The Information Age?

Plymouth Citybus finally have the planned timetable changes for 1st May on their web site:
Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus Network Changes from 1st May 2016
To meet the changing  needs of passengers the following network changes will take place from 1st May 2016:

11/11A- Changes to timetable

Revised timetable- Minor changes to timetable to improve connections with through services from Padstow, also later evening trips diverted into Trago Mills due to their amended opening hours

27/27A/27B- Changes to timetable

Revised timetable- Morning and evening peak journeys amended to improve arrival & departure times at Derriford Hospital for shift workers.

42/42C- Changes to timetable

Revised timetable- Additional early morning trips added on a Saturday between City Centre & Woolwell

70- Changes to timetable

Morning school trips from Millbrook re-timmed so buses use the cliff road rather than Hounster Hill

71/71A- New Route- Summer Timetable

This summer will see the short 71's to HMS Raleigh extended to Looe & Polperro (renumbered 71A) This new summer service will combine with the existing 72 to provide an hourly service between Plymouth and Looe and Polperro
**Due to St Martins Hill being closed in Looe between 3rd May - 27th May an alternative timetable will be available on our website**

73- Changes to timetable

An introduction of a summer and winter timetable to reflect the extra volume of visitors in Looe over the summer period. Winter timetable will then commence on 1st October 2016. 

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I did think it was odd that it had taken Citybus so long to get the details on their web site, especially when they have always been so good in the past, but I have been given this explanation:
We have been having some major issues loading our new timetables to our website. We have been chasing our web provider all week to fix the issue but yet this has not been resolved. We have been able to load our customer notice that has gone out in the buses which give some information, but yes it is not good enough and for that I can only apologise. We hope to have this fixed by the weekend. 
The issues clearly have not been fixed completely yet as although timetables are now available on their site there are still problems.
The timetables for the 27 services are only available for journeys from City to Derriford, and not the return run.
The timetables for 42 42C are available for both directions but when you choose the day - you only get a choice of Saturdays!
There is a bit of potential confusion with the new 70/71s with one option for services “70/70A/70B/71/71A from 1st May 2016”  which offers Monday - Saturday times, then there is “70A/71 from 1st May 2016” which offers Sundays services. It could just be a little bit clearer!
There does seem to be a general trend these days with bus companies to revamp their web sites with supposedly more bells and whistles and fancy features but the end result is all to often less reliable information which is harder to find. This is more often the case with the big groups who often impose central solutions to local operators. The Plymouth Citybus site being a good case in point. There was nothing much wrong with the old website. It was easier to find things and the timetables were easy to read. The new site is clearly designed for mobiles but at the expense of larger PCs. I dont actually use the new site on my mobile at all, as I still use the First Bus App (!) which is great for its next bus facility and still works in Plymouth.
It just seems odd that that when there is more and more information available, it becomes even harder to get the information you actually want in a form that is useful. If you still dont understand what I mean by that - just read practically any post on the excellent and often controversial Public Transport Experience Blog!

forty eight

Just catching up with a few odds and ends on the First web site:
If you visit the First Devon and Cornwall website, click on the pink banner on the homescreen and fill in the survey you could win a £100 iTunes vouchers! Click here It only takes a few mins and asks a few questions about what you think of their web site. I told them!

Less good news...

Following a full review of passenger numbers travelling on this service, First Devon and Cornwall has notified Devon and Plymouth Councils that the service will be withdrawn after operation on Saturday 27th November 2010. Devon County Council are currently tendering for a operator to provide a replacement service. Once the operator and timetable has been chosen we will display the information on our website. First apologises for any inconvenience the changes to this service may cause and would like to thank the many loyal customers that have used this service whilst First was the operator.

©Jos Van Hemert: PCB Leyland Atlantean AN 145 - Ply., Penny Come Quick - 22-07-1987
It was a very different service back then!

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There have literally been dozens of different Tube Map designs over the years. Transport of Delight

Here is a perfect example of how with a little care and patience one can capture far more than just a rather mundane Halton Transport Leyland National half hidden at a bus stop. Bus World Photography

What fate for the bus service, after lunchtime’s comprehensive spending review? Omnibuses

A little piece of history has occurred this week that has largely gone unnoticed. The last Mercedes-Benz minibus new to Southern National in service with the Hants & Dorset part of the company has been withdrawn. Southern England Bus Scene

CITYBUS on Facebook: Service delays - we're really sorry that buses passing the Gdynia Way roadworks site (Plympton, Plymstock and Estover buses) were delayed this morning. The road layout was altered over night, resulting in delays to all traffic. We're also sorry for delays to buses at Manadon Roundabout (Derriford, Southway, Tamerton Foliot and Whitleigh buses) today. The traffic lights there went wrong, but they have now been fixed.

