Training Tomorrows Drivers

First are really keen to get some more drivers...

First Devon driver recruitment day Plymouth Bus Depot (The Ride in Plymstock) Saturday 13 September 10:00 - 16:00

Were looking for bus drivers in the Plymouth and south Devon area. No appointment is needed. Just pop in for a chat. We're looking for holders of a PCV licence but we're also willing to take on trainees who just have a regular driving licence. (please bring your driver licence and/or PCV licence with you).

Being a driver at First is about much more than being a driver. Its about putting your customer service skills to work and really looking after your passengers, no matter who they are, or where they're headed. Its what were known for, and its why our customers keep using our services again...and again...and again. Joining us is also a great way to build your skills, too. Were the kind of company that encourages everyone to reach their full potential and we reward anyone who helps us meet our goals.

So, if you're patient, calm under pressure, able to work confidently on your own and handle cash responsibly we could really help you go places. And in return you'll discover a job with good rates of pay, and loads of perks like a pension, 4 weeks holiday, great training, free bus and cheap rail travel and much more. If you have any questions or are unable to attend the open day but would still like to apply please drop our HR Manager an email at sue.lumsden@firstgroup.com (with a copy of your CV if you're applying)

We hope to see some of you there (or if you know someone who might be interested please spread the word!)

Now seems as good as any time to have a bit of a photo special on previous training buses...

©Jos Van Hemert 10 July 1987

©Jos Van Hemert 10 July 1990

27 June 2006

25 June 2009

22 July 2009

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From School Bus to Driver Trainer

There has been a bit of a change around on some of the Volvos at Plymouth Citybus. 443 X549EGK was lettered up for the School Bus 112 service but has now been lettered up for Driver Training.

©Richard Smith 3rd August 2014

©Richard Smith 20 August 2014

Meanwhile former 453 Y826TGH has turned up at the newly revived Velvet Bus where it has been painted in a fetching allover pink livery captured on camera HERE

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Citybus Update: Doris and Boris?

I have just updated the Citybus fleet listing with the following changes made:
Only 1 to 4 are considered as being in reserve at the moment. Of these 2 N102UTT seems least likely to reappear in service anytime as its currently dumped next to what remains on 28 at the back of the depot with fleet numbers removed. The others have all been observed out and about from time to time.
Dart 39 has had the awful Taxi wrap removed. Not sure yet if its getting anything else in its place.
Its nice knowing that this will be the last photo of this awful wrap on the blog. A livery that wont be missed!
One further bit of livery news - Citycoach 313 has been repainted into the new blue livery.

The rest of the news concerns the training 'fleet'. Volvo 429 Y827TGH which has remained in Go Ahead London livery as a full time trainer (named Boris) is being prepared for full time service so will presumably be out in the new livery fairly shortly.
Training duties will be taken over by two of the dual door Darts 214/215 R401/2FFC which are being prepared for their new role at the moment. I may have got the bus wrong but I did say this would happen back on the 1st of April although I was only joking at the time! (Pretty sure they will stay dual doorway though.) Doris and Boris anyone?

Thanks as always to Brian George for the update along with John Kowalski and Tom Michaels for their updates.

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Related Links

• Boris joins Doris Plymothian Transit
• Plymouth Citybus Fleet List Plymothian Transit Extra

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Elsewhere on the net

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• The picture of the "London Hotel" at Marylebone on fbb's facsimile 1903 timetable says it all. Comparing train travel in 1903 with a similar journey in 2012 is unrealistic. Public Transport Experience
• As usual, there were photographers who continue to take their hobby very seriously, perhaps a little too much so. Omnibuses

Boris joins Doris

With the new Volvo B7RLE fleet due to hit the road this week Citybus were planning to withdraw most of the N reg Darts along with the three dual door Dennis Darts. However due to Go Ahead Groups internal transfer policy stating that any buses transferred within the group must remain with the new operator for at least three years this has not proved possible so they must continue with Citybus for at least another year. They are not the most popular of buses within the fleet so 216 has been converted to a full time driver trainer, and now carries the name Boris to go with 429's name of Doris. They have had to remove the centre doorway to comply with the new European Driver Training Legislation which comes into force on April 1st stating that drivers can only drive buses with the same number of doors as the bus they were trained in. This means that Citybus must have both a dual door and a single doored training vehicle. It was felt that drivers had enough to cope with without having to remember to count the doors before taking their bus out into service.

