Changes: YX65RCV

Stagecoach 26034 YX65RCV

Remember when these buses were worth showing off?

January 2016

November 2022 This livery looks even worse on the single-deckers

Plymouth Citybus take the PR3

Plymouth Citybus has announced its acquisition of the Target Travel PR3: Derriford Hospital Park & Ride service. The popular route has been growing for several years having been introduced by Target Travel and is now an established key link from the George Park & Ride to the University of St. Mark and St. John and Derriford Hospital.

The service will be operated by Citybus from Monday 8th October 2018, with no interruption of service for passengers during the changeover. Target Travel will continue operating the route until Friday 5th October 2018. The new Citybus timetable will remain the same as it was under Target Travel with a 20-minute frequency to and from the George Park & Ride and Derriford Hospital.

Robert Risk, Chief Executive at Target Travel, said: “We’ve worked hard to grow this route, which is now a popular link for those people travelling to and from the George Park & Ride and Derriford Hospital. We believe the time is right to pass the baton to Plymouth Citybus, who we know will do a fantastic job at continuing to grow and improve this service.”

Richard Stevens, Managing Director at Plymouth Citybus, said: “I am delighted that Citybus has acquired this route as it is a really important link between the hospital and the north of the city; and fits really well into our existing bus network, offering even more journey solutions for the city.”

Plymouth Citybus are taking a few buses from Target Travel as part of the deal although there are differing details as to exactly what they are taking. I am pretty sure they are taking the two Enviros YX09FLR YX09FLV

There are reports that Citybus are also taking the MAN currently then main PR3 bus

I am not convinced about this as it really does not fit in with the Citybus fleet. If it is being taken on I would not expect it to last long at all!

More likely to be joining the fleet are two Dennis Dart MPDs, presumably ones which Target actually got from Citybus a while back!

Will it be welcome back for LX05EYT?

I am sure it wont be long before full confirmation is available.

In the mean time the route has been registered by Plymouth Citybus and cancelled by Target Travel - details on tomorrows VOSA update.

Park & Ride Liveries

Still slowly plodding through all the photos taken on the PSV Circle weekend a few weeks ago I have started on some of the Stagecoach visits to both Exeter and Plymouth bases…

So two Park & Ride Enviro MMCs of the same age. Plymouths 10458 and Exeter;s 10454. Considering that Stagecoach could quite easily have just used the same basic livery template for both services, I have to say that I am glad they didn't. I think that Plymouth clearly got the better deal when it comes to the Park & Ride livery.

Having said all that I think this one was the best…

I am sure you all agree with me…

Tonights The Night

 

Stagecoach have been busy this summer with quite a few big events in the area needing buses. I have no idea quite how many people will be going to Home Park to see Rod Stewart (for those of you under 40 years old he used to be a rock star!) but as with anything up that end of the city parking is limited so the best way to get there is Park & Ride. There are three services  registered for the event:

Stagecoach Devon 100 [PH1020951.264] Rod Stewart Park & Ride: The George

• PH1020951/264 
• STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A STAGECOACH SOUTH WEST, 
• BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB
• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: George Junction Park & Ride
• Finish Point: Milehouse (Home Park)
• Via:
• Service Number: 100
• Service Type: Limited Stop
• Effective Date: 07-JUN-2016
• Other Details: To operate an early and late evening service for the Rod Stewart concert on 7 June 2016
• Timetable 100
• Buses from this site will leave approximately every 10/12 minutes from 5:00pm until 7:30pm with a 15 minute journey time, returning straight after the event until all customers are clear of Home Park. The cost of an Adult return - £2.30 (£1.40 single).

Stagecoach Devon 200 [PH1020951.265] Rod Stewart Park & Ride: Coypool

• PH1020951/265
• STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A STAGECOACH SOUTH WEST, 
• BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB
• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Coypool Park & Ride
• Finish Point: Milehouse (Home Park)
• Via:
• Service Number: 200
• Service Type: Limited Stop
• Effective Date: 07-JUN-2016
• Other Details: To operate an erlay and late evening Park & Ride service for the Rod Stewart concert at Home Park on 7th June 2016
• Timetable 200
• Buses from this site will leave approximately every 10/12 minutes from 5:00pm until 7:30pm with a 20 minute journey time, this service will stop outside the Drake Circus shopping centre on both inbound and outbound journeys, the service will run until all customers are clear of Home Park. The cost of an Adult return - £3.00 (£2.50 single).

