Swooped 430 W463WGH

5 July 2013

28 July 2013

©Eastleighbusman(creative commons). 4 January 2010 Go Ahead London PVL63

Citybus–all of them!

I don't quite know how well this will work as its a massive image but hopefully it wont take too long to load on your computers...
This is an almost up to date snapshot of the whole current Plymouth Citybus fleet. Its a screen dump of my Flickr set which now finally matches up with my online Fleet List for Plymouth Citybus. You can see how the tide is now turning with a fair proportion of the fleet now in the red swoops.

The full Flickr set to view all photos is HERE The fleet list is HERE

There are a few not quite up to date pics where buses have recently been repainted and I believe I am missing a couple of the coaches but otherwise this is the whole fleet!

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PT RECOMMENDS

• The city's transport system comprises a metro, numerous tram lines and bus services. Much of the transport network is operated by Wiener Linien, a subsidiary of Vienna's city corporation. Random Streets 27 August
• Despite "une grande manifestation de protestation à Meistratzheim le 11 avril 1954", the line closed in 1955 to be replaced by a bus service. All trams were withdrawn from the streets of Strasbourg in 1960. Public Transport Experience 27 August
• Re-enactment usually conjures up images of ruddy faced men wearing civil war garb. Yet a holiday in Bournemouth allowed A40 man to retrace his steps of 1991, perhaps to see if longer-distance bus services across Dorset and Wiltshire have changed that much since then as a possible measure of the health of bus services. Omnibuses 28 August
• This part shows three coaches and a coach converted into a mobile fish and chip shop! All of the operators included are no longer around. Andys Bus Blog 29 August
• On his way to prepare for the Rotherham 100th celebrations, fbb decided to don his heavy disguise, to empty his mind of previous knowledge and to attempt a journey over the Supertram route that was being relaid Public Transport Experience 29 August
• For our latest two part Out & about photo special we are heading to the South Coast and across the Solent to the Isle Of Wight Andys Bus Blog 29 August

Swooped 405 PN02XCH

1 June 2013

©Tom Michaels 6 April 2013

18 August 2010

©Brian George 29 June 2009 - Ensign before coming to Plymouth.

Swooped 143 WA08LDX

Continuing the catch up posts:

18 December 2012

22 July 2012

Swooped 87 WJ55HLR

Continuing the pre posted catch up:

©Tom Micheals 12 July 2013

23 January 2010 Bus Watch

27 July 2006

Thanks as ever to Tom for allowing me use of his photos!

Spot the difference: Target Travel

Nil prizes available...

24 January 2013

22 August 2013
Both photos ©Richard Smith

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PT RECOMMENDS

• It appears that Anglian are removing the Konect branding from the all of their recently transferred in vehicles and applying Anglianbus fleetnames in their place East Norfolk Bus Blog 23 August
• A recent post on the Omnibuses blog reports that two-door single deck buses were being specified for a bus rapid transit scheme in the West of England Random Streets 23 August
• Rosheim is in Alsace which, apart from being the supposed home to the eponymous dog, is in a region of France that has been part of Germany on many occasions. The area even had/has its own language, a derivative of German ... Public Transport Experience 24 August
• I dislike the term “bus war” because this implies right & wrong. The competition’s nevertheless developing in unlikely directions, Omnibuses 25 August
• fbb's knowledge of public transport in rural France is similar to his understanding of sub-atomic particle physics; i.e. not a lot! Public Transport Experience 24 August
• It's not often I actually seem to post about the local rail scene in and around the Plymouth area, but what better way to make a return to it than with this glorious locomotive. PTOTPA 25 August
• The journey planner advised a bus from Molsheim to Manenheim (orange); then from Manenheim to Strasbourg (blue) then from Strasbourg to Boersch (orange) followed by a 3 kilometre walk to Rosheim. Hmm? And we think Traveline is grim! Public Transport Experience 26 August

Swooped: 56 WA51ACU

Continuing the general catch up posts to capture all the recent repaints…

1 June 2013

15 September 2012

18 December 2010

9 September 2006

(Post prepared in advance!)

