Saturday 30 August 2014

All Change for First Devon

From the 7th September 2014 First Devon will be making some service changes.

full details can be found at
or
First Devon and Cornwall website


Wednesday 13 August 2014

First Kernow Bus Service Changes

Bus operator First Kernow will be making changes to its services from Sunday 7 September, with further revisions being made later on Sunday 28 September when its summer seasonal services come to an end.

The most significant changes will be the introduction of Services U1, U2 and U3 which will operate between Falmouth and Penryn. Service U1 will operate between Falmouth and Truro via the Penryn Campus, while Service U2 will run between Falmouth and Redruth via the Penryn Campus. Service U3 will run as a supplementary peak time service between Falmouth and the Penryn Campus. 

The new U services replace First Kernows Services 41 and 88 and are available to students and local residents alike. They come as a result of a joint tender by Falmouth University (Falmouth) and the University of Exeter in Cornwall (UoE) for an inter-campus bus service through their shared service delivery partner, Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus). First Kernow won the contract, and with First Fal River (FFR) - a commercial arrangement between First Bus and Fal River Links - will operate the new bus services for a five year period. 

Commenting on the revised services, Alex Carter, Managing Director of First South West, said: "Students and staff from the Penryn and Falmouth campuses, together with local residents, were already using Service 41 and 88 so we are delighted that the new U services will also be available for everyone to use.

"They will provide a regular and reliable service between the Penryn Campus and Falmouth on Monday to Friday daytimes with a combined 15 minute frequency between 07.30 and 18.30, and at least every hour in the evenings and on Sundays."
Alex Carter added: "As well as minor timing changes on a number of other services, First will be stepping up its level of service between Newquay and Truro, and providing new links to the West Cornwall Shopping Park."

New timetables will be published and will be available to download via the website two weeks prior to the changes taking place. The new timetables will also be available from First travel shops in Penzance and Truro bus stations from the end of August

Details of the bus service changes in Cornwall from Sunday 7 September 2014 are:

Service U1 (Falmouth - Truro via Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth and Truro replaces First Kernow Service 88 with a revised timetable but current frequencies will not be altered. Night bus journeys between Falmouth The Moor and the Penryn Campus Tremough will operate five nights a week (Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to Saturday night/Sunday morning) during university term times. 

Service U2 (Falmouth - Redruth via Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth and Redruth replaces First Kernow Service 41 with a revised timetable but no alterations will be made to the frequency of this route.

Service U3 (Falmouth - Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth The Moor and the Penryn Campus Tremough will provide one morning peak northbound bus on Mondays to Fridays during university term times. This service leaves Falmouth The Moor at 08.40 and operates "non-stop' between Falmouth Sainsburys and the Penryn Campus Tremough to provide additional capacity.

Service 1/1A (Lands End - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will continue until Saturday 27 September with minor changes to the timings of Monday to Saturday mid-afternoon journeys until Friday 26 September that will provide extra capacity for visitors to and from Land's End.
Service 2 (Falmouth - Penzance via Helston)

The timetable has been extensively revised to provide a two hourly frequency between Falmouth and Helston, and an hourly frequency between Helston and Penzance Bus Station.

Journeys will no longer serve Penzance town centre with the exception of school day journeys to and from Humphry Davy School. Existing through customers will need to change buses at Penzance Bus Station. Most "short' journeys between Goldsithney and Penzance on Monday to Saturday evenings, Sundays and public holidays will be withdrawn.

Service 6 (Mousehole - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will continue to operate until Sunday 21 September.

Services 10/10A (Morvah - Penzance)
- Mondays to Fridays, the 17.51 Service 10 Lower Boscaswell to Penzance Bus Station will operate as Service 10A via Madron (depart 18.23).
- The Service 10A 18.19 St Just to Penzance journey will leave two minutes earlier at 18.17 and will operate as a Service 10 not calling at Madron.
- Saturdays, the 17.51 Service 10 journey will depart at 18.06 and operate 15 minutes later throughout.
Monday to Saturday evenings, Sundays and public holidays, there will be minor changes to the timings of southbound buses from Lower Boscaswell to Penzance Bus Station.

Service 11 (Penzance Town Service) 
The 09.00 journey, Mondays to Saturdays, from Penzance Bus Station will leave at 09.05 and operate five minutes later throughout.

Services 14/14A (St Ives - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
There will be minor changes to the timings of Monday to Saturday journeys. Extra 'summer' journeys on Service 14A will continue to operate until Sunday 21 September but with amended timings because of its diversion via the West Cornwall Shopping Park.

Services 16 and 16A (Penzance - St Ives)
Minor re-timings will be made to the Monday to Saturday journeys.

