Rame Buses Part Two

I sadly missed the Rame Beers & Buses event over the weekend due to illness but Mark Bailey was there and has sent his usual selection of photos.

I couldn't choose between them all so I have split them across two posts so you get to see them all!

Stagecoach Devon 18395 (KX55 TLO) Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400 (new to Thames Transit) arriving in Torpoint on circular service A

First South West T471 JCV Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander ALX200 arriving in Millbrook on circular service A and about to disgorge thirsty passengers into Bar Tusker (the yellowish building behind)

Devon General SN839 (XTA 839) Albion Nimbus / Willowbrook leaving Torpoint on service B with a standing load. Unfortunately a few minutes later the bus struggled to get up a hill on Trevol Road, ended up rolling backwards, and was taken out of service.

Dartline 76021 (N600 DLC) Scania N94UD / East Lancs OmniDekka (new to London Sovereign) leaving Millbrook on circular service C. The young ladies on the top deck are clearly having a good time!

Dart Pleasure Craft 1 (Y827 TGH) Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President (new to London Central) on circular service O in Millbrook. New into preservation following the decision to sub-contract their remaining Paignton - Totnes service to Stagecoach for 2026.

All photos © Mark Bailey.

Rame Buses Part One

Unfortunately, I missed the Rame Beers & Buses event over the weekend due to illness, but Mark Bailey was there and sent along his usual great selection of photos. I couldn’t pick just a few, so I’ve split them into two posts so you can enjoy them all!

Western National 1557 (FDV 787V) Bristol LHS6L / ECW pulling out of the St John Inn on service B from Torpoint to Millbrook.

Western National 1254 (VOD 124K) Bristol LHS6L / Marshall arriving in St John on service B from Torpoint to Millbrook.

Western National 357 (L357 VCV) Mercedes-Benz 811D / Plaxton Beaver arriving in Torpoint on feeder service X from St Germans railway station.

Truronian TT03 TRU TransBus Dart SLF / TransBus Pointer leaving Millbrook on circular service A.

All photos © Mark Bailey - with thanks!

Cornish Catch Up

Catching up on some transport news for Cornwall:

Its Unfare…

The recent announcement of fare increases has not gone down well:

Cornwall Live readers have voiced their concern following a recent bus fare increase, marking the second such rise in four months. This hike has particularly troubled parents who depend on public transport for their children's journey to school.

Bus fares across Cornwall are set to soar for the second time in just four months, leaving hundreds of passengers, particularly families with children, facing even tougher challenges amidst the cost of living crisis. Go Cornwall Bus, operating under Transport for Cornwall and overseen by Cornwall Council, has declared that from the end of September, ticket prices will rise for both adults and children on most services.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/news-opinion/cornwall-bus-fares-rocket-one-9590237

On 1 October, Go Cornwall Bus sent out two emails in quick succession to Geoff Cadwallader, chair of Rame Peninsula Public Transport User Group, with their explanation of the fare increases, although neither email directly addressed the impact on families whose fares for school travel have increased so substantially.

http://www.cornwallbuses.org.uk/bus-fares-increasing-from-29-september.html

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National Distress

Users of a coach service between south-west England and London have lost a "lifeline" after the decision to axe it, supporters of it say.

The National Express 503 service used to run from Penzance to the capital - stopping in towns including Camborne, Newquay and Launceston - but has not run since the start of September

North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire has launched a petition, external to argue for the service to be reinstated.

National Express said it recognised local people's disappointment but it had to stop it as it was not financially viable.

Liberal Democrat MP Mr Maguire said he would raise the issue with the transport secretary as soon as he returned to parliament.

He said: "This is going to have a massive impact on my constituents and that is why I have immediately started this campaign to reinstate it.

"It's totally unacceptable. We already have such abysmal transport infrastructure in North Cornwall and now this vital link has been taken away from us."

A spokesperson for National Express said: "This change is part of a comprehensive review of our national network and unfortunately the 503 service is commercially unviable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c243q1rl6zzo