Following changes to bus services on 25 July, Management at Plymouth Citybus have confirmed that an additional round of changes to routes and timetables will be introduced from Sunday 5th September 2010. Many routes will see improvements to Sunday daytime services funded by the withdrawal of some evening services that do not attract enough passengers. Managing Director Andrew Wickham explains that the changes are essential to improve and safeguard the long term sustainability of the services offered by Plymouth’s premier bus operator.
“A large percentage of changes we have announced are simply to improve the timing and reliability of services to customers. Timetables need to be adjusted from time to time to allow for increased traffic congestion, new road layouts and changes in people’s travelling requirements. Some are also changed to enable bus users to make better connections to other services. We will be disappointed if we do not see an increase in passenger numbers based upon these changes. Early indications are that our July service changes have seen positive passenger growth.”
The company hopes that the changes made to improve services will see results similar to that of the changes to their Plympton services made in June that has resulted in a 17% increase in passenger numbers within the first 4 weeks.
“Other cuts to services are essential if we are to preserve the 421 jobs at the company and ensure that we can meet the transport needs of people in the region by diverting our limited driver and vehicle resources to meet areas of demand,” said Andrew Wickham.
A total of 25 Plymouth Citybus services will see changes to either routes or timetables.
Services with changes to time tables or routes on Sundays include service 5, 5A, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 26B, 29, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 50, 61 and 62A.
Services removed but replaced on Sundays with improved services are the 24 - now covered by an improved 23 service and the 62A is enhanced with an improved Service 61.
The only services to be cut completely are the 33D and the 133. Service 34 will partly replace these buses. Service 46 and 47 is to be withdrawn on Sundays and Bank Holidays. This is partly replaced with improved Service 26, 42 and the Service 50.
From the 20th September Service 46 and the Service 47 is to be withdrawn from Mainstone and will instead operate back into Peter Park Road and Wilton Street.
Plymouth Citybus Detail route by route
Service 14D This service is to operate 10 minutes earlier in order to better connect with the Service 21 to Plympton.
Service 34 To withdraw all evening services with the last departing bus from the City Centre and Derriford Hospital being 19:00 respectively and the school day only 08:48 and 09:00 departures from Royal Parade to Derriford Hospital. The early evening peak short journeys that operated between the City Centre and the Royal William Yard are also to be withdrawn. (Alternative services are available in the form of Service 26 to Stonehouse Bridge) Two additional service 34 to be introduced Monday to Fridays departing from Stoke Village with City Centre arrival times of 07:25 and 08:40 respectively
Services 33D and 133 These services are to be withdrawn see service 34 for alternative journeys.
Service 36 A general retiming of the service with a number of additional services during the peak hours Monday to Friday City College term dates only.
Service 46 & 47 From the 20th September 2010 these Services are to be withdrawn from Mainstone and will instead operate into Peter Park Road and Wilton Street.
Plymouth Citybus Sunday Service changes from the 5th September 2010
Service 5 and 5A The 06:20, 07:20 and 18:20 journeys on Service 5 and the 07:50 journey on Service 5A are to be withdrawn.
Service 8 & Service 9 An additional Service 8 to operate at 08:10 from the City Centre with all services being retimed to improve time keeping along the entire route. All services from 18:05 onwards are to be withdrawn. Service 9 is to be retimed during the day to improve timekeeping and is to operate hourly with the last departure from the City Centre being at 21:40. The changes to the Service 8 & 9 provide a better timed two buses an hour operation from Efford to the City Centre and an hourly service into the evening
Service 20 The 07:55 and 17:55 journeys from the City Centre and the 07:36, 17:36 and 18:36 journeys from Merafield are to be withdrawn
Service 21 The 07:10, 07:40 journeys from the City Centre and the 07:16, 07:46 journeys from Steer Park are to be withdrawn. Evening services to remain however with the last departure from the City Centre being at 22:10 and the last bus from Chaddlewood being at 21:46.
Service 22 The 07:25 and 18:25 journeys from the City Centre and the 06:57, 17:57 and 18:57 journeys from Chaddlewood are to be withdrawn.
