Bus services in Cornwall - route and operator changes - First Bus, Plymouth Citybus, Western Greyhound

[whole diary]

[old original]

..by someone freezing his wosits off, being stood at a bus stop since 06.30!!!

[grahame]

Damn it someone beat me to it!!

These things happen ... I have merged the two topics for ease of discussion ... and thank you BOTH for starting the thread.

Sympathy to the drivers if it's as reported - never a nice thing (I have been made redundant twice in my career - never nice, but it can turn out to be a cloud with a silver lining - hopefully so in this case)

And - thinking of the passengers - surely there has to be a better way of things happening than leaving customers stranded at the roadside!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Western Greyhound bus firm ceases trading, employees say


About 40 employees arrived at Western Greyhound's Summercourt depot to be told the news

One of the main bus service providers in Cornwall is believed to have ceased trading, employees have told BBC News.

About 40 Western Greyhound employees arrived at its Summercourt depot on Friday morning to be told the news, said driver Paul Wills.

Western Greyhound has been operating buses in Cornwall since 1998.

Rival operator First Kernow told BBC Radio Cornwall it would accept all Western Greyhound tickets on its bus services over the next few weeks.

Employee Mr Wills, who received a letter from Western Greyhound, said: "The letter says there is a shortfall of cash to pay for the insurance of the vehicles and we cannot continue to trade. We're all being made redundant.

"I was speaking to the manager earlier and he is naturally very upset. It's the end of the road for Western Greyhound.

"The pay has not gone into the bank today but we've been assured it will. There will now be up to 100 people looking for work."

Many people took to social media to vent their anger at not being able to get to work or college.

BBC Radio Cornwall's Michael Clarke, who is at the depot, said: "There have been hugs and goodbyes by employees and they've been told to go home. Some people are angry and others are in shock."

Stephen Gilbert, Liberal Democrat MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) for St Austell and Newquay, tweeted: "Western Greyhound ceasing trading is a blow to staff and to the thousands who depend on local bus routes. Urgent need to restore services."

In a statement, First Kernow said: "Following the cessation of Western Greyhound services, First Kernow this morning confirmed that it will accept all Western Greyhound tickets and passes on all its services."

Alex Carter, managing director, said: "We are working with our Cornwall Council partners to provide replacement services as soon as possible."

Western Greyhound, which was taken over in December by new management, is yet to comment.


Western Greyhound has been operating buses in Cornwall since 1998

[GBM]

From listening to Radio Cornwall, Cornwall Council were informed this was on the cards 24 hours before the public non-announcement, but they couldn't say anything as it was only a possibility!
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) saying they met with Western Greyhound 24 hours ago, and were told nothing.

[chrisr_75]

Probably commercial reasons for withholding the information - I would assume they were probably in negotiations with their existing insurer (according to the quote on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) article), or an alternative provider, in a last ditch attempt to secure credit, which it appears was unsuccessful.

Either way, not very helpful for those poor sods waiting at bus stops or those arriving for a days work, but I can understand the the logic behind not wanting to worry its other creditors without good reason.

[Tim]

This is a real shame.  I was impressed with Western Greyhound on the occasions I used them.  I found them cheaper and more reliable than First and coming from Bath I have to say it was nice to travel on a Bus that wasn't painted white, pink and purple.

100 Jobs is quite a lot for Cornwall.  I hope many of the drives can continue to drive buses.

[Palfers]

..by someone freezing his wosits off, being stood at a bus stop since 06.30!!!

oh sorry you think they would give notice!

[LiskeardRich]

I only did a Ride Cornwall on Tuesday taking in a number of WG routes. I honestly thought a corner had turned as a large number of odd coloured buses have been repainted recently, with private registrations applied. Everything ran on time.
The only stand out was a lack of uniform for most of the drivers.

There were representatives of First at summercourt this morning, assisting with matters and available to speak with drivers.

