Playing with Placr

I have had a chance to play with the new mobile 'app' as launched for Plymouth Citybus:
First you get to choose your local operator...

You can then select Routes and then select the route number (or search by route number). For some reason the screen shot would not work at this point, but its very straight forward and clear.

The one unique feature is the 'activity' view which simply gives a list of the relevant Twitter feeds for this route. This is so you can see the latest news about how this route is running. This is only as useful as the tweets themselves. The screen shot for the 50 demonstrates the shortcomings of this. The top two entries fare from 2 days ago and the others are a month ago. There have been a lot more relevant tweets especially about the almost daily diversions around the Cattedown area. Clearly not many of these tweets actually mention the 50 by number. "All buses diverted via Gdynia Way" wont show up on this view. Hopefully now that this app is live the Twitter feed will be updated more frequently and make sure all route numbers are mentioned. Citybus could look to sister company Southern Vectis for their detailed reports when specific journeys are delayed through breakdowns etc.


To get to the timetable view you select the direction and the day of operation. This is important as it seems the app can tell the time but not the day of operation.

 

When you select your stop from the list it tells you the next bus from that stop. This is where its important you selected the right day timetable on the previous step.

I have circled the line which I feel explains why this app isn't quite the app it should be. No access to live data. This is a real shame as its the big missing link in this whole app. Real time information in Plymouth has never managed to live up to the initial promises made all those years ago. The Twitter feed is a nice idea but will never fill the gap of real time information.

The maps in the app come from OpenStreetMap and are pretty clear. They are not as detailed as Google Maps but are more than adequate for the job in hand.
As well as the search by route number you can search by bus stop. This is where mobile smart phones work so well as they will usually know your location. On my PC it tells me the nearest stop is Royal Parade! The mobile correctly offers me the correct stops. It tells you the next buses to depart (or arrive) at this stop.



if you select a listed departure you get the full journey displayed as above.

Is it useful? Up to a point I would say yes. Its certainly easier than trying to view timetables on the Citybus web site, especially on your mobile. If they can get real time access then it would be a very useful app. My own route, the 50, is really suffering from late running due to all the East End roadworks and the congestion zone that is Derriford Hospital. Knowing that the bus is actually on its way and will arrive in a few mins makes it easier to plan which bus to catch and which stop to use. At the moment I use the text service which costs 20p. I only use it when its pouring down with rain as we have no shelter at our stop so I like to leave it till the last minute if I can. This is useful if you know the bus stop code, but many stops dont actually display the code anywhere.

It seems that Placr are also hoping that passengers will also add to the twitter stream from within the app.

“You can also find out live information from a bus operator and other passengers in the activity stream. You can contribute to this activity stream by posting a tweet for a bus route or stop to start a conversation with others. Feel free to just say hi and be sociable, but we're also looking for comments on the bus service, compliments to the bus driver, or reports of long term or short term issues”

If you use the comment link within the app it looks like it will be picked up and appear in the Twitter stream for others to view. I will have to test this myself to see if it works!

The last word to Placr:

placr.mobi is in early testing. We have a few glitches to iron out still. We'll be making some improvements over the coming months. Thank you for getting in on the action early. We hope you like it!

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Elsewhere on the net

• With thanks to those who voted in the Omnibuses blog survey for the best bus livery we’re now able to reveal the result. Omnibuses
• Wickham will add Go South Coast to his current responsibilities at Plymouth Citybus. Dorset Bus Blog
• The Green Era # 1 TGP Photos Unlimited

Citybus: there’s an app for that.

Plymouth Citybus have an interesting item on their web site:

We have teamed up with Placr to bring you a new way to get travel updates and bus times whilst on the move.

The new mobile web app will allow you to either scan the QR code on the right or visit placr.mobi from your smart phone to get the most up to date information on traffic updates and bus times. The site has been professionally designed so that it works specifically on your smart phones screen.

The site will even locate where you are so you can search for your nearest bus stop. The site is really easy to use and within a couple clicks you can see exactly what time the bus arrives at the stop and it's onward route, along with any relevant travel information for that route.

Either select to look up a route by number or use the nearest stop function to enable the devise to locate the nearest stops to you.

 

 

One of the main features of the app is that you can see activity on the route you have chosen. For instance if you choose route 43, by clicking on the activity button it will show you any travel updates on this route and allow you, via twitter to add to the conversation about the route.

For more information on this visit Placr website

 

 

 

 

More on this to follow once I have had a play.

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Related Links

• New App Plymouth Citybus
• First get touchy Plymothian Transit 9 September 2011
• Fix My Transport Plymothian Transit 3 September 2011

Elsewhere on the net

• The Merseyside Transport Trust staged their annual running day a couple of Sundays ago with, as usual, a core network of regular routes. Transport Illustrated
• Edinburgh, Scotland, is so far away for me that it could even be in a different land so I can’t say with certainty but are these the first Lothian deliveries to feature front electronic displays? Omnibuses
• None of them go via Baslow according to the timetable, or do they?; but that's what happens when you rely on expensive Swedish software. Public Transport Experience
• The Leyland Dennis or Super Comet ! TGP Photos Unlimited

Recovery

Jeff Lloyd Collection. Photographer unknown

Stunning shot of Western National recovery truck rescuing a Bristol VRT in Plymouth. This is towards to top of Alma Road, approaching Milehouse Depot.  Even the house behind the bus are long gone.

