Sunday Best:Plymouth Train Station

Something a bit different to the normal Flickr - Sunday Best postings of late.
This lovely evening shot of Plymouth Railway Station by mile-age.

There are a few more evening shots on his Flickr page here

Confusion over Plymouth bus routes

 

NEW bus routes in Plymouth city centre are causing confusion and missed appointments, say traders. Plymouth Citybus has rerouted most of the buses that used to run down Mayflower Street.

Confusion over Plymouth bus routes

The new routes in the City Centre for Citybus services were announced back at the end of October, and featured in this blog back on the 23rd October. Also featured on that page were some of the publicity maps that Citybus put out, and I have seen quite a few of these at bus stops since then. Buses also carried notices about this change, but it seems that many people are claiming not to know anything about them...

 

"Nobody knew anything about this. To have it dropped on us at this time of year is short-sighted and arrogant."

"Citybus is dealing with their problem without telling anyone. There wasn't even an announcement in the paper."

It does make you wonder just what a bus company has to do in order to let people know about changes like this. The notices in the buses are often missed as you only get to read these if you are on the front seat behind the driver. Notices in bus stops often get vandalised and probably get missed by most passengers anyway. Radio and news papers adverts only catch passengers that bother to listen to the radio or read the paper.

There must be a better way of displaying important notices like this inside buses. The noticeboard behind the driver will only ever catch a few passengers who sit in one or two seats. You might get a quick glance as you exit the bus but you wont get the time to read it properly. Perhaps bus companies could make more use of the internal adverts above the windows to display some notices like this. It will certainly cost more though but it might be effective for some notices, even if its just pointing out the basics and telling people where to find more information.
You are never going to get the attention of everyone and there will always be people who somehow miss things no matter what you try and do. As one Nick Rice' pointed out on my original post: "Expect the letters page in the Herald to explode with angry and outraged pensioners about the new changes, and how the city council has gone to the dogs (again)." He was right!

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I was expecting this post to appear on the blog last night, and was surprised it wasnt on line when I checked at lunch time! I guess I probably pressed the wrong button again - you would have thought I would be better at this by now!

Under The Bridge

©Benobeone

Fantastic photo of the Tamar Bridge - has to be shared!

Catch it while you can

 

Just a quick note to say if you want to gets photos of the Volvo Wright demonstrator working for Citybus then you have a chance - but only a quickie!

The bus should be out on the 43 tomorrow but only stays until Saturday so you have three days to catch it. Citybus have managed to rig up some temporary destination blinds for the bus so you will know where its going!

A Breton Cyder?

©Dale Tringham - used with permission.

From the days of 'proper' Corporations with a crest of arms, comes Plymouth 61 (MCO 661), a Leyland PD2 with Metro Cammell H56R body work. I presume that Whiteway's went into the great cyder pot in the sky some time ago? Opposite Bretonside Bus Station, 24th May 1969.
Thanks to Dale for allowing me to use his photo.
Mark Harrington later added an answer to Dales question:

Commercial cider production at Whiteway's at Whimple in Devon ceased in 1989.

Sunday Best: Western National JNU138N

©Aecregent (Flickr blog this)
Back in the days when most of the large Plymouth supermarkets had buses in their colours, Plymco Superstores uses this pleasant green livery. Both Citybus Atlanteans and Western National VR's carried the livery at various times. (At least I think they did!)

TTT 1 : STK 0

I was looking forward to a run out on STK131T today - but it didnt work out like that! 131 STK was a bit poorly so 168 TTT168X had a run out instead. It was just a quick run up to Derriford, Crownhill, West Park, St Budeaux and back to Milehouse. We stopped at West Park for a couple of photos:



My camera seems to have adopted a couple of strange settings somewhere along the way but I think I have rescued the photos!
Its always good to see a proper bus out on the roads of Plymouth so 168 was a treat but I must admit I have always preferred the Park Royal / Roe bodies Atlanteans with the comfortable seats of 131-5 setting them apart from the others, so 131 has to be my favourite.
It is still hoped to get 131 ready in time for the Plym Valley runs in December. It looks great - but sounds awful at the moment!


My thanks to Ralph Delbridge and Ian Byrne for the trip today.

More use buses thanks to new pass

 

From April to September this year there were more than 3.2million concessionary bus trips in Plymouth, up 21 per cent on the same period last year. The cost to the council rose from £2.3million to £2.5million.

More use buses thanks to new pass

It has to be said that Plymouth does seem to be doing a lot better with their free bus pass provision than many councils, and dont seem to be in the same degree of panic that a lot of authorities are experiencing with the cost of the scheme. They do point out that the number of users was expected to have been higher than it has turned out, and that they are one of the more efficient local authorities when it come to administering the system. I have been impressed at the lack of news locally which suggests it is working better here than elsewhere.
Its not all good news though with one local operator having an outstanding appeal which if it goes the operators way could put the council into a loss. Nationally Stagecoach have been quite vocal against the scheme and have placed plenty of appeals in various areas which must make it very difficult for local authorities to plan ahead and set budgets, but then it cant be easy for operators either!

