Eugobus?

The latest copy of N&P from VOSA has some interesting entries:

FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE PLYMOUTH PL9 7JT

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Saltash Via: Milehouse, St Budeaux Saltash Fore St
Name or No: 1/1A
Service Type: Normal Stopping, Hail & Ride Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday Service 1 Every 20 mins/1A Every 20 mins and
every 60 mins on Evenings. Sunday and Public Holidays every 30 mins daytime and every 60mins evenings.

Seems to just replace the current 1 and 2 Service. Possibly a change of route in Saltash itself?

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Mount Batten Via: Plymstock Broadway
Name or No: 2 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday Daytime High Frquency, Evenings Every 30
mins. Sunday and Bank Holiday Every 30 mins daytime and evenings every 60 mins.

Higher frequency replacement for the old 7 City to Plymstock end

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Barne Barton Via: Devonport & St Budeaux
Name or No: 3 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday Daytime High Frequency evenings every 30
mins. Sunday and Bamk Holidays every 30 mins daytime evening every 60 mins.

Replaces the old 7A route from the City to Barne Barton. Increase in frequency

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Keyham Via: Milehouse
Name or No: 4
Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday daytime every 15 mins, Evenings Every 60
mins. Sunday and bank holidays every 30 mins day time, Evenings every 60 Mins.

Replaces the current 14 on the same frequency 

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Mount Gould Via: Lipson road
Name or No: 5 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday daytime every 15 mins.

Replaces Mount Gould section of the old 15/A routes. Seems to be an increase in frequency

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Goodewell Via: Plymstock Broadway, Elburton & Staddiscombe Name or No: 6
Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Monday to Saturday Daytime Every 15 mins, Evenings every 60
mins. Sunday and Bank Holidays every 30 mins, and every 60 mins Evenings.

Replaces routes 5 and 6 but no longer serving the railway station. Increased frequency on current 20 mins service

From: Plymouth Royal Parade To: Woolwell Via: Mutley Plain, Crownhill & Derriford Hospital Name or No: 7
Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: monday to Saturday daytime every 20 mins. Sunday and Bank holidays every 60 mins day.

Pretty much the same frequency as the existing 7 service from City to Derriford. Breaks the link with the Plymstock end of the route.

From: Elburton/Jennycliff To: Derriford Hospital Via: Plymstock, City Centre, Stoke, Ham
Name or No: 17/18 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Ser 18 Hourly Monday to Saturday Ser 17 Hourly Monday to Saturday
No services Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Seems to replace the 11 service through Beacon Park to Derriford. Interesting that it maintains the link through the City when other links are being broken.

From: Saltash To: Saltash Via:
Name or No: 33/33a Service Type: Norma  Stopping Effective Date: 06-Apr-2008
Other Details: Every 30 mins Monday to Friday daytime. No services sundays or bank holidays.

Not sure about this one as little detail is given. Looks like a feeder service within Saltash to the main 1, 1A buses.

It seems that there will be a big marketing push of their Plymouth services when these launch in April. They are being marketed under the brand name EUGOBUS!

It will be interesting to see the public reaction to all these changes once word gets out properly and the new timetables start to appear. There are bound to be loud noises from people who loose their current links and a lot less noise about the extra links and improvements that some passengers get. FDC have certainly put a lot of thought into this new setwork and not just tinkered around the edges.

There also does seem to be a slight increase in competition with Citybus on a few sections of route, mainly around Mount Gould and the Barne Barton sections. Citybus have their new buses due to hit the road within the next couple of months and have yet to announce what, if any, changes they are making to their network. It is shaping up to be an interesting time for City services!