Bus Wars: Citybus strike back

"This has created an opportunity to restore one of Plymstock’s most popular bus routes ” Omnibuses2.0 Pilgrims Progress - another must read! TGP Export

Plymouth Citybus have announced a few changes to their services from 25th October: The big news is the new Citybus 5/ 5A service which takes Citybus deep into Plymstock Recent changes within the Plymouth bus market have resulted in reductions in the amount of bus services First Devon and Cornwall operate within Plymstock. This has created an opportunity to restore one of Plymstock’s most popular bus routes which First Devon and Cornwall had operated for many years prior to April 08. Therefore, from 25 October 2009 Plymouth Citybus will be restoring much of what were First Devon and Cornwall’s Services 5 and 6. As usual I have produced a map of the new route: View Plymouth Citybus 5 5A in a larger map Timetables can be downloaded from Citybus HERE (PDF) Or they can be viewed in my archive files HERE (quicker if you have a slow connection Other changes announced: Service 25 On the 5 July 2009 Plymouth Citybus increased the frequency of this service to every 20 minutes for most of the day but ongoing parking issues in the Barbican and West Hoe areas have unfortunately had a detrimental effect on the reliability of the service. Therefore from the 25 October 2009 the Service 25 is to be reduced in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday with the service being extended to operate via Drake Circus and Mayflower Street. There will be no changes to Sunday and Bank Holidays. Timetables: Download PDF or View archive Service 26 This service is going from strength to strength and as a result will be increased from 4 to 6 buses per hour operating every 10 minutes between Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Devonport and the City Centre. Services to Saltash will also be increased to operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday. In addition evening services will be introduced operating every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday along with a new Sunday daytime service also operating every 30 minutes. The result of this is that Plymouth Citybus will be operating in excess of every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday with 8 buses per hour and every 15 minutes during the day on Sundays and Bank Holidays with 4 buses per hour between St Budeaux Square, Devonport and the City Centre. Timetables: Download PDF or View archive Service 43 The frequency this service will be increased from every 10 minutes to every 7/8 minutes during the day with Sunday services increased from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes. There will be no changes to evening services. Despite the challenges this service faces over the coming months we intend to maintain a The introduction of the enhanced Service 43 will see Plymouth Citybus operating in excess of every 5 minutes between St Budeaux, Wolseley Road and Milehouse to the City Centre from Monday to Saturday, and in excess of every 20 minutes on Sundays all supported by full evening services. We will also maintain our commitment to the City Centre West End and continue to operate to the City Centre via Western Approach for as long as public transport users continue to favour this approach to the City Centre. Timetables: Download PDF or View archive Service 34 Due to continued problems with on street parking around the Co-op, development works within Mutton Cove, the rapidly changing Plymouth Bus market and the reality that the vast majority of public transport users within Mutton Cove make their way to Cumberland Gardens to catch more direct higher frequency alternatives the Service 34 is to be withdrawn from Mutton Cove. The service will operate to the Torpoint Ferry Terminal instead providing direct services between the Torpoint Ferry Terminal and Derriford Hospital as well as more choices for travel to the City Centre from the Ferry Plymouth Citybus is investing considerably into new high frequency easy to understand services which are to be introduced across the city over the coming months with the above changes to services representing the start of this process. The increased development of these high frequency services coupled with the additional increased competition has meant that low frequency marginal services are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Timetables: Download PDF or View archive Service 52 Due to the changing bus market the Service 52 is one of the marginal services that have now become unsustainable and as a result this service is to be withdrawn. For alternative journey options please use Services 21 or 51 to Marsh Mills, then change to Service 50 for Derriford Hospital. (Of course you could also just use Target Travels 52A - but don't tell Citybus I told you that!)