Welcome to Cornwall Transit 017
I am making a slight change in the order I present things here starting this week. The last two weeks: is the last two weeks activity as reported on VOSA. The next two weeks looks ahead to changes that are due to happen which will have already been reported in previous editions. After a fairly quiet period in Cornwall this week sees a large number of changes announced for the end of September for many First Kernow routes.Cornwall and Devon Transit Index
The Last Two Weeks:
New notices on VOSA from the last two weeksFirst Kernow Route 1 1A Penzance Lands End
VOSA- PH0004983/170 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between PENZANCE Bus Station and LANDS END
- given service number 1/1A
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 2 Penzance Falmouth
VOSA- PH0004983/171 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Penzance Bus Station and Falmouth, The Moor
- given service number 2
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 5 Penzance Lamorna Cove
VOSA- PH0004983/468 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Penzance Bus Station and Lamorna Cove
- given service number 5
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 6 6A Penzance Mousehole
VOSA- PH0004983/172 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between PENZANCE Bus Station and MOUSEHOLE
- given service number 6/6A
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable
First Kernow Route 10 10A Lower Boscawell St Ives
VOSA- PH0004983/173 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between PENZANCE Bus Station/ ST IVES and MADRON/ ST IVES/ ST JUST
- given service number 17/10/10A/17A/17B
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Route and Timetable.
First Kernow Route 14 18 Truro St Ives Penzance
VOSA- PH0004983/174 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between PENZANCE, Bus Station/ ST IVES, Malakoff and TRURO Bus Station/ College
- given service number 14/18/18C/238/239/240/241
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Route and Timetable.
First Kernow Route 17 17A 17B Penzance St Ives
VOSA- PH0004983/173 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted: Operating between PENZANCE Bus Station/ ST IVES and MADRON/ ST IVES/ ST JUST
- given service number 17/10/10A/17A/17B
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Route and Timetable.
First Kernow Route 21 St Austell Newquay
VOSA- 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 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 22 St Austell Truro
VOSA- PH0004983/517 -
- 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 22
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 24 Fowey Mevagissey
VOSA- 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 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable
First Kernow Route 30 St Austell Penrice
VOSA- PH0004983/515 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between St Austell Bus Station and Penrice
- given service number 30
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 37 The Lizard Helston Redruth
- PH0004983/376 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Helston and Redruth
- given service number 37
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
- PH0004983/447 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Helston and The Lizard given
- service number 37
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow route 45 Helston Camborne
- PH0004983/446 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Helston, Tesco and Pool, Tesco Extra
- given service number 45/945
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 47 Troon Truro
VOSA- PH0004983/443 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Troon, The Square and Truro Bus Station
- given service number 47
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 57 Newquay St Ives
VOSA- PH0004983/521 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Cancellation Accepted:
- Operating between St Agnes and St Ives
- given service number 57
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
First Kernow Route 58 Newquay Pentire
VOSA- PH0004983/512 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Newquay Manor Road and Newquay Manor Road
- given service number 58
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Route and Timetable.
First Kernow Route 59 Newquay Hendra
VOSA Cancellation- PH0004983/519 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Cancellation Accepted:
- Operating between Newquay, Manor Road and Newquay, Manor Road
- given service number 59
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
First Kernow Route 85 Newquay Truro
VOSA- PH0004983/513 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Newquay and Truro given
- service number 85
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
First Kernow Route 86 Truro Perranporth Newquay
VOSA- PH0004983/522 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Cancellation Accepted:
- Operating between Truro Bus Station and Newquay Bus Station
- given service number 86
- effective from 27-Sep-2015
First Kernow Route 86A Perranporth Richard Lander School
New VOSA- PH0004983/525 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Registration Accepted by SN
- Starting Point: Perranporth
- Finish Point: Richard Lander School
- Via:
- Service Number: 86A
- Service Type: Normal Stopping
- Effective Date: 01-SEP-2015
- Other Details: School days only 1 return journey
First Kernow Route 87 Newquay Perranporth Truro
VOSA- PH0004983/501 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Newquay Manor Road and Truro Bus Station
- given service number 87
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
Jacketts Route 88 Callington Tavistock
New VOSA Registration- PH1101608/14 - TREVELLYAN JACKETT T/A JACKETT'S COACHES, KINGSETT HOUSE,, ALBASTON, GUNNISLAKE, PL18 9AL
- Registration Accepted by SN
- Starting Point: Callington
- Finish Point: Tavistock
- Via:
- Service Number: 88
- Service Type: Normal Stopping
- Effective Date: 03-SEP-2015
- Other Details: Monday to Friday Term time only 2 return journeys
First Kernow Routes 90-95 Truro Newquay
VOSA- 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 90/92/93/94/95
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Route and Timetable.
