Merely noted

A £19,000 report into the controversial sell-off of Plymouth Citybus has left city councillors still in the dark.
The council sold its 100 per cent shareholding in the bus company to Go-Ahead, a national transport company, after months of top-secret negotiations last year. The sale attracted fierce opposition from Labour councillors and MPs, who stood shoulder to shoulder with union protesters. Now the city council has been criticised by its auditors, Grant Thornton, for being too cautious over information it released during the negotiations. In a report which cost the council £19,388, Grant Thornton says: "The council should consider whether it was too cautious over some of the information excluded."
Barrie Morris from Grant Thornton told the audit committee yesterday: "The project was very complex and done over a tight timescale. Citybus was put up for sale in June 2009, and officers dealt with ten initial inquiries. That was whittled down to five companies which were invited to bid. Eventually Go-Ahead emerged as the winner, and the sell-off was approved by the full council in November last year. The council set aside up to £946,000 to pay for the sell-off process. In the end it spent just over £670,000, a saving of £294,445. Committee chairman Peter Berrow and Mr Evans agreed to hold a meeting to discuss what lessons should be learned from the Citybus sale. In the meantime, the committee merely 'noted' the auditor's report.
This is Plymouth
The only comment I would make over this report which seems to be saying very little of any use to anyone is that I cant see how anyone thinks this is a good way of spending over £19000?

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Omnibuses: Did he really say that?
Omnibuses: BSOG - driver for change?
PTOTPA: Citybus Dart 25 advert
Uncle Terry: 138 You wont get through there. 139 Terrygate

Stuffed again

Sorry for yet another day with no posting. My new PC has crashed yet again even though it has only just returned from being fixed. I seem to be able to get limited access to the blog from work at the moment but this is unreliable at best. May need to go back to the old machine yet again.

Well and truly fed up at the moment!

Screaming

A pregnant mother says she was forced to get off a bus because the driver was disturbed by her toddler's behaviour. Sharon Tracey, 35, said she was told by the driver to keep her two-year-old son Brandon quiet on the number 62 in Plymouth, Devon

This was the story on Plymothian Transit back on the 20th June
As I said at the time:
These sort of stories often appear in the local papers as bus companies seem to be soft targets. At least these days with cctv the stories can often be checked and quite often be disproved altogether. Look back through Leon Daniels blog to see a couple of high profile news stories where accusations were made which ended up in the national news only to be completely debunked later. By then the damage has been done as the follow up rarely gets the same attention in the news.

Sure enough on the 24th June we get...
Plymouth CityBus said it had used CCTV footage to establish what happened and managing director Andrew Wickham said she was not forced to step off.
CityBus said that after its investigation it was confident the driver did not ask her to leave the bus. Mr Wickham said: "The lady chose to leave. The bus driver did not tell her to leave the bus."
It is good to see the company taking the time to investigate fully and then come out supporting their driver. The passenger for her part clearly feels she was forced off the bus even if that force wasn't quite as forceful as originally claimed. At least that’s how I see her final line in the BBC story:
Mrs Tracey said she was told she would be forced to get off despite her best attempts to keep him quiet. She said: "Twice he said that to me. "I said 'Right, OK, I'll get off the bus,' because he made me feel so stupid in front of everybody that what else are you meant to do?
Clearly in a story like this there are no winners. Citybus have had bad publicity which has been reported across the country. The driver has had to wait to be cleared by Citybus of the accusation. The passenger clearly has not had a good experience from all of this and is hardly a fan of the company now.
The story went national, but you can be sure that the rebuttal of the story by Citybus wont get reported on anything like the same scale.
There was however a nice little article on The Telegraph web site which begins...
Fancy a job fraught with moral conundrums and opportunities to become a public hate figure? Forget becoming Prime Minister or Archbishop of Canterbury – try driving a bus. Job perks include a smart uniform, generous benefits, and the chance to have your actions splashed all over the media every time you offend a parent

Green Baby image by Putland (cc)

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PTOTPA: Weymouth rally 2010
Omnibuses: Ashamed Why cant bus companies make decent profits?
PTOTPA: Hot off the press His photo (and mine too) on Western Greyhound timetables
Uncle Terry: 136- on top of the tree
Uncle Terry: 137 What a load of rubbish
Omnibuses: If you know of any cuts...
TGP Projects: Take your Pick
TGP Dads Daily: Weathered Glass

Twitter / Facebook 27 June 2010

Just like to wish England Good Luck for this afternoon game against Germany (this was before the match!)

Progress halted

I'm still here even if this isnt...

© Jos van Hemert, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. PCT Leyland National 66 - Ply., Exeter St - 07-1977

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This scene has been completely transformed since this photo was taken. The bus itself has long gone from Plymouth, and indeed has long departed to the big bus depot in the sky. The ugly car park in the back ground is now a smart (although some say ugly) shopping mall. Even the concrete lamppost to the right and the old style bus stop flags have been updated over the years. We now have much better bus stop shelters although we also have annoying bollards along the pavement to discourage cars from parking on the pavement.
Another transformation: This year I have been able to replace my camera with a much better model and have been able to take much clearer photos and even videos. I have also replaced my extremely slow PC with a brand new super wizzy PC which when it works is brilliant. Sadly this purchase has not had the best of starts as it had to be returned to mesh for them to sort out. The good news is that it is now back having had faulty RAM replaced. The bad news is that it still does not seem in good health and has crashed several time so I have a feeling I wont be seeing the back of the old machine just yet...
Unless it does settle down quickly there may be more gaps in coverage over the next week or so.

