Citybus fleet update

The step entrance Dennis Darts have lasted longer than many of us expected with Citybus. Well it seems that the last K reg 107 is due to come out of service very shortly and will be scrapped along with 128 129 also up for scrapping imminently.
The Volvo B6 51-53 still sit at Milehouse with 51 slowly being stripped for parts and 52/53 up for sale.
The last few Mercedes 709Ds and a few Volvo double deckers are also still at Milehouse awaiting sale.
Perhaps the most surprising news is that low floor Dennis Dart 28 T128EFJ has been withdrawn from service and is slowly being taken apart for spares. It has been damaged beyond economic repair.
Thanks to Jason Beverly for the update.

©Tom Pearce: 27 June 2011 - 28 being stripped for spares

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Related Links

• Tom Pearce Photostream Flickr

Elsewhere on the net

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Not So Super Trooper Strike?

The BBC has reported that there may be a strike ahead for First Devon & Cornwall:
Bus workers in Devon and Cornwall are being balloted over possible strike action in a dispute over "essential" staff transport. In May First Devon and Cornwall announced it would be withdrawing its early morning "Staff Trooper" bus which staff use to travel to work. The RMT union said the ballot would close on 5 July. First Devon and Cornwall said the service was "underused" which made it uneconomical to run.
Bob Crowe, from the RMT, said: "Many of our members relied on the Staff Trooper to get to work and the company has refused point-blank to enter into dialogue with RMT to either change their decision or modify their proposals.
"This is a purely penny-pinching measure at a time when First Group profits have risen by 14.3% in the last year as a result of our members hard work."
General Manager of First Devon and Cornwall, Robbie Lamerton, said: "This service was underused, benefiting only 6% of the workforce (an average 10 people a day used it out of a workforce of 168).

I cant see this turning into a full strike, but you never know, as sometimes fairly small disputes like this can escalate out of control and turn nasty. Certainly Bob Crowe likes a fight, but lets hope that it all gets resolved sensibly in due course.

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Elsewhere on the net

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First fares cut - for some

After the previous offer on a one week ticket First have now reduced many fares on the 3 in competition with Citybus 26...
We are delighted to announce we are further reducing our fares on ugobus service 3 to offer those travelling by bus from Barne Barton, St Budeaux and Devonport the cheapest journey to the City Centre.
From Sunday 26 June our fares on the 3 will be...
Barne Barton - City Centre Single £1.40 Return £1.90
St Budeaux - City Centre Single £1.40 Return £1.90
Camels Head - City Centre Single £1.40 Return £1.90
HMS Drake - City Centre Single £1.40 Return £1.90
St Levan Gate - City Centre Single £1.40 Return £1.90
Albert Gate - City Centre Single £1.10 Return £1.50
Devonport Avenue - City Centre Single £1.10 Return £1.50
Cumberland Gardens - City Centre Single £1.10 Return £1.50
Plus not only is ugobus service 3 the cheapest way to get to the City Centre from Barne Barton, St Budeaux and Devonport it's also the most frequent offering journeys up to every 7/8 minutes from Monday to Saturday!
ugobus service 3: the cheapest and most frequent service!

It seems they have just capped the maximum fare at £1.40 which is indeed quite a drop. This appears to be the main fare now and not just a special offer fare for a limited period.
There is no sign of a Citybus response on fares yet, although there is a timetable change due in September.

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Related Links

• First 3 Plymothian Transit Extra

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little and large on the 58

Just a very quick follow up to yesterdays post that Citybus have cancelled their registration of the 58/59 service. It does now appear that Target Travel have won the tender for the contract which stipulates low floor buses.
It remains to be seen if they need to get any more Solos in but if you want to imagine what a Target Travel Solo would look like on a 58 / 59 service try the image below.

These YJ55 Solos are nice buses, its just a shame the destination displays never work! No such problems back in the good old days when the route saw something slightly bigger, and on a more frequent service too!
©Jos Van Hemert. Bretonside 1984.

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Related Links

• Citybus 58 - 59 Plymothian Transit Extra

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September Changes for Citybus

Just a quick catch up on the last week or so on the VOSA web site for Plymouth:
7th June
PH1098326/1 - MARK LEGASSICK T/A ST BUDEAUX TAXI BUS, 60 SAVAGE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL5 1BR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between St Budeaux Library and St Budeaux Square given service number 223/57 effective from 13-Jun-2011. To amend Timetable.
And then we get the more interesting ones:
20 June 2011
PH0000135/75 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth , Royal Parade and St. Budeaux Square given service number 26 effective from 04-Sep-2011. To amend Timetable.
This route is of course subject to increased competition from First service 3. Many of us suspect that the route cannot sustain both companies running such a frequent service so the detail behind this VOSA notification will be keenly awaited by many!

