First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[vla50]

Both 33172 (LR02LYP) and 33181 (LR02LZA) are now shown as SORN on the DVLA website.
Are they officially withdrawn?

Surprised it wasn't 33072/33144/33158/33182 first given they are extras.

 

[iantherev]

So do I take it that (to misquote Eric Morcambe) FK are withdrawing the right buses but not necessarily in the right order?

 

[On the Buses]

Surprised it wasn't 33072/33144/33158/33182 first given they are extras.

We’re withdrawing them in the logical order for business efficiency.

 

[teggers419]

We’re withdrawing them in the logical order for business efficiency.

Also 33072 and 33182 appear to be used more than most and both look well kept so are obviously more reliable..33172 was quite tatty, not sure of the reasons for 33181(Poppy Bus)??

 

[cnjb8]

Also 33072 and 33182 appear to be used more than most and both look well kept so are obviously more reliable..33172 was quite tatty, not sure of the reasons for 33181(Poppy Bus)??

Just because it wears the Kernow livery, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in top condition

 

[teggers419]

Just because it wears the Kernow livery, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in top condition

That wasn't the point I was making. Of all the Tridents left 072 and 182 see more use than all of the others so for that point alone surely must have something to do with reliability and performance?

That wasn't the point I was making. Of all the Tridents left 072 and 182 see more use than all of the others so for that point alone surely must have something to do with reliability and performance??

Read into what "on the buses" quotes as business efficiency and that is exactly my point. You withdraw the least efficient and keep the most efficient! So simple!

 

[On the Buses]

That wasn't the point I was making. Of all the Tridents left 072 and 182 see more use than all of the others so for that point alone surely must have something to do with reliability and performance??



Read into what "on the buses" quotes as business efficiency and that is exactly my point. You withdraw the least efficient and keep the most efficient!!!! So simple!!!

And the least efficient has a failed engine.

 

[S.Jacket]

Now that Truro college has finished until September, will the rest of the closed top Volvo B7TL ALX400s soon be off fleet too?

 

[On the Buses]

Now that Truro college has finished until September, will the rest of the closed top Volvo B7TL ALX400s soon be off fleet too?

Yes. Over the next week as we need to move fleet around to get them off. Departing pretty much daily from 7th.

 

[Trainfan061193]

Yes. Over the next week as we need to move fleet around to get them off. Departing pretty much daily from 7th.

Glad I saw them whilst I could last week! I was even lucky enough to ride one!

 

[S.Jacket]

Yes. Over the next week as we need to move fleet around to get them off. Departing pretty much daily from 7th.

Many thanks for that

 

[vla50]

Are the loaned Holmeswood ALXs leaving anytime soon?

 

[On the Buses]

Are the loaned Holmeswood ALXs leaving anytime soon?

In theory they would be surplus when all 30 MMCs are back and could leave then. However, they are our headroom to backfill any Trident Presidents that expire in the meantime, and available for new contracts which we always have an interest in
We’re expecting a large number of cascades in the first quarter of 2022 though, which will see off all closed top deckers apart from the E400s / MMCs / Geminis and ELC Tridents

 

[Trainfan061193]

What will happen to the trainer liveried ALXs? Will they go back to being training vehicles or join most of the other ALXs to Ensign?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In theory they would be surplus when all 30 MMCs are back and could leave then. However, they are our headroom to backfill any Trident Presidents that expire in the meantime, and available for new contracts which we always have an interest in
We’re expecting a large number of cascades in the first quarter of 2022 though, which will see off all closed top deckers apart from the E400s / MMCs / Geminis and ELC Tridents

You've made a rod for your back there

It's never dull with FSW though, and glad to see the rather time expired ALXs and Tridents head off

 

[Trainfan061193]

You've made a rod for your back there

It's never dull with FSW though, and glad to see the rather time expired ALXs and Tridents head off

First have really excited me with their products for this year! Certainly more interesting than Stagecoach at the moment in my view!!

 

[On the Buses]

What will happen to the trainer liveried ALXs? Will they go back to being training vehicles or join most of the other ALXs to Ensign?