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PTOTPA: University shuttle service
Omnibuses: In the spirit of deregulation
Uncle Terry: 134 I wonder...
TGP Projects: Lightroom
Uncle Terry: 135 Where's Terry
Omnibuses: In Code
TGP Dads Daily: Tinside Lido

Citybus still coming down my hill

As the road works in Prince Rock have not caused as much delay as expected we have decided to leave the service 50 operating through Keswick Crescent for a six month trial during which time we hope to see major improvements to the parking situation around the crescent Thank you for the feedback

You may have seen this message in the 'Twitter/ Facebook' section of yesterdays post. It reverts the 50 back to its previous route through Keswick Crescent. If you look at the bottom of the This is Plymouth page on the changes you can get a small taste of the anger at loosing the service into Keswick so well done to Citybus for responding so quickly.
Andrew Wickham, managing director of Citybus, said the company had reviewed the effect of the Gdynia Way roadwork's and decided that the service was not as adversely affected as had been feared. He said Citybus was also talking to the city council about parking on Keswick Crescent, which had caused problems for buses in the past, and was hoping to also engage with the community on this issue.This is Plymouth

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Transport Illustrated: Weymouth - Portland
Uncle Terry: 133 Deflated
A Transport of Delight: Fortunate. Fantastic. Fabulous
TGP Dads Daily: Smile
Omnibuses: Perils of an emergency budget
WHOTT Friends: Another year of operation
TGP Public: Clovelly Land Rover Service

Western Greyhound event this weekend...

We are delighted to announce that we will once again be running our popular Heritage weekend during Friday 25th June to Saturday 26th June 2010.
Climb aboard and let us take you on a trip down memory lane!

Jwv259W seen on Plymouth Hoe back in July 2008

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Buy a Day Explorer and travel all day for just £7 adults, £4.50 children and £14 families. Not to be forgotten, on the following day, Sunday 27th June sees the annual Cornwall Coastal run which starts and finishes in Summercourt. During 25th and 26 June, we plan to be using two VRs, one RF, two RMs (including one opentop), as well as an RML and an RMA. These vehicles are scheduled to be operating on the following journeys:
(please note that all runnings and vehicles are liable to change)
Friday 25th June
RM/RML/RMA
1000 - the 547 - Newquay to St Ives
1240 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
1335 - the 501 - Sennen to Penzance
1552 - the 537 - Helston to The Lizard
1647 - the 537 - Lizard to Helston
(plus maybe a round trip on 538 appx 1730 from Helston to Coverack and back)

VR
0656 - the 501 - St Buryan to Lands End
0725 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance
0840 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
0935 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance
1505 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
1620 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance

Saturday 26th June

RM/RML/RMA
0906 - the 556 - St Eval to Newquay
1115 - the 585 - Newquay to Truro
1210 - the 586 - Truro to Newquay
1335 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1402 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1440 - the 559 - Newquay to Hendra
1520 - the 588 - Newqay Circular (via Pentire)
1620 - the 588 - Newqay Circular (via Pentire)
1705 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1733 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay

RM/RML/RMA
0930 - the 583 - Newquay to Truro
1055 - the 583 - Truro to Newquay
1235 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1302 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1415 - the 558 - Newquay to Hendra
1432 - the 558 - Hendra to Newquay
1505 - the 556 - Newquay to Padstow
1635 - the 556 - Padstow to Newquay

RM/RML/RMA
0902 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
0935 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1002 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1035 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1102 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1135 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1202 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1305 - the 597 - Newquay to St Columb Major
1330 - the 597 - St Columb Major to Newquay
1435 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1502 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1535 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1602 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1635 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1702 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay
1735 - the 505 - Newquay to Tregustick
1802 - the 505 - Tregustick to Newquay

RF
0920 - the 588 - Newquay Circular (via Pentire)
1020 - the 588 - Newqay Circular (via Pentire)
1120 - the 588 - Newqay Circular (via Pentire)
1220 - the 588 -Newqay Circular (via Pentire)

VR
1026 - the 558 - Quintrell Downs to Newquay
1105 - the 556 - Newquay to Padstow
1235 - the 556 - Padstow to Newquay
1515 - the 585 - Newquay to Truro
1610 - the 586 - Truro to Newquay
1715 - the 585 - Newquay to Truro
1810 - the 586 - Truro to Newquay
VR
0706 - the 501 - St Buryan to Lands End
0735 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance
0840 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
0935 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance
1240 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
1335 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance
1505 - the 501 - Penzance to Lands End
1620 - the 501 - Lands End to Penzance

It does seem that the intended Routemaster on the 550 to St Mawes will not happen this time, but the 537 (and possibly 538) on the Friday are additions not originally mentioned. On the 501, the VR will probably also operate the journeys shown as RM, so that photos of each can be obtained (and will be useful in case the RM cannot accend the very steep hills out of Newlyn and Sennen Cove when full !). Believe the VR on the 501 will become a more normal occurrance anyway.
westerngreyhound.com
If you want to go by bus then I guess the best bet is the 08:33 592 from Bretonside which connects up with the 597 which will get you to Newquay for 10:57! (Hopefully it wont be Varios all the way!) Full timetable for the 573 HERE (PDF)

