03 March 2015

Cornwall Transit

Cornwall Transit 005

Our fortnightly look back at the last two weeks on VOSA and the next two weeks service changes in Cornwall. Previous Episodes:
CT001 06 JAN 2015. CT002 20 JAN 2015. CT003 03 FEB 2015. CT004 18 FEB 2015.

As with Devon Transit last week, its all fairly quiet at the moment, but there is plenty to come over the coming weeks. 

First Kernow

VOSA

Another batch of service changes for Cornwall have been posted:
  • PH0004983/196 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Truro Bus Station and St Austell Bus Station
    given service number 27/214/215/216/217 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0004983/498 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Truro Bus Station and Newquay, Bus Station
    given service number 90/91/92/94 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0004983/500 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Newquay Bus Station and St. Austell Bus Station
    given service number 21 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0004983/501 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Newquay Bus Station and Truro Bus Station
    given service number 87 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0004983/504 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Fowey and Mevagissey
    given service number 24 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0004983/505 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Variation Accepted: Operating between Bodmin Morrisons and St Austell Bus Station
    given service number 27 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
A late and very short term registration appeared on the 23rd February:
  • PH0004983/509 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
    Registration Accepted by SN
    Starting Point: Carclaze Industrial Estate
    Finish Point: Carclaze Industrial Estate
    Via: St Austell Bus Station
    Service Number: 30
    Service Type: Normal Stopping
    Effective Date: 17-FEB-2015
    Other Details: Monday to Friday until 20 February 2015.
One more new service registration this time with a bit more notice...
  • PH0004983/510 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Registration Accepted
    Starting Point: Shortlaneend
    Finish Point: Tregony
    Via: Truro, Probus
    Service Number: 86
    Service Type: Normal Stopping
    Effective Date: 20-APR-2015
    Other Details: Monday to Friday except public holidays.

Vehicle News

Remember the two tone green Optare Solos that caused a bit of a fuss down in Penzance recently? Well they are now up at Taunton, where their smart two tone green livery is more at home. 53503 and 53504 are both at Taunton with the 3rd expected some time soon.

Travel Cornwall

Timetable

A late registration appeared on VOSA on the 23rd Feb for a service which started on the 23rd:
  • PH1011427/78 - SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL CORNWALL, THE OLD COACH GARAGE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR
    Registration Accepted by SN
    Starting Point: Delabole, The Smugglers
    Finish Point: Launceston, Westgate Street
    Via: Camelford, Hallworthy
    Service Number: 410
    Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride
    Effective Date: 23-FEB-2015
    Other Details: Monday to Saturday.
    This replaces part of the former Western Greyhound 510 to cover sections which are not being replaced by Stagecoach
    TIMETABLE PDF Summercourt 410 2015-02-23

Plymouth Citybus

VOSA

Already noted in more detail but included here for completeness we have seen the following Cornish notices:
  • PH0000135/160 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Callington, New Road and Tavistock Bus Station given service number 79/79A effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/161 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Launceston, Westgate Street and Bude, The Strand given service number 12 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/162 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Launceston, Westgate Street given service number 12 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/163 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Liskeard, Barras Street and Polperro, Crumplehorn given service number 73 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/164 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and West Looe given service number 72 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/165 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Liskeard, Barras Street and Callington, New Road given service number 74 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/166 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Liskeard, Ballas Street given service number 11 effective from 12-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/170 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: ST DOMINICK SCHOOL Finish Point: STOKE, CLIMSLAND Via: Service Number: 78 Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride Effective Date: 12-APR-2015 Other Details: MONDAYS TO SUNDAYS EXCEPT BANK HOLIDAYS

Western Greyhound

Vehicles

The new owners seem just as keen on Select Registrations as before with ex Velvet Optare Solo 816 now in green with registration K50WGH. It seems that the days of the Vario are rapidly coming to an end as by mid February only three were left in general use: 591 WK56SUN 592 WK56SET 599 YN53VBO. Former WG Varios WK05AOX and WK05CFD have passed through Ensign and are now back in Cornwall with Group Travel.In February Ensign bus have the following buses in and out:
In from Western Greyhound : Merc 814 Vario WK51AVP. Optare Solo’s WK11AOZ and WK11APY

OUT from Ensign TO Western Greyhound
DAF SB120 LF52TJX (WG No 306), Darts T458HNH (WG No 288), T461HNH (WG No 289), W671TNV (WG No 287), TNZ1252, Olympian Open Top H871PVW and finally Dennis Trident Open Top T818RFG.
Note the two open toppers. Will be good to see these painted up and busy in the Summer.
DW6 LF52TJX GoAhead

