Post by wirewiper on Jun 5, 2023 17:30:55 GMT
Apart from the changes to Stagecoach routes in Torbay and Newton Abbot from Sunday 28th May, there have been some recent changes to other routes at the end of May/beginning of June including some Devon County Council contracted routes changing hands.
From Saturday 27th/Sunday 28th May:
Totnes & Rural Community Transport ("Bob The Bus"): new Saturday morning Totnes town service B3S (Follaton-Westonfields)
Stagecoach: new Summer Sunday service on route 31 (Ilfracombe-Woolacombe) operated under contract to Devon County Council, operates until 27th September. The Monday-Saturday service continues to be operated by Taw & Torridge and is unchanged.
Stagecoach: new Summer Sunday service 198, operates four circular journeys from Gunnislake station via Tavistock, then a one-way loop via Yelverton, Princetown and Merrivale. Operated under contract to Devon County Council and ends on 27th September.
From Monday 29th/Tuesday 30th May:
Go Cornwall Bus routes 217/218/219 (Holsworthy/Hartham/Bude area): minor changes to times and routes to improve links to Stratton Hospital.
Axe Valley Mini Travel routes 378 (Seaton-Lyme Regis) and 899 (Seaton-Sidmouth): revised timetables from Tuesday 30th May.
From Sunday 4th/Monday 5th June:
Route 7 (Exmouth Town service): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Stagecoach. The route is renumbered 97 to align with other local Stagecoach routes.
Route 173 (Exeter-Chagford/Moretonhampstead): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Stagecoach. There appears to be no change to the timetable and buses will continue to depart from Sidwell Street rather than the Bus Station.
Routes 174 (Newton Abbot-Kingskerswell/The Willows) and 184 (Newton Abbot-Teignmouth): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Country Bus, with a new timetable. The two routes have been combined into a single through route (174) and the service is also extended to Torbay Hospital. Buses operate every two hours during Monday to Saturday daytimes between Teignmouth and Torbay Hospital.
Routes 366 (Kenn-Exeter) and Exeter City routes M & U: This one-bus contract transferred from Country Bus to Dartline with no change to the timetables. The 366 operates one return journey into Exeter on Mondays to Saturdays, with the bus and driver operating on the Exeter city routes between the 366 journeys.
The Go Devon Bus operation ceased after Saturday 3rd June and routes 315, 345 and 377, operated under contract to Devon County Council, were withdrawn. From Monday 5th June Stagecoach route 5 (Exeter-Crediton) has a revised timetable and some journeys are extended beyond Crediton as route 5A (Okehampton), 5B (Barnstaple) or 5C (Chulmleigh), but not to the same timetables as previously. The service beyond Crediton is supported by Devon County Council. There are also some changes to the timetable for route 6A between Okehampton and Exeter. The Go Cornwall Bus operation of route 306 (Launceston-Okehampton) on Mondays to Saturdays and of routes 6/6A (Bude-Okehampton-Exeter) on Sundays continues unchanged.
Following the loss of the 7, 173 and 174/184 Dartline published this tribute on its Facebook page:
"Sometimes good things come to an end, and that is certainly the case today for 3 service runs we have held for a long time.
"So today we say goodbye to the 173 Exeter to Chagford and Moretonhampstead; the 174/184 Newton Abbot runaround and ED7 the Exmouth town shopper.
"Over the years lots of our fabulous team have covered these routes, the 173 with its patience testing section from Crockernwell to Sandy Park, not to mention Chagford Square; the 174 with Newton Abbot gridlocked and race days being ‘something else’ and then ED7, where you chase time all day and bin day is carnage.
"The 173 hasn’t had a regular driver since Stuart was redeployed elsewhere, Les has looked after the 174/184 route for 4.5 years including dressing as Santa at Christmas and Nikki has brought her brilliantness to exmouth for over 3 years now.
"Nikki and Les, as your line manager can I say a huge and genuinely heartfelt thank you, for being the absolute stars you both are, and I look forward to you both taking your exceptional levels of customer service and driving standards to new routes and blessing new customers with your wonderfulness.