PH0000135/83 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Bretonside Bus Station Plymouth and Bretonside Bus Station given service number 58/59 effective from 11-Sep-2011.
Hopefully this is a change of operator for the 58/59 rather than a complete withdrawal. I will be keeping an eye out for any new registration of the route
PH0000135/88 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Variation Accepted: Operating between Royal Parade and Mount Gould Hospital given service number 4S effective from 04-Sep-2011. To amend Route and Timetable.
PH0000135/124 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Registration Accepted Starting Point: Outland Road DHS Girls School Finish Point: Derriford Hospital Via: Milehouse, Stoke, Weston Mill Service Number: 116 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 04-SEP-2011 Other Details: Monday to Friday Plymouth schooldays only. PM journey only.
PH0000135/125 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Registration Accepted Starting Point: St. Dominick School Finish Point: Saltash Community School Via: Hatt, Carkeel, St Mellion Service Number: 117 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 04-SEP-2011 Other Details: Monday to Friday Cornwall school termdates only. One AM & one PM journey.
These last few are Schools service for the new school term.

The 58 / 59 was one of the last routes to see fairly regular minibus operation.

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Related Links

• Citybus 26 Plymothian Transit Extra
• Citybus 58 - 59 Plymothian Transit Extra

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Tinkering with the 42

Plymouth Citybus have made a change to the 42 service with new timetables already in place from this weekend just gone:
After reading through our passengers welcome feedback on the changes that we made to service 42 back in April, we are altering the timetable, adding an additional bus to the service to iron out punctuality problems. The 42 service offers an up to every 30 minute service between Tamerton Foliot, Derriford Hospital and the City Centre.
On the few occasions where crucial mistakes are made when new timetables and routes are implemented, it is always in the interests of both passengers and the company to adjust services, providing there would be no adverse effect on passenger numbers.
Full timetable HERE
It is the first few early morning runs which change with the rest of the days service continuing as before.

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Related Links

• Citybus 42 Plymothian Transit Extra

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Smart

Thanks to Brian George I can bring you this indoor shot of Citybus 420. Not in service yet, but it seems to wont be long now...
Brian George

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Gone Gone Gone

Three decent buses no longer with us:

Scrapped 2010

Scrapped 2011

Scrapped 2011

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Elsewhere on the net

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• D&G blames the uncertainty of free travel reimbursement reductions and Stoke council’s cuts as the reasons why it is selling to Arriva—to be branded as Wardle. Omnibuses

Elite

Recently Parks have places a small fleet of the stunning new Plaxton Elite coaches on its National Express contracts. I caught HSK646 on camera on the 28th March:

Cant get enough of these wonderful coaches!

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Elsewhere on the net

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When Barne Barton had real buses

With the increased service on the Barne Barton service it seems like a good time to remember how things used to be...
Creative Commons licensed flickr photo shared by Clive Brown
Those were the days! Every 15 minutes alternate 6 and 7s from Saltash Passage / Barne Barton. It was catching these fine machines to school from Barne Barton which sparked my interest in buses all those years ago. It was a conductor who pointed out the fleet numbers on each bus and gave me my first hand written 'fleet list' of the Plymouth based FLFs. Nearly forty years later I am still chasing buses - it was all his fault!

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• Sou'westers Photostream Clive Brown on Flickr

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• It does interest me how we present our case when it comes to both positive and negative change. Omnibuses

The Panther awaits a new coat

It wasnt that long ago that Plymouth Citycoach looked doomed. This was before Citybus was put up for sale. Luckily for Citycoach staff, the new owners are Go Ahead, who seem to be more willing to operate coach fleets than most of the other large groups. The Go Ahead South Coast fleets have quite a few coaches between them under various names and some excellent liveries too.
Go Ahead clearly think there is a future for Citycoach as they have invested in two one new Volvo B9R with Plaxton Panther bodywork. Thanks to Denis, Number 317 is seen here at Windsor Coach Park this week:

©Windsorbus
It has been placed into service in plain white livery but is expected to receive a new CityCoach livery soon. Exactly what that livery will look like remains to be seen, but this is Go Ahead, so expect something stylish. If its anything like the Go South Coast coach liveries or Brighton & Hove then it will be worth waiting for!

