Go Cornwall Bus

[Express380]

What were the loadings like?

I put about the loadings on mine but had my post deleted yesterday due to it not being relevant. Packed to Lands End, Half full to St Ives did the 10:10 Lands end bound. 19 was completely empty all the way though others were much more full. Despite the advertising woes it seems to be going very well 7/7A wise at least.

 

[YorkRailFan]

What were the loadings like?

Very good on the 11:05 from St Ives to Lands End. A bit quieter on the return at 15:05 from Sennen Cove to St Ives but still reasonably busy.

 

[Goldfish62]

Very good on the 11:05 from St Ives to Lands End. A bit quieter on the return at 15:05 from Sennen Cove to St Ives but still reasonably busy.

That's good.

 

[YorkRailFan]

I caught the 14 from St Ives to Redruth today. A very well used route, especially with locals. I got a "Spark" E400 City, an upgrade over the B9s that First often used on the T2 but probably not as nice as the MMCs that were branded for the route. Although I did find that the City rattled less than a MMC. Standard E400s were also commonplace on the 14 & 18 along with MMCs so its quite hit or miss.

What was surprising was at Gwithian Towans, there is a bus stop pole with a timetable adjacent to a layby. The layby was full of parked cars but a handful of people wanted to board so hailed the bus at the pole. The driver stopped and informed them that he was instructed not to stop as he had to park on double yellow lines. The people boarding pointed at the bus stop pole and said the campsite manager nearby told them to wait for a bus there. I found this quite strange as double yellow lines didn't stop the driver from parking the bus for 30 minutes by the Harbour Hotel in St Ives during the layover from Truro.

After 30 minutes of waiting in Redruth, I caught the 88 up to Newquay. It was delayed on its trip to Redruth from Newquay and subsequently left Redruth late. It was operated using an E200 MMC with GCB/TfC fleetnames, although didn't track on Bustimes or the TfC app which was frustrating when waiting in Redruth. The 88 seemed well used, with quite a lot of tourists boarding by a holiday park going into Newquay. By the time we got into Newquay, the bus was around ¾ full. The bus arrived into Newquay late and after its departure time back to Redruth.

After a couple of hours in Newquay, I headed further up the coast on the 56. My bus was a 2007 E400 and was very busy, and featured PCB fleetnames. My journey on the 56 made me surprised that Go Ahead didn't give it an uplift for the summer holidays as lots of people were waiting along the route.

I hope this summer is a lesson for GSW to see which routes need an uplift for next summer. I hold my breath short of GSW actually having a full summer uplift next year but one can only dream!

 

[Andyh82]

I also caught the 14 earlier in the week. With the reduced timetable it felt like everyone probably boards the same journey, the 10am-ish from Camborne towards St Ives. We were bang on time but after the meander through Gwithian stopping at multiple camp sites with families not knowing the fares and tickets, and stopping many times through Hayle, and the traffic around the roundabout at the end, we were 20 late arriving into St Ives. This was an ex-Stagecoach London E400

I also did the 19, a Spark E400 City. Very lightly loaded, doesn’t help that it uses the main bus station stop in St Ives, so doesn’t catch Penzance passengers waiting at the main stop. There were loads waiting at St Ives Holiday Park but they all wanted the bus towards St Ives rather than Penzance. I wonder if this location would be better served by St Ives or Royal Buses with a dedicated service. It’s a good route if you like bombing along country lanes and never knowing which turn it will take next.

The 6 was very heavily loaded, I think I caught a journey that combined tourists to Newlyn and Mousehole and pensioners travelling locally, so it ended up with a standing load. Both this and my return journey were Enviro 200s, a standard midsized Cornwall one, and an ex London one.

 

[MotCO]

I caught the 14 from St Ives to Redruth today. A very well used route, especially with locals. I got a "Spark" E400 City, an upgrade over the B9s that First often used on the T2 but probably not as nice as the MMCs that were branded for the route. Although I did find that the City rattled less than a MMC. Standard E400s were also commonplace on the 14 & 18 along with MMCs so its quite hit or miss.

