Still catching up with November

A look back at the last weeks worth of notices that have come through. The first thing to notice is that once again most of these are changes that occurred way back in November! The vast majority being Summercourt Travel services being cancelled. These have been taken on by Plymouth Citybus. There are a couple for 2025 – Linden Holding (MD Coaches) takes on a new Monday service on the 381 and Tally Ho have a new timetable for February on the 164. Timetables for both of these can be found on the route pages by clicking through on the Licence number below.

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	Operator
PH1011427.087	22	Nanpean, St Georges Road	Penrice School	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.084	23	St. Austell, South Street.	Gorran Haven Car Park.	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.088	28	Lostwithiel, Cott Road	St Austell Bus and Rail Station	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.101	31	St Austell Bus and Rail Station	Luxulyan School	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.090	51	St. Austell Bus/ Rail Station	Veryan, Pendower Road	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1117103.017	61	Occombe Farm, Preston Down Road, Paignton	Union Street, Stand 1, Torquay	30-Nov-2024	service reverting back to original route following end of road closure  (V2)	D J WATTS COACH TRAVEL LTD
PH1117103.003	62	Cary Parade, Torquay	Cary Parade, Torquay	30-Nov-2024	service reverting back to orignal route following end of road closure (V8)	D J WATTS COACH TRAVEL LTD
PH1117103.004	64	Torquay, Castle Circus	Torquay, Middle Warberry Road( Ben Venue)	30-Nov-2024	Timetable variation	D J WATTS COACH TRAVEL LTD
PH1011427.089	66	Bohelland Rise,  Penryn	Victoria Square, Truro	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1081198.002	164	Totnes, Coronation Road	Salcombe, Shadycombe Road	17-Feb-2025	timetable variation (V10)	TALLY HO! COACHES LIMITED
PH2008096.020	381	Oak Tree Gardens, Westhill, Ottery St Mary	Broad Street, Ottery St Mary	06-Jan-2025	NEW Registration. Mondays only	LINDEN HOLDINGS (DEVON) LTD
PH1011427.094	421	Summercourt Bus Garage	Nanpean, St. Georges Road	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.091	428	East Looe (Bridge)	Summercourt, London Inn	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.096	466	Penryn, Truro Hill	Truro, Lemon Quay	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.061	481 482	Polruan	Looe/Bodmin	04-Nov-2024	Timetable variation due to road closure (V8)	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.061	481 482	Polruan	Looe/Bodmin	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.067	484 485	Malpas Village	Malpas Village	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.056	493	Truro, Lemon Quay	Truro, bottom of Lemon Street	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.055	494 495	Truro, Lemon Quay	Truro, Lemon Quay	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED
PH1011427.085	496	River Street, Truro	Chellew Road, Truro	29-Nov-2024	cancellation	SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LIMITED

PT Admin

Now seems as good as any time to mention a bit of housekeeping within the blog that might prove useful / interesting to some.

As well as the new page for Planned Service changes available on the top menu I have created archive pages for each month going back to January 2024 so if you want to look back at a whole month then this is the place to do it. The pages will be linked to on the bottom of the main Planned Service changes page – but links are included below..

Archive Pages

Previous months on their own pages to keep this front page more manageable:

• Service Changes Archive November 2024
• Service Changes Archive October 2024
• Service Changes Archive September 2024
• Service Changes Archive August 2024
• Service Changes Archive July 2024
• Service Changes Archive June 2024
• Service Changes Archive May 2024
• Service Changes Archive April 2024
• Service Changes Archive March 2024
• Service Changes Archive February 2024
• Service Changes Archive January 2024

First no longer Open Minded in Cornwall?

As mentioned in a comment on this blog ( I was sceptical at first!) and confirmed by some on Facebook as having been announced internally within the company

Some sad news indeed emerging from First Kernow tonight, is that it has been announced internally that ALL open top vehicles have been withdrawn for next season, and that The Land's End Coaster and The Atlantic Coaster will be operated with closed top vehicles year round instead of just in the winter.

I must admit I am surprised as it seems they were popular. Having said that though the operation is looking very much unloved by the group these days so maybe we shouldn't be that surprised really. Presumably the routes themselves will continue to operate so would be less attractive to anyone else who might feel inclined to operate open tops in Cornwall instead. It would be sad that a county with the most amazing coastline will have no open top services for tourists.

For an idea of what will be missed this year there is an excellent series on You tube where Johhny Hoover tracks the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Poole using local buses. Its well worth a watch and it does highlight the stunning scenery that can be enjoyed on these routes.

MInehead to Hartland

Hartland – Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay – Penzance

The Land’s End Coaster

The Lizard to Truro

St Austell – Looe

Liskeard – Totnes

Paignton – Seaton

Seaton – Weymouth

Weymouth – Poole

Do we even see First staying in Cornwall for much longer?  Any attempt at localisation is now frowned upon by the group with many attractive local liveries being replaced by the admitted smart new corporate livery although I have yet to see any local buses repainted. ( I think there is one that came ready painted?). Any attempt at marketing appears to have been dropped with their own web site being a bland corporate affair where you are more likely to read about developments in Berkshire than anything more local.

