Green Bus Stops and Fares Cap Extended

I will be posting final details of next weekend timetable changes later in the week as quite a few of the new timetables have yet to appear on Traveline. So just a few bits of pieces tonight…

Green Bus Stops

LIVING-ROOFED bus shelters are making a scheduled stop in Tavistock.

The town council, in partnership with Launceston firm Fernbank Advertising, is providing the new shelters with mini-gardens on top this month.

The shelters have started appearing in the town centre and their roofs will be planted in the next few weeks.

The roofs will be planted with sedums, lit by solar power and use a dusk-til-dawn light sensor. Sedums are tolerant of dry windswept conditions in shallow soils. Environmental gardeners have already welcomed the garden roof as yet another ‘green’ initiative to support the council’s policy of sustainability and environmental commitment. The idea is for the gardens in the sky to help capture carbon emissions from traffic, encourage insect life and reduce run-off and flooding.

Tavistock Today

Bus Fare Cap Extended

Bus passengers in England will be able to keep travelling for £2 after the government extended funding by another £500m, easing fears about a further decline in local services.

The fare cap on most local buses, brought in as a temporary measure last year to boost patronage, will be extended until the end of October and then for another 13 months at £2.50 for a single journey, in a move that the Department for Transport said would support people with the cost of living and ensure stability in the sector.

Bus operators, who had warned that up to 15% of routes could be lost when existing funding was due to run out at the end of June, welcomed the news but said it would not be enough to save every service.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “By extending the £2 fare cap, we’re making sure bus travel remains accessible and affordable for everyone, while helping to ease cost of living pressures.

“Buses connect our communities and play a vital role in growing the economy; they transport people to work, take our kids to school and make sure patients can get to doctors’ appointments. That’s why we’re determined to protect local routes and encourage more people on to the bus, ensuring people can get around easily and in an affordable way.”

Guardian

Trains to Tavistock?

The much-wanted reopening of the Tavistock to Plymouth rail link has moved up the list of priorities for rail projects.

There has been a long-held ambition for the re-opening the link between Tavistock and Plymouth is to encourage people to use rail services, and the reinstatement of the rail line to Tavistock is identified in the 20-year plan of the Peninsula Rail Task Force.

Before Christmas, Damien Jones, the county’s head of transport coordination, had told West Devon councillors that the restoration of the Tavistock-Bere Alston link had moved up in the list of Department for Transport projects.

Preparatory work has been carried out by Network Rail on signalling at Bere Alston, where the line currently terminates, in advance of the possible return to trains to Tavistock.

It follows the successful reopening of the Okehampton branch last month, and with Devon County Council getting £50,000 towards the next stage of works towards the rebuilding the line between Tavistock and Bere Alston in Devon, connecting Tavistock and Plymouth by rail, work on that business case has begun.

The former Tavistock North station opened in June 1890, but closed on May 6, 1968, as part of the Beeching Axe.

However, the track bed south of Tavistock is almost intact to Bere Alston, where it joins the present-day Tamar Valley Line, with an engineering assessment in 2009 showing that the rail-bed, bridges and tunnels between Bere Alston and Tavistock were in sound condition.

But with the success of the Okehampton railway line reopening, Devon has shown that it can deliver on rail projects, and Government officials have woken up to the fact that bringing the railway back to Tavistock would connect the West Devon market town with Plymouth.

At a recent West Devon meeting, Mr Jones told councillors that while there were hundreds of projects on the shortlist, the reopening of the Tavistock line had been moving up the list as plenty of work had already been done.

“If we can get a business case, we know a number of officers are keen on this project and we could draw down more development funding to get the scheme moving forward,” he added.

The project is being sold as linking Tavistock to Plymouth, rather than Bere Alston were the actual link and line extension would be from, because Plymouth is more well-known than Bere Alston.

The plan would be to run an increased service into Plymouth via St Budeaux and Devonport Dockyard, with signalling ‘solutions’ meaning the line could cope with the increased rail traffic without interfering with the branch line services to Gunnislake.