What was surprising was at Gwithian Towans, there is a bus stop pole with a timetable adjacent to a layby. The layby was full of parked cars but a handful of people wanted to board so hailed the bus at the pole. The driver stopped and informed them that he was instructed not to stop as he had to park on double yellow lines. The people boarding pointed at the bus stop pole and said the campsite manager nearby told them to wait for a bus there. I found this quite strange as double yellow lines didn't stop the driver from parking the bus for 30 minutes by the Harbour Hotel in St Ives during the layover from Truro.

After 30 minutes of waiting in Redruth, I caught the 88 up to Newquay. It was delayed on its trip to Redruth from Newquay and subsequently left Redruth late. It was operated using an E200 MMC with GCB/TfC fleetnames, although didn't track on Bustimes or the TfC app which was frustrating when waiting in Redruth. The 88 seemed well used, with quite a lot of tourists boarding by a holiday park going into Newquay. By the time we got into Newquay, the bus was around ¾ full. The bus arrived into Newquay late and after its departure time back to Redruth.

After a couple of hours in Newquay, I headed further up the coast on the 56. My bus was a 2007 E400 and was very busy, and featured PCB fleetnames. My journey on the 56 made me surprised that Go Ahead didn't give it an uplift for the summer holidays as lots of people were waiting along the route.

I hope this summer is a lesson for GSW to see which routes need an uplift for next summer. I hold my breath short of GSW actually having a full summer uplift next year but one can only dream!

Do GSW have sufficient drivers to offer an uplifted service, particularly if the staff also probably want to take time off for their own holidays? Do they still find it difficult to recruit staff? Do they have sufficient buses for enhanced services?

One creative option would be to invite drivers and families to Cornwall from other Go-Ahead companies; the driver could work for a week, and the family would have a cheap holiday! Maybe GSW could block book half a dozen caravans at a nearby campsite.

 

[YorkRailFan]

The 19 was operated by an E200 MMC yesterday, today an E200 MMC was on the 17. I passed a 19 operated by an E400 whilst on the 14 today and noted that the destination blind still hadn't been updated so a paper slip was in the window.

Impressively the 14 was able to keep to time today up until Redruth Train Station, despite it stopping at nearly every single bus stop along the route.
I think if the 14/18 consistently used the Spark E400 Cities, it would have a more premium feel like the T1/T2 once did.

I don't think the 19 is well known about. Despite lack of promotion, the 7/7A is well known possibly but the 19 just isn't the same.

I wonder if this location would be better served by St Ives or Royal Buses with a dedicated service

A good idea. Perhaps GCB could subcontract it out to either St Ives or Royal Buses like they do with other services to OTS and Hopleys?

Do GSW have sufficient drivers to offer an uplifted service, particularly if the staff also probably want to take time off for their own holidays? Do they still find it difficult to recruit staff? Do they have sufficient buses for enhanced services?

One creative option would be to invite drivers and families to Cornwall from other Go-Ahead companies; the driver could work for a week, and the family would have a cheap holiday! Maybe GSW could block book half a dozen caravans at a nearby campsite.

Can't comment on situation regarding drivers. During term times, GSW as a whole seems to be really lacking vehicles since taking on commercial work after First's withdrawal and Dartline winning more tendered services in Devon. There are more buses available during the holiday times, but perhaps not enough to fully boost some routes like the 56 when they're committing buses to Newquay and Bude Park & Ride, 19, 6 (Sundays) and 7/7A.

 

[Goldfish62]

A good idea. Perhaps GCB could subcontract it out to either St Ives or Royal Buses like they do with other services to OTS and Hopleys?

Both operators refused to sign up to the TfC enhanced partnership and at least one of them objected to the scheme during its formal consultation period, so neither them are going to get anywhere near running TfC services.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Both operators refused to sign up to the TfC enhanced partnership and at least one of them objected to the scheme during its formal consultation period, so neither them are going to get anywhere near running TfC services.

