First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[Trainfan061193]

Contractors are in tomorrow to install the handbrake warning system and then it will move to Minehead.

I’m glad Exmoor is proving to be so popular; I did this a few weeks back and my goodness the views across Exmoor and the coast are phenomenal!!

 

[Callum15632]

Does anyone know why some of the Bristol buses are heading towards Cornwall? If so how many buses are due to go to Cornwall?

 

[On the Buses]

Does anyone know why some of the bristol buses are heading past Exeter going towards Cornwall? If so how many buses are due to go to Cornwall.

Boardmasters x 16

 

[Callum15632]

Okay thanks

 

[Trainfan061193]

Thank you for that - I'm intending to try it out in September.

You must! There is some breathtaking scenery once you’ve reached the summit on Exmoor.

 

[Callum15632]

There seems to be a lot of Bristol Unibus Enviro 400 MMCs at Cornwall for the Boardmasters. There is also the odd Scania N250UD Enviro 400 MMC, B9TLs and one B9TL that is route branded for Citylines 75|76 in Bristol as well.

 

[richw]

Couple of photos of aforementioned Bristol vehicles seen parked near Newquay earlier this afternoon.

 

[Trainfan061193]

Is 36100 going to enter service soon?

This is going to be the spare open top for Exmoor soon as it’s so popular and I can see why! Would like to see how it will tackle Porlock Hill especially.

32277 is simply vor waiting for a fuel pump. As I’ve said numerous times, they are staying probably until 2022 when cascades arrive. They are not returning to WoE. They will be sold.

Will those cascades include BoS as well? I know there’s been a plan for a while to replace all the Tridents there too.

 

[Kernowman]

May I ask if anybody out there knows the whereabouts of First Kernow 33311? It doesn't appear to be on the Somerset Passenger Services (SPS) fleet list any longer, and nor is it shown to be in use on the First Kernow fleet list. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[vla50]

This is going to be the spare open top for Exmoor soon as it’s so popular and I can see why! Would like to see it will tackle Porlock Hill especially.


Will those cascades include BoS as well? I know there’s been a plan for a while to replace all the Tridents there too.

I assume so, I wonder what will replace all the Tridents but too early to tell.
Regarding Exmoor, I know that it will be an addition and a great one at that.

 

[Trainfan061193]

I assume so, I wonder what will replace all the Tridents but too early to tell
Regarding Exmoor, I know that it will be an addition and a great one at that

Oh yes, the Scanias make very light work of Porlock Hill although so far I’ve only been on 36081. I would like to give 36082 a chance as well eventually and try to hunt down a ride on 36100 too at some point! Hopefully with 36100 as the spare, it will almost be guaranteed to be an open top in the near future if one of 36081/2 are broken as right now they’re having to use single deckers as cover.

 

[On the Buses]

This is going to be the spare open top for Exmoor soon as it’s so popular and I can see why! Would like to see how it will tackle Porlock Hill especially.


Will those cascades include BoS as well? I know there’s been a plan for a while to replace all the Tridents there too.

Yes

 

[Yarp1]

Apparently up to 10 E400MMC could be coming back this week from Somerset Passenger Solutions (SPS) to Cornwall.

 

[vla50]

Aparently upto 10 e400 mmc could be coming back this week from sps to Cornwall

That will really be great IMO, I've used them before on the Tinner and they seem to be very popular with commuters.

 

[Baz01]

Is there no way First can't consider some services in Plymouth please? Maybe in some partnership approach with LTA. The services here from Stagecoach are becoming a joke . They don't seem to be able to keep drivers like First did. First must be a better employer I suppose!

 

[cnjb8]

May I ask if anybody out there knows the whereabouts of First Kernow 33311? It doesn't appear to be on the Somerset Passenger Services (SPS) fleet list any longer, and nor is it shown to be in use on the First Kernow fleet list. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

I had heard it left the fleet because it had an engine fault

 

[vla50]

I had heard it left the fleet because it had an engine fault

Do you not mean 33111?

 

[Busgeek]

I had heard it left the fleet because it had an engine fault

I can't see an 18plate vehicle leaving fleet with an engine fault.

You must be thinking of the late 33111!

 

[Kernowman]

It is FK 33311 WK18CGO that appears to have gone missing, the one i'm interested in. Thanks for info so far but I don't think it's gone for scrap.

 

[On the Buses]

It is FK 33311 WK18CGO that appears to have gone missing, the one i'm interested in. Thanks for info so far but I don't think it's gone for scrap.

It hasn’t gone missing. 12 have been defleeted awaiting collection to return them to Cornwall.

 

[richw]

Is there no way First can't consider some services in Plymouth please? Maybe in some partnership approach with LTA. The services here from Stagecoach are becoming a joke . They don't seem to be able to keep drivers like First did. First must be a better employer I suppose!

I suspect stagecoach paying such a low hourly rate in Plymouth contributes to their staff retention difficulties at the moment when every single operator is recruiting.
They are paying £10 an hour, in recent job ads the following rates are available:
Plymouth citybus £12.25 after the first year (for Plymouth based drivers),
TfC £11,
First £11.05
Parks £10.50 for Natex,
Roselyn £9.
Oakleys £10
Turners are advertising £10.50 for intercity drivers so presumably Flixbus heading this way.

 

[cnjb8]

Do you not mean 33111?

Ah yes I did mean that!

 

[Trainfan061193]

Our pre-use checks are now on Ticketer. But to use it requires logging into a running board. The top running board on the Ticketer list is a D5 running board so it seems to be the running board of choice when there isn’t a programmed running board for vehicle transfers between depots etc.

There are no day trippers running today.

I imagine it’ll be the same for the MMCs when they return from SPS (Somerset Passenger Solutions) shortly.

 

[On the Buses]

I imagine it’ll be the same for the MMCs when they return from SPS (Somerset Passenger Solutions) shortly.

What will?

 

[Trainfan061193]

What will?

Your buses often seem to track as a D5 when moving depots. Apologies for not being clearer.

You said last night 12 of them are currently waiting to be collected.

 

[On the Buses]

Your buses often seem to track as a D5 when moving depots. Apologies for not being clearer.

You said last night 12 of them are currently waiting to be collected.

No. They haven’t currently got ticket machines fitted.

 

[Nammer]

Good to see a bit of First 'cross-promotion' here in Portsmouth. I have just seen a Star Enviro with a poster on the rear advertising the Lands End Coaster.

 

[Trainfan061193]

36100 has now replaced 65759 for the 15:00 Exmoor Coaster from to Minehead to Lynmouth. I would appreciate it if someone could tell me its registration number. Many thanks.

 

[vla50]

36100 has now replaced 65759 for the 15:00 Exmoor Coaster from to Minehead to Lynmouth. Would appreciate it if someone could tell me it’s registration number. Many thanks

LX60DXB is 36100.

 

[Busgeek]

Out of interest I went for a look over at the gov website regarding route registration. There were two new registration for first seen below in the picture. Link to the site also supplied.

Find registered local bus services - Vehicle Operator Licensing - GOV.UK

www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk