First Kernow

[mikestone]

First's cancellations in this weeks Notices & Proceedings, but only a handful of presumed replacements by Summercourt Coaches.

[BK63 YWP]

With the start of Transport for Cornwall (TfC) by Go-Ahead ran on behalf of Cornwall County Council, First has lost a lot of presence only operating key routes now. TfC were supposedly going to take on the T1/2 and 90 but according to their site this is not happening now.

Just wondering if First will give up on Cornwall post Corvid-19 even though they have invested heavily in E400MMCs and E200MMC in recent times

[winston]

With the start of Transport for Cornwall (TfC) by Go-Ahead ran on behalf of Cornwall County Council, First has lost a lot of presence only operating key routes now. TfC were supposedly going to take on the T1/2 and 90 but according to their site this is not happening now.

Just wondering if First will give up on Cornwall post Corvid-19 even though they have invested heavily in E400MMCs and E200MMC in recent times

The T1 & T2 (The Tinners) are commercial routes. It's only tendered routes that First have lost, the majority of their network is commercial.

First Kernow are loaning a load on E400MMC to Somerset for the Hinckley Power Station contract, the Pvr for that has been significantly increased to comply with the min 2m social distancing rule.

Only 20 x E200MMC were Cornwall County Council owned, most if not all were expected to move to Go-Ahead.

[Justin Tyme]

I think a handful of journeys at quiet times (the ones that are not commercial) on T1/T2 were going to pass to TfC, but with coronavirus reduced timetables have been introduced.

It has been reported that First Kernow management have been planning for the future, so I can't see them giving up.  I was in the Penzance area in November and managed a day's bus riding with First Kernow.  Loadings were impressive.

[winston]

I think a handful of journeys at quiet times (the ones that are not commercial) on T1/T2 were going to pass to TfC, but with coronavirus reduced timetables have been introduced.

It has been reported that First Kernow management have been planning for the future, so I can't see them giving up.  I was in the Penzance area in November and managed a day's bus riding with First Kernow.  Loadings were impressive.

First Kernow prior to the Covid-19 shutdown, had confirmed no not driving staff would be made redundant & they were intending to increase their commercial route offering, some was already confirmed which also duplicated tendered services lost - The Lizard routes were one IIRC.

Obviously things are all up in the air / on hold at present. 

[WyreForestShuttle]

I think a handful of journeys at quiet times (the ones that are not commercial) on T1/T2 were going to pass to TfC, but with coronavirus reduced timetables have been introduced.

It has been reported that First Kernow management have been planning for the future, so I can't see them giving up.  I was in the Penzance area in November and managed a day's bus riding with First Kernow.  Loadings were impressive.

Within FirstGroup there are no plans at present to dispose of First Kernow the current business strategy has shifted recently to retain most UK bus subsidiaries where possible and all sales have been halted to instead focus on this key business activity unless synergies of scale require the business position of a subsidiary to reviewed and and an course of action; eg disposal: decided upon by First UK Bus.

[winston]

Post #10641 has a list of First Kernow disposals:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/first-kernow.103639/page-355

[LazyGuy222]

First are back in Devon with passenger services, from, what is expected to be, next month with a service from Exeter to Plymouth via Dartmoor called the Dartmoor Explorer.
https://twitter.com/MarcMorganHuws/status/1348974823192584192?s=20

Although it isn't technically in Cornwall, it has up until now been part of Kernow.

[Stu]

I've just returned from a weekend down in Penzance, staying with my brother and his partner, and I was able to sample a few of the local bus routes there.

We made use of the MOUS 'The Mousehole' on Friday evening to go into nearby Newlyn. This has been split into two services now, with a new complementary 'CAT' route which follows the more direct route along the coast road through Wherrytown. Both are fully operated using new Mercedes Illes City minibuses, which are quite smart and perfectly suited to these routes. Just as impressive is that the service runs regularly seven days a week and late into the evening, which must make Mousehole one of the best connected villages in rural England!

We also took a ride on the Lands End Coaster (LAND) on Saturday, taking the 'long way round' from Penzance to St Ives. Sadly the driver wouldn't sell us single tickets for this journey, so we had to make do with a £7 Cornwall Day Ticket each, which came in useful later on!

A thoroughly spectacular experience and highly recommended! Stunning views and breathtaking scenery, and the near three hour journey soon passed by! What was also remarkable was how while well used by tourists heading to places like Lands End and other spots in between, there were also a number of people making local journeys between villages, so as well as being a 'tourist' service, it's also a handy rural service.

After a few hours in St Ives, we returned back to Penzance on the 'quicker' 17 service. While not having spectacular views, it was a rapid jaunt from the north to the south coast, taking just over half an hour, I felt right at home on that Enviro400 MMC!

Finally on Sunday afternoon, we used the U4 to get back from Marazion - it arrived lightly loaded but filled up as there was a huge queue already waiting when we got to the stop.

Top marks to First - all the drivers we encountered were friendly and helpful, and incredibly patient especially where there were lots of people waiting to board.

It was pleasing to see so many people using buses round there - despite owning a car, even my brother has become more open to travelling by bus, especially as parking in some places can be a bit of a nightmare - but I do think that dwell times and the passenger boarding experience could be improved greatly if more use was made of 'smart cards' or 'tap-and-go' contactless payments.