Go Cornwall Bus

[TheGrandWazoo]

It hasn’t opened yet unless it’s opened in the last week for public enquiries.
I assume the drivers can use it though

Guess it may be closed to the general public for CV19 reasons

 

[richw]

Guess it may be closed to the general public for CV19 reasons

I imagine so. Will have a look next time I’m in town

 

[Yarp1]

Believe me, I wouldn't chastise you. This is a forum and it's fine to have opinions and ask questions. It's fair to say that the area around Wadebridge and Delabole is not exactly superb bus territory. It was discussed on another thread recently how the old Western National vacated the area c.1971 as it was heavily loss making, closing their depots at Bude and Delabole so most of the area was people like Jennings and Prouts. Of course, after deregulation, they were able to go back in and established the Stratton outstation and I think another at Canworthy Water. Even then, it was mainly the X9/X10 (a mix of commercial and tendered journeys) plus various other tendered work.

Western Greyhound managed to win tenders and establish themselves and created a network that certainly improved connectivity but also required a fair bit of financial support, not least the 595 as shown on this declaration of tender results https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/9375812/Published-Results-Final-V1-22-08-14.pdf

Of course, when Western Greyhound collapsed in 2015, it was a scrabble for CC to get operators to cover. At that time, First didn't have Bodmin depot so that may have been why Stagecoach got the gig. How bothered they were about retaining them? Don't know!

Appreciate the current facilities are a little rustic for PCB but they had to get something up and running in a short time scale. What plans they have to develop things further - well, we need a PCB mole (and not Nick in Cornwall). Certainly, they have got a decent place in Liskeard now, and perhaps they might well invest in places like Newquay (where they have the bus station). They have the security of a 4 if not 8 year contract so have time to do things and the financial security to recoup the investment.

I think for everybody concerned it would be a sigh of relief as and when or if they get a depot in newquay. Before WG stopoed FK had 6 buses in a field at lane near treloggan newquay mainly running collage and I think the 90. FK then started to tun 87 and 21. Basically the superviser chose a bus in the morning and that's what was used for drivers to sign on !
When WG ceased in 2015 on Friday there was 6 buses in the yard on the monday there were drivers from WG and 21 buses in the yard. The superviser had an upgrade from a cardboard box to a plastic box for dutys on waybils etc.
It was like this for a good maybe 8 months and buses were being fueled at local garage. It wasnt easy and life was made so much easier when FK bought WG old depot. I hsvent been to pcb depot in newquay but I assume they have buildings or porta cabin but their maintenance is done in Plymouth I believe where as we had truro or camborne.
I would like.to think somebody has plans for the future but at the moment the idea that pcb would like FK for them selves must be on a few other peoples minds and it would solve so many of their current and future problems

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think for everybody concerned it would be a sigh of relief as and when or if they get a depot in newquay. Before WG stopoed FK had 6 buses in a field at lane near treloggan newquay mainly running collage and I think the 90. FK then started to tun 87 and 21. Basically the superviser chose a bus in the morning and that's what was used for drivers to sign on !
When WG ceased in 2015 on Friday there was 6 buses in the yard on the monday there were drivers from WG and 21 buses in the yard. The superviser had an upgrade from a cardboard box to a plastic box for dutys on waybils etc.
It was like this for a good maybe 8 months and buses were being fueled at local garage. It wasnt easy and life was made so much easier when FK bought WG old depot. I hsvent been to pcb depot in newquay but I assume they have buildings or porta cabin but their maintenance is done in Plymouth I believe where as we had truro or camborne.
I would like.to think somebody has plans for the future but at the moment the idea that pcb would like FK for them selves must be on a few other peoples minds and it would solve so many of their current and future problems

In all fairness, there's been a long history of outstations in Devon and Cornwall over the years. Some have been larger and more established (e.g. fuelling, portacabin etc) and mainly because they used to have proper depots e.g. Helston, Falmouth, Tavistock to name a few. If you have perhaps a dozen vehicles and X number of drivers, you need something a bit more substantial.

Others were always a bit less developed. It might have been a barn (e.g. Lands End) or at Padstow, they parked up two Leyland Nationals in the old station yard and had an old bus as the crew facility https://www.flickr.com/photos/389ra...R7v-8JtWax-aDuN8Q-5UzoZF-gcXpbX-9u3oLv-g5vRVW. Others were literally just parked up by a drivers house.

Might well be something that PCB have plans for. Get things up and running and then start developing things.

 

[laira 2]

I imagine so. Will have a look next time I’m in town

Even the Plymouth Office is closed at the present time so surely Liskeard will be closed as well.

