.

Saw 41383 being towed on the A30 earlier. Broken down maybe?

 

[83G/84D]

Saw 41383 being towed on the A30 earlier. Broken down maybe?

Since I said a few days ago about how the buses in West Cornwall are reliable there has been a spate of problems, 3 Solo's (53803, 53826 & 53709) and at least 3 Dart's (41383, 42430 & 43812) in trouble in recent days.

Dart 42255 would not start at Camborne earlier today whilst on the 47 and was swapped for Solo 50290, Volvo B7RLE 69209 was taken off the 18 with a fault and swapped for 69221 and Dart 42942 was taken off the 18 and replaced by a Volvo B7RLE.

 

[richw]

Since I said a few days ago about how the buses in West Cornwall are reliable there has been a spate of problems, 3 Solo's (53803, 53826 & 53709) and at least 3 Dart's (41383, 42430 & 43812) in trouble in recent days.

Dart 42255 would not start at Camborne earlier today whilst on the 47 and was swapped for Solo 50290, Volvo B7RLE 69209 was taken off the 18 with a fault and swapped for 69221 and Dart 42942 was taken off the 18 and replaced by a Volvo B7RLE.

I wonder how much is due to the fleet being stretched since WG going down, and not being able to have as much rest between workings.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The bit about the order for Streetlites.

There are no buses on order for Cornwall.

This financial year coming's (April 15 to March 16) order for First Group is fixed and the first deliveries start in April. All the buses are allocated and none is for Cornwall.

The two Streetlites are on loan from Manchester because every First operating company was asked to supply vehicles either on loan or for transfer. Nevertheless, the loan is being used as a handy test for the 14/18 with a view to a subsequent investment!

I have to say I thought it unlikely for Kernow to get something. Whilst the turnaround plan is doing well, is it likely to support such investment? Also, as SW states, the vehicle orders and allocations will have been done some time ago so evaluation would've been done before that.

That's not to say that there's not the chance of late diverts in similar manner to Weymouth's first Streetlites or Leicester's being diverted to Potteries. However, think it's unlikely.

Based on idle speculation and common sense, they'll be some Tridents (or possibly some B7TLs) to effect a substantial cut in the elderly Olyms with a number of mid life (c.2005/6 ish) Darts to remove the non DDA Darts?

 

[83G/84D]

The Streetlite 63097 departed Camborne early this morning possibly to Penzance and has not returned since.

 

[richw]

The Streetlite 63097 departed Camborne early this morning possibly to Penzance and has not returned since.

Between 0835 and 0840 this morning it was outside Redruth station operating an 18 in the direction of Truro. There was a man taking a photo of it, so I'll look out for that photo on Flickr.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have to say I thought it unlikely for Kernow to get something. Whilst the turnaround plan is doing well, is it likely to support such investment? Also, as SW states, the vehicle orders and allocations will have been done some time ago so evaluation would've been done before that.

That's not to say that there's not the chance of late diverts in similar manner to Weymouth's first Streetlites or Leicester's being diverted to Potteries. However, think it's unlikely.

Based on idle speculation and common sense, they'll be some Tridents (or possibly some B7TLs) to effect a substantial cut in the elderly Olyms with a number of mid life (c.2005/6 ish) Darts to remove the non DDA Darts?

The Streetlite did not go out this morning but according to a usually reliable source, type training on it should start next week.

Another example is expected for training / trials.

An order for Streetlites has been approved for Cornwall subject to the results of the trials. If the trials are not successful they will go elsewhere.

This is not my speculation (I don't do speculation and rumour on any forums) but what I was told earlier by a First contact so don't blame me if it turns out wrong!

I've been told the same by one of my contacts at First Kernow.

I've just rethought what my contact said. It may not be brand new but cascaded Streetlites he referred to, as he just said getting a fleet of them.
This could mean 2-3 year old ones from elsewhere.

 

[83G/84D]

Here is the Streetlite in service for the first time since arriving from Manchester:-

 

[Busaholic]

I believe there were two Marshall Darts in service in PZ today. Saw one at Long Rock 15.30 ish on a 17 to St Ives and another (THE other?) on a 10A entering PZ at c 1710.

 

[richw]

Opentop Volvo B7TL 32027 in camborne today.
In the same green livery as the mousehole slimline solo.
First low floor open topper down here?

 

[83G/84D]

I believe there were two Marshall Darts in service in PZ today. Saw one at Long Rock 15.30 ish on a 17 to St Ives and another (THE other?) on a 10A entering PZ at c 1710.

There are three in total, 41132 that has been around for a while and the two new arrivals 41383 & 41490.