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Elsewhere on the net

• Hmm I think some more Kingsbridge is in order! VRs for this weekend PTOTPA
• That Dam Railway. Not an uncharacteristic outburst of asperity by the usually mild-spoken fbb but an accurate description of today's blog. Public Transport Experience
• For my part I told the congregation that in 2012 once again Londoners will rely on its transport workers to deliver and also that they will be supported by the entire extended TfL family Leon Daniels
• Francis Brincat 86 Luqa Rd., then from 1964 92A Dockyard St., Paola’ 69 bodies recorded. Also assembled some chassis. TGP Photos Unlimited
• Like remembering how we all felt that the National Bus Company and the new passenger transport executives seemed so *permanent*. They weren’t. Omnibuses
• ... and, in the early days of the reservoir, the spire would re-appear eerily through the morning mists when water levels were low. Poetic, eh? Public Transport Experience

Perrys: Pointer to President

©John Kowalski

Thanks to John for sending me this one, the first clear view I have had of Citybus 423 which has acquired the adverting wrap for Perrys Builders Merchants a long time advertiser on Plymouth Citybus. It does have an unfinished appearance about it, and I am sure it wont be long before the front end gets the new dark red treatment.

This bus replaces Dennis Dart 127 which has carried this all over wrap since at least June 2006 which is when I first caught it on camera.

It carried this livery right till the end and is still sitting at Milehouse I believe.

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Related Links

• Fleet News 2011 Plymothian Transit 2nd September 2011
• Home Page Perry Builders Merchants
• Stepping Up Plymothian Transit 14 January 2011

Elsewhere on the net

• Despite the weather forecast to the contrary, a very warm and sun-filled day was had by all at this year's Showbus bus and coach rally, at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford A Transport of Delight
• So, to allow a journey planner to do its stuff, fbb tried Woking to Watford on the Transport for London [TfL] site. We are told repeatedly in the media that this is one of the most used journey planners in the galaxy and a huge percentage of its users are "satisfied" with its performance Public Transport Experience
• Insides TGP Photos Unlimited
• Last Sunday (18th September) saw over 400 buses and coaches gather at Duxford Imperial War Museum for the annual Showbus event Andys Bus Blog
• I had a spare Saturday before the MTT's Liverpool Running Day so I headed over to St.Helens to take another look at the museum and the contemporary scene. Transport Illustrated
• We in the UK, as their home nation, were never treated to ERF buses and coaches. Normally one would have had to travel to the African continent to witness their PSV products at work, but in the late 1990's several examples began to appear in Malta. TGP Photos Unlimited
• It’s easy for critics to knock First Bus’ pre-national TV campaign (as they consistently have on You Tube) when, in fact, this seems to be one of the building blocks upon which New First is actually “transforming” its business. Omnibuses
• EBY 632–a close look. TGP Photos Unlimited
• They didn't look much but when it comes to sounds these tuneful buses had all the little friendly notes and quirks Busworld Photography
• Robert Cedric Sherriff wrote the play of the same name, first staged in the West End in 1928. The setting was the First World War and it "starred" a youthful Richard Caldicot in a relatively minor role. Public Transport Experience
• Sadly the local yokels were not aficionados of Roman antiquity and thought it was a temple. So they called the district Templeborough Public Transport Experience
• DBY368 over the years. A firm favourite this one ! TGP Photos Unlimited
• I have four new history books out this month which I hope you will find interesting. Plymouth Local History Blog

That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.
WHOOPS - THE ORIGINAL POST HAS BEEN ACCIDENTALLY OVERWRITTEN BY THIS ONE FROM 1ST OCTOBER.

Winter is coming A south west council will be putting its gritters on standby from Saturday, despite the unusually hot weather. Plymouth City Council said that because of damage caused by the last two harsh winters, its seven gritters will be on standby for the next six months to keep the city's main roads open. 29 September 2011 BBC East End Traffic Diversions Road resurfacing will be taking place across Plymouth’s East End from Monday 26 September for two weeks.  This means there will be traffic diversions in place so that the work can be carried out quickly and safely. These works can only take place in dry conditions which means the resurfacing schedule will be subject to change. All works will take place overnight to minimise disruption. The current programme schedule includes sections of the following roads on the following dates: Embankment Road, Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 September Laira Bridge Road and Embankment Road, Wednesday 28 September to Saturday 1 October Laira Bridge Road,  Monday 3 to Friday 7 October Laira Bridge Road and Gdynia Way, Friday 7 to Tuesday 11 October 23 September Plymouth City Council Dont Knock it KNOCKING down the Civic Centre in Plymouth would take the heart out of the city, says the boss of English Heritage. Baroness Andrews, chair of the organisation which stopped the city council demolishing the 1960s building, was speaking in advance of a visit to the city next week. 30 September 2011 This is Plymouth

National Trust Plymbridge Parking PARKING proposals outlined by The National Trust for its controversial Plymbridge Woods project have sparked anger among objectors. The organisation has submitted a series of amendments to its two planning applications for the beauty spot, detailing parking proposals among other items. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth Sherford start? THE much-delayed plan to build a new town to the east of Plymouth could go ahead next year. The project, for a community with 5,500 homes, along with schools, shops and other facilities, was given the go-ahead in 2007.The complex development for Sherford Valley south of the A38, involves three councils: Plymouth, where 320 of the homes and a sports hub will be sited; South Hams District Council; and Devon County Council. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth On Board Information for Citybus SCREENS installed on Citybus buses are providing passengers with a range of information. To date 10 buses belonging to Plymouth Citybus have been fitted with the latest on-board information screens as part of a partnership with Plymouth based Blue Lollipop Media Ltd. 29 September 2011 This is Plymouth And finally… Sunderland to London King's Cross in 6 minutes (at 2660 mph!)

Bonus Link post: Tamar Bridge being built

“While researching material for the Blue Sound project, I came across some very interesting newspaper cuttings from 1959 and 1960 which showed the bridge as it was being built.”

