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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

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The final ones returning from SPS to kernow
There is a photo of 33307, 08, 09 and 11 that a Kernow driver posted on Twitter who I follow of them laying over at Taunton Deane services earlier on today. I wonder if 33310 has already returned or if it’ll return in the following days…
 

83G/84D

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All 4 that came yesterday were due to be delivered to Camborne

There were so many buses wedged into the parking areas at Camborne today that it was impossible to identify the green MMC's apart from one parked separately!
 

vla50

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Though I have heard a lot that Helston to Penzance is the busiest part of the U4, is the Falmouth to Helston section fairly busy in regards to loadings on the L3 & U4?
 

vla50

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Why do you ask?
I'm intrigued because I can understand the appeal of the Penzance to Helston section...passing through 2 large tourist and residential areas being Marazion & Porthleven and passing through areas like Goldsithney, Rosesudgeon & sort of Praa Sands where the end destination would likely be either Helston or Penzance. However, from passenger experience, does the U4s direct Penryn/Falmouth to Helston link fare as popular because there is a U4X that runs alongside it (perhaps suggesting it as busy?) and also because I'm not too familiar on that section. Just general curiousity.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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I'm intrigued because I can understand the appeal of the Penzance to Helston section...passing through 2 large tourist and residential areas being Marazion & Porthleven and passing through areas like Goldsithney, Rosesudgeon & sort of Praa Sands where the end destination would likely be either Helston or Penzance. However, from passenger experience, does the U4s direct Penryn/Falmouth to Helston link fare as popular because there is a U4X that runs alongside it (perhaps suggesting it as busy?) and also because I'm not too familiar on that section. Just general curiousity.
When does the U4X run? College days
Where does it run to/from? Penwith College
Clues? ;)
 

Lizard1324

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Though I have heard a lot that Helston to Penzance is the busiest part of the U4, is the Falmouth to Helston section fairly busy in regards to loadings on the L3 & U4?
The U4 from Penzance to Helston does have a good loading.
The stretch from Helston to Falmouth is good but usually if you have any passangers after Helston they will be going to Falmouth as there isn’t much loading in the smaller villages.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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The U4 from Penzance to Helston does have a good loading.
The stretch from Helston to Falmouth is good but usually if you have any passangers after Helston they will be going to Falmouth as there isn’t much loading in the smaller villages.
IIRC, prior to the U4 being created in 2017, wasn't the 2, hourly Penzance to Helston and the two hourly from Helston to Falmouth, and it was when it became the U4 (but truncated at Penryn) that it was hourly east of Helston. Also, whilst it ran through on Sundays, it was only Penzance to Helston of an evening?

The level of service east of Helston now is greater than any time that I can recall.

PS @Trainfan061193 has posted an interesting little write up of his trip to Buses of Somerset last week - it's in the pinned thread of trip reports. There's interesting bus travel east of the Tamar too, you know :lol:
 
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Busaholic

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The level of service east of Helston now is greater than any time that I can recall.
I'd imagine the university campus must provide some custom from Helston and points west, though probably few students there not already living in West Cornwall would choose the area given the astronomical rent levels locally all year round now. For most of the thirty odd years I've lived here the last bus from Falmouth Moor on weekdays was around 5 p.m.!
 
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Lizard1324

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IIRC, prior to the U4 being created in 2017, wasn't the 2, hourly Penzance to Helston and the two hourly from Helston to Falmouth, and it was when it became the U4 (but truncated at Penryn) that it was hourly east of Helston. Also, whilst it ran through on Sundays, it was only Penzance to Helston of an evening?

The level of service east of Helston now is greater than any time that I can recall.

PS @Trainfan061193 has posted an interesting little write up of his trip to Buses of Somerset last week - it's in the pinned thread of trip reports. There's interesting bus travel east of the Tamar too, you know :lol:
I think that was true. I do remember an hourly service from Penzance to Helston. I never really used the U4 to Falmouth as Helston was my last stop, but the bus did head back to Helston after its visit to Tesco.
 

farwest

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The U4 was greatly improved the other year when the Helston tour to Sainsbury's was removed and also the long deviation through Praa sands.
 

Lizard1324

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I’ve noticed recently that a few of the Tinner and Uni branded E400mmc have worked the L1, wonder if any of the green e400mmc will
 

Ancelljb

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How imminent is it for the Volvo ALXs to depart from Kernow? Surely it can’t be long now that the 5 E500s are here and the last 5 MMCs are back.
 

vla50

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No but First have enjoyed a strong relationship with Ensign for many years, both in terms of disposals but also some selected secondhand purchases. IIRC, the Optares 53503-5/53709 were sourced from Ensign as just one example.
Almost all open tops sourced for the season this year were from Ensignbus as well, Eden E200s

How imminent is it for the Volvo ALXs to depart from Kernow? Surely it can’t be long now that the 5 E500s are here and the last 5 MMCs are back.
I imagine 32084/121 have already been withdrawn as they haven't been used for almost 3 weeks, but regarding the E500s 3 haven't been in service for over a week, I wonder whether these have had teething issues or some secret refurbishments are taking place :P
 
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richw

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I imagine 32121 have already been withdrawn as they haven't been used for almost 3 weeks
As has been told a million times here certain schools don’t track, so you wouldn’t see it.
32121 is on a Poltair school contract today.

but regarding the E500s 3 haven't been in service for over a week
As we only have 5, 2 were on colleges today and at least a 3rd was used for Truro park and ride at Christmas light switch on today.
stop relying on bus times for your info, as numerous contracts don’t track on there.
 

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