At Devon County Council’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday, councillors backed a motion calling for more support for the revival of the railways across the whole county, which included the development of the North of Dartmoor line, connecting Plymouth, via Okehampton and Tavistock.

Dave Black, head of planning, transportation and environment, in his report to the cabinet, said: “The Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund monies secured by the County Council for Tavistock to Plymouth rail line is an important milestone as it means it is now formally recognised by Government as a pipeline rail industry scheme. We have seen with Cullompton Railway Station that the Ideas Fund led to it gaining Strategic Outline Business Case approval and unlocking future development funding.

“We are prioritising this work as the next phase of the northern route railway and hope to build on the momentum gained from the successful Dartmoor Line reopening. This was a hugely successful project showcasing what can be achieved when local authorities, the rail industry and the local community work closely together. The Tavistock to Plymouth Rail business case work involving partners will start in January 2022.

“Decarbonisation of transport and tackling climate change is now a much higher priority for local authorities. While rail is already a low carbon mode of transport, the South West has ageing diesel train fleets and so low carbon traction options, including the transfer of more road freight to rail, are key aspirations for the Peninsula region.”

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/plymouth-tavistock-railway-link-moving-6486855

Will it happen?  I certainly hope so but do worry that the cash just wont be there when its really needed…

© Foulger Railway Photography [cc] August 2017

A blast from the past:

© Roger Joanes [cc] Bere Alston.

Tavistock On Sunday

Join us on Sunday for a day out in 1968.
Tavistock will enjoy an authentic recreation of its bus services from 50 years ago with our mini-running day, featuring a cast of specially invited vehicles.

More details at www.tvagwot.org.uk

The weather looks like its going to be perfect too. Sadly its looking unlikely I can get there but its clearly the place to be this weekend!

 

Tavistock Event : New Date

 

The Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust has announced a new date for the Tavistock running day which was postponed in March due to the snow:

Sunday 24 June 2018

Radiating from the former Western National Tavistock Bus Station, free vintage bus services will operate to Princetown, Yelverton, Calstock, Metherell, Milton Abbot, Lamerton, Lydford and others, taking in the beautiful scenery of Dartmoor and mid-Devon.

We have assembled vehicles to represent the allocation of Western National’s Tavistock depot in 1968, plus one or two representatives of local independent operators, all giving free rides on authentic routes.

A feeder service from Plymouth will depart from Royal Parade (Stop A21) at 0910 (arr. Tavistock 1000), with return departing Tavistock Bus Station at 1645 (arr. Plymouth 1735). This service will run via Plymouth Railway Station in each direction. Another feeder service will operate from Okehampton, departing Fore Street Arcade (Stop C) at 0900 (arr. Tavistock 1000) with return departing Tavistock Bus Station at 1700 (arr. Okehampton 1800). Travel on all services will be on a first come, first served basis.

Vehicle owners: Please note that, because of the nature of this recreation and limitations on layover space, participation in this event is by invitation only. However, we’d be delighted to welcome your vehicle to our other running days throughout the year and hope that you'll enjoy the opportunity to come along to Tavistock as a passenger, perhaps taking advantage of our feeder services as detailed above.

More details including the link to buy the program and also the buses expected can be found on their page here

Don't forget this Sunday…

The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust Event at Tavistock:

Join us on Sunday when our Tavistock Vintage Bus Running Day will be officially launched by the Mayor of Tavistock, who will signal away the first departure of the day, a Bristol LD. The launch will echo precisely the opening of Tavistock's bus station, 60 years ago to the month....
Programmes now available from Wendy's Kiosk at Tavistock Bus Station, or order online atwww.tvagwot.org.uk (First Class dispatch until 15 March).

And the all important weather for the day?

so should be fine for photographs - it will be dry - but wrap up well as it will be bitterly cold!

Stagecoach Bus 1 Sunday timetable

Hopefully see some of you there!

