Slightly surprising “new” additions to the First Plymouth fleet are at least two more Volvo Olympians!
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©Richard Smith
It is not clear if these are hanging around or just helping out at the moment. The one I saw at the weekend still had legals for First Somerset & Avon (they have been replaced by former London Tridents at Taunton). As much as I like Olympians its odd to see more step entrance buses in Plymouth at this late stage. I believe there are a few more ex London Tridents due to Taunton so its possible more displaced Olympians are around? Part of me would like to think that we were due some of the ex London Tridents from the same batch as at Taunton– but they have ugly Alexander ALX400 style bodies so hopefully not!
We will have to wait and see what other changes happen to the First Plymouth fleet but general consensus seems to be that the current Park & Ride E400s will be assigned to Tavistock services (with First TAVISTOCK names) with presumably the better buses displaced from the X80 taking their place on Park & Ride duties. The current Tavistock buses – the purple B6BLEs have had lettering removed and are now running ‘naked’ but will gain some sort of lettering for the new 6. We know Torpoint fleet will gain First TORPOINT fleet names and strongly suspect First PLYMOUTH will eventually appear for the remainder with the current First DEVON names being dropped.
I always thought that Plaxton President bodies were 'Ugly' and ALX 300 beautiful!
ReplyDeletewhat has that comment got to do with these Olympians!!!
DeleteI think it was posted in response to Graham's view on the ALX body in Taunton... No need for attitude!
DeleteThese are hanging around for a while and helping out. Once the are all down here, they should be heading off to Cornwall
ReplyDeleteThese are just passing through...covering whilst First spruce up their fleet for the start of the Bus War next week. These will end up in the bus grave yard... Cornwall!
ReplyDeleteI do wish people would stop using the term ' bus war'! Plymouth Citybus are merely expanding their network. Same as first just on a larger scale.....
ReplyDeleteOh come on. Go Ahead are trying to oust First and in doing so secure a monopoly. Good or bad, wrong or right, lets at least accept what is going on!
DeleteGo Ahead are deliberately running duplicate services on Firsts main routes to try and push them out... First are now at long last fighting back by doing the same.. That is a 'bus war' to me.
DeleteA number of Go-Ahead's local managers are ex-First so they can be expected to go on making the same mistakes. It seems to have started already in Plymstock. At least First have new (to the area) blood with Alex Carter. He may not have all the answers but he does seem to know what the questions are.
DeleteCan we please stop referring to Go-Ahead as Plymouth Citybus. That might be the name painted on the side of the vehicle, but it certainly isn't "Your Local Bus Company" any more. Whatever else First may be doing, they are not pretending to be anything other than a multi-national transport company who are in business to make money.
DeleteTo be fair we call them Plymouth Citybus because thats what they call themselves and thats what is on the side of their buses. If you ask the average passenger they wont know who Go Ahead are - but they will know Citybus. The one thing which sets GA apart from the others is that they do focus on local managers and operations and develop strong local identities. After many years of just being First, First Group are now also tending to go more 'local' with local names and supposedly allowing local managers more say - hopefully this will work for them better than leaving it all to Aberdeen.
DeleteAnon 12:02 That is very true and indeed Go Ahead do seem to be repeating the same mistakes First made over the past 10 years +, cutting coverage in Plymstock to duplicate First routes for example. Entering a bus war with services that do not march the frequency of existing services etc.. a sure fire way to be unsuccessful in my book. First there on the other hand have a new team led by Alex Carter who has years of experience in turning around loss making bus operations into successful and profitable ones.. and is trying out new routes and fare initiatives to build up the customer base, they will not repeat the same mistakes now. He has even convinced Aberdeen to give him time to turn it around, much to Go Aheads' surprise I should think and there is investment coming soon too, so I have been told by First drivers anyway.
ReplyDeleteAre Citybus really cutting coverage in Plymstock? They have re-routed the 5 5A so it serves different roads - which will pick up more passengers - but the frequency remains the same as far as I can see - so hardly a cut.
Delete"Entering a bus war with services that do not march the frequency of existing services etc.. a sure fire way to be unsuccessful in my book" - like First are doing with the new 6 adding a 15 frequency up against Citybus every 10 mins?
I do agree that the Alex Carter does indeed have the experience to turn around the operation and also the fare initiatives are very much to be welcomed - certainly to keep Citybus on their toes. I really do hope Aberdeen give him the time to turn it around. As for future investment - well lets hope so - it certainly needs it badly. Just dont forget - new vehicles can be removed and redeployed elsewhere at the drop of a hat as we have seen before. (Go Ahead can do this to!),
I hope First do manage to turn things around in Plymouth. A city without First will see Citybus raise fares and cut services. Then we will have something to moan about! It would be nice to see First go from strength to strength now.
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