Stagecoach Devon 300 [PH1020951.266] Rod Stewart Park & Ride: Pavillions

• PH1020951/266
• BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB
• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Plymouth Pavilions
• Finish Point: Milehouse (Home Park)
• Via:
• Service Number: 300
• Service Type: Limited Stop
• Effective Date: 07-JUN-2016
• Other Details: To operate an early and late evening shuttle service from Plymouth Pavilions to Home Park for the Rod Stewart concert on Tuesday 7th June 2016
• Timetable 300
• Buses from this site (by Plymouth Pavilions main entrance) will leave approximately every 10/12 minutes from 5:00pm until 7:30 pm with a 12 minute journey time, this service will stop outside of Toys R Us on both outbound and inbound journeys, the service will run until all customers are clear of Home Park. The cost of an Adult return - £2.20 (£1.60 single).

There is NO GENERAL PARKING at Home Park

DISABLED PARKING

There will be parking for disabled badge holders within the Milehouse Park & Ride site, every effort will be made to accommodate all disabled badge holders but spaces are limited. Please follow the AA signs on the approach to Home Park

FALCON COACH SERVICE

For those travelling from further afield please be aware of the South West Falcon which is an express coach service linking Plymouth with Exeter, Cullompton, Taunton, Bridgwater and Bristol 24/7, an option for concert goers to consider as there are return journeys from Plymouth at 23:30hrs and 01:30hrs.

It will be interesting to see how many buses it involves - if anyones does get any photos it would be nice to see them here for the record!

A tiny teaser

A further sign that the takeover by Stagecoach is getting nearer

You would have thought they could have found a slightly bigger fleet name though? I believe this is the one which also now carries full Stagecoach Devon legal lettering

A Pride of Park & Rides…

The Park & Ride fleet has been undergoing a very slow transformation over the last year with a number of Volvo B7Ls drafted in and most receiving the attractive pink front livery. Over two days last week I managed to get most of them:

60910

60915

60916

60917

60918

A step up in style for PR4

I have been meaning to post these since Colin sent them in but time on the blog has been a bit limited over the last week or so. Hopefully things are settling back to normal again now.

The PR4 service for the Royal William Yard was in the hands of these two fine coaches. I do hope there were not too many passengers expecting or needing low floor easy access buses although bearing in mind the main attraction was a program watched and by many older people its quite possible there were a few. I believe that a Truronian coach has very recently been repainted into a new livery ?

 

Thanks to Colin - Laira for the photos

Antiques

First are operating another Park & Ride service, for one day only. Thursday 11th June will see the new PR4 operating between MIlehouse and The Royal William Yard

VOSA:

• PH0004983/523 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Milehouse Park & Ride
• Finish Point: Milehouse Park & Ride
• Via: Royal William Yard
• Service Number: PR4
• Service Type: Limited Stop
• Effective Date: 11-JUN-2015
• Other Details: 11 June 2015 only.

BBC ONEs ever popular Sunday evening programme ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will be filming for its 38th series at The Royal William Yard, Plymouth, on Thursday 11th, June, 2015. The doors open at 9.30 am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to the show is free.
Presenter Fiona Bruce says, "This will be my 8th year on the Antiques Roadshow and I still feel so lucky to be presenting the programme. Every week is different; a new location and thousands of new visitors. The only constant is the pleasure of the unexpected - we never know what will turn up, from the most fabulous Faberge to the most humble object with a riveting story...'
Some of Britains leading antiques and fine arts specialists will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors, who are invited to raid their attics and bring along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection by the experts.
People with large pieces of furniture or other big items can send details and photographs of their objects to: ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR or e-mail them to: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk. It may be possible to arrange to look at the item in advance and organise transportation to the venue.
Series Editor Simon Shaw says: We love meeting our viewers at Antiques Roadshows. And so many people tell us how much they enjoy the experience of meeting Fiona and the experts and seeing how the show is made. And, even 38 years later, the magic formula of surprising some lucky guests with exciting news about their treasure still seems to come true. So join us at Royal William Yard It might just be your day.'
First Devon and Cornwall Park & Ride
The Park & Ride service will operate every 20 minutes throughout with first departure from the Milehouse Park & Ride site at 8am and last departure from the Royal William Yard (turning circle outside) at 6.58pm calling at the Railway Station stop on Saltash Road in each direction.
Fares will be £2 adult return (£1 for kids age 5-18 or NUS card holders of any age) A family ticket is £5 return (up to 2 adults plus 3 kids)
Milehouse Park & Ride site is adjacent to the Plymouth Argyle football stadium and from the A38 Parkway, just follow signs for PAFC.