Service 17/17A/17B (Penzance - St Ives)
- Service 17 departures from St Ives Malakoff on Monday to Saturday daytime after 09.15 revert to 'winter' timings.
- There will be revised timings for all journeys between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff, Mondays to Friday evenings from Monday 8 September. The existing Sunday and public holiday timetable between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff will continue until Sunday 21 September.
- Service 17B will continue until Saturday 27 September.

Service 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Hayle)
- This service will be rerouted to operate between Connor Downs and Hayle. It will no longer serve Loggans Moor with the alternative route being Service 14 (St Ives " Truro) with journeys diverted via the West Cornwall Shopping Park during opening hours. 
- Service 18 buses will continue to serve Loggans Moor on Monday to Saturday early morning and evenings and on Sundays/public holidays.
Monday to Saturday evening frequency between Camborne Bus Station and Penzance Bus Station via Hayle will be increased from two-hourly to hourly.

Service 27 (St Austell - Truro)
- The Monday to Friday journeys at 06.23 and 07.13 and Saturday journeys at 07.23 and 08.23 will be withdrawn between St Austell opposite Aldi and Carclaze opposite Claybourne Close.
- The 17.35 Truro Bus Station journey, Monday to Friday, will depart five minutes later at 17.40 and in response to customer feedback, will operate five minutes later throughout.

Services 35/35A (Falmouth - Helston via Helford Passage)
There will be a revised timetable to maintain current frequencies and routing.

Service 37 (Redruth - The Lizard)
The following journeys will be withdrawn:
- 10.36 Helston Coinagehall Street to Redruth Railway Station
- 11.45 Redruth Railway Station to Helston Sainsburys
- 12.30 Helston Sainsburys to Redruth Railway Station
- 14.00 Redruth Railway Station to Helston Tesco

Services 41 (Falmouth - Redruth)
This service will be withdrawn and replaced by the new Service U2 from Falmouth to Redruth.

Service 42 (Camborne - Redruth)
This service will be withdrawn with the alternative service being Service 46 (Camborne " Truro via Redruth).

Service 46 (Camborne - Truro via Redruth)
There will be some changes to the routing of this service:
- The current diversion via Beacon is withdrawn - journeys operate between junction of Mount Pleasant Road/Trevu Road and the junction of Fore Street/Tregrea/Trevu Road direct via Trevu Road.
- Some journeys omit the existing routing via Montague Avenue, Murdoch Road and Strawberry Lane. These journeys will operate between the A30/A3047 junction and Tolgus Hill via Close Hill, North Street and Plain-an-Gwarry.
- Journeys between Lanner and Gwennap are diverted via Trevarth.
- One journey in each direction between Camborne Bus Station and Tuckingmill is diverted via Weeth Road and North Roskear Road.

A revised timetable will operate to maintain current frequencies, reflecting routing changes and further improving punctuality and reliability.

Service 47 (Troon - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
There will be a revised timetable, maintaining current frequencies and routing, to further improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 68 (Falmouth Town Service)
Minor re-timings to Monday to Saturday journeys will be made to further improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 69 (Falmouth - Truro via Mylor Bridge)
The 15.10hrs Falmouth The Moor to Mylor Bridge journey on school days only will be retimed.

Service 88 (Falmouth - Newquay via Truro)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative services being the new Service U1 (Falmouth - Truro) and Services 89/90 Newquay - Truro (see below)

Service 89/90 (Newquay - Truro)
- The routing of new Service 89 is identical to the current service 88 routing between Newquay Bus Station and Truro Bus Station in both directions. 
- New service 90 follows the same routing as existing service 88 and new service 89 between Quintrell Downs and Truro Bus Station, but it operates between Newquay Bus Station and Quintrell Downs via Porth Four Turns and St Columb Minor.
- New service 90 will operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime, including peak periods.
- New service 89 will operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime, except during morning and evening peak periods.
- First Kernow will operate on Monday to Friday every 30 minutes from Newquay Bus Station to Truro Bus Station between 09.40 and 15.40 and every 30 minutes from Truro Bus Station to Newquay Bus Station between 09.40 and 14.40.
- First Kernow will operate on Saturday every thirty minutes from Newquay Bus Station to Truro Bus Station between 0940hrs and 1640hrs and every thirty minutes from Truro Bus Station to Newquay Bus Station between 0840hrs and 1540hrs

Service 300 (Lands End - St Ives)
- Service 300 will continue to operate until Saturday 27 September 2014. The service will be reduced from three journeys to two journeys in each direction on Monday to Saturday and from four journeys to three journeys in each direction on Sunday. 
- The service will not divert via Geevor Tin Mine on Saturday as the attraction is closed on this day.
- The revised timetable provides good connections at Lands End with service 1A journeys to and from Penzance via Newlyn and Porthcurno and at St Ives with service 17B journeys to and from Penzance via St Ives Holiday Village and Marazion.

