There is no suggestion that the 14/17/18 will receive any sort of summer uplift. You’d think they’d mention it if it was temporary. In fact they clearly mention how the 17 coordinates with the 16 to provide a half hourly service. I’m not sure the short E200s on the 16 will provide much capacity mind.
So GCB damaged First’s business causing them to close down and as a result the St Ives, Penzance, Fowey, Mousehole receive a much reduced service. It’ll be interesting how the pro Go Ahead anti First types spin that.
Let’s be honest.
First hadn’t covered themselves in glory and the rejuvenation of 2016-9 was a long way from the reality of the post Covid era. There were a lot of very justifiable criticisms of First, though the group as a whole gets a disproportionate level of angst meted out with many enthusiasts seemingly stuck with views from the Lockhead era.
Also, I’m not seeing masses of pro Go Ahead chatter on this forum either. GSW is really quite a perfunctory beast. I think the only stellar ops are GSC and Brighton (and they are rightly praised). Oxford is not the beacon it was (distracted by stuff like Carousel and Pulhams?). There was plenty of criticism on GNE and we all know what East Anglia like before they sold that dog of a business.
I don’t have much hope that there will be some big summer uplift and I do think the reduction on St Ives routes is an error. There again, if First has been burning through cash running that network, perhaps some pruning was needed? And let’s not forget stuff like FK chopping Falmouth to Redruth to hourly, or the absolute mess of the Pendeen timetable.
With what most would consider as worse vehicles, as the E400MMCs First used were good, and definitely better than the ex-London castoffs Cornwall will receive next month.
Yes but you get what you can. If you suddenly need 60 additional vehicles, there’s not that many options.