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PTOTPA: Weymouth Update
A Transport of Delight: Our longest day
Uncle Terry: 132 Pipe man of the year
Omnibuses: Budge over
TGP Dads Daily: Laggy Bands
TGP Public: Glastonbury preparations

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Twitter 22 June:
CITYBUS: An article in today's Evening Herald incorrectly says that planned service changes start next Sunday - the correct date is Sunday 25th July
CITYBUS: As the road works in Prince Rock have not caused as much delay as expected we have decided to leave the service 50 operating through Keswick Crescent for a six month trial during which time we hope to see major improvements to the parking situation around the crescent Thank you for the feedback

Celebrating National Service

©Jos Van Hemert: PCT Leyland National 70+72 - Ply., Garage PCT - 07-1982
It seems so long ago that Plymouth Citybus had a large Leyland National fleet. Never much loved when they were around (by Citybus at least) yet these days a ride on one is a real treat! These buses did seem to have a good turn of speed which was always lacking on the Atlanteans. The suspension was something else - if you sat on the back seat you were bounced around so much you needed travel sickness tablets!
Sadly none of the Plymouth Nationals seem to have survived, even though most of them were eagerly snapped up by other operators when Citybus disposed of them at quite a young age. More of Jos' photos on his Fotopic site

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A Transport of Delight: Eurotunnel buy GBrF

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Twitter 21 June:
PLYMOUTH CITYBUS: Road closed due to burst water main, Tamerton Foliot Rd at Whitleigh Cross. Services 40,41,46&47 diverted to and from Looseleigh Ln.

More cut backs for Citybus

The next batch of timetables changes for Plymouth Citybus are now available on line and dont make happy reading.
Citybus have been slowly cutting back their Saltash presence. These changes cut back even more.

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The changes:

Service 26

This service is to be withdrawn from Saltash (for alternative services to Saltash please see the new Service 43A) and will operate in Barne Barton instead. The service will operate between the City and Barne Barton via Devonport every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Saturday. Monday to Saturday evening services and Sundays / Bank Holidays daytime services will operate every 30 minutes. The service will start in Barne Barton operating as per the route of the current Service 43A. On reaching St Budeaux Square the service will then operate to the city centre as per the current Service 26 route. This change will see Plymouth Citybus significantly increase its level of service to Barne Barton from every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday during the day to every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday as well as every 30 minutes on Sundays and during the evenings from Monday to Saturday.
Service 28/A/B

Following the withdrawal of support funding the 06:45 Service 28B from the city centre to Derriford Hospital is to be withdrawn. The 08:15 Service 28B that operated to Crownhill will instead operate to Derriford Hospital as a Service 28A. The 08:15 Service 28B that operated to Derriford Hospital will instead operate as a Service 28 to Derriford Hospital.
Service 29

This service will operate every 30 minutes departing from the City Centre as per current times. However, the service has been facing increasing pressure in recent years especially in and around Transit Way and as a result struggles to maintain time especially during busy times. In order to improve reliability services to Derriford Hospital will no longer operate to Crownhill Village instead they will operate direct onto Tavistock Road via Budshead Way. To reflect the increased traffic flows especially around Transit Way inbound services will have an additional 5 minutes journey time and are being scheduled to arrive 5 minutes later than current times. It is hoped that the planned improvement works in Transit Way along with the success of the new bus priority in and around Derriford Hospital will see outbound services return to Crownhill Village in the not too distant future.
Service 43

This service is to operate every 10 minutes for most of the day from Monday to Saturday, every 30 minutes evenings and every 20 minutes during the day on Sundays and Bank Holidays. There is no change in route but the service is being retimed to improve reliability with services being adjusted in frequency to provide services every 10 minutes for most of the day with timings adjusted to create a bus every 5 minutes between St Budeaux and the City Centre for most of the day Monday to Saturday and in excess of every 20 minutes Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Service 43A

This service is being withdrawn from Barne Barton and will instead operate to Pillmere, Saltash (for alternative services to Barne Barton please see the new Service 26). The service will operate every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday between Pilmere, Saltash and the City Centre via Latchbrook, Callington Road, Saltash Fore Street, St Budeaux and Milehouse. This change does see the frequency of Plymouth Citybus services into Saltash reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes however by operating via Milehouse it represents significant journey time improvements. Sunday and Bank Holiday Services are to be withdrawn from Saltash.
Service 43B

This service will operate every 30 minutes as per the current timetable with the only real change being that services from Holly Park to the City Centre will be scheduled to arrive 5 minutes later than the current times. Services 43, 43A, 43B and the Service 29 are being scheduled to provide services every 5 minutes between St Budeaux and the City Centre for most of the day from Monday to Saturday and in excess of every 20 minutes on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Service 45

This service will operate between the City Centre and Cattedown every 30 minutes for most of the day with returning Cattedown services operating via Mayflower Street to the city centre. The Devonport section of this service is to be withdrawn (for alternative services to Devonport please see new Service 46 and 47).
Service 46

