UGOing going gone…

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From First the next batch of cutbacks...
Changes to South Devon services 4, 7, 11, 15 and 83/84/86 from 30 October 2010
Service 4 (City - Keyham) Following cuts in City Council funding for evening services all Service 4 journeys which leave the city centre after 1825 are being withdrawn from Monday 1st November.
Service 11 (City - Honicknowle Green) Regrettably service 11 is being withdrawn after Saturday 30th October, due to lower than expected passengers numbers.
Service 7 (City - Woolwell) & 83/84/86 (City - Tavistock) From Saturday 30th October ugobus service 7 will be withdrawn and replaced by revised services 84/86 which will serve Woolwell roughly every 30 minutes (Monday - Saturday) from Monday 1st November.
Service 15 (City - Estover/Mainstone) From Monday 1st November the routing for the service will be altered to serve the Marjon campus and on city bound journeys will travel via North Road East/Western Approach.
For revised service 4, 15 and 83/84/86 timetables please click on ‘Forthcoming timetables within the left hand ‘Timetables menu on this website. Revised timetable leaflets will be available from the First Travel Shop in Bretonside Bus Station from the middle of October. (Timetable for the 4 is not up as I type this)

So the Ugobus network is cut back even further. It used to be so different.
From the 2008 First Group Preliminary Results:
We launched a new network in Plymouth in April 2008. The changes are as a result of a year long exercise talking to customers, local stakeholders and user groups as well as an analysis of customer travel patterns across the city. The 'ugobus' branded network has started well and shows encouraging signs of growing passenger numbers.
And remember this from 2009:

"Since it was unveiled in April 2008 the Ugobus network has gone from strength to strength and the Honicknowle service, launched last autumn, has proved to be successful"

Marc Reddy - This is Plymouth



Still - on the plus side it will free up more buses that Marc can use in Southampton...

One Million Bus Tickets for free

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Sorry for the lack of posting here for the last few days - I am off work at the moment with a 'jarred hip joint' which is very painful and makes walking very hard. Practically bed bound for last two days although easing slightly now.

Came across this on Facebook:
Western Greyhound is delighted to announce that we are taking part in a fantastic new national promotion, designed to increase awareness and encourage people to switch from the car to the bus when planning journeys. Entitled "Sometimes You Cannot Beat the Bus", the campaign includes a million-ticket-giveaway prize draw, which you can be access online. Visit www.greenerjourneys.com for your chance to win! You simply need to submit a written pledge detailing a journey you would change from the car to the bus along with your name, address and key contact details. The "Million-Fares" area of the www.greenerjourneys.com site will be live for just three weeks, after which winners will be notified. Lucky prize winners can redeem their tickets on our services, subject to the terms and conditions, from 1st to 28th November 2010. Good luck! For more information, visit www.greenerjourneys.com

"Greener Journeys is the first-ever national consumer marketing campaign to persuade people to get out of cars and on to buses. Brought to you by a coalition of the major bus companies in the UK, including Arriva, Go-Ahead, FirstGroup, Stagecoach, and National Express, we want to make it easier and more attractive for you to get the bus. Over the next three years, we want to take one billion car journeys off the road. That would mean a huge reduction in carbon emissions, pollution and congestion, making life better for everyone all round"

It certainly looks like a good idea and does have the support of all the big national groups including First, Stagecoach and Go Ahead. Its nice to see Western Greyhound promoting the initiative as well. I am sure it wont be long before First Devon & Cornwall and Plymouth Citybus start promoting the idea as well.

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There's a marked difference in the way passengers complain about different modes of public transport Transport of Delight

Showbus 2010: And a wonderful time was had by all! Busworld Photography

These liveries are so ordinary and everyday that we don’t really notice them any more? Omnibuses

Consider the humble colour black. It doesn't usually look good when covering every part of a bus' exterior Transport of Delight

Even though these buses are now over a decade old, you certainly wouldn't know that if you saw one in Southampton city centre Southern England Bus Scene

It’s impossible during one visit to say whether there are more people travelling on the Chester-Blacon 1/1A/15 services. I would strongly suspect there are Omnibuses

