Plodding through Devon

The weekly look back on what has been published on the Registered Local Bus Services site over the last week. As always click through for more details including timetables and maps. (although dont bother just yet as there is nothing much to see that's not detailed below!)

New Notices

Dealtop Ltd Dartline

• 4 new registrations. The 366 M & U being taken over from Country Bus. Apparently all served by the one vehicle.

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0005305.081	366	Kenn, Ley Arms	Exeter, Sidwell Street	05-Jun-2023	Monday to Saturday NEW One return journey
PH0005305.082	COLY 07	EXETER ST DAVID'S TRAIN STATION STOP B	COLYTON - THE ELMS BUS STOP	01-Sep-2023	NEW: School days only One AM and one PM journey
PH0005305.084	M	Exeter, Paris Street	Exeter, Paris Street	04-Jun-2023	NEW Monday to Saturday
PH0005305.083	U	Exeter, Paris Street	Exeter, Paris Street	04-Jun-2023	NEW Monday to Saturday

Stagecoach Devon Ltd

• a few new registrations along with a couple of annual event services

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1020951.063	2	Exeter Bus Station	Newton Abbot	28-May-2023	Timetable variation
PH1020951.391	31	ILFRACOMBE	WOOLACOMBE	28-May-2023	ANNUAL EVENT: Thursday 1st June 2023 until Sunday 4th June 2023 and at similar periods each year when the Spring Classic Festival is held.
PH1020951.390	97	Brixington, Anson Road	Withycombe Raleigh, Heard Avenue	04-Jun-2023	NEW: Operates Sundays and public holidays
PH1020951.389	173	Moretonhampstead, Court Street Car Park	Exeter, Sidwell Street	04-Jun-2023	NEW: Monday to Saturday
PH1020951.358	EB	Exeter University, Perry Road	Shobrooke Park	03-Jun-2023	To operate a shuttle service when the Enchanted Ball is held each year
PH1020951.357	HF2	Marsh Barton Alphinbrook Road	Exeter City Centre Sidwell Street	01-Jun-2023	To operate a service between Exeter Sidwell Street and Grace Road Central for the Hi-Jacked event at the Double Locks on Thursday 1st June 2023 and at a similar time each year when the event is held.
PH1020951.392	SC1	Woolacombe Wavelength Spring Classic Event Site	Woolacombe Wavelength Spring Classic Event Site	01-Jun-2023	Thursday 1st June 2023 until Sunday 4th June 2023 and at similar periods each year when the Spring Classic Festival is held.

Slow Train…

Returning to the railway theme this week after the magnificent sight of a steam train thundering through Devon into Cornwall we switch to a small diesel train plodding through the countryside. so strap in and enjoy the ride

Visit the Aarchive Films channel for more.

Viva la Gunnislake?

I have (quite rightly) been reminded that this blog is supposed to be covering other forms of transport in and around the region as well as just buses. With so much going on over the last few months its been easy to miss other stories that would normally have been covered here. Hopefully now things have quietened down a bit I can start to catch up on a few rail stories.

 

Lets start off with Vivarail.

Who are Vivarail?

Vivarail Ltd. was formed in 2012 to produce a new type of rolling stock designed specifically for local rail services – the D-Train.  Vivarail is headed by Adrian Shooter CBE, previously Chairman of Chiltern Railways, and the development team draws on almost 200 years’ experience in railway engineering and operations. The company is privately funded, in association with an international company that has a successful track record in railway developments worldwide. It is based at a rail-connected site in central England with full manufacturing facilities and a dedicated 4km test track.

The D-Train?

Traffic on Britain’s regional rail routes is growing quickly, but suitable rolling stock is in short supply. Existing diesel trains are fully utilised, and many older vehicles no longer meet passengers’ aspirations. Network-wide electrification can be the solution in the long term, but this will take time – and more capacity and better comfort are needed now.

The answer to this problem is Vivarail’s D-train – a new concept that can supplement or replace existing trains, upgrade services and equip new routes, at a fraction of the cost of buying conventional new rolling stock

The D-train uses the bodyshells, bogies and motors from surplus London Underground District Line trains. The bodyshells are made from corrosion-free aluminium, and will be re-engineered to give additional collision protection. The “flexible frame” bogies – which are specifically designed for lower-quality track – are barely 10 years’ old.