Red Flash–a closer look

As a bit of a Bank Holiday treat we have a series of much better shots of the new Red Flash 506 taken by Brian George. There are bigger and higher res so you can see the details better. As usual if you click on an image it goes to the Flickr view where you can view them even larger if you wish!

All ©Brian George – with thanks!

Red Flash–its red, and its flashy

The first of the new Plymouth Citybus ADL Enviro 400 fleet are now ready and will be officially hitting the road on the 1st September.

Thanks to Richard Smith for this excellent shot of 506 on test in town yesterday.

©Richard Smith
Finally a small selection of other photos to illustrate the interiors (Thanks BG):

Swooped: 435 X568EGK

June 2013

Swoops? Whoops more like! Heading changed as several have noted the error! Cant remember which one I intended to post though!

Jim Goddard

 

My little tribute to in all honesty, one of the greatest men I ever had the privileged to know. His advice given to me over the last 10+ years will undoubtedly stay with me forever. He has been a true inspiration to me, and I intend to honour this as I progress through life. Without his guidance, who knows where I might be now. Rest in peace Mr Goddard, one of life's true gentleman's gentleman. 

As some of you may know, Jim Goddard of A-Line Coaches passed away this week. I don't think I can add anything more than point you in the direction of Laurence Mayhew’s personal tribute on his blog which sums up why he was held in so much respect both within the business and more importantly within his own community.

Please head over to his blog to read the full tribute: P T O T P A

GOLD in detail

Stagecoach have now published full details of their GOLD service between Torquay and Plymouth / Dartmouth:

The full timetable is also up online as a PDF. It is certainly a pretty comprehensive service and should do very well although they will have missed the full summer service, but this in itself may be a blessing in disguise as it gives them chance to get the service up and running properly before the really busy loads next summer. 

I am surprised that they do not appear to be using any route numbers for the service – just GOLD. What happens if and when they want to go Gold with any other of their routes? Also, the GOLD service is actually two distinct routes as it separates at Totnes to go on to either Plymouth or Dartmouth. Surely the best way to inform passengers is with proper route numbers? We all know that passengers never actually read destination displays – they just look at the number.

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PT RECOMMENDS

• Being British, stupid and on holiday, fbb and some twenty others enjoyed an open-sided coach. There was about a six inch strip down the centre of the bench seats which was not dampened by the ingress of rain, mist and general wetness. Public Transport Experience 22 August
• On the August Bank Holiday, 50 years ago, a massive operation was undertaken to open a giant umbrella over what was to become Oxford Circus tube station. Ian Visits 22 August
• First have begun using recently acquired ex Connex Jersey Alexander Dennis Enviro400 33423 SN60 CAA on the longhaul X1 route between Peterborough and Lowestoft... Andys Bus Blog 21 August
• Electronic destination displays offer bus companies the world over the advantage of updating their electronic displays with current destinations without having to reorder old-fashioned destination blinds, it's much faster but more importantly it's much cheaper too. North West Bus Blog 21 August
• but now it is an unstaffed halt with the main building demoted (promoted?) to a Spiritualist church. fbb wonders whether "the other side" can tell the congregation when the trains are due? Public Transport Experience 21 August

Swooped: 403 PN02XCE

Two photos of this smart looking bus:

© Tom Michaels: July 2013 - Nice shots Tom!

September 2010

Swooped: 141 WA08LDU

Enviro 200

March 2011

Every little helps

Carmel Coaches have quite a nice web site which is nice ands clean and well laid out. Quite professional looking in my opinion.

 

I have been keeping an eye on it to see if and when anything got posted about the Asda and Tesco shopper buses.

I was watching the ‘latest news’ section but nothing was happening. This week I took a closer look at the timetables…

Then suddenly links to Asda and Tesco timetables appeared.

All looks nice and professional and then you see the timetable is dated 18th January 2010! Clearly just used an old timetable display. It wouldn't be so bad but the timetable link that gets you to this timetable states that the T4 operates on Friday – NOT Tuesday as stated on this display!

