Citybus Fares Increase

No one likes a fare rise but costs go up…
From Sunday 3rd November 2019 Plymouth Citybus will introduce price increases across a number of tickets.

Why the changes?

We have tried to absorb as many of our cost increases as possible by working more efficiently to provide your bus service. However there are some areas where the price rises we face are greater than we can absorb.
The main costs we incur are wage increases, insurance and vehicle parts. 
We maintain one of the biggest fleets of vehicles in the city, which means our servicing and parts bill is substantial. The cost of our parts supply has been hit twice. Firstly by unit cost increases and secondly, by Brexit uncertainty affecting our supply chain, meaning we have had to stock-pile parts.
It is not all bad news. To ensure we are doing our bit in tackling the recently declared climate emergency, we continue to invest in our fleet. A £2.6m investment of 11 new low emission, low carbon certified buses will be on the road next month. This enhances our fleet replacement plan, removing older buses from service, reducing carbon emissions.

What is changing?

Plymouth

We will be freezing the price of our ever popular ‘Kid Add-On’ at £1.50, which helps hundreds of thousands of families each year.  
We have limited price increases on our single tickets, which will see an increase of 10p or 20p. Returns will see an increase of between 20p and 40p, dependant on distance travelled.
Dayrider zone 1 & 2 ticket will increase by 30p to £4.70 for adults and 20p to £3.50 for children.
After freezing the price of our weekly zone 1 & 2 ticket for over three years. Regrettably this will now rise by £1 to £19 for adults and £14.50 for children. All other weekly tickets will rise by £1, with all 4 week and month tickets rising by £3 or £3.50.

Cornwall

Due to the increased length of journeys, single tickets will see an increase of between 10p and 50p. Returns will see an increase of between 20p and £1. The zone 4 Dayrider ticket has been frozen for four years but will now see an increase of £1 to £9 for adults and 70p to £6.70 for children.
After reducing the price of the zone 4 weekly ticket, it will go back to the same price as four years ago of £32 for adults and £24 for children. 4 week and month tickets will rise by £4.

Where to get information?

We have highlighted the most popular tickets above. A downloadable price guide showing changes to all tickets is available on this page and a printed version can be picked up from our Travel Centre on Royal Parade.

We are sorry that this fare review is necessary and thank you for your continued support and custom.

As you can imagine this has not gone down well – but then fare rises never do. If supermarkets had to announce all their prices increases in advance I am sure it would sound this bad, but they can just change their prices when they see fit and we just have to put up with it.
The company quite rightly also mentions Brexit as being a contributor to the fare increases. Its not just on the buses that we will end up paying for all of this totally unnecessary vanity project.
If you are a card holder you can of course preload your phone/ smartcard with tickets now at the old prices. I now have enough day riders on my phone to last well into January – saving me quiet a bit of money in the process!

Devon & Cornwall Transit 178

The weekly look at service changes across Devon & Cornwall.

As usual please click through on the Licence number for more details and full route histories on the PTBS web site. Links to Traveline and other timetables and maps are provided below where possible, but always check with the operators own web site for up to date information before you travel!