Good point. Although they could start their own service if they wished to, especially if Go Ahead decides not to serve the holiday park in the future.

 

[Goldfish62]

Good point. Although they could start their own service if they wished to, especially if Go Ahead decides not to serve the holiday park in the future.

Well yes, and St Ives Bus Company already competes with GoCornwall route 14 with its route 11 between St Ives and Hayle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jul 2026 ==

The 19 was operated by an E200 MMC yesterday, today an E200 MMC was on the 17. I passed a 19 operated by an E400 whilst on the 14 today and noted that the destination blind still hadn't been updated so a paper slip was in the window.


I don't think the 19 is well known about. Despite lack of promotion, the 7/7A is well known possibly but the 19 just isn't the same.

The 19 is too complicated. The poor route map on the leaflet, assuming that you can get hold of a leaflet, doesn't even explain the routing clearly.

Looking on Bustimes yesterday there was chronic late running on the 19 of up to 30 minutes for most of the day. It's too long and complex a route with too many sections prone to summer traffic delays (delays which happen every year at this time). It would be better to split the route at St Ives, with one route, "17A" mirroring the eastern section of the former Coaster, and St Ives - Hayle simply being an enhancement of the 14.

 

[YorkRailFan]

The 19 is too complicated. The poor route map on the leaflet, assuming that you can get hold of a leaflet, doesn't even explain the routing clearly.

Looking on Bustimes yesterday there was chronic late running on the 19 of up to 30 minutes for most of the day. It's too long and complex a route with too many sections prone to summer traffic delays (delays which happen every year at this time). It would be better to split the route at St Ives, with one route, "17A" mirroring the eastern section of the former Coaster, and St Ives - Hayle simply being an enhancement of the 14.

I think the 7/7A is complicated enough for people to figure out, whereas the 19 just makes no sense. Splitting in St Ives would make more sense and the 14 could really do with a summer enhancement.

 

[GBM]

Unfortunately timetable planners have NO idea as to Cornish summer traffic delays and increased passenger loadings.
No built in buffering of times.
Evening, night, Bank Holiday and Sunday schedules also have less running times as planners say there is less traffic, regardless of passenger numbers!

 

[Goldfish62]

Unfortunately timetable planners have NO idea as to Cornish summer traffic delays and increased passenger loadings.
No built in buffering of times.
Evening, night, Bank Holiday and Sunday schedules also have less running times as planners say there is less traffic, regardless of passenger numbers!

I'd expect better of GCB with their local management with decades of local knowledge, but then is GA going the way of the other groups and getting steadily centralised?

 

[GBM]

Locally when First were running the timetabling was as bad. Despite checking of proposed timetable introductions, and amendments sent back asking for increased running times, they never happened.
Timetabling was done asking for minimum use of vehicles and maximum driving times.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'd expect better of GCB with their local management with decades of local knowledge, but then is GA going the way of the other groups and getting steadily centralised?

Is Go Ahead getting more centralised?



I thought I'd check the timings of the 19 vs. the First Kernow services of old

Penzance - Marazion - St Erth - was 31 (coaster), now 30
St Erth - St Ives Holiday Village - was 9 (coaster), now 9
St Ives Holiday Village - St Ives - this was the bit that doesn't immediately appear but was 17 (coaster via Carbis Bay), now 13
St Ives - Hayle - was 15 (T2), now 20

Doesn't look radically different except that bit round the back of St Ives

 

[Goldfish62]

Is Go Ahead getting more centralised?

That's the question I was asking.

I thought I'd check the timings of the 19 vs. the First Kernow services of old

Penzance - Marazion - St Erth - was 31 (coaster), now 30
St Erth - St Ives Holiday Village - was 9 (coaster), now 9
St Ives Holiday Village - St Ives - this was the bit that doesn't immediately appear but was 17 (coaster via Carbis Bay), now 13
St Ives - Hayle - was 15 (T2), now 20

Doesn't look radically different except that bit round the back of St Ives

Well, the reduction in running time isn't going to help things, plus the section with the sharp corner at the junction of Gabriel Street and Tregenna Hill in St Ives is prone to getting completely seized up in the summer. Also there's the issue that the 19 is effectively two routes combined, both of which suffer from Summer traffic congestion. Combining the two routes simply imports delays across the whole route.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That's the question I was asking.