Service 23 An additional Service 23 to arrive City Centre 09:30. The Service 23 to increase in frequency from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes with the last departure from the City Centre being at 17:10. The Service 23 from 17:40 onwards is to be withdrawn.
Service 24 The Service 24 to be withdrawn and generally replaced with the enhanced service 23. Service 26 and Service 26B Services before 08:55 and after 17:35 from the City Centre to Barne Barton are to be withdrawn with services between these times increased in frequency from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes. Services from Barne Barton before 08:20 and after 17:00 are to be withdrawn with services between these times increased in frequency from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes. Evening Service 26B is to be withdrawn and replaced with Service 26 which is to operate hourly from 18:30 until 22:30 between St Budeaux and the City Centre via Devonport.
Service 29 The 08:10 and services from 18:10 onwards from the City Centre are to be withdrawn. The Service 29 from 18:26 onwards from Derriford Hospital also to be withdrawn.
Service 34 Service retimed with outbound services to Derriford Hospital departing the City Centre from 09:25 then hourly until 17:25 and inbound services from Derriford starting from 09:05 then operating hourly until 16:05 with all evening services withdrawn.
Service 35 An additional Service 35 to the City Centre to arrive at 08:32. The whole service has been retimed to improve timekeeping and then increased in frequency from hourly to every 30 minutes until 18:20 with evening services withdrawn
Service 40 & Service 41 Service 40 has been retimed to improve timekeeping with services from 18:35 onwards withdrawn. Service 41 has been retimed to improve timekeeping with an additional service introduced to enable a 10:00 arrival at the City Centre. Services from 18:05 onwards are to be withdrawn. (See Service 42 for replacement evening services)
Service 42 The service is to be increased in frequency from hourly to every 30 minutes with the first service from Tamerton Foliot departing at 08:31. From 18:01 the service is to operate hourly with the last departure being at 22:01. The service is to be withdrawn from Leatfield Drive and will instead operate via Southway. Services from the City Centre to commence at 08:50 and operate every 30 minutes, then from 17:20 the service is to operate hourly with the last departure to Tamerton Foliot being 21:20 and to Derriford Hospital 22:20.The changes to the Service 40, 41 and the Service 42 sees the frequency of local bus Services to the City Centre from Southway on Sundays increase from 2 buses and hour to three buses an hour.
Service 43 Services from Ernesettle before 08:00 to the City Centre are to be withdrawn with services from the City Centre commencing from 08:40 operating every 20 minutes until 17:00. From 17:40 services to operate hourly with the last departure from the City Centre being 22:20. Service 43 together with the Service 29 providing buses in excess of every 20 minutes during the day between St Budeaux and the City Centre via Milehouse
Service 44 This service has been retimed to improve timekeeping with services commencing from the City Centre at 08:20 and Whitleigh at 08:40 then every 30 minutes with the last departing Service 44 from the City Centre being at 17:20. Services from 17:50 onwards are to be withdrawn. The retiming of Services 40, 41 and the Service 44 creates improved services between the City Centre and Crownhill with local bus services operating in excess of every 15 minutes for most of the day Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Service 46 & 47 These services are to be withdrawn. For alternative journeys, Devonport = Service 26, Southway = Service 40, 41 and 42, Estover =
Service 50 This service is to be increased in frequency from hourly to every 30 minutes with services operating from the City Centre from 08:20 then from 17:20 the service is to operate hourly with the last departure being 22:20. Services from Derriford are to commence from 07:53 then every 30 minutes, from 17:53 the service is to operate hourly with the last departure being 21:53.
Service 61 and Service 62A The Service 62A is to be withdrawn and replaced with a Service 61 which is to operate from 08:35 and then every 30 minutes between the City Centre and Transit Way with the last bus departing the City Centre 17:35. Services to the City Centre are to commence from 08:15 and then operate every 30 minutes with the last departure being 16:40 to the City Centre and 17:10 to Peverell. The Service 35 together with the Service 61 will provide buses every 15 minutes during the day between Peverell and the City Centre via Mutley Plain.
The above changes represent a significant shift in resources for the Sunday network with drivers and vehicles reallocated from the provision of Sunday evening services to instead provide a significant increase in the number of buses operating during the day.
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