State of the Nation - transport, Cornwall

[whole diary]

[RichardB]

The first pic is perhaps disproportionate. It is the Devonport High school for Boys 'school bus' from most stations between Liskeard and Devonport. It is normally rammed with school boys. DHS has a great reputation and attracts kids from as far away as liskeard.
The 0600 from Penzance calls at Devonport so is the train of choice.
The 1557 from Plymouth is the same coming back after school.
Two services I know to avoid! I've used the 1557 a few times and hundreds of kids board at Devonport. Gwr regularly use bus dupes for the 1557 from Plymouth calling at liskeard and Bodmin parkway only, to keep the train free for Devonport pick ups.

Not just the Devonport High School for Boys, lots travel to the Girls' one in Devonport too and the Plymouth High School for Girls which is about ten minutes' walk from Plymouth station.  Both of these trains were strengthened a couple of years' ago now and are usually three coaches.  The Pocket Rocket can't come soon enough!

[TaplowGreen]

The first pic is perhaps disproportionate. It is the Devonport High school for Boys 'school bus' from most stations between Liskeard and Devonport. It is normally rammed with school boys. DHS has a great reputation and attracts kids from as far away as liskeard.
The 0600 from Penzance calls at Devonport so is the train of choice.
The 1557 from Plymouth is the same coming back after school.
Two services I know to avoid! I've used the 1557 a few times and hundreds of kids board at Devonport. Gwr regularly use bus dupes for the 1557 from Plymouth calling at liskeard and Bodmin parkway only, to keep the train free for Devonport pick ups.

DHS for Boys is indeed an excellent school with a deservedly great reputation and has produced many distinguished pupils who have gone on to excel all over the world...............and Taplow, like this particular DHS Old Boy! 

[LiskeardRich]

The first pic is perhaps disproportionate. It is the Devonport High school for Boys 'school bus' from most stations between Liskeard and Devonport. It is normally rammed with school boys. DHS has a great reputation and attracts kids from as far away as liskeard.
The 0600 from Penzance calls at Devonport so is the train of choice.
The 1557 from Plymouth is the same coming back after school.
Two services I know to avoid! I've used the 1557 a few times and hundreds of kids board at Devonport. Gwr regularly use bus dupes for the 1557 from Plymouth calling at liskeard and Bodmin parkway only, to keep the train free for Devonport pick ups.

Not just the Devonport High School for Boys, lots travel to the Girls' one in Devonport too and the Plymouth High School for Girls which is about ten minutes' walk from Plymouth station.  Both of these trains were strengthened a couple of years' ago now and are usually three coaches.  The Pocket Rocket can't come soon enough!

Having used that service several times by accident, 100s of boys but only ever 2-3 girls. There are coaches put on by the girls school operated by Target Travel

[RichardB]

The first pic is perhaps disproportionate. It is the Devonport High school for Boys 'school bus' from most stations between Liskeard and Devonport. It is normally rammed with school boys. DHS has a great reputation and attracts kids from as far away as liskeard.
The 0600 from Penzance calls at Devonport so is the train of choice.
The 1557 from Plymouth is the same coming back after school.
Two services I know to avoid! I've used the 1557 a few times and hundreds of kids board at Devonport. Gwr regularly use bus dupes for the 1557 from Plymouth calling at liskeard and Bodmin parkway only, to keep the train free for Devonport pick ups.

Not just the Devonport High School for Boys, lots travel to the Girls' one in Devonport too and the Plymouth High School for Girls which is about ten minutes' walk from Plymouth station.  Both of these trains were strengthened a couple of years' ago now and are usually three coaches.  The Pocket Rocket can't come soon enough!

Having used that service several times by accident, 100s of boys but only ever 2-3 girls. There are coaches put on by the girls school operated by Target Travel

Fair dos, Richard, I hadn't noticed.  Certainly lots of girls use the respective Tamar Valley Line trains but, then, of course, nowhere near so straightforward to put on buses instead.  Perhaps for the Plymouth High School for Girls, 15 57 is just a little too early and there is the just over hour gap to the next train to stations to Liskeard.  Will be interesting to see what happens when the much better main line service begins.

[Kernowman]

During times of severe disruption to rail services in Cornwall rail tickets are sometimes valid for travel on local bus routes.

But why only during times of severe disruption?   Wouldn't it encourage more people to use public transport if they could go out on the train and back on the bus or vice versa?

