First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[Blackpudding]

Personally I see more Volvo B7TL’s running than Tridents these days. They might not be very comfortable to ride on but they seem to be more durable than the Tridents.
Be interested to get the views of others.

Still none of the older Tridents delicenced according to VOSA so they must be somewhere. I always liked the B7TL that you have in Kernow. They were in Bury previously and I always found them comfortable to ride on - the routes from Bury weren't as long as those they now operate though.

On a separate note and I know it's cheesey but as it's the season of goodwill and all that can I just say how I appreciate your input into this thread. Kernow, unlike other operating companies, always appears to be a black hole when it comes to information. Glad you bring some light!

 

[richw]

Still none of the older Tridents delicenced according to VOSA so they must be somewhere. I always liked the B7TL that you have in Kernow. They were in Bury previously and I always found them comfortable to ride on - the routes from Bury weren't as long as those they now operate though.

On a separate note and I know it's cheesey but as it's the season of goodwill and all that can I just say how I appreciate your input into this thread. Kernow, unlike other operating companies, always appears to be a black hole when it comes to information. Glad you bring some light!

Most of the HIG private plates have been transferred to newer vehicles. The older Tridents have disappeared, assumingly in the back of depots awaiting disposal. The oldest Trident I spotted last week was an 02 registration,

 

[Blackpudding]

Most of the HIG private plates have been transferred to newer vehicles. The older Tridents have disappeared, assumingly in the back of depots awaiting disposal. The oldest Trident I spotted last week was an 02 registration,

Cheers 'richw'. As I say I looked on VOSA and all Tridents from 32819 to 32955, looking at the recent registration numbers, are still recorded as licenced. Are you saying those HIG plates (were on 32872-32878) are now on newer Tridents in the 33xxx series? If so any sightings would be appreciated.

 

[richw]

Cheers 'richw'. As I say I looked on VOSA and all Tridents from 32819 to 32955, looking at the recent registration numbers, are still recorded as licenced. Are you saying those HIG plates (were on 32872-32878) are now on newer Tridents in the 33xxx series? If so any sightings would be appreciated.

HIG1524 is now on LR02LYV as seen in my attached pic in Newquay last Wednesday.
Former was on 32874 now V874HBY which I believe is still about, and has only recently been relicensed for another year.

The give away on a DVLA license status check is the date of registration box.

 

[Blackpudding]

HIG1524 is now on LR02LYV as seen in my attached pic in Newquay last Wednesday.
Former was on 32874 now V874HBY which I believe is still about, and has only recently been relicensed for another year.

The give away on a DVLA license status check is the date of registration box.

Thanks for that. I was looking at HIG1524 not V874HBY. Any other re-registrations gratefully received.

 

[richw]

Thanks for that. I was looking at HIG1524 not V874HBY. Any other re-registrations gratefully received.

HIG1523 is now on LR02LYU

Cazana is a good website as shows previous registrations as well as licence status. I haven’t got a list of all the plates or I’d check them myself.

 

[MrKnow]

Thanks for that. I was looking at HIG1524 not V874HBY. Any other re-registrations gratefully received.

2 of the Atlantic Coasters branded Tridents 33233 now has the registration HIG1528 from 32858 (withdrawn) and 33234 has the plate HIG1531 from 32878 (also withdrawn)

 

[Blackpudding]

HIG1523 is now on LR02LYU

Cazana is a good website as shows previous registrations as well as licence status. I haven’t got a list of all the plates or I’d check them myself.

What a useful site. Based on the data it has it would now seem that:
33171 is now HIG1512 ex LR02LYO. HIG1512 was previously on 32853 which has now reverted to T853LLC and is still licenced.
33172 is now HIG1519 ex LR02LYP. HIG1519 was previously on 32851 which has now reverted to T851LLC and has a SORN against it.
33174 is now HIG1521 ex LR02LYT. HIG1521 was previously on 32872 which has now reverted to V872HBY and is still licenced.
33175 is now HIG1523 ex LR02LYU. HIG1523 was previously on 32873 which has now reverted to T873KLF and is still licenced.
33176 is now HIG1524 ex LR02LYV. HIG1524 was previously on 32874 which has now reverted to V874HBY and is still licenced.
33177 is now HIG1527 ex LR02LYW. HIG1527 was previously on 32876 which has now reverted to T876KLF and has a SORN against it.
33233 is now HIG1528 ex LT52WWV. HIG1528 was previously on 32858 which has now reverted to V858HBY and has a SORN against it. (Thanks to MrKnow)
33234 is now HIG1531 ex LT52WWX. HIG1531 was previously on 32878 which has now reverted to T878KLF and has a SORN against it.