Tavistock Vintage Bus Running Day

A date for your diaries…

 

The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust have an event which, if its anything like everything else they do will be a class event and well worth the trip

We're very excited about our Mini Running Day in Tavistock, where a specially invited selection of buses will recreate the West Devon scene from 50 years ago. Join us for the time warp.

 

The Trust organises regular vintage bus running days, where you are able to enjoy free rides and sample a wide range of vehicles in their former habitats.

At our running days, you observe first-hand how the vehicles performed in service and build your own sense of how bus and coach travel has developed through the generations.
Our events have gained a nationwide reputation for authenticity and adventure, recreating the full experience of road transport in bygone days. They have become established, popular attractions for local communities and enthusiasts alike.

Details for other events they are holding this year can be found here

 

 

 

One der full

We have been catching up with Stagecoach route branding this week so we end the week with the new branding for the recently revamped Tavistock service 1

10488 with new route branding

10489 10490 10493

You still get older buses on the service as well as can be seen with Trident 18079 on Friday last week:

Of course the last changes have not been popular with all passengers

Residents outraged by the firm's decision to axe its X1 route through Derriford spoke up at a public meeting at Derriford United Reformed Church about the impact bus cuts have had on their community. Campaigners say changes are forcing everyone to walk longer to catch a bus - a move which is having a big effect on the vulnerable and elderly.

Stagecoach has previously argued that changes it has made over the X1 - which means residents now need to walk to Runway Road or Derriford Hospital to catch a bus - still allows people to catch a service within walking distance.

"We just hope that when the company goes back and has further meetings, it will resolve the problems that Tavistock and Derriford people - although they are separate issues - have and put the X1 back on again.

The Herald

Devon Cutbacks Part 4

Devon County Council Bus Cutbacks

Devon County Council have looked at their supported bus network to try and come up with some substantial savings. Over a series of posts we look at some of the individual routes which will be affected, focusing on those which come into the greater Plymothian Transit area.

To help meet the £50 million budget reduction required by Government spending cuts next year, we now face making savings of £1.7m from our annual public transport budget. It will be the first time that we have proposed making service reductions for four years. Most bus services in Devon are run commercially by bus companies at no cost to the Council. However, we spend £5.376m a year to support nearly 200 public bus services, carrying around 4.5m passengers every year. These services would not run without this support. We also manage the National Bus Pass Scheme for 175,000 pass holders in Devon. This costs us more than £9m every year. Efficiencies have already been achieved across the wider Transport Coordination Service to meet previous savings.

We need your help

We would like to find out what you think about our proposals to reduce services. Please let us know what their impact might be on you. The proposals would start to come into effect during the second half of 2015.

This consultation closes on Monday 20 April 2015. We want to hear what you think about our proposals. To give us your comments use the online feedback form below. Important: Before completing the questions read the proposal/s for the public transport service/s relevant to you. If you begin to complete the questions and leave the page before submitting your feedback, your answers will not be saved.

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL FEEDBACK FORM

Service 86

Tavistock - Bishopsmead - Horrabridge - Yelverton - Woolwell - Plymouth

Proposal

Withdrawal of the late evening service - 2145, 2245, 2345 departures from Plymouth and 2150 and 2250 from Tavistock Monday - Saturday. 1845, 1945, 2045, 2145 and 2255 departures from Plymouth and 1945, 2045, 2145 and 2255 departures from Tavistock on Sunday and Public Holidays

About 50% of patronage is within, or from Plymouth

Estimated no.of passengers journeys per year (ie one way trips) no longer catered for on this or alternative services: 6,055

Annual Saving: £30,602

I can see this one causing a few issues if it does get implemented! Unless the bus operators step in an run some commercial evening services it means the last bus to Tavistock will be before 9pm! Even earlier on Sundays.

