They've been on Newport to Bristol Parkway recently.I think they’re being worked hard on rail
They've been on Newport to Bristol Parkway recently.I think they’re being worked hard on rail
More recently, yes, but they were stood for quite a while!I think they’re being worked hard on rail
Indeed they are. Streetlites next
The enlarged fleet is needed for two reasons.
1. The 30 MMCs are still at SPS pending an order for new deckers
2. Although some contracts are not operating due to Covid, there is a much greater number of duplicates required to provide extra capacity for scholars in the main network, for the University and for Truro College.
Therefore in addition to the 30 MMCs releasing 30 vehicles on their return, others will be released when social distancing ends.
Somerset has considerable duplicates requiring PVR over and above the reduced network PVR.
The 9 Volvos in the process of joining the fleet now are actually to release the 4 Scania single decks back to HDB, to release the ex Leeds Scania Solar to scrap and to release a number of Tridents back to Winkleigh
While some of the latter have failed, the principal reason is because they are low capacity, had destination screens and other First systems removed before the original disposal, so the cascades deal with those issues.
The 5 Scanias being single decks were what was available at the time but there are limited uses for them in Cornwall.
However, none will leave for a few weeks as there is a very large rail job in the coming weeks in Cornwall that is being covered in full (but including an appearance by most of the Bristol Airport MMC fleet)
There is no plan or current identified need to put the ALXs into the permanent Cornwall fleet.
The Geminis will join though.
The 10 Base Volvos and the 3 Ensign E400s remain on hire alongside all the transfers in.
I saw the afternoon 2 from Pz to Helston yesterday, and there was certainly no indication on the bus that it was a closed door service. Is the TfC school service to Mousehole genuinely numbered 9M, as carried by the d/d also seen and, if so, why?As far as I'm aware tfc no longer operate and service named u4 the closed door service between Helston and penzance is now called the 2.
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And according to this as experience it goes around Porthleven.
But you are right there is one bus the 38 which goes to Porthleven one time a day but it is a closed door service so no public can use it.
Thank you for clarifyingYes
There’s nothing currently scheduled to transfer to SW.
May I ask what time you saw the 2 service, because the 2 travels through the day from penzance only going as far as praa sands then returning to pz apart from the 9am and 3pm schools services, but as you said there is no indication of a closed service as other tfc buses carry the route number as a studentd only banner such as the 34 and 38.I saw the afternoon 2 from Pz to Helston yesterday, and there was certainly no indication on the bus that it was a closed door service. Is the TfC school service to Mousehole genuinely numbered 9M, as carried by the d/d also seen and, if so, why?
So let me get this straight, the 03 ALXs from Bath aren’t going to be permanent either? And the MMCs still at SPS are filling in the gap until new deckers arrive? Because that’s what it looks like you’re saying to me.Indeed they are. Streetlites next
The enlarged fleet is needed for two reasons.
1. The 30 MMCs are still at SPS pending an order for new deckers
2. Although some contracts are not operating due to Covid, there is a much greater number of duplicates required to provide extra capacity for scholars in the main network, for the University and for Truro College.
Therefore in addition to the 30 MMCs releasing 30 vehicles on their return, others will be released when social distancing ends.
Somerset has considerable duplicates requiring PVR over and above the reduced network PVR.
The 9 Volvos in the process of joining the fleet now are actually to release the 4 Scania single decks back to HDB, to release the ex Leeds Scania Solar to scrap and to release a number of Tridents back to Winkleigh
While some of the latter have failed, the principal reason is because they are low capacity, had destination screens and other First systems removed before the original disposal, so the cascades deal with those issues.
The 5 Scanias being single decks were what was available at the time but there are limited uses for them in Cornwall.
However, none will leave for a few weeks as there is a very large rail job in the coming weeks in Cornwall that is being covered in full (but including an appearance by most of the Bristol Airport MMC fleet)
There is no plan or current identified need to put the ALXs into the permanent Cornwall fleet.
The Geminis will join though.
The 10 Base Volvos and the 3 Ensign E400s remain on hire alongside all the transfers in.
I would imagine that is on track. By my estimates they are close to half of them done now.Marc said on Twitter as well that Kernow hope to have all the Geminis painted by the end of March too.
It seems clear to me that that is what's he's saying.So let me get this straight, the 03 ALXs from Bath aren’t going to be permanent either? And the MMCs still at SPS are filling in the gap until new deckers arrive? Because that’s what it looks like you’re saying to me.
So let me get this straight, the 03 ALXs from Bath aren’t going to be permanent either? And the MMCs still at SPS are filling in the gap until new deckers arrive? Because that’s what it looks like you’re saying to me.
Marc said on Twitter as well that Kernow hope to have all the Geminis painted by the end of March too.
I would imagine that is on track. By my estimates they are close to half of them done now.
Appreciate that but I was working on the assumption that they wouldn't be permanent members; the 54 plate Geminis are about 18 months younger and FK are trying to improve the fleet.If they're being taken into the fleet rather than being temporary loans I don't see why they wouldn't be repainted. Some of the Geminis are 16 years old and some of the Tridents were a similar age when repainted.
