Go Cornwall Bus

[TheGrandWazoo]

From a passenger perspective, they are going from mostly high spec 66/18 plate vehicles. To very life expired buses with basic London spec interiors. Some of which still have the old First Barbie interior. I doubt any have been refurbished either.

Perhaps a few things here...and let's make sure the comparisons are correct.

First have got the 66/18 plates and they were lovely when new but if you look at the 66 plates especially, those high spec interiors are now looking rather faded. Moreover, the comparison should be with the 17 and 69 plate e400 cities that are heading there - it appears that the B9s are headed to Plymouth.

So if that's case, then compare the GCB ex London e400s with the various B9TLs that First drafted in. Aside from the ex Doncaster ones, the others were not refurbished. Unlike the golden era when some B7TLs arrived and got retrimmed, the B9s that were cascaded were in a poor state, not retrimmed, and with the Norwich ones, being a terrible advert inside and out.

Compounded with that the timetable is a reduction in frequency vs First

It's hard to see what the advantage is if GCB Vs First

First's business wasn't financially sustainable even before the last competitive onslaught.

I'd also mention that service delivery/standards had fallen.

Carousel have been using tatty buses for years without a refurbishment and a whole multitude of different liveries with the logo slapped on

And the relevance of this is?

 

[Goldfish62]

The Parade is the Old Coastguards, just an unusual way to describe it

Based on the installation of a flag and timetable frame it can now be confirmed that the stop will be along The Parade at the existing coach bay down in the dip well beyond the Old Coastguard.

 

[Snozzel]

The gcb offering on the 15th however it looks and with whatever fleet will have a better timetable and buses than first.

 

[Goldfish62]

The gcb offering on the 15th however it looks and with whatever fleet will have a better timetable and buses than first.

I have a hunch that those having their services cut by 50% on Sunday may not necessarily agree that the timetable is better.

 

[YorkRailFan]

On an allied matter, in response to an enquiry from a contact of mine GSW have stated that the absence of route 7 from the timetable book is because it's being withdrawn in April. This suggests to me that the validity of the timetable book is going to be lengthy and thus there'll be no summer enhancements, including no reintroduction of the Land's End - St Ives service.

A great shame, it was such a popular service when I used it last July.

 

[Snozzel]

I have a hunch that those having their services cut by 50% on Sunday may not necessarily agree that the timetable is better.

They have had it cut 100% by first.

 

[Andyh82]

They have had it cut 100% by first.

Maybe explain where you are talking about rather than talking in riddles?

 

[fgwrich]

They have had it cut 100% by first.

I don’t think places like Fowey are particularly happy, going from roughly half hourly with services provided by First and GCB to every 90 minutes with GCB…

And the people of Mousehole aren’t exactly happy in having a 100% cutback from Sunday to the Harbour. Granted that’s a short leg, but Mousehole isn’t a flat place.

 

[Goldfish62]

Maybe explain where you are talking about rather than talking in riddles?

My thoughts entirely.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==

And the people of Mousehole aren’t exactly happy in having a 100% cutback from Sunday to the Harbour. Granted that’s a short leg, but Mousehole isn’t a flat place.

Indeed. The petition now has 2300 names and the issue was due to be featured on BBC Spotlight this evening. There was quite the turn out from the village for a protest this morning.

A 350m walk to the new stop, which isn't at The Coastguards, but is some way beyond. 5 minute walk at Google speed (ie fast). Undoubtedly GSW will have factored in the loss of elderly passengers who will resort to lifts from friends or taxis if they can afford it.

Ultimately of course it's up to the council to intervene if it sees fit, but I'd be surprised if it does.

 

[Man of Kent]

I don’t think places like Fowey are particularly happy, going from roughly half hourly with services provided by First and GCB to every 90 minutes with GCB…

Currently, First's 24 is every 90 minutes and GCB's 25 is hourly.
The new 24 between St Austell and Fowey is hourly, so the reduction is not that drastic, although it will take a slower route than the current First service.

 

[Snozzel]

W

Maybe explain where you are talking about rather than talking in riddles?

What i mean is ,we may complain about a reduced or poor comparative service from gcb but the only reason for any changes lie entirely with the 100% reduction in service from first.

 

[Fletcj10]

I'm sure its been asked here before but with First's routes going to GCB, in the future is their a likely hood we will see increased services to similar frequency's as First run now? or even open tops in the summer/seasonal routes? that yet wont be announced?