Current Map

Links

• Current Timetable 83 83A 86
• Plymothian Bus Services 86

Recommended Reading

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New Timetables First Devon 79

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

79 Tavistock - Gunnislake - Callington

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

Timetable

First Service 79 Leaflet

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

Railway Week: All Available Options

Bit of a rail theme this week as I attempt to catch up on some of the railway news from the last few weeks

A plan to reopen the train line from Tavistock to Plymouth as an alternative to the vulnerable Dawlish line is still under discussion, the Transport Secretary said today. The Transport Secretary has said “all the available options” will be examined in an effort to avoid another disaster on the Great Western coastal route at Dawlish

A report by Network Rail, which manages the tracks, appeared to rule out building an alternative or additional mainline railway in Devon because it lacked value for money.

But minister Patrick McLoughlin signalled a cross-country link remained on the table after being pressed by West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox in the House of Commons.

During Transport Questions in the Commons, Mr Cox, Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon, said the area wanted the line through Okehampton to Tavistock and Plymouth to be re-opened and preferably electrified.

He asked: “Will he examine closely the compelling case for the reopening of the line via Okehampton on the grounds of cost and resilience and of the economic benefits that it would bring to a wide swathe of economic areas?”

Mr McLoughlin replied: “As we all saw last winter, resilience for the South West is incredibly important, and I am determined to look at all the available options.”

THE EVENING HERALD 24 OCTOBER 2014

In all reality this is a bit of a non-story as the minister is not committing to anything or ruling anything out. Nothing has changed. Nothing is happening!

Tim Peters (cc) The old line through Tavistock January 2010

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• EAST NORFOLK: Bus & Coach Preservation ~ November 2014 The November issue of Bus & Coach Preservation contains content of much interest to the local bus enthusiast
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• LANCASTER OMNIBUS: Winter Timetable for the 555 Stagecoach's mighty 555 service, that links Lancaster with Kendal, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick starts its Winter timetable on November 2nd.

Oakleys Party Bus Services

Beacon 98

PH1016164/18 - HOLSWORTHY LTD T/A BEACON GARAGE, DOLTON BEACON, DOLTON, WINKLEIGH, EX19 8PS

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Tavistock and Yelverton given service number WD98 effective from 19-Apr-2014.

Beacon 55/56

PH1016164/19 - HOLSWORTHY LTD T/A BEACON GARAGE, DOLTON BEACON, DOLTON, WINKLEIGH, EX19 8PS

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Tavistock Bus Station and Yelverton given service number 55/56 effective from 19-Apr-2014..

Oakleys 55

PH1091418/1 - PAUL SIMON OAKLEY T/A OAKLEYS PARTY LIMOS, 4 NEWNHAM ROAD, COLEBROOK, PLYMOUTH, PL7 4AN Registration

• Starting Point: Milton Combe
• Finish Point: Milton Combe
• Via: Yelverton Tavistock
• Service Number: 55
• Service Type: Normal stopping
• Effective Date: 22 April 2014
• Other Details: Monday to Saturday, not bank holidays.

Oakleys 98

PH1091418/2 - PAUL SIMON OAKLEY T/A OAKLEYS PARTY LIMOS, 4 NEWNHAM ROAD, COLEBROOK, PLYMOUTH, PL7 4AN Registration

• Starting Point: Tavistock Bus Station
• Finish Point: Tavistock Bus Station
• Via: Merrivale Princetown
• Service Number: 98
• Service Type: Normal stopping
• Effective Date: 22 April 2014
• Other Details: Monday to Saturday, not bank holidays.

This is very short notice as the service has already started! Traveline South West still has the old timetables for Beacon as being current but does mention that Oakleys will be running the services from the 22nd April. The Devon County web site still shows the service as being with Beacon. Their own web site is purely for the other side of their business – the party limos. As you can see from the VOSA route licence numbers these are the first bus services operated by Oakleys. I am sure their entry into the tendered services market has been warmly welcomed by Devon County Council!

55 Timetable PDF

98 Timetable PDF

Does anyone know what they are using on the new services? The service is down as being low floor so I guess they must have a low floor Dart or a Solo? Of course they do have at least one low floor Optare bus...

