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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Apr 3, 2022 11:48:34 GMT
The April edition of Buses magazine has a story about The Exeter Area Bus Action Group, or TEABAG for short, being annoyed by Stagecoach, and the headline says TEABAG scalds Stagecoach.
They do sometimes include an April Fools story in the April edition!!
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 3, 2022 11:50:52 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 4, 2022 16:46:10 GMT
Plymouth CityBus is making a few more service changes from Sunday 24th April. These are largely connected with the reopening of Forder Valley Road which will enable the 28A to return to Mainstone. Some selective service reductions are also taking place on a couple of high-frequency corridors to that other services can be operated more reliably within current staffing levels.
5/5A - withdrawn between Plymouth City Centre and Saltash. Go Cornwall Bus routes 11, 12 and 72 and Stagecoach routes 2/2A provide alternative links between Plymouth and Saltash, whilst routes 21/21A still provide a high-frequency service through Devonport.
27/27B and 28/28A - these routes will have revised timetables. Route 28A is restored to Mainstone following the reopening of Forder Valley Road.
34 - most journeys will no longer serve Royal William Yard in Stonehouse. Some afternoon/early evening journeys extended for Derriford Hopsital to Estover. A separate route 34A will operate at most times between Plymouth City Centre and Royal William Yard.
40/40A/41/41A - routes withdrawn, replaced by changes to route 42 which will operate to Southway and to routes 42A/42B.
42/42A/42B - 42 will no longer serve Mainstone due to the 28A being restored. Will instead operate to Southway replacing services 40/41. Routes 42A and 42B will also have revised routes and timetables to replace routes 40/41 in Southway.
42C - revised timetable.
Route 44/44A - revised timetable. 44A rerouted via Taunton Avenue (Whitleigh) outbound as well as inbound.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 6, 2022 9:26:55 GMT
Plymouth CityBus changes from 10th April (including routes operated as part of the Go Cornwall Bus network) Routes 8/9 (Efford and Laira circular) - reduced daytime frequency to every 15 minutes (30 minutes each route) Route 11 (Plymouth-Bodmin Parkway) - shortened to operate between Plymouth and Liskeard/Trago Mills/St Neot only. This breaks up the Plymouth-Padstow through route as the Bodmin Parkway-Padstow 11A service will be renumbered 10 and operated separately. Routes 12/12A (Plymouth-Downgate/Bude) - revised hourly service between Plymouth, Callington and Launceston with route 12 operating via Stoke Climsland and route 12A via St Dominic. Two-hourly service between Launceston and Bude. 12A no longer serves Downgate. Route 33 (Ford & Keyham) - rerouted via Wilton Street, Molesworth and Ford Hill to part-replace route 70 (this will leave the eastern section of St Levan Road unserved). New timetable to improve reliability. Route 70/70A/70B (Plymouth-Torpoint & Rame Peninsula) - revised to operate at an hourly frequency between Plymouth, Torpoint and on to Cremyll. Most route 70B journeys withdrawn, partly replaced by new route 75A which will operate from Torpoint Ferry Terminal to Plymouth via St Germans and Saltash. Revised in Plymouth to operate via the Railway Station and Milehouse - route via Wilton Street and Molesworth Road covered by changes to the 33. On Sunday operates hourly as 70A to Torpoint (HMS Raleigh) and two-hourly on to Cremyll. Route 71 (Derriford Hospital-Saltash-Liskeard) - revised to operate between Derriford Hospital and Saltash (Burraton Cross) only. Route 72 (Plymouth-Looe & Polperro) - Monday-Saturday service withdrawn between West Looe and Polperro (most journeys to terminate at Hannafore). This section will be replaced by an enhanced route 73 (Liskeard-Polperro) with additional Summer season journeys between Tregoad Holiday Park and Polperro. Sunday and public holiday service will now operate between Plymouth and Polperro every 2 hours. Plymouth CityBus will also implement a general fares increase from Sunday 10th April. The fares increase, plus the service changes of 10th and 24th April, are the first steps in what the Company Management are calling a "multi-step Recovery Plan". Further changes are expected to take place in September. Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus, said: “It is hard to see any good news in the steps we have been forced to take; in truth, they could have been much worse. As a company we have minimised the impact of the current situation the bus industry finds itself in, by absorbing as many costs as possible. This is a vital reset of our operation, that will provide a platform for reliable service delivery and an opportunity to grow back over coming years. "It is no secret that our operational delivery has been severely challenged over recent months, I am hugely grateful for the patience and support our customers have shown and the valiant efforts of my team. I am personally devastated that people who rely on our services will have to shoulder the consequences of our Covid recovery in this way. "With no further funding available, this is the only viable way forward; these changes are implemented with a heavy heart, I am sincerely sorry for the impact this may have on people’s lives.”