Driver Training

An essential part of any training for new bus drivers should be to warn them to get used to being photographed. I therefore like to think I am providing a service as part of this element in his future career...

Nice to see a breadvan in Barbie colours on the streets of Plymouth again (never thought I'd say that!)

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Uncle Terry

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Terry Partridge

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Wanted - a puff

Omnibuses

Where did the bus go? Arriva goes viral: a real feel good story and clever marketing

A Transport of Delight

Perverse pricey profligate: The end of G Browns big plan for London Underground

 

 

21 May 2010

12:17 FIRST CORNWALL The sun is shining(hooray!)so a trip on our Open Top Cornwall 300 via Penzance, Marazion, St Ives& Land's End is a must
13:15 FIRST PLYMOUTH: Have you saved money on your bus travel with our SALE on First 3 & 6 Month tickets yet? Save up to £55 here:

Plymouth teen is youngest bus driver in the country

 

A TEENAGER from Plymouth has become the youngest bus driver in the country to qualify in his profession. Aidan Barratt, aged 18, of Plymouth Citybus has become the youngest driver in England to qualify in a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC)

Plymouth teen is youngest bus driver in the country

This story from This is Plymouth - and therefore The Evening Herald, has attracted no less than 67 comments as I type this up. Its amazing how a fairly low key, minor story can attract so much interest, and looking at some of the comments, such rubbish too!


"it is not a case of not giving youngsters a chance, but as I said, most City Buses are full to capacity in rush hour and I think this is too much for him at this age and I am quite entitled to express my concerns and worries. Yes, he may have passed the exams but that doesn't give him the working experience. Do you travel to work by bus in rush hour, I suspect not!"

"He's an inspiration to us all" Please!!!!!! No wonder Plymouth is the laughing stock of the country, if this is classed as a great achievement. What with "Face of Plymouth" and the "First Teenage Bus Driver", its all getting a bit too exciting for me down here, I'll have to go back to the smoke!

and my favourite

Will we get cheap fares when he's driving then?

I rarely bother to look at the This is Plymouth web site these days, especially as since the last revamp its really hard to keep up to date with local news - which is surely the whole point of the site. The indexing is rubbish with old stories coming up on the first pages so its possible to miss stories on lower pages. When you do find stories of interest you then get the joy of the comments. Anyone who has visited my own Penguin Food Blog will know I am no stranger to expressing strong views, many of which seem to go against the general trends but I think I am normal compared to some of the 'public' out there on the This is Plymouth site!

Well done to Aidan for passing and to Citybus for giving him the chance and getting him through the course.

(Photo credit:sarflondondunc)

New Blog on the Block

© budgie/ Rich B

TV3) VDV782 Plymouth garage 26-8-80

The "TV" numbering series was applied to most (though not all) of Western National's dedicated driver training vehicles. Here we see TV3, a Bristol LD6G / ECW at the company's Plymouth depot in August 1980. In its revenue earning life this bus had carried fleet number 1948. It has received a yellow waistband as opposed to the all-over yellow usually applied to trainers brought in from other operators

Posted here because its a great photo - and to point out that he has a new blog which some of you may be interested in: Buses in the South West

Its early days - but its already got plenty there to keep me coming back!

Driver Training

UAR595W has recently moved back to Plymouth although no longer a service bus - its a full time driver training bus. Unlike some training buses it wont be used in service at all as it has this great new instructors seat which I am sure is a lot safer than it looks!

First Devon & Cornwall Training

With the recent posting of Plymouth Citybus' training coach I was glad to get a new shot of First D&C's training Bristol VRT UAR595W. Seen in Bretonside today.


didbygraham

Plymouth Citycoach Training

JSK 261 is one of the oldest coaches in the Plymouth Citycoach fleet and is often used for training new drivers although still available for other duties as needed so is not painted up for driver training. Fleet number 340.

didbygraham