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Post by wirewiper on Aug 25, 2020 11:47:01 GMT
Stagecoach South West has announced service arrangements for when schools return in September. In many cases, journeys which are known to carry large numbers of school and college students will be duplicated in part or in full, with the duplicate journey exclusively for schoolchildren. Some journeys and routes that operate primarily for school and college students will become "closed". More details of the services being operated for school and college students from September: www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-west/south-west-school-buses
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 28, 2020 15:10:56 GMT
Stagecoach South West has announced service arrangements for when schools return in September. In many cases, journeys which are known to carry large numbers of school and college students will be duplicated in part or in full, with the duplicate journey exclusively for schoolchildren. Some journeys and routes that operate primarily for school and college students will become "closed". Stagecoach has also announced more general timetable changes in and around Exeter from Sunday 6th September. In most cases the changes are minor, and many are to do with the reintroduction of school term timetables. Routes B, H/H1/H2, K, 1/1A/1C, 2, 4, 5/5A/5B/5C, 9/9A, 55/155, 56, 57, 58 and 157/257/357 will have minor timetable changes only. Routes A (Alphington), I/J (IKEA & Digby circulars) and R/S (Rifford Road circulars) will revert to their pre-covid frequencies. Route D will become UNI. During the day Monday-Friday it will operate every 15 minutes between the University and St Luke's College. In the evenings and at weekends it will operate every 30 minutes between the University and City Centre (Cheeke Street). Following comments about the City Centre terminus at South Street, Exwick circulars E1/E2 will be extended to High Street and Cheeke Street. Early morning staff buses in Exeter will be made available to the general public and will operate as routes X Y Z.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 28, 2020 15:25:44 GMT
I seem to remember in Stagecoach consultation for 2020 they were to re route park and ride 101 in Plymouth via Mutley rather than Milehouse and terminate x38 at Ivybridge with passengers transferred to Gold into Plymouth. Does anyone know if these planned changes for May have been binned or just delayed until later date at all? Also if 101 routed via Mutley what will happen to Milehouse PR, how will this be serviced? Any ideas also why Stagecoach suddenly gave up their school services to Coombe Dean and Torbridge? The proposed changes to routes X38 and 101 have not happened as yet. Apparently Stagecoach deregistered the Coombe Dean School routes a few weeks ago as they are no longer considered commercially viable. It is notable that Plymouth Citybus will be charging higher prices for their season tickets on the routes.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 28, 2020 16:00:43 GMT
Plymouth CityBus is preparing for the early September timetable changes, usually a significant time for English operators as it coincides with the start of the school academic year. So far new timetables have appeared on Traveline for routes 5/5A (Saltash-Elburton), 28/28A (City Centre-Eggbuckland), 42/42C (City Centre-Derriford Hospital-Mainstone/Woolwell) and 43 (City Centre-Ernesettle). There are also changes to the 50/51 circulars with an increased frequency and new variants 50A/51A, details and timetables not yet available. Plymouth CityBus will also operate an expanded network of schools services from September, with a number of routes being take over from Stagecoach. Meanwhile, the local paper The Plymouth Herald has an online article explaining why buses from Southampton and Brighton & Hove are running around Plymouth! www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/buses-southampton-brighton-been-driving-4397469More on these changes: Route 28/28A will incorporate schoolday journeys to and from Tor Bridge High School operating as route 28S - these journeys will carry students only. Route 34 (City-Devonport-Derriford) will be increased to up to every 20 minutes. Route 43 (City-Ernesettle) will be increased to up to every 15 minutes. Routes 50/51 (City & Derriford circulars) will be increased to up to every 15 minutes, with alternate journeys numbered 50A/51A. Route 50/51 journeys will omit Parkway Industrial Estate and Keswick Way whilst route 50A/51A journeys will omit Transit Way. On schooldays the 06.33 route 50 departure from Royal Parade will operate as route 50S via Whitleigh and Tor Bridge High School to Estover ASDA, this journey will carry students only after St Budeaux Square. A return journey will operate from Estover ASDA at 15.05 as route 51S. Plymouth CityBus will also be operating Coombe Dean School routes 806, 807, 808, 809 and 810 after Stagecoach deregistered them a few weeks ago as no longer commercially viable. Some Transport for Cornwall routes will also have students-only journeys, including the Callywith College routes which will all become student-only. There is concern that this will leave significant gaps in the 70 and 75 services to and from Torpoint for regular passengers and Cornwall County Council may support the operation of additional public journeys on route 70B between Cremyll and Torpoint Ferry. From 1st September free travel using ENCTS bus passes will revert to the standard times of 09.30-23.00 on Mondays to Fridays and anytime at weekends for journeys commencing in the Plymouth City Council area. This brings them into line with Devon County Council where the standard times were reintroduced on 15th June. Lastly, the loaned Brighton & Hove Scania OmniDekkas have been withdrawn from service as they are required for a service uplift in their home city. Last one reported in service was 824 which operated on route 34 on Monday 24th August.