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 6, 2022 11:16:19 GMT
Plymouth CityBus changes from 10th April (including routes operated as part of the Go Cornwall Bus network) <snip> Plymouth CityBus will also implement a general fares increase from Sunday 10th April. The fares increase, plus the service changes of 10th and 24th April, are the first steps in what the Company Management are calling a "multi-step Recovery Plan". Further changes are expected to take place in September. Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus, said: “It is hard to see any good news in the steps we have been forced to take; in truth, they could have been much worse. As a company we have minimised the impact of the current situation the bus industry finds itself in, by absorbing as many costs as possible. This is a vital reset of our operation, that will provide a platform for reliable service delivery and an opportunity to grow back over coming years. "It is no secret that our operational delivery has been severely challenged over recent months, I am hugely grateful for the patience and support our customers have shown and the valiant efforts of my team. I am personally devastated that people who rely on our services will have to shoulder the consequences of our Covid recovery in this way. "With no further funding available, this is the only viable way forward; these changes are implemented with a heavy heart, I am sincerely sorry for the impact this may have on people’s lives.” This follows on from the announcement that Plymouth will not be one of the thirty-odd areas to receive money from the Government's Bus Back Better funding. The successful bids were announced on Monday 4th April, including Cornwall's pilot which is due to go ahead on 10th April with reduced price ticketing across the County. Torbay Council has also been unsuccessful in its bid. Devon County Council (which includes Exeter) is to receive £14million towards bus improvements, which is well short of the £34million it asked for.
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markc
Conductor
Posts: 73
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Post by markc on Apr 6, 2022 17:34:08 GMT
Now Plymouth has not received any money from BSIP I really do worry what service we will be left with without any funding. Citybus cuts it seems are just tip of iceberg with bigger cuts from them in September.
As for Stagecoach they have cut park and ride 101 to every 20 mins. They don't seem interested at all in developing their services in Plymouth even begore Covid. At least with First in the past that were willing to try new things.
I hope the 1 doesn't get cut...personally I would route the 101 via Mannamead Road as well instead of Outland Road as their is more potential customers there I feel. It was however encouraging to see an additional late evening servuce on 1 leaving Plymouth at 11pm added from April 10th
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 10, 2022 12:06:08 GMT
Fleet news from Plymouth CityBus:
The last ex-Go-Ahead London PVL (Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President) has been withdrawn after service on 9th April.
The last remaining Mercedes Citaros and all but one of the Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointers are expected to be withdrawn following the 24th April service changes. Dart 251 will remain for a short while, until 3 Enviro200s are transferred in from Cornwall (these will also replace Enviro200s 160/161 which were acquired from Target Travel when that company ceased operating). Plans to use four Citaros as driver trainers have changed, four ex-London Enviro200s that have not yet been converted to single door will be used instead.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 11, 2022 7:11:17 GMT
The "Bovisand Beach Bus" (route 54 operated by Plymouth CityBus) will have a more limited season this year.
It will operate every day from Saturday 28th May through to Sunday 5th June (the school half-term week which will include the two public holidays for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee), and then daily from Saturday 23rd July until Sunday 4th September.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 16, 2022 16:13:37 GMT
Plymouth CityBus is making a few more service changes from Sunday 24th April. These are largely connected with the reopening of Forder Valley Road which will enable the 28A to return to Mainstone. Some selective service reductions are also taking place on a couple of high-frequency corridors to that other services can be operated more reliably within current staffing levels. 5/5A - withdrawn between Plymouth City Centre and Saltash. Go Cornwall Bus routes 11, 12 and 72 and Stagecoach routes 2/2A provide alternative links between Plymouth and Saltash, whilst routes 21/21A still provide a high-frequency service through Devonport. 27/27B and 28/28A - these routes will have revised timetables. Route 28A is restored to Mainstone following the reopening of Forder Valley Road. 34 - most journeys will no longer serve Royal William Yard in Stonehouse. Some afternoon/early evening journeys extended from Derriford Hopsital to Estover. A separate route 34A will operate at most times between Plymouth City Centre and Royal William Yard. 40/40A/41/41A - routes withdrawn, replaced by changes to route 42 which will operate to Southway and to routes 42A/42B. 42/42A/42B - 42 will no longer serve Mainstone due to the 28A being restored. Will instead operate to Southway replacing services 40/41. Routes 42A and 42B will also have revised routes and timetables to replace routes 40/41 in Southway. 42C - revised timetable. Route 44/44A - revised timetable. 44A rerouted via Taunton Avenue (Whitleigh) outbound as well as inbound. Although the 40/41 are being withdrawn, a residual route 41 service will remain on schooldays only to provide a service to Sir John Hunt Community College on the lower section of Tamerton Foliot Road. Four morning and four afternoon journeys will operate with a break in the middle of the day. In the City Centre buses will serve the University and will terminate/start in Mayflower Street, looping directly back to North Road and not serving Royal Parade. In Southway buses will operate a one-way loop via Dunnet Road, Cittaford Road, Flamborough Road and Southway Drive. Route 42 will serve Derriford Hospital and Marjons and will then loop back to serve Looseleigh Lane and Southway Drive, looping round Flamborough Drive and Cittaford Road and returning via Southway Drive and Looseleigh Lane before looping around Marjons and Derriford Hospital. Route 42A will operate via George Junction, Southway Drive, Cittaford Road and Dunnet Road to Tamerton Foliot Road in both directions. A handful of schoolday-only journeys will operate instead via Looseleigh Lane and the southern part of Southway Drive as route 42B. Routes 42 and 42A will both operate every 30 minutes (hourly evenings and Sundays). As now they will interwork with route 42C (Woolwell) to provide a 10-minute service between Marjons, Derriford Hospital and City Centre. The 34 will only operate the current route in Stonehouse (via Caroline Place and Royal William Yard) in the evenings after 19.00 and on Sundays. On Mondays to Saturdays until 19.00 route 34 will operate direct via Union Street and a separate 34A will operate every 30 minutes to Caroline Place and Royal William Yard.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 19, 2022 14:58:02 GMT
Plymouth City Council has reviewed its provision of bus shelters prior to awarding a new contract to provide and clean new eco-friendly shelters, with better lighting and more transparent glass.