With all the fuss over the current resurfacing works on the Tamar Bridge I thought it worth an extra post to highlight this posting on the excellent Plymouth Local History Blog

Hitting the Target

I have been after these for the last couple of weeks as I see them almost every day but only yesterday have I finally managed to get close enough to photograph one. Very smart and full working destinations too!

sad bus to Dartmouth

Short of time to prepare Thursdays posting so I had a quick look through my inbox and came across this wonderful shot of Western National 701, one of the odd ball fleet of Bedford VAMs with the rather sad looking ECW bodywork. It is seen at Kingsbridge about to depart for Dartmouth on the 93 so it follows nicely on from last weekend which is a bonus for me at least.

From the Jeff Lloyd Collection - photographer unknown.
I know this combination of Bedford VAM and ECW bodywork was a bit of a stopgap order before the more sucessful Bristol LH ECW combination took off properly but I am not sure how many were actually produced. I believe it was Western National and Eastern Counties who took them on, but there may have been one other company, for some reason Lincolnshire Road Car comes to mind? Further research tells me there were some with West Yorkshire and not Lincolnshire.
KDV136F
KDV132F Dartmouth
KDV137F The End!

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Elsewhere on the net

• “I've always favoured identifying where public money is being spent as overtly as possible. Omnibuses
• The man was polite, laughed sympathetically, apologised and said he had absolutely no idea! Public Transport Experience

PCTPG + PVTW ETC

Plym Valley Transport Weekend Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September

Trains will depart from Marsh Mills every 30 minutes from 1300 until 1600 on both days.
The trains are scheduled to be top and tailed by Diesel Shunter 13002, at the north end, and 0-4-0ST Albert, at the south end of the train.
Fares:- Adults £2.50 and Children £1.
Vintage buses will operate a free service between Plymouth and Marsh Mills Station, the proposed timetable is shown below.

Also...this from the PCTPG:
We are planning to take 176 to Winkleigh and in addition to our members there are a number of seats free.
Would you mind making local enthusiasts aware of this and if they wish to travel up and back with us then to contact me asap please
Departing Milehouse Depot 0900
Crownhill Lower level 0910
Tavistock 0940
Winkleigh arr approx 1030

Departing Winkleigh approx 1545
return via Tavistock / Crownhill / Milehouse est return time approx 1715
Contact details: laracroft@talktalk.net text 07779004813 landline 01752 691602
Whilst we do not charge for any trips contributions towards the fuel will not be declined.
Admission to the event is additional at: Adult £5.00. OAP £4.00. Child £3.00.
Thanks Ralph, PCTPG

And finally...
The following books are now available to buy from the Preservation Group (click here). Not only do you get a generous discount (even more if you are a member) but you get that warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside knowing that you are also raising funds for the group. (Not forgetting that you are getting a good book too!)

 

 

 

 

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Related Links

• Home Page Plym Valley Railway
• Home Page PCT PG

Elsewhere on the net

• Leicester Dominator 100, now externally repanelled and refitted with exterior mouldings Busworks Blog
• Having taken a look at the new guided busway, here's a selection of views from Cambridge city centre Transport Illustrated
• AEC Mercury. The chassis is listed as being new in 1958 and it was imported into Malta in July 1964 TGP Photos Unlimited
• Even freight that travelled via the canal was impeded by low water levels, silting up etc. but this was resolved when the railway company bought out the canal company, filled it in and built a railway line on the top! Public Transport Experience
• It could be straight out of Esther Rantzen’s That’s Life TV programme and those reading it in the Daily Express yesterday will probably think you couldn’t make it up. The press just love this sort of thing. Said the Express, Omnibuses
• By normal SU standards it wasn’t much – ‘finding its own level’ as I euphemistically say whenever it sprays boiling water through the driver’s cab window into my face. 270KTA
• Luckily, Sunday hasn't completely seen off all the step entrance vehicles from the PCB fleet. PTOTPA

Dennis goes to Market

Go on, you know you want one...

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Related Links

L112YOD EBAY

Elsewhere on the net

• From the archives : Western National Lynxes TGP Photos Unlimited
• This magnificent pile of tat, boarded up and bereft of any facilities (well, bereft of anything at all) is the main building, no - the ONLY building, that graces the untold luxury of Ilfracombe bus station. First buses have bays to the right; no shelter, mostly no timetables Public Transport Experience
• There was nothing like the amount of coach trips available in 2003 and the fleet was not that easy to catch at any one time. Mdina would produce about half a dozen as would Cirkewwa. Here are a few of the more unusual vehicles of the Unscheduled Bus fleet. TGP Photos Unlimited
• 1992 still some normal control vehicles in use. TGP Photos Unlimited
• With Southern Vectis taking over Wightbus' services and many of their vehicles at the moment, I thought the following photo would be very apt for this week's lost scenes Southern England Bus Scene
• here we have David Sheppard's Bristol SUL, 270 KTA. This was her first run out in service at an event for a number of years after the painstaking work that has been going on underneath the surface. PTOTPA
• But with no known advertising or promotion and no appearances in the trade press (not that I’ve seen, unless you know differently), is this for real or is it another phantom express operation? Omnibuses
• t seems like the Dorset tender change has given the press an opportunity to dine out. And some. Dorset Bus Blog
• The station is actually located in Battersea, but it is rumoured that the name "Clapham" was chosen because it was substantially "up-market" in comparison with the sordid Battersea. Public Transport Experience
• Bristol VRT reg CJH119V has been prepared for export to Budapest Busworks Blog
• Loved by drivers, enjoyed by passengers, and admired by enthusiasts, the step Darts will be a sad loss to Plymouth! PTOTPA

Flickr Sunday Best: Tally Ho!

