An Eventful Life After Plymouth

Former Plymouth Citybus 125 STK125T made the news yesterday when it had a bit of a bump in Portsmouth...

At least the damage looks minimal (to the bus at least) so I am sure it will live to fight another day

A little reminder of her Plymouth days advertising the sort of equipment which might have come in handy yesterday!

©Jos Van Hemeert 16 July 1991

Just another day running a bus company

28 April: Srv 2 From Oreston to Town 08:20 will not be running - The next one is due at 08:41 - Sorry for the delays (VS)

27 April: Good morning, The Plymouth Half Marathon is taking place this morning. This is liable to cause delays to service 2 and 48. Service 2 will not connect to service 3 during the morning minimising the disruption to services operating in Plymstock only. Service 2/3 will reconnect from approx 12:30 offering cross city travel. (KC)

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Another North Norfolk Adventure That low bridge would concern me though as any standing passenger would strike it.

Psssst! It's Catch the Bus Week So, what is Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire's contribution? A fares promotion perhaps? or a major marketing campaign? Well, the answer is - nothing very much at all!

Transdev 36 to Sutton Upon Derwent Could be the 36 be further enhanced by using these 30 minutes to serve additional villages, such as Newton upon Derwent ot Melbourne, delivering significant enhancements to these villages bus services?

JPT TO STAGECOACH Stagecoach would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new customers in North Manchester and other areas served by JP Travel services. There will be some changes to the buses, passenger information and ticket range, as we work behind the scenes to make JP Travel part of the Stagecoach Manchester operation. Sheffield FreeBee Axed A free bus service around Sheffield city centre has been axed. The FreeBee bus, which made frequent stops around the centre, has been scrapped because of financial cutbacks

Council check: Cheshire West and Chester Council Last week we looked at East Cheshire. This week, it's the other half's turn. Here's how Cheshire West and Chester Council perform in their promotion of local bus services.

A Heart-warming Tale - Liiterally "I knew something was wrong because the gentleman's lips had turned blue," said Shane. "I tried shouting in his ear, but there was no response, so then checked for a pulse, but couldn't find one. fbb Forgot to Send a Card The route opened on 22 April 2012 with services provided by First Hampshire & Dorset using specially branded "Eclipse" buses on all routes utilising the busway.

Route 75 returns to Selkent Route 75 is once again operated from Catford Garage by Selkent and the running numbers are once again TL 31+ which were the same running numbers many years until the route was lost in 2009. It is operated with Euro 6 Enviro 400H Hybrid double deckers and is the First non Central London route to gain a full allocation of Hybrid vehicles

Scannies Swooped

At last we can see the recently acquired Scania in full Plymouth Citybus swoops:

© Colin Lang

Thanks Colin for the pictures!

The Lady’s New Coat

Thanks to Brian George I can now bring you a selection of photos of 358 in her new colours. I must admit I wasn't too sure at first as it seems odd not have at least some red but it has been growing on me. Whatever your preference though, I am sure most people would welcome the fact that the company have been prepared to spend decent money on her to keep her on the road and looking good. Due to the amount of work involved they have concentrated on her external appearance this time, and then hope to refurbish her interior over next winter. She is in too much demand to keep her off the road for too long!

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Bridge Replacement. Replacing a bridge is a huge undertaking, and one that needs tons of planning to make sure that the old bridge can be removed, the new one put in place and the railway restored before trains want to use it again. London Rail weekly update. The chap who sneezed all over you on the Victoria line – may be a red herring The Guardian

PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR TRUNK ROUTE A 10-week public consultation has begun on plans for £1.5bn improvements to the A14 in Cambridgeshire. The scheme involves widening a heavily congested 25-mile (40 km) stretch in East Anglia carrying traffic from the port of Felixstowe to the Midlands.

First Changes - Spider Maps Southampton City Council have issued some London-style spider maps for major locations in the city. See them here (scroll down to 'downloadable documents'), but bear in mind that First's changes will render most of them already obsolete as of 1st June.

