It clearly needs a bit of TLC but its nice to see 60917 in Plymouth. It seems like we are getting a small batch of these buses displaced from Somerset?
Hmmm, transfers like this are a good test of whether First has changed, and it seems that they are still lacking. Fleetnames and logos stripped off for Taunton, and presumably some sort of "Somerset" branding applied, but now, upon transfer, the bus looks a state. Worse Park & Ride should be seen as the "shop window" of the bus imdustry, to show car drivers what we can do. The message this bus conveys sadly only back up what most car drivers think we are like! I wonder how the StreetLites currently on P&R in Taunton will look when the temporary branding is removed and they move to their proper home? Don't get me wrong, I like local branding, I hope my local First depot is next on the list for the treatment, but it doesn't work for vehicle transfers. In Taunton I think I'd have kept the loan Streetlites in full First livery, without Somerset names. Its a seperate operation, who needs to know that they are in fact the same company? Running them with mixed branding like that dilutes the brand, and spoils the "we are different" claim. But what do others do? Citybus seems to manage to repaint before using "new" vehicles. And up here our local Stagecoach company replaced route branded Tridents with Scanias a few years back and all the Tridents were repainted even though adverts would have covered most of the former branding. The Scanias even had temporary "teaser" branding between delivery and application of full branding (to a new design) when a revised timetable was introduced. Come on First, you can (and must) do better!
Err, no they mustn't do better. You mean in your opinion you would like them to do better. Because GoAhead have an expensive bells and whistles business model, doesn't mean to say that First has to have the same. Jacketts don't survive by spending all their pennies on flashy paintjobs, refurbishments, and all sort of other wizzo touches. And nor do First need to. If their own business model is cheap and cheerful, then so long as they are legal and compliant, that is absolutely fine. Maybe that is their new business model in Plymouth? The bus business isn't a competition in being flash and impressing the cameras of bus enthusiasts. It's a business, and its simply about making money without breaking the law. How operators do that is up to them.
I quite agree that how operators choose to run things is up to them, but all the corporate verbiage that comes out of First says that they have changed, and it is that claim which this vehicle should be tested against, and that was what I was saying. Sure, you can have a low cost model, you could extend it to your whole depot, and if that is what First wishes to do, good luck to them. But that is not how they are talking from the centre. This is (possibly) just one scruffy vehicle at a rather remote out-post of the group, so maybe it doesn't matter much. But does the Plymouth Tesco or Marks & Spencer have a similarly uncared for exterior? Correct, the bus business isn't a competition in being flash, but neither is it a dash to the lowest possible level. It is however about looking not at Citybus, Jacketts or anyone else for growth it's about encouraging new customers, many of whom are currently drivers who are constantly wooed by the latest flash gadgets the car manufacturers add. First only need to look at the success of a former "cowboy" in this area and look at the dent in First's revenue to see how hard work by the little guy pays off against mediocrity from the corporate mass. And for the record I am not a camera wielding bus enthusiast wanting a new colour scheme to records; the only bus photos I take are for my employers publicity, and I have worked in the industry and local authority passenger transport all my life. I feel that I have to use an "anonymous" profile as some of the examples I use may include operators, good and less so, with whole my employer has a business relationship.
very true first Plymouth get more old rubbish it 12 years old the bus and seats are worn out in side , I thought things would of got better with alex running first summerset ,devon,cornwall , he proved use all wrong ant he nothing ,thought he would of had better buses come down see he said the fleet is realy old
I suppose you thought that AC was going to spend his own money to buy some new buses for Plymouth did you? Still, perhaps that's what happens in planet Summerset is it???
This bus clearly fits in with some of its new brothers and sisters in the Plymouth fleet and probably so will the other ones on their way down here.I think it's a little harsh pointing the finger at Alex Carter but people at First D&C need to fight their case that this area is not the bus dustbin,and,forgive the expression "first impressions" mean a lot they do need to smarten up the fleet they've got.
Yes, these are old heaps, but not half as bad as a Dart of the same age. I still have high hopes for the Kernow operation, but I'll reserve judgement until this time next year.
