Sunday best: ETT319Y

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Plymouth Health Authority Leyland National 2

©AecRegent: This National 2 was used by the Plymouth Health Authority, but I could not find out its actual use. An interesting addition. I have been meaning to show this great shot of Plymouth Health Authority's Leyland National ETT319Y since I came across it. I have spent a fair bit of time trying to upload my recent photos taken last weekend, just down the road from where this photo was taken. It was often to be found parked up here on Western Approach where it was used on a shuttle service to Moorhaven Hospital near Ivybridge. This was the second Leyland National used on this service although I cant for the life of mew remember the registration of the previous one. It was replaced by a fairly plain white Mercedes Bread minibus in 1988 I believe. The bus then went to Nottingham City Transport.

Further Reading Omnibuses: Foot shooting Omnibuses: Bolt from the Blues PTOTPA: Advert First on Twitter / Facebook 28 Jan 2010 17:28 JANUARY SALE ENDS SUNDAY! Don't miss a bargain with selected First 3 or 6 month season tickets reduced by upto £75 - but only until Sunday! Buy on line or from the Travel Shops in Plymouth, Truro, Penzance, Camborne or Barnstaple Bus Stations (please see Travel Shop section of website for opening hours). Click here for more info and to buy on line 29 Jan 2010 12:29 Don't forget we also have a Facebook page with info & photos of First buses in Devon & Cornwall. Become a fan. 14:55 Don't forget a new timetable is in operation for the X80/X81 (Plymouth - Lee Mill - Ivybridge - South Brent - Dartington - Totnes - Paignton - Torquay) from Sunday 31st January. Click here to view http://bit.ly/b7hFor A new service 64/65 timetable (Torquay Middle Warberry Rd - Town Centre - St Marychurch - The Willows - Torbay Hospital) also operates from Monday 1st February. Click here to view 15:00 Do you know a young person who deserves to be recognised for something special? Last year The Herald, proudly sponsored by First Devon and Cornwall, launched the Stephanie Hammacott award, to honour a brave, inspirational or community spirited youngster or perhaps someone who does that little bit extra at school or in a club. The accolade was created in honour of little nine-year-old Stephanie, who died during the gas blast in Southway in January 2008.LINK Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 30 Jan 2010 12:14 Serious congestion in the Drakes Circus area means all buses approaching the City from Exeter Street are diverting across the Viaduct. Passengers waiting in Mayflower Street or Western Approach can catch any bus to Royal Parade to catch up with their own service.

Citybus Fleet Catch up

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This post has been reset for the new format


Now I have a camera again, one of my main aims is to get back on top with the current livery situation of the main bus fleets in Plymouth. Last weekend I managed over 100 decent quality photographs which I am still slowly sorting through and it was clear that my records were out of date. Today is the first part of a fleet update which will take place over the coming months as I get back on top of things: We start appropriately enough at number 1, or to be more precise Plymouth Citybus 1 - 12, N101-112UTT:

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TGP: Is Archi Bald?

Its a wrap - but smarter

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First get smarter with their advert buses?

I have never been a fan of buses with large advert wraps plastered all over their windows as it can make for a miserable experience for the passengers inside, especially on wet days where it can become all but impossible to see out through them. When I first saw this example, and I think there is more than one, it struck me as a slightly better compromise in that at least it left most windows free. It was only when I had a closer look at the photo that I realised how smart First have been. It actually looks like there is some sort of frame around the advert, rather than just being stuck over the windows. This makes it tidier and I guess easier to apply to the bus. I have been a passenger on this bus, and at first I didn't even notice the advert which I guess is an improvement. Maybe if I was sat on the seats right next to it I may have done, but back in my normal seats the bus seemed just as bright and airy as these buses normally do.

Further Reading Plymouth Local History: Obliske - fascinating stuff! Plymouth Local History: Tamerton Foliot Highton-Ridley: Dartmoor Thaw TGP: Give us a hand TGP: Go Ahead Oxford and Newquay First on Twitter / Facebook 27 Jan 2010 17:20 Dont forget we now operate services to Plympton, Chaddlewood, Estover, Mainstone and Ernesettle from Plymouth City Centre - why not give our Ugobus services a try Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 27 Jan 2010 nothing to see here!

OFT not pursuing an investigation

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Least surprising news ever?