First Kernow Route X18 Penzance Truro
VOSA- PH0004983/496 -
- FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,
- THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Variation Accepted:
- Operating between Penzance Bus Station and Truro Bus Station
- given service number X18
- effective from 27-Sep-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
Coming Up
Previously announced changes that are coming up in the next two weeks:Plymouth Citybus Route 11 Saltash Liskeard
VOSA (DT016)- PH0000135/166 -
- PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
- Variation Accepted by SN:
- Operating between Saltash, Fore Street and Liskeard, Ballas Street
- given service number 11
- effective from 30-Aug-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
- Most inbound journeys run 5 mins later. First two outbound journeys diverted via Saltash School.
- 11 Plymouth - Saltash - Landrake - Tideford - Liskeard Timetable
Plymouth Citybus Route 12 Plymouth Launceston Bude
VOSA (CT016) (repeated from Devon Transit as its a bit in both!)- 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 30-Aug-2015.
- To amend Route and 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 30-Aug-2015.
- To amend Timetable.
- Clock face departure at 0925. Extra time in afternoon school bus at Callington. No longer serve Marhamchurch. Some buses diverted in Saltash for school or college. Additional bus from the north to serve Callington School and Saltash College.
Plymouth Citybus Route 74: Liskeard > Callington
New on VOSA- 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 30-Aug-2015.
- To amend Timetable. Some early morning journeys between Pensilva and Callington withdrawn.
74 Liskeard - St Cleer - Pensilva - Callington Timetable
First Kernow Route 824 Truro St Austell Fowey
VOSA (CT015)- PH0004983/524 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
- Registration Accepted by SN
- Starting Point: Truro Bus Station
- Finish Point: Fowey
- Via: Probus, St Austell
- Service Number: 824
- Service Type: Normal Stopping
- Effective Date: 17-22 AUG-2015
- Other Details: Monday to Saturday until 22 August 2015 and the same period each year for the Fowey Regatta.
- 824 Truro - St Austell – Fowey
First Kernow Fleet News
The First Kernow fleet is going to be totally transformed over the coming months with a large number of group transfers along with a large number of DDA complaint buses from the Devon fleet. As these enter service in the new Olympia livery the fleet will loose its current multi livery look where almost anything goes. It will also see off all the old step entrance Olympians along with the other non DDA buses. If you want to catch the old First fleet then now is the time to do it. Things will look very different next Summer! It is also said that FK want to increase their coach work. One new coach to the fleet in the new Olympia livery complete with First Glasgow names is 20502 AO02RBZ which is working out of Camborne. Other buses mentioned as Kernow bound are 10 Volvo B7TLs from Manchester, and 8 from West Yorkshire. Also mentioned recently are 20 ex Jersey narrow Dennis Darts which will prove ideal for Cornwall. At the moment these are split between First Potteries and First Essex.It seems that the repaint program is being stepped up now with the use of external contractors to help speed things up. Latest reported repaints include 53803 Solo (https://flic.kr/p/vPpDg6), 53827 (https://flic.kr/p/xm5JUC) currently in Plymouth, 65763 65764 Scania (all of these ex Reading now done)
Optare Solo 53803 is now in Olympia livery , initially at least without fleetnames. . Scania 65764 is also reported.
Mercedes Citaro bendy buses 11036-11038 at the Eden Project have been given the original Eden registrations AN02EDN BN02EDN CN02EDN.
Finally we report that First Devon & Cornwall Ltd is no more. For quite a while now the registered name has not been a great fit for an operation that covers Cornwall Devon AND Somerset. With the sale of the Devon operation its clearly even less appropriate. Well now its the much more sensible First South West Ltd with the registered office as Union Street Camborne.
In The News
Trouble at St Ives
An increase in the number and size of buses coming through the town has led to complaints about congestion at Royal Square.Traffic is regularly backed up in the area with several operators running services from Trenwith Car Park into Royal Square every 10 minutes.