 

[MaidaVale]

better timetable and buses than first.

I don't see how this statement could be regarded as accurate in any way possible. The timetable and overall route network is objectively worse in the vast majority of cases, quite literally 50% or 75% worse statistically with some of the frequency reductions.

St Ives - Camborne, Penzance - Camborne and Penzance - St Ives to name just three, have had their frequency dropped by 50% to hourly with GCB from half-hourly with First. The U4 has also been split in half between the 2 and the 3, so anyone wanting to cross Helston (for example Porthleven to Penryn) now has to pay double the fare than previously. Many people plan their lives and commutes around direct bus connections, so a change such as this that will increase their travel costs per day could have quite the impact long term.

All of these examples also have at least one 90 minute service gap throughout the day under GCBs new timetable. This isn't mentioning the many other examples across the county, Mousehole etc.

and in terms of 'better buses', they're equivalent at best if not directly worse.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==

I'm sure its been asked here before but with First's routes going to GCB, in the future is their a likely hood we will see increased services to similar frequency's as First run now? or even open tops in the summer/seasonal routes? that yet wont be announced?

There's nothing to suggest it thus far. GCB haven't been known to provide any sort of extensive summer uplift compared to the likes that First have done in the past, so I see it as unlikely particularly considering it hasn't been announced at this stage. With the significant reduction in frequency that their new timetable has given to multiple routes, you'd think they'd be pretty eager to advertise it early on if they were planning on increasing the frequency during the summer season.

Open Tops and tourist based routes I'd say couldn't be less likely under GCB. They've shown no interest at all so far and have had plenty of time to start their own over the past 5 years of their widespread tenure in Cornwall. If they were going to, I'd have thought we'd already have seen it by now. If they were managed under the GSC umbrella, it'd be far more likely.

 

[Geoff DC]

My thoughts entirely.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==


Indeed. The petition now has 2300 names and the issue was due to be featured on BBC Spotlight this evening. There was quite the turn out from the village for a protest this morning.

A 350m walk to the new stop, which isn't at The Coastguards, but is some way beyond. 5 minute walk at Google speed (ie fast). Undoubtedly GSW will have factored in the loss of elderly passengers who will resort to lifts from friends or taxis if they can afford it.

Ultimately of course it's up to the council to intervene if it sees fit, but I'd be surprised if it does.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==

Save the Mousehole Harbour Bus Stop petition is at: www.change.org/p/save-the-mousehole-harbour-bus-stop

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==

Save the Mousehole Harbour Bus Stop petition is at: www.change.org/p/save-the-mousehole-harbour-bus-stop

4.5 signatures for every resident

 

[stevieinselby]

4.5 signatures for every resident

I suspect that the route has a much higher proportion of visitors to residents than most, even on a daily basis but let alone over the course of the year. There might be a hundred residents who use it regularly, but tens of thousands of tourists and visitors who use it occasionally and will be affected by the change.

 

[I'm here now]

I'm sure its been asked here before but with First's routes going to GCB, in the future is their a likely hood we will see increased services to similar frequency's as First run now? or even open tops in the summer/seasonal routes? that yet wont be announced?

I did see on This talk of a summer uplift, whatever that means (possibly just more drivers to cover the slow speeds in the summer?)

 

[Goldfish62]

4.5 signatures for every resident

Yes, I'm among the non-residents who signed. I spent the best part of my life there and while I no longer live there I still care about the village. That's why I signed.

Friends of mine are regular visitors to the village. They're elderly and can't walk far. They won't be able to visit anymore, at least not by bus. That's why they signed.

Now, I don't think for one moment that the petition will have any impact, but it at least allows people to vent their feelings. Not putting your good self in this category, but I know that on these forums there's a prevailing attitude that people should just put up and shut and just be grateful for whatever is provided, however inadequate or inconvenient it may be.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes, I'm among the non-residents who signed. I spent the best part of my life there and while I no longer live there I still care about the village. That's why I signed.

Friends of mine are regular visitors to the village. They're elderly and can't walk far. They won't be able to visit anymore, at least not by bus. That's why they signed.

Now, I don't think for one moment that the petition will have any impact, but it at least allows people to vent their feelings. Not putting your good self in this category, but I know that on these forums there's a prevailing attitude that people should just put up and shut and just be grateful for whatever is provided, however inadequate or inconvenient it may be.

