Not my words but those of a blog: FREEWHEELING
If there is one bus network, other than my immediate local one, that I know well, it is the bus network of West Cornwall.
As a family, we’ve been visiting Penzance at least once a year since I was 5.
But this year, I was particularly looking forward to our easiest-ever visit.
I’d read a lot about the ambitions of Cornwall Council in improving the bus network - and the money they’ve been given by central Government to help.
As a car-free family visiting a rural area, I assumed we’d benefit from more buses and better service.
But I’m afraid we were in for a serious disappointment…
Its well worth a read. https://www.freewheeling.info/blog/the-tragic-missed-opportunity-of-cornwall
I have to say I agree with pretty much everything he says – Cornwall is very much a missed opportunity to be so much better.
I always knew that was going to happen. Cornwall Council should have stayed working with First and creating the good network they were starting to form, What is likely to happen now is both these two networks running either until Go Ahead loses the contract in 2025? Or First has enough and pulls out.
ReplyDeleteor better still the council gets a grip and make sure the two companies run together and accepts joint ticketing and promotes the full network as was promised. No reason why both companies can both work in Cornwall
DeleteThis is Cornwall Council we are talking about they are utterly useless and more worried about vanity schemes pretending to be another Scotland. When we moved from North Cornwall to South Devon we noticed a massive difference between the two local councils.
DeleteOff topic, but interesting how buses get about. Today 501 was on 20A this morning, and interworking with the 48 which I saw it on later. This evening it's turned up on the 72. Certainly packing in both the miles and the scenery!
ReplyDeleteEither 501,512 or 538 does the early morning 20 journeys before operating service 20a/48 for most of the day. It then changes to a 72 which leaves royal parade at 16.20. It then comes back and goes back to the depot and then comes out again to operate the 20.45 23. Finally, it finishes it's day by going to launceston and back to plymouth on service 12.
DeleteWith upcoming plymouth citybus changes the 8/9 will be interworking with another service.
Thank you for that explanation. Of course, they are the only 63 plate deckers doing Plymouth based work now aren't they. Sounds like which ever one it is is a busy bus all day!
DeleteI wonder if the 8/9 will see double deckers more often with the new changes. Deckers popping up all over the place at the moment, on route normally single decker operation. I guess a case of constant flexibility and adapting to meet demand
just noticed in the new first timetable book valid from 5t sept, that on routes T1/2, 18, 19, 24 & 27 that TfC run certain journies, these are listed on the first timetable as run by TfC and first tickets not valid
ReplyDeleteIt says "Cornwall by Kernow tickets are valid" - That means First tickets are valid - hence First will now publish the times of the TfC contract journeys.
DeleteThe relationship between First (Cornwall by Kernow) and Cornwall Council seems to be wrong with First having to remain an independent commercial operator with no joint timetables, fares or publicity. It has to be remembered that First only operate in West Cornwall with small exceptions.
DeleteHowever things are now changing. First tickets are now valid on the early and late contract journeys on First routes as they ought to be and the timetable publicity follows. Go Ahead are also introducing competitive services against First - F1(Go Cornwall) v U1, 25A v 24, 26/26A v 27 and there may be more.
Cornwall council have totally wrecked the bus services in mid and west Cornwall. You could get an M ticket that covered nearly all services at a sensible price. Not any more!! No Council timetable of all buses like they used to produce. It is a shame we cannot go back to what we used to have. They have just thrown all the money down the drain running empty buses everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAh but they've got fancy new buses and a special logo so to Cornwall Council their vanity project has worked.
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