Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[fgwrich]

Any news of what new vehicles have arrived and what liveries they will be operating in come Friday?

Following on from this, do we know what vehicles were split off in the Go Ahead / Greyhound Split?

One vehicle I did notice in service with WG is ex Pennine Dart KX51 UDE. I wonder if they'll pick up the darts from the Cornwall Busways fleet or whether they end up with FK?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56793172@N05/16084348991

 

[Volvo142]

Nine Optares were transferred from WG to Go Cornwall Bus, these being mini Solos 701/2/3/4 and full size Solos 957 959 960 961 & 962

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Following on from this, do we know what vehicles were split off in the Go Ahead / Greyhound Split?

One vehicle I did notice in service with WG is ex Pennine Dart KX51 UDE. I wonder if they'll pick up the darts from the Cornwall Busways fleet or whether they end up with FK?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56793172@N05/16084348991

Aren't two of the four CB Darts VOR anyway, and all are non DDA compliant. I think WG will source from Ensignbus?

Heading down, saw an MPD on the 529 with Welcome Aboard Go North East (still) and one on 524 with no display at all!

 

[richw]

Any news of what new vehicles have arrived and what liveries they will be operating in come Friday?

From a Flickr contact

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56793172@N05/16084348991/

Unsure of any other new arrivals as yet. haven't seen anything other than the 11 reg Solo and the Jubilee liveried beaver over the last week

 

[South Westerly]

Aren't two of the four CB Darts VOR anyway, and all are non DDA compliant. I think WG will source from Ensignbus?

Heading down, saw an MPD on the 529 with Welcome Aboard Go North East (still) and one on 524 with no display at all!

CBs Darts have apparently been bought by WG

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

CBs Darts have apparently been bought by WG

Good lord.... They that desperate or for spares?

 

[baza585]

Good lord.... They that desperate or for spares?

Probably both. They will be tight with the Varios going anyway, but they will be grateful for anything that runs and can legally be used next week when the schools go back. I suspect they may have inherited a backlog of maintenance amongst other legacies!!

 

[fgwrich]

CBs Darts have apparently been bought by WG

Aren't two of the four CB Darts VOR anyway, and all are non DDA compliant. I think WG will source from Ensignbus?

Heading down, saw an MPD on the 529 with Welcome Aboard Go North East (still) and one on 524 with no display at all!

Would this one even be non DDA compliant too then? X513 ADF

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jongr...m2-pGJtZB-oGDeC1-pYS8iZ-otAKdf-oETpb6-qeJcaF/

Note though that Cornwall Busways can get destination screens eventually working then, unlike the previous and just about by the sounds of it Western Greyhound's fleet?

 

[mbonwick]

X513 ADF is non-DDA compliant, but this is more down to age than specification - if someone desired, it would need minimal work to bring up to scratch for certification.

Remember though that darts have a whole year to run before they need to be DDA compliant; it is just Vario/709D size/weight vehicles that need to go by the end of tomorrow.

 

[richw]

Seen today a 02 registration Dart in Pennine livery for Western Greyhound.

CBs Darts have apparently been bought by WG

And all of the CB drivers have been offered employment as well at both WG and First.

MPD on the 529 with Welcome Aboard Go North East

That destination blind is apparently faulty and they've not been able to repair it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

X513 ADF is non-DDA compliant, but this is more down to age than specification - if someone desired, it would need minimal work to bring up to scratch for certification.

Remember though that darts have a whole year to run before they need to be DDA compliant; it is just Vario/709D size/weight vehicles that need to go by the end of tomorrow.

An X reg SPD is the high water mark! It may be relatively easy to make DDA compliant but SPDs are withdrawn early for a reason. 3 other R reg Darts of which 2 are VOR. If WGL need them, it's a sad look out.

 

[Rich McLean]

An X reg SPD is the high water mark! It may be relatively easy to make DDA compliant but SPDs are withdrawn early for a reason. 3 other R reg Darts of which 2 are VOR. If WGL need them, it's a sad look out.

Meanwhile, PCB have made R Reg SPD compliant.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That destination blind is apparently faulty and they've not been able to repair it.

Yep but it's been the case since acquisition. Hopefully they can replace the desti.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Meanwhile, PCB have made R Reg SPD compliant.

