I'm here now
Member
19’s always been dead (with double deckers always!) on the St Ives - Hayle bit
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Go Cornwall Bus
- Thread starter Busaholic
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Goldfish62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 13,150
Ah yes. 73001.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
And on Bustimes.org today it's the turn of 73006.
Last edited:
I'm here now
Member
Rode on a new one today - bit more comfortable than the previous ones!
Do they have a First Bus interior or something else?
Goldfish62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 13,150
Cornwall Council interior because that's who owns them, but different to the Citaros. It uses the same colour palette as the exterior. Low back seats, surprisingly, and because they're 1st Generation Kites there's no aircon.
I'm here now
Member
There was also a first bus employee riding along in the bus
Goldfish62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 13,150
That's nice for them. Perhaps they were on holiday in Cornwall.
More seriously, perhaps as the buses were originally to be delivered to the First Bus as the originally expected operator of the contract there's some latent responsibility for getting them into service. Dartline is the current operator of Truro P&R.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Owned by the council so sold by them. Buying some 11 year old Citaros (which are expensive to run and maintain) isn't that attractive to most operators so suggest that will be reflected in what they get for them.
Yes I was aware of that, be interesting to see where they end up going.
RJ
Established Member
I think @RJ has a penchant for them
Yes, I do
. As I'm basically an owner operator I have to like what I spend my time driving and from a working environment perspective, I prefer Citaros (and Volvos for double deckers) to anything else I've driven over the years.Maybe not most, but there are a significant minority who are very pro-Citaro and there's a relative paucity of the type in the UK, so they do tend to get snapped up when they go on the market, for quite high prices too.
I would consider buying if the price is right, but no idea who to contact to discuss it. I did email transport@cornwall.gov.uk back in February but didn't receive a response from them. I did purchase a 2015 Citaro around the same time from somewhere else and very happy with it now.
As for being expensive to run and maintain, they're really not bad if everything is kept on top of and the correct parts and fluids are used. It's when that's deviated from in favour of operator's generic/preferred practices, or if issues aren't addressed in a timely manner that the costs increase.
Last edited:
GBM
Member
Truro yard maintained them from new, and kept on top of them.
They knew all their foibles, etc, and were excellent at keeping them going.
Truro engineers did a brilliant job.
In the last few years of First, maintenance was transferred to Summercourt, with Truro only dealing with breakdowns and emergency repairs.
Invariably Summercourt sent them back in the same condition they arrived unfortunately.
Truro and the unions objected, but finances were so tight, the response was always 'tough'.
Such a shame.
They knew all their foibles, etc, and were excellent at keeping them going.
Truro engineers did a brilliant job.
In the last few years of First, maintenance was transferred to Summercourt, with Truro only dealing with breakdowns and emergency repairs.
Invariably Summercourt sent them back in the same condition they arrived unfortunately.
Truro and the unions objected, but finances were so tight, the response was always 'tough'.
Such a shame.
Goldfish62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 13,150
Another point in favour of the Citaros' onward sale is that they've not exactly had a hard life poodling up and down on Truro P&R.
co-tr-paul
Established Member
Nice to see start to appear. Porthleven, Ashton and Breage. 
Goldfish62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 13,150
Good stuff.
RJ
Established Member
Hopefully they will have had regular forced regenerations. I have to drive mine at 60mph for 20 minutes straight to complete the regeneration process. Fortunately I’m situated close to some decent stretches of road. I do speak to other owners and without the benefit of being able to do that it’s a case of scheduling in a session with a computer to force it when stationary.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
All valid points but most independents see the fuel costs and the potential spare part costs and would be more inclined to have an e200 than a Citaro. Not saying that's the right choice but it's the one most take.
DaveHarries
Established Member
I quite like Citaros as well. Been on them with Cardiff Bus over here but also have travelled on them abroad a few times. Good single-deckers.I think @RJ has a penchant for them
Dave
GBM
Member
Ah yes. Drivers called that 'turbo boost on' when handing over.
One of the supervisors used to try and drive down to Camborne and back on the A30 to take the regen off (from time to time).
Then First removed the supervisors!
(For context, RJ actually runs a bus company, and has bought several Citaros in the past.)