©Nick Rice (cc)

Streamlining

Plymouth Herald: First bus announces changes to Plymouth services

A BUS firm has announced it will be ‘streamlining’ its services in Plymouth, south Devon and East Cornwall. First bus said the changes will be made in May with the most significant starting on May 25 restructuring the Plymouth to Tavistock route. The firm said there would also be changes to the Woolwell service which now calls at The George Park & Ride site.

• Service 4 (Plymouth City Centre to Keyham): due to changes to 15 service, buses will now run 10 minutes later than current timetable.
• Service 15 (Plymouth City Centre to Derriford, Roborough and Woolwell): revised timetable providing 20 minute service through to Woolwell from city centre during peak periods with most journeys operating through The George Park & Ride site for those using the Park & Ride for Derriford. During off peak periods, the Woolwell service will operate on a 20/40 minute frequency. Combined with Service 86, there will now be up to five buses an hour towards Derriford during peak periods.
• Service 48 (Plymouth to Wembury): On Sunday, one journey a day will extend from Burrator to Exeter, which will effectively be Service 82.
• Service 83 (Plymouth to Yelverton and Tavistock): Frequency of timetable is changing so there is one bus every 30 minutes which will run in conjunction with Service 86. During peak periods, there will be four buses an hour and three buses an hour during off peak times. Evening journeys from Milehouse will be withdrawn and will serve Mutley instead.
• Service 84 (Plymouth to Derriford and Tavistock): Service 84 is being withdrawn but a direct service to Tavistock will be introduced instead.
• Service 86 (Plymouth to Derriford and Tavistock): Service 86 is being enhanced to run every 30 minutes during peak periods and hourly at off peak times. Off peak, it will form part of the 20 minute headway with Service 15 from Plymouth to Derriford. Along with Service 83, there will be four buses an hour during peak times and three buses an hour off peak. Off peak journeys into Plymouth will operate via The George Park & Ride site. Evening Service 83s will run as Service 86 to Mutley.

Customers who want more information about the changes or timetables should visit www.firstgroup.com/devon.

I will have a closer look at these changes once the full timetables are published. It sounds complicated but I am sure that's just the way it has been written up. It looks like an increase in Tavistock services at peak times at least and also quite an increase for Derriford Hospital - The George Park & Ride which represents a big attack on Target Travels service.

One thing which caught my eye was the last line suggesting you visit www.firstgroup.com/devon for more information...

Of course the full url you need is www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall

where you can indeed find the latest updates - on Somerset buses! I am sure the details of these Devon changes will appear on their web site in due course, just a shame they were not there when the story was published by The Herald. It does not look good when you give out the wrong web site address and then don't have the information there anyway!
However, I know a lot of people at Derriford will be looking out for these details with anticipation!

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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.

13 March: Good morning everyone, The 0740 2 from Royal parade will not be operating I'm afraid due to an operational issue. Sorry for any disruption this causes.

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The battle for Tavistock 2014

Question two of our survey was looking at the Tavistock corridor

Although there are nearly three times as many people who think that Citybus will reign supreme rather than First it has to be said the overall picture is more balanced than I expected with Citybus having the edge but two thirds of you see both operators still slugging it out at the end of the year.

 

©Tom Pearce

©Nick Rice
Both companies save their best kit for the Tavistock routes

There were a few extra comments left after this question:

First still have 75% of customers on this corridor, i don't think this will change that much, Citybus will not be able to make a profit on this corridor

Probably see First running more often Tavistock direct to Derriford.

Plymouth city bus will continue on the winning side, and perhaps some of the 2012 Volvos will enter into the blue flash livery to give extra services!

Whilst I have no option other than to say that we all live in a very competitive world nowadays :-( I do find it very sad that two reputable(?) concerns are fighting over a relative backwater (let's face it, this isn't London or any other densely populated corridor which we're discussing here) when they could be,and should be concentrating on providing and improving services in their already established areas of operation for their passengers (or customers whatever you prefer to call the paying punters nowadays) benefit which hopefully would repay the respective operator by improving their passenger numbers and consequent revenue. All this competition and subsequent over provision of bus services is undoubtedly very unfortunate and quite unnecessary really,and is a gross waste of manpower and resources

Despite the superior buses of PCT the better headway always seems to win as passengers will always get on what comes first, vehicle not company.

