Sunday Best: Western National A753VAF

"arguably the most attractive livery they carried in their long lives” Jeff Days Photostream

© Jeff Day One of the 1883 Leyland Olympians with ECW bodywork on Torquay seafront. I know its not Sunday, but its a Bank Holiday which is of course Sunday Service! There are very few of these left in service with First Devon and Cornwall now (if indeed any are?) so its seems a good excuse if any were needed to show them looking their best in arguably the most attractive livery they carried in their long lives. I am aiming to get back to more regular postings again now as August comes to an end. Major back pain over the past few weeks has reduced my computer time, but physiotherapy is now starting to work so it should get better over time. I can see the next few months getting quite busy so I don't think I will have too much difficulty in finding things to report. Thanks to all who have supplied info and comments during the summer. I always welcome any comments and suggestions for present and future posts!

Bus War: Citybus strike back?

" It is presumptuous to say that this will affect interest in the company or the price bidders are prepared to pay ” Ugobus 15 Timetable

Bus stops around Derriford and Estover are now displaying this little green sticker announcing that ugobus is coming soon. We have actually had a timetable for the 15 sent round at Derriford Hospital which I have linked to in the sidebar left. The ugobus concept of nice simple timetables with regular services is carried through for the whole day service which makes it easy to remember although for some strange reason the Sunday times are different. There is of course no evening service which is not surprising but disappointing all the same. Marc Reddy has added a line to his introduction on the First web site : We are introducing some new bus services in Plymouth from 11 October 2009 and more details about these new services will be published on our website nearer the time. Otherwise there is little to go on just yet. This is Plymouth also reported the extra routes during the week: The firm (FDC) has not revealed the routes but the Western Area Traffic Commissioner described them as 'city centre circular routes' which will run from October 11. Transport industry insiders are speculating the routes will cover Ernesettle, Southway, Estover and Plympton. (Should have read my blog - the details were also on their own iHerald site too!) Plymouth City Council said the threat of competition was one reason it is considering selling off its majority shareholding in Citybus. John Preece, chairman of Taxifast which is spearheading a company hoping to buy Citybus, said First's move was the opening salvo in a 'bus war'. He is calling for the city council to go on the offensive and urge Citybus to run services in direct competition to First's Plymstock schedule. He also wants the Office of Fair Trading to step in because he fears the First application could unbalance potential bidders, should the city council decide to off-load its bus firm. (This didn't put him off doing the same back in the 1980’s!) The city council has valued Citybus "well in excess of £10million", and is inviting bids in order to discover its true market value. A city council spokeswoman said First's new routes won't become active until after the council has received initial offers from interested bidders. "There is always the chance that any competing bus operator can register on routes of established bus operators at any time – this is no different in Plymouth," she said. "This was one of the major reasons the council decided to consider the future ownership of Citybus, as competition in the transport market is increasing. Route competition has always been a consideration for Citybus, as it is for all bus companies and as it would continue to be for any new provider. This possibility would be factored into any valuation. It is presumptuous to say that this will affect interest in the company or the price bidders are prepared to pay." Sadly This Is Plymouth has not allowed any comments on the story so its difficult to gauge any public opinion to these extra services just yet. Not quite sure why though? It remains to be seen how the perceived value of the company will be affected by Firsts actions. Although as the council spokesman says - the changes wont happen until after the initial offers come in, they are known about now, and the bidders will be taking all of this into account when deciding how much they are willing to pay. The comment about increasing competition being a reason for putting the company on the market is also interesting, as this latest round of competition is happening only because the company has been put on the market. First had introduced service 11 a while back which was extra competition to Citybus but even this route, while being described as successful is being cut back in the evenings by FDC. The first signs of Citybus reaction are now coming to our attention with the following applications being posted on the VOSA site during the last few days: PH0000135/9 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade Stop A14 and PLYMOUTH Royal Parade given service number 43/143/43A/43B effective from 25-Oct-2009. To amend Timetable. PH0000135/53 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and ESTOVER Industrial Estate given service number 34/34B/34S effective from 25-Oct-2009. To amend Route and Timetable. PH0000135/71 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA  Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMPTON, CHADDLEWOOD and PLYMOUTH, DERRIFORD HOSPITAL given service number 152 effective from 25-Oct-2009. To amend Route. (Bit of a puzzle this as the 152 currently operates the Derriford - Saltash section with Citybus 52 running between Derriford and Plympton for a few peak journeys) PH0000135/75 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA; Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH , Royal Parade and SALTASH PILLMERE given service number 26/26S effective from 25-Oct-2009. To amend Route and Timetable. PH0000135/86 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA; Variation Accepted: Operating between Royal Parade/Station Forecourt and Royal Parade/Station Forecourt given service number 25 effective from 25-Oct-2009. To amend Route and Timetable. The most interesting one though is for a new service introduced into FDC operating territory: PH0000135/94 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE RD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA; Registration Accepted Starting Point: Plymouth City Centre Finish Point: Plymouth City Centre Service Number: 5  Service Type: Normal Stopping  Effective Date: 25-OCT-2009 Other Details: Monday to Saturday every 10 mins Sunday and Monday to Saturday evenings every 60 mins. Although not that clear from the VOSA details I had been tipped off that Citybus were running into Plymstock from the 25th October which is almost certainly this service. I will give more details as I get them, although in the current market conditions both companies are understandably keeping the cards close to their chests so information is harder to come by than it used to be!

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Liveries: Target Travel

"Target Travel have always employed a nice white and green livery”

Target Travel have always employed a nice white and green livery on their bus fleet which I always thought was pleasant if nothing special. Then came the arrival of low floor Optare Solos in a bright pink livery for the Northern Connect service. Since then several other Solos have arrived for other routes and all received the same pink livery: The recent extra work picked up by Target has seen the need for more Solos with a couple going round in plain white for a while. I am sure I was not the only one who expected them to be painted pink eventually so the emergence of SA02BZR in a white and green livery is a surprise. Although the main colour is different it does carry over the same design so there is some consistency. I must admit I prefer the white and green version. I also notice that they just call the terminus Derriford thereby avoiding another Derriford Hopsital embarrassment! They are also still promoting their web site on the back of the bus…

Liveries: Plymouth Citybus

"Certainly looks smart but I still cant make up my mind about the rear end” Highton-Ridley Salisbury Cathedral Omnibuses2.0 SQPs (Required Reading!) TGP Glasgow Titan Others Brians Fotopic Busworld Photography in Plymouth

A first look at Plymouth Citybus' "new" Volvo East Lancs double-deckers due to enter service shortly to replace the older Volvo double-deckers. 411 is the first one into the current Citybus livery. Certainly looks smart but I still cant make up my mind about the rear end. I am sure once adverts etc are added it wont look quite so bare. As usual your comments are welcome! Both photos ©Brian George. Thanks!

Bus Wars: Detail

" If they can frighten off other buyers and maybe even get Citybus themselves at a lower price then its a result as far as they are concerned ” Save Plymouth Citybus

We can now add a bit more detail on the new routes being started by First Devon and Cornwall in October: Service 12: City Centre to Chaddlewood (Plympton), via the Embankment, Marsh Mills, Plymouth Road, Ridgeway, Mudge Way, Moorland Road, Glen Road to the Chaddlewood Shopping Centre. Turns at the roundabout for reverse journey. Every 12 Minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE. Service 13: City Centre to Ernesettle. Identical to Citybus Service 43 except that on the return to the City Centre this service operates via Drake Circus. Timetable states “at frequent intervals”, so we assume every ten minutes or maybe less. NO EVENING SERVICE. I am not surprised they are attacking the 43 as its known to be one of Citybus' main routes but it would be nice to have some variation of the route other than just in the City Centre. With Citybus already operating a very frequent service on this route, I am not quite sure why anyone would rather use First unless they compete with lower fares too. Service 15: City Centre to Mainstone, via North Hill, Mutley, Crownhill, Derriford Hospital, Miller Way, Asda, Dover road, then loops around Mainstone estate before operating reverse route to the City Centre. Every 15 minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE. This one is a new route and a big surprise. The people of Mainstone may well welcome a new service rather than the 46/47 as these do go the long way round to get anywhere although a journey into the City Centre will probably be the same on either service. It does seem odd that probably the main service that this will compete with is the existing First service 7 between City Centre and Derriford! As a bus user at Derriford this will give more options for getting into the City Centre so could well be useful to a lot of people. Service 17: City Centre to Southway. Identical to Citybus Service 41 except that in Southway it Operates Dunnet Road, Right into Clittaford Road, Left into Southway Drive, Left at Ranco (Clittaford Road), Dunnet Road, then reverse of outward route to the City Centre. Every 12 minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE. Again this is so close to an existing Citybus service I have to wonder how useful it will be. The fact that First are coming out fighting like this can not be a surprise to anyone. If I was them I would probably do the same. I am sure the last thing they want is one of the other big bus groups coming in and taking control of Citybus. These extra routes are designed to destabilise Citybus and also to put other operators off from buying Citybus. If they can frighten off other buyers and maybe even get Citybus themselves at a lower price then its a result as far as they are concerned. How the competition people would view First taking over remains to be seen. I am pretty sure that a lot of passengers in Plymouth would also be against such a takeover. First are not going to win them over easily especially if these extra services really don't have any evening services to offer. This could also leave the City Council with a headache too as they watch the potential value of Citybus go down. If they do end up selling off for a much lower sum than they had in mind it will leave a lot of angry voters wanting answers. Managers at Citybus now have to decide what their next move is going to be. How hard do they come out fighting? Its going to be a bumpy ride! I have mapped out the new services to give an idea of where they go. Please remember these maps are not official in anyway and cannot be guaranteed 100% accurate as full route details have not been published yet. (For example I am not sure if the 15 will service Keswick Crescent or not?). View First Bus Services Starting 11 October in a larger map