Flickr through the fleet

Citybus Visual Fleet List

I have spent most of this weekend so far catching up with admin type duties on my Flickr account, mostly checking links etc and bringing my visual fleet listings up to date. The Plymouth Citybus Visual Fleet List has seen a lot of new photos added as I catch up with most of the fleet with the new camera. As always it is not guaranteed up to date as I know one or two of the older buses are now out of service, or even sold on, and there are still a few gaps in the newer double deckers and coaches I have yet to fill

Further Reading Omnibuses: Take over Times Highton-Ridley: Bovisand Panoramas In the news Alcohol ban for all buses? FGW - in the red First on Twitter / Facebook 12 Mar Eggxstra special savings this Easter: Save up to 70% on family travel in Devon & Cornwall with our unlimited travel First Fortnight tickets (from 29th March - 16th April)... The city's finest unsung heroes, including charity fundraisers, a police officer, carers, a kidney donor and a bus driver, were honoured at The Herald and First Devon and Cornwall sponsored Gold Star awards. The glittering event, attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress, Councillors Ken and Wendy Foster, was hosted by Martin Mills, the breakfast show presenter for Heart South Hams and included a celebration dinner. Accolades, an engraved glass trophy, were handed to a winner for every month of the year. A special Gold Star Award was also awarded to First driver Steve Callaghan for his bravery and dedication to the safety and well being of his passengers following an accident his bus had been involved in. Special awards were also given to Annie Wakeham, announced as the overall Gold Star winner for the year and teenage twins Dan and Amy Cormack, who won the Stephanie Hammacott award. Citybus on Twitter / Facebook

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• Citybus Fleet Catch up (plymothiantransit.com)

Bus Spotting without leaving the house

Google Street View now live for Plymouth

Yesterday was a day that many of us have been waiting for, as it was the day that Street View was finally turned on for Plymouth, along with much of the rest of the UK. Although Google have tried to blur registration numbers and peoples faces you can do a fair bit of bus spotting etc on the streets of Plymouth as can be seen below. View Larger Map View Larger Map View Larger Map

Further Reading Transport of Delight: Gibraltar, detailed post Uncle Terry: 27 Man of Granite, 28 - who knows what lurks..., 29 - snow good... TGP: Woody Leon Daniels: 888 First on Twitter / Facebook 09 Mar 09:18 It's the Gold Star Award Ceremony tonight. The 12 monthly winners, plus First's winner Steve Callaghan and the Stephanie Hammacott youth award winners will be presented with their trophies by Heart South Hams' Martin Mills. The Gold Star Award winner of the year will also be announced. A huge congratulations to all winners - we will report back on the event tomorrow (you can also read about the awards in The Herald) 13:04 PLYMSTOCK: Good news Holmwood Avenue is now open so ugobus service 6 is back to normal, running up to every 15 minutes 13:47 DEVON & CORNWALL: For details of our Easter Bank Holiday weekend services plus Travel Shop & Customer Service opening hours please click here 10 MAR Congratulations to all of the Plymouth Gold Star Winners, including Gold Star Winner of the year; Annie Wakeham and Stephanie Hammacott Award Winners Dan and Amy Cormack . For the full story and to watch highlights of last nights awards ceremony click here 16:28 PLYMOUTH: Delays around the Derriford & Crownhill area due to roadworks and rush hour traffic. Affecting services 7, 15, 17 and 83/84/86. Thanks for your patience. Citybus on Twitter / Facebook 09 Mar 11:45 After several weeks Holmwood Avenue in Plymstock has reopened allowing our popular 5 and 5A services to revert to their normal route. Hopefully this will save you a long walk! We are pleased to be back for you and look forward to your continued support. 13:45 Taunton Avenue is blocked by an accident in which a van has overturned. We are advised that the road may be reopened by 4pm Sorry for any inconvenience this will cause. Buses will use Budshead Road and turn at the Green 14:56 Taunton Avenue has reopened and our 44 and 44A services are returning to their normal routes. Hope you weren't too inconvenienced. 10 Mar 16:08 We apologise but yet again the road works at Crownhill and the ongoing saga of Derriford Hospital traffic delays are causing major disruption to our services. These hold ups are entirely beyond our control and we share your frustration that we are unable to offer a reliable service to our customers 17:57 There is no improvement at Derriford with some buses not moving for 20 minutes. Traffic management is non existent. How you are supposed to get home and how we are supposed to run a service is beyond us. (You can also see a lot of unhappy comments especially from service 50 passengers. As I blogged yesterday I was caught up in this too, I dont blame Citybus though. Thursday evening traffic was moving freely, and there did seem to be staff on hand ready to control traffic out of Derriford if needed)

