The Cornish Road to March 2028

Cornwall Council has launched a bus market engagement exercise as part of its participation in the Department for Transport (DfT) Franchising and Bus Reform pilot.

The engagement process opened on 9 December and will run to 14 January 2026. Through it, bus operators and other industry stakeholders have been invited to assist the local authority in developing a future delivery model for bus services in the county.

Under the DfT pilot, Cornwall Council will investigate potential models including Enhanced Partnership Plus and various franchising approaches. The latter will capture different levels of risk sharing between operators and the authority; phasing; and procurement methods.

The council describes the engagement work as “a soft market testing exercise” and says it will provide critical insights into interest and help to inform the procurement strategy for bus services in Cornwall.

March 2028 may sound like a long way ahead but that will soon go by. It will be interesting to see what model Cornwall go with.

With luck this should be my last posting made on my trusty PC which has come to the end of its natural life. There may be a bit of a wait while I get everything installed and up and running on the new pc. Based on previous experience there is always something I have missed…

How to spend 4.5 million...

about a week ago we had this story:

Plymouth City Council has issued a warning to people who use the number two bus between Plymouth and Mount Batten. The council has said the service is at risk of being withdrawn unless more people use it.

The Council has stepped in to offer temporary funding support for a number of journeys that Stagecoach South West says are no longer commercially viable.

The services the council is supplementing include departures from Mount Batten Pier towards the city centre at 8.30pm, 9.30pm,10.30pm and 11.30pm and departures from the city centre towards Mount Batten Pier at 8.01pm (from Sugar Mill), 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and 11.58pm every Monday to Friday.

On Saturday's the council will also be running departures from Mount Batten Pier towards the city centre at 8.30pm, 9.30pm,10.30pm and 11.30pm and departures from the city centre towards Mount Batten Pier at 8pm (from Sugar Mill), 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and 11.57pm.

The council will also cover some services on a Sunday and Bank Holidays, these include departures from Mount Batten Pier towards the city centre at 8.30pm, 9.30pm,10.30pm and 11.30pm and departures from the city centre towards Mount Batten Pier at 8.10pm (from Sugar Mill), 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and 11.55pm.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “We understand how important this service is to the residents of Hooe, Mount Batten and Turnchapel and how much of an impact withdrawing these evening journeys would have. Stagecoach South West had planned to withdraw them from 3 November but we have been able to step in with temporary support until 31 March 2025, demonstrating our commitment to providing services that connect people to key places.

“However, we have to stress that this is being funded by a short-term grant, in the hope that passenger numbers will increase enough for Stagecoach to continue the journeys on a commercial basis. I’d encourage people to use the evening services wherever possible to secure their long-term future.”

The temporary subsidy is being funded by the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan Phase 2 grant, which has also been used to boost the frequency of the service throughout the day between 7am and 7pm. Stagecoach South West says an additional 35 passengers are needed each evening to ensure the commercial viability of these services. This is around four or five additional passengers per journey.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach South West said: “We are committed to connecting the people of Plymouth to the people and places they need to get to the most.

“Like all transport providers some routes are more popular than others and we are currently seeing a decline in patronage on the Service 2 in the evenings. We are working with our partners at Plymouth City Council to continue to provide a regular services in the evenings on this route thanks to the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan Phase 2 funding. We now need the local community to support this service in the evenings to secure its long-term future.”

To view the latest timetable, visit www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables.

Plymouth Live

The today we get this..

Plymouth has been given £4.5m from the Government to improve bus services. The cash is part of a wider £1bn funding package for councils across the country to invest in bus services and is designed to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising, and commuting.

Moor View’s Labour MP Fred Thomas welcomed the windfall in Parliament and praised the Government for investing in Plymouth, its people, communities and buses. In the House of Commons, Mr Thomas said: “What a fantastic day for every person in Plymouth who uses the bus and we welcome, strongly, the secretary of state’s announcement of £4.5m being invested in our buses over the next couple of years. But the secretary of state said that this doesn’t just represent an investment in buses but also an investment in people and in communities, and that is fantastic to hear. And will she agree with me that this represents today the Labour Government investing in Plymouth?”

Louise Haigh, secretary of state for transport, answered Mr Thomas by saying: “I’m very grateful to confirm that we are investing in Plymouth and Plymouth’s people and Plymouth’s buses. Buses are an enormous engine of social justice because, as I said earlier, it is particularly the most deprived that rely on them the most and I’m afraid that is why they have been so badly neglected in this place for so long. But with this Labour Government that absolutely turns around and buses are my priority and this Labour Government’s priority.”

Labour said that under the previous Conservative Government, thousands of bus services in England were cut. The effects of that were felt in Plymouth under a Conservative administration when five routes were cut in 2022, Mr Thomas said.

Since then, he said, the Labour administration has managed to restore some of those routes and the newly announced additional funding will support further improvements to the city’s bus network. Mr Thomas said: “This news is incredibly welcome in Plymouth. There are many folks here who rely on our buses but under the previous government, and recent local Conservative administrations, we have suffered cuts to our services.

“This new funding will allow the council to invest in our buses and deliver better services for people in Plymouth. During the general election we promised that we would deliver better buses for every community, and this news just shows that we are already delivering on that promise.”

Mark Coker, Plymouth City Council ’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This is a very welcome announcement and shows how seriously this Labour Government takes investment in our bus network. I look forward to announcing in due course what specific improvements to our city’s bus services in 2025/6 this funding will enable.”

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/massive-boost-plymouth-bus-users-9726774

It will be interesting to see what plans they come up with for Plymouth. Will the Mount batten buses be saved? Should the Mount Batten buses be saved?

I know many readers will have their own suggestions so go ahead – how would you spend the money to improve our buses in Plymouth?

I will be looking at the other areas across Devon & Cornwall to see how they spend their allocation too… If you see anything in your local area I might have missed please let me know!