Both companies to arrange a compromise on all routes

I can't see Citybus giving up this one too easily. If First stick around, they will have to get used to sharing the corridor.

Because Plymouth city bus have wifi on their buses which is bound to make people want to travel on them

Next time we look at the Torpoint services.

Fare enough for First?

First Devon & Cornwall have given details of their new timetable for the Tavistock services in January:

5 January 2014 First 83 86

There are a few small changes to timetables due to Devon County Council awarding us the tender to operate evening journeys. As the Sunday daytime timetable is now operated wholly on a commercial basis (no journeys are financially supported by Devon County Council), this means tickets sold by other operators will no longer be valid for use on return journeys during the daytime. However, as evening journeys are supported by Devon County Council (after 1835) tickets sold by other operators may be used on these return journeys. All evening journeys from Plymouth will now depart from Royal Parade, Stand A19 (and no longer serve the bus station). New paper timetable guides will be available from our travel shops in Plymouth Bus Station and The George Park & Ride from 18 December.

First Devon 12 Dec 2013

Timetable PDF

The most interesting news coming from First though is from their Cornwall operations:

 

5 January 2014 First Cornwall Fares

On 5 January were changing the types of tickets we sell, and their prices. Please read the information below which we've put together to help explain what the changes are and why we are making them.
Are fares going up?
Yes, many people will find their fares have increased, although a number will find theirs have been reduced.
Why are fares going up?
There are a number of reasons why we need to increase the fares we charge. All of them are to do with covering the increased costs of running buses.
Are all the fares rising by the same amount?
No. Weve taken the decision to overhaul all our fares, to provide a much simpler set of fares that can be easily understood and communicated to customers. It means there will be fewer fares for single and return journeys, and there will be a new range of tickets for people who travel regularly.
Why change the ticket types?
Our existing tickets havent been reviewed for many, many years.
We want to have a range of easy to understand tickets. Tickets that are easy to choose between and are attractive and simple enough to appeal to visitors as well as local residents.
Will some ticket types disappear?
Yes. Well be keeping single and return tickets, but all the existing passes will be replaced by a range of 1, 2, 3 and 7 day tickets and a month ticket. The current 10 and 14 journey tickets will no longer be available, and neither will tickets over a month long.
Will there still be child tickets?
Yes, and we are extending the ages covered by child tickets to 5-16 years inclusive.
Will the child discount be changing?
Yes, child fares will be reduced to half of the full adult fare. Child versions of every ticket will be available, at half the adult fare.
Will dog fares be going up?
We are removing the charge for dogs altogether.
Will return fares be changing?
Although many of our fares are increasing, we are improving the discount return fares offer over buying two single tickets. Return fares will now be one and a half times the single fare.
We are also changing the conditions of return fares. Return tickets will now be valid for up to 5 days from the date the ticket was purchased.
Will 1 and 3 day tickets still be sold?
Yes. Were also introducing a 2 day ticket. So well be offering 1,2,3 and 7 day tickets and a month tickets.
Will Family Tickets be Changing?
We are increasing our range of family tickets. Well now offer 1, 2, 3 and 7 day family tickets. Family ticket prices will be based on the price of 2 adults, meaning that children are free.
Were also removing the limit on the number of children who can travel on a family ticket. They will allow travel for up to two adults and an unlimited number of children.
Will the concession pre 9.30am post 11pm ticket still be available?
Yes, our revised 'Early Bird' ticket is available to concession and disabled pass holders for travel before 9.30am and after 11pm. The price is now £2.00 for any single trip.
What will I pay from 5 January?
- Single and returns -
Current single fare 90p - £2.00 New single fare £2.00 New return fare £3.00
Current single fare £2.05 - £2.95 New single fare £3.00 New return fare £4.50
Current single fare £3.00 - £4.20 New single fare £4.00 New return fare £6.00
Current single fare £4.20 - £6.95 New single fare £5.00 New return fare £7.50
- Multi use tickets -
Cornwall 1 day: Adult £10.00, Child £5.00, Family £20.00 Cornwall 2 day: Adult £15.00, Child £7.50, Family £30.00 Cornwall 3 day: Adult £20.00, Child £10.00, Family £40.00 Cornwall 7 day: Adult £25.00, Child £12.50, Family £50.00 Cornwall Month: Adult £100.00, Child £50.00, Family n/a
To view the above information and fares in an A5 leaflet format (which can also be printed) please click below. Copies of this leaflet will also be available on bus and from our travel shops in Penzance and Truro bus stations from 16 December.