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markc
Conductor
Posts: 73
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Post by markc on Aug 28, 2020 16:14:03 GMT
I seem to remember in Stagecoach consultation for 2020 they were to re route park and ride 101 in Plymouth via Mutley rather than Milehouse and terminate x38 at Ivybridge with passengers transferred to Gold into Plymouth. Does anyone know if these planned changes for May have been binned or just delayed until later date at all? Also if 101 routed via Mutley what will happen to Milehouse PR, how will this be serviced? Any ideas also why Stagecoach suddenly gave up their school services to Coombe Dean and Torbridge? The proposed changes to routes X38 and 101 have not happened as yet. Apparently Stagecoach deregistered the Coombe Dean School routes a few weeks ago as they are no longer considered commercially viable. It is notable that Plymouth Citybus will be charging higher prices for their season tickets on the routes.
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markc
Conductor
Posts: 73
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Post by markc on Aug 28, 2020 16:15:50 GMT
Ah I was just wandering if changes were likely to happen in future or decided against by Stagecoach that's all? Thought if 101 went via Mutley this would leave no park and ride service at Milehouse? Also note no changes to Plymouth services at all from September either.
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 4, 2020 11:46:41 GMT
From 1st September free travel using ENCTS bus passes will revert to the standard times of 09.30-23.00 on Mondays to Fridays and anytime at weekends for journeys commencing in the Plymouth City Council area. This brings them into line with Devon County Council where the standard times were reintroduced on 15th June. <snip> I can confirm that free travel using ENCTS passes acceptance also reverted to standard times from 1st September for journeys commencing in the Torbay Council area (Torbay is a Unitary Authority).
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 9, 2020 16:15:12 GMT
A couple of snippets: Plymouth CityBus and Go Cornwall Bus are now under a single umbrella organisation "Go South West", although the Plymouth CityBus and Transport for Cornwall brands will still be used. Torbay open-top service 122 between Babbacombe, Torquay, Paignton and Paignton Zoo will recommence on Saturday 1st August, to a limited hourly timetable. It is expected to end around the third Sunday in September. Roadworks on the Tamar Bridge mean that the dedicated pedestrian and cycling route which uses the south cantilever will be suspended and opened up to all traffic from 1st August. For the duration of the works Plymouth CityBus will operate a free TB1 shuttle service in both directions over the bridge. The service is intended to carry mobility scooters and bicycles as well as passengers, and will likely be operated by Scania OmniDekkas currently on loan from Brighton & Hove as there have a large area of tip-up seating on the lower deck. From Monday 7th September Plymouth CityBus sub-contracted the temporary Tamar Bridge TB1 shuttle to Roselyn Coaches, in order to concentrate on providing extra capacity for student travel. Roselyn appears to be using a couple of ex-Plymouth CityBus Plaxton President-bodied Tridents.
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 22, 2020 16:31:48 GMT
Last day for the seasonal open-top 122 service in Torbay will be Saturday Sunday 27th September. A reduced hourly service has been operating since 1st August. The 222 between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren did not operate this year.
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markc
Conductor
Posts: 73
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Post by markc on Sept 22, 2020 18:37:47 GMT
Last day for the seasonal open-top 122 service in Torbay will be Saturday 27th September. A reduced hourly service has been operating since 1st August. The 222 between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren did not operate this year. Are there any changes to Plymouth network planned do you know?