© Nick Rice [creative commons] back in 2022

First Official sighting

Plymouth City Council have given us our first glimpse of the new buses on their way to Plymouth this year

Fifty zero-emission electric double-decker buses will be coming to Plymouth this year as part of a major £31.87 million joint investment in the city’s public transport.

Plymouth Citybus, part of the Go-Ahead Group, will soon be replacing almost half its fleet with brand new electric double-decker buses, in a collaboration with Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, and the Department for Transport.

The investment marks a significant step towards cleaner, greener public transport in Plymouth and reinforces the city’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. It will also create additional capacity and improve passenger experience across the network.

The new electric buses will operate on the 21/A, 42 and 50/51 routes in Plymouth, with six buses serving Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula on route 70.

The majority of the funding (£19.6 million) is being provided by Plymouth Citybus, supported by a £10.34 million grant from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 Fund and contributions from Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council totalling £1.94 million.

The buses will start arriving in Plymouth in late spring, with the first 25 entering service in the summer and all 50 being out on the road by the end of the year. Plymouth Citybus is transforming its Milehouse depot into a state-of the art hub equipped to charge and maintain the new zero-emission fleet.

Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus said: “We are proud to lead the way in delivering cleaner, greener, and more sustainable public transport for Plymouth.

“The introduction of 50 zero-emission electric buses represents a huge step forward in our commitment to reducing emissions, improving air quality, and providing a modern, reliable service for our passengers.

“This investment not only reflects our dedication to the local community but also to a more sustainable future for our city.”

Councillor Mark Coker, Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “We’ve committed to making Plymouth a greener city, where everyone does their bit and this is exactly what our ZEBRA project delivers.

“It will help meet the vision of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is to create a thriving bus network where everyone can be connected to important people and places, by services that are frequent, reliable, fast, affordable, safe and clean, as well as help Plymouth to achieve its net zero goals by 2030.

“We are really excited to be working alongside our project partners to introduce these new buses to the city’s fleet.”

Cornwall’s contribution will bring six electric buses and the necessary infrastructure to support route 70 on the Rame Peninsula, which forms part of the council’s supported bus network. Cornwall Council successfully bid for further ZEBRA 2 funding to provide electric buses for the Falmouth town service and Truro park and ride.

Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: “As we continue our work to support residents to make greener and healthier choices about how they travel, it’s important that our public transport network reflects our commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

“Route 70 plays an important role in connecting communities in south east Cornwall and on to Plymouth and this funding will enable zero-emission buses to run now and into the future.”

The buses will be more accessible than the diesel buses they are replacing, with a second flexible space that can be used for a second wheelchair user or at least two unfolded pushchairs or prams in addition to the mandatory wheelchair space. They will also have audio-visual route/next stop/bus stopping information.

They will also help to advance all of the project partners’ efforts on tackling climate change and air quality, with the buses expected to reduce carbon emissions by 79,914 tonnes over their lifetime.  Estimates show they will also reduce NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) emissions by 28 tonnes and PM (particulate matter) 2.5 emissions by a tonne.

Also, as part of the ZEBRA project, Wrightbus (the bus manufacturer) has made the commitment that for every vehicle manufactured, 10 trees will be planted in the communities where the buses are deployed.

I for one will be looking forward to these appearing on the 50/51s and wont miss the London E400s one bit!

January timetable changes

Just catching up with service registrations as the January changes are now trickling through at last..

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	Operator
PH1020951.449	20	Honiton	Seaton	06-Jan-2025	Service 20 will provide five journeys in each direction Monday to Saturday between Seaton and Taunton via Colyton, Honiton, Hemyock and Wellington. Some changes are introduced to the previous departure times, however, key commuter and Richard Huish College journeys continue to operate at current times.	STAGECOACH DEVON LTD
PH1020951.450	20	Honiton	Taunton	06-Jan-2025	Service 20 will provide five journeys in each direction Monday to Saturday between Seaton and Taunton via Colyton, Honiton, Hemyock and Wellington. Some changes are introduced to the previous departure times, however, key commuter and Richard Huish College journeys continue to operate at current times.	STAGECOACH DEVON LTD
PH0000135.192	176 177 178	Callywith College	Launceston	06-Jan-2025	Revise route and times of service 177 Revise times of service 176 Remove service 175	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.323	306	Launceston	Okehampton	06-Jan-2025	Retime existing 0735 ex Okehampton to 0730	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH1020951.448	369	Exeter	Witheridge / Morchard Bishop	05-Jan-2025	Service 369 will provide five journeys in each direction between Exeter and Morchard Bishop via Crediton. Some peak time journeys will extend to and from the RD&E Hospital. Some changes are introduced to the previous journeys; on Monday to Fridays the first journey from Morchard Bishop will be extended to start from Witheridge at 0657 and the last journey from Exeter (RD&E) at 1715 will be extended to Witheridge. The extension of journeys to and from Witheridge will provide commuters and students with a direct service to and from Exeter.	STAGECOACH DEVON LTD

As usual you can click through on the licence for more details including timetables.