I did appreciate that there would be non-residents in there, perhaps from Newlyn or Penzance. You can't police who signs these things, and I am talking generally but feels like some petitions get signed by people for any sort of protest.

FWIW, I don't think it will change anything and whether it's Go Ahead or the council, they will be able to point to Meva or St Mawes or Port Isaac and say people manage there.

The one thing that I find a little confusing is that Go Ahead have purchased four Sprinters - to what end?

 

[JKP]

I did appreciate that there would be non-residents in there, perhaps from Newlyn or Penzance. You can't police who signs these things, and I am talking generally but feels like some petitions get signed by people for any sort of protest.

FWIW, I don't think it will change anything and whether it's Go Ahead or the council, they will be able to point to Meva or St Mawes or Port Isaac and say people manage there.

The one thing that I find a little confusing is that Go Ahead have purchased four Sprinters - to what end?

I think that Go are also more risk averse than First or their predecessors. The Safe Harbour terminus at Fowey comes to mind.

Like you I too wonder what the ex Preston Sprinters are to be used on.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think that Go are also more risk averse than First or their predecessors. The Safe Harbour terminus at Fowey comes to mind.

The Fowey one definitely sprang to mind but we saw with Meva too. Where once the main route ran through the centre of town, now its just the Gorran Haven route.

GCB is more conservative in most respects - operationally and commercially. If people are expecting fleets of open toppers and seasonal uplifts... then I don't think that's going to be happening. They are a Hovis loaf... you know what you're getting and it's unexciting!

As regards vehicle spec, the Kernow e400mmc were miles ahead of other group deliveries. At the same point that Kernow got their Tinners, Bristol got mmcs and it was the standard grey p-leather.

GCB's 63 and 65 plates are a bit austere but I'd say that they were better than First's standard spec. The 17 and 69 plates that GCB has are much better, especially the 17 plates. The 20/70 plate vehicles that they got for TfC are generally ok though I think some of the early e200mmc were dealer stock so a bit less comfortable.

 

[LAIRA]

I understand that the new Mellors are to upgrade some of the minis taken over from Travel Cornwall

 

[Goldfish62]

I understand that the new Mellors are to upgrade some of the minis taken over from Travel Cornwall

And I think replace the fire damaged buses from the Summercourt fire.

In any case the Mellors won't fit into Mousehole. First borrowed a short OTS one to test and it didn't work.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Feb 2026 ==

FWIW, I don't think it will change anything and whether it's Go Ahead or the council, they will be able to point to Meva or St Mawes or Port Isaac and say people manage there.

I agree, it won't change anything, but that's still no reason not to protest. It's inevitable that the new arrangements will worsen social isolation, as happens every time a rural bus service is cut.

In terms of comparing to other locations (which I don't understand the obsession with), Mousehole is far higher profile in respect of its bus service (it's known around the world!) and historically the service has been always been well used and continues to be so. I'm not sure people who don't know the village and have only visited as tourists or looked at it on Google Maps/Bustimes realise how much residents cherish the service, or the awkwardness of the walk to the new stop for less able people.

At the heart of the matter for me is that the change isn't being done for commercial reasons, but for operational convenience. GoAhead have bought First's depots. I'm sure they could have made a decent offer to buy the Sprinters. The irony is that passengers will be lost as a result, simply because they will not be physically capable of getting to or from the new stop (my own parents in their latter years of independence wouldn't have been able to), but as I said before GoAhead are undoubtedly aware of this.

I think what has further compounded things is GoAhead's claim that buses would terminate at the Coastguards when that's not the case and was obviously never going to be the case. Where the replacement stop is sited, quite apart from a further walk, couldn't be more exposed to the elements and that can't have helped people's mood on the matter.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I agree, it won't change anything, but that's still no reason not to protest. It's inevitable that the new arrangements will worsen social isolation, as happens every time a rural bus service is cut.

Not suggesting that people don't protest and I agree that the solution is wrong.

I was questioning on a wider basis that if it's people who are affected (directly as residents, or on behalf of their relatives, or as visitors) that's perfectly understandable but if it's more than that then is it counterproductive i.e. it is representative? It's a wider rhetorical point about petitions, more than anything else.