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On a separate note keep an eye out tomorrow for Atlantean STK131T which is hoping to be out and about for an hour or two. Give us a wave if you see us - Hopefully pictures to follow over the weekend!

The Wright Stuff?

The latest demonstrator to arrive at Plymouth Citybus is this Volvo B7RLE with Wright bodywork FJ57CYX.

 

At the moment they are waiting to see if they can sort the destination display out, if they can then hopefully it will be used in service shortly.

Photo  ©Brian George

Same bus at Manchester ©Ian Roberts (click photo for larger view)

Good News Times 3

One of those evenings where little time is available so just a collection of good news stories for tonight:

Newquay-based operator Western Greyhound won the coveted title of Independent Operator of the Year – the fourth successive year in which the company has reached this stage of the competition. The title means that Western Greyhound has once again been voted Britain's best small bus company - for the second time in three years. Well done to Mark and his team. They have also just joined the Optare Solo set with several secondhand examples for West Cornwall operations just arrived - and more new ones due in January. (Photo  ©Terry Partridge)

First Devon and Cornwall has meanwhile been highly commended in the Bus in the Countryside category for its joint initiative on Bus Route 41 "Wheal to the Coast" with Cornwall County Council, University College Falmouth and local urban generation company.

Good news also from Plymouth City Council: The work to replace the bus stops at Derriford should be complete by tomorrow lunchtime. I have been really impressed at how quickly the work has progressed and how little disruption it seems to have caused to services using the stops. Traffic has been manic as usual during the evening peak - but this is normal and not related to the on going work. The new shelters are great and at last provide a decent waiting area for passengers. It was very dark there last night as there were no lights on either in the shelter or the main lamp posts which I guess was down to the ongoing construction but once they are up and running - and then we can look forward to RTPI - Real Time Passenger Information - instead of the old battered printed time tables we have had to put up with for years! Well done to all involved with the council, JCDecaux and the bus companies.

Just eight new carriages for region's railways

 

"If the Government seriously thinks eight carriages over the next eight years is sufficient additional supply for the whole of the South West network, it simply confirms they haven't the slightest interest in the transport issues facing our region.

Just eight new carriages for region's railways

RIP Stan Butler

Christmas is coming...

Nice and early Citybus is letting us all know what it is getting up to this year. Sadly, but understandably there is no service on Boxing Day and News Years Day as well as Christmas Day, but the good news is that the rest of the days in between see normal services operating to normal timetables - and not on Saturday timetables as previous years. It may not be that much difference during the day, but early morning there is a big difference. Now just need to wait and see what Target / Taxifast are running over Christmas as if they run to Saturday service then there wont be one! PassengernoticeXmasServWC211208

Get your own at Scribd or explore others: Travel Plymouth Bus

Congestion charge plan for Tamar Bridge

 

CONGESTION charging could be introduced on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry as part of a pricing strategy overhaul, bosses have revealed. Bridge and ferry users are being urged to voice their opinions on proposed 50 per cent price hikes due to kick in next year.

Congestion charge plan for Tamar Bridge

The one thing that does seem clear from this story is that bridge tolls are going up! It does seem strange that tolls have not gone up for so long. Surely if tolls had just gone up by a small amount each year then they wouldnt be quite so short of cash now and have to put such a large increase on in one go. As for variable tolls depending on the time of day that is more interesting. Of course, with both Citybus and First dropping the morning time restrictions from their return fares they have in effect moved away from congestion charging just at the pint in time when many authorities are looking at introducing it!

Bus conductress tours depot

 

A CALLINGTON pensioner with fond memories of being a bus conductress in World War II has enjoyed a special day out in Plymouth thanks to The Herald. Joyce Lawrence wrote to us saying she would like to go to a bus rally and had lots of stories to tell. But we went one better and put her in touch with Citybus traffic manager Brian George.

Bus conductress tours depot

Always nice to see 'good news' stories in The Herald. Brian scrubs up well!

Odds and grumpy old sod

The work to replace all the bus stop shelters has now started at Derriford Hospital, so expect chaos there for a week or two! I dont know how well (or how badly) its going yet as for the last two evenings I have had to make visits down to Mutley after work so have managed to avoid Derriford in the evening rush so far this week. I did notice that when we were waiting to catch our bus from Derriford Roundabout several buses were showing as 'delay' on the RTP display, although our own 86 was only a few mins later than timetabled. The chaos should be a small price to pay for long overdue improvements!

The two visits down to Mutley highlighted a major problem when trying to catch a bus from a busy bus stop in the dark. I was waiting for the 47 which on both evenings was running about 20 mins late, which was clearly a traffic issue. The trouble is when two or three buses arrive at the bus stop at the same time you need to be on your guard to be able to get out in the road and stop the bus you want from driving passed. For many of the older Citybus Darts (and some of the First Darts too) it is almost impossible to read the destination display until the bus is practically right at the bus stop. The newer buses have much brighter displays, and First have been fitting these bright displays of many of their older buses. The step entrance Darts with the old fashioned blinds are very clear too. It does show just how much improved recently displays are - you can see them miles away!

