First have now released the news that things are changing…
A number of changes are being made to the bus network in Plymouth as First seeks to strengthen its local business.
The changes - which see the creation of two new routes and some frequency improvements as well as some route adjustments and withdrawals - take effect on 27 October and affect the following services: 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 83, 84, 86, 93, PR1, X80, X81. In addition Services 48 and 81/81A are being altered slightly from 2 November.
Talking about what is happening, Alex Carter, Director for First South West, says: "Over the past few months we have looked at our network in and around Plymouth assessing its performance and its overall competitive edge. The review has shown that some changes are needed to strengthen the business and so we are taking steps to implement these alterations from the end of October.
"We will be changing some existing routes and setting up some entirely new ones. Similarly well be looking at various things we can do to make using the bus easier, while also increasing the value for money for our customers get when using our services. This will include fare initiatives to support the changes being made, the detail of which we'll make public in the coming days and weeks.
"We understand that changes like these can be unsettling and that alterations to routes can have a real impact on our customers lives, affecting their own routines and schedules. Clearly some local people will need to look again at the local bus network, understanding how these alterations impact their ability to get to important destinations. In most cases though, people will find that alternatives do exist for them, and where we can assist our teams will help people find them.
"Over the next few weeks well be doing what we can to ensure that these changes are communicated as widely and effectively as possible. We will be using a variety of tools to do this including putting information on buses and on some billboards, door-dropping timetables to homes in parts of the city and hosting customer road show events."
New timetable information and an updated network map will be available online and in the travel shops very soon.
Specific changes, effective as of 27 October 2013
Service 2 (City Centre - Mount Batten):
The frequency of buses on this route is being improved from the end of October. From this date buses will run every 10 minutes Monday - Saturday (compared to every 12 minutes at present) meaning customers will have more opportunities to travel. In addition to this the route that Service 2 buses take is being amended slightly. From the end of October buses between Plymstock Broadway and Pomphlett Roundabout will follow alternate routes every other journey, with one travelling via Pomphlett Gardens and the next travelling via Oreston. These changes mean that despite the loss of the old Service 6 (see details below), people travelling to and from Oreston will still have access to a bus every 20 minutes during the day Monday - Saturday. Similarly they will also regain an evening service from the end of October. Additionally, most journeys on Service 2 will continue from Royal Parade as Service 3, thus providing links from Plymstock to Devonport and St Budeaux
Service 3 (City Centre - St Budeaux):
The frequency of buses on this route is being reduced slightly. From the end of October buses will run every 10 minutes Monday - Saturday. In addition to this the route is being adjusted with all Service 3 buses set to terminate at St Budeaux from this date. Every other Service 3 bus will, however, continue on from St Budeaux as a Service 3A bus - providing links to West Park, Honicknowle, Peverell and the City Centre (see details below). The changes to Service 3 mean that people wishing to travel to and from Barne Barton by bus will need to make alternative arrangements.
Service 3A (City Centre - St Budeaux):
This new service will provide links between the city centre, Peverell, Honicknowle, West Park and St Budeaux while also giving people the opportunity to connect with Service 3 for onward journeys to Devonport and the City Centre. Buses will operate every 20 minutes during the daytime (Monday - Saturday).
Service 4 (City Centre - Keyham):
The frequency of buses on this route is being reduced slightly. From the end of October buses will run every 20 minutes Monday - Saturday (compared to every 15 minutes at present). In addition the timetable on Sundays is being altered slightly. Customers are advised to check the new timetables carefully to ensure they understand what is happening.
Service 5 (City Centre - Mount Gould):
We regret this route is being withdrawn from the end of October. People wishing to travel to and from Mount Gould will however find that alternative services do exist.
OLD Service 6 (City Centre - Staddiscombe):
The existing Service 6 bus route is being withdrawn but a new Service 6 is being created at the same time (see details below). People who used the old service 6 will find that part of the previous route - that which runs between the city centre and Plymstock Broadway - will be covered by the revised Service 2 (see details above). People wishing to travel further into Staddiscombe will find that alternative services do exist.
NEW Service 6 (City Centre - Efford):
A brand new Service 6 route is being created which will provide journeys between the City Centre, Lipson Vale and Efford. Running every 15 minutes during the day (Monday - Saturday) buses will follow the same route in and out of the city, travelling via North Hill, Lipson Vale, Torridge Way and Pike Road in both directions.
Service 7 (City Centre - Elburton):
We regret that this route - which has under performed for a number of years - is being withdrawn from the end of October. People wishing to travel to and from Elburton, Plymstock and the City Centre will however still be able to use our improved Service 93 (Plymouth - Dartmouth) to make local journeys.
