A PLYMOUTH transport company has announced that it will take over part of two city bus routes recently scrapped by another firm. Target Travel's transport manager, Ashley Taylor, said that the bus provider would run two buses between Whitleigh and Austin Farm from 9.30am until 3.30pm. This route was part of a transport link cut by Plymouth Citybus last week. The two buses were city centre circular routes 46/47 which served many estates in the Glenholt and Southway area, transporting residents to Asda superstore and Derriford Hospital. He said: "This bus route means a lot to many people and we had extra operational bus time so we were able to put this bus service on." The company had applied for the correct licences and hoped the services would be up and running by June 27, he said. In recent weeks more than 5,000 signatures had been collected by other campaigners against plans to withdraw routes 46, 47, 46S and 47S. Tania Downie, one of the organisers of the petition, said: "It is wonderful to see a company such as Target Travel demonstrate that they have a social conscience and provide this much needed lifeline for those living in the north of the city." Full story Archived Link
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What's the betting that this service will last no longer than six months after which it will be pulled or Target will be seeking a subsidy to continue operating.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, 6 months max..most of Targets services lack customers I would say. Would it not be cheaper for the council to pay First or Ciybus to divert an existing route. For example one 15 an hour could divert into Hartley Vale to replace Target 39..or perhaps the funding could fund an additional 15 per hour along the whole route which could dvert into Hartley Vale..this would be more used i am sure and offer a better return for the councils money than the completely under used Target service!!!
ReplyDeleteIt still doesnt help residents of Ernesettle access Devonport, Whitleigh and Derriford Hospital without the need for several bus changes. A service that covers the north western part of the 46 would be of more benefit!
ReplyDeleteWhat is often forgotten is that Plymouth City Council spends far less than any other comparable size City on public transport subsidy. PCC £250K per annum, Milton Keynes around £3.5M per annum, Bristol around £3M. Cornwall was spending £4M although this will have reduced this year. Going to the far extreme London spends £600M on bus subsidy alone and if you pro rata this for Plymouth a comparable figure would be £19M. Although this would never happen what a bus service Plymouth could have for that amount of monay!
ReplyDeleteanonymous @ 21:12 you obviously dont know anything about how first works they would never divert 1 bus an hour into hartly vale!
ReplyDeletemaybe in the old western national days but certainly not now they are just interested in getting as many people as they can on as few buses as possible.
and anonymous @ 00:43 i saw someone complaining in the herald about no direct bus service to devonport from ernesettle, oh dear! you've only got to change at st budeaux!!! get a life! you should be gratefull you still have a bus service, plenty of people have none or have to walk a fair way to get too a bus!
anonymous @ 21:12 you obviously dont know anything about how first works they would never divert 1 bus an hour into hartly vale!
ReplyDeletemaybe in the old western national days but certainly not now they are just interested in getting as many people as they can on as few buses as possible.
and anonymous @ 00:43 i saw someone complaining in the herald about no direct bus service to devonport from ernesettle, oh dear! you've only got to change at st budeaux!!! get a life! you should be gratefull you still have a bus service, plenty of people have none or have to walk a fair way to get too a bus!