North Devon

We are starting to see the changes to North Devon services starting to come through VOSA…

27 July STAGECOACH DEVON LTD, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB

• PH1020951/183 Registration Accepted Starting Point: Holsworthy Finish Point: Bude Service Number: X9
  Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 24-SEP-2012 Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays except Bank Holidays
• PH1020951/184 Registration Accepted Starting Point: Okehampton Finish Point: Holsworthy Service Number: X9
  Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 24-SEP-2012 Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays except Bank Holidays
• PH1020951/185 Registration Accepted Starting Point: Exeter Finish Point: Okehampton Service Number: X9
  Service Type: Limited Stop Effective Date: 24-SEP-2012 Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays except bank Holidays approx 2 hourly
• PH1020951/136 Variation Accepted: Operating between Ilfracombe or Barnstaple and Appledore or Westward Ho! given service number 21/21A effective from 24-Sep-2012. To amend Route and Timetable.

30 July WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD, WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT, NEWQUAY, TR8 5DR

• PH0006741/98 Variation Accepted: Operating between Bude, Strand and Holsworthy, Church given service number 599 effective from 19-Sep-2012. To amend Timetable.
• PH0006741/99 Variation Accepted: Operating between Holsworthy, Church/Library and Okehampton, West Street given service number 599 effective from 19-Sep-2012. To amend Timetable.

31 July 2012 STAGECOACH DEVON LTD, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB

• PH1020951/172 Variation Accepted: Operating between Barnstaple Bus Station and Barnstaple Park & Ride given service number 19 effective from 24-Sep-2012. To amend Route and Timetable.

31 July 2012 FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT

• PH0004983/122 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between APPLEDORE Seagate Hotel and ILFRACOMBE Bus Station given service number 1/1A/2 effective from 23-Sep-2012.
  
• PH0004983/137 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Illfracombe Bus Station and Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park given service number 30/30C effective from 23-Sep-2012.
  
• PH0004983/347 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Barnstaple Bus Station and Ilfracombe Bus Station given service number 3 effective from 23-Sep-2012.
  
• PH0004983/349 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Barnstaple and South Molton given service number X7 effective from 23-Sep-2012.

1 August 2012 FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT

• PH0004983/198 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Bude Strand and Holsworthy Church/ Library given service number X9 effective from 23-Sep-2012.
  
• PH0004983/348 Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Barnstaple Bus Station and Swimbridge given service number 5 effective from 23-Sep-2012.

So we now know its the 23 September when First Devon & Cornwall pull out of North Devon with Stagecoach taking over on the 24th. The competition between Stagecoach and Western Greyhound over the X9 / 599 is interesting in that Western Greyhound start their additional services a week earlier!  This could be one to watch!

Creative Commons licensed flickr photo shared by EastlieghBusMan

If the planned sale had been allowed to go through then this bus would probably have joined Stagecoach. It will be interesting to see where it ends up after its services are no longer required in North Devon. Will Devon & Cornwall be able to keep them local or will they end up being moved elsewhere within the First Group empire? There are plenty of routes locally which could do with decent buses like this. The Plymouth – Tavistock coridor or the Plymouth – Torbay route are crying out for decent buses. It does rather illustrate the difference between how First Group and Stagecoach have run their businesses over the years. A nice new bus like the one above is a real treat for First passengers, whereas for many Stagecoach passengers , new double deckers are the norm.