Southampton gets the Blues by Losing the Reds

I know its out side of our area but this notice has appeared from First Hampshire & Dorset, which is now part of the same First South region as First South West:

So Go South Coast get to take on the work of a major competitor once again having taken on a lot more work following the collapse of Bournemouth a short while back.

I am sure that this will be just the first of several  “restructures” in the new year as the bigger groups seek to consolidate their operations to ensure profitability, which will some areas changing operators. You have to wonder where next really?

It is very clear that there is little interest from the main groups in competition these days, and that could be a good thing. Personally I would like to see the Cornwall way of doing things (as far as having joint fares and tickets across the operators at least). Plymouth is one of those places that is crying out for joint tickets. There may not be much competition between Citybus and Stagecoach in terms of route corridors but there is nothing more annoying that waiting for a bus and having to let the other operators bus go by as your ticket is for the other one.

I used to ask the same question each year – what are your predictions for next year? Maybe this is worth asking again this year….

Local News Catch up

A few stories from the news over the last few days...

First Bus Kernow have stated they are expecting bus services to be disrupted on Friday, November 18 and Monday, November 21 after the RMT announced industrial action will take place across this weekend. First Bus Kernow has said explained they expect Truro Park & Ride, the PR1 / PR1A service, to be the only registered bus service to operate a full timetable. Falmouth Packet 17 November

Have you ever wondered what happens to unclaimed property left on buses? Well any phones that haven't been collected are being given a new lease of life, thanks to a local scheme. Borrow Don’t Buy is Plymouth’s Library of Things, and it allows you to borrow things like DIY equipment, camping kit or party paraphernalia for a small fee, rather than paying for brand new items that you’ll only use once or twice. Every year, Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus is left with thousands of items of lost property, including many mobile phones. While most of these get back to their owners, there are some that are never claimed. Plymouth Citybus customer experience manager Jason Beverly said: “We always do our best to reunite people with belongings they leave on the bus, but on the occasions we can’t, it’s great to be in touch with organisations like Borrow Don’t Buy who, as well as stopping items going to landfill, can use them to help others.” The Herald 18 November

Stagecoach South West has issued a statement following two bus crashes in Exeter city centre which took place just days apart on adjacent streets, insisting safety is an "absolute priority". Last week, two collisions between a bus and a pedestrian took place in the heart of Exeter. In both instances, emergency services attended the scene and the roads were partially closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Following last week's collisions, however, there have been concerns raised over buses and pedestrians being able to travel safely in the city centre. Stagecoach South West has now responded to these concerns, saying that they are working with relevant authorities and emphasising that safety is paramount. It is unclear if there will be any review into how buses operate in Exeter, with regards to recent events. Devon Live 16 November

The un-masked unmasked again

I didnt think it would be long before this story came back..

“Man fuming as 'students ignore mask rules' on Plymouth Citybus”

“"I caught the 16:17 42C headed to the city centre. Almost all the other passengers, whom were clearly students, had followed the rules that came into place that very day. A group of students, all young men, stood at the stop laughing and joking.

"They were not wearing masks. I boarded the bus ahead of them, sat in the disabled seats and watched them proceed to get on, not one of them being asked or challenged about not having a mask on. I can only assume they're either immune from the rules, or from Covid-19."

He added: "I contacted both Marjon and Citybus, and Citybus responded to say that it was not their job to enforce mask wearing, yet others have commented saying Stagecoach have a no mask, no travel, no exemption rule.

"Why Citybus think they have no standing, legally, to enforce this mask wearing is beyond me.

"My family and I have no choice but to get around the city on the buses. Myself and my partner are both disabled and rely on buses to get out to shops, nursery, appointments and so on”

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/man-fuming-students-ignore-mask-6313349

Bus drivers and the operators cant win – if they did stop their buses and insist on mask wearing then the paper would be full of people complaining about that and insisting they are exempt – without having, or needing any proof of such exemption – making it impossible for drivers to police even if they had to. I share the passenger’s concerns about those who are not wearing masks but without clear direction from the Govt – and official enforcement then that's just not going to happen. I'm just glad I have to option of working from home!

Are more passengers wearing masks now or is it like in supermarkets where it seems there are plenty of people who still dont bother?

Meanwhile in Dawlish today…

I must admit to having the live cam on my pc for a while this morning while I worked – it was pretty rough, but it seems that the new wall being constructed did its job – its just that maybe the trains are not up to it? I thought it was just the Virgin trains that had problems in weather like this?

Local news

There is nothing to report for the usual weekly Devon & Cornwall Transit edition this weekend so  there just a few bits of news to catch up from the local operators over the last week

Plymouth Citybus

Monday 25th-Friday 29th October is half term for our city’s schools, which means fewer people will be travelling by bus.

Our normal school day only services won’t be running over this week. We will also be reducing the frequency on some of our more frequent routes, as we know there will be a reduced demand.

Services that will be adjusted over the half term week from Monday to Friday are:

8 & 9	Running every 15 minutes instead of every 10
21	Running every 15 minutes instead of every 10
43	Running every 30 minutes instead of every 20
50 & 51	Running every 30 minutes instead of every 20

Services 50 and 51 will change slightly, starting and ending at Royal Parade instead of Derriford Hospital, so if you want to continue through the city centre, you will need to change buses.

All services will return to their standard timetable after half term, and the half term timetables will be available on the website soon.

More worrying…

For the safety of our passengers and drivers we will not be serving Park Avenue, Devonport after 7pm in the evening.

Buses have been on the receiving end of attacks over the last couple of evenings. Shattering a number of windows.

These incidents are now in the hands of the Police.

Buses will divert in both directions using Albert Road - Devonport Road - Fore Street.

Passengers for all services that would use the Granby Way Bus Stop, will need to use Fore Street.

Passengers for all services except the 34 that would use the UTC Bus Stop, will need to use Albert Road.

Service 34 will still serve the UTC and Torpoint Ferry in both directions.

This is likely to be for a number of nights. We will give an update on Monday 18th October.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes, but the safety is our number one priority here.