©Sou'Wester (Clive Brown)

For many years this modern looking blue livery made Tally Ho! buses and coaches stand out from the crowd. After quite a few years where it seemed almost livery could appear they have now settled on a smart blue and white scheme and the fleet is looking smart again.
Where other local companies seem to have expanded beyond their capabilities Tally Ho seem to have stuck to the area they know and are very much a survivor.
Lets hope that they continue for many years to come.

Kingsbridge 2011

If I could only get to one event in a year then the Kingsbridge Running Day would have to be my choice. Well its this Saturday 17th September and full details along with a list of buses expected can be found on the website . I for one should be there so if you see a guy in all black, with a black shoulder bag with CAT logo please say hello!

One of the expected buses is 270KTA which gives me another excuse to highlight the excellent 270KTA blog which follows the trials of owning such a fine old bus and the work (and money) which goes into the long term project. Read the blog today and ride the bus on Saturday!


If you cant make it then maybe try for a ride on the last day in regular service for the Plymouth Citybus step entrance Darts on the 59 service. After Saturday there will be just 3 left for schools service and two of these will be replaced as the remaining ex London PVLs enter service in the coming month or so.

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Related Links

Kingsbridge Running Day THAMES VALLEY & GREAT WESTERN OMNIBUS TRUST

Timetable 93 First Devon & Cornwall

The (now annual) Kingsbridge Bus Running Day is a recreation of the town's bus network in the 1960s, and as Western National's Kingsbridge-based coach between 1962 and 1968, 270 KTA will be an essential visitor. 270KTA

Elsewhere on the net

• Hino Motors, Ltd. commonly known as simply Hino, is a manufacturer of diesel trucks,buses, and other vehicles, based in Hino, Tokyo, Japan TGP Photos
• Suddenly, everyone seems interested in school buses, whether they are here or across the water. And I don’t just mean on the Isle of Wight. Omnibuses
• Prizes could be awarded to anyone who can explain what the above quote actually means in practice. But they won't be, it's just too ridiculous to contemplate. It's just a load of shops, for goodness' sake! Public Transport Experience

At the forefront

PLYMOUTH was said to be "at the forefront" of a new 'smart' ticketing system which would improve its bus services, council chiefs have claimed. Plymouth City Council's cabinet committee heard that a successful bid for millions of pounds of Government cash would help the transition to smart bus ticketing.
The 'smart ticketing' project would be delivered through a new not-for-profit company – South West Smart Application Ltd – hosted within the Institute of Sustainability Solution Research (ISSR) at the University of Plymouth.
It involved different ticket products, such as day returns or annual passes, being loaded onto a smart card which is then tapped onto a card reader on the bus.
Councillor Kevin Wigens, cabinet member for transport, said the Government grant of £2.98million would help progress the scheme which put the city "at the forefront of smart ticketing".
He said: "We are one of the leaders throughout the whole country, which has already been nominated for an award at the national transport awards.
Full story This is Plymouth

I am not really sure I fully understand what is happening here. Why does the City Council feel the need to introduce a new smart card of its own? Plymouth Citybus has a brand new smart card of its own. The Key is a Go Ahead project shared across all its operations. It may be a bit limited at the moment but but in time I am sure it will expand and offer more payment possibilities such as pre-paid cards by amount rather than for a specific time scale.
First have also just announced a large scale project to offer a whole range of payment options on their new contactless smart card system which if it delivers what it promises then it really will be a class leader.
With both operators systems being able to read other itso smart cards do the council really need to pay out a large sum for one of their own? The existing Green Travel Pass is currently supplied by Citybus as part of The Key so surely as long as all local operators can read it then why not just carry on with this kind of arrangement?
It would be great if the council can put together a scheme which would allow travel on both operators services at all times so maybe this is just the start of a move in this direction. Oh hang on, the Green Travel Pass already offers this, although it is currently limited in availability. Couldn't they just try to extend this pass and make it available to more passengers?
I am not trying to put a damper on things as any investment by the council with the aim of increasing bus use in Plymouth is very much welcomed by Plymothian Transit. I am just not sure I fully understand what they are doing here.
Creative Commons licensed flickr photo shared by AdmiralPR
Go Ahead made a song and dance of The Key in the North East. Will the City Council do the same with their new scheme, whatever it is?

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Related Links

First Gets touchy Plymothian Transit September 2011

Low Key Launch Plymothian Transit August 2011

Key Moment Plymothian Transit May 2011

Buses getting smarter? Plymothian Transit October 2010

Elsewhere on the net

• "The town has little that, in itself, is attractive." Public Transport Experience
• In October 1986 Plymouth Citybus adopted a new livery. It was described as flame red, white and black. TGP Photos
• Might it actually be better, in England, to reduce the scope of free travel in order to help fund reductions in bus travel for younger people, even up to their mid-twenties. Omnibuses
• After being out of public view for the last 25 years, Lowestoft Corporation No 12 is now back on the road. East Norfolk Bus Blog
• When new these were powered by Leyland O401 engines. Several in Malta would appear to have had Perkins engines fitted thus making them LH6Ps ! Many have had instrumentation altered with at least one running with Swift instruments TGP Photos
• Apart from the occasional knot of American tourists searching for Anne Hathaway's cottage, Stratford's role has become that of a major transport "hub" Public Transport Experience
• Is it time to remove what has become an archaic restriction, to allow operators more flexibility in setting up new bases by having a national system? Omnibuses
• The East Anglia Transport Museum has been situated in the village of Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft in Suffolk since 1965 and, despite a relatively small site manages to pack in multiple forms of public transport, especially trams, trolleybuses and buses. Transport Illustrated

Last real day...