The following service changes are planned for this coming week

Stagecoach Devon Ltd • PH1010951

The second batch of service changes for this weekend…

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1020951.034	5 5C	Exeter, Paris Street	Crediton or Chulmleigh	28-Oct-2019	Service 5 The 1851 has been revised to depart from Crediton Tuckers Close at 1909, Mondays to Saturdays. Service 5A Mondays to Fridays, the 0645 from Hatherleigh will now start from Okehampton at 0628.On Saturdays; the 0655 from Hatherleigh will start at Okehampton at 0638. These changes offer earlier connections from Okehampton replacing the current 0703 journey from Okehampton to Exeter, which will be withdrawn. The current service 5C departing from Copplestone at 0911 will be replaced with the 5A service departing from Okehampton at 0805. The 1900 departure from Exeter on Mondays to Saturdays will extend from Hatherleigh to Okehampton offering an improved connection between these towns. Service 5C The 0545 departure from Exeter on Mondays to Fridays and the 0610 on Mondays to Saturdays have been withdrawn. The 1825 and 1910 departures from Chulmleigh will leave a little earlier and terminate at Lapford. 5 Traveline Timetables & Maps 5A Traveline Timetables & Maps 28 Oct-1 Nov! 5A Traveline Timetable 2/11/2019 onwards 5B Traveline Timetables & Maps 2/11/2019 5C Traveline Timetables & Maps
PH1020951.206	5A	Hatherleigh	Okehampton	28-Oct-2019	see above
PH1020951.134	28	Paignton Bus Stn	Torquay Grammar School	28-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. No new timetables published
PH1020951.100	30	Brixham/Paignton	Cuthbert Mayne Sch/St Marychurch	28-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. No new timetables published
PH1020951.075	39	Exeter	Newton Abbot	28-Oct-2019	To revise timetable 39 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.036	57 N57	Exeter	Exmouth	02-Nov-2019	Service N57 The N57 will operate a revised route through Exeter city centre to allow passengers greater access to local amenities. Buses will serve from Paris Street then New North Road, Queen Street and High Street before continuing to Sidwell Street. 57 N57 Traveline timetable & Maps
PH1020951.106	110	Torquay	Totnes Seven Stars	28-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. 110 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.012	120	Paignton Bus Station	Kingswear Banjo	28-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. 120 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.235	200	Coypool Park & Ride	Plymouth Royal Parade	28-Oct-2019	Park & Ride services 100/101/200 have minor changes to running times but with all departure times as now. Service 200 will now also serve all bus stops along the route. Later departures added for the new Barcode Centre opening. 200 Traveline Timetable and maps
PH1020951.074	B 2B	Prince Charles Road	Exminster & Dawlish	28-Oct-2019	Service B The route will be extended from Union Road to Prince Charles Road, where it will terminate near the Morrison’s store. In addition Union Road, Pennsylvania Road and York Road will be now served in both directions. Minor timetable changes to improve punctuality.  B 2B Traveline Timetables and maps
PH1020951.052	GRN	Sowton	Matford Park & Ride	28-Oct-2019	have minor timetable changes. GRN Traveline Timetable and maps

Paul Simon Oakley • PH1091418

Three routes taken on from Target Travel on behalf of Devon County Council:

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1091418.008	55	Yelverton Roundabout	Tavistock Bus Station	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday Operation taken on under Devon CC tender 55 Traveline Timetable and Maps
PH1091418.007	56	Yelverton Roundabout	Tavistock Bus Station	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday Operation taken on under Devon CC tender 56 Traveline Timetable and Maps
PH1091418.006	98	Tavistock Bus Station	Yelverton Roundabout	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday. Operation taken on under Devon CC tender 98 Traveline Timetable and Maps

There are no new future service changes published over the last week!

Incoming Citybus!

A small batch of Alexander Dennis Enviro 200s have just arrived at Milehouse from East Yorkshire to join the Citybus fleet.
The batch are East Yorkshire 349-353 YX056HVF, YX56HVG, YX56HVH, YX56HVJ
Alexander Dennis E20D with Alexander Dennis B38F bodywork New January 2007

©Simon835 (creative commons)
East Yorkshire 349 seen at Beverly 2012
At the moment no Plymouth fleetnumbers are known but I would guess at either 162-165 after the existing Enviros or they would fit in quite nicely as 129-132 in front of the original Plymouth 56 reg Enviros.
I will shortly be opening up the Go Ahead Group fleetlist I am working on which includes the full Plymouth Citybus fleet list. The Plymouth fleet is right up to date but I still have a few other fleets to add but it wont be long before I open it up…

Devon & Cornwall Transit 177

The weekly look at service changes across Devon & Cornwall.

As usual please click through on the Licence number for more details and full route histories on the PTBS web site. Links to Traveline and other timetables and maps are provided below where possible, but always check with the operators own web site for up to date information before you travel!

The following service changes are planned for this coming week

First South West Ltd • PH0004983

First Kernow has a few seasonal services coming to an end this week

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0004983.504	24	Fowey	Mevagissey/Lost Gardens of Heligan	27-Oct-2019	102: Season operation ends 26 October. It will resume with a revised timetable from April 2020. Traveline 24 Timetable & Maps
PH0004983.531	96	Wadebridge Bus Station	Camelford	20-Oct-2019	Mondays to Saturdays – no change Sundays – the summer service will continue until 20 October and then resume from 5 April 2020 94 95 96 Traveline Timetable and Maps
PH0004983.170	A 1	PENZANCE Bus Station	LANDS END	27-Oct-2019	Until 26 October two buses each day will continue from Land’s End to St Just, Zennor and St Ives on route A3. The A3 will back again from 5 April 2020. A1 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH0004983.472	A 3	Lands End	St Ives	27-Oct-2019	Two buses each day until 26 October and again from 5 April 2020.
PH0004983.518	A 5	Newquay Bus Station	Padstow Bus Terminus	27-Oct-2019	Mondays to Saturdays - the route will follow the usual winter pattern of buses approximately every 90 minutes. Sundays - From 27 October until 29 March 2020 the service (still every two hours) will be restricted to the Newquay to the Cornwall Airport Newquay section of route. A5 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH0004983.173	A17 A 2	PENZANCE Bus Station/ ST IVES	MADRON/ ST IVES/ ST JUST	26-Oct-2019	A2 Two buses each day until 26 October and again from 5 April 2020. Both buses will continue from St Ives to Zennor, St Just and Sennen Cove to Land’s End on route A3. A17 continues A17 Traveline Timetables and Maps (as at 15 sept)