 

[laira 2]

2 new E20D's have been delivered to Milehouse 2217/2218. Sorry no regs didn't realise they new until I arrived home.Failed miserably!!

 

[cnjb8]

So, did FK take on all WG Cornwall tenders but not all of their fleet?

 

[Yarp1]

So, did FK take on all WG Cornwall tenders but not all of their fleet?

FK took on a lot.of WG work. Stagecoach took on the north Cornwall and pcb took on the liskeard bodmin wsdebridge padstow which I think was the 55. FK took about 10 darts and optares which were on lease and only took them on as lease company asked first if they would. The rest of the buses were left partly as they were not fit for service. It all happened over the weekend. Monday morning full service was met by all 3 companys I believe to the relief of passengers

 

[cnjb8]

FK took on a lot.of WG work. Stagecoach took on the north Cornwall and pcb took on the liskeard bodmin wsdebridge padstow which I think was the 55. FK took about 10 darts and optares which were on lease and only took them on as lease company asked first if they would. The rest of the buses were left partly as they were not fit for service. It all happened over the weekend. Monday morning full service was met by all 3 companys I believe to the relief of passengers

Thank you

 

[richw]

A fair few cancellations this evening:

The following services are cancelled due to operational reasons: 1748 25 #TFC25 Newquay -St Austell, 1822 30 #TFC30 St Austell town, 1847 93 #TFC93 Truro - Newquay and 27 #TFC27 1945 St Austell - Truro 2037 Truro - Bodmin and 2234 Bodmin - St Austell.
The 1335 Service 85 #TFC85 from Newquay to Truro and the 1351 25 #TFC25 from St Austell to Fowey are not running this afternoon we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Update from our Cornwall Network Control Good Afternoon: Service 21 #TFC21 1140 from Newquay has unfortunately not run and the return journey at 1309 from St Austell is also unable to run this afternoon. Service 22 #TFC22 is running 45 minutes late between Truro and St Austell.
Due to operational difficulties the #TFC21 due to depart from Newquay Bus Station at 11:40 will not be running.

That includes the last 27 from Bodmin. Basic unwritten rules, you always find a way to operate the last bus.

Also the 1511 30 from penrice school cancelled. With some age groups back in school as well as key workers children that’s not a good one to pull. Reason given previous service delayed, no reason given for delay.

It’s like I’ve gone back in time 6 years to the end days of western greyhound

 

[83G/84D]

2 new E20D's have been delivered to Milehouse 2217/2218. Sorry no regs didn't realise they new until I arrived home.Failed miserably!!

Brand new or the ex London one’s that arrived a few weeks back?

 

[laira 2]

2 new E20D's have been delivered to Milehouse 2217/2218. Sorry no regs didn't realise they new until I arrived home.Failed miserably!!

Checked at Milehouse this morning and 2217/2218 are ex SE291/292 from Go Ahead London. 2201 is also in the compound ex SE221. 1009 HF54HFU 1010 HF54HFY 1012 HF54HFX that were in the compound yesterday have now moved out and the fitter was just moving 1006 HF58HFU out of the compound while I was there. 83 141 62 and 475 are all in the compound so must be all broke.

 

[83G/84D]

Checked at Milehouse this morning and 2217/2218 are ex SE291/292 from Go Ahead London. 2201 is also in the compound ex SE221. 1009 HF54HFU 1010 HF54HFY 1012 HF54HFX that were in the compound yesterday have now moved out and the fitter was just moving 1006 HF58HFU out of the compound while I was there. 83 141 62 and 475 are all in the compound so must be all broke.

Thank you very much.

 

[83G/84D]

2000 (WK18 BVF) in TfC red and a former First Kernow bus, seen on the 515 service today.

 

[Lizard1324]

I see transport for cornwall are selling there adl enviro 200 - Ril 3157 on ebay,

2010 ADL Enviro 200. Euro 5. PSVAR Compliant Bus Coach. £25000+VAT. Long MOT | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2010 ADL Enviro 200. Euro 5. PSVAR Compliant Bus Coach. £25000+VAT. Long MOT at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Bwsbro]

Its a for sale by Travel Cornwall who provide some services on behalf of Transport for Cornwall

 

[Busaholic]

One of Hopley's Optares on the 304 has been repainted in GCB livery, but the other carries on in Hopley's own livery. I thought all buses operated by GCB or its sub-contractors had to meet latest emission standard? Also, there's a Citybus Dart operating in West Cornwall: I saw it on the 16 on Monday and the 8 yesterday, having been on driver training duties last week.