Apologies - I thought it was a rhetorical question.

I'm not seeing any real centralisation, not in the same manner as First or Stagecoach. The ops director is still Melvyl Williams?

Well, the reduction in running time isn't going to help things, plus the section with the sharp corner at the junction of Gabriel Street and Tregenna Hill in St Ives is prone to getting completely seized up in the summer. Also there's the issue that the 19 is effectively two routes combined, both of which suffer from Summer traffic congestion. Combining the two routes simply imports delays across the whole route.

The changes aren't that great compared to First, and it certainly doesn't explain why vehicles are running 30 mins late.

Perhaps the solution is a double run via Carbis Bay to avoid St Ives town centre.

 

[Goldfish62]

Apologies - I thought it was a rhetorical question.

I'm not seeing any real centralisation, not in the same manner as First or Stagecoach. The ops director is still Melvyl Williams?

Mel is the Head of Operations for Cornwall so I'm not sure how much decision-making powers he has over and above day-to-day operations.

The changes aren't that great compared to First, and it certainly doesn't explain why vehicles are running 30 mins late.

Perhaps the solution is a double run via Carbis Bay to avoid St Ives town centre.

Agree about the double run, but apart from the reduction in running time there's the loss of recovery time at St Ives that the effective merging of two routes has brought.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Mel is the Head of Operations for Cornwall so I'm not sure how much decision-making powers he has over and above day-to-day operations.

I'd imagine he's feeding into the construction of the routes and timetables though.

Agree about the double run, but apart from the reduction in running time there's the loss of recovery time at St Ives that the effective merging of two routes has brought.

The Coaster did have some stand time in St Ives so makes sense.

However, looking at the ones today, the main issue seems to be between PZ and St Erth... though there are also issues in St Ives as you also suggest.

 

[Sleepy]

Royal buses are going to run St Ives (including camp sites) to Lands End on Tuesdays in August. They are also running Thursday evenings to Lands End for firework displays. You can book tickets in advance (£10) & facebook comment from operator suggests they will all operate fully booked. GA really are missing a trick not operating over a longer summer period.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Royal buses are going to run St Ives (including camp sites) to Lands End on Tuesdays in August. They are also running Thursday evenings to Lands End for firework displays. You can book tickets in advance (£10) & facebook comment from operator suggests they will all operate fully booked. GA really are missing a trick not operating over a longer summer period.

The 7/7A has the potential to be a goldmine for Go Ahead. They could take the money and run but seem to be sitting on their hands instead. The wider vehicle shortage at Go South West is really holding Go Cornwall back.

 

[MotCO]

The 7/7A has the potential to be a goldmine for Go Ahead. They could take the money and run but seem to be sitting on their hands instead. The wider vehicle shortage at Go South West is really holding Go Cornwall back.

Could buses used for school runs elsewhere in the UK, not used during the summer holidays be drafted in to help? So is it a shortage of buses, or shortage of drivers?

 

[YorkRailFan]

Could buses used for school runs elsewhere in the UK, not used during the summer holidays be drafted in to help? So is it a shortage of buses, or shortage of drivers?

There is a shortage of buses at Go South West (Go Cornwall Bus, Plymouth City Bus, Dartline), especially during the school term.

Go Ahead also boosts services during the summer across the UK, making use of school buses so there might not be enough spares to send to Cornwall.

 

[Andyh82]

The 7/7A has the potential to be a goldmine for Go Ahead. They could take the money and run but seem to be sitting on their hands instead. The wider vehicle shortage at Go South West is really holding Go Cornwall back.

What vehicle shortage?