Two retirements and a resignation have caught our attention of late. One is the highest-paid civil servant, the other the highest-paid transport boss and the final being the head of the world's most secretive and insular country Transport of Delight

One of the major narrow gauge railway works is situated just over the Herefordshire border from Gloucestershire on the A40 in the village of Lea near Ross-on-Wye Transport Illustrated

The LGA report points to out of control subsidies accounting for 60 per cent of turnover, plus no local control of the service itself… yet passenger growth is static. What to do? Omnibuses

Steaming in Plymouth

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I missed it myself but there was steam action in Plymouth this weekend. I present a couple of videos of the event from YouTube:
Ashthemainman2010
THE TAMAR DEVONIAN Saturday 25 September 2010 GWR King Class 4-6-0 no 6024 King Edward I LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 no 60163 Tornado.

Danphi11ips
60163 and 6024 pass Powderham and arrive, depart and run around Plymouth "The Tamar Devonian" 25/09/10 2 x class 66 included
There are plenty more on You Tube so take some time to explore!

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Omnibuses: Generations
PTOTPA: Western Greyhound Citaro
SE Bus Scene: Southampton Update
Leon Daniels: On the train at Aldwych
SE Bus Scene: Life after Plymouth Ugo to Southampton

Citybus Variety

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As an enthusiast one of the good things that the Go-Ahead takeover of Citybus has brought is a slightly more diverse fleet of buses. Citybus has always been a fairly standardised fleet but at the moment probably has more variety than it has had for some time. The recent influx of second-hand buses in order to speed the transition to a fully low floor fleet has certainly helped bring more variety to Plymouth.
Last week I popped down to Crownhill in the hope that I would finally catch up with the Wright bodied Darts which were originally placed onto the 42. The first 42 that came along was not what I was expecting:
A short while later the next 42 heading back towards Derriford was also Solo operated.

I knew I had chance to get one more 42 and was now expecting another Solo...

Didn't expect that!
The ironic thing was that I spotted one of the Wright bodied Darts on the 50 one my way to work the next day. We have also had Solos and step Darts on the route and a couple runs in the day are scheduled as Volvo B7 double decker's. Like I said plenty of variety these days!

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SE Bus Scene: Catch them while you can
Transport Illustrated: MTT Running day
Omnibuses: 70's

The ambulance ambulance

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Its been a while since I had an ambulance photo here so try7 this one for something a little different. An unidentified but fairly new ambulance is carted off on the back of a truck. I didnt have time to get a better photo so I cant tell which ambulance it was but it did seem quite bady damaged.

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Omnibuses: Moir Lockhead21 years in
News: Sir Moir Lockhead, chief executive of Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, will retire in March from the rail and bus company he created out of Grampian Regional Transport.

I go somewhere else–soon

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20 September 2010:

24 August 2010

Getting ready to leave?

69245 has now lost its Ugobus branding. It is one of those that are heading towards Southampton but has a stayed a while longer to help run the Plymouth University Park and Ride shuttle service. Its a shame to see these buses leave.

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SE Bus Scene: Bus photography at this time of year! Fun in the sun
Omnibuses: Unprecedented
Transport of Delight: Teething Troubles
CITYBUS FACEBOOK: New ticket available from Wednesday 22nd September. DAYRIDER DUO £5 The DayRider Duo is a Day ticket that enables any two people travelling together to travel on any Plymouth Citybus on the day of purchase for £5 all day. Two Adults travelling together save £1.60 One Adult and one Child travelling together save 60p Saving based against the individual travel purchase of DayRiders

A hint of things to come?

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With thanks to Richard Stedall we can bring what must surely be the biggest hint at a possible new livery and logo for Plymouth Citybus. I am sure we will be seeing the new logo on the new livery and the new look web site when it goes live. Its certainly an improvement on the current Citybus logo although I still remain a fan of the original 1980's chunky Citybus logo. ©Richard Stedall

When I first saw this shop window design it reminded me of something :

©EastleighBusMan (cc) Fellow Go-Ahead company Oxford City2 livery.

Could we be seeing something similar?

