[G-CPTN]

Despite its growth, WGL still feels like the ‘family business' that was founded with just two coaches. Mark remains Managing Director, his wife is Company Secretary, his daughter Hendy (albeit currently on maternity leave) is Personal Assistant and Robin Orbell is the Non-executive Director. They are backed up by a good team of dedicated people including Brian James as operations Manager and Steve Harris as Engineering Manager. They are proud of their attitude to staff, over 60% of whom have attained NVQ2 certificates. Driving duties are generally arranged in small rosters so that differing preferences (e.g. short shifts or long shifts; a variety of routes or the same daily run) can be accommodated. Western Greyhound has now started doing its own in-house training having trained its own instructor and now trains suitable drivers from scratch.

The concessionary free-travel scheme, introduced in April 2006, was seen as an opportunity not a threat and has generated extra passengers, WGL seizing the opportunity to promote the scheme. The government's improvement to the scheme in 2008 allowed passholders from other parts of England to travel free whilst on holiday in Cornwall . This will result in yet more passengers and Mark is already involved, through CPT, in talks about how that national scheme will be administered. Those councils in tourist areas will require a greater share of the new funding, an aspect still being negotiated.

Even now passenger loadings are giving rise to capacity issues on some services and, conscious of the need to address the disability access issue, WGL have trialled some medium sized low-floor single-deckers including the Plaxton Primo, the Optare Solo, the Optare Tempo and shortly the Optare Versa. Mark is concerned about the higher running costs and fewer seats than the preferred Mercedes Varios and this will inevitably impact on fares and levels of service. The double deck fleet is relatively modern and most are mid-life Volvo Olympians from Nottingham City Transport.

The network has been changed in April 2007 increasing frequencies and generally making all the “bolt-on” operations much more efficient. Many frequencies were increased, a mark of confidence by WGL about the future.

In 2004, WGL purchased a green field site in Summercourt and obtained planning permission to build a brand-new purpose built depot and office. This was built by Midas Construction and enabled both the rented site and the rented shop in Newquay to be given up, as at the same time, the Travelshop was moved into the new Bus Station.

Life does not stand still and there will inevitably be more interest as time goes on…….

Fleetlist here:- http://www.westerngreyhound.com/files/fleetlist.xlsx