Just a quickie post for now but Andrew Wickham of Plymouth Citybus has confirmed that …

The Last real day of step Dart operation, other than schools, will be this Saturday on the last day of the 59.

From Facebook: DENNIS DARTS - After 19 years of loyal service, our older step entrance Dennis Dart buses will be retired from normal service at the weekend. This means that all normal services, apart from school buses, will be low floor from Sunday. To celebrate this, the last day of service 59 on Saturday will be operated by the step entrance Darts, giving enthusiasts the chance of a final trip on them.

Subtle City

There has been a nice subtle change to the livery of Plymouth City Council vans over the last year or so which I have been rather slow to catch up on. The days when I kept full fleet listing of all City Council fleet have long gone. For quite a few years I was the Editor of Council Vehicle News for the Fleet Data Society so I would have picked up the livery change straight away.

The council logo looks a lot better in the full green block rather than just a green logo on a white background. The new grey 'band' also helps make the logo stand out.

It always puzzled me that many councils seemed to almost hide their vehicle fleets, when you would have thought they would want to be seen out there, working for the City. Of course you then get the opposite effect of people complaining that the council operate too many vans and waste money by splashing their logos all over them. I guess the council cant really win!

Of course you also get similar issues cropping up when a company changes its livery in some way. "Why waste money on painting the buses when it could be spent on putting on more buses". Funny how you never hear people telling Tesco to stop wasting money by plastering their name on their shops, when they could just make their products cheaper.

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Elsewhere on the net

• In 1992 there were only about 28 vehicles( Y-0808 to Y-0834 plus one unregistered) in Gozo. TGP Photos Unlimited
• Nipped into Plymouth today to see what was going on in Plymouth as regards to the Cup, presuming to find Bretonside adorned with a motley collection of coaches carrying people on a trip to Plymouth to watch the cup. I was somewhat mistaken PTOTPA
• The Y-Type seemed old before its time. In 1961-3, its double curvature windscreen *was* revolutionary but the product failed to keep up with design standards that saw significant changes later in the 1960s and in the 1970s. Omnibuses
• Meanwhile a week today, in something of a comeback, W&D ups the ante against Yellow Buses yet again, along the lucrative cross-conurbation coastal corridor. Dorset Bus Blog
• One or two blog commentators have been a little sniffy with fbb's crusade against bad publicity from Travel South Yorkshire. One suggested that fbb "had a grudge against TSY" and a subequent e-mail asked "Could you do any better?" Public Transport Experience
• Interesting to note are the varied most used keywords that direct users to our blog: A Transport of Delight
• Elsewhere, a reference to a Tornado means something very different. The following video shows how a goods train in the USA is affected as it passes through one of these destructive winds. A Transport of Delight
• Hilltown Wood stream TGP Public

Brand New Citycoach BX61DKV

©Denis Smith
Thanks to Denis I can bring a decent shot of the newest coach for Citycoach now in full livery. The more I see this livery the more I like it.

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Elsewhere on the net

• The City Sightseeing service went out on a low on Sunday 4 September with Olympians 373 and 379 standing in for the open toppers Fylde Bus Blog
• With rumours flying around the ether about buses to Gatcombe, near Newport, Isle of Wight; a possible vanishing act by David Copperfield, grand illusionist, and some shirty comments by "anonymous" appended to fbb's previous blog, (more research was obviously needed Public Transport Experience
• This was no small matter of teething problems, those expected little glitches that will always dog the system when contractors change. No, this was worse Dorset Bus Blog
• OK, go on then. Let’s try a Yellow Buses Livery Survey. I note that two people have commented positively on this and I also note that one person wonders what it might achieve, so let’s see. Omnibuses
• Not common in the First Western National fleet was the Duple Dominant bus body like on Tiger A665KUM which started life with West Yorkshire PTE. Busworld Photography
• Michael Debono built about 90 bodies at Zebbug from 1953 to 1977. TGP Photos Unlimited
• And, “There is a cultural hatred of bus drivers. Just being behind the wheel of a bus marks you out for abuse”. Too true. Added to which, it’s a stressful job with no option but to stick to continually clogged roads without the option of any rat run or diversion. Omnibuses
• This is where it all started. No. 3 son asks, "What's that underground station that isn't an underground station just outside Euston?" This starts fbb on a quest for the complex history of the terminus of the first railway line to reach London, way back in 1837. Public Transport Experience
• But we like complaints. Each and every one of them tells us about what went wrong for individuals who used our network. It would cost a fortune to learn this through research, Leon Daniels
• Hellyers of Portsmouth operated Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 R146COR for many years on the Hoverbus service from 1997. Southern England Bus Scene
• I'm afraid Bretonside is not what it was and even some of the services like the Western National buses to Tavistock no longer use it. Busworld Photography
• A Volvo B7 winds its way through a very foggy Saltash early on a Saturday morning. Atmospheric! PTOTPA

Flickr Sunday Best: Trathens STT601X

©Sou'Wester
A superb shot of a superb coach. Trathens Skyliners always stood out. It is hard now to recall the massive impact that these coaches made when they went into competition with National Express. I had several rides on these coaches, with a few of them being on '01'. They gave a great ride and the front upper deck seats gave great views. Hostess service as well all added to a far superior service than that offered by National Express.
NX soon had to catch up though and the Metroliners were not bad coaches, but they just didnt have the visual impact that these fine machines offered.
Click on the photo to Clives photostream to view more great photos fromn his London trips in the 1980's.