It’s a pleasure managing my team, & you two are no exception"
From Saturday 27th/Sunday 28th May:
Totnes & Rural Community Transport ("Bob The Bus"): new Saturday morning Totnes town service B3S (Follaton-Westonfields)
Stagecoach: new Summer Sunday service on route 31 (Ilfracombe-Woolacombe) operated under contract to Devon County Council, operates until 27th September. The Monday-Saturday service continues to be operated by Taw & Torridge and is unchanged.
Stagecoach: new Summer Sunday service 198, operates four circular journeys from Gunnislake station via Tavistock, then a one-way loop via Yelverton, Princetown and Merrivale. Operated under contract to Devon County Council and ends on 27th September.
From Monday 29th/Tuesday 30th May:
Go Cornwall Bus routes 217/218/219 (Holsworthy/Hartham/Bude area): minor changes to times and routes to improve links to Stratton Hospital.
Axe Valley Mini Travel routes 378 (Seaton-Lyme Regis) and 899 (Seaton-Sidmouth): revised timetables from Tuesday 30th May.
From Sunday 4th/Monday 5th June:
Route 7 (Exmouth Town service): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Stagecoach. The route is renumbered 97 to align with other local Stagecoach routes.
Route 173 (Exeter-Chagford/Moretonhampstead): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Stagecoach. There appears to be no change to the timetable and buses will continue to depart from Sidwell Street rather than the Bus Station.
Routes 174 (Newton Abbot-Kingskerswell/The Willows) and 184 (Newton Abbot-Teignmouth): Devon County Council contract transferred from Dartline to Country Bus, with a new timetable. The two routes have been combined into a single through route (174) and the service is also extended to Torbay Hospital. Buses operate every two hours during Monday to Saturday daytimes between Teignmouth and Torbay Hospital.
Routes 366 (Kenn-Exeter) and Exeter City routes M & U: This one-bus contract transferred from Country Bus to Dartline with no change to the timetables. The 366 operates one return journey into Exeter on Mondays to Saturdays, with the bus and driver operating on the Exeter city routes between the 366 journeys.
The Go Devon Bus operation ceased after Saturday 3rd June and routes 315, 345 and 377, operated under contract to Devon County Council, were withdrawn. From Monday 5th June Stagecoach route 5 (Exeter-Crediton) has a revised timetable and some journeys are extended beyond Crediton as route 5A (Okehampton), 5B (Barnstaple) or 5C (Chulmleigh), but not to the same timetables as previously. The service beyond Crediton is supported by Devon County Council. There are also some changes to the timetable for route 6A between Okehampton and Exeter. The Go Cornwall Bus operation of route 306 (Launceston-Okehampton) on Mondays to Saturdays and of routes 6/6A (Bude-Okehampton-Exeter) on Sundays continues unchanged.
Following the loss of the 7, 173 and 174/184 Dartline published this tribute on its Facebook page:
"Sometimes good things come to an end, and that is certainly the case today for 3 service runs we have held for a long time.
"So today we say goodbye to the 173 Exeter to Chagford and Moretonhampstead; the 174/184 Newton Abbot runaround and ED7 the Exmouth town shopper.
"Over the years lots of our fabulous team have covered these routes, the 173 with its patience testing section from Crockernwell to Sandy Park, not to mention Chagford Square; the 174 with Newton Abbot gridlocked and race days being ‘something else’ and then ED7, where you chase time all day and bin day is carnage.
"The 173 hasn’t had a regular driver since Stuart was redeployed elsewhere, Les has looked after the 174/184 route for 4.5 years including dressing as Santa at Christmas and Nikki has brought her brilliantness to exmouth for over 3 years now.
"Nikki and Les, as your line manager can I say a huge and genuinely heartfelt thank you, for being the absolute stars you both are, and I look forward to you both taking your exceptional levels of customer service and driving standards to new routes and blessing new customers with your wonderfulness.
It’s a pleasure managing my team, & you two are no exception"