A notice appeared on the Plymouth Citybus website yesterday:
The company responsible for the operation of all Tesco and Asda shopper services in the UK PB Bus Marketing* has undergone a review of Free Shopper bus operations and has appointed alternative operators to operate the Plymouth Tesco and Asda Free Shopper Services from next Monday (19th August 2013).
We ourselves received confirmation of the changes the 9th August. We are truly very sorry for the short notice in our notification. We do not know who the new operators are or if the timetables themselves are changing.
There is nothing appearing on any of the other local bus companies to suggest anyone who may be taking on these contracts, assuming of course that they will be replaced. With the short notice, and given that not all passengers have access to the internet I can see a few passengers getting caught out next week when their bus does not appear. Unless of course it is operated by someone else to the same timetables. Dont bother looking on the internet either as I cant see anything on these services at all – not even on the supermarket web sites
These contracts have recently provided useful work for the Student Link fleet between school runs
Of course at one time we have a few buses painted up for these services: 
©Jos Van Hemert 9 September 1994 
©Jason Beverley circa 1983/4
And finally a bonus pic: 
©Dannys Bus Photos (creative commons) Halifax Joint Committee - here because its better knon as Plymouth Citybus 126 L126YOD!
* PB Bus Marketing are closely associated with Xelabus who of course operate (or at least did) former Plymouth Darts including L118YOD, seen here on a Tesco contract!
©Exelabus – first used on a posting back on 9 December 2010 so well worth sharing again.
PT RECOMMENDS
- For this week's SoS I revert again to Olympians within Plymouth, with a nice little 'photoshoot' session done with K803 ORL earlier this week. PTOTPA 11 August
- Surely a thrusting go-getting modern airport ought to be publishing actual timetables of the new T9, plus the rail option, together with fares details; if they really want to encourage custom. Public Transport Experience 12 August
- There’s a right royal rumpus brewing in Edinburgh, Scotland, about this bus back. It’s found its way to the rears of some of Lothian Buses (plus those in Glasgow operated by First and possibly even First’s buses in Edinburgh, too). Omnibuses 13 August
- Loitering Ruefully in Lyme Regis [1] Public Transport Experience 13 August
ASDA SERVICE HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A LOCAL COACH COMPANY ,, NOT SURE WHO. IT IS NOT FIRST, TARGET OR JACKETTS APPARENTLY!
ReplyDeleteCome October and their push into Tavi and Torpoint etc that wont be the vonly thing they are losing. They will be more worried about how they are going to get their £2m investment back!!! lol
ReplyDeleteBack in the day yes the free Shopper buses did use the Student Link fleet in between school runs however the last year or 2 have been all SLFs and B7s, as they operate in between the 121,122 and 126 school runs. The Deckers that do the 121/122 I've seen normally do the Tesco Roborough ones while sensibly the SLF that does the 126 seems to do the longer runs to Tesco Lee Mill.
ReplyDeleteRemains to be seen what happens to the school drivers that do these in between the school runs!
i was told Carmel "Plymouth" will be taking it over
ReplyDeleteMost likely its either Jackett's or Target Travel
ReplyDeleteCarmel coaches I believe have got the Asda Shopper. Services will no longer serve Saltash but Plympton instead!
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Tesco website for the Woolwell store:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tesco.com/storeLocator/default.asp?bID=3031
"Due to unforeseen circumstances we are not currently operating our free weekly bus service. Customers requiring help getting to our local store should ring 0845 6779545. Our staff will be happy to help make alternative transport arrangements for disabled customers or provide details of alternative bus services to use. Tesco would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."
carmel are running asda route from monday
DeleteDart 32 (T132EFJ) ran the last Citybus operated TL1s on Friday 16th August.
ReplyDelete