Go Cornwall Bus

[MB162435]

Dial a ride type things. Pcb run them under contract for the councils

Ah right thanks @richw, thought I'd never seen or heard of a Go-ahead owned one before

 

[richw]

Had it confirmed privately from a go ahead employee in a position of knowledge that the 8 that have arrived at EYMS this week were due to Cornwall originally!

 

[Goldfish62]

Had it confirmed privately from a go ahead employee in a position of knowledge that the 8 that have arrived at EYMS this week were due to Cornwall originally!

Thanks. So they weren't even Cities as PCB had claimed they would be!

 

[fgwrich]

Had it confirmed privately from a go ahead employee in a position of knowledge that the 8 that have arrived at EYMS this week were due to Cornwall originally!

I wonder if that explains the First Kernow style interior then? The Moquette is the same in those as the ex FK E200 MMCs, and the red would have hinted strongly as a Citybus / TFC coloured interior.

 

[jammy36]

I wonder if that explains the First Kernow style interior then? The Moquette is the same in those as the ex FK E200 MMCs, and the red would have hinted strongly as a Citybus / TFC coloured interior.

The eight now being delivered to East Yorkshire mark the completion of a previously announced order that totally predates GoAhead being awarded the TfC work.

Celebrating Clean Air Day with announcement of £6m investment

Celebrating Clean Air Day with the announcement of a £6m investment in new buses to help transform bus travel.

www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk

The interior is to full East Yorkshire specification and has nothing to do with First Kernow (other than slight colour similarity).

New state-of-the-art “talking buses” hit the roads of Hull & East Yorkshire

Eleven brand new buses with luxury interiors.

www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk

 

[Goldfish62]

The eight now being delivered to East Yorkshire mark the completion of a previously announced order that totally predates GoAhead being awarded the TfC work.

Celebrating Clean Air Day with announcement of £6m investment

Celebrating Clean Air Day with the announcement of a £6m investment in new buses to help transform bus travel.

www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk

The interior is to full East Yorkshire specification and has nothing to do with First Kernow (other than slight colour similarity).

New state-of-the-art “talking buses” hit the roads of Hull & East Yorkshire

Eleven brand new buses with luxury interiors.

www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk

And although it's similar the moquette isn't the same as FK.

 

[richw]

The eight now being delivered to East Yorkshire mark the completion of a previously announced order that totally predates GoAhead being awarded the TfC work.

That were due to be diverted to Cornwall as a result of the tender bid, the diversion was cancelled.
All of the new deckers were diversions from other opcos orders. There have been union involvement at some of those opcos surrounding it. Several other opcos have had cuts because of the funds needed to be diverted to Cornwall. TfC is not popular at some of the other go ahead opcos as a result.

 

[Lizard1324]

That were due to be diverted to Cornwall as a result of the tender bid, the diversion was cancelled.

I hope they don't use enviro 400mmc becuase the same style bus would class and create confusion between the tinner e400s at least the 400 city would look slightly different

 

[MB162435]

I hope they don't use enviro 400mmc becuase the same style bus would class and create confusion between the tinner e400s at least the 400 city would look slightly different

Can't see how, the Kernow ones has Tinner and Kernow on it, and the TfC ones will have Transport for Cornwall

The yet to be painted 18 plate MMCs possibly could tho

 

[jammy36]

That were due to be diverted to Cornwall as a result of the tender bid, the diversion was cancelled.

Not these - the eight now being delivered were always ordered for and continued to be due at East Yorkshire, never any intention to divert to Cornwall.

 

[carlberry]

Very overdramatic, people won't lose faith! Most passengers just want a bus that turns up on time! The more controversial thing for them is the rebranding the pride bus.

Other than Faceache/Twitter I cant see many people in Cornwall getting fussed about the Pride bus. For most passengers the livery/Euro 6 thing isn't a major issue however it's likely to be for the customer (Cornwall CC).