This service will operate every 30 minutes for most of the day from Monday to Saturday operating from the city centre to Stoke Village via Molesworth Road to Albert Road then as per the current Service 46 to Kings Tamerton via Fleetmoor Road. The service will then operate as per the current route of the Service 46 to the city centre with the exception being that the service will no longer service the Tamar Science Park. Services 46A, 146, 246 will either be replaced by the Service 46 or be withdrawn. Evening Service 46 will be withdrawn with Service 46A to West Park replaced with a Service 26B.
Service 47

This service will operate every 30 minutes for most of the day from Monday to Saturday from the city centre to Compton via Mutley Plain then Leigham, Estover and Derriford Hospital. The service will then operate as per the current Service 47 to Kings Tamerton before operating via Saltash Road, Stoke Village and Molesworth Road to the city centre. Services 47A, 47D, 147, 247 will either be replaced by the Service 47 or be withdrawn. Evening Service 47 will be withdrawn with the Service 47A from West Park being replaced with a Service 26B.

Service 50

This service has been facing increasing pressure and as a result struggles to maintain time especially during busy times. Therefore to improve the overall reliability of the service it is to be withdrawn from Keswick Crescent (for alternative services to Keswick Crescent please see the new service 46 and 47). The successful delivery of the Gydnia Way road improvement scheme together with improved residential parking may see the service return in the not too distant future.

According to the blurb...
The review took into account customer feedback from our customer consultation exercise which took place in February 2010, market trends and the extensive changes in road traffic levels in recent years.

I also get the feeling that they were also looking at the current First Ugobus timetables as some of these changes (and the recent Plympton changes) do seem to copy the Ugobus services and increase competition with First. The loss of the 50 into Keswick Crescent will also upset a lot of people as it gives a lot of passengers a long walk up a steep hill. I am sure its no coincidence that First Ugobus 15 also cuts across the top of Keswick Crescent. Its a shame that First fares are so much higher than Citybus as I am sure they would otherwise provide much stronger competition for passengers.
I will be taking a closer look at some of these routes later in the month, when hopefully I will be able to update my maps as this is proving impossible on my current PC.

In the mean time it will be interesting to see how passengers react to these changes!
Full timetable notice (PDF)
or preview on Google Docs

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PTOTPA: JHU bows out
Highton-Ridley: New work
Uncle Terry: 130 Hide n seek
Omnibuses: 10 points for transport
TGP Bus and Coach: Roselyn Coaches Running Day

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get off my bus

A pregnant mother says she was forced to get off a bus because the driver was disturbed by her toddler's behaviour. Sharon Tracey, 35, said she was told by the driver to keep her two-year-old son Brandon quiet on the number 62 in Plymouth, Devon.
The transport company Plymouth CityBus said it was investigating. The alleged incident happened on Tuesday as part-time hairdresser Mrs Tracey, who is four months pregnant, was heading home to Crownhill from the city centre.
She said: "He had been in town, he was fed up and hot and was screaming to get out. "I was doing my best to keep him quiet.
"The driver turned round and said if I did not shut him up we would be thrown off."
Her husband Paul, 38, said: "I had a phone call from her saying a bus driver had thrown her and my son of the bus. "I had to ask her to repeat it as I was stuck for words. I cannot get my head around it. If this guy does a school run, how is he going to cope?"
A CityBus spokesman said CCTV from the bus was being checked and all evidence would be investigated.
Full story BBC News

These sort of stories often appear in the local papers as bus companies seem to be soft targets. At least these days with cctv the stories can often be checked and quite often be disproved altogether. Look back through Leon Daniels blog to see a couple of high profile news stories where accusations were made which ended up in the national news only to be completely debunked later. By then the damage has been done as the follow up rarely gets the same attention in the news.
It remains to be seen if this is the case with this story. I kind of hope it is as it shows poor judgement by the driver. That said a screaming toddler can indeed by a distraction to a driver which could potentially be a safety issue? I have often been on a bus and seen drivers cope with such screaming toddlers without a word. I guess they must be used to it. Who'd want to be a bus driver?

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Uncle Terry: 128 Under lock and key
Uncle Terry: 129: On the river bank
A Transport of Delight: Driverless tubkart
Omnibuses: Normal service to be resumed... A post to say he hasn't posted - enjoy the break!!
TGP Dads Daily: England!
PTOTPA: Ever again?
Leon Daniels: Stars of route 9

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Its long and thin

Another quickie transport story...


The current economic difficulties in the UK threaten planned projects to improve the transport infrastructure in Devon and Cornwall, a report has said. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has categorised the region's infrastructure as "at risk". Severe weather and congestion on major routes can "effectively cut off Devon and Cornwall", it said.


"It's a long, thin peninsula and the rail system and the motorway network system is quite fragile"


For the rest of this vague report: BBC News


The full South West Regional Report (PDF) from ICE can be previewed here on PT Google Docs.

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PTOTPA: Swan Update

Leon Daniels: New Bristol Flyer

TGP Public: Down in the woods today

In Tray

When appointed, the new managing director at First Devon and Cornwall will have an interesting in-basket. This follows news that the incumbent Marc Reddy, currently splitting his time between Plymouth and Southampton, will in future be working full time much nearer his Bournemouth home, as MD for First Hampshire & Dorset.


For the rest of an interesting post on First in Cornwall head over to Omnibuses...