Stagecoach Devon Ltd • PH1020951

The first part of a large batch of service changes for Stagecoach from all across their area. The rest will follow next week as they are from Monday the 28th October

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1020951.249	1 X1	Plymouth	Tavistock	27-Oct-2019	Service 1 An earlier journey from Plymouth to Derriford Hospital (Mondays to Saturdays) and Tavistock (Mondays to Fridays) has been introduced. Minor changes to the evening running times have also been made. 1 X1 Traveline timetable & Maps
PH1020951.236	2 2A	Saltash	Mount Batten or Sherford	27-Oct-2019	Services 2/2A slightly amended timetable on Saturday mornings 2 2A Traveline timetables and maps
PH1020951.237 PH1020951.238	3	Plymouth	Kingsbridge	27-Oct-2019	Service 3 Earlier journeys have been introduced from both Dartmouth and Plymouth on Mondays to Saturdays and there is now a departure at 1940 from Kingsbridge to Plymouth. 3 Traveline Timetbale & Maps
PH1020951.046	7 7A	Exeter Bus Station	Totnes Coronation Road	27-Oct-2019	Service 7A   On Mondays to Fridays, the 7A service will now start at Paignton at 0650 through to Torquay at 0705. Additionally the 1750 departure from Exeter will extend to Paignton offering improved connections. 7 7A Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.011	12 N12	Newton Abbot	Brixham	27-Oct-2019	Service 12 The winter timetable is re-introduced. The Sunday evening frequency is reduced to 30 minutes for the winter to match passenger demand. There are also minor running time changes to improve punctuality. 12 N12 Traveline Timatbale & Maps
PH1020951.136	21 ETC	Ilfracombe or Barnstaple	Appledore or Westward Ho!	27-Oct-2019	Services 21/21A Minor changes to the Saturday morning timetable including the introduction of a new 0838 departure from Georgeham for onward connects to Barnstaple. The Sunday evening frequency is reduced to hourly to improve reliability. 21 21A Traveline Timetable & Maps 815 821 921 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.208	22	Dawlish Warren	South Devon College	27-Oct-2019	To remove last journey to/from Dawlish Warren daily. Service 22 Timetable reverts to winter timetable with minor running time changes to improve punctuality 22 Traveline Timetable & Maps
PH1020951.006	31	Torquay, Cary Parade	Barton Padacre Road	27-Oct-2019	Service 31 The Monday to Friday timetable is revised. For the winter season the frequency of the service will now be every twenty minutes, to match passenger demand. No new timetables on Traveline. No way of viewing any new timetable on Stagecoach site
PH1020951.317	35A 35C	Torquay Strand	Torquay Strand	27-Oct-2019	Services 35A/35C Running time has been amended on the 35A to improve the punctuality of the service. No new timetables on Traveline. No way of viewing any new timetable on Stagecoach site
PH1020951.315	39	Newton Abbot	Torquay	27-Oct-2019	To cancel registration. This is just the daily extension from Newton Abbot to Torquay. No mention of this anywhere by Stagecoach themselves
PH1020951.234	100 101	The George Park & Ride	Plymouth Royal Parade	27-Oct-2019	Park & Ride services 100/101/200 have minor changes to running times but with all departure times as now. To add later journeys to meet the revised opening times of Drake Circus and the new leisure complex 100 101 Traveline Timetables & Maps
PH1020951.044	A	Alphington, Smithfield Road	Thornpark Rise	27-Oct-2019	Service A Minor timetable changes and a revised Saturday timetable. A Traveline timetable & Maps
PH1020951.029	D H	University of Exeter	Digby	27-Oct-2019	have minor timetable changes. D Traveline Timetable and Maps H Traveline Timetable and Maps
PH1020951.065	E F1 F2	Beacon Heath	Exwick	27-Oct-2019	have minor timetable changes. E F1 F2 Traveline Timetables and maps
PH1020951.020	FOX	Paignton Bus Station	Foxhole	27-Oct-2019	Fox Service The frequency has been changed to every 15 minutes on Saturdays. No new timetables on Traveline. No way of viewing any new timetable on Stagecoach site
PH1020951.197	GOLD	Torquay Strand	Totnes Royal Seven Stars	27-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. GOLD Traveline timetables and maps
PH1020951.198	GOLD	Totnes Royal Seven Stars	Plymouth	27-Oct-2019	Minor running time changes to improve punctuality. See above
PH1020951.060	K I T J	Science Park, Digby or Whipton Barton	Countess Wear, Digby or Topsham	27-Oct-2019	Service K Minor timetable changes to improve journey times with a reduced frequency on Saturday mornings.  The rest have minor timetable changes. 1JKT Traveline Timetables and maps
PH1020951.105	P	Crossmead	Pennsylvania	27-Oct-2019	have minor timetable changes. P Traveline Timetables and maps
PH1020951.047	R S	Rifford Road	Rifford Road	27-Oct-2019	Services R/S Minor timetable changes to improve journey times with a reduced frequency on Saturday mornings. R S Traveline Timetables and maps
PH1020951.058	RED	Exeter, Paris Street	Honiton Road Park & Ride	27-Oct-2019	have minor timetable changes. RED Traveline Timetable and maps