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A Transport of delight: Getting the job done
Transport Illustrated: Warrington
Omnibuses: Tupe surfacing at South Coast

A little bit of black

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You may think that having a standard livery across the whole fleet would mean that all their buses would look pretty much the same but First Hampshire & Dorset have always managed to be a little different to the rest. Ex Ugobus 69248 is the first one to enter service in Southampton and you can see straight away the difference a little bit of black paint can make. Personally I feel the black around the headlights is a step to far but the rest looks ok. ©Malcolm Audsley Pound Tree Road, Southampton 17 September 2010

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Malcolms Flickr stream: Solenteer

Trouble ahead?

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Publication Date: September 20 2010
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed the “appalling and outrageous” treatment of a group of members working for First Devon and Cornwall buses on a sub-contract from National Express who have been effectively sacked following the re-award of the contract to a different company – Parks of Hamilton – who are refusing to abide by their obligations under the law to re-engage the existing staff.
RMT confirmed today that it is preparing a ballot for industrial action on First Devon and Cornwall if the company fail to intervene to ensure that the new company comply with their legal obligations and if First Group fail to protect the interests of their staff by re-engaging the workers caught in the middle of the tendering process.
RMT, National Express and First Devon and Cornwall were all clear during negotiations over the award of the contract to Parks of Hamilton that Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations would apply and that existing staff would be re-employed. It is Parks of Hamilton who have refused to comply with TUPE but RMT are clear that First Devon Cornwall also have an obligation to ensure that they do and to re-engage any staff who have lost out as a result of the tendering process.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“The treatment of our members who have been caught in the middle of this tendering process is a disgrace. RMT was appalled to find out that staff who should have been either re-deployed by First Devon and Cornwall, or re-engaged with their service and employment rights protected by Parks of Hamilton, were effectively sacked on the 6th September. That is an outrageous way to treat loyal staff.
“As well as preparing an industrial action ballot RMT will be pursuing legal cases against both First Devon and Cornwall and Parks of Hamilton and we are also demanding that National Express intervene as the client to clear up the mess that this tendering process has created and ensure that our members’ rights are protected.
“It is important that the seriousness of this situation is recognised by all concerned and that the employers meet their obligations to the workforce.”

It remains to be seen if this threat does come to anything as there is still time for all sides to sort something out but it does illustrate the problems that can happen when contracts change hands. As usual its the staff caught up in the middle who tend to come of worse.

Pic credit: RabidSquirrel Creative commons

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A Transport of Delight: Giving wheelchairs preference
270KTA: Friends Reunited
Omnibuses: If anyone can

Plym Valley Weekend

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Sorry but this event has kind of escaped my attention as it clashes with the Kingsbridge event and also the Exeter Westpoint rally on Sunday but a quick reminder that the Plym Valley Railway are holding their Transport Weekend event this weekend - so there is still time to pop down on Sunday!

The Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group are running buses to and from the city centre free of charge More detail on the free bus service can be found here and here: www.plymrail.co.uk

Up the road

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News from 'up the road':
HUNDREDS of passengers and staff were evacuated after a threat to blow up Exeter Bus Station.
The decision to evacuate was taken by Stagecoach bosses after a handwritten message was discovered yesterday morning on a wall of the toilets in Blackboy Road, warning that a bomb would go off at 4.06pm that day, giving details of its specific location.
Prompted by fears of a repeat of the 2008 bomb attack at the Giraffe Restaurant in Exeter, Richard Stevens, operations director for Stagecoach, ordered a fire drill just before 12.30pm so his team could carry out a search of the premises.
All the drivers and passengers were moved off the concourse and operations continued from Bampfylde Street as workmen emptied bins and checked premises before the all-clear was given to re-open.
This is Exeter
There does seem to be some disagreement on the police involvement with Stagecoach saying they were pretty much left to get on with it. Lets just be thankful that it turned out to be a hoax.

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Finally dont forget today is the Kingsbridge Bus Running day. The weather looks good - its going to be a good one. If you know me - and see me - say hello! While I am taking about Kingsbridge - visit the 207KTA blog (link below) for an insider view on owning an older bus. Highly recommended blog.

270KTA at the 2008 running day.