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TGP - Dads Daily: Dolls House

A Transport of Delight: Bitter - sweet Network Rail

Uncle Terry: 127 Cornerstone

Transport Illustrated: BAC 100 Great collection of Bristols

Taxi for Taxibus

Taxibus are going - all of them!



WF57UUA in plain white livery on Taxibus 226

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It seems I underestimated the withdrawal of the Taxibus Northern Connect service in my recent post. A notice has now gone up in the taxis used to announce that all the Taxibus services are coming to and end on the 6th August 2010. This includes the St Budeaux Taxibuses which have been running for quite a few years now. It also means that the services which were cut by the city council last year and replaced with Taxibuses will also now lose the Taxibuses. I can see this upsetting quite a few people!

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TGP Dads Daily: Scary

TGP Public: A Closer look at life

Omnibuses: Bus to Where?

First News

Helping out with Park and Ride passengers

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First are making good use of their new service 12 buses to help with the Coypool Park and Ride:
During the disruption caused by the Gdynia Way road works (June - November) we are allowing customers of Coypool Park & Ride PR2 to use their ticket on our ugobus service 12 for return journeys from the City Centre. They can alight at the bus stop outside McDonalds on Plymouth Road. Service 12 operates a 12 minute frequency from Monday to Saturday from stand A11 on Royal Parade, stand B3 on the Viaduct and stand C3 outside Drake Circus Mall on Coburg Street. For a service 12 timetable please click on the link below, click on 'timetables' in the left hand menu or visit the First travel shop in Bretonside bus station. FDC

Other less welcome news is of fare increase for Plymouth and South Devon from next week:

From Sunday 20th June, due to increased operating and fuel costs, we will be changing most of our adult and child single and return fares in Plymouth & South Devon. Day, Week, Month,3Month, 6Month & Year tickets remain unchanged and continue to offer excellent value travel from as little as £1.43 a day.
We are also pleased to announce the launch of some new First Year Child tickets for those aged 16 and under:

First Year Plymouth Child £390
First Year Plymouth Plus Child £510
First Year Devon & Cornwall Child £600
More details on purchasing these tickets...

Although the new tickets above might not be sold in big numbers the other new tickets being introduced are likely to be more popular (assuming they are marketed properly):

First in Devon & Cornwall are pleased to introduce a new First3Day ticket, valid across Devon & Cornwall from Sunday 20th June. The First3Day Devon & Cornwall ticket is valid for unlimited travel on all First bus services in Cornwall and most in Devon for 3 consecutive days.
These great value tickets are prices at:
First3Day Devon & Cornwall adult £12.00
First3Day Devon & Cornwall child £9.00
First3Day Devon & Cornwall family £25.00
(valid for up to 5 people with no more than 2 adults)
First3Day Devon & Cornwall tickets are available from your First driver or from the First Travel Shops in Truro, Penzance, Camborne, Plymouth and Barnstaple.
More details

One final bit of news concerns Marc Reddy who is leaving his post at FDC to take over at First Hampshire & Dorset from an unknown date. It seems that notices have gone up to this effect within the company. This of course makes sense for Marc as he still lives in the area and has to commute Devon and Cornwall. Lets just hope that whoever takes over the post at Devon and Cornwall they continue where Marc left off. The Plymouth fleet at least has been transformed under his leadership and is no longer the joke that it was for many years previously.

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A Transport of Delight: Co-ordinated high speed rail
Busworld Photography: Rossendale Transport
PTOTPA: Optare Solo on the road He gets the photo I have been trying to get all week!
Omnibuses: Nicola Shaw and Me I Know how he feels sometimes.

PTOTPA: Away from home Another rare sighting!
Uncle Terry: 125: Little Dipper
A Transport of Delight: NXWM dangles a carrot an offer you can refuse?
Omnibuses: Unknown quantity Smartcards
PTOTPA: Carmel Coaches
Uncle Terry: 126- Uncle Terry

Northern Dis-connected?

Well it was fun while it lasted...

Taxifast Northern Connect SF08BUP seen at Crownhill April 2008

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It seems that the Taxifast / Target Travel Northern Connect service is coming to an end. Passengers have been warned for a while that the service was probably coming to an end later this year but it seems that it is now decided and it will end sometime in August. Apparently the 56 days notice has been / is being submitted although nothing has yet appeared on VOSA but I guess it will be a few days before it does. I guess it is possible that the service might get saved by the council but as money is tight I would be surprised if they do.
It was / still is a great service supplied by a friendly group of drivers who know their regular passengers by name. They know where to expect them and look out for them. I for one shall miss it when it does end. To be fair I do have alternatives for my regular runs to work as the First service 15 would get me close to work just 5 mins later than the Taxibus. Coming home is more annoying in that I have to walk over to Derriford Hospital rather than get picked up just outside the office. Other passengers are not so lucky and the loss of the service will cause them problems. Just dont ask them why so few of them actually ever used it.

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A Transport of delight: Ad-nauseum
Omnibuses: Lighten up The new Temsa lightweight - ideal for Devon and Cornwall?
PTOTPA: Snap on Sunday The new Versa - I think he likes it
TGP Dads Daily: Go for it - in England

asking for more - but expecting less

Sir Moir Lockhead, chief executive of FirstGroup has met council chiefs to talk about plans to encourage more motorists to use Plymouth's park-and-ride services and help expand the city.
Back in March 2006 First were running red Dennis Tridents on the service.

