tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post7056963943384282394..comments2024-03-28T18:54:00.518+00:00Comments on Plymothian Transit: 2500 and countingdidbygrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858408719372985035noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-75785377216394028672013-09-26T22:45:10.289+01:002013-09-26T22:45:10.289+01:00Stagecoach ran their own Paignton-Plymouth service...Stagecoach ran their own Paignton-Plymouth service just a few years ago. They'll have a good idea of the likely figures and I'm sure they know exactly what they're doing. They'll be looking to grow both patronage and the market itself and they'll do things the 'Stagecoach way' as we're already seeing with the pre-start launch events. They won't run the route as First has done and take their eye off the ball, they'll be on top of everything and they'll stay on top of everything.<br /><br />Why would Go-Ahead be looking at competing with Stagecoach elsewhere in Devon? They have no facilities from which to do so and no easy way of getting a foothold. Taking on Stagecoach Devon (as opposed to what was a potentially wounded First operation in Plymouth) is a completely different ball game compared to what is kicking-off in Plymouth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-87623040028605727972013-09-26T07:54:31.198+01:002013-09-26T07:54:31.198+01:00That is a big reduction on the £6.30 adult £4.80 c...That is a big reduction on the £6.30 adult £4.80 child they originally planned! And yes that map shows Mount Batten however it does show lots of other unserved roads that have just been put in. If it was a coloured map it would be easier to see what with each route having its own colour - for example, Larkham Lane (the bottom bit), Merafield Road, Cot Hill, Underwood (Dark Street Lane etc) Forder Valley Road, Novorossick Road are all shown on the map but are not served; I can only assume these have been put in just to make it easier to see where places are on the map. Could be wrong though!<br /><br />Citybus have just announced details on their upcoming service changes; 27 to split with an hourly 27A to Mainstone, Evening 43B withdrawn (must be withdrawal of council funding) and replaced by extra short 29s to Transit Way, evening 27/28 withdrawn replaced by 28B like it used to be, and school services 104, 109, 115 and 142 withdrawn. New 103 replaces the 109 and 115.<br /><br />http://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/about-us/news/service-changes-between-5th-october-and-the-3rd-november-2013<br />Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-77017182212264762762013-09-25T23:13:07.617+01:002013-09-25T23:13:07.617+01:00If you were First would you want a fight with both...If you were First would you want a fight with both Stagecoach and Go Ahead at the same time? The X80 X81 is a loss maker, so its an easy decision. Forget the conspiracy theory. So Stagecoach think they can make it work with a huge investment in vehicles...maybe they can, but then again maybe they can't. they haven't seen the books, so its a gamble for them. perhaps they just decided that it was worth the gamble or costs to keep Go Ahead away from their Devon operation???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-28047079761249731332013-09-25T19:48:36.119+01:002013-09-25T19:48:36.119+01:00Anybody else find it odd that First appear to give...Anybody else find it odd that First appear to give in really quickly to Stagecoach but are going all out to defeat Citybus? I have heard rumours around this was agreed between First and Stagecoach.. Perhaps if First can turn Plymouth around, Stagecoach might be interested in taking the operation over in return. Stagecoach seem also to be very competetive on the Citybus 45 route between Plymouth and Ivybridge, even touting for business in the city itself! Seems to me that Citybus have started this 'war' and now other operators are gatherimg around their ops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-89618182697989268362013-09-24T23:56:26.104+01:002013-09-24T23:56:26.104+01:00PCB have reduced their day rider prices. Particula...PCB have reduced their day rider prices. Particularly Zone 1,2,3 includes Tavistock. Adult Dayrider: £4.20 compared to First Day Plus at £4.50<br /><br />http://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/tickets/day-tickets/<br /><br />There's also a new map on that page, including Mount Batten. I'm thinking PCB might be adventuring that way....?Richnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-42072108602886584792013-09-23T21:25:08.339+01:002013-09-23T21:25:08.339+01:00Congratulations indeed. And some very good points...Congratulations indeed. And some very good points to ponder in this post.<br /><br />Why has Stagecoach escaped much of the venom, especially as it will presumably operate the X80/X81 from Torquay? Perhaps it's because "going for Gold" is a killer move which everyone knows First cannot match. Also, competition on the X80 was inevitable before long. If it hadn't have been Stagecoach it would surely have been Citybus.