There are some maps which look strangely familiar too but I cant get then to reproduce here. At least the Tesco timetable does not say who operates the service. The link for the Asda free bus takes you to a small pdf with a timetable from 16th April 2012 “Your free bus service operated by Plymouth Citybus”!

I am sure this is all as a result of the almost indecent haste in which the service was taken from Citybus and passed over to Carmel. I wonder how many passengers have been confused and wonder where their bus has gone?

The Carmel web site indicates a professional operation so I have every confidence that decent up to date timetables will be provided soon.

Does anyone know what vehicles they are using on these services yet?

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PT RECOMMENDS

• The road is still narrow and, despite warnings a-plenty, large vehicles can come to grief as they think they will get through by somehow defying the laws of physics. Public Transport Experience 14 August
• With Royal Parade a hive of activity after the annual National Firework Championships in the City, it was surprising to find South Devon Railway operated Routemaster ALD 872B out earning her keep on a private hire trip. PTOTPA 15 August
• Presumably locals get to know by experience or blind guesswork. This educational process is not helped by a sideways timetable page in a very dirty frame at the square! Public Transport Experience 15 August
• Today (Saturday 17th August) it will be 110 years to the day that the first Great Western Railway bus service was inaugurated which ran from Helston Station to The Lizard. Public Transport Experience 17 August
• The Iveco TurboDaily - bouncy, vibrating, rattly buses, but a type of bus that I think you'll find nearly every enthusiast growing up in the People's Provincial area will have a small soft spot for (mmm, not so sure about that!) Southern England 18 August
• Yesterday marked the 110th anniversary of the very first Great Western Railway motor bus service, running between Helston and The Lizard. PTOTPA 18 August
• In a bid to save more than £¾mil, Dorset council proposes to cull many of its Saturday supported services. Omnibuses 18 August
• "Politicians ... get carried away with an overpowering sense of their own standing and importance and and fail to see what is obvious to almost everyone else in the town." Public Transport Experience 18 August

Swooped: 88 WA56OZM

Continuing the catch-up of swooped buses: (title corrected from earlier!)

©Tom Michaels. January 2013

February 2010

July 2005

Jacketts Plymouth City services

Notice on Jacketts Coaches Facebook page

We can now announce that we have been awarded the contracts to run services 13 Saltash Passage to City Centre & 52 - Chaddlewood to Derriford from November 2013

I am not that surprised that Citybus have lost the 13 as I dont suppose they were that bothered to keep it when they have so much extra work coming up – its one less bus to find. I am more surprised that Target Travel have lost the 52 as they have been running this route for quite a few years now and they are well liked by the regular customers.

So, Congratulations to Jacketts. Its good to see another operator in Plymouth and I wish them well. I am sure if they are reliable then the passengers will quickly warm to them. The 52 regulars are quite a loyal bunch!

Urgent late notice!

Urgent note from the PCTPG re their planned trip to WSM

Sorry to do this but Crosville Motors have cancelled their Mini Rally due to staffing problems therefore our trip to Weston Super Mare is also cancelled.  This is, as you will understand, completely outside our control and we can only apologise to any interested party for this cancellation.  Our next trip which will be going ahead is the annual West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust (WHOTT) will be taking place on 8th September at Westpoint, Exeter.

Details to follow nearer the time…

Swooped: 46 Y646NYD

Part of the on-going series of posts to capture all of the repainted buses into the swoops livery. There will be a few of these during the course of the next week or so. I have set some of them up in advance as I know I will be busy this week and also hopefully having a holiday at the end of the week…

46 was in full swoops in December 2012

January 2010

June 2005

Lots on the go at the moment so I will have to catch up with all the links to other sites tomorrow!

Supermarkets, VOSA and Flash

Just a few quick notes today as time is limited:

As a follow up to the Free Tesco and Asda Shopper buses it seems that the new operator is Carmel Coaches! There is nothing on their web site to suggest this although several comments have been left on the blog to say that they are. They already operate Tesco services in Exeter so this kind of work wont be new to them.

