Go Cornwall Bus

[Bletchleyite]

All of this is spot on in my opinion. Glad I have done the 16 while First are still around! This has been stuck in my mind for ages - Put a load of competitive services in then reduce the service when you take over.

Is this really what happened, though? Go and First didn't seem to directly compete *that* much, it was mostly one or the other.

 

[Express380]

Is this really what happened, though? Go and First didn't seem to directly compete *that* much, it was mostly one or the other.

Whilst it was one or the other mostly, it was still enough to be one of the reasons for First to withdraw due to increased competition so clearly enough to have an effect.

 

[Sleepy]

I have spoken to quite a few drivers now from first and I know some people who’s family work for first and they all said no chance they would move across to go ahead myself included the company is atrocious to work for lots of horrible people in management and they are bullies lots of things a reputable company shouldn’t be doing. Most driver I spoke to said they are looking for different jobs.

So they are going to have to draft in drivers from outside Cornwall to make the numbers up then ? I hope the poor First drivers are getting a half decent redundacy payment !

 

[Goldfish62]

So they are going to have to draft in drivers from outside Cornwall to make the numbers up then ? I hope the poor First drivers are getting a half decent redundacy payment !

There's claims on Facebook that GoAhead will have more than enough drivers within the company and don't need anywhere near all the First drivers. They are currently interviewing interested First drivers and seemingly can afford to be selective.

 

[dgl]

There's claims on Facebook that GoAhead will have more than enough drivers within the company and don't need anywhere near all the First drivers. They are currently interviewing interested First drivers and seemingly can afford to be selective.

Though wasn't a lot of GCB drivers, at least early on, ones that weren't deemed good enough for First Kernow and as such it would seem being selective is a new policy.

 

[Cheers Drive]

So they are going to have to draft in drivers from outside Cornwall to make the numbers up then ? I hope the poor First drivers are getting a half decent redundacy payment !

2 months I was told and they weren’t even informed until just before Xmas eve offically
I imagine because there is less work they won’t need as many drivers but obviously most first drivers will move across

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Though wasn't a lot of GCB drivers, at least early on, ones that weren't deemed good enough for First Kernow and as such it would seem being selective is a new policy.

In the early days of 2020/1, they were obviously desperate to get drivers in when setting up the new operation.

In more recent times, they have been able to be more selective. Very much as you’d expect

 

[YorkRailFan]

Is this really what happened, though? Go and First didn't seem to directly compete *that* much, it was mostly one or the other.

Mostly, until the last few months when Go Ahead started running services along corridors that were First's key market, like along parts of the Tinner route.

 

[Snozzel]

So they are going to have to draft in drivers from outside Cornwall to make the numbers up then ? I hope the poor First drivers are getting a half decent redundacy payment !

Statutory Redundancy is dependent on time worked and your age capped at max 20 weeks .Lots of first drivers are 10 years plus of service. Statutory Pay in lieu of notice of 1 week per year of service is on top capped at max 12 weeks. Redundancy starts on 14th feb and cannot be claimed if an employee leaves before this date. A good percentage of drivers i talk to are in the process of application with gc, with the dangly carrot of a decent pay rise to mitigate the anticipated reduction in job satisfaction.

 

[Pemberton]

It's not so easy to travel between St. Ives and St. Erth this morning. The train line is closed for scheduled track repair until Monday and the 17 / 17A / T2 buses are only running as far as Tesco at Carbis Bay due to overhanging branches between there and The Malakoff. The picture is of damage caused a couple of days ago. The local number 11 bus is coming to the rescue and I've rarely seen it so busy.

 

[MotCO]

It's not so easy to travel between St. Ives and St. Erth this morning. The train line is closed for scheduled track repair until Monday and the 17 / 17A / T2 buses are only running as far as Tesco at Carbis Bay due to overhanging branches between there and The Malakoff. The picture is of damage caused a couple of days ago. The local number 11 bus is coming to the rescue and I've rarely seen it so busy.

Is there no RRB?

 

[Express380]

Is there no RRB?

No there isn't

 

[GBM]

It's not so easy to travel between St. Ives and St. Erth this morning. The train line is closed for scheduled track repair until Monday and the 17 / 17A / T2 buses are only running as far as Tesco at Carbis Bay due to overhanging branches between there and The Malakoff. The picture is of damage caused a couple of days ago. The local number 11 bus is coming to the rescue and I've rarely seen it so busy.

Sorry to the poor driver of that bus. A 'please explain why' uncomfortable session with a manager. Whatever the outcome, it is always the drivers fault!

 

[Andyh82]

When did that no 11 bus start, I can’t recall it back last summer. St Ives Bus Co don’t usually venture so far from the town centre

 

[Pemberton]

When did that no 11 bus start, I can’t recall it back last summer. St Ives Bus Co don’t usually venture so far from the town centre

I can see a Facebook post from 26/11/2025, saying that it was now running. It provides a good connection through Hayle to the Hayle Shopping Park. As today has progressed, I have seen a T2 coming up from The Malakoff (as at 1.20 p.m., that was very much a one off) though no 17 / 17A buses as yet. Presumably the offending branches are from the Tregenna Castle Estate, where we are staying. These were a couple of buses at the temporary terminus at Tesco, Carbis Bay an hour or so ago.

 

[stevieinselby]

I know First Kernow will be winding down and staff probably don't care any more, but it's a poor reflection on them that they couldn't muster even one single decker to run a half-hourly shuttle service between St Ives and Carbis Bay Tesco.