An embarassing error appears on all blinds for the 16A service, declaring it serves New Mills, whereas it should read Newmill or, possibly New Mill if you prefer the archaic spelling.The best-known New Mills is in the Peak District, although there are others, but none anywhere near Kernow! Now, I'd love to see a 5A variation, going to Sheffield via New Mills.

 

[Goldfish62]

One of Hopley's Optares on the 304 has been repainted in GCB livery, but the other carries on in Hopley's own livery. I thought all buses operated by GCB or its sub-contractors had to meet latest emission standard? Also, there's a Citybus Dart operating in West Cornwall: I saw it on the 16 on Monday and the 8 yesterday, having been on driver training duties last week.

An embarassing error appears on all blinds for the 16A service, declaring it serves New Mills, whereas it should read Newmill or, possibly New Mill if you prefer the archaic spelling.The best-known New Mills is in the Peak District, although there are others, but none anywhere near Kernow! Now, I'd love to see a 5A variation, going to Sheffield via New Mills.

The white Hopley's Optare are soon being replaced by new buses. The red one will be a fleet spare.

The 16A was actually registered with the TC as operating via New Mills!

 

[83G/84D]

One of Hopley's Optares on the 304 has been repainted in GCB livery, but the other carries on in Hopley's own livery. I thought all buses operated by GCB or its sub-contractors had to meet latest emission standard? Also, there's a Citybus Dart operating in West Cornwall: I saw it on the 16 on Monday and the 8 yesterday, having been on driver training duties last week.

An embarassing error appears on all blinds for the 16A service, declaring it serves New Mills, whereas it should read Newmill or, possibly New Mill if you prefer the archaic spelling.The best-known New Mills is in the Peak District, although there are others, but none anywhere near Kernow! Now, I'd love to see a 5A variation, going to Sheffield via New Mills.

I saw it mentioned somewhere that the red Solo is a reserve bus, I saw it yesterday on the 304. I think the other Solo's are being taken out of service.

I have always wanted to get a photo of a bus displaying "Sheffield" whilst in Penwith but not got around to it yet, might try next week.

A Citybus Enviro 200 (YX65 HVH) was in Camborne today on driver training. It's one of the ex EYMS examples.

 

[richw]

The red hopleys is B2.
They are awaiting some new enviros. Rob Hopley posted further details on a Facebook enthusiast group

On subject of Darts, a 52 plate has been a regular on the 22.
LX05 plates regulars on the 25.

 

[richw]

YX65 HVH

YX56HVH that should be

 

[83G/84D]

So it should, well spotted.

 

[MB162435]

I see transport for cornwall are selling there adl enviro 200 - Ril 3157 on ebay,

2010 ADL Enviro 200. Euro 5. PSVAR Compliant Bus Coach. £25000+VAT. Long MOT | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2010 ADL Enviro 200. Euro 5. PSVAR Compliant Bus Coach. £25000+VAT. Long MOT at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Was it even worth repainting, even Kernow's Solars remained in Cornwall longer after repaint

Guessing it was a contract obligation, surprised its not staying within TfC as back up until the full fleet of new buses are in service

 

[DaveHarries]

They are awaiting some new enviros. Rob Hopley posted further details on a Facebook enthusiast group

Not seen that: which group?

Dave

 

[MB162435]

Not seen that: which group?

Dave

In the Transport for Cornwall Enthusiast Group, with it being posted by Rob Hopley so you can't get much more of a reliable source!

 

[83G/84D]

I thought it was two new Solo SR's and a E200 from the council (ex FK?), maybe I got it wrong?

 

[MB162435]

I thought it was two new Solo SR's and a E200 from the council (ex FK?), maybe I got it wrong?

You are right, 2 SR's and a Ex- Kernow MMC with the Solo as a back up, confirmed by Rob

 

[Lizard1324]

Was it even worth repainting, even Kernow's Solars remained in Cornwall longer after repaint

Guessing it was a contract obligation, surprised its not staying within TfC as back up until the full fleet of new buses are in service

I'm surprised they are getting rid of the 2010 enviro E200 considering the 2006 and 2008 200 are going around cornwall also they still have the old dart going around

 

[richw]

I'm surprised they are getting rid of the 2010 enviro E200 considering the 2006 and 2008 200 are going around cornwall also they still have the old dart going around

This is Summercourt travel selling.
The older stuff is pcb

 

[carlberry]

I'm surprised they are getting rid of the 2010 enviro E200 considering the 2006 and 2008 200 are going around cornwall also they still have the old dart going around

As richw said the older stuff is PCB and, I believe, they're still awaiting delivery of some of their new vehicles (delayed by suspension of manufacture) and, they're likely (within Go Ahead) to be able to get vehicles of the same age for less cost to the group (even allowing for a repaint) if they were pushed.