Talking of antiques…

I have not really kept up with the First Plymouth fleet and am still in the middle of updating my First Group fleetlist. However one bus which is now in Plymouth is 50277 W308DWX which was with First Hampshire & Dorset.

© Richard Smith

Devon Transit 010

Previous Posts: DevonTransit001, DevonTransit002, DevonTransit003, DevonTransit004, DevonTransit005, DevonTransit006, DevonTransit007, DevonTransit008, DevonTransit009

As you can see there is plenty going on at the moment across Devon. First have made changes for several routes in Plymouth. These are fairly minor tinkering but they do introduce a new 15A and the PR1A is replaced by additional runs on the fairly new 81D. Stagecoach alter their X64 and introduce a ‘new’ route 164 to replace Sundays X64. Filers have a few changes coming up and Countrybus finally start their new services replacing Dartline. Axe Valley make changes to their 889 and 899. Dial a Bus give advance notice for services 60-62 timetable in July.

 

First Plymouth Route 3 Royal Parade > Devonport > St Budeaux > Honicknowle > Royal Parade

• PH0004983/336 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and St Budeaux Square given service number 3 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

Service 3 will now serve West Park, Honicknowle, Peverell, Mutley Plain and North Hill on Sundays & public holidays, offering up to a 30 minute frequency. All journeys will now be numbered as service 3 (no more 3As!)  There will still be a 10 minute day time frequency of buses between City Centre, Devonport and St Budeaux from Monday to Saturday, with a 20 minute day time frequency for buses between St Budeaux, West Park, Honicknowle, Peverell and City Centre, from Monday to Friday.

3 Plymouth Centre - Devonport - St Budeaux - WestPark – Honicknowle

Timetable Leaflet 3

I can see problems for some passengers getting used to the fact that not all 3’s do the full route!

 

 

Its the end of the route number 3A with all journeys now just using route number 3

First Plymouth Route 15 15A Royal Parade > Derriford > Woolwell

• PH0004983/396 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth City Centre and Woolwell, School Drive given service number 15/15A effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route and Timetable

Evening Monday to Friday journeys between Derriford and The George are being withdrawn due to very poor use. The last 15 bus from Derriford to The George will now depart at 18:29 (the 86 will still operate in the evenings at 04 mins past the hour from Derriford Hospital from 19:04 to 00:04 on weekdays and Saturdays) We are also launching a new day time service 15A between Woolwell and Glenholt via the George Park & Ride site. There are three off peak circular journeys. The Saturday timetable is unchanged.

Its no surprise that the evening shuttles between The George and Derriford are being withdrawn as Target Travel easily saw them off. The new 15A is a surprise though, another in a long line of experiments to serve this difficult area.

15 Plymouth Centre - Crownhill - Derriford Hospital – Woolwell

 

  15A Glenholt – Woolwell

Target Travel Route 54: Plymouth > Bovisand

• PH1020218/2 - DEALTOP (PLYMOUTH) LTD T/A TARGET TRAVEL, LANGAGE SCIENCE PARK, WESTERN WOOD WAY, PLYMOUTH, PL7 5BG Registration Accepted by SN Starting Point: Plymouth Royal Parade Finish Point: Bovisand Via: Plymstock, Hooe, Jennycliff Service Number: 54 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 23-MAY-2015 Other Details: Daily hourly service.

Plymouth City Council:

Beach lovers will be able to take a bus straight to Bovisand again this summer. The service 54 ‘beach bus’, which is financially supported by the Council, will be operated by Target Travel and run from Saturday 23 May until Sunday 13 September. It will run at the weekend during school term time and every day during the half term and summer holidays. The service will depart from the A9 stop on Royal Parade every hour from 10am until 6pm (except at 2pm) and return from Bovisand hourly from 10.30am until 6.30pm (except at 1.30pm). Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The Bovisand bus has been really popular and offers families a low-hassle way to enjoy a great day out over the summer, whether they head for the beach or take a walk along the beautiful South West Coast Path.” For more information on the service 54 call 01752 242000.