Stagecoach

We are pleased to confirm there will be no industrial strike action in Exeter, Torbay and North Devon on Monday 18th October.
Following constructive discussions with RMT, the decision to implement industrial action has been suspended and services in Exeter, Torbay and North Devon will run as per our current timetables.
Due to a driver shortage there may still be some service cancellations on the day but please keep up to date by checking our latest service updates here:
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this uncertainty and we assure you we have been working tirelessly in an effort to avoid such disruption

Plym Valley Railway

October 30-31st Join us for our two day Halloween Weekend packed fill of scary surprises!!

Saturday & Sunday daytime will see the following:

~ Hourly Steam Service

~ Games and Activities for Children

~ Spooky Decorated Train

~ Dress up and travel with us!

Fares:

£8.00- Adult Return

£5.00- Child Return

Trains Depart Marsh Mills at: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00

Saturday Evening- Story of the Lost Driver

A narrated frightful story story told on board the train. Learn one of the railway's well known tales as the sun sets at the railway. There is no such thing as ghosts?? mwahaha

Fares:

£30- Table of 4

Trains Depart Marsh Mills at: 18:00, 19:00, 20:00

Lack of drivers driving the country down

It wont have escaped your attention that the country seems to be very short of drivers at the moment. This is seen in the number of empty shelves in supermarkets, missing products when shopping online and longer delivery times for many online retailers. Of course the bus companies are no exception and are all desperate for drivers.

Plymouth Citybus has always been very good at keeping passengers up to date on Twitter and has now actually set up a page with all the services that are being cancelled currently, trying to space them out across their network:

We are having to make reductions to some of our bus routes with immediate effect. https://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/changes-bus-services

This is due to challenges we are facing with staff availability, a problem facing many transport operators. We believe this issue will be short term as we move through the current spike of absence and progress the training of over 40 new drivers in our recruitment system.

Services affected are:

Monday-Friday

5/A

Removing buses running from Royal Parade to Elburton at: 07.25, 9.25, 10.35, 13.05, 15.25

Removing buses running from Elburton to Royal Parade at: 7.35, 9.55,  11.05, 13.35, 15.55

Removing buses running from Royal Parade to Callington Road (Saltash) at: 8.10, 14.10

Removing bus running from Callington Road (Saltash) to Royal Parade at: 8.40, 14.40

8/9

Removing buses running from Royal Parade to Torridge Way at: 11.22, 15.32, 16.17, 18.15

Removing buses running from Torridge Way to City Centre at: 11.34, 15.52, 16.37, 18.30

16

Removing buses running from Royal Parade to Kings Tamerton at: 8.25, 15.55

Removing buses running from Kings Tamerton to Royal Parade at: 8.48, 16.18

21/A

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Barne Barton at: 7.05, 9.35, 13.35, 16.55, 19.30, 21.45

Removing buses running from Barne Barton towards Royal Parade at: 7.34, 10.04, 14.04, 17.28, 22.08

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Plympton at: 8.15, 10.45, 14.45, 15.35, 18.20, 22.40

Removing buses running from Plympton towards Royal Parade at: 8.54, 11.21, 15.21, 16.14, 18.49, 23.12

27

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Deer Park at: 10.30, 11.30

Removing buses running from Deer Park towards Royal Parade at: 10.48, 11.48

28/A

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Crownhill at: 9.15, 9.45

Removing buses running from Crownhill towards Royal Parade at: 9.45, 17.25

40

Removing bus running from Royal Parade towards Southway at 13.25

Removing bus running from Southway towards Royal Parade at: 13.56

42

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Mainstone at: 6.45, 8.50, 11.50, 15.50, 17.55

Removing buses running from Mainstone towards Royal Parade at: 7.37, 9.45, 12.45, 16.50, 18.45, 19.58

Removing bus running from The Ship towards Mainstone at 19.21

42A

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Tamerton Foliot at: 12.00, 18.05, 20.30

Removing buses running from Tamerton Foliot towards Royal Parade at: 12.49, 18.49, 21.13

42C

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Woolwell at: 13.40, 15.10, 16.40, 22.00

Removing buses running from Woolwell towards Royal Parade at: 14.21, 15.56, 17.26, 22.49

43

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Ernesettle at: 10.15, 12.15, 14.15, 17.05

Removing buses running from Ernesettle towards Royal Parade at: 10.47, 12.47, 14.53, 17.38

50

Removing buses running from Royal Parade towards Derriford Hospital at: 9.25, 11.05, 12.05, 14.25, 16.05

Removing buses running from Derriford Hospital to Royal Parade at: 10.20, 15.20, 17.05

61

Removing buses running from Royal Parade to Transit Way at: 7.05, 14.35

Removing bus running from Transit Way to Royal Parade at 15.10

You can see all current timetables on our website or via the Plymouth Citybus app, and can contact our Customer Experience Team on 01752 662271

We’ve tried to focus our resources on routes which get students to school, key workers to their jobs, and patients and visitors to healthcare, but we know that this will cause inconveniences for some of you, for which we apologise. We’re working to get more drivers on the road, and are actively recruiting and training. The driver shortage has been compounded by delays at the DVLA, slowing down the paperwork we need before someone can drive for us.