Details of the bus service changes in Cornwall fromSunday 28 September:

Services 1/1A/1B/1C (Lands End - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will be withdrawn.

Service 6 (Mousehole - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will be withdrawn.

Service 14A (St Ives - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative journeys provided by Services 17 (Penzance - St Ives) and 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Redruth).

Service 17/17B (Penzance - St Ives)
- Revised timings will be put in place for all Service 17 journeys between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff on Monday to Saturday evenings from Monday 29 September 2014 and on Sunday and public holidays from Sunday 28 September.
- Service 17B will be withdrawn with alternative journeys available on Services 2 (Falmouth " Penzance via Marazion) and 18 (Penzance " Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
- No First Kernow buses will serve St Ives Holiday Village from Sunday 28 September

Service 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
Sunday and public holidays frequency between Camborne Bus Station and Penzance Bus Station will be increased from two-hourly to hourly from Sunday 28 September 2014.

Service 300 (Lands End - St Ives)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative journeys available on certain sections of the route on Services 1/1A (Lands End - Penzance), 10/10A (Lower Boscaswell " Penzance) and 16/16A (Penzance " St Ives) an 18 (Penzance " Truro via Camborne and Redruth).

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Saturday 9 August 2014

Dennis Darts to Tavistock & Okehampton

As many of you will understand, buses occur faults, break down and need regular maintenance.
Go Ahead Plymouth Citybus unfortunately had 3 Scania Single Decks [ex Thames Travel] meaning they had no other option than to put 2 darts on the 11's and the forth Scania to cover the 3 bus working service. here is a picture of Go Ahead Plymouth Citybus Dennis Dart 66 WJ52 GOK leaving Derriford Hospital on its way to Tavistock.

Plymouth's Pink Enviro's

First Devon have repainted an Enviro 400 (33420 WA08 MVG) into this livery. there are severel different rumours as usual. [photo taken 05/08/2014]
I also found 33421 sanded down awaiting repaint. I assume 33420,33421,33422 will all be painted into this livery.

Below [33421 WA08 MVF] sanded down awaiting to go into the Target Travel paint shop. i assume it will go into the same livery as the one above [33420]

Photograph's copyright to ME! Bobby Darch
Flickr: Bobby's Transport Photos

(permission allowed for Kameron Allan of South West Transport News to use on his blog)
Head over to the South West Transport News page now
http://swtransportnews.blogspot.co.uk/

Sunday 3 August 2014

Targets Branded Dart

Target Travel of Plymouth have recently bought a Dennis Dart SPD. it is now branded and spend most of its service time on route 53. the registration is Y184 CFS, it spent a while (not long) in service on 53's plain white.

Plymouth Hoe Bus Rally

The 29th annual bus rally in Plymouth on the Hoe seen a turnout of many vehcles from not very far away to some quite a few miles.  Next year the Western National Preservation Group plan on doing a two day event for their 30th annual bus rally.


Below: Ex Plymouth Citybus 1992 Dennis Dart K105 SFJ. Fleet numbered 105. The batch of darts fleet numbered (101 - 105)(107 - 110) were taken off front line work in 2008 when the Enviro 200's fleet numbered 136 - 146 arrived to Milehouse from the builders Alexander Dennis and were painted ready for service by the Milehouse Depot teams in the Paint Shops, Maintenance etc.
K105 SFJ passed into preservation on the Hoe Rally in 2010.
 

 Above: First southwest brought 3 vehicles to the Hoe rally this year, one of the exhibits being the Mercedes Citaro Bendy Bus used in and around the Eden Project, Cornwall. these are for the Park and Ride services provided for the Eden Project, not Park for Truro PR1/PR1A

Below: Left to Right Leyland Adlantean TTT 162X its Plymouth City Transport/ Plymouth Citybus fleet number was 162. Next is Volvo B10M 175 B175 VDV, Next to that in Yellow is an Ex Student Link double decker which since leaving Plymouth Citybus had its roof cut off and is now a tree lopper. on the right is a Vovlo D10M 178 H178 GTT, 178 has Dual Purpouse seating making it comfy for passengers going in and around the city and also long distance hauls.
To get involved with the Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group visit the website
www.plymouthcitytransport.co.uk
To become a member, you can print a membership form from
Membership is only a small cost and is shown on the form.