Dealtop (Plymouth) Ltd • PH2015480 • Target Travel

The loss of the 55 56 and 98 – which will be covered by the three new registrations from Oakley (see below)

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH2015480.004	55 56 98	Yelverton	Tavistock Bus Station	26-Oct-2019	Cancellation -lost under Devon CC Tender

The following future service changes have been published this last week…

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	OPERATOR
PD0000738.313	530	Newcastle Upon Tyne Coach Station	Paignton Bus Station	25-Nov-2019	Vary timetable.	NATIONAL EXPRESS LTD
PD0000738.177	531	Newcastle	Plymouth	25-Nov-2019	Vary timetable	NATIONAL EXPRESS LTD
PH1091418.007	55	Yelverton Roundabout	Tavistock Bus Station	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday	PAUL SIMON OAKLEY
PH1091418.007	56	Yelverton Roundabout	Tavistock Bus Station	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday	PAUL SIMON OAKLEY
PH1091418.006	98	Tavistock Bus Station	Yelverton Roundabout	28-Oct-2019	Monday to Saturday	PAUL SIMON OAKLEY
PH0000135.150	70 70A 70B	Plymouth (Royal Parade)	Cremyll	04-Nov-2019	Revise route & times to accommodate road closure in Millbrook. Monday to Saturday to provide a shuttle service between Cremyll, Millbrook and Insworke	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD

Citybus and Hearts Together

Excellent news from Plymouth Citybus:

Life-saving defibrillators are being fitted to part of the Plymouth Citybus fleet in a groundbreaking new charity partnership.

Sixteen defibrillators donated by local charity Hearts Together, will be on board the company’s 16 Spark buses, which serve one of the busiest routes in Plymouth, with the aim to eventually have one on every single bus.

They can be used to restart the heart in case of cardiac arrest and can raise survival rates from 6% to an incredible 74%.

Plymouth Citybus has worked closely with local charity Hearts Together, who support patients, families and carers in the South West, to deliver the project. Defibshop, who are experts in their field, have also provided support and resources to assist this new venture.

This is the first scheme in the UK to place defibrillators on buses.

It will be officially launched on Wednesday 16th October - World Restart a Heart Day - with a display on the Piazza in Plymouth City Centre.

One of the buses with a defibrillator will be on show with volunteers on hand to demonstrate how it can be used. Drivers will also be trained to operate them.

Plymouth Citybus Managing Director Richard Stevens said: “We're hoping this investment will help save lives. In times of crisis our buses are often first at the scene, so it makes sense for them to be equipped with defibrillators.

“Members of the public will be able to use them and we are also training all our drivers in the hope that should someone suffer a cardiac arrest we’re doing our very best to significantly improve their chances of survival.

“I’d like to thank Hearts Together for working with us to deliver this remarkable project, which we believe will make a genuine difference not just to the health of our passengers but for the communities we service.”

Each of the buses will have signs to advise passengers that a defibrillator is aboard their bus, with clearly labelled QR codes next to them, which members of the public will be able to scan to play a video showing how to use them.

The aim is to have a defibrillator on every bus, with a fund-raising drive by the charity now underway.