If you’re interested in becoming a driver, you can find out more here: https://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/careers

Stagecoach are also having major problems

Thursday 9th September 2021

The following journeys will not operate:

Exeter

A From  Alphington 0646, 0811, 0941, 1111, 1241, 1411, 1541, 1712

From  Thornpark Rise 0620, 0739, 0903, 1033, 1203, 1333, 1503, 1633, 1803

E From  Exwick 0625, 0705, 0753, 0902, 0959, 1059, 1159, 1259, 1359, 1503, 1607, 1710, 1818

From  City Centre 0610, 0650, 0741, 0840, 0940, 1040, 1140, 1240, 1340, 1440, 1540, 1640, 1750

F2 From  Summerway 0755, 0920, 1050, 1220, 1350, 1520, 1650, 1820,

From  City Centre 0740, 0900, 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500, 1630, 1800

F2 From  Savoy Hill 0627, 0655, 0725, 0835, 1005, 1135, 1305, 1435, 1605, 1735, 1900

From  City Centre 0612, 0640, 0710, 0815, 0945, 1115, 1245, 1415, 1545, 1715, 1845,

K From  Science Park 0746, 0846, 0948, 1048, 1148, 1248, 1348, 1448, 1558, 1648, 1748, 18458, 2005

From  City Centre 0720, 0820, 0920, 1020, 1120, 1220, 1320, 1420, 1520, 1620, 1720, 1830, 1930

GREEN From  Matford P&R 0745, 0925, 1649, 1845,

From  Sowton P&R 0833, 1002, 1615, 1755, 1920

R From  Rifford Road 0735, 0810, 0850,0930, 1010, 1050, 1130, 1210, 1250, 1330, 1410, 1450, 1530, 1610, 1650, 1730, 1810

From  City Centre 0750. 0832. 0912. 0950, 1030, 1110, 1150, 1230, 1310, 1350, 1430, 1510,1550, 1630, 1710, 1750, 1825

S From  Rifford Road 0725, 0800, 0840, 0920, 1000, 1040, 1120, 1200, 1240, 1320, 1400, 1440, 1520, 1600, 1640, 1720, 1800

From  City Centre 0742, 0822, 0902, 0940, 1020, 1100, 1140,1220, 1300, 1340, 1420, 1500, 1540, 1620, 1700, 1740, 1820

J From  Tesco Superstore 0717, 0817, 0917, 1017, 1117, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1605, 1710, 1810

From  City Centre 0652, 0754, 0855, 0955, 1055, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1630, 1736, 1835

57 From  Exeter 0640, 0710, 0740, 0815, 0905, 0930, 1000, 1045, 1130, 1200, 1230, 1315, 1400, 1430, 1505, 1550, 1635, 1705, 1740, 1825

From  Exmouth  0523, 0715, 0728, 0802, 0833, 0918, 1005, 1035, 1105, 1150, 1235, 1305, 1335,  1420, 1504, 1534, 1613, 1658, 1750, 1816, 1842

Torbay                

12           From     Paignton Bus Station      13:27:00,09:08,12:35,14:35,15:22

12           From     Brixham               14:10:00,07:50,10:40,13.00,10:10,14:30,10:30,12:50,15:00,18:00,12:00,17:30,14.30,

12           From     Cary Parade        08:01,

12           From     Newton Abbot  14:30:00,08:50,11:30,16:30,10:40,13:30,16:00

12           From     Torquay Harbour             09:47,

12           From     Newton Rd Asda              06:55, 09:20,

13           From     Newton Rd Asda              12:51:00,14:05

13           From     Brixham               14:00

22           From     Dawlish warren                11:05

22           From     St Marychurch   115:35,18:30,

22           From     Torquay Strand 11:20:00,

22           From     Paignton Bus Station      09/01/1900  09:03:12,13:46,

22           From     South Devon College     14:23,17:03,

23           From     Paignton Bus Station      15:48,16:13,16:53

23           From     South Devon College     15:53,16:33,17:13

32C         From     Grammar School              16:05

77           From     Sherborne Rd    8:52

35A        From     Torquay Harbour             11:40,13:00

35C         From     Torquay Harbour             06:27,07:00,11:40,13:00

FOX        From     Paignton Bus Station      11.00,11.30

North Devon

21           From     Barnstaple - Westward Ho!       0545,

From     Westward Ho! - Barnstaple       0630,

From     Barnstaple - Ilfracombe                0732, 1325,

From     Ilfraocmbe - Barnstaple                0820, 1420,

21A        From     Barnstaple - Appledore               0706, 0740, 0910, 0940, 1010, 1110, 1210, 1310, 1340,

From     Appledore - Barnstaple               0809, 0839, 1009, 1039, 1109, 1209, 1309, 1409, 1439,

10/10A  From     Barnstaple - Gorwell      1155, 1455, 1525,

From     Gorwell - Barnstaple      1202, 1502, 1532,

11A/11C               From     Barnstaple - Whiddon Valley    0755, 0835, 0915, 0955, 1035, 1115, 1155, 1235, 1315,

From     Whiddon Valley - Barnstaple    0811, 0853, 0933, 1011, 1053, 1133, 1211, 1253, 1333,

Plymouth

101         From     George P&R       07:30 07:45 09:00 09:22 10:22 10:37 11:37 11:52 12:52 13:07 13:22  14:22 14:37 15:37 15:52 17:00 18:05 18:25 19:15

101         From     Royal Parade     07:05 08:10 08:30 09:45  10:00 11:00 11:15 12:15 12:30 12:45 14:00 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15  15:45 16:15 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:00 18:45 19:45

1              From     Tavistock             05:50  08:05 10:00 11;15 12:00 13:30 14:45 15:45 17:10 18:20

1              From     Royal Parade     06:10 06:51 09:08 09:51  10:51 11:51 12:06 12:51 14:21 15:51 16:42

2              From     Mount Batten   07:53 09:20 10:20 11:00 11:40 12:00  12:40 13:00 14:00 14:20 15:20 6:43 17:03 17:38 18:00  18:30 18:53  19:23 20:23 21:23 23:23

2              From     St Stephens        06:32 09:03 10:22 10:42  12:02 12:42 13:42 14:02 16:24 16:44 17:25 18:04 19:23 20:18 22:18

2A           From     Sherford              07:42 08:22 09:10  11:30 11:50 12:10 13:50 14:10 15:10 15:22  15:51 16:12 16:53 17:14 17:44  17:54 18:13 18 :41 19:53

2A           From     Saltash 06:20 07:36  08:51  09:31 10:10 10:30 12:50  13:10  13:50 14:30 14:50  15:10 15:51 16:12 16:31  17:05 17:51 18:11 18:52 19:15 19:46

Falcon   From     Plymouth            02:00 am 05:00 am

Falcon   From     Bristol   6:30 am 10:00 am

There is a similar list for Friday 10th on the same page

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-24/08/2021-17:43:03:382

Of course with all of this going on you can expect any competent government to be doing its best to get things moving and put into place a proper well thought out plan to help operators. Sadly however we do not have a competent government in this country so good luck…

Of course they blame covid for all of this, and I am sure covid certainly plays its part in making things worse – however covid exists all around the world at the moment – and nowhere else seems to having the same chronic staff shortages as we are.

a rather unfortunate accident

Further clarification has been given on the strange incident on Royal Parade as reported this week..

