| We can now add a bit more detail on the new routes being started by First Devon and Cornwall in October:
Service 12:
City Centre to Chaddlewood (Plympton), via the Embankment, Marsh Mills, Plymouth Road, Ridgeway, Mudge Way, Moorland Road, Glen Road to the Chaddlewood Shopping Centre. Turns at the roundabout for reverse journey.
Every 12 Minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE.
Service 13:
City Centre to Ernesettle.
Identical to Citybus Service 43 except that on the return to the City Centre this service operates via Drake Circus. Timetable states “at frequent intervals”, so we assume every ten minutes or maybe less. NO EVENING SERVICE.
I am not surprised they are attacking the 43 as its known to be one of Citybus' main routes but it would be nice to have some variation of the route other than just in the City Centre. With Citybus already operating a very frequent service on this route, I am not quite sure why anyone would rather use First unless they compete with lower fares too.
Service 15:
City Centre to Mainstone, via North Hill, Mutley, Crownhill, Derriford Hospital, Miller Way, Asda, Dover road, then loops around Mainstone estate before operating reverse route to the City Centre.
Every 15 minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE.
This one is a new route and a big surprise. The people of Mainstone may well welcome a new service rather than the 46/47 as these do go the long way round to get anywhere although a journey into the City Centre will probably be the same on either service. It does seem odd that probably the main service that this will compete with is the existing First service 7 between City Centre and Derriford! As a bus user at Derriford this will give more options for getting into the City Centre so could well be useful to a lot of people.
Service 17:
City Centre to Southway.
Identical to Citybus Service 41 except that in Southway it Operates Dunnet Road, Right into Clittaford Road, Left into Southway Drive, Left at Ranco (Clittaford Road), Dunnet Road, then reverse of outward route to the City Centre.
Every 12 minutes. NO EVENING SERVICE.
Again this is so close to an existing Citybus service I have to wonder how useful it will be.
The fact that First are coming out fighting like this can not be a surprise to anyone. If I was them I would probably do the same. I am sure the last thing they want is one of the other big bus groups coming in and taking control of Citybus.
These extra routes are designed to destabilise Citybus and also to put other operators off from buying Citybus. If they can frighten off other buyers and maybe even get Citybus themselves at a lower price then its a result as far as they are concerned. How the competition people would view First taking over remains to be seen.
I am pretty sure that a lot of passengers in Plymouth would also be against such a takeover. First are not going to win them over easily especially if these extra services really don't have any evening services to offer.
This could also leave the City Council with a headache too as they watch the potential value of Citybus go down. If they do end up selling off for a much lower sum than they had in mind it will leave a lot of angry voters wanting answers.
Managers at Citybus now have to decide what their next move is going to be. How hard do they come out fighting? Its going to be a bumpy ride!
I have mapped out the new services to give an idea of where they go. Please remember these maps are not official in anyway and cannot be guaranteed 100% accurate as full route details have not been published yet. (For example I am not sure if the 15 will service Keswick Crescent or not?).
View First Bus Services Starting 11 October in a larger map | 
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For all we know, First may have received advice that they wouldn't be allowed to acquire Citybus. Given the size of Plymouth and the dominance that just one major operator in the city would then have, I guess it would hardly be surprising. In which case, First need to take steps to (a) protect their own business and (b) make things that bit tougher for any potential incomer. You can hardly blame First for doing this... but, of course, rightly or wrongly, they will be seen as the big, bad agressor, even though events to date have been out of their hands.
ReplyDeleteHow do these four routes compare with routes introduced 20 years ago during the previous attempt to knock Citybus out?
You say that the services are so similar to existing Citybus you wonder how useful they will be. But as you say later, they are designed to weaken Citybus, rather than anything else. They're not exactly trying to fit into a niche!! The lack of evening services is traditional competition, just creaming off the majority of passengers.
ReplyDeleteThe competition in Plymouth currently is not much, there will be a period of ridiculous unsustainable competition and then if First buy it they'll have a monopoly. The competition people however like this unsustainable competition (Eastbourne a good example, Canvisdh just creaming of Eastbourne Buses passengers with no evening services etc. Now Stagecoach have taken over both, offering better services, the competition people aren't happy).
The Competition people are idiots when if comes to buses, they won't even accept that car is the main competitor. They seem to have this dated idea of buses competing on the main routes and offering absolutely nothing better than just one operator.
"I am sure the last thing they want is one of the other big bus groups coming in and taking control of Citybus." Arriva did the same thing in Chester and First ended up buying it!
Best thing Citybus could do on these routes is to push the Freedom Cards; possibly do an Oyster-style lower prices if paid by card?
ReplyDelete"You say that the services are so similar to existing Citybus you wonder how useful they will be. But as you say later, they are designed to weaken Citybus, rather than anything else. They're not exactly trying to fit into a niche!! The lack of evening services is traditional competition, just creaming off the majority of passengers."
ReplyDeleteI was looking at it from a passengers view point which is how most people will look at it! I agree with you, that as this is clearly aimed at Citybus then they may well be useful to First at least. I would pretty much agree with everything you said about the competition people. Although they may be the authority which as a big say in the final outcome as to who is allowed to buy Citybus. I cant see how they will allow First to take control. I am sure First wll argue that Target Travel is competition enough but few would agree with them!
Thanks for the comments