It seems that with First it was always glass half empty (which turned out to be right), whereas with GCB many have a glass half full ‘maybe there will be an uplift in the summer? Maybe high summer? Maybe next summer? Maybe it’s a shortage of drivers, or a shortage of vehicles?

I’d like to predict it’s nothing of the sort and next summer will be no better than this summer. Probably worse as the summer uplift that there is is so badly advertised it probably won’t run again.

 

[Goldfish62]

However, looking at the ones today, the main issue seems to be between PZ and St Erth... though there are also issues in St Ives as you also suggest.

And through Hayle. When the by-pass is clogged up westbound, which is most days during the summer people divert through Hayle itself, which then locks up.

 

[YorkRailFan]

What vehicle shortage?

It seems that with First it was always glass half empty (which turned out to be right), whereas with GCB many have a glass half full ‘maybe there will be an uplift in the summer? Maybe high summer? Maybe next summer? Maybe it’s a shortage of drivers, or a shortage of vehicles?

I’d like to predict it’s nothing of the sort and next summer will be no better than this summer. Probably worse as the summer uplift that there is is so badly advertised it probably won’t run again.

Well Dartline is using buses from all over Go Ahead and Cornwall has had to draft in buses from London. On top of that there's the Plymouth operation and there's few spares to go round. Cornwall is using more and more Plymouth buses and Dartline has now got quite a lot of Cornwall's MMCs. I wonder what Cornwall Council thinks about the latter...

It wouldn't surprise me if the 19 doesn't return next year, its such a complicated route with little promotion and it seemingly reflects that with its usage.

Not bringing back the 7/7A route next summer would be a real missed opportunity for Go Ahead. Despite the lack of promotion, it seems to be very well used despite it no longer being an open top bus.

 

[farwest]

I caught the 1039 7 from St.Erth to St.Just this morning running 10 late, but not surprising going through Marazion.
It was well loaded with many people getting off at Zennor and other walking hot spots.
Very good loadings considering the weather was awful with rain and poor visibility.
There is great potential for this route in the summer.

 

[I'm here now]

Well Dartline is using buses from all over Go Ahead and Cornwall has had to draft in buses from London. On top of that there's the Plymouth operation and there's few spares to go round. Cornwall is using more and more Plymouth buses and Dartline has now got quite a lot of Cornwall's MMCs. I wonder what Cornwall Council thinks about the latter...

It wouldn't surprise me if the 19 doesn't return next year, its such a complicated route with little promotion and it seemingly reflects that with its usage.

Not bringing back the 7/7A route next summer would be a real missed opportunity for Go Ahead. Despite the lack of promotion, it seems to be very well used despite it no longer being an open top bus.

They should just make the 17 and 14 2bph and call it a day.

On another note, the st Ives buses 11 is usually a damp squib with only a handful of people due to a lack of timetables at stops whilst the 14 has been crushloaded on a single decker - it needs to change.

 

[317 forever]

So we have an open top bus route in Clacton but can't manage to keep one in Cornwall !?!

That could come in handy for Count Binface to tour the constituency on the by-election campaign trail

 

[YorkRailFan]

They should just make the 17 and 14 2bph and call it a day.

On another note, the st Ives buses 11 is usually a damp squib with only a handful of people due to a lack of timetables at stops whilst the 14 has been crushloaded on a single decker - it needs to change.

It would really help if St Ives Buses had joined the TfC partnership, so their timetables would be on the app and journey planner as well as in the big timetable booklet. That would help shift some of the demand between St Ives & Hayle off the 14.

I've been using the 87 recently, another route formerly operated by First that Go Ahead started operating in February. My main observation is that timekeeping is pretty much impossible with all of the tourist traffic. 15 minutes late seems to be the standard at the moment, as traffic in Newquay and Perranporth is terrible and the narrow roads near Cubert and Crantock only make matters worse. That's without all of the Boardmasters traffic as well! The timetable not being adjusted for the summer holidays to counter the busier roads is madness.