Catch-up in Cornwall (1)

It's All Happening

The introduction of the Buses for Cornwall scheme (one network - actually two, two timetable books, two maps, two sets of fares with no inter-availability) was a sour joke. But it does look as if things are changing for the better. Firstly, and sensibly (AT LAST!), tickets have become fully inter-available between all operators and on all routes in the county. (ALL excludes Truro Park and Ride and many college services).

To achieve this First Bus has reduced many of its fares. Here are the old First only prices ...

... and the new anybody anywhere fares.

Notice that weekly tickets are unchaged - so it looks as if the chummy deal is for First to reduce its day fares, in return for which go Cornwall will  increase their weekly fares. Charging HALF the weekly rate for one day was a cruel First Bus rip-off anyway, but, as First will think, it was fair game to stitch up day visitors! It now become slightly less than one third.

Note that "child" fares are now Under 19.

Also new are local town day fares ...

... with more promised for the spring. The same information in more words is on the Buses for Cornwall web site - actually the Go Ahead Go Cornwall web site in very thin disguise.

Any ticket, any bus

We’ve got some great news for customers within Cornwall.

From 2 January you’ll be able to use your bus ticket on any* Cornwall by Kernow or Go Cornwall bus.

Including services operated by Stagecoach, Hopleys, OTS and Travel Cornwall.

That means that whether you’ve got a return, day, weekly or monthly ticket you’ll be able to hop on any bus, whoever operates it, and you won’t have to pay another penny.

It doesn’t matter what colour the bus is, or who’s driving it, it’ll still get you where you need to be.

There’s other exciting changes too, everyone 18 and under can now purchase a child ticket, offering great value travel to young people across the county.

And there are new day tickets available for the existing town zones, with a full fare ticket at just £3.00 and under 19s can travel for just £1.50.

That is more like it - and we still have the much delayed government funded reduced fare scheme to come, also slated for "the spring".

That's more like it

Maps As Well

All "normal" First Kernow routes are on the same map as Go Cornwall ...

...at least they are on the Go Cornwall web site. Sadly the chumminess does not extend to showing a full network map on the First Bus web site. Here we only get First services ...

... and very thin on the ground they are, too.

It is probably fair-dos to have a First Kernow only map if the web site is only showing First Kernow bus services, but making the comprehensive map available as well would be in the spirit of "its all coming together".

So First Bus only gives times for its own, and lists them in a strange order ...

Baffling if you are scrolling through in eager anticipation of exploring the network; but, if you know what you want, the search box does deliver what you ask for. If you don't know ...

... it doesn't!

Unfortunately the search term specified (Ludgvan) cannot be found in our database. Please amend your search or view all timetable listings for Cornwall.

Alternatively, you can call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.info

So it's not quite ALL coming together!

How does Go Cornwall compare?

Try Mousehole, that's First Kernow's route M6.

Not looking good.

Definitely NOT looking good. The M6 used to run every 20 minutes.

Unfortunately the search term specified (M6) cannot be found in our database. Please amend your search or view all timetable listings for Cornwall.

Alternatively, you can call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.info

fbb is sure it is the M6 and it is shown as such on the full network nap - but on the First map above it is just called "Mousehole".

And we then discover that fbb and the chummy map are both out of date; the route is called "MOUS"!

It runs every 30 minutes in winter.

Well it used to be route 6, then M6 - even if the camera cannot pick up all the bits!

fbb bets it doesn't show "MOUS" on the blind. But, whatever, it does not appear in Go Cornwall's "data" or its list of services.

So it's not quite ALL coming together!

In fact the list of Timetables on the Go Cornwall web site does not include ANY First Bus services. The odd matching route number ...

... just quotes the occasional tendered journeys NOT operated by First.

So it's not quite ALL coming together!

On the positive side, we now have THREE area timetable books which DO include everything - we are told. fbb will look at them in detail in a later blog. 

Tomorrow we need to take a closer look at First Kernow's web site and printed booklets.

That Hornby Catalogue - Stunning Statistics

fbb does remember the old Hornby Dublo range and it was always exciting but limited. New locos would appear from time to time and, once in thee catalogue they were usually a permanent fixture.

Here is a summary of what you can find in this year's Hornby booklet.

  8 Beatles wagons

  7 Coca Cola wagons

 33 Railroad** locos

 20 Railroad** coaches

 22 Railroad** wagons

 4 Liverpool and Manchester Railway^^ packs

 93 Steam locos

 54 Diesel locos

 71 4-wheel and 6-wheel carriages

266 coaches

118 wagons

Many of these, of course, are the same coach, wagon or loco but in different liveries. **Railroad is a slightly cheaper brand, mainly from older tooling. ^^Liverpool and Manchester Railway stuff matches the Rocket loco.