One of the reasons why a Ride Cornwall ticket is a good idea (it's about £13) and you can visit rail and non-rail connected places.
'The Ride Cornwall Ranger offers the holder one day's unlimited travel on all rail and most bus services within Cornwall and between Cornwall and Plymouth'.

[LiskeardRich]

There is a bus dupe of the 1557 Plymouth to Penzance today and tomorrow being operated by Tamar Coaches with H13 TCL

[chuffed]

There is a bus dupe of the 1557 Plymouth to Penzance today and tomorrow being operated by Tamar Coaches with H13 TCL

I like the abbreviation of dupe for duplicate. How many of us have been duped by a bus, all glossy and new on the outside and leaving a lot be desired on the inside ?

[GBM]

On First Kernow Facebook just now

First Kernow
46 mins ·
Ride Cornwall.
Despite having agreed a new set of prices and conditions for Ride Cornwall with partner bus operators and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a considerable time ago, rail operators are still not able to implement these changes.

As a result, we have had to take the unwelcome decision to suspend our participation in Ride Cornwall until such time as the rail operators can implement these long planned changes.

We are therefore unable to sell or accept any Ride Cornwall tickets from 26th May 2019 until further notice.

We are hopeful that the implementation of the changes can be made by the rail operators as soon as possible, at which point we will be able to sell and accept Ride Cornwall tickets once again.

[Pb_devon]

This is quite important.
Mods: Would it be better as a separate thread under an appropriate title?

Any insiders able to comment.....RichardB?

[ChrisB]

Suspect a change in fare split amongst the operators, not yet implemented across the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)?

[LiskeardRich]

Reality is it’s too cheap! £13 for unlimited rail, First bus and Plymouth city bus services.
Compared to individual fares;

Train Plymouth to Penzance return is I believe £11.10

First Bus Truro to St Ives is £9 return, Padstow to Newquay again £9 return, Truro to Newquay £7.50 return.

Plymouth city bus Liskeard to waderbridge return is between £9 and £10.... strangely PCB all zone day rider is only £8 (their zones haven’t been updated since they started cornwall services and they now have some anomalies in their fares, Bude, Padstow, wadebridge)

£13 split between GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), First Kernow And Plymouth citybus doesn’t leave a lot each to allow unlimited travel. All parties have agreed the new price but the railway have failed to implement it on their systems

[GBM]

And Now............drum roll............

On First Kernow Facebook
First Kernow
24 May at 17:07 ·
Ride Cornwall
Unlimited travel all day on most buses, and after 09:00* on Cornwall’s trains

Buy from:
...train station ticket offices
...train managers/conductors
...bus drivers

The Ride Cornwall pass costs:
£18 for adults
£9 for children
£36 for a family of up to 2 adults and 3 children

*You can travel before 09:00 on the following services:
08:14 Plymouth - Penzance
08:40 Plymouth - Gunnislake

Please note that railcard and other discounts are not available against Ride Cornwall passes

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28 comments
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[grahame]

Reality is it’s too cheap! £13 for unlimited rail, First bus and Plymouth city bus services.

And Now............drum roll............

Buy from:
...train station ticket offices
...train managers/conductors
...bus drivers

The Ride Cornwall pass costs:
£18 for adults

Am I reading that the pass is re-instated at the last minute, at a significantly higher price, or am I comparing a camel with a grapefruit?

Noting it reads as if no online sales, no sales from TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine), no phone in to buy  ... person to person purchase only?

[LiskeardRich]

Reality is it’s too cheap! £13 for unlimited rail, First bus and Plymouth city bus services.

And Now............drum roll............

Buy from:
...train station ticket offices
...train managers/conductors
...bus drivers

The Ride Cornwall pass costs:
£18 for adults

Am I reading that the pass is re-instated at the last minute, at a significantly higher price, or am I comparing a camel with a grapefruit?

Noting it reads as if no online sales, no sales from TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine), no phone in to buy  ... person to person purchase only?

£13 to £18. It’s only seen 1 small price rise in 10 years I think, and consensus is it was under priced.
It’s always been person to person purchase only.
All partners were pushing for price rise, DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/RDG^‡(resolve) apparently approved the price rise late this week, presumably a withdrawal threat worked. The price rise has apparently been waiting for approval for considerable time.
I understand GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are introducing a Cornwall rail only rover at £12.50 (possibly today, a ticket office staff contact said they had a email on Friday concerning it)

[PhilWakely]

I understand GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are introducing a Cornwall rail only rover at £12.50 (possibly today, a ticket office staff contact said they had a email on Friday concerning it)

Correct - and it was available at start of play this morning (Sunday, 26th)