FirstWeek Essex price cut for Catch The Bus Week: First have a special offer to celebrate Catch The Bus Week, which occurs from Monday 28th April until Sunday 4th May.

fbb Declares an Interest ... [1] Apart from a passing "credit" in "The Canterbury Tales", what is Sittingbourne famous for? Probably for paper mills and the crossing to the Isle of Sheppey. fbb Declares an Interest ... [2] "I am doing a bit of consultancy work for Chalkwell (Sittingbourne) bus company. Would you be interested in quoting for some diagrams for them?" Is the Pope a Catholic? fbb Declares an Interest ... [3] fbb is baring his all (horrid!); revealing the secret workings of his agile and productive brain (derision snorting is allowable!) as he tackles the problem of drawing some route diagrams for Chalkwell buses in Sittingbourne.

EYMS Service 705 The following registration appeared on the VOSA website today. I presume from the service number it is a special event park and ride, but does anyone know for what special event?

NorwichBuses Photo Exclusive but just this once I have to admit that 66332 does look stunning in the new corporate livery.

Oakleys Follow Up

Thanks to everyone who has provided extra information to yesterdays posting on the very short notice VOSA registration by Oakley's running former Beacon Bus services
Anon gives us the details:

They are only with Oakleys for about 6 weeks then Jackett’s take them over. Oakley's have bought a low floor Ex London General Dennis Dart R446LGH which is in their Colebrook yard however it is too big for the route and so I understand the Mercedes Benz Vario Plaxton Beaver (S3HCR) they have is being used instead alongside the now ageing Dennis Dart J910SEH neither of which is low floor.
Jackett’s as you posted yesterday have 2 ex Country Bus Darts and talking with Trev on Sunday they I believe are possibly looking at some Solo's or similar. Thanks to Colin Lang we can bring you a photo of J910SEH at Yelverton yesterday

©Colin Lang

I feel I need to write a quick note about comments being left on posts as there have been a number of complaints about a few posts being nothing less than incoherent bashing of either First Devon  or Plymouth Citybus  I have actually been holding quite a few back already but I have let a few slip by which I apologise for. I will be a lot more selective in the comments which get published in future.
Comments which just state how one company is always rubbish and the drivers are rubbish etc. will not get through. If you have something interesting to add, even if it is critical then it will get through. I am not a grammar / spelling master myself so I am not worried about poor grammar and spelling left in comments but if its difficult to work out what is being said then again it will be held back in future.
I try to be as unbiased as possible myself. It may not always seem like it when there are more positive posts in favour of one company over the other, but this is all part of the ebb and flow of the competition between Citybus and First. A while back it really did seem to everyone that First didn't want to be here and really didn't care about First Devon at all. Its hard to be positive about a company when the group themselves seemed so negative. There does however now seem to be a more positive feel around First as the MD is now permanent and despite there clearly not being a lot of cash to spend does seem to be keen to fight their corner.
On the other hand I do like what Go Ahead are doing at Citybus and the new buses are great but I will complain when they stick great big banners over the front windows!
Please keep the comments coming. The majority are great and really do add to the blog and do get read and enjoyed by most readers. I will try hard to keep to keep the dodgy comments out in future - although when mixed in the the 30 - 50 spam comments I get every day there may be one or two that get through!

Thanks again for your continued support everyone.

Will catch up with the links to other blogs in the next post as time is short!

Oakleys Party Bus Services

Beacon 98

PH1016164/18 - HOLSWORTHY LTD T/A BEACON GARAGE, DOLTON BEACON, DOLTON, WINKLEIGH, EX19 8PS

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Tavistock and Yelverton given service number WD98 effective from 19-Apr-2014.

Beacon 55/56

PH1016164/19 - HOLSWORTHY LTD T/A BEACON GARAGE, DOLTON BEACON, DOLTON, WINKLEIGH, EX19 8PS

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Tavistock Bus Station and Yelverton given service number 55/56 effective from 19-Apr-2014..

Oakleys 55

PH1091418/1 - PAUL SIMON OAKLEY T/A OAKLEYS PARTY LIMOS, 4 NEWNHAM ROAD, COLEBROOK, PLYMOUTH, PL7 4AN Registration

• Starting Point: Milton Combe
• Finish Point: Milton Combe
• Via: Yelverton Tavistock
• Service Number: 55
• Service Type: Normal stopping
• Effective Date: 22 April 2014
• Other Details: Monday to Saturday, not bank holidays.