17 year old Darts being flogged on for more years - not very impressive

 

[mbonwick]

An X reg SPD is the high water mark! It may be relatively easy to make DDA compliant but SPDs are withdrawn early for a reason.

Yes, that excellent gearbox and the rear end sag....proof that you cannot infinitely stretch things!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

510 dereg steered by WGL. Not a huge shock.

 

[swifty]

510 dereg steered by WGL. Not a huge shock.

What's more of a surprise is their registration of Southampton local services. Thus Black Velvet Travel will be no more with WGL replacing them with the brand name as Velevtline.

 

[South Westerly]

What's more of a surprise is their registration of Southampton local services. Thus Black Velvet Travel will be no more with WGL replacing them with the brand name as Velevtline.

Des that mean BVT is going into administration/recievcership!!!???

 

[richw]

What's more of a surprise is their registration of Southampton local services. Thus Black Velvet Travel will be no more with WGL replacing them with the brand name as Velevtline.

Black velvet's registrations have been cancelled.

Guess its easier to have all the registrations on one licence.

 

[swifty]

Des that mean BVT is going into administration/recievcership!!!???

It seems the intention is to merge assets and debts into one company and dissolve BVT.

 

[richw]

It seems the intention is to merge assets and debts into one company and dissolve BVT.

Can WG debts be moved to BVT? make WG debt free and get rid of BVT?

I don't know legally if this is even possible?

 

[matt_splat]

I think theres some legal loop hole that allows this in the law?

the 510 has developed nicely over the years with many people on trips I have made using it the full route I do wonder if stagecoach will look to take on the whole route as a X10 the future maybe with a outstation in Launceston or Wadebridge

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think theres some legal loop hole that allows this in the law?

the 510 has developed nicely over the years with many people on trips I have made using it the full route I do wonder if stagecoach will look to take on the whole route as a X10 the future maybe with a outstation in Launceston or Wadebridge

It's not a loophole - debt can be transferred or even sold perfectly legitimately.

 

[richw]

It's not a loophole - debt can be transferred or even sold perfectly legitimately.

So in theory they could transfer all debt to Black Velvet making WG debt free, and then liquidate Black Velvet wiping out all debt in the process?

 

[Busaholic]

It's not a loophole - debt can be transferred or even sold perfectly legitimately.

As happened with the sale of Citylink to Better Capital in 2013, but that's another thread.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think theres some legal loop hole that allows this in the law?

the 510 has developed nicely over the years with many people on trips I have made using it the full route I do wonder if stagecoach will look to take on the whole route as a X10 the future maybe with a outstation in Launceston or Wadebridge

Wouldn't they run it from Bude to Launceston rather than have a separate outstation?

 

[matt_splat]

I did think Launceston to Wadebridge might be better with the A30 to get down.

Now just a idea and some creativity I think you could do something different with the route

I know the 510 serves as a bus service for camelford to wadebridge and Launceston but could a route which goes Wadebridge - Bodmin - Launceston and onto Exeter be a better route for the reason that could be more passengers end up using the service as there i'd expect that serving bodmin would be providing a service to a wider number of people

 

[Penwithian]

The post it was a reply to was telling us that he was owner/director of Countryliner, and then linked an article that tells us he wasn't.

Mark Howarth was on Radio Cornwall today, he attributed the reason for sale of the business being related to his age (in his 60s)!
He also said all the Varios will be gone by end of the month with low floor replacements on the way.

Love them or hate them the Western Greyhound Varios did their job for many years covering many miles per day.
Here is my little pictorial tribute to them!

 

[317 forever]

Love them or hate them the Western Greyhound Varios did their job for many years covering many miles per day.
Here is my little pictorial tribute to them!

It seems hard to imagine Western Greyhound without Mercedes Varios. I know these DDA regulations are coming into effect, but these still had a timeless feel with WG!

 

[richw]

Love them or hate them the Western Greyhound Varios did their job for many years covering many miles per day.
Here is my little pictorial tribute to them!

I did a ride Cornwall just to get some Vario action about a month ago. I'd some how avoided them for every previous Ride Cornwall trip. I ended up having the same Vario for 2 different routes that day!

 

[Goldfish62]

Love them or hate them the Western Greyhound Varios did their job for many years covering many miles per day.
Here is my little pictorial tribute to them!

Nice one. I quite agree.

The regs came into effect on 1st January so there shouldn't be any left now - unless some have 22 or less seats.