D-Trains are much more than London’s cast-offs. Instead they offer a new concept in sustainable travel for local rail services, with a first-class engineering pedigree.

 

Vivarail aims to begin mainline testing in October with the prototype three-car train, initially on the Moreton-in-Marsh - Honeybourne section of the Oxford - Worcester line, which passes the company's Long Marston base. A passenger trial with a franchised train operator will take place early next year.

So what has this got to do with us?

Well there was an interesting letter on the Cornwall Railway Society Web Site:

“"GROCKLE TRAIN Testing in passenger service [of the 3-car Class 230 demonstrator train] will 'follow in the new year'. While Adrian Shooter would not be drawn on the location of the test service, informed sources expect it will be on First Great Western [sic] under the requirement in the Direct Award franchise agreement.  Bristol-Severn Beach had been suggested as the evaluation route but FGW has settled on the Plymouth-Gunnislake branch with the unit based and maintained at Laira depot.. This is the logical choice since the Gunnislake branch will be more demanding operationally."

All very interesting!

It remains to be seen if it does indeed end up being tested down here. Its certainly a very interesting project so lets hope it gets through all its testing unscathed and the project starts to become a reality.

What do people think?

New Timetables First Devon 79

This coming weekend sees quite a few timetable changes for both Plymouth Citybus and First. We now turn to First Plymouth for theirs, covering all their changes over a few posts during the day...

79 Tavistock - Gunnislake - Callington

Service 79 Callington - Gunnislake - Tavistock (from Monday 24 November) Following on from the introduction of the school service earlier this year , this route has now been extended to provide a daytime link between Callington and Tavistock. The service will run approximately every 2 hours.

Timetable

First Service 79 Leaflet

This is by far the most interesting change as its a direct fight with Plymouth Citybus' own service 79. First only operate every other hour with just 6 runs in both directions against Plymouth Citybus every hour providing 12 runs each direction and also five runs on Saturdays. The First service leaves Tavistock 5 mins before Citybus from Tavistock, and taking the direct route so arriving at Callington almost half an hour quicker. It does seem an odd route for such competition!

Gunnislake on Flickr

 

©Kencb51 Flickr blog this

Seen at Gunnislake i DMU P460 in British Telecom livery.

I have been looking for a photo of this one for ages as only this afternoon I was watching a video cab ride on HST Exeter to Plymouth filmed back in 1993 and this one was filmed having some work done whilst sitting at Laira Depot. I always liked these DMU's, or to give them their local name 'Fart Cars'

Do visit Kencb51's  photo stream for more photos in the south west long with lots of other transport related shots

 

ancient photo - taken last week

Gunnislake

Thanks to a friend of ours pointing out that Wessex Trains on the Tamar Valley Line have a special fares promotion on at the moment we decided to have another railway day out.

"The Great Westcountry Branch Line Offer will run on Saturdays and Sundays during January and February. In each case the Line Ranger is reduced to £1 (£3 on the ‘Tarka Line’ to Barnstaple), giving the freedom to travel all day long. There is so much to see and do: shopping, visit friends, explore new places, or simply sit back and enjoy stunning scenery that can only be seen from the train."

The fare for the whole day was £1 which gave unlimited travel all day on the line. Excellent value! We only had time for one trip out and back and it was my sons first trip of any length on a train so we kept it nice and easy. Picture above is my son Zak and the train we had just caught sitting at Gunnislake Station. Zak really enjoyed it but he does have difficulty seeing anything out of the window as he is too small! A passenger did lend him a cusion for part for the journey and the rest of it was sat on my rolled up coat so at least he saw some of the outstanding views from the train.

© Copyright Simon Lewis from West Country Views great selection of free photos to download.

If you ever get the chance to try this line then it is highly recommended. The views of most of the journey are stunning. The very last bit from Calstock to Gunnislake is taken very slowly as it winds up a quite steep hillside and has to stop to cross a roads. No real views a such but it is still an interesting section. We will certainly be taking advantage of the promotion again as it runs until the last weekend in February. Next time we will stop at Bere Ferrers or Bere Alston and have a go on one of the many walks being promoted locally.
didbygraham