Oakleys 98

PH1091418/2 - PAUL SIMON OAKLEY T/A OAKLEYS PARTY LIMOS, 4 NEWNHAM ROAD, COLEBROOK, PLYMOUTH, PL7 4AN Registration

• Starting Point: Tavistock Bus Station
• Finish Point: Tavistock Bus Station
• Via: Merrivale Princetown
• Service Number: 98
• Service Type: Normal stopping
• Effective Date: 22 April 2014
• Other Details: Monday to Saturday, not bank holidays.

This is very short notice as the service has already started! Traveline South West still has the old timetables for Beacon as being current but does mention that Oakleys will be running the services from the 22nd April. The Devon County web site still shows the service as being with Beacon. Their own web site is purely for the other side of their business – the party limos. As you can see from the VOSA route licence numbers these are the first bus services operated by Oakleys. I am sure their entry into the tendered services market has been warmly welcomed by Devon County Council!

55 Timetable PDF

98 Timetable PDF

Does anyone know what they are using on the new services? The service is down as being low floor so I guess they must have a low floor Dart or a Solo? Of course they do have at least one low floor Optare bus...

©Nick Rice (cc)

Incoming: Jacketts Coaches

©Richard Smith
With additional routes starting soon Jacketts Coaches need some more vehicles T902JTD is one of two Dennis Darts acquired recently from Countrybus. T902JTD and T581JTD are both in this smart blue and white livery.
T902JTD was new to Jim Stones as BUS1T it then spent some time with Shuttle Buses Kilwinning

 

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Bristol Departure Board Daftness Marlborough Street bus station was opened in 1958 by the Bristol Omnibus Company. It replaced stands located at various points in the city centre and was the base for country services.

Kirkby Stephen Easter Rally The Easter Kirkby Stephen & Brough Rally took place in glorious weather. As usual there was a large selection of exhibits taking part, with crowds of visitors making use of the free bus services between exhibition sites.

Easter Bus Services: Time for a Review? The Man on the Lancaster Omnibus found out about this from a rather obscure bus enthusiast publication that he subscribes to - one which is completely unknown to the general public - but what steps did Stagecoach take to sell the new service to its target market?

Nothing to see here…

I agree that the free wifi on board the Blue Flash fleet is a great idea and a benefit which should be shouted about but I am not too sure I like this...
©Richard Smith
I have never liked contravision as all to often it just gets in the way and is not a see through as they like to think it is. Having a great big banner right across the front window like this is just asking for trouble. It might be low enough for most adults to look over the top of it, but I know that my young son will have this right in front of him which I just know he will hate.
For him this will be a game changer and we will have to catch First next time we go to Tavistock as he has to have the front seat, which is no good if he cant see out!

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LEON DANIELS Year of the Bus underway Year of the Bus is celebrating the hard work of London’s bus staff, our heritage, the technology and of course how the bus services are the life blood of our city getting over 6m people a day to work, to school, to shopping and everywhere else!

Acklams Beverley Town Service Changes From Tuesday 22nd April, Acklams Coaches Beverley Town Service 522 will depart Beverley Bus Station 10 minutes earlier

Leylands from Preston to Blackpool Tuesday will see Preston Bus commence operation of six school services from the yard of Jackson's Coaches on Burton Road, Blackpool. Delta returns to the road Preserved Delta 133 has now had the finishing touches of fleetnames, numbers and blinds added and has returned to the road making its preservation debut at Kirkby Stephen today and tomorrow

Cheshire East Council Each Sunday, we rate a local council's provision of public transport information. This week, it's the turn of Cheshire East Council. Council check: the scores so far Here's a summary of how well the councils we have surveyed so far have scored in their provision of information on bus services in their area. All marks are out of 15.

York Traffic Transport Boss Dave Merrett Removed A York councillor at the centre of a controversial traffic scheme has been removed from his post as head of transport. Last August, Labour's Dave Merrett introduced a ban on traffic using the city's Lendal Bridge Catch the Bus Week The campaign’s key aim is to get people who don’t normally take the bus to make the switch during the week. In addition to encouraging modal shift, the campaign also aims to increase awareness of the benefits of bus travel in the UK in the process.