A bus driver arrested on suspicion of causing another driver grievous bodily harm has been released from bail and told there will be no further action against him.

Officers were called to Royal Parade at around 9.15pm on March 24 after reports that two buses had collided and a subsequent incident then saw one of the bus drivers suffer very serious injuries to his arm. Paramedics were also called to the scene and PlymouthLive heard from members of the public who said they later saw pools of blood on the pavement and trails of blood across the road.

A police spokesperson told PlymouthLive at the time that initial inquiries suggest that two buses - one from Citybus and another from Stagecoach - came into very slight contact with each other on the eastbound stretch of the road. One of the drivers, understood to be from Citybus, was then believed to have parked up and got out of their cab before remonstrating with the the Stagecoach driver who remained in their seat and responded through their cab window, according to reports.

PlymouthLive now understands that at some point the Stagecoach bus pulled away and the Citybus driver fell and his arm was either caught on the bus, or driven over by a rear wheel of the moving bus. He was taken to Derriford Hospital for treatment for a serious arm injury.

At the time of the incident, a cordon was put in place around the scene and the road was closed to all traffic as officers carried out their enquiries.

As a result the 59-year old Stagecoach driver was detained and he was asked to voluntarily attend Charles Cross police station the following day where he was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. A later report - given to PlymouthLive by Devon and Cornwall Police - stated this driver was arrested on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving. This information from the police given to Plymouth Live was incorrect and we would like to apologise for any distress this has caused.

Police have now told PlymouthLive the 59-year-old Stagecoach driver has been informed that investigators have examined all the CCTV available and a number of witness statements and as a result he was to be released from bail with no further action taken against him. A police spokesperson said: "We have taken accounts from a number of people who were at the incident and viewed CCTV footage from the buses. As a result we have informed the arrested bus driver and the injured man of our decision. We found that there was nothing malicious about the incident and rather it was an unfortunate accident.

I am glad that has all been cleared up.

Road Rage?

News from last week which I wasn't going to post on, as the reporting was extremely vague to say the least and often contradictory.

A bus driver has been released on bail pending further investigation after an incident on Royal Parade on Wednesday.

Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the area at around 9.15pm on March 24, to reports of a collision between a bus and a pedestrian.

One man was taken to hospital with a serious arm injury. It was later confirmed both men involved in the incident were bus drivers.

PlymouthLive reported yesterday that a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

Police have now confirmed the 59-year-old bus driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving and released on bail pending further enquiries until April 17.

The injured driver was taken to Derriford Hospital after suffering a serious injury to their arm.

At the time of the incident, a cordon was put in place around the scene and the road was closed to all traffic as officers carried out their enquiries.

On Thursday, a police spokesperson said: "We are very keen to hear from any independent witnesses who saw any part of the incident, from the initial contact between the two buses to the altercation between the two men and the incident which followed.

"We have spoken with the man who has been arrested but we have yet to take a full statement from the injured man as he remains at Derriford Hospital.

"At this stage of the enquiry the matter is being investigated as an assault, although this may change."

Various versions of the story have been given although it does seem that it was between drivers from different bus companies although only Citybus appears in any of the pictures that I have seen. There was a response to Plymouth Live from one of the senior managers at Citybus stating to The Herald that although the news item seemed o suggest it was a Citybus driver that had been arrested – this was not the case. Sadly this correction does not seem to have made it into any of the published news items I have seen so far.

It has to be said that issues like this between drivers are extremely rare, even in days of heavy company competition, drivers themselves seem to remain on good terms with drivers from rival operators. The only time I have seen genuine anger between two drivers was many years ago after one made a  dangerous ‘undertake’ on Royal Parade which could have been nasty if the other driver hadn't taken avoiding action. This was over 20 years ago!

Bucking the Trend

There was an interesting article in The Guardian on Tuesday looking at the state of UK Bus services.

Councils trying to save cash are cutting local bus routes – and badly affecting access to hospital, college and a social life

A report last week by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) found that local authority funding for bus routes in England and Wales has been cut by 45% since 2010 and more than 3,000 routes reduced or scrapped. This prompted the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to raise the bus issue in parliament during last week’s prime minister’s questions, where he promised to “save” the bus industry and give all those aged under 26 free bus travel.

Many bus services are run commercially, mainly financed by passenger fares. Councils may then choose to subsidise those routes that are economically unviable but deemed important to maintain. Yet cash-strapped councils are being forced to reduce or scrap these subsidised bus services.

Part of the reason councils cannot afford to keep subsidising local buses is the cost of financing the free bus pass scheme. It’s mandatory to finance the concessionary travel scheme in England, which provides pensioners and disabled people with free off-peak travel on all local bus services. But the LGA estimates that there is at least a £200m shortfall for funding free bus passes, because the government does not reimburse the true cost of providing it.

David Brown, chief executive of one of the biggest bus operators, Go-Ahead Group, which runs just under 700 routes – around 10% of which are subsidised – agrees. He says cutting local buses is shortsighted. “These cuts will overwhelmingly hit jobseekers, people on low incomes and those who cannot afford a car,” he says. “Buses are the poor relation of public transport. There’s no five-year plan for buses [like there is for air, roads, rail, cycling and even walking], yet one bus can take 75 cars off the roads.”

