E400 are 13’10 and Geminis are 14’5.
I also noticed on my trip (and again today) that one working is a green closed top SD streetlite that works Porlock school route 10, which First's website shows only completes its morning service at 0838 before doing the 0830 Exmoor Coaster to Lynmouth with a late start, the 0930 back from Lynmouth & then a zero minute turnaround the 1030 to Lynmouth again. So is there a shortage of open tops at Minehead or is this a permanent school day arrangement not mentioned in the timetable?
Pretty sure that it's replacing an open top again, they do have problems!
All the sources I have seen say it will be published nearer the start date. Suggest you google it nearer the date and you will hit the jackpot.
It should be noted the operational date on this source is Incorrect. Start date is 8th July according to registration with traffic commission
Many thanks Rich much appreciated
Or a 3 bus service. Two from Plymouth and one from Exeter. 5 minute turn around times aren’t realistic on that route otherwise
Or drivers swap at Moretonhampstead? Buses might swap over each day but not drivers. Hope a 5 minute turnaround at Plymouth isn’t the plan!
Exactly what I was thinking
Madness if it is!
ridiculous 5 mins turnaround on a route where the bus needs a long break
All journeys also have a 5 minute stand at Lynmouth westbound and a 22 minute stand at Lynmouth eastbound, and the turnround at Minehead is 20 minutes. Is there a reason why longer turnrounds at Ilfracombe harbour are impracticable?
Not really as terminus is alongside the former First bus station with plenty of room for other vehicles to pass (Stagecoach takes it layover at the previous stop nearer the TiC). My recent journey arrived & departed Ilfracombe around 20min late (and passed the previous departure around 30min late). Loadings were very encouraging though but many were complaining about the state of trees on the route with several passengers being hit (which is why Devon County Council banned the Quantock double-deck open-top Ilfracombe-Lynmouth-Minehead route 300 Scania some 18 years back with separate services then operating either side of Lynmouth).
Unless the system has been updated that won’t work. Cornwall drivers can’t sign on Somerset ticket machines and vice versa. Hence when a BoS vehicle used to cover Dartmoor when Exeter was under Cornwall it used to have a ticket machine swap and track as a Cornish vehicle.
Well if that's the case it has to be a three bus service.
Presumably just departing Lynmouth for Ilfracombe 5 mins earlier would help, especially now there is extended layover here due to not calling at Lynton
Yet today - a school day - closed-top Streetlite 55108 appears back on the 0830 Exmoor Coaster from Minehead with a 13 minute late start after doing Porlock Weir school route 10. It returned from Lynmouth on the 0930 before heading straight back out on the 1030 which seems to then have a longer break in Lynmouth (presumably as other services return from Ilfracombe) before the 1340 to Minehead & the afternoon school route 10 if it does the same as last week again.
Does that suggest it’s a driver shortage not a bus shortage?
I don't know but it would appear so with no time to swap the school route 10 Streetlite for an open-top prior to the late starting 0830 Exmoor Coaster and then a zero minute turnround at 1030 so no opportunity again (presumably Minehead doesn't have a leading driver or spare driver available to do the swap either?).
I would think it is a bus shortage.
I would say driver shortage. Looking at the timings, there is no way the school driver is booked to do those Exmoors. I would say they’re mixing and matching duties to reduce lost miles. This was a common occurrence in my time with the company.
I've been thinking the same re capacity, although in at least one instance I saw last week the full bus was following a double decker which would have missed out Mousehole Harbour; this being one of the busiest stops on the route.