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Related Links

• We offer a host of tours and excursions to suit most appetites for travel, ranging from Blackpool to Italy Plymouth Citycoach
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The Battle over Barne Barton

There seems to be a very clear strategy at First regarding competition with Citybus. With the exception of the 15, all the 'new' Ugo bus routes introduced against Citybus will have gone by this weekend. Instead we see First pulling back into their traditional operating areas and being more aggressive with its fare structure in order to win passengers back from Citybus.
We're pleased to announce our ugobus service 3, operating between Barne Barton, St Budeaux, Devonport and Plymouth City Centre is increasing its frequency from Monday 13 June. From this date ugobus service 3 will operate a high frequency service up to every 7/8 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays.
To celebrate the improved frequency on service 3 we're also pleased to announce we'll be extending our Plymouth City Zone to include St Budeaux and Barne Barton so our FirstWeek Plymouth City and FirstMonth Plymouth City tickets will be valid anywhere on service 3 (previously they could only be used as far as Devonport and Camel's Head.
This means....
7 days travel on ugobus service 3 will now cost just £10.50 (instead of the previous £14.00 for a FirstWeek Plymouth ticket) - that's a saving of £3.50. 1 month's travel on ugobus service 3 will now cost just £35.00 (instead of £54 for a FirstMonth Plymouth ticket) That's a saving of £19.00! Both of these tickets are available to buy from your driver. (to view the Plymouth ticket zone map please click HERE) In addition to these cheaper week and month tickets we've also reduced some of the single and return fares on the ugobus 3 route. A few examples include:

• Barne Barton - City Centre £2.40 return
• Barne Barton - City Centre £1.60 single
• HMS Drake - City Centre £1.50 single

The big question is - What will Citybus do next? Do they join in the fun and reduce their fares on their St Budeaux buses (or at the very least postpone their impending fare rise)?

With all of this extra promotion going on its a real shame that we are loosing some of the better buses to other areas and we are having to put up with buses like this one. These Volvos are incredibly uncomfortable and noisy (at least the ex Yorkshire ones are) and seem to hate hills. I think Id rather have more of those Marshall bodied Darts back from South Wales!

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Related Links

• More buses and cheaper fares First

Elsewhere on the net

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Plymstock Network

This weekend sees the start of the new Plymstock Network by First. Route 2 stays as it was but the 6 has been revised and a new route 7 has been added to the network.
Service 6 (City Centre - Staddiscombe via Plymstock): The route of this service is changing slightly from 12 June. Specifically Service 6 buses will no longer serve Horn Cross Road, Stanborough Road, Springfield Road or a section of route on Goosewelll Road, but instead they will operate via Oreston Road, Plymstock Road, Dean Hill, Furzehatt Road, Reservoir Road, Staddiscombe Road, Goosewell Road and Holmwood Avenue before returning along Dean Hill to Plymstock Broadway. The changes mean that customers in Staddiscombe and Goosewell will be able to get to and from Plymstock Broadway more easily and quickly than previously. Buses will run up to every 20 minutes Monday - Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays.
***NEW*** Service 7 (City Centre - Elburton via Plymstock Broadway): A new Service 7 is being introduced from 12 June. This will offer people in Elburton additional opportunities to travel and a quicker, more direct, route between Elburton and the City Centre. Specifically buses, which will run up to every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays and Public Holidays, will follow the route of the current Service 6 until the Pomphlett Road roundabout, from where they will then travel via Pomphlett Road, Horn Cross Road, Stanborough Road Dunstone Drive, Furzehatt Road, Springfield Road, Elburton Road and Stanborough Road, before returning along Horn Cross Road, Pomphlett Road en route to the city centre. In addition Service 7 buses in the city centre, in response to customer demand, will also serve Charles Street (for the Drake Circus Shopping Mall) and Mayflower Street from the 12 June
Not knowing Plymstock that well its hard for me to judge if this is an improvement or not. I guess like any route and timetable change there will be winners and looser, but its generally the losers that will make the most noise!I have finally managed to get my computer to produce a Google Map of the network as it stands from this weekend. Larger 'live' maps are on my Extra site as detailed below.