It's not old rubbish - its a 12 year old, DDA compliant Volvo Wright single decker. It would command a decent value on the open market if it were put up for sale. Some interior refurbishment and an external paint job, and the bus will be as good as a new bus, without the costs of a new bus that other companies might have. There is also a 2 year old batch of Enviro 400s, running in Plymouth, so it is not as like they're deprived of decent modern stock. It still has to undergo an MOT inspection every 4 weeks, if it didn't pass that, it wouldn't be on the road, VOSA would soon call the operator to public inquiry if maintenance was an issue. Perhaps the bus is waiting for a paint slot? Really think someone might need to stop acting so hysterical here - I'd like to know why my comments don't get through, when ill informed nonsense like Anon 5 June 23:14 is being approved. Appreciate its a hard job to mod comments, but the above ill informed poster (who'd disappeared for a time) is adding nothing constructive to the discussions on here and in fact does more damage to the image of a bus enthusiast (I assume he is, though he isn't very enthusiastic about anything I notice). Some sections of the industry have a stereotype image of the bus enthusiast, and Anon 23:14 lives up to that stereotype.
Hopefully the bus is here to stay, even though the bus is getting on a bit, the Volvo B6BLE's and the Darts are older and have seen better days, in fact at least 65% of the fleet they have now are older, I think they still have Olympians on front-line duty.
I seen that two on face book ,but on bus says devon and cornwall .nice smooth ride but seats need covering ,and nice new paint job bus will look very smart Plymouth better to see 2002 plate buses come in then get rid of r, s w,x reg plates single buses .,then be the start off good fleet
I think first might as well just jack it in in plymouth, there loosing passengers on ALL the new Citybus routes, 32,33,12 people are fed up with a unreliable service and clapped out vehicles that even Jacketts would turn his nose up to.
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Hmmm, transfers like this are a good test of whether First has changed, and it seems that they are still lacking. Fleetnames and logos stripped off for Taunton, and presumably some sort of "Somerset" branding applied, but now, upon transfer, the bus looks a state. Worse Park & Ride should be seen as the "shop window" of the bus imdustry, to show car drivers what we can do. The message this bus conveys sadly only back up what most car drivers think we are like!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the StreetLites currently on P&R in Taunton will look when the temporary branding is removed and they move to their proper home? Don't get me wrong, I like local branding, I hope my local First depot is next on the list for the treatment, but it doesn't work for vehicle transfers. In Taunton I think I'd have kept the loan Streetlites in full First livery, without Somerset names. Its a seperate operation, who needs to know that they are in fact the same company? Running them with mixed branding like that dilutes the brand, and spoils the "we are different" claim.
But what do others do? Citybus seems to manage to repaint before using "new" vehicles. And up here our local Stagecoach company replaced route branded Tridents with Scanias a few years back and all the Tridents were repainted even though adverts would have covered most of the former branding. The Scanias even had temporary "teaser" branding between delivery and application of full branding (to a new design) when a revised timetable was introduced.
Come on First, you can (and must) do better!
Err, no they mustn't do better. You mean in your opinion you would like them to do better. Because GoAhead have an expensive bells and whistles business model, doesn't mean to say that First has to have the same. Jacketts don't survive by spending all their pennies on flashy paintjobs, refurbishments, and all sort of other wizzo touches. And nor do First need to. If their own business model is cheap and cheerful, then so long as they are legal and compliant, that is absolutely fine. Maybe that is their new business model in Plymouth? The bus business isn't a competition in being flash and impressing the cameras of bus enthusiasts. It's a business, and its simply about making money without breaking the law. How operators do that is up to them.
DeleteI quite agree that how operators choose to run things is up to them, but all the corporate verbiage that comes out of First says that they have changed, and it is that claim which this vehicle should be tested against, and that was what I was saying. Sure, you can have a low cost model, you could extend it to your whole depot, and if that is what First wishes to do, good luck to them. But that is not how they are talking from the centre.