WWW: Target Travel - well worth the wait

Target Travel Web site - now live and looking good

Thanks to a Tweet from DoddyUK that alerted me to the fact that Target Travel have finally updated their web site and I do feel its well worth waiting for as it seems a nice simple well designed site... The home page is clean and easy on the eye and all the links do seem to do exactly what they say they do. If you click on one of the menu items along the top the main page stays the same but the large information panel changes, as we see from the 'about us' page... I do like the fact that links to the timetables are always visible on the right hand side as this is what most visitors to the site will probably be looking for. The timetables themselves are also very clean and simple to use The timetable for the 52A In fact I have just this second noticed a slight error in that the timetable mentions that Citybus journeys are shown - but they are not! A very small error really and at least it does point out that some journeys are run by Citybus, and its easy to find their timetables online elsewhere. All in all a very impressive effort and well worth the (long!) wait. www.targettravel.co.uk

Further Reading TGP - Strutting himself Omnibuses - Take the survey Uncle Terry - Branching Out First on Twitter / Facebook Nothing to see here Citybus on Twitter / Facebook Nothing to see here

A new blog as did by graham

Uncle Terry has a new blog

Nothing to do with Plymothian Transit at all really, but its my blog so.... I have just started a new fun blog: Uncle Terry. Its just a daily slice of life with Uncle Terry, who can be seen below. Uncle Terry - Just a Fun Guy Wherever the camera goes, Uncle Terry goes so its not surprising that every now and again he wants to be in the photographs. The daily photoblog of Uncle Terry can be found here: www.uncle-terry-dbg.blogspot.com It actually started a couple of days ago so there are 4 pictures up so far.

First on Twitter / Facebook Nothing to see here! Citybus on Twitter / Facebook Nothing to see here!

So that was last year

2009 Part Two

Continuing with the look back at 2009 on Plymothian Transit: July - Railway station usage figures for all Devon and Cornwall mapped. Walking like an engineer. Citybus to get secondhand double deckers! The WNPG Rally - in the wet. August - Casper the Cat makes the news whilst The Sun transforms Plymouth! Western Greyhound expand even more. The Green Army goes red and white. Vandalism in Millbay. Its War! First go on the attack but Citybus soon strike back. September - The Green Army bus routes expand already. The Wider view - warnings from Reading, Rossendale, and Preston. Topless Atlantean comes home. Torpoint troubles.The new Ugo bus fleet revealed - and its impressive. October - Special fares from First, Citybus 52 blues,Citybus go Pay Point. November - Cheaper and later, RTP Dissapointment, Progress - stalled at Derriford. Accident in Saltash - in 1905. Monday is a big day - the reult of which is Citybus to Go-Ahead. December - Experimental trafic jams at Derriford. Mince Pies at Plym Valley. Buses all a Twitter. Bad Wrap for Citybus. Citybus - every little helps. Enjoy the break. Of course there was one big story in Plymouth which isn't really covered above, and that was the long drawn out saga that saw Citybus being sold to Go-Ahead. In the end it wasn't perhaps as bad as the Preston saga, and at least the result is generally regarded as a good one (assuming it had to be sold at all - which many disagree with!). All of this has been plotted on the Citybus Sale Timeline as well as the various blog posts throughout the year...

Further Reading Plymouth Local History - Plymouth in the 1970's Recommended Links PTOTPA - Dartmouth trip PTOTPA - The set is complete (nice post!) TGP - Photos within TGP - Real Time - looks exciting! Omnibuses - Heroic Failure Recently on Twitter/Facebook First 01 Jan 2010 20:45 Back to normal Saturday service tomorrow...and normal services going forward Citybus 01 Jan 2010 10:23 No buses today. Saturday services tomorrow with all football specials running to Argyles fa cup game

Plymouth Buses all a Twitter

You wait for one Twitter account and two come along at once

Go-Ahead have only owned Plymouth Citybus for a week so its very early days for them to start making a difference to how things are done. Up until now the only sign has been a small logo on the web site and its on the internet that we see the first proper signs of Go-Aheadism in action. Plymouth Citybus is making its first tentative steps into the world of the social web. You can now follow Citybus on Twitter: You can follow Citybus on Twitter HERE You can see how they are already using it to advise on traffic problems. Having waited on Royal Parade for 35 minutes with no sign of either a Citybus 50 or a First 15 I now know why! It does not stop there - you can also become a Fan of Citybus on Facebook HERE As can be expected there is not much there yet, but I am sure it will grow. I know that Brian George will be putting more photos there as time goes on. Go-Ahead clearly see the internet as a very important tool that they can exploit so have developed some excellent local web sites for their operations across the country. I am sure it wont be too long before we see a new Citybus web site. I am sure it will be worth waiting for. Of course you can also follow Plymothian Transit on Facebook too although I must admit I have not really focussed that much attention there! I had actually planned this article a couple of evenings ago when Brian George informed me of the new Twitter account. Well just like the buses themselves, you wait for ages for a Twitter account and then two come along at once... Yep, First Devon and Cornwall have started their Twitter account on the same day as Citybus! You can follow First D&C Twitter HERE As a social internet addict I am looking forward to seeing how all of these services develop over the coming months. Like anything on the net, the more you put in, the more you get out. Both First and Citybus have proved themselves excellent at getting up to date information out on their web sites so the omens are good. Now, what did David Cameron say about too many Tweets...