The new Enviros for Citybus do seem to be having a few odd display issues too with at least one not display any route number on the front at all both evenings (139 I think from memory). Derriford Hospital may be chaotic and extremely busy but it is well lit and the buses go past so slowly - and all of them do stop, so you dont get the same issues with unreadable displays.
I am having similar problems with the Taxibuses when its raining I have a bit of shelter but its back a bit off the main footpath. The trouble is, if I am under the shelter I cant see the taxibuses coming until its too late to get out and hail them!
Its a good job I actually enjoy the ride once I get on my bus!

December will be magic

Message from The Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group:
In December 2008 on three consecutive Sunday’s (7^th , 14^th,21^st) we are utilising our Atlantean’s to provide a free shuttle link between the Plym Valley Railway and the City Centre and City Railway Station. This links in the the Mince Pie Specials.
Full proposed timetable click Timetables button at www.plymrail.co.uk.

If you want a ride in an Atlantean now's your chance!

Sunday Best: AFJ755T

Another Leyland National this time from Western National in the smart blue and cream livery.
This Western National Leyland National is seen near the Princess Gardens with the Pavilion in the background. After being sold from NBC ownership, Western National tried out various colour schemes, and by 1989 had settled on this cream and blue with red stripe livery. With the fleetname it was "stick it on big, whatever". It appears that this bus did not have a blind for this route; notice the paper stickers in the winscreen. This was March 1989. ©AEC Regent

Plymouths Terminal 5 fiasco?

 

TEETHING troubles hit Plymouth City Council's new waste collection regime this week. After a seemingly hiccup-free start to the week, complaints began to flood in about bins and bags not collected across large parts of the city. Bin staff were forced to ditch their new four-day week as soon as it started.

New Plymouth bin scheme leaves hundreds waiting

With such a big change to the collection pattern it was inevitable that there would be teething problems, I was surprised that it took a few days into the week before they started hitting the news. Our own collection on Monday was only a partial success in that only the brown bin was collected - our green collection never happened! I am sure it will all settled own quickly enough.
The headline? Oh - that comes from a comment on the news item (click the link above). Apparently a few bins not being emptied on the correct day equates to thousands of bags going missing at Terminal Five!

Ongoing Investment

Its always nice to see local fleets continuing to invest in new vehicles, especially at the moment in such difficult times. Gregory Distribution DAF CF WA58BZS and Stone Haul Volvo WA58DVL were caught on camera passing through Crownhill during the past week.

Another Rear End Advert

As well as all over advert wraps, Citybus do like to make full use of their rear ends. One of the latest is this one for Goulds (I assume its still down Ebrington Street).

MP joins campaign to saved axed bus route

PLYMOUTH MP Linda Gilroy has joined calls for the city council to keep a bus service which operator First says it no longer wishes to run

MP joins campaign to saved axed bus route

"It's inconceivable, when we are trying to encourage greater use of public transport, that large parts of Stoke, Millbridge and Devonport will be left without an evening or Sunday service, especially as Devonport is going through such a resurgence."

Plymouth City Council point out that less than one passenger per journey would not have access to an alternative bus.


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It seems that at least one person got a warning when clicking on the above link which actually goes to This Is Plymouth so should be safe. It does not seem be an issue for me at the moment - but please be aware of this - if you get a warning like this its better to be safe than sorry!
Graham

Thief strikes after bus is in accident

 

POLICE are hunting a thief who took advantage of collision between a pedestrian and the bus he was travelling on. The man was seen on the Citybus CCTV system after the bus had stopped in Coburg Street at around 3pm on Friday.

Thief strikes after bus is in accident

I know these days we shouldn't be too surprised at what people get up to, but this is amazing. It's clear that this was an opportunistic thief, but it must be said a pretty stupid one as the cctv pictures do seem quite clear, even on the this is Plymouth web site. The cctv screens are fairly obvious in the drivers cab so you would think that the thief would have been aware of them?

Citaro Advert close up

Thanks to Daniel Marker I can bring you these two extra close up photos of Citybus 84 in the new advert wrap taken before it entered service. I must admit I do like the rear end view!

 

Both ©Daniel Marker

Sunday Best: WDR672M

I will leave it to to Renown to caption this picture:
From an enthusiasts point of view, one thing which early Leyland Nationals could do that was unusual in a world unaccustomed to air suspension, was to corner in spectacular fashion. My first ride on a PMT example stays in my mind as we keeled over on a roundabout in Newcastle under Lyme. I recall literally looking up at passengers sitting on the offside of the bus. Not quite in that league, here Plymouth No. 72 WDR 672M leans into a roundabout a hundred yards or so towards the City centre from Bretsonside bus station.
Great photo!

Plymouth Citybus have another advert

Thanks to Ian Kirby (Iantherev) I can bring this photo of the latest advert for Plymouth Citybus, and its the first Citaro to be used in this way. 84 in quite a pleasant advert for Academy Training.

Click the link above to see more of the Revs photos from his visit to Plymouth.