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 23, 2020 8:27:45 GMT
Plymouth CityBus made some minor adjustments to services from 21st September to improve capacity on school services. A couple of morning and afternoon journeys on routes 42A/42C have been reinstated after being temporarily suspended to provide school transport, and some route 50/51 journeys are retimed to lessen the gap in service caused by routes 50S/51S becoming closed services for schools.
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markc
Conductor
Posts: 73
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Post by markc on Sept 23, 2020 16:41:02 GMT
Plymouth CityBus made some minor adjustments to services from 21st September to improve capacity on school services. A couple of morning and afternoon journeys on routes 42A/42C have been reinstated after being temporarily suspended to provide school transport, and some route 50/51 journeys are retimed to lessen the gap in service caused by routes 50S/51S becoming closed services for schools. No changes planned for Stagecoach in the city then?
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 23, 2020 17:46:23 GMT
Plymouth CityBus made some minor adjustments to services from 21st September to improve capacity on school services. A couple of morning and afternoon journeys on routes 42A/42C have been reinstated after being temporarily suspended to provide school transport, and some route 50/51 journeys are retimed to lessen the gap in service caused by routes 50S/51S becoming closed services for schools. No changes planned for Stagecoach in the city then? None that I know of.
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 28, 2020 12:11:15 GMT
The bus scene in Plymouth has been enlivened in recent weeks, as loaned vehicles from other Go-Ahead companies have been operating on Plymouth CityBus routes whist their own vehicles are temporarily covering Transport for Cornwall operations pending the delayed delivery of New ADL Enviro200 MMCs and Enviro400 MMCs. Vehicles, notably Scania saloons with Wight Solar and OmniCity bodywork from Go South Coast (Bluestar and morebus) and Go North East as well as Scania OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove, started arriving in March in readiness for the launch of Transport for Cornwall on the 29th. However the arrival of Covid-19 left the vehicles unused, as TfC started with only limited services and Plymouth CityBus' own services were drastically reduced. By May though the situation had improved to the extent that Transport for Cornwall was able to offer a full service from the 31st, and Plymouth CityBus services received a significant uplift from the same date. I travelled to Plymouth and Derriford Hospital on Tuesday 8th September - my first visit to the city since lockdown in March - and was able to capture a few photos to give a flavour of the loaned buses in operation. They seem to be kept mostly to routes 34 (City Centre - Devonport - Derriford Hospital) and routes 50/50A/51/51A (City Centre and Derriford Hospital circulars via St Budeaux and Estover). The delayed vehicles are now being delivered and the loaned buses will not be around for much longer; indeed I was too late to capture the Brighton & Hove OmniDekkas which have already departed as they were needed for an uplift of services in their home city. As well as the loaned buses, a few older Plymouth CityBus vehicles have been reinstated temporarily. I observed 433 (X501 EGK), a Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B7TL that was new to Go-Ahead London General as its PVL201, at work on route 34. Plymouth CityBus loans by Julian Walker, on Flickr Plymouth CityBus loans by Julian Walker, on Flickr Plymouth CityBus loans by Julian Walker, on Flickr Plymouth CityBus loans by Julian Walker, on Flickr Tempoirarily reinstated by Julian Walker, on Flickr
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 28, 2020 12:44:57 GMT
Plymouth CityBus is putting its two part open-top ADL Enviro400s to good use on circular route 25, which links the City Centre with Barbican and The Hoe and offers spectacular views of Plymouth Sound. A round trip takes 25 minutes so the half-hourly service can be operated with one vehicle. Using the double-deckers instead of the usual 25-seater midibus increases the capacity for social distancing, and has apparently generated extra custom - visitors often hop on and go upstairs "just for the ride" whilst the regular passengers ride on the lower deck. The two vehicles (468/469) were new to Go-Ahead London Central as E29 and E30 (LX06 EZD/EZE) in 2006 for route 37, and transferred with ten others to Plymouth in 2018. The pair carry a blue-based "Ocean City Sights" livery for a tour that was trialled in the Summer of 2019 but deemed unsuccessful. 469 is seen here at Royal Parade on Tuesday 8th September. Ocean City Sights? by Julian Walker, on Flickr
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