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The firm has been working with researchers at Plymouth and Aberdeen universities to study drivers' behaviour and identify which ones are likely to transfer to buses. He said without the city's three park-and-ride services there would be an extra 10 per cent of rush hour traffic each morning. The firm also raised issues, including a lack of space at the Coypool park and ride and how rail connections to the city could be improved.
Sir Moir held talks with Plymouth City Council leader Vivien Pengelly and Cabinet member for transport Kevin Wigens, and afterwards told The Herald: "The city needs more people in it. The way to do that is to make access easier. Park and ride is the answer." He said the firm had been looking at research by Professor Jon Shaw at the University of Plymouth, who has been working with experts at the University of Aberdeen on a project about drivers' behaviour. "We are looking at things that will help us do what we are trying to do in Plymouth, which is to get park and ride growing and relieve the city of congestion," Sir Moir said. Marc Reddy, managing director of First Devon and Cornwall, said there was not enough parking space at the Coypool park-and-ride site, and Sir Moir said this could cause motorists to reject the bus. Milehouse park and ride was also "doing well" and the George Junction site had seen increasing numbers since the layout was altered to make the car park easier to enter. Mr Reddy also said the firm was still involved in plans for a "high quality public transport route from Deep Lane to the city" to serve the proposed Sherford development.

Full article This is Plymouth
While Plymouth City Council is quite keen on the Park and Ride services I doubt very much if there will be any signigicant expansion of these in Plymouth in the short term at least. Money is tight and council are about to be hit with massive cuts. Transport in particular seems to be braced for the biggest cuts from central government with many major schemes already aproved by the previous administration now being told to stop as money is not available. It seems that the current East End Transport scheme is not affected as work is already underway so it seems we got in just in time on that one. What is clear is that council will find it a lot harder to support local bus services in the future so we can expect cutbacks. Even the cuts that are not directly aimed transport are likely to cause bus operators problems. Any increase in unemployment means less passengers which means that services end up being cut back by operators, only this time the council wont be so keen, or able to step in and breach the gaps.
Sorry to sound so pessimistic but...

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Transport Illustrated: Barry Festival of Transport
A Transport of Delight: No Contest A nice little video or the World Cup?
Uncle Terry: 123 Slope off
Omnibuses: Ingerland
TGP Dads Daily: Coast to Coast
Dads Daily: Take the bus
TGP Public: Travels of a PD2 Great set of photos of a fine looking bus
Leon Daniels: Bristol Centenary

Unrepeatable Scene

A Leyland National in New George Street

©Jos van Hemert.Plymouth City Transport 61 New George Street July 1980

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A great shot of a bus that no longer exists in a location that buses don't go and even if they did it does not look like this anymore! Littlewoods has long gone too and this store is now TJ Hughes. The area is now a pedestrian zone although there is now on street parking along sections of New George Street. I am pretty sure that buses were not regularly using New George Street at this time so I can only assume it was for an event taking place on Royal Parade as buses were often diverted through the City Centre when the Parade was closed. Thanks to Jos for allowing me to use his photos. Expect to see more over the coming weeks!

www.jossphotos.fotopic.net

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A Transport of Delight: Mass Default What will happen in 2016/7?
Omnibuses: From the company postbag A brilliant look at what bus companies have to put up with!
Omnibuses Dorset: Bowing out The end of an era in Dorset
Uncle Terry: 122- time to grasp the nettle
Leon Daniels: New Temsa bus launched
In the news: Changes at the top of First Group

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Twitter 11th June:
FIRST: Saltash Regatta Parade 19th June: From 1030 - 1130 Fore Street will be closed & services 1/1A & 76 diverted via New Rd & North Rd from 1015.

Listed building consent for Brunels bridge refurbishment

The most complex plan ever to strengthen and refurbish the Royal Albert bridge has been approved by both Plymouth City Council and the Cornwall Council.

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Network Rail has received listed building consent from both planning authorities, supporting the company’s plans to improve the Grade 1 listed structure over the next three years. Around 300 residents attended Network Rail’s two-day exhibition in Saltash in April to share their feedback for the scheme. A final public exhibition will be held in Plymouth on 13 June at the Plymouth Yacht Club. The scheme is also fully supported by English Heritage. Chris Rayner, route director, Network Rail said: “We are investing in the future of Royal Albert Bridge and we will take every possible steps to engage with residents, protect the environment and preserve our heritage. We are very grateful for the tremendous support from the community, both councils and the English Heritage to help us pursue this plan.”


Graeme Hicks, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Transportation and Highways, said: “This is an historic structure that provides the gateway into Cornwall for millions of people every year. It’s only fitting that such a legendary piece of engineering should be preserved to such high standards and I’m delighted to see this work taking place.” The 151 year-old structure, which carries a busy mainline that is frequently used by around 30 trains each day, will be strengthened, restored and repainted. Network Rail plans to start work on site by the end of the year and will soon be tendering for a contractor to implement the scheme. Corroded elements on the bridge will be repaired and extra efforts will also be taken to restore Brunel's original design, by using special bolts that are similar in design to Victorian rivets.


The Royal Albert bridge will also be re-painted goose grey, which is the colour of the bridge for most of its life since 1911. It is considered to be the most practical and viable long-term solution to help sustain the bridge’s aesthetic for a longer period of time. All the existing paint on the bridge will be completely stripped away, except for two 1m square patches on each bridge portal. These areas will be preserved for posterity.