54 Plymouth – Bovisand (nothing on Traveline Yet)

Interestingly its been registered on the Dealtop licence where most bus services are under R Risk licence.

Dial a Bus Route 60

• PH1052309/2 - CHELSTON LEISURE SERVICES LTD T/A DIAL-A-BUS, LONG ROAD, PAIGNTON, TQ4 7BL Variation Accepted: Operating between TORQUAY and PAIGNTON given service number 60 effective from 06-Jul-2015. To amend Timetable.

Dial a Bus Route 61

• PH1052309/1 - CHELSTON LEISURE SERVICES LTD T/A DIAL-A-BUS, LONG ROAD, PAIGNTON, TQ4 7BL Variation Accepted: Operating between Paignton Bus Station and Castle Circus Library given service number 61 effective from 06-Jul-2015. To amend Timetable.

Dial a Bus Route 62

• PH1052309/3 - CHELSTON LEISURE SERVICES LTD T/A DIAL-A-BUS, LONG ROAD, PAIGNTON, TQ4 7BL Variation Accepted: Operating between Torquay Strand and Torquay Strand given service number 62 effective from 06-Jul-2015. To amend Timetable.

First Torpoint Route 81 81D: Torpoint Ferry > Plymouth (81 81D)

• PH0004983/35 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD,  THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT  Variation Accepted:  Operating between TORPOINT FERRY and PLYMOUTH Bus Station  given service number 81/81D  effective from 24-May-2015.  To amend Route and Timetable

There will now be more 81D trips between the Torpoint Ferry (Devonport side), Stoke, Milehouse and Derriford Hospital which will run approximately hourly, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
There are also some minor changes to times on the 81 between the Torpoint Ferry and Plymouth Royal Parade after approximately 1430. There are also some morning peak journeys which have been changed to run 10 minutes earlier throughout, one following customer requests.
There are no changes to Saturday timetable. The Sunday & public holiday timetable will be the same as operated in Summer 2014.

 81 Plymouth - Torpoint - HMS Raleigh - Insworke / 81D Derriford Hospital - Devonport Ferry

Full timetable Guide on First web site

Stagecoach Route 164 Totnes > Salcombe

• PH1020951/159 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A Stagecoach South West, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Totnes Royal Seven Stars and Salcombe given service number 164 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

164 Totnes - Salcombe

Summer Sunday service to Kingsbridge and Salcombe introduced (numbered 164)

Filers Route 300 Ilfracombe > Lynmouth > Minehead

• PH1066351/1 - FILERS TRAVEL LIMITED, SLADE LODGE ,, SLADE ROAD, ILFRACOMBE, EX34 8LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Ilfracombe, St James Place Gardens and Minehead given service number 300 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

New timetable 300 Ilfracombe - Lynmouth – Minehead

Filers are another company who leave all their timetables etc to Traveline and make no effort to display timetable changes on their own web site.

© Ed Webster (creative commons) Filers Travel MX57 CBY at Lynmouth on route 300 June 2014

Filers Route 301 Combe Martin - Ilfracombe – Barnstaple

• PH1066351/4 - FILERS TRAVEL LIMITED, SLADE LODGE ,, SLADE ROAD, ILFRACOMBE, EX34 8LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Combe Martin and Barnstaple Post Office given service number 301 effective from 26-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

Timetable 301 Combe Martin - Ilfracombe – Barnstaple

Filers Route 303: Barnstaple > Woolacombe

• PH1066351/11 - FILERS TRAVEL LIMITED, SLADE LODGE, SLADE ROAD, ILFRACOMBE, EX34 8LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Barnstaple Bus Station and South Molton, Square given service number 303/7 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

New timetable 303 Barnstaple-Woolacombe 

Countrybus Route 366:  Exeter – Kenn

• PH1017984/118 - ALANSWAY COACHES LTD T/A COUNTRY BUS, KING CHARLES BUSINESS PK, OLD NEWTON RD, HEATHFIELD, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 6UT Registration Accepted Starting Point: Kenn Finish Point: Exeter Bus Station Via: Kennford, Shillingford St George Service Number: 366 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 07-APR-2015 Other Details: Monday to Saturday