First Get Touchy

First in Devon and Cornwall 3 September revealed it is to invest £1.2 million in revolutionary new ticketing technology for its 228 strong bus fleet.
The investment forms part of FirstGroups £27m commitment to provide new ticketing technology to its 5,000 buses in England.

FirstGroup intends to be the first bus operator outside London to offer customers "touch in touch out" contactless payment. The new ticket machines, designed to read contactless debit or credit cards, in addition to ITSO smartcards such as concessionary bus passes, will be introduced to First buses in Devon and Cornwall from the autumn and will initially allow customers with an ITSO smartcard to touch in. Contactless bank cards will be accepted from late 2012.
Firsts new ticketing system will act much like London's Oyster Card; customers will simply "touch in and touch out" using their debit or credit card, taking less than a second, and avoiding the need to carry the correct change. The system will also allow First to offer a range of tickets including capping the daily fare. But unlike Oyster customers wont need to carry an additional card or worry about pre-payment or topping up. Customers using the contactless cards will simply see the cost of the fare deducted from their bank or credit card balance.
With the continuing rapid advancement of mobile phone technology, First has also ensured that its new system has the capability to accept payment via mobile phone.
Justin Davies, Regional Managing Director of First in South West and Wales, said:

"Considerable investment in our buses continues. This is a ground-breaking announcement for the bus industry and good news for our customers.
The public transport industry will increasingly rely on new technology such as contactless bank cards and mobile phones to both retain and attract customers. Its an exciting prospect and I'm delighted that FirstGroup is at the forefront and setting new standards in the bus industry.”

This is a welcome announcement which First have really pushed hard across the whole country. Once the whole system is up and running it should be a very useful way of paying bus fares. The big benefit for passengers is not having to pay up front for bus fares. We have seen a lot of fuss around Citybus and their decision to stop on bus concession fares before 09:30. The company point out that the lower fares are available by purchasing various pre-paid tickets under 'The Key' brand. The big disadvantage being that payment has to be up front which isn't always an option for people. The loss of prepayment top-up cards is one of the stranger decisions by Go Ahead and is very much a backward step, although it seems that the company is looking to see if such an option can be made available in the future.

Of course First do have some hurdles to clear before they can introduce the full range of payment options that they are promising. There are certainly questions which will need to be answered before most people would be happy to use such s scheme (well I would like answered anyway!).
Would I have to register my bank card with First for it to work on their buses? I am in two minds about this. On one hand its giving your bank details to someone else and all of the data protection issues that entails, but on the other hand I am not sure I would like my bank card to work on the buses without my express permission. If someone else took my card they could end up using it, even if it was capped in some way.

The other big issue will be how well it works from the start. Plymouth Citybus seems to have benefitted from being well down the queue of operators being transferred over to The Key. Many of the issues which plagued The Keys introduction in places like Oxford seem to have been avoided in Plymouth. If there were problems then they certainly have not hit the local news headlines like they have elsewhere. Any new scheme of this type can be difficult to manage and once it hits the local news any issues can be blown out of all proportion and become a real nightmare. First trying to introduce this nationally could have an even bigger problem if it all goes wrong, although I am sure that they will introduce it all gradually after local trials.

One more interesting aspect of the new travel options is the idea of "touch in and touch out". Not having to tell the driver where you are going and just paying the the journey you take sounds like a good idea. It does give flexibility and allows you to change your mind once you are on the bus which is useful. The downside is that you are then relying on knowing you are on the correct bus which isn't always that easy. At least one local company has difficulty displaying the correct route and destination on its buses and its not unknown for drivers to forget to reset the blinds properly. At places like Derriford Hospital where buses can be heading off in opposite directions it is all to easy to get on the wrong bus. I have done it myself and I like to think I know what I am doing!

It also puts the onus on the passenger to remember to touch out. It is all to easy to forget to do something like this. Maybe once you have done it a few times and been stung for a more expensive journey then maybe you will remember next time but I know what I am like first thing in the morning. I have even forgotten to get off at my stop before and ended up having to walk back.

This issue is currently being highlighted in London with their Oyster Card:

"After many months of campaigning to highlight the scandal of Oyster overcharging it is good news that they are at last beginning to accept that a problem even exists. It is however regrettable that the new system only addresses just one form of Oyster overcharging caused by people who occasionally forget to touch out. The Mayor and TfL must address the much bigger problem of Oyster overcharging caused by the system not always working properly, for example when barriers are left open, or the machines are not working at the start of the journey. There is a huge problem in particular when there are large crowds at stations and TfL open the barriers and implement a system called ‘autocomplete’ leading to passengers automatically facing a maximum fare, irrespective of the length of their journey" Caroline Pidgeon

Creative Commons licensed Flickr photo shared by Diamond Geezer
The biggest potential problem is of course the reliability of the ticket machines and card readers. Omnibuses had the story this week of issues at Trent with a system that has been seen as a success so its not just brand new systems that can have problems. Any new technology is going to have problems, the big test is how the operator handles it. We will have to wait and see how First do!

As usual your comments are welcome. Is this new ticket revolution a welcome thing or not? Will it work in Plymouth? Will it give First an edge over Citybus?