In an attempt to halt further congestion over the summer period Cornwall Council has applied to the Traffic Commissioner for a condition to reduce the number of buses an operator can run into Royal Square to just two.
The new condition, which could come into force later this month if there are no objections, would also limit the time a bus could wait at the stop and ban bus drivers from reversing into the square.
With up to 17 buses coming into the square an hour, he said the authority had to step in to control the situation. "It is absolutely chaotic. Some buses are too big for the square. I arrived there one day, it was like downtown Mumbai. It was like stepping into another country where there is no traffic regulations."
Read more: http://www.cornishman.co.uk/New-restriction-brought-solve-chaotic-bus-problem/story-26811691-detail/story.html#ixzz3izaa0HeZ
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Awards for First Kernow
First Kernow has been named FirstGroup's best team in the South of England and Wales at a recent company awards ceremony.Staff at First Kernow took the Best Team Award at the inaugural First UK Bus Excellence Awards, beating off stiff competition from teams based as far afield as Portsmouth in Hampshire and Kings Lynn in Norfolk.
Their winning citation highlighted their immediate and united response when in March Western Greyhound, Cornwall's second largest bus operator, ceased trading.
On that day, the First Kernow team ran emergency bus replacement services, recruited drivers made jobless by Western Greyhound's closure and worked with stakeholder partner, Cornwall Council, to plan and produce a full network replacement for services throughout Mid-Cornwall.
The team then worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, gathering up the fleet of buses, compiling duties and rosters, training the newly recruited staff and preparing for the replacement services which were starting the following Monday.
As a result of their unstinting work, service disruption to the travel patterns on the Monday were minimal and feedback from customers and stakeholders was both positive and enthusiastic. The security and sustainability of the routes, and the staff, are also now guaranteed for at least the next 12 months.
"The evident team commitment and spirit towards this achievement has been immense. All credit to the First Kernow team," the citation said
Mel Williams, business manager of First Kernow, said: "This is the most unexpected honour for us. At the time, we were faced with a situation that we had to address swiftly and directly if bus services in Cornwall were to continue operating regularly.
"Everyone on the team without exception played their part and we are extremely proud to be recognised by our peers in such a wonderful way."
For his contribution to the transformation of the First Kernow business, Alex Carter, First South West's managing director was highly commended in the Leader of the Year Award while Arron Kelly, Truro Park & Ride's Manager was highly commended in the Young Manager of the Year category. First Kernow engineer Stuart Ladner was also shortlisted for the Engineer of the Year Award.
Mr Carter said: "Our achievements this year are a ringing endorsement of the tremendous team spirit which now exists within the business. I am immensely proud of and grateful to all the team for the enormous lengths they have gone to in making our business strong and secure.
"Our main objective is to provide an efficient and reliable bus service for our customers in Cornwall and these awards demonstrate that we on the right path towards achieving this."
I've been travelling around Cornwall a bit really, and noticed a operator not often mentioned on your blog. I've seen them all over but noticed only a couple of low floor buses, just wondered if you have any future fleet news for them?
ReplyDeletefirst bus are running realy old buses on there last day on routes
ReplyDeleteOne person has turned First Group around,Giles Fearnley he is a very shrewd Bus Man, he has also taken on two Experienced Bus men Alex Carter and James Freeman(South West) I do believe Plymouth will be upgraded by Stagecoach very Shortly and Cornwall will Benefit from The DDA compliant vehicles from First Devon and the Planned Cascades from Across First Group,lets hope that all the Cascades to Cornwall all get delivered re painted in Olympia Livery and Tidy interiors look's good for the South West.
DeleteWhere do Alex Carter and James Freeman(South West) have there office now that Laira Bridge is not going to be used?
DeleteJames runs the Somerset and Avon business which is based in Bristol. Alex runs the First South West Ltd buisness (renamed recently from First Cevon and Cornwall Ltd) which includes First Kernow, First Devon (for a fortnight until Stagecoach take over) and Buses of Somerset. The new registered address of First South West Ltd is Union Street, Camborne. If you mean where is his desk and chair, I suspect you'll find that the small number of senior bods in South West 'hot desk' in Taunton, Camborne, and maybe will in Summercourt too. I don't believe that the senior two are into offices!
ReplyDeleteLaira Bridge?? 15 years out of date there!
ReplyDeleteJames Freeman is West of England (not SW) so bases himself at Lawrence Hill? As for Alex Carter.....Camborne?