 

[Goldfish62]

I can see a Facebook post from 26/11/2025, saying that it was now running. It provides a good connection through Hayle to the Hayle Shopping Park. As today has progressed, I have seen a T2 coming up from The Malakoff though no 17 / 17A buses as yet. Presumably the offending branches are from the Tregenna Castle Estate, where we are staying. These were a couple of buses at the temporary terminus at Tesco, Carbis Bay an hour or so ago.

Yes, it's definitely running. I saw one a couple of weeks ago.

An issue is of course that St Ives Bus Company declined to be part of the TfC partnership so the 11 isn't really part of the network, so no interoperable ticketing and a lack of publicity.

 

[Snozzel]

I know First Kernow will be winding down and staff probably don't care any more, but it's a poor reflection on them that they couldn't muster even one single decker to run a half-hourly shuttle service between St Ives and Carbis Bay Tesco.

Every service seems to be stretched for vehicles recently so there arent necessarily single deck buses just lying around in wait. Swaps between depots take time.

 

[I'm here now]

When did that no 11 bus start, I can’t recall it back last summer. St Ives Bus Co don’t usually venture so far from the town centre

https://bustimes.org/registrations/PH1053866/24
According to this 3rd Nov, but I’ve seen on their webpage in the past mention of a Hayle service.

 

[JKP]

3rd Nov from my

https://bustimes.org/registrations/PH1053866/24
According to this 3rd Nov, but I’ve seen on their webpage in the past mention of a Hayle service.

I had a look on the Traffic Commissioner’s Local Bus Service Registration website but could not find an earlier Hayle route. It does not help that this operator registers all their services from point A to point A e.g. Royal Square to Royal Square rather than say Penbeagle to Hayle.

 

[I'm here now]

I can see a Facebook post from 26/11/2025, saying that it was now running. It provides a good connection through Hayle to the Hayle Shopping Park. As today has progressed, I have seen a T2 coming up from The Malakoff (as at 1.20 p.m., that was very much a one off) though no 17 / 17A buses as yet. Presumably the offending branches are from the Tregenna Castle Estate, where we are staying. These were a couple of buses at the temporary terminus at Tesco, Carbis Bay an hour or so ago.

Do you know how much the 11 cost for you, in comparison to the T2/17?

 

[Pemberton]

Do you know how much the 11 cost for you, in comparison to the T2/17?

I can't comment on the cost myself as I have a pass.
The situation is unchanged this morning with the double deckers terminating at Tesco, Carbis Bay and the TfC website describing the situation with the 17/17A/T2 as 'ongoing'.
There wasn't even a notice in The Malakoff bus station yesterday afternoon about this change and it seems there is an assumption that everyone gets whatever basic information is available, online.
I note whilst there are no RRBs from St. Erth, the St. Erth departure boards show buses to St. Ives, which is basically the 17 timetable and of course, they are not running as far as the The Malakoff in St. Ives. The situation for train travellers will be somewhat alleviate on Monday when the St. Ives to St. Erth branch line reopens, though I appreciate the ongoing bus change is still going to have an effect for many journeys. Hold everything....as I type, there is actually a T2 running between Tesco and The Malakoff.

 

[DaveHarries]

I know First Kernow will be winding down and staff probably don't care any more, but it's a poor reflection on them that they couldn't muster even one single decker to run a half-hourly shuttle service between St Ives and Carbis Bay Tesco.

There is the GCB 16 which I think calls at the Malakoff and then heads down to the Tesco.

Dave

 

[Goldfish62]

There is the GCB 16 which I think calls at the Malakoff and then heads down to the Tesco.

Dave

Unfortunately it doesn't call at The Malakoff. Goes straight past.

 

[83G/84D]

Rail replacement obviously cannot access St Ives station car park and Carbis Bay station access isn’t suitable for buses. Neither is Lelant with a walk up or down a steep hill to get to or from the stop by the Badger Inn.
On a previous occasion of rail replacement I was told that First complained about them taking up spaces at the Malakoff as service buses were struggling to park.

 

[RPI]

Rail replacement obviously cannot access St Ives station car park and Carbis Bay station access isn’t suitable for buses. Neither is Lelant with a walk up or down a steep hill to get to or from the stop by the Badger Inn.
On a previous occasion of rail replacement I was told that First complained about them taking up spaces at the Malakoff as service buses were struggling to park.

The rail replacement this time is simply your rail ticket being valid on the local bus service.

 

[83G/84D]

The rail replacement this time is simply your rail ticket being valid on the local bus service.

Yes I appreciate that but just stating about previous experiences with rail replacement on the St Ives branch line. Needless to say the bus service (17/17A) isn’t as convenient or regular as the train service and currently necessitates a long walk from or to Tesco for St Ives passengers if outside times of the 11/16/16A running. As discussed earlier there should be a minibus shuttle.

 

[Goldfish62]

Yes I appreciate that but just stating about previous experiences with rail replacement on the St Ives branch line. Needless to say the bus service (17/17A) isn’t as convenient or regular as the train service and currently necessitates a long walk from or to Tesco for St Ives passengers if outside times of the 11/16/16A running. As discussed earlier there should be a minibus shuttle.

Plus there's nothing been stated about train tickets being valid on the 11 or 16/16A.

 

[I'm here now]

Plus there's nothing been stated about train tickets being valid on the 11 or 16/16A.

Or T1/2 from Hayle for connections

 

[83G/84D]

Or T1/2 from Hayle for connections

I think the rail ticket acceptance was only planned for the 17/17A even before the changes at St Ives. Rail passengers to and from Hayle were supposed to take the train to and from St Erth rather than using the T2 direct to or from St Ives. I don’t think rail tickets from Hayle to St Ives or Carbis Bay were accepted on the T2.

The rail service resumes on Monday so if there is still disruption at St Ives on the 17/T2 I anticipate more people using the train to get there.