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Related Links

• News & Initiatives First

Elsewhere on the net

• Since we were staying with friends in Essex over the bank holiday weekend I took the opportunity to head up to Suffolk and pay a visit to the county's two transport museums Transport Illustrated
• Rear ends TGP Photos Unlimited
• Don’t know why, all of a sudden, everyone seems to have gotten all worked up over half price coach travel Omnibuses
• But the heart had been ripped out of the Corby community and it is a credit to local politicians and visionary businessmen that the town has survived and is thriving once again. Public Transport Experience
• Because it's late and I'm tired, I won't reveal now how this magic has been done. 270KTA
• Commer Avenger IV chassis imported to Malta in 1960 TGP Photos Unlimited
• It was once called Toto and now Mango, Trent Barton’s answer to London’s Oyster Omnibuses
• Doesn't that make you fell good inside? No, it makes you rush to the sick bucket! Public Transport Experience

Restoring Your faith in public transport

Target Travel have got a new timetable up for the  46/47 route.

First Fares up for some

With Citybus having just increased their bus fares again many didn't expect it to be long before First also increased theirs. Well it didn't take long as they have just announced changes from next weekend.

That said it isn't too bad in that only child fares seem to be increasing this time round:

From Sunday 11th September 2011, bus fares will be revised to take into account increases in our operating costs. Fare News: Child single and return tickets will increase between 5p and 30p. Good News: FirstDay and FirstWeek Plymouth adult tickets will remain the same price. First3Day adult, child and family tickets will remain the same price. We are also extending our FirstMonth Plymstock promotion and will continue to offer great value unlimited travel on Service 2, 6 and 7 for one month. We are also extending our FirstDay and FirstWeek Barnstaple ticket promotion on Service 3 to continue to include travel between Barnstaple, Chivenor, Braunton, Knowle, Mullacott Cross and Ilfracombe
The full price list for their evergrowing list of First 'season' tickets are to be found on their web site (PDF)

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Elsewhere on the net

• Konectbus started their new service 1 from King's Lynn to Swaffham & Watton yesterday - buses also continue beyond Watton to Dereham as service 11. Andys Bus Blog
• Chassis assembled by Zammit, Zebbug in 1967 with imported frames. Debono B36F body built 1969. TGP Photos Unlimited
• Transport 2000 is in its 40th year. It wasn’t long ago that it changed its name to the Campaign for Better Transport. Omnibuses
• In an fbb exclusive, our photographer has had access to the Police search for a missing bus route. Public Transport Experience

Riviera Au Revoir

Caradon Riviera Tours are shutting up shop as of Midnight last night for good.

Its fair to say on a recent visit only a month ago there is an eclectic mix of buses and coaches in stock on 3 sites with this operator from ex MOD Tigers, a Leicester Carriage bodied Leyland Truck chassis 29 seater, and ex Maynes Rebodied x reg Leyland Leopard with Tow hook mechanism fitted in the boot, ex Finglands and Shamrock and Rambler Tigers, ex Cardiff Optare Metroriders an ex Rossendale Tiger a Plaxton rebodied Derwent Leopard new to United or SYT last with First York/ Reynard Pullman york and a rare surviving ex Premier Travel of Cambridge Leopard amongst the mix.
Shame another independent bites the dust however this time due to Keith Deebles retirement rather than anything economic. ©Terry Partridge November 2010 Former Maynes Coaches.

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Elsewhere on the net

• Variations on a theme–Dahlias TGP Photos Unlimited
• Okay, it sounds like a fishing trip to Essex but this report is on the contemporary bus scene at the three main places featured in this summer's Ensign Bus Running Day, as covered in the last report. Transport Illustrated
• Here is a quick update from Romsey - my local Wilts & Dorset outstation, with frequent BlueStar and Stagecoach services also... Southern England Bus Scene
• This is what we like to see! K803 ORL is seen here on Royal Parade on her first trip of the day at about half 7 in the morning, clagging like a beast! PTOTPA
• Michael Barbara, 86 New St., Luqa built bodies from 1932 to 1973. It is believed that about 130 were built with the PSV Circle having recorded 106. The selection in this post are those built in the 1960s, early 1970s. TGP Photos Unlimited
• Here’s a thing. A bus at a terminus & loading passengers but without a nearside mirror. Omnibuses
• Not so Bad in Northampton? ?The cut-backs are cut back! Public Transport Experience

Americas Cup Extra Services

Additional Servce X38 journeys to Plymouth will be operated on Saturdays 10th and 17th September and also on Sundays 11th and 18th September. These journeys will depart from Exeter at 11:45 and arrive at Plymouth at 13:20 and return from Plymouth at 17:40 and arrive at Exeter at 19:10.

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Schools Back!

This week is back to school week for most pupils which means the buses get filled with lots of noisy school children. Cant wait!
There do not seem to have been many changes to Citybus school bus services for the new school year. Way back in June Citybus put in a few changes on VOSA to services 4S

Another new route registration on VOSA at the same time was for the 117:

The other change on the original VOSA notice back in April was a timetable change on the 26. There is no sign of this on the Citybus web site so I assume that it has been cancelled and the service just continues as it was.

Target Travel have a new page on their web site for services as from 5th September: It announces quite a few changes, some of which had passed me by till now…
The 7D sees a few extra morning and evening runs added to the old timetable

The 18 starts slightly earlier and ends slightly later with one extra journey added to what was run before, but the times have changed completely with the Royal Parade departure now at 45 mins rather than at 20 mins as it was before.

The 19 sees a slight reduction in service. The Cattedown section gets split out as a 19A and only has a couple morning and evening runs with the Plympton 19 running hourly inbetween

The 39 has a radical makeover with the bus now going all over the place which helps fill in a lot of the gaps. It now serves Deer Park, Austin Farm and up to Asda.

Another major change for the 46/47 routes which Target took over last year. The simple hourly service has been replaced with a complicated timetable which incorporates the 46S 47S schools services. Target have now purchased some double deckers so hopefully we will get to see them on the road this week.

