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Updated 8th March 2009

First in Cornwall, First in North Devon

First operate the companies previously known as Western National (South West Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall operations) and Red Bus (North Devon operations). Though now operated as one unit, there are still 3 route number sequences across the area, so there are 3 route lists... The old Western National operating area is basically two separate route networks operating either side of Lostwithiel.  

Truronian (now owned by First)

Truronian built up a network of T prefixed services, including some from those surrendered or withdrawn by First in mid and South Cornwall. In 2008 First bought Truronian and is beginning to combine Truronian services with it's own. First liveried buses now appear regularly on Truronian services and Explorer tickets and the like are already valid and purchasable across the two networks.

CLICK HERE for: Timetables from the First  Website

CLICK HERE for: Timetables from the Truronian  Website

Western Greyhound

Many Services in Mid, North and East Cornwall, most of which used to be Western National services, are now provided by Western Greyhound, mostly with Mercedes Minibuses. Services are extensively interworked, and there are a few DD journeys.

CLICK HERE for: Timetables from the Western Greyhound Website

 

Click here for : Our pics and List of First Routes & Services West Cornwall

Click Here for : Our pics and List of First Routes & Services East Cornwall & South West Devon

Here is the Western most Bus Stop in the land, at Land's End terminus of the 1 & 1A from Penzance. Since VRs were ousted from this part of the country a motley selection of elderly olympians provides most of the service on the now pretty infrequent 1 & 1A, only 1 bus in service now for the middle part of the day witha 2 hourly frequency, to be bolstered by open toppers on the 300 from 1st May onwards for the summer season. 

Western Greyhound's ex-London RM 1062 seen at Padstow Bus Terminus in June 2008, whilst performing a special sub on the Coastal route 556 on one of the 2008 running days, followed by 2 examples of the usual operating fayre for both the 556 and the 555.

 

2008 comment: Of course all VR's are now out of service in Cornwall and for 2008 the tourist open top 300 was joined up again as in 2006 to perform a massive 3h40m loop both ways between Penzance - St Ives - Lands End - Penzance. in 2007 it had been separated into 3 services (one assumes to get round the EEC route length directives) being Penzance to Lands End, Lands End- St Ives, and St Ives  - Penzance, but I guess this proved less successful than the joined up version.

2003 comment: A product of the Big West Cornwall service shake up of 13th April 2003 was the renumbering of all seasonal 'tourist' services in the 300's.. The 317, however is scheduled to run only OUTSIDE the MAIN tourist season, it's length being covered by the rather longer 300 IN the season, however both 300 and 317 appear to be operating at the start of June, especially odd, since at 1412 from St Ives the 300 leaves for Penzance, and this 317 follows exactly the same route just 3 minutes later!

Western National had the biggest fleet of Bristol VRs still operating in the country, back on 2000-2002, the newest of which was about 15 years old. 2 of these elderly workhorses sun themselves at the old Newquay bus station, some 100 yards further north along the main street than the current one. The site has since been cleared of the travel office which sat in the middle of the site, the buses dangerously circulating around the outside in amongst the many potential passengers. The new facility is a lot more civilised, even if with an air of a lot less people about!
Several Bristol VRs were painted up in old fashioned Western National livery in 1999 to celebrate the operators 70th Anniversary, and still operate in these colours into 2000. Here is one such on the Forecourt of the old St Austell garage, since closed when First cleared mostly out of the town giving all their services over, in several batches, to Western Greyhound.

Click here for : Our pics and List of First Routes & Services West Cornwall

Click Here for : Our pics and List of First Routes & Services East Cornwall & South West Devon

Old Logo from
Privatisation days

More recent Corporate style
First Logo

First Western National cover Cornwall, Plymouth and West Devon. Historically in National Bus Company days, all the West of County routes were numbered in the 500+ series, e.g. 501 to Land's End, 502 to Falmouth, 517 St Ives etc, but soon after privatisation the 5 was dropped leaving basically the numbering scheme in operation today.. This does leave a situation where some numbers are doubled up in the West of the County and on Plymouth Local services.

It used to operate from depots in at least Penzance, Truro, Camborne, Helston, Falmouth, Newquay, St Austell, Delabole, Plymouth and Totnes, with an outstation at Padstow, most of these have now closed leaving just Penzance, Camborne, Falmouth and Newquay as far as I am aware.

MUCH interworking of services and vehicles takes place, especially on Western Greyhound.

Tickets

First Day Cornwall: Buy on the bus. Adult £6.50, Child £4.30.
 Valid on: First & Truronian buses within Cornwall Only..

Ride Cornwall: Buy on the bus/train. Adult £10, Child £7.50, Family (up to 2 Adults and 3 Children) £24. VALID ONLY after 9am Mon-Fri, though at any time Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
 Valid on: First & Truronian buses, Western Greyhound and ALL First Great Western TRAIN services within Cornwall Only.. Excellent value cross company ticket, but be prepared for drivers or conductors to not have a clue what you are asking for, because for some reason they seem to see VERY few of them! Also valid on at least Western Greyhound 593 that crosses into Devon to Plymouth, plus the Tamar Valley train line between Gunnislake and Plymouth. MAY also be valid on First Great Western Trains betwen Plymouth and Saltash, and MAY also be valid on First Bus services crossing the Tamar Bridge and/or Torpoint ferry.

First Day South West: Buy on the bus. Adult £6.70, Child £5.50, Family (up to 5 travelling together, but no more than 2 adults) £16.50
 Valid on:  Truronian Services, First services in Devon & Cornwall (including Plymouth Park and Ride services), and all Devon County Council SUPPORTED services within Devon, regardless of operator, including, for example, but not limited to Stagecoach X64, 71, 72, 111, 308, 315, 319,TW Coaches 309/310, Tally Ho 162, 164, Plymouth Citybus 49, 58/59, Country Bus 165, 167, plus AFTER 8.45am on First Services in Somerset, in theory up as far as Bristol and Bath! This ticket MAY also include First Dorset services and National Express coaches west of Plymouth operated by First Western National but subject to a £1 PER DAY surcharge for crossing the Tamar Bridge. 
NOTE: For these purposes services 92 and 92A (Exeter/Tiverton - Taunton) are Frst Somerset Services and X53 (Exeter - Weymouth - Poole) is a First Dorset Service, even though they do into Devon.
NOT ALSO: That a peak version is also available covering the Somerset Services for before 8.45am, at £7.50 for Adults.

Western Greyhound Day Explorer: Buy on the bus. Adult £7.50, Child £4.50, Family (up to 5 people but no more than 2 Adults) £14
 Valid on: Western Greyhound Buses, plus ALL Stagecoach Devon services and Hookways X90 (Bude - Exeter). Also, in theory,  MAY be valid on Devon County Council SUPPORTED services of other operators (see First Day South West, above) in Devon, e.g. First service 303. Similarly Stagecoach Devon Explorers are valid on Western Greyhound services.

More Help

Western National Travelshops are located at  Penzance, St Austell, Camborne, Plymouth, Barnstaple, St Ives and Truro Bus Stations 

First Devon & Cornwall Customer Helpline: 0845 600 1420

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Last modified: April 28, 2009