Delayed start timetable 366 Kenn - Exeter

Axe Valley Route 885: Seaton -Colyton – Axminster

• PH0004666/1 - FRANCES MAY SEARLE T/A AXE VALLEY MINI TRAVEL, BUS DEPOT, 26 HARBOUR ROAD, SEATON, EX12 2NA Variation Accepted: Operating between SEATON Sea Front and MILLWEY RISE given service number 885 effective from 26-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

Timetable 885 Seaton -Colyton – Axminster

Axe Valley Route 899: Sidmouth - Seaton - Lyme Regis

• PH0004666/2 - FRANCES MAY SEARLE T/A AXE VALLEY MINI TRAVEL, BUS DEPOT, 26 HARBOUR ROAD, SEATON, EX12 2NA Variation Accepted: Operating between Exmouth Tesco and Seaton Sea Front given service number 899 effective from 26-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

Timetable 899: Sidmouth - Seaton - Lyme Regis

Countrybus Route 979: Lancelot School > Stoke Hill School

• PH1017984/117 - ALANSWAY COACHES LTD T/A COUNTRY BUS, KING CHARLES BUSINESS PK, OLD NEWTON RD, HEATHFIELD, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 6UT Registration Accepted Starting Point: Lancelot Road Finish Point: Stoke Hill School Via: Service Number: 979 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective  Date: 07-APR-2015 Other Details: Monday to friday school term only

Delayed start Timetable 979 Lancelot Road - Stoke Hill School

Countrybus Route M: Exeter > Mount Dinham Circular

• PH1017984/120 - ALANSWAY COACHES LTD T/A COUNTRY BUS, KING CHARLES BUSINESS PK, OLD NEWTON RD, HEATHFIELD, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 6UT Registration Accepted Starting Point: Exeter, Paris Street Finish Point: Exeter, Cheeke Street Via: Mount Dinham Service Number: M Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 07-APR-2015 Other Details: Monday to Saturday.

Delayed start timetable M Exeter-Mount Dinham Circular

First Plymouth Route PR1 The George Juntion P & R - Milehouse - Plymouth Centre - Milehouse - George Junction P & R-

• PH0004983/278 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between THE GEORGE PARK AND RIDE SITE and PLYMOUTH (Royal Parade) given service number PR1 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

Following the trial of the PR1a service (Milehouse Park & Ride to Derriford Hospital), due to poor usage during the off peak periods, these journeys are being withdrawn. As a form of replacement, service 81D will operate hourly (Torpoint Ferry - Stoke - Milehouse Park & Ride - Derriford Hospital). The PR1a will still operate at peak times in the morning and afternoon/early evening. There are also some changes to PR1 journeys, in particular during the mornings to improve reliability of journeys leaving the George. The Saturday timetable unchanged

PR1 The George Juntion P & R - Milehouse - Plymouth Centre - Milehouse - George Junction P & R / PR1a The George P & R - Derriford - Milehouse - Plymouth Centre - Milehouse - Derriford - George P & R-

timetable leaflet of First Web Site

English Rivera Tours Route Sightseeing 2

• PH1120865/2 - ANTHONY SLATER AND COLIN BOWDEN T/A ENGLISH RIVIERA TOURS, THE FIRS, RATHMORE ROAD, TORQUAY, TQ2 6NU Registration Accepted Starting Point: Paignton, Torbay Road Finish Point: Paignton, Torbay Road Via: Torquay Sea Front, Torquay Harbour Service Number: Sightseeing 2 Service Type: Excursion or Tour Effective Date: 05-JUL-2015 Other Details: July until end of September for 2015 and May until end of September thereafter.

Countrybus Route U: Exeter - Union Road Circular

• PH1017984/119 - ALANSWAY COACHES LTD T/A COUNTRY BUS, KING CHARLES BUSINESS PK, OLD NEWTON RD, HEATHFIELD, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 6UT Registration Accepted Starting Point: Exeter, Sidwell Street Finish Point: Exeter, Union Road Via: Pennsylvania Road Service Number: U Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 07-APR-2015 Other Details: Monday to Saturday

Delayed start timetable U Exeter - Union Road Circular

Stagecoach Route X64 Exeter > Totnes > Dartmouth

• PH1020951/46 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A Stagecoach South West, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Exeter Bus Station and Totnes Coronation Road given service number X64 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.

