Yesterday I thought I had caught up with all the planned changes to bus services in Plymouth but yesterday saw another batch of variations logged and they are very interesting... 
The 17 is one of the Ugobus routes which appear to be for the chop. 42948 seen here back in February 2010
PH0004983/31 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Bus Station and TORQUAY, Torbay Hotel given service number X80/X81 effective from 29-Aug-2010. To amend Timetable.
PH0004983/395 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Cancellation Accepted: Operating between City Centre and City Centre given service number 13 effective from 29-Aug-2010.
PH0004983/396 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between City Centre and City Centre given service number 15 effective from 29-Aug-2010. To amend Timetable.
PH0004983/397 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between City Centre and City Centre given service number 12 effective from 29-Aug-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.
PH0004983/398 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Cancellation Accepted: Operating between City Centre and City Centre given service number 17 effective from 29-Aug-2010.
PH0004983/414 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Paignton and Torquay given service number X80/X81 effective from 29-Aug-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.
I will leave the X80/X81 to one side for now as this is not the most interesting change. The really interesting changes are to the Ugobus services in Plymouth. 13 and 17 cancelled! is this the beginning of the end of full on competition against Citybus? Does this mean that Citybus have won?
It seems the Plympton service 12 is to continue but the route is to change. This could be interesting, I guess we will have to wait and see what First are doing with this route. I am glad to see the 15 remains unchanged apart from a timetable change. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sunday service cut back to hourly rather than every 30 mins but hopefully the changes will be fairly minor. The big question is, if First are loosing interest in their Plymouth ugobus network, how long before the next set of cutbacks?
PTOTPA: Snap on Sunday
Leon Daniels: Green Line anniversary
Uncle Terry: 145 The long and lonely road
Omnibuses: At the coal face
WHOTT Friends: The TV and GWOT Royal Blue Run
TGProjects: Typically July Nice photo set. Terry at his best!
the 12 variation is just to go across the viaduct instead of mayflower street
ReplyDeleteI can't believe they are chopping thye 17 I thought this vservice was doing well ??? What happens to all the Southway customers who have purchased 6 monthn bus passes etc with First. I hope First aren't giving up on Plymouth, I find their services much better than Citybus. Perhaps if they cut the 17 out they could spare an hourly evening service on the 15 and perhaps reinstate the evening service on the 11 please... Come on First!!!
ReplyDeleteAny idea what changes are in store for the 15 ??? I hope they are not cutting the frequncy again ????
ReplyDeleteIm convinced with the departure of Marc Reddy and his direct competition on Plymouth Citybus that First may call it a day in Plymouth and Cornwall evenutally. First has to maintain a certain level of profitability of its routes. To be fair whenever I visited my mums in Ernesettle the 13's were at best deserted and lets be honest First were not offering new travel opportunities they were just duplicating Citybus routes to cream off the profits.
ReplyDeleteI hope Citybus maintain their presence in Plymstock with the 5 which seems well patronised.
I hope one day Plymouth will follow Oxford where the local authority instigates bus limits in the city centre, but on the positive side allow for interavailability of bus tickets between both operators and perhaps increase bus usage. Go Ahead are often praised for having some of the best companies in the UK with Oxford, Brighton, Go South Coast and Metrobus.
First have never impressed me much as an operator, they are far more concerned with profit and shareholders, not their passengers.
I think the 13 never really took off, but am surprised the 17 didn't make a profit..it always looks quite busy!! The 12 to Plympton though seemsv to have battered Citybus a bit and the 15 is very popular. I hope First don;t call it a\day in plymouth, I think their services are far superior to Citybus, who after their 'who comes out at night' campaign are cutting evening services just like First. If First were to sell tho, who would it be too???
ReplyDeleteperhaps Western Greyhound? They seems to know how to run buses properly.
ReplyDeleteI have also heard that Citybus are moving the Citaro's to other group companies!! I really hope we are'nt going to become Go Aheads dumping ground for its cr*p buses
First do seem to be running things down again after a period of increasing their services. I think the 'battle' has well and truly been won by Citybus.
ReplyDeleteAs for Citybus transferring their Citaros on to other group companies -
I have it on good authority that it isnt true. No plans for any such move.
In can't see Western Greyhound having the cash to buy First Devon and Cornwall to be honest...I think it could only be another big group perhaps their rival Stagecoach and if that were the case watch the 'war' intensify then.
ReplyDeleteThe pictured vehicle has now moved to Bristol (First West of England) along with WA56 FTX. They were recently used for express services but have been replaced by Streetlites.
ReplyDelete