 

[carlberry]

Although unverified a TFC driver told me today that head office have diverted the brand new deckers To other opcos due To the amount of damage happening. £350k of body repairs, £70k of glass damage and 3 written off vehicles (Including 2 brand new ones) in the first 3 months hasn’t gone down well with head office he said.

The 63/65 plate e400 which we were told weren’t permanent have started being repainted into TfC livery, and loan vehicles currently running in Plymouth have been made permanent additions to the Plymouth fleet to replace the relocated enviros.

EYMS took delivery of 8 e400mmcs this week.

Have 3 vehicles actually been written off? I cant see how anybody with any knowledge of Cornwall would be surprised at what the result of using a lot of out of area drivers with brand new buses is, especially on services that mostly cover the less major roads. Without wishing to stereotype (however I will!); drivers that are only on short term contracts are not going to take as much care as those that are local and want to keep the job for a while and Cornwall isn't the easiest place to drive a car, let alone a bus!

 

[richw]

Without wishing to stereotype (however I will!); drivers that are only on short term contracts are not going to take as much care as those that are local and want to keep the job for a while and Cornwall isn't the easiest place to drive a car, let alone a bus!

Your stereotyping is the same as my thinking. But I’ve been corrected that the most major damage has been done by permanent local drivers, all three written off vehicles were local “experienced“ drivers (albeit all three offenders had previously been dismissed from most other local operators). Nb- in this case experienced defines drivers who’ve worked for several years in Cornwall.
Our stereotyping is far from reality! Because a lot of Quality drivers have shown loyalty to First, the permanent drivers Go ahead have picked Up include Drivers who’ve been fired from First and most of the independents for accident records! They have picked up some decent drivers, but numbers have been boosted by some who found their licence in corn flakes (the local unemployed drivers, were unemployed for a reason!)

 

[Lizard1324]

Your stereotyping is the same as my thinking. But I’ve been corrected that the most major damage has been done by permanent local drivers, all three written off vehicles were local “experienced“ drivers (albeit all three offenders had previously been dismissed from most other local operators). Nb- in this case experienced defines drivers who’ve worked for several years in Cornwall.
Our stereotyping is far from reality! Because a lot of Quality drivers have shown loyalty to First, the permanent drivers Go ahead have picked Up include Drivers who’ve been fired from First and most of the independents for accident records! They have picked up some decent drivers, but numbers have been boosted by some who found their licence in corn flakes (the local unemployed drivers, were unemployed for a reason!)

From looking at drivers faces I have seen a few recognised faces from which these people have been fired for many reasons from extreme dangerous driving to drugs and other things that can be mentioned, but I have seen the driving around in a tfc bus

 

[MB162435]

No matter what the quality of driving or the drivers past history is, that is still no reason to say your customers can't have any new deckers, I don't care if one goes too fast or another took drugs years ago I don't want to be going around on a clapped out old bus because of their decisions, otherwise the progress of the company is halted because of a few drivers, new buses helps the image and drives growth, bit of a short-sighted and stupid decision if true for a company I've viewed to be doing a pretty good job so far

 

[richw]

The 63 and 65 plate enviro 400 are hardly clapped out old

 

[Kernow Dave]

Your stereotyping is the same as my thinking. But I’ve been corrected that the most major damage has been done by permanent local drivers, all three written off vehicles were local “experienced“ drivers (albeit all three offenders had previously been dismissed from most other local operators). Nb- in this case experienced defines drivers who’ve worked for several years in Cornwall.
Our stereotyping is far from reality! Because a lot of Quality drivers have shown loyalty to First, the permanent drivers Go ahead have picked Up include Drivers who’ve been fired from First and most of the independents for accident records! They have picked up some decent drivers, but numbers have been boosted by some who found their licence in corn flakes (the local unemployed drivers, were unemployed for a reason!)

Rich what are the identities of the 3 vehicles, please?