Improve the Service : Make it More Complex [3] So, as with the Stagecoach route 700 blogs last week, there are winners and losers in these enhanced services. Three rousing cheers for First in their attempts to do some positive things, but a word or two of caution. Will customers be lost (for ever?) as a result of the disadvantages? Dolgellau Dilemma Does Gwynedd council want to encourage bus use? Or is the "cunning plan" to make travelling by bus so obfuscated that no-one travels any more?

Okehampton here we come

Plymouth Citybus Launch New Service 11

As of the 25th May 2014, Plymouth Citybus are pleased to announce the launch of its new service 11 from Plymouth City Centre to Okehampton, with additional services to Tavistock. Service 11 will run 7 days a week with 2 journeys on a Sunday, continuing onto Barnstable using service number 75B. Full Timetables HERE

The Scania single deckers are being prepared for service with at least two believed to be in red now. Just as a reminder of the services involved here are the VOSA notices:

21 February 2014

PH0000135/154 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE Finish Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION Via: Derriford Hospital, Yelverton, Hollabridge Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sunday to Saturday excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Sunday service on other bank holidays.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/155 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: TAVISTOCK BUS STATION Finish Point: WEST ST, OKEHAMPTON Via: Mary Tavi, Lydford, Sourton Service Number: 11 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Monday to Saturday. On Sunday the service will stop at Market Street. Sunday service will operate on bank holidays. However, there will be no service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/156 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: OKEHAMPTON, MARKET STREET Finish Point: GREAT TOLLINGTON CHURCH Via: HATHERLEIGH, MEETH, MERTON Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sundays & Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction.

21 February 2014

PH0000135/157 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA Registration Accepted Starting Point: GREAT TORRINGTON CHURCH Finish Point: BARNSTAPLE BUS STATION Via: Bideford Service Number: 75B Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 25-MAY-2014 Other Details: Sundays and Bank Holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. 2 Journeys in each direction

Local Interest

Building the Devonport Column: This column, which was intended to be erected by public subscription, commemorates the change of the name of the town from "Plymouth Dock" to "Devonport", the authority for which was granted, agreeable to a petition forwarded to George IV, in 1823.

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JPT Bus Company bows out Most of JPT's routes are in and around Middleton. That corridor out of Manchester has always had competition from First but has more recently seen Stagecoach enter the market after its acquisition of fellow Middleton operator Bluebird Journalist demonstrates lack of understanding of buses Stagecoach have revealed which services they are cutting in South Wales as a result of the closure of the Brynmawr depot. BBC News covers the cuts, but with a bizarre headline that demonstrates their journalists' lack of understanding of how bus services work:

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM'S SUCCESS Almost 300,000 people visited the National Railway Museum at Shildon in the 12 months up to 1st April. Museum director Paul Kirkman credited the success to a locomotive event in February. GATWICK AIRPORT PROPOSALS Three options for building a second runway at Gatwick Airport have gone out to public consultation. The airport has submitted the plans to the government's review into the need for extra capacity in the south east.

Improve the Service : Make it More Complex [2] No longer can the brave explorer buy their Explorer and travel from Portsmouth to Brighton (or vice versa) in one go. "A change" means TWO changes. And all four legs are numbered 700. fbb Gets Political - Ooh-er! Clearly, the parsimonious politicians could find sound statistical support for slashing the service, leaving only the school and college day trips. Whilst this might save money from the transport budget, it could well increase costs in other areas.

Showbus Modern now on with the modern buses and coaches at Showbus' sojourn in the Midlands, Long Marston in Warwickshire, to be precise.

West London During February, the country was hit with some bad weather. This affected a lot of routes around the Surrey area. An oddity that appeared as a result of this was double deckers on the 203, something that otherwise is unheard off bar the odd occasion.

NorwichBuses Blog Exclusive: A chat with First This afternoon I was privileged enough to be given the opportunity to spend an hour and a half with one of the top dogs at FirstEasternCounties. Chris Speed is a trusty and reliable source who I have had the pleasure of meeting on only one previous occasion when I was new to blogging last year.

Sanders Acquires Neaves Sanders reassures passengers that, whilst the colour of the buses may change to yellow, the standard of service will still remain exactly the same

Liege Belgium Liège is Belgium's third-largest urban area (after Brussels and Antwerp), but has no trams nor a metro. The city's public transport system is provided with buses.

EYMS 103 June Change EYMS have registered a variation with VOSA to service 103 between Hull and Cottingham from mid-June