Cornwall Council have published a statement that they have managed to secure alternative serviced with effect from Monday subject to traffic commissioner approval.

I assume the council mean First, as First have purchased 10 vehicles from Western Greyhound, and also are having a further 8 transferred in from other First operations around the country due to arrive at Camborne over the weekend.

3 WG Darts and 3 WG Solos were at Camborne depot this afternoon.

[LiskeardRich]

Just seen on a generic Cornwall bus Facebook page

Services 584 and 595 based at Wadebridge will be operated from Monday 16 March 2015 by Stagecoach South West

Services 555 bodmin parkway to Padstow together with the 593 renumbered 75 between bodmin and liskeard will be operated by Plymouth citybus operation go Cornwall.


Most other routes will be run by first kernow

[LiskeardRich]

Full list of replacement services

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/public-transport/western-greyhound-buses/

[old original]

..

Full list of replacement services

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/public-transport/western-greyhound-buses/

I'd be grateful for anything that stops me having to get up at 04.15 on Monday morning and walk 6 miles to catch a train!!

[LiskeardRich]

..

Full list of replacement services

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/public-transport/western-greyhound-buses/

I'd be grateful for anything that stops me having to get up at 04.15 on Monday morning and walk 6 miles to catch a train!!

The council were trying for as close as possible to the existing timetable.
The only route that wont continue is Newquay to Bodmin.
Not knowing where you are I don't know what options you have as yet to walking other than a pushbike.

[TonyK]

From listening to Radio Cornwall, Cornwall Council were informed this was on the cards 24 hours before the public non-announcement, but they couldn't say anything as it was only a possibility!
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) saying they met with Western Greyhound 24 hours ago, and were told nothing.

A phone call from the bank can be the difference between life and death for a small company. Possibility can become reality in a heartbeat. This could have gone the other way, which would be why the RMT were told nothing, but it didn't.

It does sound as though a new provision has been worked up very quickly, and that there will be jobs with First for many of the staff, which could be the silver lining grahame alluded to.

(This is not to belittle the real impact of unwanted redundancy on real peoples' lives - at the start of the now fading recession, I was detailed to give talks on law and benefits to groups of soon-to-be-redundant workers, and saw their reaction at first hand. Mrs FT,N!, however, has been made repugnant twice. She had to beg for the second. Both events were undisguised blessings, as being made redundant just before you were about to hand in your notice will always be.)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Very sad news about Western Greyhound. 

Purely in the interests of gathering the full story together, and for ease of future reference, I've now merged a couple more topics into this one.

My best wishes to all Western Greyhound staff. 

[LiskeardRich]

From listening to Radio Cornwall, Cornwall Council were informed this was on the cards 24 hours before the public non-announcement, but they couldn't say anything as it was only a possibility!
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) saying they met with Western Greyhound 24 hours ago, and were told nothing.

A phone call from the bank can be the difference between life and death for a small company. Possibility can become reality in a heartbeat. This could have gone the other way, which would be why the RMT were told nothing, but it didn't.

It does sound as though a new provision has been worked up very quickly, and that there will be jobs with First for many of the staff, which could be the silver lining grahame alluded to.

(This is not to belittle the real impact of unwanted redundancy on real peoples' lives - at the start of the now fading recession, I was detailed to give talks on law and benefits to groups of soon-to-be-redundant workers, and saw their reaction at first hand. Mrs FT,N!, however, has been made repugnant twice. She had to beg for the second. Both events were undisguised blessings, as being made redunndant just before you were about to hand in your notice will always be.)

The quick provision by the council was a case of putting an existing plan into place. This eventuality was planned for at the council with other operators some time last year when WG were under the previous owner, so the council had a fairly robust back up plan already drawn up after the previous owner went public in his sale or close in November.
The directors had reportedly warned the council earlier this week of the potential situation so wasn't a big shock to the council by any means.
Several drivers interviews for the media said it wasn't a surprise, suggesting things weren't all good on the inside.