Hearts Together Chief Executive Liz Harding said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Plymouth Citybus and defibshop for all their help with this project, which not only increases the opportunity to save lives but raises awareness of the work we do.
“Defibrillators make a tangible difference to communities - tragically 90-95% of cardiac arrests prove fatal when they go untreated, yet the likelihood of survival is altered dramatically by their use.
“Every minute without CPR or defibrillation, the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest reduces by seven to 10% - it’s that important.
“Buses are central to everyday life and it makes perfect sense for defibrillators to be fitted to them - it means one is never far away from those in need.
“I’d urge everyone who can to pop by to find out more during the event in Plymouth City Centre and to watch the video which shows you how to use the defibrillator, available from the QR codes next to the defibrillator signs on the Spark buses. Working together we can create heart-safe communities.”

Vick Smith, Account Manager, defibshop said: “Defibshop is very proud to be part of this Plymouth Citybus and Hearts Together defibrillator scheme. 

“It is vitally important the message around the use of defibrillators is foremost in the public mind, and the understanding that anyone can help in the event of an emergency. 

“Hearts Together work tirelessly to bring the public access to defibrillators, and Plymouth Citybus have supplied the perfect vehicle to do this.

“We are convinced this initiative will be a very positive one, which is planned to be rolled out to the entire Plymouth Citybus fleet and, we hope, other public transport providers across the UK will follow suit.”

Plymouth Citybus and Hearts Together will be demonstrating the new partnership all day from 9am on the Piazza in Plymouth City Centre on Wednesday 16th October, supported by defibshop and a team of volunteers.

Hearts Together provides accommodation for patients, carers, relatives and healthcare professionals as well as essential lifesaving equipment to local hospitals and communities in the South West. The Plymouth-based charity also offers support and counselling to anyone affected by heart disease.

Top City Operator, maybe…

Plymouth Citybus has been shortlisted as ‘Top City Operator’ in the 2019 UK Bus Awards.

The prestigious national awards recognise major successes achieved by bus operators across the country.

Plymouth Citybus is up against seven other bus companies from around the UK for the Top City Operator award including other Go-Ahead Group operator, Brighton & Hove Buses, and Lothian Buses, National Express West Midlands, Nottingham City Transport, Stagecoach Manchester, Translink Metro and Stagecoach Merseyside.

After being shortlisted as a finalist in the same category in 2018, this year Plymouth Citybus believes it is in a strong position to go one better.

Winners of the UK Bus Awards will be announced on 19 November 2019 at a ceremony in London.

Plymouth Citybus has seen employee and passenger satisfaction scores rise to industry-leading levels, with the latter reaching 93% in 2019. Over the past year the company also increased its spend in the local community by 20%, supporting a number of worthy community projects and charitable causes. 

Richard Stevens, Managing Director, said: “This is a huge achievement for Plymouth Citybus and we’re pleased that the work we’re doing is being recognised as leading the way on the national stage.

“We are constantly making improvements to benefit our passengers, stakeholders and team. It’s important to us that transport in the city is at the forefront of innovation and this award nomination is testament to our work in trying to achieve this.”

Plymouth Citybus is also shortlisted as Bus Operator of the Year at the 2019 National Transport Awards, which take place on 31 October 2019.

Congratulations to Citybus for another strong achievement in getting shortlisted – again! There is some strong competition there though…

Devon & Cornwall Transit 176

The weekly look at service changes across Devon & Cornwall. Not much to report this coming week. Next week will see a LOT more to report!

As usual please click through on the Licence number for more details and full route histories on the PTBS web site. Links to Traveline and other timetables and maps are provided below where possible, but always check with the operators own web site for up to date information before you travel!

The following service changes are planned for this coming week

DJ Watts Coach Travel Ltd • PH1117103

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1117103.004	64	Torquay, Castle Circus	Torquay, Middle Warberry Road	19-Oct-2019	Timetable amended. No new timetables found?

First South West Ltd • PH0004983

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0004983.584	A 4	Hayle Towans/St Agnes	St Ives	18-Oct-2019	Seasonal workings come to an end. No buses in the winter months. Buses will run over the full route from May 2020.
PH0004983.585	A 4	Quntrell Downs	St Agnes	18-Oct-2019	see above

The following future service changes were published this last week:

Just a couple for Plymouth Citybus – but dont get too excited – these are both for a one off event only!

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	OPERATOR
PH0000135.220	34A	City Centre Car Park Shuttle	City Centre Car Park Shuttle	28-Nov-2019	New Service	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.221	OCS	City Centre	City Centre	28-Nov-2019	New Service	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD