Evolution: Tesco

1999 and 2010

2010- every little helps

Well we have reached the end of the year so I guess now is as good a time as any to look back at how this little blog has performed over the last twelve months.
At the end of last year this site was receiving aprox 4000 visits a month which I thought was amazing. Since August this year it has been over 6000 a month which is even more amazing to me.
So where are these visitors coming from?
Its no surprise that most come from this country but over 10% come from the USA. The third country in the list - Israel!

I can also see that there are small numbers of visitors viewing the site on mobile devices including 29 who are using the Sony PSP - which I didn't realise was possible!
The main referrers to the site are pretty much as expected:
The excellent Omnibuses blog being top with the other local blog - PTOTPA also sending quite a few across. The new Southern England Bus Scene is now sending a fair few too.
It was when I started looking at the most popular posts over the last year (although the count only started in April) that I got the biggest shock as there are three posts which outshine all the others by a considerable margin:
Number 1: Tesco Bus Timetables
Number 2: Citybus timetable changes September 2010
Number 3: The most expensive bus in the world
The top two I can kind of understand as I am sure people were searching for the timetables but the last one is most odd, especially as it dates back to 2007 - and is still ranked in the top five pages most months, indeed its the fifth most viewed posting this week! "Most expensive bus" being the 4th most popular search that has brought people to my site!

One of the joys this last year for me has been the excellent collection of photos from Jos Van Hemert that he has allowed me to use on Plymothian Transit. So we end the year with another of his shots with this fine Atlantean on the X50 taken at the top of my road way back on the 18th July 1987. Appropriately enough it is in the livery of Tesco for their Roborough Superstore.
©Jos Van Hemert: PCB Leyland Atlantean AN 130 - Ply., Keswick Cr - 18-07-1987
So to end 2010 I want to thank all the visitors, especially those that have contributed either through comments or allowing me to use their photos etc. The next post will be looking ahead to what we might expect to see in 2011. Hopefully my crystal ball will work better than it did this time last year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Citybus go shopping

Shoppers services being revamped in June

Another batch of service registrations for Plymouth Citybus have been posted this last week, this time they are shoppers services for Tesco and Asda starting 14th June: PH0000135/101 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Asda Estover Plymouth * Finish Point: Asda Estover Plymouth * Via: Asda Estover, carradale road, bowden cross, brake farm, peverell, ham green, keyham devonport, stoke, milehouse * Service Number: A1 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Wednesday only except bank holidays PH0000135/102 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Asda Endover Plymouth * Finish Point: Asda Endover Plymouth * Via: Asda Estover, carradale road, bowden cross, brake farm, peverell, ham green, keyham devonport, stoke, milehouse * Service Number: A3 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Wednesdays only exept bank holidays PH0000135/103 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivey Bridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivey Bridge * Via: South dartmoor leisure centre, cole lane, ivy bridge town hall, ivy bridge Julian road * Service Number: TLM1 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Wednesday and Fridays only except bank holidays PH0000135/104 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco lee Mill NR Ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco lee Mill NR Ivybridge * Via: Tesco Lee Mill, Kingsbridge, Churchstow, Aveton Gifford, Modbury, Yealmpton Brixton * Service Number: TLM2 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Tuesdays except bank holidays PH0000135/105 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee mill Nr ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee mill Nr ivybridge * Via: Sherford road, brixton, yealmpton, collaton cross, * Service Number: TLM3 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: mondays only PH0000135/106 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco lee mill Nr Ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco lee mill Nr Ivybridge * Via: Ivybridge, Bittaford, wrangaton, avonwick, south brent, dartington, totnes * Service Number: TLM4 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Monday only ecept bank holidays PH0000135/107 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Via: Sherford road, plymstock, turnchaple, green park road, goosewell, down thomas, heybrook bay * Service Number: TLM5 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: PH0000135/108 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Via: Sherford road, staddiscombe road, plymstock, charnhill way, knighton, wembury * Service Number: TLM6 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Mondays only except bank holidays PH0000135/109 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Ivybridge * Via: lee Mill Village, Sparkwell, Luton, Cornwood, lee Moor, wotter * Service Number: TLM7 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Monday only exept bank holidays PH0000135/110 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Iveybridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr Iveybridge * Via: Ivybridge, bittaford, south brent, dean prior, buckfastleigh * Service Number: TLM8 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Thursday only except bank holidays PH0000135/111 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr ivybridge * Finish Point: Tesco Lee Mill Nr ivybridge * Via: plymton, Moorland Road, Woodford, Merafield * Service Number: TLM9 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Tuesday only except bank holidays PH0000135/112 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: Crown Hill, Taunton Avenue, Ernesettle, st budeaux, demros road, fore street, church road, burraton cross, saltash * Service Number: T1 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Wednesday only exept bank holidays PH0000135/113 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: southway, dunnet road, tamerton foliot, leatfield drive, powsland drive * Service Number: T2 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Friday only Exept Bank Holidays PH0000135/114 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: crwnhill, honicknowley, combe park lane, kingtamerton, st budeaux, rennie avenue * Service Number: T3 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Tuesday only exept bank holidays PH0000135/115 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: Glenholt, Derriford hospital, estover,maistone,leigham * Service Number: T4 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Friday only exempt bank holidays PH0000135/116 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: crownwell, manadon, ham green, keyham, torpoint ferry, devonport, stoke * Service Number: T5 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Wednesdays only exept bank holidays PH0000135/117 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: Yelverton, horringbridbe grenofen, whitchurch, tavistock * Service Number: T6 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Tuesdays Only except bank holidays PH0000135/118 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: Crownhill, manadon, peverell, mutley plain, greenbank, prince rock, cattedown * Service Number: T7 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Thursday only except bank holidays PH0000135/119 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA * Registration Accepted * Starting Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Finish Point: Tesco Roborough Plymouth * Via: crownhill, culverway, deerpark, manamead road, lipson vale, mount gould, exeter street * Service Number: T8 * Service Type: Normal Stopping * Effective Date: 14-JUN-2010 * Other Details: Thursdays only exept bank holidays

Uncle Terry 073 Im not sitting on this! 074 Just a little nut TGP - the other Terry! Dads Daily - Manual Bus Wash Omnibuses Road to Nationalisation: Northern Correspondent's view on Arriva / DB Driver speaks back: response to a post back in 2008! Social Commentary: Interesting discussion on photography PTOTPA Blast from the past: LFJ847W Snap on Sunday: Hookways Transport of Delight Leon Daniels T T Tsui: The death of Leons old boss. Transport Illustrated Gloucester Another nice photo feature Highton-Ridley Distortion of the eye In the news Sneaky plan to encourage rail cuts? First on Twitter / Facebook 22-23 April Nothing for this area! Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 22-23 April 13:02 At 13:30 today all our services will be observing a one minute silence to celebrate the life of Ian Allen. Thank you for cooperation

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Tesco Free Bus Timetables

New timetables for Tesco Lee Mill and Roborough free bus services now on-line

It was announced shortly before Christmas that Plymouth Citybus will be operating the free bus services for Tesco Lee Mill and Roborough stores. The timetables for these services are now available on the Plymouth Citybus web site: Tesco Lee Mill (Timetables (pdf)) TLM1 From Ivybridge via Cole Lane, Exeter Road, Leonards Road, Marjorie Kelly Way, Western Road, St Johns Road, Ivydene Road, Cleeve Drive, Cornwood Road, A38 and Lee Mill Village to Tesco Lee Mill Wednesday and Fridays TLM2 From TESCO LEE MILL via Tesco Lee Mill, Lee Mill Village, A38, Deep Lane, Sherford Cross, Red Lion Hill, Plymouth Road A379, Aveton Gifford Village, Plymouth Road B3264 and A379, Cookworthy Road, Ilbert Road, Kingsbridge Bus Station, Prince of Wales Road, Ilbert Road and A381 West Alvington Hill to WEST ALVINGTON Tuesdays TLM3 From TESCO LEE MILL via Tesco Lee Mill, Lee Mill Village, A38, Deep Lane, Sherford Cross, A379, Underhay, Fore Street, Market Street, New Road, Torr Hill, Ford Road, B3186, Parsonage Road and The Green to NEWTON FERRERS Mondays TLM4 From TESCO LEE MILL via A38, Western Road, Marjorie Kelly Way, Leonards Road, Exeter Road, B3213, Wrangaton, A38, Exeter Road, B3372, A38, Avonwick, A385, Dartington, A385, Ashburton Road, Station Road, Coronation Road, Totnes Bridge, Pathfields, Parkers Way, Culverdale, Weston Lane, Duke Street, Courtfileds, Blackpost Lane, Higher Westonfields, Westonfields, Seymour Road and Totnes Bridge to Totnes Mondays TLM5 From TESCO LEE MILL via Lee Mill Village, A38, Sherford Road, Stanborough Road, Reservoir Road, Springfield Road, Furzehatt Road, Goosewell Road, Green Park Road, Hooe Road, Church Hill Road, Stanford Lane, Jennycliff Lane, Hooe Road, Holmwood Avenue, Green Park Road, Goosewell Road, Staddiscombe Road, Bovisand Road, Down Thomas, Renney Road, Langlands Drive and Westllake Rise to Heybrook Bay Thursdays TLM6 From TESCO LEE MILL via Lee Mill Village, A38, Sherford Road, Springfield Road, Reservior Road, Wembury Road, Staddiscombe Road, Goosewell Road, Green Park Road, Radford Park Road, Dean Cross Road, Horn Cross Road, Stanborough Road, Dunstone Drive, Dolphin Court Road, Furzehatt Road, Springfield Road, Reservior Road, Wembury Road, KNighton Road, Church Road, Southland Park Road, Sea View Drive and Mewstone Avenue to WEMBURY Mondays TLM7 From WOTTER via Wotter Village, Lee Moor Village, Quick Bridge, Cornwood, Lutton, New Road, Sparkwell, Beechwood Cross, Langage Cross, A38 and Lee Mill Village to TESCO LEE MILL Mondays TLM8 From TESCO LEE MILL via Lee Mill Slip Road, A38, Western Road, Marjorie Kelly Way, Leonards Road, Exeter Road, B3213, Bittaford, Wrangaton, A38, B3372 Exeter Road (South Brent), A38, B3380, Woodholme Car Park, B3380, B3352, Pear Tree Cross, Western Road, West Street, East Street, Eastern Road and Balland Lane to ASHBURTON School Thursdays TLM9 From TESCO LEE MILL via Tesco Lee Mill, Lee Mill Village, A38, Deep Lane, Wolverwood Lane, Cherry Tree Lane, St Maurice Road, Longcause, George Lane, Ridgeway, Hillcrest Drive, Glen Road, Plymouth Road, Strode Road, Newnham Road, Clifton Avenue, Boringdon Hill, Crossway, Courland Crescent, Plymbridge Road, Larkham Lane, St Margarets Road, Lynwood Avenue, Woodford Avenue, Plymouth Road, Cot Hill, Merrafield Road, Merrafield Rise, Amodos Rise, Amados Drive, Merafield Drive, Kennel Hill, Underwood Road, Dark Street Lane and Mudge Way to DERRIFORD HOSPITAL Tuesday (I am not convinced that they really mean it goes to Derriford Hospital as its not mentioned on the actual timetable!) Tesco Robrough (Timetables pdf) T1 From Saltash St Annes (Callington Road) via Callington Road Fire Station, Liskeard Road, Fairmead Road, Oaklands Drive, Castlemead Drive, Maybrook Drive, Fairway, Church Road, St Stephens Road, Wearde Road, Broad Walk, Beatrice Avenue, St Stephens Road, Fore Street, Tamar Bridge, Pemros Road, Victoria Road, Crownhill Road, Budshead Road, Biggin Hill, Lakeside Drive, Uxbridge Drive, Biggin Hill, Budshead Road, Taunton Avenue, Budshead Road, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Wednesdays T2 From Powisland via Powisland Drive, Roborough Avenue, Upton Drive, Dunraven Drive, Powisland Drive, Roborough Avenue, Moorland View, Upland Drive, Dunraven Drive, Powisland Drive, Looseleigh Lane, Leatfield Drive, Loosesleigh Lane, Tamarton Foliot Road, Fore Street, Whitsoncross Lane, Linton Road, Linton Close, Cunningham Road, Linton Close, Linton Road, Whitsoncross Lane, Fore Street, Tamarton Foliot Road, Dunet Road, Clittaford Road, Southway Drive, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Fridays T3 From Barne Barton via Rennie Avenue, Foulston Avenue, Poole Park Road, Victoria Road, Peters Park Lane, Western Mill Road, Kings Tamerton Road, Roman Way, Crownhill Road, Coobe Park Lane, Little Dock Lane, Honicknowle Green, Honicknowle Lane, Cobbett Road, Chaucer Way, St Peters Road, Ruskin Stores, Crownhill Road, Budshead Way, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Tuesday T4 From Leigham via Barnstaple Close, Bampton Close, Novorossisk Road, Pattison Drive, Weir Road, Colwill Road, Novorossisk Road, Dover Road, Miller Way, Keswick Crescent, Miller Way, Derriford Road, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Tavistock Road, Morgan Road, Plymbridge Road, Glenfield Road, Glenfield Way (Glenholt Park), Glenfield Road, Plymbridge Road, Morgan Road, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Fridays T5 From Stoke Village via Devonport Road, Kings Road, Devonport Hill, Cumberland Road, Chapel Street, Park Avenue, Ferry Road, Pottery Road (Torpoint Ferry Terminal), Ferry Road, Park Avenue, Albert Road, Keyham Road, Saltash Road, Admiralty Street, Royal Navy Avenue, Henderson Avenue, Beacon Park Road, North Prospect Road, Ham Drive, Outland Road, Manadon Roundabout, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Wednesday T6 From Tavistock via Plymouth Road (Morrisons), Drake Monument, Plymouth Road, Tavistock Bus Station, Plymouth Road, Roundabout, Tavistock Shops, Violet Lane, Meavy Way (Bus Turns around), Green Lane (Cattle Grid), Golf Club Down Road, Whitchurch Road, Follow to Post Office, Anderton Lane, under Bridge to the main road A386, Horrabridge Village, Graybridge Road, Pencreber Road, Station Road, A386, Yelverton (Bus Stop) and A386 to Tesco Roborough Tuesday T7 From Prince Rock Heles Terrace via Laira Bridge Road, Elliot Road, South Milton Street, Cattedown Road, Alvington Street, Elliot Road, Embankment Road, Cattedown Roundabout, Tothill Road, Tothill Avenue, Greenbank Road, Mutley Plain, Peverell Park Road, Outland Road, Manadon Roundabout, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Thursday T8 From Exeter Street Viaduct via Charles Street, Drake Circus, North Hill, Greenbank Road, Tothill Avenue, Beaumont Road, Mount Gould Road, Lipson Road, Queens Road, Longfield Place, Greenbank Road, Alexandra Road, Lipson Vale, Old Laira Road, Pike Road, Blandford Road, Lower Compton Road, Compton Park Road, Mannamead Road, Eggbuckland Road, Culver Way, Charfield Drive, Church Hill, Fort Austin Avenue, Crownhill Road, Meavy Way, Tavistock Road, Woolwell Road and Woolwell Crescent to Tesco Roborough Thursday I was aiming to have maps available for these services but my computer / the internet is not playing ball tonight! Further Reading Omnibuses: 7 20 12 10 First on Twitter 4 Jan 2010 11:18 JANUARY SALE! Save upto £75 off select First3&6 month passes - now available online! 11:54 Change to Torbay service 64/65 timetable from 24th Jan 11:55 Change to Devon service X80/X81 timetable from 24th Jan Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 4 Jan 2010 21:59 (fb) WOW! We have reached 326 fans already. It's great news that so many of our customers wish to use Facebook as a way of communicating with us - and to allow us to communicate with them. Can we reach 500 fans before the end of January? Please tell all your friends about our Facebook page and our Twitter account.

