I’ve just had a chance to look briefly through the Traveline timetables for Go Cornwall and First Kernow from 29 March. There’s a lot to digest. I know there might be changes but I feel rather as though I have moved from the rest of the UK’s cuts, cuts, cuts to a parallel universe where money is no object….
Looking at the main points that I have found, not counting issues such as how Go Cornwall is going to run the Mousehole journeys:
· The Lizard. At the moment First run the L1 from Redruth to Helston and Lizard every two hours, with more in peaks, plus an L2 from Truro to Helston and on to Coverack fairly infrequently. From March Go Cornwall are going to run the 34 from Redruth to Helston and Lizard hourly and the 36 from Truro to Helston every two hours (and a separate 36A to Coverack). Meanwhile First are going to run an L1 from Truro (not Redruth) to Helston and Lizard, pretty much hourly during the day but with very little at school or peak times, and it will mainly miss out Ruan Minor. Can this possibly be justified?
· Newquay to Padstow, it looks as if First’s A5 will continue every 90 minutes, although with a slightly varied timetable from 5 April, while Go Cornwall will run the 56 hourly in competition. Even, largely, following the same variations and many journeys at exactly the same times. If it is right it is madness!
· Newquay to Truro. It looks as if First’s 85 will continue to run every 90 minutes while Go Cornwall will run a competing 85 every hour. First will also continue to run the 86 every hour. On the main route First’s 91 will continue every half hour, but seems to lose some peak hour journeys at key times – unless I’m missing something. What’s going on here then?
· The 47 from Camborne to Portreath, Redruth, St Day and Truro, currently hourly by First. Go Cornwall are going to run this hourly from 29 March but First will continue to run the whole route hourly except for the section between St Day and Truro. It does look like these will be reasonably evenly spaced, but if this wasn’t economic before then how is it now?
· In my view the maddest one looks sane at first glance. At the moment First run the 24 and 25, each hourly, between St Austell and Fowey. The 24 (from Mevagissey) arrives at Fowey at 11 past each hour and departs at 45 while the 25 (from Newquay) arrives at 40 and departs at 15. A nice half hourly service between St Austell and Fowey and they interwork at Fowey. Going forward – exactly the same. Except it isn’t. The 24 will still be First while the 25 will be Go Cornwall. So will there be a bus sitting at the terminus (where there’s not much room) for about 35 minutes every half hour? Good news for the pub there perhaps – but it’s a steep walk down to the town to a café! On the face of it the 25 then has 36 minutes in Newquay too, but maybe this will interwork with something else.
· I do like some of the improvements. The 95 two hourly from Truro to Wadebridge, Camelford and Bude, and the 10 (why not 96?) from Wadebridge to Port Isaac, Camelford and Launceston also two hourly. I really hope they attract custom. On the other hand there doesn’t appear to be anything going forward between Bodmin and Camelford like the existing 55.
· I am also pleased to see the A3 and A4 starting earlier this year. Let’s hope the weather improves and people use them.
· Some early or late journeys on commercial First routes like the M6, T1, T2 and U4 are shown by Go Cornwall but the First timetables haven’t been updated to reflect their withdrawal – if they are withdrawn…
Going to be an interesting year in Cornwall. I will try and visit!