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SE Bus Scene: London Cascades
Omnibuses: Risky Future
270KTA: Sent to try us

A grand day out

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In one of those nice coincidences that happen from time to time I had just sat down at my computer to check emails and there was the usual half a dozen or so from Jos Van Hemert which included a couple of shots for L401VCV - the very bus I had been riding on yesterday afternoon at the Kingsbridge bus running day. Had a very enjoyable run up to Modbury and back with my son.
The weather was perfect for this kind of event which helped make the day really enjoyable. I didn't take that many photos and only had two rides this year as we made it a family outing with me and Zak on the buses while Jane took her brand new inflatable canoe out on the estuary. I know which one I preferred to ride on!
Ended the day with one of the best pub chilli con carne’s I had ever tasted at the pub by the bus station. All in all a great day out.
I will post a few photos during the week once I get chance to download them.
As always a big thank you to all the organisers and drivers who work so hard to make it such a great event.

©Jos Van Hemert: 9 September 1994 Bretonside Bus Station Plymouth.

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Transport of Delight: TramLink
Leon Daniels: By bus to Imber
Omnibuses: Beyond North Circular

A rare opportunity

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With the recent departures the step entrance Dart fleet is slowly disappearing so I always grab a photo if I get the chance. One of a couple of step Darts I managed a few weeks ago was a surprise for me at least as its the least photographed bus in my Citybus collection. I have only two photos on Flickr of this bus. One from October 2006 and this one!

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Busworld Photography: Welcome home
Omnibuses: Something for nothing
Plymouth Local History: Nude bathing in the Tamar
PTOTPA: Another K Reg lives on

Its Kingsbridge again…

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This weekend sees another bus event, which I have to say is my favourite event of the year.

We are pleased to announce that after two very successful Kingsbridge 7'6" Running Days in 2008 and 2009, which each saw more than 20 vehicles operating on some fourteen different routes carrying around 2000 passengers, we are now ready for the third event to be held on Saturday 18th September which will be again followed by WHOTT's Westpoint Rally on Sunday 19th September.
2010 is a very important year for a Bristol type which, for many years was the mainstay of Western National’s Kingsbridge depot – the Bristol SU. 2010 is the 50th anniversary of the entry into service of the Bristol SUS and SUL buses and the first SUL coach. It is hoped to attract as many surviving SUs as possible. There are 16 SUs in preservation (including WNOC 647 which is in Mexico) and a further 5 thought to survive as caravans. The Kingsbridge event will hopefully also see the return to operation of one our older vehicles – more on that as the summer progresses! Our Bristol H will also take a few turns on some of the country routes.

Full details on the web site

Just to catch up I can bring you a few photos from the recent Torquay running day thanks to Dave Boulter:

All © Dave Boulter MBE.

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Transport of Delight: Matlock here we come
PTOTPA: Citybus Dart goes North...Dart on the move
Citybus on Facebook: Advance notification that Union Street will be closed between 0800 and 1800 on Sunday 19th September. During the diversion buses will use Martin Street, Millbay Road and Durnford Street outbound and the reverse inbound

Day Rider Ferry Ticket

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PLYMOUTH Citybus and the operators of the Cremyll Ferry have launched a joint ticket scheme.
The companies said they have made travelling more convenient for foot passengers who cross between the Mount Edgcumbe jetty on the Cornish coast and Admiral's Hard in Plymouth.
The DayRider Ferry ticket allows customers to travel all day on any Plymouth Citybus service as well as making two single journeys on the Cremyll ferry. The ticket will be available from the ferry or from the bus.
Sylvia Bird, marketing manager for Plymouth Citybus, said: "We average a little more than 4,000 journeys a week from Admiral's Hard and the Royal William Yard. The new ticket arrangements will provide further benefit for our customers — especially for those travelling to and from Mount Edgcumbe on the Cremyll Ferry."
This is Plymouth
©DaisyBush

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SE Bus Scene: Bude update
Manchester Transport: Electric Hybrid fleet in Manchester
PTOTPA: Snap on Sunday
Omnibuses: More paint
PTOTPA: Citybus Shop
Highton-Ridley: Dartmoor