Confirmation of the new registrations on said buses would be great!

 

[Accelerator59]

What a useful site. Based on the data it has it would now seem that:
33171 was LR02LYO. I suspect this has been reregistered but to what is unknown.
33172 is now HIG1519 ex LR02LYP. HIG1519 was previously on 32851 which has now revered to T851LLC has a SORN against it.
33174 is now HIG1521 ex LR02LYT. HIG1521 was previously on 32872 which has now reverted to V872HBY and is still licenced.
33175 is now HIG1523 ex LR02LYU. HIG1523 was previously on 32873 which has now reverted to T873KLF and is still licenced.
33176 is now HIG1524 ex LR02LYV. HIG1524 was previously on 32874 which has now reverted to V874HBY and is still licenced.
33177 is now HIG1527 ex LR02LYW. HIG1527 was previously on 32876 which has now reverted to T876KLF and has a SORN against it.
33233 is now HIG1528 ex LT52WWV. HIG1528 was previously on 32858 which has now reverted to V858HBY and has a SORN against it. (Thanks to MrKnow)
33234 is now HIG1531 ex LT52WWX. HIG1531 was previously on 32878 which has now reverted to T878KLF and has a SORN against it.

Confirmation of the new registrations on said buses would be great!

Thanks to MrKnow who added to this discussion whilst I as typing this

I stumbled across Cazana myself and find it very useful for finding previous registrations on vehicles. Also, I’ve seen 33180 on a Truro college service and 85 service both on separate days a while ago. Don’t think this has been mentioned yet.

 

[83G/84D]

An Optare Metrodecker is at Camborne - a blue one this time. It is YJ16 DFG carrying fleet number 35000.

 

[LAIRA]

An Optare Metrodecker is at Camborne - a blue one this time. It is YJ16 DFG carrying fleet number 35000.

Previously seen use with First South Yorkshire

 

[83G/84D]

Previously seen use with First South Yorkshire

Thanks Colin,wasn't aware of that. At least it's easier on the eye than the bright orange one that was around earlier in the year.

 

[THarris123]

An Optare Metrodecker is at Camborne - a blue one this time. It is YJ16 DFG carrying fleet number 35000.

Thought that was down Kernow earlier in the year as I'm sure I had a ride on 35000.

 

[83G/84D]

Thought that was down Kernow earlier in the year as I'm sure I had a ride on 35000.

YJ65 EPU in orange was the vehicle that was in Cornwall back earlier this year.

AFAIK there have been no others until now.

 

[Busaholic]

The 14.35 departure from PZ of the U4 to Penryn today took the form of a bus (a President) blinded as a no. 2 and bound for Mabe, which is short of Penryn! It did leave a minute or two late, but can't imagine it was short turned, so is Penryn not an option on the blind? Better surely to display Falmouth, which most passengers on a Saturday probably want anyway, ultimately.

 

[THarris123]

YJ65 EPU in orange was the vehicle that was in Cornwall back earlier this year.

AFAIK there have been no others until now.

Oh makes sense. Thats the one I had on 27.

 

[83G/84D]

The Scania demonstrator bus 36800 (YN16 CFU) was on service U4 today:-

 

[Busaholic]

The Scania demonstrator bus 36800 (YN16 CFU) was on service U4 today:-

Saw two U4s today, but not that one. Damn!

 

[Goldfish62]

The Scania demonstrator bus 36800 (YN16 CFU) was on service U4 today:-

Very smart!

 

[busconductors]

I took the 223 Bodmin to Truro College bus today. At first the driver would not let me on, saying it is only for those attending Truro College but I assured him I had taken it before. The 223 bus broke down at Lockengate. One of the students said she had been talking on the phone and it seemed the 228 from Callington and Liskeard had also broken down. Some students were worried about how arriving late would affect their attendance rates. Several complained that First Kernow always put the oldest buses on the college routes. The driver said we would be delayed for one hour. Fortunately the replacement bus arrived after 30 minutes. Hopefully the students were not penalised for late arrival. Is it true that it is the oldest buses that First Kernow use on the college routes?