X64 (Exeter - N.Abbot - Totnes - Dartmouth + Sundays to Salcombe) Summer Sunday service to Kingsbridge and Salcombe introduced (numbered 164)

Timetable X64

As is often the case its been difficult getting the timetables for the X64. Traveline only has the new times from 1st September 2015! The final stagecoach pdf here is sideways which is a real pain but its all I can get at this moment in time.

© Barry Lewis (creative commons) Stagecoach X64 August 2013

In The News

A NEW light railway to Brixham and fewer traffic lights in the Bay are two of re-elected Torbay mayor Gordon Oliver's ambitions for the next four years. Mr Oliver has instructed officers to investigate the opportunities to re-introduce a passenger railway between Churston and outer Brixham. It would follow the line of the old steam railway which was closed decades ago. Houses have been built over the line at the Brixham end and the station is long gone. But Mr Oliver believes there is an opportunity to use the former line for a light railway with passenger-only traffic and possibly also a cycle route.

Read more: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Light-railway-Brixham-fewer-seafront-traffic/story-26487556-detail/story.html#ixzz3aR6jE4JU
Follow us: @TQHeraldExpress on Twitter | theheraldexpress on Facebook

Five Times Four Hundred

After last Fridays Five Photo Feature on Enviro 200s this week we double up to Enviro 400s. This time though we have so much choice I will just look at First Group Enviros in the new Olympia livery on Park & Ride duties…

33664 7 April 2012

33665 1 June 2013

33666 24 October 2013 ® Nick Rice (cc)

33422 6 August 2014

33422 20 February 2015

Nine Years of 32803

As I am coming up to the tenth anniversary of this little blog I shall be looking back over the last ten years at some of the notable events I have covered. Lets start with a photo from nine years ago this week. Still in First London red livery First Devon & Cornwall Dennis Trident 32803 operates the brand new service from The George. March 2006

By August 2006 this bus, along with the others had been rebuilt to single door and repainted into standard Barbie livery:
These buses were soon to be displaced off the Park & Ride by the new Enviros. For a while it looked like they would be shipped off elsewhere but they did remain in Plymouth. November 2010 saw this quite smart rear advert for Truronian Holidays on the back of 32803 as it waited at Crownhill on her way to Tavistock

This bus, along with some of the others then spent a while working in Cornwall but has recently reappeared back in Plymouth ironically to help replace the Park & Ride Enviros which are now working in Cornwall!

Photo credit: Nick Rice under Creative Commons Licence.

The News

• Focus Transport: Wigan-based Green Triangle Buses (GTB) has been bought by Rotala for £900,000 in cash.
• Focus Transport: GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY NEWS Plans to modernise railways in the Thames Valley are a year behind schedule after they proved to be "dramatically more expensive" than first thought

Recommended Reading

• The Circle of London Blog: Tower Transit, The Next Two...
• East Anglian Rail Scene: Speculation ~ Future Plans
• Humber Transport: New EYMS 66B
• Ian Visits: A look at Bermondsey’s railway dive-under construction site
• Ian Visits: Date announced for annual Imber Bus Rally
• Ian Visits: The abandoned travolator for London Bridge
• Ipswich Bus Blog: IPSWICH BUSES FLEET 1987
• The North West Bus Blog: Merseytravel commits to improve Kirkby Bus Station
• The North West Bus Blog: A £1m facelift for Leigh Bus Station
• Norwich Buses: New BorderBus 146 timetable released
• Norwich Buses: Unusual happenings in Norwich and a coach of fame visits the area
• Public Transport Experience: What Place a Pacer (3 of a Series) Remember Skippers?
• Public Transport Experience: New Face for a Pacer (4 of a Series) Porterbrook's Prophetic Proposals?
• Public Transport Experience: Fearnley Launches New Rail Service And Other Stories ...
• Public Transport Experience: Politicians Say Such Stupid Things But Journalists are Worse!
• Steves Bus and Train Page: Outer Hebrides Special
• Steves Bus and Train Page: Yarmouth Obs And Transient 32064
• Steves Bus and Train Page: The Train Departing From Beccles...
• Steves Bus and Train Page: Weekly News Round Up
• Transport Illustrated: Lincoln Open Day - At Rest