All going

 

[vla50]

In theory they would be surplus when all 30 MMCs are back and could leave then. However, they are our headroom to backfill any Trident Presidents that expire in the meantime, and available for new contracts which we always have an interest in
We’re expecting a large number of cascades in the first quarter of 2022 though, which will see off all closed top deckers apart from the E400s / MMCs / Geminis and ELC Tridents

So all the B7TLs would also go?

 

[On the Buses]

You've made a rod for your back there

It's never dull with FSW though, and glad to see the rather time expired ALXs and Tridents head off

Indeed so I can officially confirm that I can’t confirm incoming fleetnumbers…bring it on lol

So all the B7TLs would also go?

I really thought I’d covered all angles???

 

[vla50]

Indeed so I can officially confirm that I can’t confirm incoming fleetnumbers…bring it on lol


I really thought I’d covered all angles???

Sorry just reread your post and noticed however couldn't find the delete button! Very sorry

 

[On the Buses]

Sorry just reread your post and noticed however couldn't find the delete button! Very sorry

No need to apologise!

 

[cnjb8]

Sorry just reread your post and noticed however couldn't find the delete button! Very sorry

Press the three dots at the bottom to edit the post, I don’t think you can delete posts unfortunately


So good to see FSW go from the dumping ground of First to arguably one of its most innovative companies!

 

[Trainfan061193]

So all the B7TLs would also go?

Just the ALXs are going. The Geminis are all staying.

 

[vla50]

Press the three dots at the bottom to edit the post, I don’t think you can delete posts unfortunately


So good to see FSW go from the dumping ground of First to arguably one of its most innovative companies!

Definitely, it's amazing to see. I love how well Bus Back Better has been embraced in the company and how old buses have been completely done up to do these services.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Definitely, it's amazing to see. I love how well Bus Back Better has been embraced in the company and how old buses have been completely done up to do these services.

TBF, First South West have been excellent long before BBB from a very low base, removing the deadwood operations and the pesky opposition, and developing the operations. There was Vision 2020 and whilst we were never party to what it contained (and why should we), it's clear that they had plans for developing the operations even with the loss of the contracts to Go Ahead.

The retention and accumulation of elderly deckers has been a necessity with social distancing and most would never have lasted 2020, let alone into 2021, had it not been for Covid.

 

[vla50]

TBF, First South West have been excellent long before BBB from a very low base, removing the deadwood operations and the pesky opposition, and developing the operations. There was Vision 2020 and whilst we were never party to what it contained (and why should we), it's clear that they had plans for developing the operations even with the loss of the contracts to Go Ahead.

The retention and accumulation of elderly deckers has been a necessity with social distancing and most would never have lasted 2020, let alone into 2021, had it not been for Covid.

Ditto the last statement, I do wonder whether any of these buses will have a life beyond the FSW ops.

 

[richw]

Ditto the last statement, I do wonder whether any of these buses will have a life beyond the FSW ops.

I think some of the Bath uni liveried examples might. They’ve had a fairly decent interior refurb at some point as well as fitted with usb chargers and WiFi. From what I’ve seen that batch seem pretty reliable and don’t spend much time off the road. A coat of paint and they’ll make ok school buses or a cheap psvar decker option for an independent somewhere

 

[Whiteway215]

Of the ‘temporary fleet’ 32286/87 had already passed to Ensign in April. Both were then reported by Ensign as being sold on to C & G Coaches, Peterborough in May.
Presumably their fellows from that batch 32280/84/85 will be going to Ensign soon and as 03 plate buses perhaps they may have a future with another operator?

 

[vla50]

Of the ‘temporary fleet’ 32286/87 had already passed to Ensign in April. Both were then reported by Ensign as being sold on to C & G Coaches, Peterborough in May.
Presumably their fellows from that batch 32280/84/85 will be going to Ensign soon and as 03 plate buses perhaps they may have a future with another operator?

They could maybe not have as much of a chance compared to the 51 reg examples because they have USBs but then you look at the Ex London 52 reg examples and they sold exceptionally well. 32250-32259 all were sent to Ensign and 8 of the 10 found new homes.

 

[Whiteway215]

Very surprised to see some of the 'temporary fleet' appearing on the bus tracker today.
30565 on U1, 32014 on D5, 32015 on 87 and 32069 on S2. Or are these because of ticket machine swaps?