Steps will be taken to protect the environment while the work is being carried out. For example, the bridge will be encapsulated to prevent dust and/or paint from escaping and a special extraction system will be created to remove any waste materials without contaminating the surrounding areas.
The improvement work will also be carefully planned to be carried out when trains are not running to minimise any disruptions.

Network Rail

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A Transport of delight: Easy Court

Uncle Terry: 120- Trapped

Omnibuses: One announcement and one shock changes at First and companies for sale in London

TGP Dads Daily: 162 Water Droplets

Citybus flies Solo

Citybus Solos finally out in service

Citybus have operated Solos in service before, albeit only on loan. YJ57YCF back in June 2008 was on loan from Mistral.

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Finally caught sight of one of the recently acquired Optare Solos out in service yesterday. Citybus 211 was on the 46. It caught my attention before it came into view simply because it could be heard from a distance as it powered up the steep section of Keswick Crescent. I hope to have a camera with me next time just in case it appears on the same run again. The 46 at this time is usually a step entrance Dart while a few minutes behind it a step entrance dart appeared on the normally low floor 50, much to the displeasure of the young girl in a wheelchair who had been waiting for a while.

 

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A Transport of delight: In Memoriam 24
Uncle Terry: 119: Its a big job
Leon Daniels: First News today
Omnibuses: Attitudes changing
TGP Public: Statuestic hipstamatic Isca

More transport heritage uncovered

Historic tramway uncovered on Dartmoor

Two years of painstaking work by conservation volunteers on Dartmoor has paid off with the uncovering of 200 original railway sleepers

The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway is one of the moor's lesser known historic features. It opened in 1823 to carry Dartmoor's exportable products, in particular granite, down to Plymouth's waterside. A horse-drawn tramway, it ran for 25 miles along a single track line with cast iron rails fixed to granite sleepers. The railway was the creation of Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, the founder of Princetown but by the mid-19th century it had fallen out of use and sections of it were later taken over by Great Western Railway.
Since its abandonment most of the rails have been removed and the granite sleepers had become obscured by decades of vegetation growth. Today part of the old tramway is used as Drake's Trail cycle route.
It is one of a number of historic features, like Drake's Leat and Devonport Leat, which took advantage of Dartmoor's gradient. The group - the Tavistock Task Force - cleared over 900 metres of the old railway track.
"Volunteer groups such as the Tavistock Task Force have completed over 1,000 hours of work, over the last 12 months, to benefit Dartmoor," said Mike Nendick from the Dartmoor National Park Authority.
"They carry out a huge range of tasks including litter picking, vegetation clearance, ecological work, path maintenance and archaeological repairs and surveys.
"The Clearbrook Tramway is a fascinating historic link between Dartmoor and the city of Plymouth and it is hoped that the many visitors to the area will enjoy discovering the wonderful contribution made by the task force to help conserve and enhance Dartmoor's special qualities." The work was funded by Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Dartmoor Trust and the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund.
BBC
Its always nice to see some effort being put into preserving little bits of our transport heritage.

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a Transport of delight: Not the best move
Uncle Terry: 118: In the hub of things
Omnibuses: Raising eyebrows and thinking latterally: Changes at Go South Coast
Transport Illustrated: GWR 175
Musings in Monochrome: Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis at Athens

Football fever on the buses

World Cup fever is beginning to take hold across the region.




First were first to support England - way back in 2006 their buses carried the flag, and of course they do again this year. From 2006 we see the flag on a Mercedes Vario at Derriford Hospital

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Streets across Devon and Cornwall are lined with an abundance of patriotic flags blowing from the windows of local houses and businesses and rarely does a car drive past without an England flag blowing in the breeze behind it. Not only are our cars a display of English patriotism, but so too are Plymouth's buses as Citybus has caught World Cup fever.

The local bus company has named 11 of its buses after England players. Each of the buses will sport an England flag on the side of the bus alongside a player's name. The names include David James, Ashley Cole, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and John Terry, to name just a few.

The managing director for Plymouth Citybus, Andrew Wickham, said: "The whole company wish to show their support for the England team and for Plymouth's bid to act as a host city for the 2018 World Cup."

This is Plymouth

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Uncle Terry: 117: a little lighter


TGP Dads daily: Hipstamatic Omnibuses


Omnibuses: 20 million pounds - and for what? Veolia saga

Let battle commence

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TGP Dads daily: Tranquil Canal
TGP Public: Hipstamatic
PTOTPA: Enterprise Boats Leyland Olympian
Omnibuses: Social Media and the Real World
BusWorld PhotographyBuses and Girls (Plymouth) Nice photo
TGP Dada daily: 158: Monumental
Uncle Terry116: Terry IV

Sunday Best: M53HOD

©Ian The Rev
Volvo B6-50/Plaxton Pointer, Charles Street, Plymouth, 15th November 1996

And still plodding on in daily service in 2010!

Vosa Variations - a hint of things to come

There have been applications to alter bus services in Plymouth posted on the VOSA site recently:

2nd June 2010 we get a couple from First which interestingly come the day after the changes were made:

PH0004983/31 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between PLYMOUTH Bus Station and TORQUAY, Torbay Hotel given service number X80/X81 effective from 01-Jun-2010. To amend Route.