I must admit I didn't really expect to be using the 'Citybus Sell Off’ badge again but today I received a 'news item' which caught me unawares: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) last night said it had decided against an investigation into the latest acquisition made by North East transport giant Go-Ahead. The Newcastle-headquartered company made a £20m swoop for southern bus operator Plymouth City Bus (PCB) in December. The plc had reportedly faced stiff competition from rival Stagecoach to complete the deal, while Plymouth City Council also received opposition from transport unions and local residents who were against the deal. However the OFT issued a statement last night to confirm that it would not be pursuing an investigation -in relation to the Enterprise Act 2002 - into the merger between Go-Ahead and PCB. bdaily Did anyone ever really expect an investigation into the takeover from the OFT? If Stagecoach had secured the deal to take control then I am sure it would have been investigated, but with Go-Ahead now owning Citybus, the competition for Plymouth passengers remains pretty much the same as before. Curious!

Further Reading Omnibuses: Utopia? not yet! TGP: Going nowhere First on Twitter / Facebook 26 Jan 2010 09:57 JANUARY SERVICE CHANGES: For details of all services changing in Devon & Cornwall during January please click here Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 26 Jan 2010 13:36 Due to another serious accident at Camels Head all St Budeaux services are diverted via Bridwell Road and Fleetmoor Road. Delays to services 43, 43A, 43B, 26, 29, 46, 47 are unfortunately inevitable. 15:33 Camels Head now open and all services returning to normal. They may be a few short delays as buses get back on to timetables

More Western Greyhound Investment

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Western Greyhound New Solos in service

Following on from yesterday, the Trident was not the only 'new' Western Greyhound bus I managed to catch on camera: Two Optare Solos from a batch of 6 recently placed into service by Western Greyhound. Fleet numbers 957 to 962 WK59CWU-CWZ are Optare Solo M920's with 33 seats and they look extremely smart in the latest green with ornag ebnad livery.

Further Reading Omnibuses: Photography Omnibuses: Breaking new ground PTOTPA: Newquay temp bus station PTOTPA: WGL Trident (I told him it was there!) PTOTPA: Liskeard Trip TGP: On the beach TGP: Oxford Archive First on Twitter / Facebook 25 Jan 2010 10:37 CORNWALL: Don't forget the timetable for Truro - St Agnes service 85/85A changes today.Click here for the new timetable 10:53 CORNWALL: CORNWALL: Changes to services 93/94/95 in Cornwall from Monday 25 January 2010 As a result of changes to Services 85/85A it has been necessary to change some of the times of these services journeys due to the fact that the same bus operates these services. Click here to view details and the new timetables 11:33 PLYMOUTH: Going to Prodigy gig at Pavlions tonight? Why not take a First bus in so there's no parking hassles & you can enjoy a beer too! 12:58 Meet the Manager! First Devon & Cornwall's Managing Director Marc Reddy & his team will be at Truro Bus Station from 1000-1230 on Wednesday 3rd February to answer your questions and discuss your suggestions regarding bus services in Cornwall. We look forward to seeing you there. 13:00 Photo album The Tavy Linx service 83/84/86 operate between Plymouth and Tavistock 7 days a week (supported by Devon County Council) Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 24 Jan 2010 ARE YOU A CONCESSIONARY PASS HOLDER? Have you entered our free draw to win a 32inch TV? Just write your contact details on the back of your ticket and drop it in the box in our travel shop on the Viaduct. Other prizes including £100 off a Citycoach trip. Enter as many times as you like between now and February 27th 2010. This draw is for concessionary pass holders only. Full rules on our website.

Incoming Western Greyhound Trident

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Bretonside goes Green!

There was a very nice surprise in store for me when I popped into Bretonside on Saturday - A nice bright green Dennis Trident! WK51CAL is now Western Greyhound 442 It came to WGL from City of Oxford (Go-Ahead Group) where it was registered R6OXF but was originally Go Northern 3892 NK51UCV and is one of 4 that Western Greyhound have purchased. It seems that they will be regulars on the Plymouth - Callington - Launceston services 576 so we will be seeing them in Plymouth quite often. I must get out for a day trip in the summer! At first I was a bit annoyed at the bright orange coach next to it, as it prevented me from getting the shot I wanted, but I actually really like the way it has brought out the orange band in the livery. Western Greyhound - the new and the old! S30ARJ is perhaps the oldest of the Varios still in service these days. Bretonside probably hasn't seen this much green since Western National NBC days!

Further Reading PTOTPA: Turning back the clock WHOTT Friends - Events 2010 Transport of Delight: Car Scrappage - SV Style Transport Illustrated - Devon Day Trip - a cautionary tale

Target Travel Solos

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Targets Solos come in two flavours

Managed a day in town yesterday to spend catching up with the bus fleets of Plymouth with my new camera. Quite a few photos still to be processed but we carry on the 'mini' bus series with these two Optare Solos of Target Travel which carry different liveries: In the standard 'Solo' pink livery I have to say I think the green and white version is a lot better!