SE Bus Scene: A true survivor MOD571P Last Day

Heading off in all directions

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Its not just the South coast that has benefitted from FDC cut backs recently with several buses leaving the fleet to go to 'First East of England' which covers the former Eastern Counties and Essex (Eastern National) fleets:
42431 P431ORL
©Nick Rice - seen in Truro but a former Plymouth bus.
42436 P436ORL
42440 P440ORL
46440 N810VOD

Having sent buses South and East, the only other way out is North, and three more Optare Solos travelled North to First Cymru:
53003 V803KAF
53004 W804PAF
53005 W805PAF

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Ugo Ernesettle? – We go Southampton

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First Hampshire is now under common management with First Devon & Cornwall (under Marc Reddy) and over the past few months it seems he has taken quite a few buses with him to Hampshire.

August we see the following heading South:
52540 S540RWP Weymouth
66881 MX05CKP Weymouth


©Ian The Rev 9 October 2009

September should see more of these buses moving to Southampton with 66881-6, 69246-8 plus one more all expected there soon. (Of course as with any future plans - these could change but several of these have already been observed at The Ride with their Ugobus branding removed and First Hampshire legal lettering added)


I am pretty sure that the arrival of these buses in Southampton will be covered by a new blog SE Bus Scene which looks like its one worth watching if you are interested in that area.

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Ugo Woolwell? good luck with that then

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The second part of yesterdays post will have to wait as news has now been confirmed of yet more cuts by FDC.
There have been several comments made over the past few days that the 7 and 11 were being cancelled. These have now appeared on VOSA

PH0004983/332 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Woolwell given service number 7 effective from 31-Oct-2010.

PH0004983/345 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, City Centre and Plymouth, City Centre given service number 11 effective from 31-Oct-2010.


The 7 is not really a surprise as the 15 had probably taken a lot of the traffic from the City Centre - Derriford corridor. The 11 though is a surprise as it seems to have been doing fairly well and has been the longest lived of the competing services introduced by First.
Already staff at Derriford can foresee problems as Woolwell looks like it is being served by the Tavistock buses. Passengers for Woolwell can see problems with capacity at peak times as the Tavistock services can get very busy. Tavistock bound passengers have always objected to the longer journey if their bus diverts into Woolwell. This has been tried in the past and was never popular. I will wait and see what the new timetables look like!
The 7 still sees double deck operation including these nice Dennis Tridents.

You do get the sense that First have lost interest in Plymouth again. It was nice that First seemed to be putting some effort into Plymouth even if their motives were questionable. The Ugobus concept is a good one and Citybus have applied the same simplification principles to many of its own routes. I still catch the Ugobus 15 as it is a reliable service and generally does turn up on time, something which the Citybus 50 has always struggled with. This is in part due to a relaxed timetable on the 15 as the buses never seem in any hurry but always manage to keep to time. The Citybus 50 also has to pass along the Embankment which has major roadworks so its no wonder that they get delayed. The trouble is no one expects it to survive for long. Many people wonder if First will just sell up the whole of the Devon and Cornwall operation. I cant see them doing that myself, but if the alternative is for the network to wither and die a lingering death by more and more cuts, then I can only hope I am wrong.

We continue to invest in providing easy access buses throughout our network, with some additional easy access buses entering service during Autumn 2009. 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.

FDC Home page today - tomorrow I will show you where many of those buses have gone...

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SE Bus Scene: Southampton - Hamble Route 16
Omnibuses: Directory Enquiries
Transport of delight: French Invasion

Gone South

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First Hampshire is now under common management with First Devon & Cornwall (under Marc Reddy) and over the past few months it seems he has taken quite a few buses with him to Hampshire. Back in May two Dennis Darts 40959 42759 went to Portsmouth
Now in Portsmouth
In June we lost 38015 E215BTA which had been down in Cornwall but was originally a Plymouth bus when new.

Now in Weymouth
20305/6 T305/6JBC Volvo B7R coaches were transferred from Cornwall to Weymouth
Finally for May we saw quite a few of the original FDC Solos enter service at Hoeford:
53001 V801KAF, 53006/8/13 W806/8/13PAF

53006 in Fareham


Part two of this post tomorrow (probably!)