Further Reading Plymothian Transit: Missing the Target? Recommended Links PTOTPA: A little bit of Torpoint in Torbay Bus World Photography: Variety in Reading Omnibuses: Adding a Fruity bit of Fun

On the web today

"I am sure its a temporary blip! ” Highton - Ridley Intimate Glimpses Omnibuses2.0 Liveries

My daily check of the web sites of the local bus companies to see what is happening and this is all you get from First timetables. No future timetables or any current timetables either. I am sure its a temporary blip! still, it could be worse.... Meanwhile I notice that there are now a few videos on the Citybus web site. I should say they are nothing exciting but its welcome to see. Maybe the list will grow and we will start to see something a little more interesting in the future, but its a nice start. No idea when these were added though - probably find out they have been there for ages! Oh, and don't forget this tomorrow ….

On the web: Highton-Ridley

"It looks even better in print!”

Regular readers will be used to the side bar links to Highton-Ridleys blog as I have long been a fan of his work, especially his work on the urban decay landscapes of Plymouth. For a few months now he has been running regular prize draws for visitors who leave comments on his web sites. I have been lucky enough to win a copy of my favourite print which I first discovered and posted here back in May 2008. It looks even better in print! He has now changed the rules for entry to his prize draw - the new rules can be found on his blog site here Please visit the Highton-Ridley main web site to see his photos - it is well worth it as the photos are excellent. Previous blog posts: http://www.plymothiantransit.com/2009/07/monochrome-musings.html http://www.plymothiantransit.com/2008/05/fuel-terminal-railway.html

PlymGo is Go again

" It should iron out all the niggles you told us about since the first launch ”

I mentioned Plymgo a few days ago so its nice to bring an update on progress of what promises to be a useful service. Dear PlymGo Users, Just a note to bring your attention to a new improved version of PlymGo, which was released at the end of August. You may have already noticed the new site, which incorporates a web data service providing access to all public transport information for the south west. It should iron out all the niggles you told us about since the first launch, but you may notice it works slightly differently from the previous version, giving you better results from addresses than postcodes. Please remember to pick a town or city though as PlymGo will also help you with journeys starting or finishing some distance outside the Plymouth city boundary. The pick from map search facility is also back up and running, and the maps shown in the journey summary pages (once you have clicked on a mode) include pointers to show you the various stages of your journey. For walking, cycling and driving it also specifies the route, giving you a red line to follow across the map. On the journey results pages you will notice that you can use your mouse wheel to scroll in and out of the maps so you can more easily get the detail you need to see a particular part of your route. Launch of the latest version also marks the start of the behind the scenes development of some brand new features to be added to PlymGo later in the year such as: * Live bus times – currently only available on www.plymouth.gov.uk/checkthatbus * Road closures information – so you can see when your usual route needs a bit of a diversion * Car parks space availability * Improved directions between modes of transport * More layers of information you can view on the maps – e.g. locations of recycling banks These new features will shortly be available when you are already out and about via: * A web kiosk version of PlymGo on the iplus terminals already installed throughout the city * Bespoke mobile phone version of PlymGo with simplified features for ease of use on a small screen You may have noticed that whilst work was being done to hook up to the new data service, a trimmed down version of PlymGo was in place – thank you for your patience in using this simplified version over the past couple of months. I hope you will join me in putting the new, improved PlymGo to the test… Many thanks for your continued support. We will be in touch when the new features of Phase two start to go live. Happy journey planning! Angharad It is certainly good to see the improvements that have been made so far. Using the map to select your start and end points is a lot easier than selecting using post codes (who knows the post code of your local bus stop?) It all seems a lot faster too which is good. You do still get a few odd suggestions but generally these seem few and far between compared to previous times I have tested the service. The screen shot above is my morning run to work and it does suggest the Taxibus although it seems its the earlier one than I normally get. The only odd one out on this screen shot is the 3rd bus suggestion which states I should catch Citybus 50 to Derriford and then change to a First 7 to Derriford roundabout - I can stay on the 50 and get a through journey to the roundabout and beyond, although I can understand how the software wouldn't pick things like this up. Another test on pretty much the same run gave me pointed me to two taxibus runs, one taking 14 mins direct the other suggested getting off at Derriford and walking the rest of the way!   The other good news about this service is the promise of more to come. Live bus information just has to escape from the awful checkthatbus site - the sooner the better!