Further Reading Target Travel - my Flickr Set Omnibuses: Lost and found Omnibuses - meets Alan Miller Omnibuses: The most admired... PTOTPA: Preservation update PTOTPA: B176VDV Escapes PTOTPA: Another on the 26 Woops - a Trident accident in Truro Friends of WHOTT: Restoration TGP: Bare bones TGP: Evenings draw out TGP: Barnstable First on Twitter / Facebook 21 Jan 2010 10:32 PLYMOUTH/TORPOINT: We have been advised that we're down to 2 Torpoint ferries again until around 2pm today. We therefore apologise for any consequent delays to the 81/81A/81C which are beyond our control. 14:58 PLYMOUTH/TORPOINT: Three Tamar ferries now in operation so no further potential delays to services 81/81A/81C at moment. Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 22 Jan 2010 06:54 Due to the serious fire in the Shaugh area, services 58 and 59 are severely curtailed. Service 58 will operate between Lee Moor and the City Centre. Service 59 will operate between the City Centre and Lee Moor Both routes will operate to timetable over the sections of route that they are able to serve There will be no buses in either direction serving Bickleigh Shaugh and Wotter 08:54 Apologies - due to a misunderstanding we managed to lose the first service 58. Another bus has been sent out to cover Cornwood to the City 21:07 The main road through Shaugh Prior has been reopened. Services 58 and 59 will revert to their normal routes on Saturday. These routes have suffered badly with the snow and then this bad fire. We are pleased to see reliability returning to these two routes Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 23 Jan 2010 14:19 Due to a serious accident at Camels Head all St Budeaux services are diverted via Bridwell Road and Fleetmoor Road. Delays to services 43, 43A, 43B, 26, 29, 46, 47 are unfortunately inevitable 15:31 Camels Head is now open to traffic. All services are returning to normal. There may be a few short delays as buses get back on time.

Plymouth Citybus incoming Solos

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First batch of Solos's due to Plymouth shortly...

©emdjtd42 Go North East's Optare Solo 613 NM02DNU is seen at Gateshead MetroCentre, on a 143, on March 16th 2009. In a livery that wouldnt look too out of place in Plymouth, Go North East 613 is one of 4 Solos which are due to arrive in Plymouth any day now. The four that are expected (and things can change at the last minute!) are GP02DPV 32 seats (Photo by emdjt42) NM02DNU 29 seats VU02TTK 29 seats(photo by emdjt42 MX53FEF 33 Seats All will be repainted etc before they enter service in Plymouth so it will be a little while before we see them on the streets of Plymouth. It remains to be seen what the livery will be! Flickr user emdjtd42 has a large collection of photos of the Go North East fleet here I wonder if any others of this colourful fleet will end up in Plymouth!

Further Reading emdjt42 Photostream on Flickr First on Twitter / Facebook 21 Jan 2010 09:20 Services operating as normal although delays (in particular for those travelling from Torpoint to Plymouth) are likely on services 81/81A/81C due to there only being two Torpoint Ferries running at the moment. Will update if we hear more. 12:35 PLYMOUTH/TORPOINT: Report from the Torpoint Ferry Office is that the 3rd ferry is likely to be repaired & back in service by 1400 today. We apologise for any consequent delays to service 81/81A/81C which have been beyond our control. 17:35 The Gold Star awards are a joint venture between The Herald and First Devon & Cornwall to identify local residents in the Plymouth area who have shown selfless dedication to the community, to the welfare of others, and to helping those less fortunate than themselves. Every month for 12 months, nominations for the awards are judged and a monthly 'Gold Star' chosen. All 12 winners are then invited to attend a glittering awards ceremony and dinner - this year to be held in March. At the ceremony, an overall 'Gold Star of the Year' will be selected for 2009-10. Also presented at the ceremony is the Stephanie Hammacott Gold Star Award which is presented to a young person from Plymouth who has also demonstrated a dedication to the community, to the welfare of others, and to helping those less fortunate than themselves. To nominate someone you know for a Gold Star Award (including the Stephanie Hammacott Award) please click on the link HERE Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 21 Jan 2010 17:35 A serious incident involving a fire in a barn near the village of Shaugh Prior has forced the service 59 to terminate at Wotter. The road between Shaugh and Bickleigh is completely closed.