The home of anything and everything to do with transport in and around Plymouth for EIGHTEEN YEARS!
It has been very quiet but there are signs of fleet investment for Citybus in the next few months. The first of 4 Enviros have already arrived in Plymouth with more E200 and E400s expected over the new few months. Stagecoach are also expecting new buses this year. As for Plymothian Transit I am hoping to increase the number of posts although I have said this several times before...

©did by graham


WA17FTZ

26 March 2025

Steel Blue

Stagecoach is rolling out their new livery across the group. Many people have offered their opinion on the scheme apparently known as Steel Blue but I wanted to wait to see it in the flesh before deciding for myself.

Well today I came across 37141 which seems to be the first Plymouth bus to get the colours. YY14WGX

Now I have seen one I do have to wonder what on earth are Stagecoach thinking? I am sure it will be cheaper to apply than the overly complicated liveries employed by the group so far, but to go to such a depressing dark blue scheme which is going to be so difficult to see in the dark just seems like an odd step to make. I have seen it being suggested that this scheme is to replace all the current schemes including the yellow version – hopefully this isnt the case.

I have read plenty of opinions on this scheme, most of which seem to agree with me – does anyone actually like this?


22 March 2025

All change next weekend

Stagecoach have finally published their timetable changes for next weekend:

Timetable changes across Plymouth and South Devon areas from Spring 2025.

This Spring we are introducing some changes to our South Devon bus network, largely from 30th March 2025.

Some changes are announced following tender awards by Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council. Stagecoach routes 4/4A/4B, 30/31 and 200 will operate a revised service, whilst routes 13 /13S, 14, 19, 30/31, 54, 59 will be added to our network.

Working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and other stakeholders, we’re introducing new Saturday night bus services from Saturday 31 May 2025. The new night services will connect customers until 3am between Plymouth City Centre and Tavistock on Service 1 and between Plymouth City Centre and Saltash on Service 2.

Changes are also introduced to a number of timetables, to improve the reliability and punctuality of bus services.

In addition, buses connecting Dartmouth Park and Ride on Service 91 will start operation for the season on Saturday 5 April 2025.

Full details of the changes and timetables are available below:

Service 1 (Plymouth to Tavistock via Derriford Hospital and George Park and Ride)

Times are revised across all days to improve reliability and punctuality.

Working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and other stakeholders new Saturday night bus services are introduced from Saturday 31 May 2025.

As part of a trial period, the new overnight journeys will operate every Saturday night (early hours of Sunday morning) until Saturday 20 December 2025, with the journeys additionally operating on Friday 19 December 2025 (early hours of Saturday 20 December 2025) and Wednesday 31 December 2025 (early hours of Thursday 1 January 2026). Night journeys will depart Plymouth City Centre (Royal Parade) at 0100 and 0300 for Tavistock, with journeys departing Tavistock at 2400 and 0200 for Plymouth City Centre.

Service 1A (Sherford to George Park and Ride via City Centre and Derriford Hospital)

Times are revised across all days to improve reliability and punctuality. Some departure times are adjusted to help to avoid buses meeting at Forresters Road, following requests from members of the public. 

MX06XAE

Service 2 (Saltash to Mount Batten via City Centre)

Times are revised across all days to improve reliability and punctuality. In response to passenger feedback, the route of Service 2 in Saltash will be amended to reduce journey times and streamline the route.

Towards Saltash, buses will operate the current route to Fore Street and then operate a one-way loop around Saltash in a clockwise direction via St Stephens and then Latchbrook. Within St Stephens buses will no longer serve Frobisher Drive, with alternative bus stops available on nearby roads. Within Latchbrook, buses will operate via Castlemead Drive instead of parts of Church Road, Callington Road, Warraton Road and Oaklands Drive. Additionally, within Latchbrook buses will no longer serve Fairmead Road and will instead operate a more direct route via Liskeard Road and Callington Road.

Evening journeys will continue to operate, however, within Saltash the Spencer Gardens and Lynher Drive loop will not be served.

Working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and other and other stakeholders new Saturday night bus services are introduced from from Saturday 31 May 2025.

As part of a trial period, the new overnight journeys will operate every Saturday night (early hours of Sunday morning) until Saturday 20 December 2025, with the journeys additionally operating on Friday 19 December 2025 (early hours of Saturday 20 December 2025) and Wednesday 31 December 2025 (early hours of Thursday 1 January 2026).

Service 2 journeys will depart Plymouth City Centre (Royal Parade) at 2400, 0100, 0200, 0300 and 0400 for Saltash, with journeys departing Saltash at 0036, 0136, 0236 and 0336 for Plymouth City Centre.

The new Saturday night journeys will not cover the section of route between Plymouth City Centre and Mount Batten. 

Service 3 (Plymouth to Kingsbridge)

A new Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be introduced with departures from Plymouth at 0940, 1210, 1440 and 1710 and departures from Kingsbridge at 1055, 1325, 1555 and 1825.

