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Post by N230UD on Aug 1, 2017 16:25:30 GMT
Still no annoucement from Stagecoach, but timetables are all available on Traveline as mentioned.
From the same date, they have also lost KCC-contract route 36 (Herne Bay - Margate) to Regent Coaches.
In other news, Regents have also won the 620 and 667 routes (Canterbury - surrounding small villages). These routes have been operated by Poynter's Coaches since de-regulation, so longer than I have been alive. It is also their last public bus routes, so will be a sad occasion. I get the impression that Poynter's are 'winding down' rather than losing out, but who knows.
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Post by moz on Aug 2, 2017 18:21:27 GMT
Still no annoucement from Stagecoach, but timetables are all available on Traveline as mentioned. From the same date, they have also lost KCC-contract route 36 (Herne Bay - Margate) to Regent Coaches. In other news, Regents have also won the 620 and 667 routes (Canterbury - surrounding small villages). These routes have been operated by Poynter's Coaches since de-regulation, so longer than I have been alive. It is also their last public bus routes, so will be a sad occasion. I get the impression that Poynter's are 'winding down' rather than losing out, but who knows. Regent seem to be hoovering up CC services recently. They have just taken on the Sunday service on the 5 out to Seasalter from Chalkwell Coaches. Moz |
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Post by N230UD on Aug 24, 2017 16:25:24 GMT
An official announcement has been given by Stagecoach, including new timetables and maps, seen here: www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-east/changes-to-bus-routes-in-dover They have certainly put a positive spin on the changes! Also worth mentioning that Stagecoach have lost the KCC contract for route 36 (Herne Bay - Margate), to Regent Coaches (who else?), also from the beginning of September. The new timetable messes up connections, ruins the link to Herne Bay Rail Station, and also serves the village of Reculver at 09.23, meaning pass holders would have to pay as its pre-0930. Reculver only has a few buses a day. So, a step backwards! To add to what I was saying about Poynter's Coaches - it appears I was correct when I said they were 'winding down'. They have just ceased trading. It is not clear if it was planned or unexpected. Regent have taken over the contracts early, which were held by Poynter's since 1988!! |
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Post by N230UD on Sept 8, 2017 22:42:53 GMT
So, its been the first full week of the Dover-area changes, and i've managed to have a few bus rides, in between work/socialising/life.
All seems to be going ok so far. Most of the changes were probably needed to improve efficiency, and there are also some improvements. For example, Deal now has a link to the Whitfield area (an area of Dover with a large Tesco, B&Q, Homebase etc) every 30 minutes with routes 12 and 90 (previously it was just an hourly route 12). Deal doesn't have a shopping centre or any extra-large supermarkets, so it probably is a good idea.
There are many things which are questionable though. For example, the route 89 which comes in to Dover from outlying villages was already a 'round the houses' route with a long journey time, but it now goes around some Dover housing estates replacing a local route, making the journey time even longer. This change is possibly more efficient and might help to save this route for those villages, but the journey time will possibly put people off even more. From the villages (such as Elvington), it takes about 20 minutes to drive to Dover in the car - the bus journey now takes 50 minutes.
On most of the journeys i've been on, on various routes, passengers have been moaning, and so have the drivers!!
I will say though, Dover depot has some great drivers with excellent customer service. I've always noticed that compared to other East Kent depots.
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