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Sunday best: Western National DR4034

"Its hard to imagine travelling Tavistock to Plymouth on such a fine old bus these days”

From The Derek Tait collection Bus crew, Bedford Square, Tavistock. Another superb photo from Dereks collection of old photos. Its hard to imagine travelling Tavistock to Plymouth on such a fine old bus these days! I am sure someone out there can give more details on the bus shown.

Events - Before and after

"we have an excellent variety of both local vehicles and vehicles from further afield”

©James Pratt. James' own LFJ862W is looking fantastic these days, seen here on Torquay Sea Front.   Torbay Vintage Running Day SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH 2009 Message from James Pratt: Not long now until the 1st Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day that is being organised by myself and colleagues at the Devon and Dorset Group. First of all I would like to extend a huge thanks to my friends at Torbay Council and Stagecoach South West for huge amounts of assistance, both organisations have been extremely helpful and without their offers of help and assistance this event simply would not be happening! The entries for the day are growing, we have an excellent variety of both local vehicles and vehicles from further afield, PSV’s of all types are promised and we look forward to welcoming all of them to the event. We have a basic network of three routes: 28A – Torquay Sea Front to Hesketh Crescent, via Torquay Harbour, this will have a small layover at Hesketh Crescent to allow enough time for photo taking etc at this very scenic location for photos, or you might like to stroll down to Meadfoot Beach and enjoy the views before returning on another bus a little later. 136 – Torquay Sea Front to Paignton, the service to Paignton had to be included as we feel that the trunk route between Torquay and Paignton has a significant historical importance, the service will run to the Town Centre and will stop at Hyde Road, for a short layover before returning to Torquay, it will serve the Harbour area on its return to the Sea Front for those wishing to alight or board after taking in the delights of the busy harbour area. 109 – Torquay Sea Front to Occombe Farm, this service will be terminating in the Car Park for Occombe Farm, this is a local farm that has a small shop selling locally produced goods, as well as a Coffee Shop and restaurant for those looking for a leisurely lunch on the day, and for those visiting as a family, you might like to have a wonder round and enjoy the farm animals that can be visited on site, this service operates via Headland Road and Preston Down Road, this service will offer some spectacular views across the Bay that are best viewed from the top deck of a bus, this route really is not to be missed! The above service will operate on a regular service throughout the day! We are also operating two further routes that will operate only a few times throughout the day, so try not to miss these routes!!! 18 – Torquay Sea Front to Broadsands Viaduct, this service will operate via Paignton Sea Front and will terminate at the old terminus of the old open top route at Broadsands, the vehicle will park as close to the viaduct as possible and will present some excellent photographic opportunities. 50 – Torquay Sea Front to St Marychurch, it is hoped that this route will be operated with smaller vehicles, as this will run to Hesketh Crescent and then carry on along Meadfoot Beach, Ilsham Valley, Wellswood before rejoining the main road before turning off and running right along Babbacombe Downs, on a clear day you can see right across towards Portland and Weymouth, so some great views can be taken in, this service will stop at Furrough Cross in St Marychurch before returning down the main road and back around Ilsham, Meadfoot, Hesketh Crescent and back towards Torquay Sea Front. All routes should have a wide variety of vehicles running on them from minibuses to half cab double deckers and lots in between and with a bit of luck one or two open top vehicles as well hopefully! Our principal sponsors Stagecoach South West are hoping to bring along one of the brand new Optare Versa vehicles for display to the public, as well as some other vehicles from the fleet. We will also be pleased to welcome some of the children from the local special needs play group, these children suffer from a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, and would not normally be able to access public transport, but they will be having there very own preserved bus for a ride around Torquay, this is in line with our ‘giving it a community feel’ principals, having been and visited the children, I just know they will really enjoy this part of the event! The event will have a static display of vehicles at our Shedden Hill Car Park site on the day but the running buses will start and finish on the Sea Front itself, right opposite the high flyer balloon. We hope that you are considering coming along on the day and if you do, then please, do purchase one of our souvenier programme, these are priced at only £3 per copy and will give you a list of the vehicles and brief histories of the vehicles attending on the day as well as your timetables and various other interesting bits and bobs. If you are a vehicle owner and have not yet entered then please get your entry in ASAP, entry forms can be downloaded from our website. And if any of you out there would like to offer some assistance on the day then please drop me a mail, doesn’t matter how much time you can contribute on the day, whether its an hour or all day, your help is always appreciated, so why not offer some time and come along and see how these events are organised and how much effort goes into the preparation for the day as well as the day itself, or maybe you might like to be a navigator on the day? Some of our entries for the running day itself wont be too familiar with Torbay, but you might be, if so, then volunteer to help!!!! Anyway, I will post another update a few days before the event, but in the meantime check out the website which is constantly being updated with entries, news etc it can be found at www.torbayvbrd.co.uk Many thanks, James Pratt on behalf of the event organising team, Devon and Dorset Group. Finally, dont forget to visit the Citybus Village Fete site where more photos and videos have been added so you can get a flavour of the day on Plymouth Hoe. http://www.citybusvillagefete.co.uk

