Showing posts with label Cornwall Busways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cornwall Busways. Show all posts

06 January 2015

Cornwall Transit No 1

Cornwall Transit News

The first of a what should be a regular look at what is happening down in Cornwall. The aim is for Tuesdays alternating between Devon and Cornwall… 

First Kernow

There have already been quite a few timetable changes for First with all of these from the 4th January:

Vehicle wise, at least two Dennis Darts have been transferred from Hampshire 42511 and 42522 to help booster the fleet. There are also a couple of green Solos!

    Group Travel

    Group Travel have cancelled a set of routes serving Trago Mills with services ending 14 January 2015:

    Travel Cornwall

    Travel Cornwall (Summercourt) introduce new timetables from the 19th January 2015:

    Western Greyhound

    Its early days for the new owners but there is clearly some route consolidation in progress as can be seen from the following cancellations registered on VOSA recently:
    • PH0006741/65 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Okehampton West Street and Launceston given service number 510 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    • PH0006741/95 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Wadebridge Bus Station and Camelford given service number 510 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    • PH0006741/96 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Camelford, Museum and Launceston, Westgate Street given service number 510 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    • PH0006741/97 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Okehampton, West Street and Exeter Bus Station given service number 510/599 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    • PH0006741/98 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Bude, Strand and Holsworthy, Church given service number 599 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    • PH0006741/99 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Holsworthy, Church/Library and Okehampton, West Street given service number 599 effective from 21-Feb-2015.
    This leaves this corridor to Stagecoach who were already competing with Western Greyhound. I will be looking at Stagecoach's operations here in more detail in a forthcoming 'Devon Transit News'

    Far more interesting, are a few new VOSA registrations for Western Greyhound:

    • PH0006741/119 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Bitterne Shops Finish Point: Bursledon Tesco Via: Harefield, Thornhill, Sholine Service Number: 15 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 12-JAN-2015 Other Details: Monday to friday except public and bank holidays.
    • PH0006741/120 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Southampton City Centre Finish Point: Shirley Precinct Via: Regents Park, Millbrook Service Number: S2 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 12-JAN-2015 Other Details: Monday to Saturday, Except public and bank holidays.
    • PH0006741/121 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Lords Hill Centre Finish Point: Hedge End (Sainsubury's Superstore) Via: Shiley Precinct, Southampton City Centre, Thornhill Service Number: S1 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 12-JAN-2015 Other Details: Monday to Saturday, except public and bank holidays

    Yes, they really are registering routes in Southampton which is outside the usual area of operation by Western Greyhound! These are of course services operated by Velvet Travel who are also owned by the new owners of WG. I guess it makes sense to have all of their operations under one licence. It remains to be seen if both fleets trade as Western Greyhound or the Southampton operations retain their Velvet names.

    At least two Mercedes Varios including WK04KUO have been seen on Southampton services in full WG livery along with Trident Y447NHK. The Varios are a temporary addition to the Southampton fleet as they are really just on their way to Ensign for disposal. Coming the other way is at least one more Dennis Dart PJ02RGZ which is running in Cornwall in orange and grey livery.

    Cornwall Busways

    While a lot of attention has been on the troubles of Western Greyhound, the tiny Cornwall Busways operation has had all sorts of troubles in its short existence and has finally thrown in the towel:

    It is with regret that we advise you that Cornwall Busways services will cease on 31 December 2014, with the exception of a special timetable on service 30 on 2 January 2015 only. After this date, Cornwall Busways will surrender its Operating Licence and will cease trading. This action is taken as a result of a continuing dispute with the West Of England Traffic Commissioner. From 5 January 2015, First Cornwall will extend its popular Truro to St Austell service 27 onwards to Bodmin Morrisons via Penwithick, Bugle & Stenalees and maintaining a hourly link through Kerrow Moor, Rosevean & Rosevear Road. First Cornwall, with support from Cornwall Council, have also applied to register a partial replacement for the 30 between Carclaze & St Austell via Boscoppa. Tesco & Asda. The introduction of this service is subject to approval by the West Of England Traffic Commissioner. Also from 5 January, First Cornwall will introduce a new service 24 between Fowey, Par, St Blazey & St Austell which will cover many parts of service 31 which has been withdrawn with immediate effect.. This service will operate up to every 30 minutes, Mondays to Saturdays. The whole team at Cornwall Busways would like to thank you all for your custom, support & well wishes over the past 7 months and hope you will support your new services provided by First Cornwall.

    Cornwall Busways_Dennis Dart_X513 ADF

    No, its not Stagecoach, rather its Cornwall Busways X513ADF seen in St Austell August 2014

    © Tom Pearce

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