In terms of comparing to other locations (which I don't understand the obsession with), Mousehole is far higher profile in respect of its bus service (it's known around the world!) and historically the service has been always been well used and continues to be so. I'm not sure people who don't know the village and have only visited as tourists or looked at it on Google Maps/Bustimes realise how much residents cherish the service, or the awkwardness of the walk to the new stop for less able people

I do know the village so can appreciate the inconvenience it will bring.

I'm just saying what I reckon the "justification" or defence will be!

At the heart of the matter for me is that the change isn't being done for commercial reasons, but for operational convenience. GoAhead have bought First's depots. I'm sure they could have made a decent offer to buy the Sprinters. The irony is that passengers will be lost as a result, simply because they will not be physically capable of getting to or from the new stop (my own parents in their latter years of independence wouldn't have been able to), but as I said before GoAhead are undoubtedly aware of this.

It's absolutely being done for operational flexibility. As you say, Go Ahead will have made a conscious decision - a cold Cost Benefit Analysis where loss of passengers is put against benefits of operational flexibility. I think they're wrong - whether they were hoping for the council to intervene, who knows. Given how fragile the Sprinter reliability has been, perhaps they didn't fancy them?

 

[Goldfish62]

Not suggesting that people don't protest and I agree that the solution is wrong.

I was questioning on a wider basis that if it's people who are affected (directly as residents, or on behalf of their relatives, or as visitors) that's perfectly understandable but if it's more than that then is it counterproductive i.e. it is representative? It's a wider rhetorical point about petitions, more than anything else.


I do know the village so can appreciate the inconvenience it will bring.

I'm just saying what I reckon the "justification" or defence will be!

It's absolutely being done for operational flexibility. As you say, Go Ahead will have made a conscious decision - a cold Cost Benefit Analysis where loss of passengers is put against benefits of operational flexibility. I think they're wrong - whether they were hoping for the council to intervene, who knows. Given how fragile the Sprinter reliability has been, perhaps they didn't fancy them?

As is usually the case I can't argue with any of that, except perhaps the bit about Sprinter reliability. GSW's excellent sub-contractor OTS has a fleet of almost exclusively Sprinters and their Bus Services Manager speaks very highly of them. He's even suggested, a bit tongue in cheek, that he'd buy the First ones if they were for sale. It does seem to be the case that small operators manage to get on with Sprinters better than large ones, as OTS being happy with theirs, while First having had continual issues with theirs are not isolated examples.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

except perhaps the bit about Sprinter reliability.

Just that First's have been problematic but as you say, might a reflection on First's engineering practices. I don't know if there's anything First have specified that is impacting reliability.

 

[JKP]

The Plymothian Transit site has posted that the Truro Park and Ride has been registered under the Dealtop (Dartline) licence starting Monday 16th February and will be operated by the existing Citaros transferred to Go.

 

[YorkRailFan]

The Plymothian Transit site has posted that the Truro Park and Ride has been registered under the Dealtop (Dartline) licence starting Monday 16th February and will be operated by the existing Citaros transferred to Go.

There's a Cornwall Council statement regarding Truro Park & Ride on the TfC website.

Following the announcement from First Bus in November that they would cease operating bus services in Cornwall from February 15th 2026, we are pleased to confirm that a new operator will be taking on the contract for the service from Monday 16th February.

We would like to reassure customers that all existing Park & Ride ticket products purchased via the First Bus app will remain valid for the life of that product. You will still be able to Ccess existing products as usual via the First Bus app.

From Sunday 15th February, any new products will need to be purchased via the Transport for Cornwall website and app. You will find a new section dedicated to Truro Park & Ride that mirrors the current ticket suite.

The timetable and operation of the Park & Ride service is otherwise unchanged.

We would like to remind customers that though tickets will be purchased via the Transport for Cornwall website or app, the Park & Ride tickets are not valid on the wider local bus network.

Should you have any queries, please email Transport@cornwall.gov.uk

Truro Park and Ride

www.transportforcornwall.co.uk

 

[Andyh82]

There's a Cornwall Council statement regarding Truro Park & Ride on the TfC website.

Truro Park and Ride

www.transportforcornwall.co.uk

That was posted weeks ago

 

[DaveHarries]

The Plymothian Transit site has posted that the Truro Park and Ride has been registered under the Dealtop (Dartline) licence starting Monday 16th February and will be operated by the existing Citaros transferred to Go.

So what of the Electrics purchased by Cornwall Council for the Park & Ride I wonder?

Dave