Greyhound Launch

"For 95 years Greyhound has been an icon of American life carrying millions of people across the USA and Canada” First Group Launch Omnibuses2.0 Slow News Month! Far Reaching Report TGP Public Three Nations Drive Homeward bound Homeward Bound2 Highton-Ridley Blog Maintenance

America's iconic Greyhound bus brand is to debut in the UK as First Group launches a new coach network that will compete with rivals National Express and Stagecoach. The first UK Greyhound coaches will run between London Victoria and Portsmouth and Southampton with services scheduled to launch on September 14.The hourly services to the two Hampshire cities will start on September 14 and the Scottish-based travel company hopes to add further destinations next year. FirstGroup said the vast majority of seats on the two routes would be sold for under £10 one way, even at peak times, with a centre-to-centre journey time estimated at two hours. In the first months of operation about 10 to 15 per cent of tickets will be sold at £1. The Greyhound UK coaches will have leather seating, free wi-fi, power sockets, air-conditioning and complimentary newspapers. First says the Scania Irizar coaches will have up to 20% more legroom than rivals' vehicles. All Greyhound UK coaches will be named after women from popular American songs such as Sweet Caroline, Barbara Ann, Jolene and Peggy Sue. The company's chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead said: "For 95 years Greyhound has been an icon of American life carrying millions of people across the USA and Canada. Since FirstGroup took over Greyhound in 2007, we have hoped to bring this famous brand across the Atlantic and I am absolutely delighted to reveal the first authentic Greyhound coaches in the UK" Greyhound UK is headed up by managing director Alex Warner, who was train operator Midland Mainline's customer services director before joining First as UK bus business director in February 2008. Greyhound UK's branding is based on the recently introduced new brand identity in the US. Working with First brand manager Avril Gill, creative communications agency Lawrence and Pierce developed this identity to suit the UK market. As well as adapting the brand guidelines, the agency focused on the livery and interior specification, where the style of the UK coaches is significantly different to those in the US. First Group have certainly caught the public imagination with this launch as the Greyhound name is well known and respected as a brand. First are being very cautious with this limited launch but it is clear that they have bigger plans than just the South Coast - London services. It remains to be seen if and when they ever reach Plymouth, but the look is good and I am sure the market is there. It would be good if we can get more than just London services, with perhaps a decent Plymouth - Bristol service being on my wish list at least. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the embattled National Express Group. Whilst the launch of these two services on their own probably wont worry NE too much, the prospect of a growing network under such a strong branding will certainly be a concern to them. The current bland livery of National Express is not going to help matters either. You will notice a Greyhound coach on the road if you see one, whereas a National Express coach just blends into the background. First Group only recently ruled out a full takeover of National Express but Stagecoach could yet take a stake in the group. Stagecoach will also be watching Greyhound closely as it competes in the market with its Megabus operation. Megabus does run a Plymouth to London service with one return journey each day. It has to be said that Megabus has been very quiet recently but I am sure we will be hearing more over the coming months. Of course down here we already have Western Greyhound who are rapidly becoming the main operator in Cornwall at the expense of First. The new Greyhound livery hardly mentions First Group at all apart from some lettering on the rear of the coach. You can see a future when people in Cornwall will catch a green Greyhound to Plymouth and then catch a blue Greyhound to London and marvel at how a small Cornish operator can build such a great national network! First put a large number of photos in their press pack for the launch which I have downloaded to my Flickr account as they were 40mb each! View the full set HERE

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Fun in the Village

"Well done to all involved!” More pictures here on the Village Fete web site

Last Sunday saw the Citybus Village Fete on Plymouth Hoe. Sadly I was unable to make it myself but the weather seemed ideal and the event was a success. Thanks to Dan Marker for a few photos of the afternoon. Well done to all involved! Is it just me or are the conductors getting younger these days? Thanks again to Dan for the photos.

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