Back To The 80s (Part 2)

First's Last Gasp To Newquay

Looking for the current timetable for First's 87 between Newquay and Truro offers something of a challenge for the unwary potential bus user. Above is an extract from the Corwall comprehensive timetable index.

It is not there.

But the good news is that there is a very tidy PDF timetable posted by First ...

... showing hourly departures from Newquay. Elsewhere First also provides their truly awful on-line garbage timetable which, encouragingly (?) offers the same timings.

They so show the same information but, sadly, they are both wrong.

Below is the correct current schedule for journeys from Newquay. First also have an on-line current version!

It shows an improvement in frequency from and easily remembered every hour (so good on yer, First) ...

... to a difficult to remember every 40 minutes. So not good on yer, First. The more recent timetable adds 9 minutes to the running time which seems a huge deterioration. Unless fbb is missing something.

There are plenty of pictures of buses with route 87 on the blinds but fbb cannot be 100% sure that we are looking at the same 87. There have been numerous route number rejigs over the years - but, whether right or nay, the illustrations may encourage the nostalgia juices to flow.

A typically feeble National Bus Company Brand for golfers ...

... Cornish Fairways.

Privatisation provoked Cornish Busways ....

... and it is certainly an 87 going to Newquay.

In 2018 Roger French wrote a positive blog entitled "Turnaround Cornwall" in which he extolled better vehicles and positive branding. He appended an 87 picture in what was a smart generic livery for services which did not get full route branding.

The "First" name had disappeared in favour of just "Kernow" - such a vast improvement on fade-out Barbie ...

... proper Barbie ...

... and son of Barbie or was it daughter of Barbie?.

So what nowbhappens to the very wiggly 87 ...

... from February 15th. 

Here is what GoAhead says about its new 87.

So a cut back from every 40 to hourly.

But the overall service between Truro and Newquay is further cut back.

Here is what GoAhead says about its own 86.

It used to run to Newquay via Holywell Bay, but now goes no further than Perranporth where connections are available with the 87.

There are now no links between Perranporth and Holywell Bay,

The new 86 timetable is shown with the 85 ...

... and there is no mention of connections with the 87!

All in all everyone on the 86 and 87 gets a worse service.

So well done Cornwall Council (which is penniless) and Hooray for the joys of less buses from GoAhead (who might well be struggling financially with their whole Cornwall network).

It's this sort of bonus that is promised with local authority franchising.

Be careful what you wish for, folks!

  Next blog (content pending) : Weds 28th Jan