<br /><br />Stagecoach are going for a flying start. I see on their website that they are holding roadshows in towns on the X80 and X81 routes all this week, then launching the service at Totnes next Monday - now *that's* the way to do it! The Stagecoach website also now has a stop press item: <br /><br />"We're introducing a couple of new tickets which are only available on Stagecoach Gold and our X38 service.<br />£15 1 week Plymouth Megarider - 7 days of unlimited travel within Plymouth, including Ivybridge.<br />The Ivybridge 'Duo' - this gives 2 people a return journey between Plymouth and Ivybridge for the price of 1 - just £3.00!"<br /><br />On Tavistock, Citybus will surely have to match First's fares, at least to start with. And surely the new Enviro 400s should be launched not in Royal Square but in Tavistock?<br /><br />Perhaps the best outcome in the medium term would be a draw between the two operators in the Plymouth area. If so, there could be the potential for more "mature" competition as in Sheffield or (before the partnership) Oxford.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-88289923447856751542013-09-23T21:06:45.647+01:002013-09-23T21:06:45.647+01:00Congratulations on your 2500th post, Graham. With ...Congratulations on your 2500th post, Graham. With Busing taking an unexpected sabbatical from his Omnibuses Blog you're now my No. 1 read!<br /><br />I have to completely agree with your comments regarding the Plymouth "bus war". I really don't understand the vitriol against PCB. Have people forgotten Ugobus? <br /><br />First only has itself to blame. While the likes of Stagecoach and others have invested in poorly-performing areas, FirstGroup have deliberately starved their poorly-performing companies of investment and run them into the ground thus, surprise, surprise, their financial performance just gets worse and worse. First ends up treating its passengers and local staff with contempt. For example, First said it was impossible to make money in North Devon, yet Stagecoach have introduced 21 brand new deckers in this apparent no-hope area.<br /><br />I have some hope for FDC with Alex Carter in charge and really hope it succeeds, at least in Cornwall where Western Greyhound is sadly retrenching. However, with not a single bus having been repainted for the last two years (bar the GWR Dart) and daily breakdowns of an ever-more decrepit fleet I remain to be convinced.<br /><br />Keep up the good work, Graham!<br /><br /><br />Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-3135933789835979842013-09-23T19:57:49.926+01:002013-09-23T19:57:49.926+01:00well done, good work!!well done, good work!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-68627048949563989122013-09-23T17:57:37.465+01:002013-09-23T17:57:37.465+01:00Graham, congratulations on 2500. An awful lot of h...Graham, congratulations on 2500. An awful lot of hard work. Always something of interest with just the right amount of controversy and often a tempting hint of things that might be coming. Thank you for keeping this informative and interesting blog going. We should thank those who allow you use of their pictures to illustrate the blog. I'm sure there will be much more of interest to discuss in the coming months!!Brian Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828686.post-68038179439561715182013-09-23T17:09:03.225+01:002013-09-23T17:09:03.225+01:00This was posted on Sunday on the First In Devon An...This was posted on Sunday on the First In Devon And Cornwall Facebook Page....<br /><br />Weve reduced the prices of our Plymouth and Plus Day, Week and Month tickets and extended our PLUS zone to include Tavistock and Horrabridge as well!<br /><br /> PLYMOUTH ZONE ticket prices<br /> Day Adult: Was £3.50 Now £3.00<br /> Day Family: Was £8 Now £6 (Up to 5 people, max 2 adults)<br /> Week Adult: Was £15 Now £11<br /> Month Adult: Was £60 Now £40<br /><br /> The Plymouth zone includes travel within Plymouth and the city centre plus Plymstock, Torpoint and Saltash.<br /><br /> PLUS ZONE ticket prices<br /> Day Plus Adult: Was £4.70 Now £4.50<br /> Day Plus Family: NEW ticket £9 (Up to 5 people, max 2 adults)<br /> Week Plus Adult: Was £21 Now £20<br /> Month Plus Adult: Was £77 Now £60<br /><br /> The Plus zone includes the Plymouth zone (above) plus Tavistock, Yelverton, Rame, Cremyll, Wembury, Ivybridge and Lee Mill.<br /><br /> As well as reducing the prices of our Plymouth Zone and Plus zone tickets weve also extended the Plus zone to include Horrabridge and Tavistock. This offers bus users in Tavistock a significant saving on their travel. Previously they'd have to buy a FirstDay Tavistock ticket at £6.35 (now it's £4.50), a FirstWeek Tavistock ticket at £26.50 (now it's £20) or a FirstMonth Devon ticket at £99 (now it's £60).Jarednoreply@blogger.com