Cornwall Open Top Bus Service 300 2014

[extendedpaul]

We booked our usual two nights away in Cornwall mid May specifically to spend another day using the 300 - my personal favourite open top tour However it does not appear to be running yet and is not even included in the service changes from 25 May.

In previous years it started in late March, switched to the peak timetable in May, and was usually busy even outside of school holidays though admittedly with a lot of senior free pass users.

Can't find anything on google, does anybody know what's happening ?

 

[Greenback]

I've heard that it will be starting in late May, but will only run between Land's End and St Ives this year. Apparently, First say that routes 1/1A can be used for Penzance - Land's End, and route 17 will cover St Ives to Penzance.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I've heard that it will be starting in late May, but will only run between Land's End and St Ives this year. Apparently, First say that routes 1/1A can be used for Penzance - Land's End, and route 17 will cover St Ives to Penzance.

That's what the website says

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/service_300/

Bit of a teaser on "exciting news". Wonder if it might be hourly using three vehicles?

There have been rumours that it might be the last hurrah. Do have to remember that the fleet is knocking on a bit (28 year old Citybuses) and wonder if there's an appetite for converting anything? Let's hope rumours are unsubstantiated, as I've done that journey from St Ives to Lands End and it's a phenomenal trip!

 

[Greenback]

Bit of a teaser on "exciting news". Wonder if it might be hourly using three vehicles?

Possibly, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see! An hourly service would be brilliant!

There have been rumours that it might be the last hurrah. Do have to remember that the fleet is knocking on a bit (28 year old Citybuses) and wonder if there's an appetite for converting anything? Let's hope rumours are unsubstantiated, as I've done that journey from St Ives to Lands End and it's a phenomenal trip!

Yes, it's a fabulous trip, but I've only done it once. This discussion has made me eager to do it again, though!

 

[TEW]

The timetable is up in the Forthcoming Timetables section of the First website.
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/dev...vice=300&routeid=2321001&operator=6&source=sp

Seems to suggest the route continues much as before. Rumours are that concessionary passes will no longer be valid though.

 

[fgwrich]

That's what the website says

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/service_300/

Bit of a teaser on "exciting news". Wonder if it might be hourly using three vehicles?

There have been rumours that it might be the last hurrah. Do have to remember that the fleet is knocking on a bit (28 year old Citybuses) and wonder if there's an appetite for converting anything? Let's hope rumours are unsubstantiated, as I've done that journey from St Ives to Lands End and it's a phenomenal trip!

They Have one! Im not sure how many more have been converted, but First Kernow now appear to be using ex Bristol Northern Counties Palatine II L637SE on an open top service in Penzance - certainly that was the only one I saw in Long Rock depot when we took our vehicle down for the running day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29197902@N06/9117215119

 

[richw]

I've heard that it will be starting in late May, but will only run between Land's End and St Ives this year. Apparently, First say that routes 1/1A can be used for Penzance - Land's End, and route 17 will cover St Ives to Penzance.

It has always been the case that it was 3 separate routes, now further enforced by the EU service bus route limits. The open topper is to run all the way round, but as 3 routes. Blame the EU

They Have one! Im not sure how many more have been converted, but First Kernow now appear to be using ex Bristol Northern Counties Palatine II L637SE on an open top service in Penzance - certainly that was the only one I saw in Long Rock depot when we took our vehicle down for the running day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29197902@N06/9117215119

L637SEU only became open top after hitting a bridge in Falmouth in April 2011. There is also a K plate Olympian open topper.

 

[richw]

They Have one! Im not sure how many more have been converted, but First Kernow now appear to be using ex Bristol Northern Counties Palatine II L637SE on an open top service in Penzance - certainly that was the only one I saw in Long Rock depot when we took our vehicle down for the running day.

Which bus did you bring down?

 

[83G/84D]

The rumour that the Citybuses are to be retired has been circulating for a few months although one was parked up at Camborne depot yesterday.Unsure where the others are.

 

[richw]

The rumour that the Citybuses are to be retired has been circulating for a few months although one was parked up at Camborne depot yesterday.Unsure where the others are.

Are they still in winter hibernation? They used to spend winter in the shed at the old Truronian depot in Truro. I assume they are still there in winter.

 

[83G/84D]

Are they still in winter hibernation? They used to spend winter in the shed at the old Truronian depot in Truro. I assume they are still there in winter.

I know they used to stay here over the winter but now the Park & ride buses overnight there I'm not sure if there is enough room! It is quite a compact site.

 

[richw]

I know they used to stay here over the winter but now the Park & ride buses overnight there I'm not sure if there is enough room! It is quite a compact site.

I work on the same industrial estate and have never thought about having a look at their site.

 

[fgwrich]

Which bus did you bring down?

We were down for the weekend with our excellently noisy old horse, ex Devon General and Western National Bristol RE POD830H.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33106/14001330993/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/9084781341

If your out and about in July, it's next running duty will be at our groups Bristol RE & VR Running Day in Alton. It's certainly a fine RE, which makes all the right noises with a perfectly unique to RE's gearbox whine. As for the appearance, whilst we like to have most of our vehicles looking smart and pristine, the intention is at the moment to keep POD in ex service condition externally. Besides, there's another POD (POD829H) under restoration and that'll be pristine!

http://www.bristol-re.moonfruit.com/#/2014-running-day/4542555558

Thanks also for the story regarding the NC Oly, personally I feel they should use more of those and retire the citybuses, but the best two Olympian bodies for me were the ECW & Alexander Royale.

 

[richw]

We were down for the weekend with our excellently noisy old horse, ex Devon General and Western National Bristol RE POD830H.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33106/14001330993/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/9084781341

If your out and about in July, it's next running duty will be at our groups Bristol RE & VR Running Day in Alton. It's certainly a fine RE, which makes all the right noises with a perfectly unique to RE's gearbox whine. As for the appearance, whilst we like to have most of our vehicles looking smart and pristine, the intention is at the moment to keep POD in ex service condition externally. Besides, there's another POD (POD829H) under restoration and that'll be pristine!

http://www.bristol-re.moonfruit.com/#/2014-running-day/4542555558

Thanks also for the story regarding the NC Oly, personally I feel they should use more of those and retire the citybuses, but the best two Olympian bodies for me were the ECW & Alexander Royale.

I somehow didn't catch any photos of POD830H at Penzance, I took over 100 photos and none with yours in.
Embarrassingly I don't know where Alton is!

 

[fgwrich]

I somehow didn't catch any photos of POD830H at Penzance, I took over 100 photos and none with yours in.
Embarrassingly I don't know where Alton is!

No problem, it was being used a fair bit that Sunday, and with OTA-Gs unfortunate failure meant that POD had a full and standing run to St Ives & Back - probably it's first time in Pres!

Our running day is in Alton - Hampshire. We're also the day before the Mid Hants Railway Sponsored Alton Bus Rally on the Sunday (the Mid Hants usually do something on the Sunday as well, like bringing the Thumper out for example).

Alton's location:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x4874232c17a9a3cb:0x84cc6dd2260e40b9

The Alton Bus Rally

http://www.altonbusrally.com/

 

[TEW]

Thanks also for the story regarding the NC Oly, personally I feel they should use more of those and retire the citybuses, but the best two Olympian bodies for me were the ECW & Alexander Royale.

At the moment there isn't really a deluge of spare Olympians in the First D&C fleet. That may change in the future as presumably more of the fleet will be converted to step free vehicles, but then will the Open Top service have to eventually use step free vehicles itself? If it does then it may not be economically viable to convert more vehicles to open top now. The Citybuses are only relatively recent conversions to open toppers, they first appeared for the Summer 2008 season.

 

[starrymarkb]

I'm sure they can get a few ALX400s converted. Stagecoach Devon are converting some of their S Plate ALX400 Tridents to open top for Exmouth and Torquay for this summer

 

[83G/84D]

We were down for the weekend with our excellently noisy old horse, ex Devon General and Western National Bristol RE POD830H.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33106/14001330993/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/9084781341

If your out and about in July, it's next running duty will be at our groups Bristol RE & VR Running Day in Alton. It's certainly a fine RE, which makes all the right noises with a perfectly unique to RE's gearbox whine. As for the appearance, whilst we like to have most of our vehicles looking smart and pristine, the intention is at the moment to keep POD in ex service condition externally. Besides, there's another POD (POD829H) under restoration and that'll be pristine!

http://www.bristol-re.moonfruit.com/#/2014-running-day/4542555558

Thanks also for the story regarding the NC Oly, personally I feel they should use more of those and retire the citybuses, but the best two Olympian bodies for me were the ECW & Alexander Royale.

I had an eventful ride on your great sounding RE on that Sunday at Penzance when you stopped to pick up some passengers off the ailing Series 1 VR.

Shame the weather deteriorated by the afternoon,oh and the close shave with the police car on blue lights near Carbis Bay!

Heard the bus leaving Penzance on Monday morning from work as well - sounded great! Hope to go to Alton for another adventure on POD!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

At the moment there isn't really a deluge of spare Olympians in the First D&C fleet. That may change in the future as presumably more of the fleet will be converted to step free vehicles, but then will the Open Top service have to eventually use step free vehicles itself? If it does then it may not be economically viable to convert more vehicles to open top now. The Citybuses are only relatively recent conversions to open toppers, they first appeared for the Summer 2008 season.

Some of the early K & L reg Olympians are due to be taken out of service at Camborne this year as coaches take over on Truro College / school runs, now they are finished on rail replacement work in Devon.

Whether it is feasible to convert them to open or partial open top to replace the Citybuses is another thing!

 

[berneyarms]

It has always been the case that it was 3 separate routes, now further enforced by the EU service bus route limits. The open topper is to run all the way round, but as 3 routes. Blame the EU

Can you explain this further please?

Which EU regulations are you referring to?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Can you explain this further please?

Which EU regulations are you referring to?

I think that it was a reference to the 300 being registered in 3 separate sections as it is more than 50km in length and would otherwise be operated with tachos under EU drivers hours rather than UK domestic.

However, it looks like now, it will only actually work between St Ives and Lands End, and to "complete the circuit", customers will have to travel on other services.

I did see the new timetable on Forthcoming Timetables. Just not certain how it justifies the "exciting" news teaser on the website unless something else is planned for high season??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I had an eventful ride on your great sounding RE on that Sunday at Penzance when you stopped to pick up some passengers off the ailing Series 1 VR.

Shame the weather deteriorated by the afternoon,oh and the close shave with the police car on blue lights near Carbis Bay!

Heard the bus leaving Penzance on Monday morning from work as well - sounded great! Hope to go to Alton for another adventure on POD!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Some of the early K & L reg Olympians are due to be taken out of service at Camborne this year as coaches take over on Truro College / school runs, now they are finished on rail replacement work in Devon.

Whether it is feasible to convert them to open or partial open top to replace the Citybuses is another thing!

I think the issue is whether they spend the money to convert 21 year old deckers that can only be used for another 3 summers (after this one). They could, of course, convert some DDA uprated Trident or something but then you're converting something 12-15 years old for use only a few months a year when they're in dire need of replacing other older fleet.

A more sensible approach might be to convert some Trident/Presidents to convertible open top (for use all year round) though whether they have the grunt at times, you'd have to wonder!

 

[83G/84D]

I think that it was a reference to the 300 being registered in 3 separate sections as it is more than 50km in length and would otherwise be operated with tachos under EU drivers hours rather than UK domestic.

However, it looks like now, it will only actually work between St Ives and Lands End, and to "complete the circuit", customers will have to travel on other services.

I did see the new timetable on Forthcoming Timetables. Just not certain how it justifies the "exciting" news teaser on the website unless something else is planned for high season??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I think the issue is whether they spend the money to convert 21 year old deckers that can only be used for another 3 summers (after this one). They could, of course, convert some DDA uprated Trident or something but then you're converting something 12-15 years old for use only a few months a year when they're in dire need of replacing other older fleet.

A more sensible approach might be to convert some Trident/Presidents to convertible open top (for use all year round) though whether they have the grunt at times, you'd have to wonder!

Good point well put. I'm not sure that Trident's would be the right buses for the job but there are plenty of them already out of use in First's fleet.

 

[TEW]

I'm sure they can get a few ALX400s converted. Stagecoach Devon are converting some of their S Plate ALX400 Tridents to open top for Exmouth and Torquay for this summer

I'd imagine the priority will be replacing the closed top fleet first though, and there's still some way to go until that is all low floor.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A more sensible approach might be to convert some Trident/Presidents to convertible open top (for use all year round) though whether they have the grunt at times, you'd have to wonder!

What's the most modern convertible open top vehicle? I can't remember any newer than some D Reg Olympians. I remember some the convertible VR's weren't particularly rain proof, even when the roof was on!

 

[starrymarkb]

I'd imagine the priority will be replacing the closed top fleet first though, and there's still some way to go until that is all low floor.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


What's the most modern convertible open top vehicle? I can't remember any newer than some D Reg Olympians. I remember some the convertible VR's weren't particularly rain proof, even when the roof was on!

There were a few East Lancs Mylleniums in Bournemouth that were convertible.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'd imagine the priority will be replacing the closed top fleet first though, and there's still some way to go until that is all low floor.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


What's the most modern convertible open top vehicle? I can't remember any newer than some D Reg Olympians. I remember some the convertible VR's weren't particularly rain proof, even when the roof was on!

Think Wilts and Dorset got some 05 convertible B7/East Lancs? The ones for Swanage and Lymington?

 

[berneyarms]

I think that it was a reference to the 300 being registered in 3 separate sections as it is more than 50km in length and would otherwise be operated with tachos under EU drivers hours rather than UK domestic.

However, it looks like now, it will only actually work between St Ives and Lands End, and to "complete the circuit", customers will have to travel on other services.

Thanks for the explanation, but could you explain what's the difference?
Surely EU and GB legislation is the same in this regard?

 

[hassaanhc]

Think Wilts and Dorset got some 05 convertible B7/East Lancs? The ones for Swanage and Lymington?

London General have had a couple of 2002 (52) B7TL/Gemini done in the last year, one is WVL93 but can't remember the number of the other.

 

[richw]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/service_300/

Link States Penzance to lands end will be route 1 also operated by open top. Looking almost certainly down to the 50km ruling now.

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks for the explanation, but could you explain what's the difference?
Surely EU and GB legislation is the same in this regard?

What's happened is the EU tightened up the rules on Driver Hours. An unintended consequence was that local service routes over 50km now fall under coach regulations (most of Europe will use trains for longer journeys with integrated tickets and connections) UK Bus rules are less stringent then the European coach rules so operators will split longer routes into sections under the 50km limit so they can remain on UK bus rules.

 

[TEW]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/service_300/

Link States Penzance to lands end will be route 1 also operated by open top. Looking almost certainly down to the 50km ruling now.

Many journeys on the 1 have often been run by open top vehicles in the Summer in the past anyway. The link also suggests open top vehicles may be used on the 17, which would be new.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/service_300/

Link States Penzance to lands end will be route 1 also operated by open top. Looking almost certainly down to the 50km ruling now.

Forthcoming timetable taken down now
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for the explanation, but could you explain what's the difference?
Surely EU and GB legislation is the same in this regard?

As starrymarkb says, UK domestic is more flexible in terms of hours/breaks and you don't need tachos (further expense)