The final change for now is one which surprised me as I have not seen any publicity at Derriford Hospital about it, although I guess there would have been on-bus publicity as the 60 Park and Ride is cut by half and is now every twenty mins instead of every ten. I can see that causing problems at tea time tomorrow when people want to get home. Lets hope it isnt too busy on the roads...

As usual you can see more detail, and view past time tables for these services on my Plymothian Transit Extra site.

Dont forget that some Citybus fares go up today along with the loss of children (on bus) fares before 09:30. I expect my bus to be late this morning!

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Elsewhere on the net

• At deregulation Plymouth Citybus , as Plymouth City Transport had become, found itself with 84 Dodge S56 buses with B23F bodies. The were built by Reeves Burgess and by Plaxton at Scarborough to the same design. Six were fitted with high back seats (DP23F) TGP Photos Unlimited
• Euston, we Have a Problem [3] A Proper Propylaea. Public Transport Experience
• There’s very little left of old Imber village to see. There’s the church, of course, with deteriorating chambers, tombs & headstones outside. Omnibuses
• Isca Dumnoniorum TGP Photos Unlimited
• My Sunday Lost Scene today is a view of Bude outstation in North Cornwall, photographed on 30th July 2006. Southern England Bus Scene
• The third annual pilgrimage to liberate the abandoned village of Imber, on Salisbury Plain, evacuated in 1943 and never returned, took place yesterday. Leon Daniels

Sunday Best on Flickr: H401DMJ

© John Law (via Flikcr Blog this)

I had completely forgotten about this one which I am sure was only with Plymouth for a short time I guess to compare it with the 4 Mercedes 709s purchased at the same time. Thankfully the company went for the Mercedes buses rather than more Renaults.

As usual please click on the photo to go straight to Johns Photostream for lots more Plymouth photos like this one,

One Thousand and counting

I was going to post this as a Flickr Sunday Best tomorrow but that would be cheeky as its not really that good a photo. It is one of mine from the 2006 WNPG Rally on The Hoe.
The reason why I bring it up now?
I have been informed that this was the 1000th photo in the Western National Flickr Group (currently standing at 1071 photos) which means that there are over a thousand more Western National photos (and most of them much better than this one!) for your viewing pleasure...

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Elsewhere on the net

• Lathalmond Scottish Vintage Bus Museum. TGP Photos Unlimited
• following the recent popular post on liveries, who says Best Impressions have a monopoly on creativity? Omnibuses
• This is a follow-up to "Northamptonshires Noteworthy News" Public Transport Experience
• Announced last year, following the Coalition Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, was that Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) would be reduced by 20% from April 2012, while at the same time CSOG would be abolished altogether. A Transport of Delight

Fix my Transport

A new service that has recently started has caught my eye. It has the potential to be useful, but as ever time will tell!
Welcome to FixMyTransport, a site specially built for public transport users in Britain who want to make public transport better for us all...

It is a very clean design and very simple web site, and all the better for it. It promises to send your issues direct to the people that matter and anyone can see the progress (or lack of it) once your complaint is in.
I am particularly impressed by its good use of Google Maps to report problems. This is the page to report an issue with a bus stop in Plymouth...

The maps are also useful when reporting an issue with a bus route. As you see here it has correctly picked up Target Travel as the operator of the 52...

Not all routes are bang up to date though. The 46 is still down as Citybus for example. There is a link on the page to report any such issues so it can only get better.
Clearly if you have a major complaint then you will always be better off contacting the companies direct. It remains to be seen just how useful this service will be. If you want to make a general issues about the bus services in Plymouth then both the main bus companies are very active on Facebook and do their best to answer general enquiries pretty quickly and openly, which isn't really and different to what this new web site offers.

 

While I am on the subject of web services let me just highlight the posting on Andys Bus Blog as shown below which looks at mobile phone apps. Does anyone out there have any experience of using any of these apps in and around Plymouth? (Android myself but there may be iPhone users out there who might be interested!)

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Related Links

• Euston we have a problem Fix my Transport
• FixMyTransport.com Beta Mapperz

Elsewhere on the net

• There is insufficient room in a brief blog to chart the history of Yorks route to Cogenhoe (pronounced Cook-No) but it was subsumed into service "improvements" as Northampton town expanded dramatically in the mid 60s; Public Transport Experience
• Today marks the sixth anniversary of Omnibuses’ first foray into regular blogging. By regular, I mean rather more than the hit & miss affair dated beforehand Omnibuses
• After passing through the fingers of thousands of bus drivers, 270 KTA's steering wheel lost its war of attrition with the band of gold long, long ago 270KTA
• The N reg Airbus Volvo Olympians have been going through a re-painting programme over the last few weeks down in Cornwall PTOTPA
• Once upon a time, on an Island far far way, the Council ran the "Yellow Buses". They provided some of the schoolday special journeys and between school start and finish times, were available for hire at commercially unrealistic prices to take shoals of excited school kiddies on "educational" jollies. Public Transport Experience
• Got a gap to fill this Sunday? Never fear, because the The Devon and Dorset Group can provide you with a great day out in Torquay! PTOTPA
• First Northampton Worst Northampton. Any sign of the Fearnley Factor? Public Transport Experience
• Frank Aquilina, 27 Carradino St., Paola is believed to have built around 300 bodies dating from the 1920s to 1975. 211 have been recorded by the PSV Circle. TGP Photos Unlimited
• In the age of lean head office & garage management and of a new breed of younger bus professionals, only pockets of the infamous Long Liquid Lunches remain and then these tend to be diluted, if you’ll pardon the pun. Omnibuses
• in this "Bus times on the go" post we look at three of the best mobile related mobile bus times services that are currently available! Andys Bus Blog