The list above does not include train sets and electric or diesel multiple units of which there are oodles more to choose from. And don't forget the LIMITED EDITION "Hornby Dublo" range of locos ...

... which are made of all-metal castings ...

... like Dublo locos from the "good old days", and sell at an all-metal price.

GULP!!!

Nearly Forgot!

The subway that runs from South Kensington underground station to various museums, now ending at the Science Museum but in the past extended all the way to the Albert Hall.

The Colonnade linking the former High Level station with the Crystal Palace itself.

 Next Catch-up in Cornwall blog : Wednesday 19th January 

Monday Variety

Can't Be Bothered, Mate

No one (not even fbb at his grumpiest!) underestimates the challenges facing the bus industry at the moment. Some operators are doing their very best to keep things running smoothly and give their customers a reliable, if a reduced, service.

Above is a picture smuggled out of Stagecoach East "traffic office", where timetables and staff schedules are compiled before being forwarded to the garage for implementation. The result of all this frantic effort can be seen at Bicester where the once prestigious X5 calls as it runs between Bedford and Oxford. (well, it was prestigious until they chopped off the bit running between Bedford and Cambridge!).

The consequences of all the hard work as illustrated is seen at the X5 bus stop in Bure Place Bicester.

fbb is not familiar with the changes to the X5 over the last 18 months, but the present on-line PDF looks pretty much the same as recent "normal".

It it really too much trouble to print out the PDF pages as on the web site?

It might take a day for the lad to take the van and drive along the route equipped with screwdriver and blu-tack - but it would give confidence to the passengers and, heaven forfend, they might actually buy an extra bus ride or two.

And while you are at it, why not print out a few copies to be available in libraries, village shops etc. It is called marketing!

Maybe you simply don't want the bother of carrying passengers?

Please don't tell Boris or Grant - they want you to ...

Or have you forgotten? It seem that they have definitely forgotten if you look at the laughable B S I P (Bus Service Inactivity Plan) proposals!

Croydon Town Centre Bus?

Yer what? It is ALL ON LINE so it must be right.

The twitter that accompanies the above picture adds to the bafflement.

The text above the windows says "East Croydon, Town Centre, West Croydon, Centrale".

Centrale is a shopping centre in Croydon, South London, one of the largest covered retail developments in London. It is owned and managed by Hammerson and was opened in 2004. Plans were announced in January 2013 to redevelop Centrale and combine it with the Whitgift Centre.

Centrale is located on North End, Croydon, facing the Whitgift Centre. 

It has even got its own tram stop!

It was developed from the existing but much smaller Drummond Centre. It now contains a large store – House of Fraser and formerly a Debenhams store – and around 50 smaller stores including Next, H&M and Zara.

Centrale is IN the Town Centre which makes the on-bus route descriptions a bit odd.

Oddly, you will find nothing about this innovative new service on the Transport for London web site. But you may find a photograph of some First Bus City Red vehicles in Southampton.

Looks familiar?

Panic not, bus watchers.

It's a simulator, innit?

Well Done That Woman And That Man

Maybe Stagecoach East should encourage its staff to "do the right thing" and post some timetables here and there!

It is also good to see that these buses, running around in Scarborough, and locally built.

Well done Go Ahead East Yorkshire.

Well Done That Man

Sheffield bus driver Linford Stephenson has just retired after 44 years working for First bus and its predecessors. He is photographed in front of a vehicle in heritage livery. fbb cannot remember seeing a picture this one before.

It reprises the immediate post PTE livery ...

... and before it all slowly morphed into Mainline.

There has been a Mainline heritage bus ...

... which ended up not far from fbb with Buses of Somerset.

That Hornby Catalogue - A Snippet

It seems that the Harry Potter craze is on the way out ...

... with the Hogsmead Station buildings relegated to page well to the back of the book. But there are FOUR new Beatles wagons on their way (marked with the red "flash") ...

... and four more pieces of Coca Cola rolling stock ...

... now offered in addition to the "Summer Coke" and "Christmas Coke" train sets. fbb does wonder why the bottle on the flat wagon is so small - surely it should fill the whole "well" of the wagon.

Tiles On The Floor

The above floor of Minton tiles is in a building in Stone, Staffordshire. Maybe the building is served by a First Potteries bus route. Maybe even a First Bus with a "tiled" floor.

Nice!

Pity the seat moquette isn't from the same period.

Two Subways With A Link to Rail - But Where?

Where does the above corridor lead, open and in use today? It once led from a station to a concert hall but doesn't go quite so far today. And below ...

... a subway that has been closed for years - but which may, at long last, be refurbished and reopened. It led from a station to a palace.

Answers tomorrow - if the old bloke doesn't forget - AGAIN.

Tomorrow we Go West, young man!

 Next Cornwall blog : Tuesday 18th January