The Council is removing around 200 of its 626 shelters. It says that 150 shelters are used by less than 15 passengers a day, whilst others are at alighting points or on frequent corridors with short waiting times. The council says the cost of replacing and cleaning these is unviable. A handful still exist on roads that no longer have a bus service, and a few are outside the city boundary.
The Council has also given planning permission to redevelop the site of the former Western National Laira Depot in Embankment Road that was vacated by First over 20 years ago. First moved to a new site across the river at The Ride, which they subsequently sold to Stagecoach in September 2015.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 24, 2022 10:55:13 GMT
Flixbus is starting a new route between London and Plymouth, calling at Bridgwater, Taunton and Exeter. The service will be operated in collaboration with Berry's Coaches of Taunton and Roselyn Coaches of Cornwall. First day of operation will be 28th April.
Berry's involvement is in addition to their existing Superfast services between Somerset and London (Hammersmith). These can be booked through the Flixbus website but will continue to operate independently for now.
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Post by wirewiper on May 1, 2022 16:06:59 GMT
Filer's Travel route 309/310 between Barnstaple and Lynton/Lynmouth is to receive some welcome improvements from 29th May, presumably funded by Devon County Council.
On Mondays to Saturdays most journeys will operate at a regular hourly frequency and will be extended in Barnstaple to and from the Rail Station, being timed to coincide with the train service to and from Exeter. Also most journeys will serve both Lynton and Lynmouth, rather than just the occasional projections to Lynmouth as happens currently. Finally a skeleton Sunday service is being introduced (possibly seasonal), with journeys departing Lynmouth at 10.05 and 15.05 and Barnstaple Rail Station at 11.40 and 16.40.
These improvements should help to open up this stunningly beautiful, but remote, area of North Devon to visitors as well as providing more travel opportunities for residents.
Of transport interest in the area is that the route passes Woody Bay Station, a remnant of the long-gone Lynton and Barnstaple narrow-gauge railway that is now preserved and also serves as the terminus for a mile-long stretch of restored railway along which former L&BR rolling stock operates a heritage service. The route also passes the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Britain's longest funicular which was built in the late Victorian era to connect the two settlements which are only 700 feet apart - but vertically - and is entirely water-powered.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 2, 2022 5:43:08 GMT
A little coincidence I thought I'd report here. I am currently listening to Richard Green's Vintage Chart Show from yesterday on Sounds. I also sometimes listen to BBC Radio Devon's Golden Hour too.
None of which relates to buses but it does connect with this area of the country!
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Post by wirewiper on May 2, 2022 7:24:45 GMT
A little coincidence I thought I'd report here. I am currently listening to Richard Green's Vintage Chart Show from yesterday on Sounds. I also sometimes listen to BBC Radio Devon's Golden Hour too. None of which relates to buses but it does connect with this area of the country! Funny, I sometimes listen to Radio Jackie, which is based in Tolworth, on a Wednesday evening! The usual presenter Joe Hawkins is a Torquay man who divides his time between London and Devon and has become a good friend of mine.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 2, 2022 13:50:17 GMT
A little coincidence I thought I'd report here. I am currently listening to Richard Green's Vintage Chart Show from yesterday on Sounds. I also sometimes listen to BBC Radio Devon's Golden Hour too. None of which relates to buses but it does connect with this area of the country! Funny, I sometimes listen to Radio Jackie, which is based in Tolworth, on a Wednesday evening! The usual presenter Joe Hawkins is a Torquay man who divides his time between London and Devon and has become a good friend of mine. It will be nice knowing him as a friend as well as a presenter. It also helps you regain a London connection when you listen to Radio Jackie. Local radio has inevitably been diluted as most radio is effectively available nationally or globally online. I even listened to Beverley FM this morning.
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