Photo credit: Eddie (Eastleighbusman) under Creative Commons Licence.
Cornwall and Devon Feb 2015 156
Photo credit:© Jason Beverley
T818 RFG ACE Travel A few of the Western Greyhound buses acquired by Ensign have been sold on by Ensign:
Merc 814’s WK02BUS / WK03BUS : Dealgan Coachcraft, Dundalk, Eire.
Merc 814 WK04KUO : R Scrimshaw and Sons, Helston, Cornwall.
Solo’s WK11APO / WK11APU : South West Coaches, Wincanton, Somerset. Solo’s WK11APV / WK11APX : Next Bus, Chippenham, Wilts.




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13 comments:

  1. Green 53505 was still in service in Penzance as of today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there is no plan to move it to Somerset at the present time despite what is written in the blog.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the confirmation!

      Delete
  2. I am great full for stagecoach to take on the the ex 510 service but why couldn't the times stayed similar to before the Sunday service is pritty poor compared to what western greyhound offerd. Is it just me or does anyone else agree?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SC have already registered timetable changes for the 6 from the 19th April, hopefully they will build the service up gradually

      Delete
    2. The depot locations are different. WG used Launceston until recently and Summercourt where as Stagecoach have Bude and Exeter; the traditional depot locations. What you can run without long empty runs and more buses is different. The historical Sunday service has for years been just two round contract trips from Bude to Exeter. WG added one round trip from Newquay to Exeter. WG won the Bude contract and added the 599 (replacing Hookways X90 as well). Then the 599 ended and WG timetabled two buses worth from Launceston. Thus Bude had no Sunday bus last summer. The Sunday service now has Launceston added to the traditional service with the extended diversion.

      Delete
    3. The thing I don't get is that Western Greyhound had an 11am departure from Launceston (which was one of the busiest services all day towards Exeter) yet Stagecoach don't have this service running, seems very strange.

      Delete
  3. The 6 is unchanged with 2 buses. The 6A has 2 more buses and towards Exeter one does Okehampton 06:55, Launceston 9:40 and 14:20. The second does Launceston 06:45 and 15:55 and in between Okehampton 09:35 and 12:45. If the second one didn't do the 09:35 from Okehampton and return, it could do a run from Exeter to Launceston giving an 11am return to Exeter picking up the 12:45 times from Okehampton and the rest of its schedule. It is a straight choice of two runs to Okehampton rather than one to Launceston. Currently Okehampton wins. The 510 had 4 buses and the 6A mostly covers the runs from the 2 originally based at Launceston, with less lunch break. The 2 Summercourt 510 buses which gave the 9,11,15 and 17 Launceston departures are not directly covered by the 6A.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I see many of the new timetables for WG are showing on Travelinesoutheast.org.uk (5 March). The 593 to Liskeard is reduced to 2 hourly and no Sunday service. The new 527 runs 5 mins in front of First 27. The 550/551 hourly appears to be just 550 2-hourly and hence the First 86 registration? The new 522 is not showing neither is the new 520. but the existing 520 journeys are on the new 527.

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  5. St Agnes loses most of it's WG buses as through the off peak they all bypass it. Maybe they have a new service? There's also increased journey time on the 555 to Padstow and the 556 only serves the airport 2 hourly now. Not really any improvements but could be worse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. St Agnes gets the 583 hourly (not via Cubert) all day, but the 587 evenings and Sundays. The 587 replaces the 594 between Perranporth and Truro during the day. The 586 becomes the 585 and serves Cubert. This is a cut and paste job on the routes, but giving three instead of two journeys an hour west from Newquay to join the existing frequencies from Perranporth. The 594 swaps early morning for early evening runs, but otherwise Wadebridge to Truro is the same. The 500 Newquay local route takes the post midnight journeys from the 597. The St Austell area is lacking new timetables.

      What matters may be the internal workings - adding 15 mins to the 555 is a lot and compensated with 10 ins off the 556/7 routes (buses run through) may or may not work. Time will tell.

      Delete
    2. ...and First Kernow has yet to register its summer timetables starting at the late May Bank Holiday!

      Delete
  6. really really supprised that the first trip from Padstow on the 555 has been dropped I have used this many times in the past and its used by a small number of locals to travel to work loseing that isn't good

    ReplyDelete

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