Service 15 (City Centre - Derriford - Rodborough / Woolwell):
The route of this service is changing from the end of October to provide additional connections with Tavistock services travelling via Roborough and Woolwell. As a result of this change though Service 15 buses will no longer call at Estover or Mainstone from the 27 October.
The frequency of buses is also changing: from the end of October they'll run every 20 minutes Monday - Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays.
Additionally, on arrival in the City centre, most Monday to Friday journeys will continue as a Service 4. This means that customers wishing to travel from Roborough / Woolwell towards Keyham can do so relatively easily at these times - they simply board in Roborough / Woolwell, staying on the same vehicle in the City Centre, before being taken to Keyham on a Service 4 journey.
Service 83 (Plymouth - Yelverton -Tavistock):
The timetable of this service is changing in October. Specifically the frequency of buses is being increased so that there is one bus every 20 minutes during the peak period (compared to every 30 minutes at present) In addition to this, journeys to and from Tavistock are being scheduled to connect with Service 15 arrivals and departures in Roborough. This will enable those people wishing to travel to or from Derriford and Mutley Plain to do so.
In addition to this some Service 83 journeys in the morning and evening will be extended to start and finish at Whitchurch - this change compensates for the loss of Service 84 (see details below) and means that commuters in this area will still be able to travel.
Service 84 (Plymouth - Derriford - Tavistock):
In order to better match resources against the level of demand for services, this route is being withdrawn from 27 October. In its place changes are being made to Service 83 to add in extended journeys to and from Whitchurch in the morning, while connections between Service 83 and Service 15 are also being put in place.
Service 86 (Plymouth - Derriford - Tavistock):
The route that Service 86 buses take around Derriford is changing. From the end of October buses will travel via Derriford Roundabout, Derriford Hospital, Plymbridge Road, Marjon's, Runway Road and the A386. In addition to this the timetable is being tweaked slightly: buses will continue to only operate during the Monday - Friday peak period.
Service 93 (Plymouth - Kingsbridge - Dartmouth):
The timetable of this service is being amended to provide some additional short journeys running between Elburton (Elburton School) and the City Centre, to provide a bus every half hour This change is being made to compensate for the loss of Service 7 journeys. The longer journeys between Plymouth and Dartmouth are unaffected and remain as they are. From the end of October Service 93 buses will depart from Royal Parade (Stop A8), sharing the stop with Service 2 - which means that buses travelling the same direction will leave from the same place.
Service PR1 (George Park and Ride):
The timetable of the PR1 Park and Ride Service is being altered. From 27 October buses will run every 12 minutes during the daytime (compared to 10 minutes at present).
Service X80 (Plymouth - Ivybridge - Totnes - Paignton - Torquay) and Service X81 Dartmouth - Totnes - Paignton Torquay):
These two services are being withdrawn from 27 October. People who use the route should not be concerned though as another " almost identical - service has been registered by Stagecoach. This means that people should still able to get from A to B easily. To ease the transition from one operator to the other, First has also made arrangements for season tickets, and particularly scholar passes, to be honoured by the new operator for a set period of time.
Specific changes affecting services in Plymouth, from 2 November
Service 48 (Wembury - City Centre - Burrator):
The timetable of this service is being changed slightly. Specifically the winter timetable - applicable until Easter 2014 - will take effect from 2 November, meaning that the timetable for journeys on Sundays will change. Specifically the last bus from Burrator, terminating in Plymouth City Centre, will be at 1605 hours, while the last bus to Wembury from Royal Parade will depart at 1519 hours. The last bus from Wembury to the City Centre will depart at 1555 hours. These changes are being made at the request of Plymouth City Council who fund the service. Customers should note the changes only affect the Sunday timetable. Journeys running Monday - Saturday remain as they are.
Service 81/81A (Plymouth - Torpoint - Insworke): To coincide with changes being made elsewhere in Cornwall at the same time, Service
81/81A is being altered from 2 November.
Specifically the timetable is being simplified. In addition the route is being altered so that all buses follow a standard route within Plymouth. From 2 November they will travel via Devonport and Union Street and will not call at Stoke or Milehouse. Customers are advised to check the new timetable carefully before travelling to ensure they know what is happening.
For more information about all the changes being made, to view new and existing timetables or to find out more about First, log onto www.firstgroup.com/devon. New timetables will be made available online and in hard copy format - available from Travel Shops very soon.
First is on Twitter and Facebook, at www.twitter.com/FirstBus_Devon and www.facebook.com/FirstDevonandCornwall. First also has a smartphone app (for apple and android) phones, which can offer people access to timetable and route information while they are on the move. The app, which is free to download, can be found online by searching for 'First Bus App'.
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