First Devon 12 Dec 2013

 

There is a lot to take in with with these massive changes and I am sure it will take a day or two before the full impact starts to reach people in Cornwall as some people will see some very steep rises in fares (90p to £2 single is a noticeable increase!) whilst some will clearly see reductions (£6.95 single down to £5) The much more simple fare structure is a brave one as its a big jump between fares – an extra stop could end up costing £1 extra! First are clearly wanting to push people to their multi-use tickets but these are not cheap! The current Day ticket for Cornwall is £7.20 for an adult – now up to £10. Ouch!

The most interesting change is the “unlimited number of children” on the family ticket. That is a brave move and one which potentially opens up a minefield. Do users have to prove that all the children with them are family members? It has to be noted that the £20 family ticket is up from the current £12.40 although limited to 2 adults and 3 children. These increase put the tickets on the same prices as the current Ride Cornwall ticket at £10 adult and £20 family (3 children) which is of course valid on all operators buses and the trains so seems much better value.

It will be very interesting over the coming days to see the public response to these changes.

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Plymothian Bus Services: First Tavistock 83 86 Page

Public Transpott Experience: Mikey was in the office watching the tracker, monitoring the slow progress of buses around the network and tweeting regular updates to the world

Southern England Bus Scene: This week, we will be looking at some recent old photos from the island, looking at Southern Vectis.

The Circle of London However no one can disagree that the Bus scene in London is becoming increasingly boring,

Ian Visits: A little over 100 years ago a radical new form of underground railway was proposed — a monorail of most unusual design, but one that would be designed like an underground roller coaster with sharp declines and ascents between stations

Leon Daniels:Regular readers will remember the story from four years ago, the one about the old London bus we found in France - of all places.

Southern England Former London United Dennis Dart 817 (G526VYE) was bought in around the turn of the millenium

Southern England 743 is one of only two Olympians native to Southern Vectis to still be in service with the company.

Public Transport Experience: Chiltern Railways will open the first new rail link between two major British cities (Oxford and London!) for 100 years

Public Transport Experience Bicester has gown so much, the council tax payers were told, that it needed better shopping and leisure facilities as befits a vibrant and growing community. Or, to paraphrase, there's cash to be grabbed so grab it.

First TAVISTOCK!

Pretty much as we expected, the first TAVISTOCK name has now started to appear on the former Park & Ride Enviros.

© Nick Rice (cc)
First Enviro I have seen with 'Tavistock' names on the sides, expect from timetable changes these to move onto the 83/86s. Be interesting to see what First put onto the Park & Ride services.

Its like deja vue all over again

As part of a side project going back through the Plymothian Transit archives I was looking back at February 2007 and came across these photos:

Both Photographs ©Terry Stapley (used with permission back in 2007 so I am sure he wont mind them being repeated!)
Both photos were taken by Terry Stapley on the 19th July 1988 when Plymouth Citybus  and Western National were having a bit of a ding dong. I am guessing that the X84 version was an express version of the standard 84. This time round it seems Citybus are operating the express against First. Back then I only used the Western National service as a VR beat an Atlantean any day. It seems this time round Citybus will clearly have the edge in terms of vehicles used.

Photos originally posted on Blast from the past 21 February 2007

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