Honey Pots

Continuing the short series on Cornish operations, following Omnibuses’ week-long visit to the Duchy. Second in series here

Honey Pots

The second I returned to work from Cornwall, a colleague commented, “But I didn’t think there were any bus services left in Cornwall”. Although First Devon & Cornwall retrenchments often dominate news from Cornwall, there are some good services and, in fact, more buses running in Cornwall than 20 years ago.

Comparing summer services in 2006 with those operating in 1983 shows that, contrary to popular belief, the number of departures from both Truro and Newquay had doubled, while those from Penzances and Penzance had increased by over a third and a half respectively. This proxy measure shows not all is doom and gloom in Cornwall by any means, even if the fares to support such improvements tend to be on the high side.

There are some goldmine bus services linking Cornish “honey pots”. One is First’s hourly 89/90 between Newquay, Truro and Falmouth. It was easy to see why First invested in three SLF Dennis Trident/East Lancs 76 seater double decks for this route, key leisure journeys being extremely popular. The arrivals at Truro from the north is timed 15 minutes ahead of those from the south; on the occasion of this photograph, one was delayed, owing to thre large passenger volume.

We’re also pleased to report a marked increase in the number of evening services in the last 20 or so years. In 2006, services tended to be more regular, individual timetables less of an unmade bed, like they used to be. There’s still a reliance, perhapos understandably, on differential and untidy journeys at school times. But there’s plenty of innovation, some examples of which may well follow here at Omnibuses, as the autumn continues.

We think all Cornish operators will have enjoyed a better season this summer. Some traders in Penzance plus locals in a pub felt that the season had been the best for some years, since 1998 in fact. The same locals felt that September was now actually busier in Cornwall than June. The local TV news said that during the week of Omnibuses’ stay, off-putting tight airport security and the affect of soaring July temperatures had contributed to a 10 per cent increase in Cornish visitors. Undoubtedly, this brought an unexpected dividend to First, Truronian & Western Greyhound.

Roll on 2008 when free travel for pensioners throughout England will swell Cornish buses further. Or could this prove a bit of a headache for local managers?