Solo Swap Shop Etc

First have been swapping Solos: 53110 and 53111 have transferred to Yeovil - in their place Plymouth has received 50279 and 53005 from First Cymru. ©Richard Smith

Some interesting news about a temporary route that Plymouth Citybus are running:
The 11 between Oke & tavi can't run via it's normal routing via Brentor at the moment due to one of the cattle grids having collapsed big time. It is going to be some weeks before it it repaired, and in the meantime traffic is diverted through the side gate used by horses. This is too small for the Scanias on the 11, so they are doing a doubleback at Lydford and running direct down the A386 to Mary Tavy. Meanwhile DCC is funding a shuttle to run between Lydford and Mary Tavy via Brentor using Citycoach's minibus. Sadly I couldn't get a photo yesterday as the minibus was away on a private hire so a Holman's minibus was in use (though it failed to arrive at either Mary Tavy or Lydford on my trip back north in the afternoon ...) Thanks to Richard Stedall for the update. He adds... If might be worth mentioning this shuttle on you blog to see if anyone can get any photos ... after all it's not every day Citycoach gets to run a rural bus service like this !

Tom Michaels updates us on Blue Flash 42: All the Blue Flash single and double deckers are having their branding changed to read City – Derriford – Tamerton/Tavistock. This is because in the new timetables the Tamerton runs will interwork with the Tavistock runs. 103 is in the paintshop being resprayed into Blue Flash livery. Sounds strange, though as detailed in my comment is far more efficient than the current workings with an extra bus which sit in Bretonside for 30 minutes a trip. Note also the every 30 minutes branding at the rear has been removed too for the Tamerton runs.
Citybus 504 has receieved the new lettering so far. Photo Here. 501 and 503 have not been changed yet.

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• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: 32493 BACK IN TOWN AND IB X3 TO OPERATE ON SUNDAYS Many thanks to James Long and the depot team for allowing him to take this picture of 32493 AU53 HKL which has returned to Ipswich with sister 32489, leaving only 32488/91/94 of the 66 Deckers to be done taking her place for refurbishment 69422 AND 69425 IN SERVICE First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69422 AU58 FJJ entered service today on the 60/61, complete with full branding to front and sides while sister 69425 AU58 FFM here on the 88 still has no branding.
• NORWICH BUSES: The early days of President's in Norwich - Part One Anyone who has taken photos of buses in Norwich any time in the last four years will have noticed the masses of ex-London President's in use
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: 1952 : London, Then and Now The MX5 service polarised opinion in the town. There were those who were 100% in favour of coach travel and, equally, those who were utterly committed to rail. Ne'er the twin would meet! Good News for Rail Passengers? Or is it? Without the inclusion of returns, there is a very real possibility that people using the new site will pay more than they need. All credit to the sponsors of the site for trying their best but fbb would advise EXTREME CAUTION in taking its advice.
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Unity Lems Prob Conti I could scream when in pre- and post-WW2 shows they go to enormous lengths to get things right regarding period, buses are usually so inaccurately portrayed. With so many correct vehicles available they invariably get it wrong. Weekly News Round Up There have been many pics in blogland of freshly repainted buses in Ipswich with bright shiny silver wheels. Sadly these wheels are getting less silver and dirtier by the day. Is it too much to ask that the wheels are kept clean? It's little features like that which makes vehicles stand out and shows a real pride in the fleet. NURSE - Please Help!! As regular readers will know I don't normally do short, one item posts these days, but there are exceptions to every rule and this is one. I had to go to Norwich today and hoped I might just see freshly painted PURPLE - remember that colour - it's important

Okehampton here we come

Plymouth Citybus Launch New Service 11

As of the 25th May 2014, Plymouth Citybus are pleased to announce the launch of its new service 11 from Plymouth City Centre to Okehampton, with additional services to Tavistock. Service 11 will run 7 days a week with 2 journeys on a Sunday, continuing onto Barnstable using service number 75B. Full Timetables HERE