 

[Busaholic]

I took the 223 Bodmin to Truro College bus today. At first the driver would not let me on, saying it is only for those attending Truro College but I assured him I had taken it before. The 223 bus broke down at Lockengate. One of the students said she had been talking on the phone and it seemed the 228 from Callington and Liskeard had also broken down. Some students were worried about how arriving late would affect their attendance rates. Several complained that First Kernow always put the oldest buses on the college routes. The driver said we would be delayed for one hour. Fortunately the replacement bus arrived after 30 minutes. Hopefully the students were not penalised for late arrival. Is it true that it is the oldest buses that First Kernow use on the college routes?

Not the ones I regularly see! Often the MMCs. Was probably more the case a few years ago when the Bristol VRs were having their extended swansong.

 

[MB162435]

Dennis Trident's are the dominant class on Truro College services, with majority of the Kernow coaches fleet mainly the Iziar Century Coaches and the BMC 'first student' coaches. Tinner buses do appear frequently on services to the west of the Duchy to places such as St Ives, Penzance and Castle Gate with the University E400s appearing occasionally on the 231 service, especially such as next week when the U3 service isn't running. In all honesty, pretty much every class in the Kernow fleet can appear on College duties, even the Eden project bendy buses on the Par Service

 

[LAIRA]

Just back from 3 days in St Just. Sunday and Monday 30875 was working the A17. An hour in Penzance on Monday produced
A1 33234
A17 33233 66759/760
M6 53709/826
U4 33472
5 42876
11 53505
16 53503
39A 53504
Parked in the Bus Station 23318 53801

Today on the A30
33052 on the 85 & 33084 on 93 + 65762 on A17 in St Just.

 

[83G/84D]

E400 MMC 33479 was on Tinner duties today whilst the Optare Metrodecker is still at Camborne.

 

[philthetube]

normally, on school, college services vehicles used are the oldest, to reduce mileage and others which have been in for service etc and so have not been available for a full days work.

I don't know the geography of the area so don't know if this is the case for Kernow

 

[83G/84D]

Dennis Trident's are the dominant class on Truro College services, with majority of the Kernow coaches fleet mainly the Iziar Century Coaches and the BMC 'first student' coaches. Tinner buses do appear frequently on services to the west of the Duchy to places such as St Ives, Penzance and Castle Gate with the University E400s appearing occasionally on the 231 service, especially such as next week when the U3 service isn't running. In all honesty, pretty much every class in the Kernow fleet can appear on College duties, even the Eden project bendy buses on the Par Service

My observations would support this. I think I have seen virtually every type of First Kernow bus or coach on Truro college services at some point.

Probably the least likely to appear are the ex Jersey Dart’s.

Solo’s and Eden artics do appear occasionally.

Looking at First Kernow’s twitter feed there are still regular vehicle reliability issues and not just affecting Truro college services.

 

[richw]

Looking at First Kernow’s twitter feed there are still regular vehicle reliability issues and not just affecting Truro college services.

Are there that many breakdowns considering the number of vehicles operated? I suspect we are seeing under 1% of services impacted, but we know about it because First Kernow are so open on social media. I wonder whether breakdowns are higher or lower than in the past when we didn’t have social media telling us about it?

 

[83G/84D]

I take your point richw but almost daily breakdowns isn’t good and a severe inconvenience for the travelling public. The twitter team do a hard but good job keeping people informed but it’s not a good advertisement for the company with regular cancellations and delays.

Road works, road closures and incidents are unfortunate but beyond the control of FK but reliability of the fleet is something I hope the management team are working hard to improve.

 

[83G/84D]

Trident 33111 saw use on service T1 today:-

 

[83G/84D]

Yesterday on the way into Truro after 9pm, V329 LGC was seen outbound on service 87 whilst an Eden artic was on Park & Ride duties for late night shopping.
Today 32029 (V311LGC) was towed into Camborne early afternoon. It had service 219 displayed on destination screen. Scania 36800 departed Camborne late afternoon.