News, debate and discussion on South West's Bus Operations.


I don't know if you've saw in the news, but a large fire overnight at the Western Greyhound depot in Cornwall destroyed a third of the entire fleet, 37 vehicles in total.

Optare Solos, Solo SRs, East Lancs Pyoneers, Plaxton Beaver 2s and 4 of the 6 Truro P&R Mercedes Citaros were destroyed. I don't know what the state of the former GNE Plaxton Presidents that were acquired from the Oxford Bus Company are like however.

The below links show reports and pictures of the wreckage.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...buses.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fire-bus-depot-...42216.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-22506806

That's a very sad story, because they really have worked hard to get where they are today. It is, however, nice to see First giving a helping hand by accepting Western Greyhound tickets.

I can now confirm that ex-GNE Presidents 3883 (NK51 UCL) and 3892 (NK51 UCV) were destroyed in the fire at the depot on Monday morning

News regarding Plymouth Citybus to be posted here
An interesting blog can be seen here. It holds information about Plymouth Citybus and other forms of transport within Plymouth.

The Go-Ahead Group Optare Versa demonstrator (previously serving Go North East as their 9133), YJ62FFB, is reported to have arrived at Plymouth Citybus' Milehouse depot. It is said to have arrived on Wednesday, and has already been out on driver familiarisation. Believed that she will be demonstrated on services 5/5A for two months.

Two men from Bristol have been arrested by police investigating a fire at a bus depot in Cornwall.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23424763

(23 Jun 2013, 10:53 am)Daniel wrote The Go-Ahead Group Optare Versa demonstrator (previously serving Go North East as their 9133), YJ62FFB, is reported to have arrived at Plymouth Citybus' Milehouse depot. It is said to have arrived on Wednesday, and has already been out on driver familiarisation. Believed that she will be demonstrated on services 5/5A for two months.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/94316...otostream/

From Monday 30th September, Stagecoach in Devon are to start a new "Gold" service which will compete with First's X80 service.
The vehicles expected (though subject to change) are nine expected originally for Cambridge - probably 15924-15932.

news here is that ADL darts 42940 to 45 have been exchanged for 69204 to 9 from Manchester 42944/45 all ready in use

News has just appeared, the company has suffered a further arson attack on their depot in Liskeard this morning, which has seen a further 3 vehicles destroyed.

(24 Jan 2014, 4:31 pm)Kuyoyo wrote News has just appeared, the company has suffered a further arson attack on their depot in Liskeard this morning, which has seen a further 3 vehicles destroyed.

I though that was Plymouth citybuses depot

(25 Jan 2014, 7:24 pm)Michael Tinker wrote I though that was Plymouth citybuses depot

Nope, yard is owned by Western Greyhound however Plymouth Citybus do have 2 deckers outstationed there for school work.

The 3 destroyed vehicles are Varios.

(25 Jan 2014, 7:42 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Nope, yard is owned by Western Greyhound however Plymouth Citybus do have 2 deckers outstationed there for school work.

The 3 destroyed vehicles are Varios.

are right thats what confused me hope the police get the scum that did this latest arson they should be locked up and key thrown away

(25 Jan 2014, 7:56 pm)Michael Tinker wrote are right thats what confused me hope the police get the scum that did this latest arson they should be locked up and key thrown away

Sounds like the firm is being targeted but why, its just wrong, it can lead to people losing their jobs/college places!

Did they end up replacing most of the vechiles from last years fire? Don't know a lot about western greyhound, what is the core of there work with regards to routes, school services etc,

Ex-GNE NA52AWJ/NA52AWP have been sold to Western Greyhound via Ensign Bus, as seen in this photograph.

(28 Jan 2014, 3:08 pm)Scott wrote I belive they bought some ex Stagecoach London Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400s to replace some of the vehicles lost in last years fire. As far as I know they operate mainly commercial and subsidised bus services. The majority of there fleet was made up of Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2s and Optare Solos.

Thanks, was told they bought some ex-London vechiles but didn't know what they were or who they bought them off.

Threatened Somerset bus routes saved
Threatened bus routes in Somerset have been saved after a consultation conducted by the local authority.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-27047776

First Group launches new bus services in Bristol
New and improved transport links have been launched in Bristol by the city's biggest bus operator, First Group.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-27008993

http://m.stagecoach.com/media/news-relea...07-30.aspx

New vehicles in Exeter for Stagecoach South West

Stagecoach Oxford 36454 was well out of its normal operating patch earlier today.

No idea where it was going or why, but followed it for quite a few miles on the m1, until it vanished amongst the traffic around Bolsover/Chesterfield.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-28949801

Bristol bus boycott marked.

Mr Matthews seems to have turned around things from his base in Bristol with First.

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2014...n-bristol/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-30115137

Wonder if local residents kick up a stink? *bdum tish!*

#availableforweddingsandbarmitzvas
#hashtagsonNEB

Wonder if local residents kick up a stink?
*bdum tish!*

Wow talk about crap.

Does that bus really have drawings of people taking a dump on the side of the bus, how awkward would people look riding that bus, I'm not sure if its worse than the M&S advert on the side of one of London's buses which is a man in his pants.

Just to touch on the consultation/importance of customers to a bus operator theme touched on elsewhere, First are recruiting for people to form a customer panel across Southampton, Portsmouth and Gosport.

So we have a one day consultation where staff arrive late in Sunderland, emails sent out by TfL using Oyster data and First recruiting people on an expenses paid panel in Hampshire.

Wonder which are the most successful?

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plymouth...story.html

Western Greyhound no more.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-31866340

Two in a week. Not good.

Plymouth Citybus has received eight Dennis Tridents from Brighton & Hove and three Mini Darts from London. Their new fleet numbers are as follows:

480 PK02RFF
481 PK02RFL
482 PK02RDU
483 PK02RDV
484 PK02RDZ
485 PK02RDY
486 PK02RFJ
487 PK02RFE

250 LX05EYP
251 LX05EYV
252 LX05EYY

Kudos to the guy for stepping into the firing line and holding his hands up.
They have taken quite a bit of flack recently and could have easily flung mud at other bodies or individuals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-33066272