DeleteThis is (possibly) just one scruffy vehicle at a rather remote out-post of the group, so maybe it doesn't matter much. But does the Plymouth Tesco or Marks & Spencer have a similarly uncared for exterior?
Correct, the bus business isn't a competition in being flash, but neither is it a dash to the lowest possible level. It is however about looking not at Citybus, Jacketts or anyone else for growth it's about encouraging new customers, many of whom are currently drivers who are constantly wooed by the latest flash gadgets the car manufacturers add.
First only need to look at the success of a former "cowboy" in this area and look at the dent in First's revenue to see how hard work by the little guy pays off against mediocrity from the corporate mass.
And for the record I am not a camera wielding bus enthusiast wanting a new colour scheme to records; the only bus photos I take are for my employers publicity, and I have worked in the industry and local authority passenger transport all my life. I feel that I have to use an "anonymous" profile as some of the examples I use may include operators, good and less so, with whole my employer has a business relationship.
very true first Plymouth get more old rubbish it 12 years old the bus and seats are worn out in side , I thought things would of got better with alex running first summerset ,devon,cornwall , he proved use all wrong ant he nothing ,thought he would of had better buses come down see he said the fleet is realy old
ReplyDeleteI suppose you thought that AC was going to spend his own money to buy some new buses for Plymouth did you? Still, perhaps that's what happens in planet Summerset is it???
DeleteI wonder how long they stay in Plymouth before being sent down to Cornwall. Would be nice if Plymouth kept these and gave them a good repaint
ReplyDeleteThis bus clearly fits in with some of its new brothers and sisters in the Plymouth fleet and probably so will the other ones on their way down here.I think it's a little harsh pointing the finger at Alex Carter but people at First D&C need to fight their case that this area is not the bus dustbin,and,forgive the expression "first impressions" mean a lot they do need to smarten up the fleet they've got.
ReplyDeleteYes, these are old heaps, but not half as bad as a Dart of the same age. I still have high hopes for the Kernow operation, but I'll reserve judgement until this time next year.
ReplyDeletewhy keep that more old rubbish we got engouth old rubbish don't need to add to it
ReplyDeleteIt's not old rubbish - its a 12 year old, DDA compliant Volvo Wright single decker. It would command a decent value on the open market if it were put up for sale.
DeleteSome interior refurbishment and an external paint job, and the bus will be as good as a new bus, without the costs of a new bus that other companies might have. There is also a 2 year old batch of Enviro 400s, running in Plymouth, so it is not as like they're deprived of decent modern stock. It still has to undergo an MOT inspection every 4 weeks, if it didn't pass that, it wouldn't be on the road, VOSA would soon call the operator to public inquiry if maintenance was an issue. Perhaps the bus is waiting for a paint slot?
Really think someone might need to stop acting so hysterical here - I'd like to know why my comments don't get through, when ill informed nonsense like Anon 5 June 23:14 is being approved. Appreciate its a hard job to mod comments, but the above ill informed poster (who'd disappeared for a time) is adding nothing constructive to the discussions on here and in fact does more damage to the image of a bus enthusiast (I assume he is, though he isn't very enthusiastic about anything I notice). Some sections of the industry have a stereotype image of the bus enthusiast, and Anon 23:14 lives up to that stereotype.
On the first devon Facebook page, I'm sure it was said that bus was here for a respray? I'll check
ReplyDeleteHopefully the bus is here to stay, even though the bus is getting on a bit, the Volvo B6BLE's and the Darts are older and have seen better days, in fact at least 65% of the fleet they have now are older, I think they still have Olympians on front-line duty.
ReplyDeleteI seen that two on face book ,but on bus says devon and cornwall .nice smooth ride but seats need covering ,and nice new paint job bus will look very smart Plymouth better to see 2002 plate buses come in then get rid of r, s w,x reg plates single buses .,then be the start off good fleet
ReplyDeleteI think first might as well just jack it in in plymouth, there loosing passengers on ALL the new Citybus routes, 32,33,12 people are fed up with a unreliable service and clapped out vehicles that even Jacketts would turn his nose up to.
ReplyDelete