The Plymouth Citybus 5 5A service continues as before of course. After the upcoming fare increase by Citybus its possible that First will actually be cheaper now, especially as the recent First increase did not apply to their Plymstock buses.
First are offering cheaper tickets for the first week:
We've listened to our customers who told us they wanted more direct buses to the places in Plymstock and Elburton they wish to visit. So from Sunday 12 June were changing the route of our service 6 and introducing a new service 7:
ugobus 6: Staddiscombe - Broadway West - Oreston - City Centre

Plus weve still got our service 2 (Mount Batten - Goosewell - Broadway West - Pomphlett - City Centre), so between them services 2, 6 and 7 offer up to 12 buses an hour between Plymstock and Plymouth City Centre.
To celebrate the new and improved network in the Plymstock area we're offering a £5 FirstWeek Plymstock ticket on ugobus services 2,6 & 7 from Sunday 12 - Saturday 25 June. If you use it everyday it's valid that's as little as 71p per day for unlimited travel on these 3 services; bargain!
Ask your ugobus service 2, 6 or 7 driver for a £5 FirstWeek Plymstock ticket.
To view full details of this offer and a map showing the service 2, 6 & 7 routes please click here: ugobus service 2, 6 & 7 timetable from 12 June 2011 (PDF - 181.46 KB)

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Related Links

• First 2 Plymothian Transit Extra
• First 6 Plymothian Transit Extra
• First 2 Plymothian Transit Extra
• Citybus 5/5A Plymothian Transit Extra

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Truro or Exeter

Its been a bit quiet on VOSA over the last month or so but there are a couple of entries which standout:
PH1020951/40 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Exeter Bus Station and Buckfastleigh Station Approach given service number X38" TARGET="_blank">service number X38 effective from 18-Jul-2011. To amend Route and Timetable.
PH1020951/158 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Buckfastleigh Station Approach and Plymouth Bus Station given service number X38 effective from 18-Jul-2011. To amend Timetable.
Hopefully this is an increase in service for the summer season?
Now that may be interesting enough but there is a new registration for a brand new operator which looks like it could be very interesting indeed:
PH1101608/2 - TREVELLYAN JACKETT T/A JACKETT'S COACHES, KINGSETT HOUSE,, ALBASTON, GUNNISLAKE, PL18 9AL Registration Accepted Starting Point: Plymouth, Bretonside Bus Station Finish Point: Truro, Bus Station Via: Service Number: X5 Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride Effective Date: 25-JUL-2011 Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays.
It may turn out to something of nothing, as these VOSA registrations give away so little, but if its is really a new useful service between Plymouth and Truro then its a very interesting move by a brand new company - and a brave one too. I am sure there will be more details on this soon. ©Tom Pearce

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Related Links

• New web site now online: Jacketts Coaches

is it fare?

The impending fare increase for Citybus has provoked an interesting ongoing debate in the comments over the last few posts on Plymothian Transit. Which is now cheaper First or Citybus? Well as ever it is not a straight forward question to answer!
I will return to looking at individual fares later when I have a few more details to hand but start of with looking at day tickets for the Plymouth area:
These are the fares after the forthcoming fare increase for Citybus. I have tried match like for like but nothing is that simple. The basic day ticket prices will be the same for both companies. First is now 20p cheaper than Citybus. The 7 day ticket for adults is also the same for both companies but Citybus are increasing their child tickets by more so these tickets end up cheaper for First.
I have included the 28 day and 90 day ticket prices but it has to be remembered that First give a full calendar month and three months which seems a lot fairer and is easier to manage for most passengers. I recall having to buy 28 day tickets years ago and occasionally getting caught out having to pay for two sets in the same pay month - something which you will avoid with a full month ticket. I do hope this is one area which Citybus will change at some time in the future.
For the full 12 month pass Citybus seem now to be quite a bit dearer although First do mention that the £540 prices does not include the £25 insurance charge - without making it clear if this is a compulsory charge. I would assume it isn't.

Ticket	Age	Citybus	First
One Day	Adult	£3.50	£3.30
One Day	Child	£2.50	£2.50
7 day	Adult	£14.00	£14.00
7 day	Child	£12.00	£10.00
28 Day*	Adult	£52.00	£54.00
28 Day*	Child	£45.00	£40.00
90 Day**	Adult	£156.00	£150.00
90 Day**	Child	£135.00
12 Month	Adult	£560.00	£540.00
12 Month	Child	£480.00	£405.00

Of course as I said at the start of this small posting, nothing is a straightforward as a simple chart can indicate.
Plymouth Citybus cover much more of the city that First do. A Citybus ticket will get you to more places than a First one in Plymouth. Citybus also have more evening services (at the moment anyway). Of course for many passengers there will be no choice - they will only be served by one company. For those of us lucky enough to be served by both companies it gets more complicated. I am lucky as I have the Green Pass which works on ALL services in Plymouth regardless of operator. My route to work is served by Citybus, First and Target so I can choose which one I want rather than having to let buses go by waiting for my bus to turn up. It is a real shame that there isn't a general all company pass that Plymouth passengers can buy as I suspect that what most passengers want.

Please note - the First Adult Day Rider is £3.30 not £3.50 as originally posted

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• New company, Jackett Coaches, took over the operation of the 87/A, from Tavistock to Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers last week. PTOTPA
• I managed to photograph my first Southern Vectis Optare Solo today - former Wilts & Dorset 2632 (S632JRU) which I last photographed in Romsey. Southern England Bus Scene

Heritage Greyhound

Its not Plymouth, but I know many enthusiasts from Plymouth will travel down into Cornwall for an event:

Western Greyhound Heritage Running Day

We will be holding our 2011 Heritage Weekend between the 24th & 26th June. Our restored heritage vehicles will be put out in service on the Friday and Saturday (but mainly Saturday), and we hope that you will come along for a ride! Our Routemasters, Bristol VR and RF-class Green Line AEC Regal IV will operate on some of the most spectacular routes in rural Cornwall, although exact details of the services that each vehicle will be operating is not yet available. We will upload route plans closer to the time, so keep an eye on our website!
A couple of our buses will also be joining the Annual Commercial Vehicle Coastal Run on the Sunday 26th June (although this is not run by Western Greyhound). We work alongside the organiser so that our event coincides with their Coastal Run on the Sunday, giving an added bonus to those that need to travel down especially for our heritage weekend. The Coastal Run is open to commercial vehicles, buses and coaches which are 20 years old or more. It is only the individuals participating with vehicles that need to book and pay an entry fee, so you can merely turn up on the day and walk around for free. The vehicles congregate at The Fairfield in Summercourt (next to the London Inn pub), and generally leave the field at 10:00. We understand that due to the cost of fuel and the current economic situation, that the route has been reduced to approx 55 miles this year, instead of the usual 70 miles. Most of the bus and coach operators welcome enthusiasts to board and ride the route if they so wish, so feel free to have a ride on any of our buses that take part, subject to space. However, many people would rather make their own travel arrangements, which allow them to get in front of the vehicles and take pictures along the way. There should be a break midday at the Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Redruth.
If it is of interest to you, please do not hesitate to email enquiries@westerngreyhound.com and ask to be added to our "Enthusiasts mailing list" so that you can receive information about our Heritage Running Days and other special events that are taking place in the future. Our Enthusiasts mailing list is solely for the purpose of informing you about our Heritage events, and your details will not be passed onto any other third party.

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Elsewhere on the net

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• In one sense - the sense I'm going to completely ignore - things have gone a long way backwards since my update last week. Viewed another way, we're a long way forward down a road that's turned out to be quite a bit longer than it looked on the map 270KTA

Citybus Fares going up

Citybus have announced their fare increase from 18th June:

Due to increases in operating costs, we have had to revise our fares, with the following changes being effective as of 18th June 2011. We have tried to cushion the fare increases by not increasing popular tickets like our adult all zone season tickets and our ever popular Dayrider Duo. We have also included a NEW Group Dayrider, allowing up to 4 people to travel at the same time throughout the day for £7, that’s just £1.75 each!
The headline news:
Single and Return tickets will increase by 20p, for both adult and child/student.