“Politicians are fixated on their legacy. They like to open shiny new infrastructure. But rail is regressive in terms of expenditure. You can achieve much more much more quickly by investing in buses.” Brown says that where possible, Go Ahead will work with local authorities to keep subsidised routes open and weave them into one of his commercial routes. “If you are trying to go from A to B on one of councils’ subsidised routes and that route disappears, you aren’t then going to go from B to C on one of my routes.”

Not all local authorities are slashing bus routes. North East Lincolnshire, Durham, Nottingham, Cornwall and Devon have all increased their funding for buses. Richard Stevens, managing director of Plymouth Citybus, says that Cornwall, Devon and Plymouth councils all have the political will to maintain bus routes. “They recognise the importance of buses for social inclusion, economic growth and future prosperity,” he says.

Full article The Guardian

Plymouth and Cornwall bucking the trend

Congested and Diverted

The traffic in the City Centre continues to cause problems for the bus companies, and its only going to get worse over the next few weeks. First are trying something a bit different:
SERVICE DIVERSIONS IN PLYMOUTH CITY CENTRE Fridays and Saturdays from 5 - 20 December inclusive. Due to severe traffic congestion around Charles Street and Charles Cross roundabout in Plymouth, on the Fridays and Saturdays between 5 and 20 December inclusive, between 1000 and 1600, we will be diverting some services as follows: Service 2, 48, 93 and PR2 will not serve the bus stops on the Viaduct after they have left Royal Parade. They will operate via Bretonside and then pick up their normal route from Exeter Street.
Services 1/1A, 83 and PR1/PR1a currently using Cobourg Street and Mayflower Street or Charles Street from when travelling from Milehouse, will operate via Western Approach on the way into the City Centre/Royal Parade and not serve bus stops on these roads. These services will operate their normal route on journeys outbound from the City Centre. All stops will be served along the diversion routes. All other services will continue with their normal route if not listed above We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but the delays are due to circumstances beyond our control. We are endeavouring to maintain a reliable service by taking these temporary measures. (CJ)

Photo credit: © Tom Micheals under Creative Commons Licence.

Reading List

• BENJIS BUSES: 64 Plate Buses
• ANDYS BUS BLOG: Looking back... Viscount VR bonus!
• ANDYS BUS BLOG: Lynx... a new bus company for West Norfolk - coming soon!
• ANDYS BUS BLOG: View from a dealers yard - North's of Sherburn-in-Elmet 1
• GREAT YARMOUTH BUS PAGE: Special post ~ R785WKW 60622
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: Basingstoke It Is, My Dear [2] Another Bramley!
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: A Protracted Perusal of the Potteries [1]
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: A Protracted Perusal of the Potteries [2]
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: ALEXANDER DENNIS NEWS
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: MORE BORISMASTERS & GROWTH PLANS FOR LONDON
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: SEAFARING FERRY NEWS
• NORWICH BUSES: First Updates
• NORWICH BUSES: Streetlite Launch
• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: FINAL MONTH OF REFURBS
• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: 69006 ARRIVES AT IPSWICH
• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: 100,000 VIEW SPECIAL
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Norwich Lampposts Debut And Other Bits
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Final Ipswich Plans and Farewell To Yarmouth
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Ipswich Arrivals, Returns And More
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: I Don't Belieeeeeeve It!
• EAST NORFOLK: Norwich Streetlite Registrations
• EAST NORFOLK: Arrival & Departure

Bravery Honoured

Its great to see the bravery of this bus driver being recognised by his employers.

A First Devon and Cornwall company spokesperson said: "One of our drivers was involved in an incident. The driver, travelling on Service 4 towards Keyham, came across a vehicle on fire.

"On realising that a man was also involved in the fire, he stopped his bus in such a way to shield the scene and protect his passengers, before getting out and assisting the injured man. All of our buses carry fire extinguishers so he had this at his disposal to help.

"The injured man was already out of the car when our driver arrived, but he was on fire.

"Our driver helped to extinguish the flames and then stayed with him, keeping him calm, maintaining his airway and continuing to talk to him until the emergency services arrived.

"We are incredibly proud of our driver's actions. The scene was distressing but he acted quickly, remaining calm under pressure.

 

Full story The Herald

People have to pay to catch the bus–shock horror!

Poor Plymouth Citybus. This week sees yet another ‘non story’ being blown up in the local press:

A GROUP of angry parents have formed a pressure group after Citybus charged their children £6 each to get to school for forgetting their pre-paid bus passes – and then refused to refund the money. Jane Scott, from Crapstone, and a number of other parents in the village are busy getting people to sign a petition in a bid to get Citybus to change its policy on refunding charges incurred when school children forget their pre-paid bus passes.

“I wasn’t annoyed that she had to pay – I understand their no pass, no travel policy completely, but what I fail to see is why they have refused me a refund when in effect I have already paid for the trip.

She is now questioning the legalities behind being made to pay twice for the same journey and has contacted Trading Standards. She said: “I can’t believe how awful Citybus are being – I’m not sure it’s even legal. “I have formed this pressure group to tackle the problem head-on. We need to get this sorted – it’s not fair.

Peter Oliver, commercial manager at the bus company, said: “We carry a large number of customers every day and we have never had to even address this issue in the past because it has never been a problem.

“It’s a simple policy – if you forget your pre-paid pass, then you have to pay – people accept that and it’s the same on every mode of transport.

Full story This is Plymouth

I have a bus pass myself which means I have pre paid my bus fares. However, if I loose or forget my pass I have to pay on the bus. Its annoying to myself but its just the way it is. Its never occurred to me to try and get the fares back. I am not sure it would even be possible to administer even if the company were happy to oblige. Even if i can prove I had a valid pass for a journey which I had to pay for, how to I prove that I actually made that journey?

The “I’m not sure its even legal” comment is my favourite!