Every Little Helps

Citybus get Tesco Free Bus contract for 2010

If you follow Citybus on Twitter you will have seen this message yesterday: We are delighted to announce a partnership with Tesco Lee Mill & Roborough to deliver free shopper buses from Jan 18. Details early New Year. It was back on the 25th July 2008 that Citybus gave up operating the Tesco and Asda free buses. I must admit I thought it was more recent than that! Anyway all of this gves a really good excuse to post another of AECRegents excellent photos: ©AECRegent. 129, Milehouse, July 1993 Click the photo to go to AECRegents Flickr account to explore more great photos.

Further Reading Plymothian Transit: Citybus Changes (End to free Tesco buses!)   Recommended Links Quite a few to catch up on... Omnibuses: Get Smart A Transport of Delight: Revenue stream Omnibuses: A Rare Toppling Omnibuses: Family Friendly Travel A Transport of Delight: TM Travel sold PTOTPA: FDC Repaints Leon Daniels: How I learned about engineering (Nice post!)

Every Little Helps

"The current Tesco Petrol fleet in Plymouth”

The current Tesco Petrol fleet in Plymouth captured on camera over the past month or so... These are ERF ECT tankers but before these arrived there were a few 02 registered ERF ECS tankers: and at least a couple of Y registered ones before that:

Tesco

Tesco operate a large smart fleet of lorries across the country to service all its stores. This fine looking beast a Mercedes Axor is pictured at The George, Plymouth having just left the Roborough store.
As usual there are more photos like this on my Flickr site. There is also a new Flickr Group just for Supermarket vehicles which will hopefully soon attract photos from across the country

Supermarket Tankers

I have neglected the lorries of Plymouth for a while so I will start to put that right over the next few weeks and illustrate some of the national fleets working in Plymouth along with some of the Plymouth based smaller companies.

The national supermarket chains are now major players in the petrol business so there are many petrol tankers in supermarket livery. Two locally based tankers are shown above for Asda and Tesco.