Service 3 will connect with Service 93 at Kingsbridge Bus Station, allowing passengers travel to and from Dartmouth.

Service 27 (City Centre to Derriford)

Stagecoach South West will start operating Service 27 between the City Centre and Derriford from 30 March 2025.

Service 27 will operate every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday between approximately 0700 and 1800.

Service 27 operates from the City Centre to Derriford via Lower Compton, Efford, Eggbuckland, Mainstone and Estover Factories.

There are a small number of changes compared with the current timetable (provided by another operator), so passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling.

Service 52 (Plympton to Derriford Hospital)

To ensure a reliable and punctual service can be provided, the frequency of buses is adjusted to every 70 minutes. Passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling.

Service 89 (Tavistock to Bishopsmead)

The timing points at The Manor and Courtlands Road will be removed due to unsuitability as timing points and close proximity to other timing points.

Some timing changes are introduced to avoid buses having to wait time along the route.

Service 91 (Dartmouth Park and Ride) – 5 April 2025

Dartmouth Park and Ride will resume for the 2025 season, between the following operating dates:

  • Saturday 5 April 2025 and Monday 21 April 2025 inclusive a 20 minute frequency will operate.
  • Friday 16 May 2025 and Sunday 18 May 2025 inclusive a 20 minute frequency will operate in connection with the Dartmouth Music Festival, which will include an evening timetable until 2250 (Friday and Saturday) and 2150 (Sunday).
  • Saturday 24 May 2025 and Sunday 1 June 2025 inclusive a 10 minute frequency will operate.
  • Monday 2 June 2025 and Sunday 27 July 2025 inclusive a 20 minute frequency will operate.
  • Monday 28 July 2025 and Sunday 31 August 2025 inclusive a 10minute frequency will operate, however, there will be additional capacity provided on Wednesday 27 August 2025 and Saturday 30 August 2025 inclusive, as well as late evening journeys on Saturday 30 August 2025, in connection with the Dartmouth Regatta.
  • Monday 1 September 2025 and Sunday 15 September 2025 inclusive a 20 minute frequency will operate.
  • Friday 24 October 2025 and Sunday 26 October 2025 inclusive a 10 minute frequency will operate in connection with the Dartmouth Food Festival.

Service FALCON – 21 April 2025

There are changes to some departure times, with one journey in each direction removed from the timetable. The route within Exeter will be amended to additionally serve Trood Lane, providing access to the new South West Exeter housing developments.

Following a tender award by Plymouth City Council, the following changes and additional services will be introduced from 30 March 2025:

Service 4 (City Centre to Plympton via Plymstock Broadway and Sherford)

The route of Service 4 will be amended to operate between Plymouth City Centre and Plympton, operating via Saltram Meadow, Plymstock Broadway and Sherford.

Service 4 will operate every 60 minutes with departures from Plymouth City Centre between 0600 and 2100 Monday to Friday, 0700 and 2100 on Saturday and 0900 and 1900 on Sunday and Public Holidays.

Additional school day only journeys will operate at the start and end of the school day.

Service 4 will provide a much requested new link between Plymstock and Sherford with Plympton, providing improved access to employment opportunities and leisure and retail facilities.

Service 4A/4B (City Centre to Hooe / Elburton)

Buses will now operate via Saltram Meadow. Each service will operate every two hours during the main part of the day Monday to Friday and will provide a combined hourly frequency over the common sections of route.

Passengers should also refer to revised Service 4, which provides additional journey opportunities over common sections of route.

YJ15ACF

Service 13 (City Centre to Holly Park)

Service 13 will operate from the City Centre to Holly Park via Weston Mill and Saltash Passage every 60 minutes Monday to Friday daytime, however, only off-peak journeys will extend beyond Saltash Passage to Holly Park.

The timetable is largely unchanged from the current timetable, however, passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling.

Service 13S (Barne Barton to Kings Tamerton)

Service 13S provides three morning journeys per day Monday to Friday term time only between Barne Barton and Kings Tamerton via St Budeaux.

The timetable is largely unchanged from the current timetable, however, passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling.

Service 14 (City Centre to Derriford)

Service 14 operates approximately every 60 minutes between 0600 and 1800 Monday to Friday and between 0800 and 1700 on Saturday from the City Centre to Derriford Hospital via Devonport, Keyham and Ham.

The timetable is largely unchanged from the current timetable, however, passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling.

Service 19 (City Centre to Plympton Ridgeway)

Service 19 will operate 7 days a week from approximately 0930 until 1630 and will operate from the City Centre to Plympton Ridgeway via Broadway, The Park Crematorium and Merafield.

Following requests to Plymouth City Centre, Service 19 will provide a bus service to The Park Crematorium, buses will serve the bus stop once the bus stop infrastructure is complete which is expected to be in place later this Spring.

Service 30/31 (City Centre to Hartley Vale / Peverell)

While there are no changes to the route of Service 30/31, the frequency of buses will be reduced to every two hours on each service. This will provide a combined hourly frequency between approximately 0930 and 1730 Monday to Friday by boarding the alternative service on the other side of the road.

The revised frequency better matches passenger demand on Service 30/31.

Service 54 (Plymouth to Bovisand) – 24 May 2025

Service 54 will provide 8 return journeys per day between Plymouth City Centre and Bovisand via Plymstock, leaving Plymouth every hour between 1000 and 1800 and leaving Bovisand every hour between 1028 and 1828.

Service 54 will operate from Saturday 24 May 2025 until Sunday 1 June 2025 inclusive and then again from Saturday 26 July 2025 until Sunday 31 August 2025 inclusive.

Service 200 (City Centre to Coypool Park and Ride)

The route of Service 200 will be revised within the City Centre and will start and terminate on Royal Parade and no longer operate a loop of the City Centre via Charles Street, Coburg Street, North Cross, Western Approach and Union Street.

Service 200 will operate between approximately 0630 and 1830 Monday to Friday and 0730 and 1830 on Saturday.

The frequency of Service 200 will be increased to operate up to every 15 minutes during the main part of the day, making Service 200 a far more viable park and ride option for Plymouth.

Following a recent tender round by Devon County Council, Stagecoach will commence operation of Service 59 (currently operated by Plymouth CityBus) from 20 April 2025.

Service 59 (Plymouth to George Junction via Lee Moor) – 20 April 2025

Service 59 operates from Plymouth City Centre to George Junction via Plympton, Sparkwell, Cornwood, Lee Moor and Bickleigh and provides four journeys in each direction Monday to Friday and Saturday.

There is a minor change to the current route, where Merafield Road will no longer be served, as this will now be served by another service. There are also some minor changes to the timetable and therefore passengers should check the new timetable before travelling.



19 March 2025

Atlanteans getting ready for a day out

Ian Byrne has sent in this nice shot of a couple of the buses planned to be in use in service on Sunday 6th April on the running day mentioned few days ago:  http://www.plymothiantransit.com/2025/03/april-treat.html

I must admit I am really looking forward to seeing number 9 out and about and getting a ride. Always enjoyed these when they were around in normal service, much better than the Leyland Nationals that followed them!

PCTPG

© Ian Byrne


17 March 2025

4.5 million pounds later...

We are gearing up to deliver a £4.5 million investment in Plymouth’s bus network from April, in partnership with local operators.

A programme of improvements for the coming year, developed in line with the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and funded by the Department for Transport’s 2025/26 Bus Grant, was approved today.

The improvements will help achieve the Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership’s vision to ‘create a thriving bus network where everyone can be connected to important people and places, by services that are frequent, reliable, fast, affordable, safe and clean, which will also help Plymouth to achieve its net zero goals by 2030.’

They include:

  • extra investment in subsidised services, with more frequent services, more days of operation and new services providing connections between communities
  • a new real time passenger information system, replacing our ageing digital bus shelter displays
  • improved passenger information, including new facilities for passengers with visual impairments
  • the recently announced new Service 19 bus to and from The Park crematorium, along with new bus stops and a pedestrian crossing
  • improvements at the park and ride sites, such as height barriers at the George Junction park and ride
  • support for the Royal Parade improvements scheme
  • continued staffing of the George Junction park and ride travel centre
  • continued personalised travel planning, providing residents with one-to-one advice on Plymouth’s bus services
  • a review of the multi-operator ‘Skipper’ ticket to make it better

The programme supports seven of the nine identified passenger priorities within the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said: “This is the first time the Council has received both capital and revenue funding for our Bus Service Improvement Plan. It’s therefore a great opportunity to provide the bus services people need and the infrastructure to support them, in terms of better passenger information system and new bus stops.”

Plymouth Citybus giver their update:

Service
Summary of changes

23/24
Additional journeys on school day afternoons.

35/A

Weekdays 1845 journey becomes 1835 to improve headway. Saturday mornings, 0700 journey withdrawn.

41
First journey starts from Royal Parade instead of Milehouse. Revised times inbound to improve timekeeping.

43
Slight change to timetable to improve corridor with new 43A.

43A
New service on Monday to Friday to uplift frequency to St Budeaux/ Victoria Road.

13, 14, 27
Will be operated by Stagecoach


I have yet to see any mention of this from Stagecoach themselves although their web site isnt the easiest to navigate so its possible I have missed it.


Plymouth Citybus 501 WF63LZA

The 27 will soon be run by Stagecoach

For those that want to read more I have a few documents in the PT Library:

More investment in Plymouth’s bus network
Title of decision: 2025-26 Bus grant for Plymouth City Council
2025-26 Bus grant for Plymouth City Council Briefing Report for Publication
CAPITAL INVESTMENT BUSINESS CASE
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT – 2025-26 Bus grant for Plymouth City Council
Plymouth City Council 2025 Non-Commercial Routes Network Tender Contract Award
Plymouth City Council 2025 Non-Commercial Routes Network Tender Contract Award – Briefing Note