 

[MB162435]

The 63 and 65 plate enviro 400 are hardly clapped out old

Didn't say they were, but eventually they will be and you knows what their future fleet plans will be, the Ex-London E200s certainly are tho

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Didn't say they were, but eventually they will be and you knows what their future fleet plans will be, the Ex-London E200s certainly are tho

Any vehicle eventually will be. However, there are age limits on the vehicles that can be used so there will not be elderly vehicles employed. Remember that there has been a major batch of brand new vehicles already to promote the image.

Arguably it makes more sense to have a more balanced fleet age profile and then next year or 2022, have another new bus intake. It can even be marketed as continued investment instead of one full 2020 fleet all getting old together.

 

[MB162435]

Any vehicle eventually will be. However, there are age limits on the vehicles that can be used so there will not be elderly vehicles employed. Remember that there has been a major batch of brand new vehicles already to promote the image.

Arguably it makes more sense to have a more balanced fleet age profile and then next year or 2022, have another new bus intake. It can even be marketed as continued investment instead of one full 2020 fleet all getting old together.

Well yes of course buses don't stay young forever, and yes it would be easier for when the 20 plate buses reach replacement age, then whoever the operator is at the time can just do another fleet replacement, although wouldn't that happen anyway if Go-ahead lost the contract with them owning the buses, the incoming operator would have to order their own fleet anyway

Although might not an option for the subcontractors who have a more mixed age with Travel Cornwall's E200s and OTS older Sprinters

 

[richw]

Rich what are the identities of the 3 vehicles, please?

I was told a 20 plate e200mmc but not told the identity, I haven’t managed to work out which one has been AWOL.
The white ADL demonstrator (over 100k that cost them, self insurance with £1m excess)
Decker 470 That hit the canopy at scorrier is now withdrawn for spares which translates to written off to me.

 

[richw]

Had a driver tell me this morning he had to pay for the bus fuel from his own pocket as the fuel card declined again! No wonder they aren’t fuelling them if that’s the risk!

 

[jammy36]

Is there actually any proof that the order for new double deckers for Cornwall has been cancelled/diverted or is there a lot of "froth" off the back of some driver gossip?

The only evidence given seems to be that East Yorkshire receiving E400MMCs and an incorrect statement that these were diverted from Cornwall. But these buses were never coming to Cornwall.

Plymouth Citybus/Transport for Cornwall have just received some more E200MMCs, (2424 to 2429) so delivery of new vehicles is still continuing.

Similarly vehicles being repainted into Transport for Cornwall livery is hardly evidence given both TfC and PCB share a common base red livery, so all we're talking about is a few (easily replaced) vinyls. The flash vehicles for example were due to be repainted anyhow.

Deliveries to all companies are being delayed defered across the country due to Coronavirus, this was always going to impact TfC. We'll just have to wait to see whether the expected buses are delayed or cancelled, but deliveries to other opcos are running around 4 months late. Given the deckers were due in June it might yet be October/November before they're delivered (will ADL have their usual summer shut down?).

 

[Goldfish62]

Is there actually any proof that the order for new double deckers for Cornwall has been cancelled/diverted or is there a lot of "froth" off the back of some driver gossip?

The only evidence given seems to be that East Yorkshire receiving E400MMCs and an incorrect statement that these were diverted from Cornwall. But these buses were never coming to Cornwall.

Plymouth Citybus/Transport for Cornwall have just received some more E200MMCs, (2424 to 2429) so delivery of new vehicles is still continuing.

Similarly vehicles being repainted into Transport for Cornwall livery is hardly evidence given both TfC and PCB share a common base red livery, so all we're talking about is a few (easily replaced) vinyls. The flash vehicles for example were due to be repainted anyhow.

Deliveries to all companies are being delayed defered across the country due to Coronavirus, this was always going to impact TfC. We'll just have to wait to see whether the expected buses are delayed or cancelled, but deliveries to other opcos are running around 4 months late. Given the deckers were due in June it might yet be October/November before they're delivered (will ADL have their usual summer shut down?).