---

Recommended Links

However, although the buses themselves were light enough to traverse the bridge, they were only allowed to do so if the vehicle was empty, thus, passengers had to alight and proceed across the bridge on foot, re-joining the bus the other side! Public Transport Experience

Satisfied

 

The independent watchdog Passenger Focus asked more than 1,200 passengers in Plymouth what they thought about their bus services.

Overall satisfaction was 90 per cent with both First and Plymouth Citybus, but a significant minority were unhappy about value for money

From www.thisisplymouth.co.uk via clp.ly

 
It would be more interesting if they broke down the differences between the two companies, but overall a pretty good result, and a fair one too.

---

Twitter / Facebook

Uncle Terry: 155 Hazy Outlook
Omnibuses: Not quite what they seem

Lipson Vale no go

The road works continue

More road closures for the bus companies to deal with, although this probably only hits Plymouth Citybus this time round... From Monday 12th April 2010, gas main installation work will force the closure of the top end of Alexandra Road for approximately 4 weeks. Unfortunately, due to the location of the closure, and the unsuitability of adjoining road for bus access, we will be unable to service Alexandra Road or Lipson Vale. All services will be diverted as follows: 8: City Centre, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Flyover, Pike Road, Blandford Road, Torridge Way, Efford Lane, Old Laira Road, Laira, Laira Flyover, Embankment Road, Exeter Street, Charles Street, Mayflower Street, Western Approach, Royal Parade. 8D: City Centre, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Flyover, Pike Road, Blandford Road, Torridge Way, Efford Lane, Old Laira Road, Laira, Laira Flyover, Embankment Road, Exeter Street, Viaduct, Royal Parade continuing on normal route to Devonport. 8A/D: As service 8 outbound to Blandford Road, then normal route inbound to City Centre. 9: City Centre, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Flyover, Laira, Old Laira Road, Efford Lane, Torridge Way, Blandford Road, Pike Road, Laira Flyover, Embankment Road, Exeter Street, Charles Street, Mayflower Street, Western Approach, Royal Parade. 20/21A/22/51A/51D: All of these services will run via Exeter Street and Embankment Road to Plympton and back. 110: This bus will service as far as Laira Narrows, the run via Efford Lane, Torridge Way, Blandford Road, Lower Compton, Mannamead Road and Mutley Plain to North Hill, then continue normal route. Pupils for Lipson Community College are advised to alight at Laira. 47: The 23:35 from Royal Parade will not service Alexandra Road, Lipson Vale, Efford Lane, but will instead run as a normal service 47 via Mutley, Mannamead Road, Lower Compton and Blandford Road. More details - and map HERE The good news is that Mutley Plain re opens today which is quite a bit quicker than originally feared.

Further Reading PTOTPA: Enviros hit the streets Uncle Terry: The Terry and the Ivy TGP: Jewel in the clock tower Friends of WHOTT: Exeter at 40 First on Twitter / Facebook 07 April Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 07 April 08:39 Monday 12th April will see a four week closure of Alexandra Road NO BUSES WILL SERVE ALEXANDRA ROAD OR LIPSON VALE Full details on Facebook 13:33 As from tomorrow morning, 07/04/10 Mutley Plain will be open for normal operations. Thank you for your patience

Reaching for the skies

Devon & Cornwall show off their new aerial ladder appliances

Plymouth Hoe staged the dramatic backdrop for the launch of six new Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALPs), five for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the sixth for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. This is the first joint regional procurement project of its kind between the two Services at an investment of 2.2 million. An official handing over of the keys took place and Cllr Bernard Hughes, Chairman of the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority, said: “This represents a significant investment in our vehicle fleet and will ensure that our fire fighters have the latest specialist equipment to fight fires at height.” The new ALPs are replacing existing appliances which are approaching the end of their life-cycle and due to go on the run in July, after training has taken place. Training is required in various areas, and will be rolled out through March, April and May. The driver training lasts for one day, the operator instructor training for five days and will include instructors from all of the five stations who are due to receive the vehicles. Manufactured by VEMA in Finland, the appliances were then delivered to John Dennis Coachbuilders (JDC) in Guildford for fitting and stowage, who also made alterations that were requested by the Service for end-user and health and safety improvements The hydraulic platforms will allow firefighters to work from a height of 34 metres, which is six metres higher than the current aerial appliances. Benefits of the appliances: • Rear wheel steer better manoeuvrability • Rear wheel steer improved tyre wear • Boom reach 6 meters further reach current Bronto • Self levelling system • Latest technology including dial up diagnostics, this allows engineers to find faults quickly from a remote location • Standard appliance through both services allow cooperation for training documentation and degradation The five appliances for Devon and Somerset will be located at • Crownhill • Yeovil • Taunton • Exeter Danes Castle • Torquay • The Cornwall appliance will be located at Newquay. The vehicles were purchased as part of the Firebuy national framework contract. Devon and Somerset Fire Press Release Thanks to Dave Boulter I am able to bring you photos of the launch event on Plymouth Hoe. As he puts it himself: To say the photography was 'challenging' is the understatement of the year. Conditions were horrendous with heavy, swirling continuous heavy rain and a somewhat low cloud base! Any half-decent print is a miracle! ©Dave Boulter From left to right: WA59FUF, WA59FUB, WA59FUG, WK59BPZ, WA59FUE, WA59FUD. I think you can spot the Cornish one! ©Dave Boulter

Another day at the Awards for The Hound

Congratulations to Western Greyhound

Today saw the 2009 UK Bus Awards - and as usual Western Greyhound did pretty well. Independent Operator of the Year 2009 and runner up for the big one: The Belmont International & QBE Bus Operator of The Year (Brighton and Hove were the winners)

Further Reading Plymothian Transit: Gold Star Award Plymothian Transit: Awarding Plymothian Transit: Good News Times 3

Better Transport Links Needed

"PLYMOUTH has fewer three-hour train services to London than it did in the 1970s”