• Dayrider tickets will increase by 20p, for both adult (new price £3.50) and child/student (new price £2.50).
• Dayrider Duo will stay the same (£5)
• Family Dayrider will be replaced by a new Group Dayrider ticket, allowing any 4 people to travel at the same time for the whole day for just £7, that’s £1.75 each!
• 7 Day Paper Tickets for all zones will stay the same price for adult (£14), but will increase by £2 for child/student (new price £12). Single zones will increase by £1 for adults (new price £12) and £2 for child/student (new price £10).
• Dayrider Voucher Books of 12 Dayrider tickets will increase by £2 for both adult (new price £35) and child/student (new price £25). Dayrider Duo 5 voucher books will remain at the same price (£20).
• Transfer Tickets, which is a Dayrider valid for 1 hour from time of issue will increase by 30p for both adult (new price £2.80) and child/student (new price £2).
• 7 Day Smart Card & PayPoint Tickets* for all zones will stay the same price for adult (£14), but will increase by £2 for child/student (new price £12). Single zones will increase by £1 for adults (new price £12) and £2 for child/student (new price £10).
• 28 Day Smart Card & PayPoint Tickets* for all zones will stay the same price for adult (£52), but will increase by £3 for child/student (new price £45). Single zones will increase by £5 for adults (new price £40) and £7 for child/student (new price £35).
• 90 Day Smart Card & PayPoint Tickets* for all zones will stay the same price for adult (£156), but will increase by £10 for child/student (new price £135). Single zones will increase by £15 for adults (new price £120) and £21 for child/student (new price £105).
• Annual Pass Smart Card Tickets* for all zones will stay the same price for adult (£560). Single zones will increase by £23 for adults (new price £400). From mid August this product will now be available for child/students at £480 for all zones and £340 for single zone.
• Direct Debit all zone passes will stay the same price at £47 per month based on a new minimum 6 month contract. Single zones will increase by £4 per month (new price £36).
• *From mid August 7, 28, 90 day and annual smart card products will be available to children and students.

So the 'on bus' fares which most passengers will notice will increase by 20p, for both adult and child/student. That is quite a jump when they would normally be expected to go up by 10p each.
This has been picked up by quite a few visitors to my little blog and there has been a lot of debate as to whether Citybus fares are now more than Firsts. Having used a bus pass for years now I must admit I dont really know the answer to this. Certainly at the moment on my regular journey First are more expensive. I can see I will have to sit at the front of the bus to take a few notes on what passengers are paying for a more detailed analysis. If these fares dont make Citybus more expensive then they certainly close the gap between the two companies.
The other feature of the new prices is the closing gap between adult and child fares with child tickets rising a lot more than the adult equivalents.
Creative Commons licensed flickr photo shared by Sludgegulper

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Related Links

• Sorry - a nothing post - but click on the comments link! Plymothian Transit May 2011

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• When the legislation regarding acceptance of the English National Concessionary Bus Pass was tightened in 2009, a number of hitherto bus (and coach!) services managed to struggle free of the scheme A Transport of Delight
• Sadly, the village of Great Heck will long be remembered as the site of a tragic rail accident which happened on 28th February 2001 at approx 0615. Public Transport Experience
• The Transport Museum at Wythall once more joined forces with the Aston Manor Road Transport Museum on the most recent Bank Holiday Monday to stage their 'Two Museums Day' with a half-hourly vintage bus service across Birmingham connecting the two Transport Illustrated
• And so it is that, later today, Yellow Buses will officially launch its five brand new Volvo B9TL/Wrightbus Gemini 2s, on the road from Monday. Omnibuses
• today’s the day, however, when we expect to hear of significant changes in the region, especially at Go South Coast. Dorset Bus Blog

Truronian Twilight

News which will surprise no one:
Truronian Holidays will cease trading on 1 November because of "difficult trading and economic conditions", its owners First Devon and Cornwall said.
Truronian Holidays will honour all pre-booked trips until that date where the required numbers had been met, it said. All driving staff will move to First but two jobs in the firm's Truro shop would be lost, a spokeswoman said.
It was taken over by First in 2008, which said it absorbed the local bus services running under the Truronian name and operated the coach holiday side of the business separately. Robbie Lamerton, general manager for First Devon and Cornwall, said: "After several years of running both companies we have made a decision to focus on scheduled passenger transport services rather than bespoke holiday packages. "Unfortunately a deal to sell the holiday business as a going concern fell through earlier this year so Truronian Holidays will be officially wound down, and will cease trading in the autumn."
BBC Cornwall
It was back in April 2008:
First Devon & Cornwall Ltd has bought Truronian, which operates a number of routes across mid and west Cornwall, as well as holiday coaches. Truronian has about 70 vehicles, including 50 buses and 20 coaches.
It is sad to see how such a large concern can just disappear like this. I am not sure how many of the ex Truronian services are still being run by First but certainly Western Greyhound have taken on some of them. The Eden services are still under First including the articulated Mercedes Citaros. There were rumours that these were being replaced by ex London examples later this year - but we will have to wait and see if that is the case.
With most of the newer ex Truronian buses transferred out of Devon & Cornwall there is still one reminder in Plymouth:
Sad to think that the registration of this bus could soon end up being the last reminder of the fleet in Devon & Cornwall.