You took the words out of my mouth.

 

[SeveerYeliab]

The go north east ones have the exact same inside finish as the EYMS ones which leads me to believe that they may have been destined to Cornwall at one point. If not there has been a lot of shuffling the orders.


Not my pic credit Daryl Meads

Twitter

 

[MB162435]

Is there actually any proof that the order for new double deckers for Cornwall has been cancelled/diverted or is there a lot of "froth" off the back of some driver gossip?

The only evidence given seems to be that East Yorkshire receiving E400MMCs and an incorrect statement that these were diverted from Cornwall. But these buses were never coming to Cornwall.

Plymouth Citybus/Transport for Cornwall have just received some more E200MMCs, (2424 to 2429) so delivery of new vehicles is still continuing.

Similarly vehicles being repainted into Transport for Cornwall livery is hardly evidence given both TfC and PCB share a common base red livery, so all we're talking about is a few (easily replaced) vinyls. The flash vehicles for example were due to be repainted anyhow.

Deliveries to all companies are being delayed defered across the country due to Coronavirus, this was always going to impact TfC. We'll just have to wait to see whether the expected buses are delayed or cancelled, but deliveries to other opcos are running around 4 months late. Given the deckers were due in June it might yet be October/November before they're delivered (will ADL have their usual summer shut down?).

I agree, it's not over till the fat lady sings so there is still hope, wouldn't surprise me if it's nearly 2021 before the deckers arrive anyway, doesn't sound like they were expected anytime soon

As with the E200 MMCs, I would more wait ages for high spec buses then basic ones arrive quickly, not saying that what was ordered but that what I wouldn't mind

 

[MB162435]

I was told a 20 plate e200mmc but not told the identity, I haven’t managed to work out which one has been AWOL.
The white ADL demonstrator (over 100k that cost them, self insurance with £1m excess)
Decker 470 That hit the canopy at scorrier is now withdrawn for spares which translates to written off to me.

They're just lucky that none of the accidents has made the press, could of done some PR damage with many people not knowing what's happened, reports of Bridge strikes certainly keep the First PR team busy

 

[jammy36]

The go north east ones have the exact same inside finish as the EYMS ones which leads me to believe that they may have been destined to Cornwall at one point. If not there has been a lot of shuffling the orders.

View attachment 81280
Not my pic credit Daryl Meads

Twitter

I'm not sure I follow - the interior is to Go North East spec (GNE and EY being under the same overall management). Compare with the interior spec of the Streetdecks diverted away from GNE (to Oxford/Thames Travel)

https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Pictures%20for%20114/J%20Cooper/TT-905-ld1-Cowley-depot-190720-J-Cooper.jpg

I'm not sure how a bus being delivered to GNE with a GNE spec interior is evidence that the order for Cornwall has been diverted?

We may yet see that the promised vehicles have been cancelled or diverted, but these GNE/EY deliveries are not proof of that.

 

[cnjb8]

The go north east ones have the exact same inside finish as the EYMS ones which leads me to believe that they may have been destined to Cornwall at one point. If not there has been a lot of shuffling the orders.

View attachment 81280
Not my pic credit Daryl Meads

Twitter

I'm not sure I follow - the interior is to Go North East spec (GNE and EY being under the same overall management). Compare with the interior spec of the Streetdecks diverted away from GNE (to Oxford/Thames Travel)

https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Pictures%20for%20114/J%20Cooper/TT-905-ld1-Cowley-depot-190720-J-Cooper.jpg

I'm not sure how a bus being delivered to GNE with a GNE spec interior is evidence that the order for Cornwall has been diverted?

We may yet see that the promised vehicles have been cancelled or diverted, but these GNE/EY deliveries are not proof of that.

GNE spec is similar to East Yorkshire. From what I can gather these were never going to Cornwall.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You took the words out of my mouth.

And remember that TfC drivers had been quoted as having fuel cards that meant there was nowhere to fuel a decker... Beware the canteen!!!