A touch of class at Derriford

Nick Rice usually takes great photos but this one he has posted really is superb:

©Nick Rice YG02DLJ 60918

Ok so First Devon (or Plymouth if you prefer) has cut a lot of services in the past two years but there are signs of growth, the 6 to Efford now runs Sundays and has been extended to Sainsbury's at Marsh Mills and the PR1a service from George P&R calls at Derriford Hospital enroute to the City. Another new service starting 5th Jan this year was the 81D which has 1 morning peak working running from the Torpoint Ferry on the Devonport side to Derriford H via Stoke village and Milehouse. The evening sees 2 peak hour workings running back from Derriford to the Ferry. The timetable ties in with the 81 coming off / going back onto the ferry so a useful like for those who live in Torpoint but work up at Derriford. I wouldn't call it a challenge to Plymouth Citybus' 34 although perhaps its a dip in the water by First, the Citybus 34 has been beset by poor time keeping in the past so some may welcome the alternative service. I saw a Dart on the 81D yesterday but this evenings working was P&R livery 60918 with probably nicer seats than the 34!

It does seem a bit of a mixed bag as the only one I have seen so far was a Solo!

Further Reading

Recommended Reading

• Public Transport Experience: Snozzle Shemozzle** Part 2 Dateline Monday 5th January
• East Anglian Rail Scene: January & Further ~ Engineering Work Summary
• Andys Bus Blog: Looking back... Nothing but overall advert Bristol VRs - part 1
• Andys Bus Blog: New Plaxton Elites enter service on the X5 between Cambridge & Oxford
• Ipswich Bus Blog: 66980 IN SERVICE AND 69005/69428 COME BACK
• Norwich Buses: Playing Trains: Sunday rail replacements

Pink Progress

The roll out of the bright pink fronted Park & Ride livery continues. We have featured the three Enviros in a previous post so lets catch up with the others... 32761

32762

Photo credit: Nick Rice under Creative Commons Licence.

60910

Photo credit: Nick Rice under Creative Commons Licence.

60918 looking stunning!

Photo credit: Nick Rice under Creative Commons Licence.

I believe the plan was to have three of the singledeck Volvos in the pink front scheme so there should be one more...

Related Posts

• PLYMOTHIAN TRANSIT 5 SEP 2014: Park & Ride
• PLYMOTHIAN TRANSIT 11 AUG 2014: Park & Ride going Pink

Featured Blog Post

• ON THIS BUS: Re-regulating Buses – A Game of Two Halves? So I often wonder if the time I spend reading the Nexus plans for a “Quality Contract” in the North East are minutes I shall never get back. They talk about “passenger benefits”, “local policy objectives” and “proportionate in its impact on communities”. Is this buses made complicated?

Reading List

• ANDYS BUS BLOG: Looking back... East Anglian vintage variety 1
• ANDYS BUS BLOG: Even more specially liveried Borismasters!
• BENJIS BUSES: 64 Plate Buses
• BRITISH BUS BUGLE: Council check: Somerset County Council
• EAST NORFOLK: Variations on a 3 Part One
• EAST NORFOLK: Variations on a 3 Part Two
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: HS3 - THE LINK ACROSS NORTHERN ENGLAND
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: 'VeRA' Back in Canada
• FYLDE BUS BLOG: Go to work on a Merc
• GREAT YARMOUTH BUS PAGE: 60808 spotted
• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: FIRST IPSWICH ARRIVAL
• LEON DANIELS: "Take a number 11...."
• NORFOLK SCENE: Day Overview, North Anglia ~ Sat 1st Nov 2014
• NORWICH BUSES: Photo Special - London Visit Part Two
• NORWICH BUSES: Norfolk Green Enviro300 Enters Service
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: Interesting Intersection of Interests [3]
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: First Bus Getting it Right? Powerful Publicity Pulls-in Passengers?
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: Worries Whilst Waiting at Watford [1]
• RICHARDS TRAM BLOG: MANCHESTER METROLINK OPENING OF AIRPORT EXTENSION
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Ipswich Saturday Selection
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Weekly News Round Up