PH0004983/351 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Plymouth, Bretonside Bus Station and Ivybridge, Cole Lane given service number 180 effective from 01-Jun-2010. To amend Route.

These will be for the massive works on the East End scheme with these buses no longer going into Cattedown.

The other posting is for Target Travel:

PH0006742/30 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Bovisand given service number 54 effective from 24-Jul-2010. To amend Timetable.

The really interesting post comes on the 3rd June when we get our first hint at the next raft of changes from Plymouth Citybus:

PH0000135/5 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and DERRIFORD Hospital given service number 28/28A/28B effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Timetable.

PH0000135/9 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, 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-Jul-2010. To amend Timetable.

PH0000135/13 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and DERRIFORD Hospital given service number 50 effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/14 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH, ROYAL PARADE and DERRIFORD HOSPITAL given service number 46A/146/246/46B effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/52 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and DERRIFORD Hospital given service number 47/147/247/47A/47B effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/65 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between ROYAL PARADE, PLYMOUTH and DEVONPORT given service number 45 effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/75 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH , Royal Parade and SALTASH PILLMERE given service number 26/26S effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/76 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between ROYAL PARADE and DERRIFORD HOSPITAL given service number 29/29D/29S effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/77 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and BARNE BARTON given service number 43A effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

PH0000135/78 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and HOLLY PARK given service number 43B effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Timetable.

This seems to be more house keeping than a major recast like the recent Plympton changes. Intrigued by the route changes planned for the 46/47 and 50 services. I do wish VOSA would give out more information than just route start and end points!

from 2001!

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Uncle Terry

114 An offer you cant refuse
115 Underneath

TGP Dads daily

Curving Landscape

Omnibuses

Participation
Souter investments

Transport of Delight

When to complain

PTOTPA

First of many

05 June 2010

Coping with congestion

Minor route change happening this weekend:
Due to the increased congestion around Drake Circus Shopping Mall on Coburg Street due to the works at Gdynia Way and at the request of our customers from Sunday 6th June we will reroute ugobus services 1/1A and 13 via Western Approach and Derrys Cross and will not serve the bus stops outside the Art College or on the Viaduct.
The services will revert to their normal route once the Gdynia Way road works are completed.
First Devon and Cornwall

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Uncle Terry

112: Traffic Manager 113: Peeping Terry

TGP Dads daily

Sedative

TGP Public

Blowing in the wind

Omnibuses

Indescretions

Transport Illustrated

Two Museums

03 June 2010

15:39 FIRST PLYMOUTH & SOUTH DEVON: Why not make the most of the last few days of half term and this gorgeous weather and pop out for a trip on our Mayflower Link service 93. Explore the stunning countryside and coast between Plymouth, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth - it also stops right by Slapton Sands and Blackpool Sands if you fancy some time at the beach. Click here for a timetable

04 June 2010

FIRST PLYMOUTHDue to the increased congestion around Drake Circus Shopping Mall on Coburg Street due to the works at Gdynia Way, and at the request of our customers from 6 June we will reroute ugobus services 1/1A and 13 via Western Approach and Derrys Cross and will not serve the bus stops outside the Art College or on the Viaduct.The services will revert to normal route once the road works are completed.

Its been a long weekend

Had a day off blogging as was at St Mellion Golf Centre on Monday / Tuesday for a wedding. Really enjoyed it too. On the way home came across the Western greyhound Solo on the 576 which seems like a good excuse to post a photo of one of their buses this morning...

Finally just to bring things a bit more up to date I post the Facebook jottings from our bus companies yesterday - the first day of the Gdynia Way closure

Plymouth Citybus 1st June 2010

Because of the commencement of major roadworks in the Prince Rock area we are experiencing severe delays to our running times, please accept our apologies for the impact this is having on our services. We are currently working with the relevant authorities and council departments to try and resolve this issue. Further updates and notices will be posted as and when we able to provide more information.

FIRST PLYMOUTH 1st June 2010

Unfortunately due to the Eastern Corridor works diversions and lane closures at Cattedown there are delays to services. We are doing our best to get to you as soon as we can and apologise for any inconvenience caused due to circumstances beyond our control.
Who could have predicted that! Seriously I do hope that things settle down soon...


There may be gaps in coverage again over the next week as my new PC is finally going back to Mesh for them to fix it as I have now given up on it and totally lost confidence in it. When it works it is brilliant - but you never know when its going to crash again. I will be reverting back to the old machine so any gaps shouldn't be too long.

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Uncle Terry

111: Chain Male

WHOTT Friends

Roselyn Coaches Running Day

TGP Dads daily

Chores

TGP Public

Roselyn Coaches Running Day

Omnibuses

Family Affair: Fun and games in South Wales

A transport of Delight

Barriers elicit strike ballot: Train station barriers

PTOTPA

2 year triumph

Leon Daniels

Nostalgic about engines

Other News

The freight operator First GBRf has been sold to Eurotunnel. The deal follows the purchase of EWS by Deutsche Bahn, and follows months of speculation about First's intentions over its freight arm -- which it acquired almost by accident in 2003. More...

31 May 2010

15:26 FIRST PLYMOUTH: Meet the Manager event, tomorrow 1030 - 1430, Place de Brest, City Centre. Click here for more information