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Transport of Delight: First class travel No such things as a free breakfast
Transport Illustrated: Southend Part 2
SE Bus Scene: Portswood Paint

Back on Target

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The VOSA web site finally has the new registrations for the service changes being made by Target Travel this weekend:
PH0006742/42 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Hooe Finish Point: Royal Parade Via: Plymstock Service Number: 7D Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Fri
PH0006742/43 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Royal Parade Finish Point: Notre Dame School Via: St Judes Service Number: 10 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Fri
PH0006742/44 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Royal Parade Finish Point: Derriford Via: Stoke Service Number: 14 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Fri
PH0006742/45 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Elburton Finish Point: Royal Parade Via: Plymstock Service Number: 18 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Sat
PH0006742/46 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Manadon Park Finish Point: Royal Parade Via: Hartley Service Number: 39 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Fri
PH0006742/47 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Plympton Finish Point: Derriford Hospital Via: Estover Service Number: 52 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 13-SEP-2010 Other Details: Mon to Fri
There are timetables on the Target Travel web site as follows:
7D Radford Park
Only change appears to be the last journey is cut
10 Derriford
Cut back to one journey am and one journey pm
14 Derriford
Appears unchanged
18 Elburton
Appears unchanged
39 39A Crownhill
Bit confused as they have two different timetables up for this service. This timetable has a few less runs so I guess is the new one? Even more confusing as it mentions the 39A when there isn't one. This isn't helped by Target not mentioning any dates on their timetables.
52 Derriford Connect
Only early morning and afternoon peak runs left. The Timetable seems a bit confusing in that it mentions showing Plymouth Citybus 52 service where marked CB - but then none of them are! I am sure all of these runs are Target Travel.

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Leon Daniels: Blitz
TGP Dads Daily: Rain Rain Rain
Transport Illustrated: Another great set of photos Southend Part 1
Omnibuses: Doomsday

Escaped from Plymouth: G614OTV

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With the recent cutbacks by all the bus companies in Plymouth it is clear that quite a few buses will be leaving the local fleets. One bus now confirmed as being sold is Plymouth Citybus 180 which has been reported in Aztec West, Almondsbury, Wiltshire still in yellow Student Link livery. It was originally planned that all of these Volvo Citybus double deckers would be replaced by the Volvo East Lancs buses from London, although of course that changed with the extra competition from First meaning many of them are in all day service on the 26 so the older buses are still needed for schools services.

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TGP Dads Daily: I woke up this morning
Transport of Delight: European Jaunt part 4
TGP Dads Daily: Hand Wash
Omnibuses: Geeky things to do with bus data
PTOTPA: Snap on Sunday

Torbay Treat this weekend

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I cant make it sadly but a reminder of a great event this weekend up the road in Torquay:
Just a reminder that the 2nd Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day will be taking place on Sunday 5th September at Shedden Hill car park on Torquay seafront and a short walk from the railway station and town centre. Stagecoach’s frequent route 12 passes the site as does First’s X80 from Plymouth and Totnes – alight at the Hi-Flyer Balloon.
We have a good variety of vehicles promised, many of which will be running in service. This year, we have some additional routes to make the most of the stunning views across Torbay. There are plenty of photographic opportunities around the seafront and loads for the family to do if they’re not interested in the buses! Hope to see you there.

www.torbayvbrd.co.uk

©AECRegent One bus which is down for the event is ATA563L although it looks very different these days as its back in NBC poppy red looking immaculate.

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Omnibuses: 90 to 0 in 56 days
Transport of delight: amazing short video clipTight Squeeze
TGP Dads Daily: Hipstamtic
Bus World Photography: Beau Voyages

In the News:

Free bus travel for over-60s is likely to escape the chop in next month's comprehensive spending review after it became a battleground in the general election leadership debates, but its £1bn annual cost still looms large for the Department for Transport and the Department of Communities and Local Government, which share the expenditure. The chief executive of Go-Ahead, Keith Ludeman, said his own experience of applying for a pass had suggested one way of saving taxpayer cash while preserving the scheme in its entirety.