It was straight! Little surprised that the two Geminis are permanent additions given their age and capacity but perhaps more robust than some of the Tridents.I though that was straight / clear. Yes!!!
The likelihood is that once social distancing duplication is no longer needed, the four additional Geminis, including two short ones, will allow all the remaining President Tridents to be removed from fleet.
He means all of them which would include the painted ones too.When you say remaining presidents does this also include the Kernow painted ones or just the barbie ones
Although it hasn’t operated this year the Malpas contract for Fal River requires a short DD to be able to turn at Malpas.
The two ex London Geminis fit the bill. One would generally work the V1 am and pm and Malpas in between. There needs to be a spare.
At present the V1 is using a coach to free up a decker which is what is in demand with social distancing.
The likelihood is that once social distancing duplication is no longer needed, the four additional Geminis, including two short ones, will allow all the remaining President Tridents to be removed from fleet.
When you say remaining presidents does this also include the Kernow painted ones or just the barbie ones
Ah right....that all makes sense in having a couple of short wheelbase ones.
I think the inference that once you get rid of social distancing (which is the only reason why the barbie/urban ones are in service), then it also releases the additional Geminis which will allow the removal of all other Presidents i.e. the repainted ones
Indeed, what the position will be post-Covid will be a challenge for the whole industry, though the amount of additional vehicles that FK has had to get in for additional schools is greater than most. How revised PVRs impact group wide fleet moves and vehicle replacement is anyone's guess.So when we have the MMCs back the Cornwall closed top dd fleet will be E400 / Gemini / EL Tridents as required.
No one knows what the post Covid PVR will ultimately be so it’s all provisional - and of course there’s a focus on growing contract work.
Citybus and Oakleys have taken all the tenders that stagecoach gave notice on. Most of Oakleys service vehicles are ex First Southwest acquired via Dan shears, although they’ve recently acquired a 2010 plaxton primo and ex Lothian B7rle from ensign I believeOh, and of course, the much rumoured (by posters on Plymothian Transit) return of First to Plymouth reacquiring the Stagecoach operations.... Graham does a good job on there but some of the contributions by people in comments section
Does anyone know why Stagecoach gave up these tenders though?Citybus and Oakleys have taken all the tenders that stagecoach gave notice on. Most of Oakleys service vehicles are ex First Southwest acquired via Dan shears, although they’ve recently acquired a 2010 plaxton primo and ex Lothian B7rle from ensign I believe
Someone even went as far to mock up a photoshop of the 2018 tender results, and changed the date to 2020 and change everything stagecoach to First Southwest, and sent it to various local drivers and enthusiasts. I spotted the photoshop immediately from misaligned text when it was sent to me!
That makes sense. Thanks. Hope stagecoach do stay in Plymouth as we need an alternative operator i feel. Just hope after Covid they feel they can make a go of it, although personally I have my doubts as to their future in the city regrettablyAdvised by a driver on the 18, Stagecoach handed them back as no money could be made
It would have been the 3 p.m. service, as I collected my serviced laundry from the launderette just before its 3 o'clock closure, and that establishment is on the corner of the road leading to Humphry Davy School, down which it headed to (presumably) pick up passengers. I'm too old and infirm to play games, but I'm almost minded to 'innocently' attempt to board the bus somewhere in Pz to see the reaction. If it isn't available to the general public it should certainly indicate that.May I ask what time you saw the 2 service, because the 2 travels through the day from penzance only going as far as praa sands then returning to pz apart from the 9am and 3pm schools services, but as you said there is no indication of a closed service as other tfc buses carry the route number as a studentd only banner such as the 34 and 38.
About the 9m is now the Mousehole school service and other previous school routes, I only presume they were re named to stop confusion with the previous tfc m6 running closely time with the Kennoway m6 and like wise with the tfc u4 (now the 2)
That should be the position, but what an individual driver decides on could be a different matter: if you put your hand out to indicate you want the bus and it sails by, you're not in a position to argue with that driver if they'd attempted to refuse permission to board. I understand from different threads here that has happened on more than a few occasions countrywide.I’m led to believe the council put a stop to student only running’s that are registered for public use
Not sure it thats true as I sore on Friday a student only 34 heading to mullion school from the lizard and also one leaving Helston school for the lizard.I’m led to believe the council put a stop to student only running’s that are registered for public use
I was told the above by a driver on the 12, when chatting one morning in Bude, that the council had put a stop to student only unless they are deregistered from public service.That should be the position, but what an individual driver decides on could be a different matter: if you put your hand out to indicate you want the bus and it sails by, you're not in a position to argue with that driver if they'd attempted to refuse permission to board. I understand from different threads here that has happened on more than a few occasions countrywide.
You can't deregister a local bus service. I guess what the council is saying is that the operator needs to clearly distinguish journeys that are for students only.I was told the above by a driver on the 12, when chatting one morning in Bude, that the council had put a stop to student only unless they are deregistered from public service.
They can be deregistered from VOSA then operated as 'closed contracts'. This also means they're not subject to the same vehicle requirements.You can't deregister a local bus service. I guess what the council is saying is that the operator needs to clearly distinguish journeys that are for students only.