Tesco apparently have this notice up:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances we are not currently operating our free weekly bus service. Customers requiring help getting to our local store should ring 0845 6779545. Our staff will be happy to help make alternative transport arrangements for disabled customers or provide details of alternative bus services to use. Tesco would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

The Asda service is said to be starting on Monday. I shall have a check at the store shortly to see if anything has been posted there.

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We have a batch of service changes for Plymouth Citybus registered on VOSA yesterday which I present here without comment for now:

• PH0000135/7 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade Stop A14 and SOUTHWAY given service number 40/40A/41 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

• PH0000135/8 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between TAMERTON FOLIOT and ROYAL PARADE given service number 42/42A/42B/42X effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/9 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and PLYMOUTH Royal Parade given service number 43/143/43A/43B effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/10 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH, ROYAL PARADE and WHITLEIGH given service number 44/44A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

• PH0000135/42 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and HAM Merrivale Road given service number 35 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/71 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between Saltash, Pillmere and Derriford Hospital given service number 30 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

• PH0000135/76 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between ROYAL PARADE and DERRIFORD HOSPITAL given service number 29/29D effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/77 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE given service number 43A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/78 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and HOLLY PARK given service number 43B/78 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/86 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 25 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
• PH0000135/126 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
• Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 62 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable

• PH0000135/148 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 33/33A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

• PH0000135/149 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Travistock Bus Station given service number F1 effective from 05-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

• PH0000135/150 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

  • Variation Accepted: Operating between Royal Parade and Torpoint HMS Raleigh given service number 32 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

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It seems that the route branding promised for the new Tavistock service is “BlueFlash” This seems to open the way for other routes to get the colour treatment. At least some of the Enviros at Milehouse have received Red Flash branding – and word is that they are very smart!

Weston Super Mare Event

Another event notice from the PCTPG:

It is hoped to run a vehicle to the Crosville Mini-Running day at Weston Super-Mare on Sunday, Sept 1st. This is a superb day out, with lots to see and do with the classic rebuilt pier and numerous fish and chip shops along the sea-front!!

Bring your dog (well behaved) friends, grand-children, picnic (please take your litter with you) and enjoy a day out with us.

The trip can only go ahead with sufficient numbers travelling due to the cost of fuel to Weston Super-Mare and back. We are looking for a minimum of 20 persons plus an available driver with suggested donations in the region of £10 per person. This could be even less subject to numbers travelling!

Crosville are providing free trips on their Class 5 registered vehicles,  or for the cost of £3.50 you can buy a day-rider and travel on their Class 6 routes which will include the lovely service 100:

IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US PLEASE REPLY * NOW * TO PAUL AT events@plymouthcitytransport.co.uk

Depart Colebrook 0815 Coypool 0830 minimal parking due to car boot sale so parking at CB is
available
Arrive WSM 1030
Depart WSM 1600
Arrive Coypool 1800 Colebrook 1815

Sunday September 1st 2013

 

.

In a change of plan from the advertised format of our Crosville Rally, we are unable to open our depot to the public this year. However, we will still operate a 'Mini Running Day' in Weston-super-Mare. The date – Sunday 1st September – is unchanged.
The change is due to operational requirements and the availability of manpower but we are keen to invite our loyal local customers and enthusiasts alike to sample the delights of riding on our cherished fleet of heritage buses

We will be supplementing our usual open top Olympians on the 100 service to Sand Bay with heritage open toppers. Subject to operational fitness, these will be ex-Crosville Bristol FSF6G DFG81 (891VFM) and ex-Bristol Omnibus Bristol VRT 5055 (LEU263P). These will run as duplicates to the normal timetabled services.
Additional (closed top) vehicles from our active heritage fleet will also operate free rides around the town during the day. These will pick up and set down at the Grand Pier bus stop. We hope to publish route and timetable information on this website nearer the event.
Please note that our Winterstoke Road depot WILL NOT be open and no services will run from this location.

See more at: http://www.crosvillemotorservices.co.uk/enthusiasts/crosville-open-day.php#sthash.CYVOicJ0.dpuf