From www.guardian.co.uk (share this quote)

Express departures and arrivals

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The 6th of September sees Parks (formerly Trathens) taking on the last of First Devon and Cornwall's National Express duties and this coach TT06NEX along with sister TX06NEX and WM04NZU seem to be destined for First Cymru while a few other coaches are returned off lease. It will seem odd not having and Western National / FDC involvement in National Express.

Having said that the coaches being used by Parks from next week should be worth seeing as its believed they are getting some of the new Plaxton Elite coaches (possibly brand new). These are surely the best looking Plaxton coaches for years.
Just in case you don't know what these coaches look like here is an older one with Parks:

©Buses in West Yorkshire (Creative commons)
Sadly they wont be quite as smart as this as they will no doubt be stuck in the awful National Express livery. Seems a real shame to put such a drab uninspired livery on such a coach as this but there you go.

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Transport of Delight: Facebook Censorship?
PTOTPA: Dawlish Coaches
270KTA: Next Tuesday

From the Plymothian Transit Store

First Coastguards

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BUSES featuring messages about the coastguard and encouraging members of the public to call 999 if they spot someone in trouble at sea are taking to the streets of Devon.
More than 350 special vinyl posters have been produced by the Coastguard and have been fixed to the rear windows of as many buses.
The space, donated for free by bus company First, means the awareness campaign — which encourages people to dial 999 asking for the coastguard if they spot anyone in trouble on the coast — will be seen by many thousands of people.
Talking about the scheme, Marc Reddy, for the bus company, said: "We have offered the space on the buses for free to help ensure that this important message is carried and is seen by as many people as possible."
This Is Plymouth
Of course First have had a partnership with the RNLI for some time as well with 42471 in their livery and working for them on their stand at this years WNPG Rally (and in previous years too)

On a totally separate note, I am sorry if anyone had problems viewing the site yesterday. It seems that Google Docs must have been playing up a bit and asking for a password for some visitors (but not all of them!) Hopefully all is working now.

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Leon Daniels: Bath Hybrid
News: RADIO presenter Gordon Sparks jumped behind the wheel of a bendy bus to give it a test drive.
Transport of Delight: Bus driver turns guard
New look Omnibuses: Happy Birthday! Small celebration!
Transport Illustrated: Welshpool Llanfair Light Railway

Timetables

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Catching up on VOSA over the past week or so...
17th August 2010
PH0004983/38 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted: Operating between Kingsbridge Quay and DARTMOUTH Pontoon given service number 90/90A/90B/SD93 effective from 03-Oct-2010. To amend Timetable.
PH0004983/389 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted: Operating between Kingsbridge Quay and Plymouth Bus Station given service number 93 effective from 03-Oct-2010. To amend Timetable.
20 August 2010
PH0006742/5 - ROBERT JOHN RISK, 4 ARCADIA, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH, PL9 8EF
Variation Accepted: Operating between LANGAGE, PLYMPTON and LANGAGE, PLYMPTON given service number 53/53A effective from 11-Oct-2010. To amend Timetable
23 August 2010
PH0006741/75 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Callington and Plymouth given service number 576 effective from 06-Sep-2010. To amend Timetable.
PH0006741/77 - WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Bude, Strand and Callington given service number 576 effective from 06-Sep-2010. To amend Timetable.
26 August 2010
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 19-Sep-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 19-Sep-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

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The Plymouth Citybus entries above relate to the posting on the 14th August when VOSA would not allow a short notice variation so Citybus have had to wait a couple of extra weeks before making the planned changes to the route of the 46/47.

Target Travel
Back on the 20th July we saw the VOSA site give notice that Target Travel were cancelling their 14, 18 and 52A routes. This was followed the following day by the 7D, 19, 10 and 94 routes
Since then there has been speculation as to what was happening with these routes and yesterday at work we recieved new timetables for the 52A, 10 and 14 routes which I have put together into one file which hopefully can be viewed below. The 52A being cut back to peak times only. The 10 is cut back even more with just one journey in the morning and one back in the afternoon.

To view the timetables click HERE

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Develop Plymouth: Mount Wise
Transport of Delight: Very Rare
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