The Scania single deckers are being prepared for service with at least two believed to be in red now. Just as a reminder of the services involved here are the VOSA notices:

21 February 2014

PH0000135/154 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE Finish Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION Via: Derriford Hospital, Yelverton, Hollabridge Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sunday to Saturday excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Sunday service on other bank holidays.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/155 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION Finish Point: WEST ST, OKEHAMPTON Via: Mary Tavi, Lydford, Sourton Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Monday to Saturday. On Sunday the service will stop at Market Street. Sunday service will operate on bank holidays. However, there will be no service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/156 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: OKEHAMPTON, MARKET STREET Finish Point: GREAT TOLLINGTON CHURCH Via: HATHERLEIGH, MEETH, MERTON Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sundays & Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/157 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: GREAT TORRINGTON CHURCH Finish Point: BARNSTAPLE BUS STATION Via: Bideford Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sundays and Bank Holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction

Local Interest

Building the Devonport Column: This column, which was intended to be erected by public subscription, commemorates the change of the name of the town from "Plymouth Dock" to "Devonport", the authority for which was granted, agreeable to a petition forwarded to George IV, in 1823.

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Travistock via Hollabridge

The service registrations on VOSA continue with these few appearing on the site yesterday. It all starts of quite mundane...

Service 12

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

Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Travistock Bus Station given service number 12 effective from 25-May-2014. To amend Timetable.

Then things start to get a bit more interesting with a new service 11 which starts off in Plymouth and goes via Derriford Hospital and "Hollabridge" to Tavistock and then on to Okehampton

Service 11

PH0000135/154 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

Registration Accepted

Starting Point: PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE

Finish Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION Via: Derriford Hospital, Yelverton, Hollabridge

Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping

Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014

Other Details: Sunday to Saturday excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Sunday service on other bank holidays.

Service 11

PH0000135/155 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

Registration Accepted

Starting Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION

Finish Point: WEST ST, OKEHAMPTON Via: Mary Tavi, Lydford, Sourton

Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping

Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014

Other Details: Monday to Saturday. On Sunday the service will stop at Market Street. Sunday service will operate on bank holidays. However, there will be no service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Now the Tavistock to Okehampton service has been a bit of an open secret for some time but the next section was more of a surprise with a Sunday service through to Barnstaple which will use the same buses as used on the 11.

Service 75B

PH0000135/156 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

Registration Accepted

Starting Point: OKEHAMPTON, MARKET STREET

Finish Point: GREAT TOLLINGTON CHURCH Via: HATHERLEIGH, MEETH, MERTON

Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping

Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014

Other Details: Sundays & Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction.

Service 75B

PH0000135/157 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

Registration Accepted

Starting Point: GREAT TORRINGTON CHURCH

Finish Point: BARNSTAPLE BUS STATION Via: Bideford

Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping

Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014

Other Details: Sundays and Bank Holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction

As usual we await full details which will of course appear here when they are available. It does appear that the 11 will work alongside the 12 to provide a more comprehensive Plymouth to Tavistock service with a welcome incursion back into Derriford Hospital which has seen direct runs to Tavistock much reduced over the last year

Just another day running a bus company

13 March: SERVICE DIVERSION: East & West Charleton closed to traffic - service 93 diverted via Totnes Cross: Tuesday 25 March. The road between West Charleton and East Charleton will be closed to traffic between 09:30 and 16:30. This is for road resurfacing. Therefore service 93 will be unable to travel on the A379 between Kingsbridge and Torcross in both directions. (It will still serve Stoke Fleming and Strete). From Torcross it will be diverted via the A3122 and A381 via Totnes Cross to/from Dartmouth. We are hoping the road will be opened to allow the school bus to travel the normal route. However this has not yet been confirmed by Southwest Highways. Therefore until this is confirmed please assume the school bus will also be diverted via Totnes Cross. We apologise for any inconvenience caused due to circumstances beyond our control. If you have any questions regarding this road closure please contact Southwest Highways on 01404 821500.

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