PLYMOUTH has fewer three-hour train services to London than it did in the 1970s, the city’s Cabinet member for transport says. Cllr Kevin Wigens called for more investment in rail, saying the lack of fast trains to London was a “significant handicap” for Plymouth’s economy. “Three-hour and sub-three-hour train journeys are vital for attracting inward investment. I’m dismayed when I think back to the 1970s, when three hours was the norm for many services. Mr Wigens blamed the Department for Transport, which he said set the core services that companies like First Great Western must provide. “Plymouth City Council has been pressing the Department for Transport to increase the number of three-hour services.” Mr Wigens said journey times were increased when extra stops were added to a service. Plymouth businessman Charles Howeson called for money to be diverted from roads to the railway. Mr Howeson, the chairman of the First Great Western Trains Advisory Board and also chairman of the Plymouth Area Business Council, said he fully supported the council’s call for more investment. “We’d love to see electrification,” he said. “Track speeds have not improved for many years because they are generally at the theoretical maximum without big investment in work like altering curves and signals. “Our railway was built in the Victorian era.” Stephen Kearney, chairman of the South West Devon Liberal Democrats, said: “We have to go down the route of electrification. Devonport MP Alison Seabeck, who chaired the South West Select Committee, said witnesses had emphasised the vital importance of the A303, the second strategic road link. “In the short to medium term the far South West isn’t going to benefit from big capital outlays on rail so airports will continue to have a big role. Plymouth is the only small regional airport to have increased passenger numbers this year.” Trains should be more reliable rather than faster, Roger Creagh-Osborne, local Green Party politician and a member of the Saltash Rail Users Group, said. “I don’t believe the lack of three-hour services is a limiting factor,” Mr Creagh-Osborne said. “I don’t think the extra 15 or 30 minutes makes an awful lot of difference to someone’s decision to use the train. CALLS have been made for a “nationally significant” rail link connecting Plymouth to other major UK cities which is seen as vital to it becoming a regional economic powerhouse. The low priority given to train routes in the South West was holding Plymouth back from achieving its “full potential” MPs have been told. While progress had been made in recent years with journey times between Plymouth and London being cut to three hours, the city council has stressed the need for continuing service improvements to overcome the perception of the area’s remoteness. In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into transport in the region, the local authority pointed out the coastal rail link at Dawlish had been damaged on a number of occasions by the weather, cutting the mainline to Plymouth and Cornwall. Meanwhile, a passenger group submitted to the Commons South West Select Committee a wish-list of improvements it wanted to see to train services in the area, including using the Teign Valley line as an alternative when the mainline to Plymouth was closed by storms. The RDA pointed to official Treasury figures that showed in 2007/08 the South West received £258 of total public sector transport spending for each resident, compared to an England average of £323, £667 for London and £552 for Scotland. Read the full This is Plymouth article HERE

Good Bad and So So

"This does seem a bit of bad timing ” Omnibuses2.0 Nat Express Crisis Beet it Force to be reckoned with

First the good news... From Sunday 25 October First are also introducing a special offer on all ugobus services in Plymouth, where the FirstWeek Plymouth ticket is reduced to £5 for two weeks (until Saturday 7 November). To take make use of this special offer please purchase your £5 FirstWeek Plymouth ticket from your driver as from Sunday 25th October using the special coupon which can be downloaded from a link on their web site HERE This is a good offer which I am sure will be popular especially as it is not restricted to the new Ugobus services like the previous weeks offer was. Now the bad news... Most fares on First services in Devon and Cornwall will change by 5p or 10p as from Sunday 25th October 2009. This does seem a bit of bad timing with the new routes having just been launched. There is already a difference between Citybus and First in the city and this will just get a little bigger, until Citybus have their next increase at least. It will be interesting to see how the passenger loadings fare next week on the new routes when the normal fares kick in. So so news.... I have seen a note tonight which suggests that yesterday was the last day in service for E215/6BTA the wonderful Volvo Citybus double deckers which have served Plymouth so well. It seems that they are being converted to open top, which if true, will at least mean they will last a while longer and wont just be scrapped just yet. E216BTA seen back in October 2006, it still looks pretty smart. One of these two is usually on the Estover school run which I see each morning as I leave for work. Shortly after this posting goes live I will see what has replaced it. I guess one of the K-LAE batch of Olympians which have been transferred from Bristol.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Special Fares for Special Passengers (plymothiantransit.com)

The Fifty Two Blues

One of the less positive changes to Citybus services on the 25th October sees the end of the Citybus 52 service linking Plympton with Derriford Hospital. It is a service which has had a volatile history to say the least. It also has a very vocal group of passengers who use the service and have fought hard to keep the service as it is and have used every opportunity to let Citybus, and other operators know what they want.

The previous reduction in the service to peak hours only saw Target Travel come in and take up the day time workings that Citybus gave up. The morning and evening runs on the target Travel 52A are very popular with their regular passengers. The Citybus duties also seem to carry a fair few passengers when I have seen them. However it is understandable in the present circumstances that Citybus want to make much better use of their resources so their 52 comes to an end in just under two weeks time.
The news of the 52 demise has been well publicised at Derriford Hospital so I was waiting for the backlash. Sure enough...
"After ringing Target to ask if they will be adding the 52's times to their timetable their response was NO. After many discussions on the bus with the regulars who use this service, we thought it would be a good idea if we bombard Target Travel with e-mails and hopefully will let them know there is a need for the extra buses at peak times"

It remains to be seen if Target do fill the gap. When they started it seemed that they did want to run the full service if Citybus gave up their runs, but of course since then they have taken on a lot of extra work in Plymouth so may not have the capacity to take on extra runs at the moment. I am looking forward to the next bus users meeting (well overdue!) as I am sure the 52 will be brought up! Of course before Citybus ran the service it was with First where it was a lot less reliable but a lot more interesting in that you never knew what would turn up on it....

©Terry Partridge July 2003
(Not actually on the 52 at the time of the photo, but they made plenty of appearances on the route for a while.)