A week on VOSA

It seems that the VOSA website is now working properly again so I have been able to go back through September to see what is happening. Lets start off with the first week of September on VOSA :

We start with a batch of applications to change the timetable of Stagecoach X9 Bude to Exeter service:

Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 01 Sep 2014

PH1020951/183 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A Stagecoach South West, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Holsworthy and Bude given service number X9 effective from 27-Oct-2014. To amend Timetable.

Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 01 Sep 2014

PH1020951/184 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A Stagecoach South West, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Okehampton and Holsworthy given service number X9 effective from 27-Oct-2014. To amend Timetable.

Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 01 Sep 2014

PH1020951/185 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD T/A Stagecoach South West, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Exeter and Okehampton given service number X9 effective from 27-Oct-2014. To amend Timetable

X9 by Nick Rice (cc) January 2013

We then get a new school service: CountryBus 913

Registration of New Services VOSA: 02 SEP 2014

PH1017984/114 - ALANSWAY COACHES LTD T/A COUNTRY BUS, KING CHARLES BUSINESS PK, OLD NEWTON RD, HEATHFIELD, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 6UT Registration Accepted by SN

Starting Point: Totnes Finish Point: South Dartmoor Academy Via: South Brent
Service Number: 913 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 02-SEP-2014
Other Details: Monday to Friday schooldays only.

And then on the same day we get a less than helpful notice for First Devon PR1: PH0004983/278 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted:

err, that's it!

The first week of September (31st August - 6th September) also saw quite a few timetable changes with Plymouth Citybus Blue Flash 42 among the mix from the 31st August. Monday 1st September saw major changes across the First Kernow network and also Stagecoach Devon had a few changes from this date too. Coming up shortly we will have a look at the second week of September on VOSA

Over the last couple of weeks I have been working on the sister Plymothian Bus Services site where I try to keep tabs on all the routes in the area. Part of this project has been to define what the Plymothian Transit 'area' actually is. Its not an exact definition by any means, but I tend to draw a circle around Plymouth roughly linking Liskeard, Launceston, Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Totnes, and Dartmouth. Any bus services within this circle, or extending outwards from these points is included. This is the area I now cover on Plymothian Transit and on the PT Bus Services web site. I am currently looking back at the first half of 2003 and adding all the VOSA notices to the site which should build up into a full detailed history of all our bus services. Clearly this is a major project which will take a long time to finish!

Recommended Reading

• DEVON HISTORY SOCIETY: History events: Plymouth International Book Festival The forthcoming Plymouth International Book Festival (17-25 October) has a number of events of historical interest: Fighting on the Home Front: The Legacy of Women in World War One (Kate Adie); British Nurses on the Russian Front 1914-1917 (Angela K Smith), and The Customs House (Sir Andrew Motion).
• BUS AND COACH.COM: Front-mounted cycle rack trial planned A Bath-based cycle campaign group is planning a trial of front-mounted cycle racks and claims to have had DfT approval for the process. The group Cycle Bath says it is in discussions with First, Wessex Bus and Bath and North East Somerset council for a pilot for free racks on buses in the city.
• IPSWICH BUS BLOG: 32486 ENTERS SERVICE AND FURTHER UPDATES It is also worth noting thanks to last nights Ipswich Star that travel on buses in Suffolk has increased by 3% in the last year however as many have said, there are still cutbacks to rural services happening across the county which isn't good news.
• RICHARDS TRAM BLOG: MANCHESTER TEST RUNNING ON WYTHENSHAWE EXTENSION They were out again today with at least three trams on Driver Training on the line to Wythenshawe.
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE: GCSE 5 What a Super Mess in Weston Super Mare North Somerset is much more bus-friendly than its ancient master. BUT, please, please, can we have a stops map posted in all the frames round the central area? If they had been there, (and if he had used a bit more of his brain?) fbb might have found his 21. The Adventures of Rupert Bear [1] Wrong. Not Bear but Street In the 1960s and 1970s there were grandiose plans to separate pedestrians from traffic using high-level concrete walkways or decks. The vehicles would have the ground level, while pedestrians would move around central Bristol on ‘walkways in the skies’ The Adventures of Rupert Street [2] One of Bristol’s biggest eyesores could be in line for a facelift if a planning application is given the go-ahead by the city council. The scheme which would see a revamp of the Nelson Street area of the city centre would also see several unsightly concrete bridges demolished
• FOCUS TRANSPORT: HYBRIDS IN YORK The City of York's transport has taken a leap forward this year with the introduction of new and part used hybrid buses. Furthermore a re-located Park-&-Ride facility is now open at Askham Bar and work continues in the city centre to provide a new bus interchange at Exhibition Square. Free Bus Service to Kendal 29th September 2014 Cumbria Classic Coaches are looking at the viability of running a weekly bus service to Kendal. It is to replace the current bus service that is being withdrawn by Cumbria County Council on the 1st November. A test run is being carried out on Monday 29th September by operating a free service to check timings. Luton and Dunstable busway predictions 'embellished' Luton Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment, said passenger numbers were "pumped up" when trying to justify demand for the Luton and Dunstable busway. It was claimed that 3.4m passengers would use the busway annually, but only 1.3m used it in its first year.
• NORWICH BUSES: First Norfolk & First Updates and New Norwich Network Yesterday was the first full day of First's newly revised Norwich Network. I headed out between my free periods at Sixth Form to get some pictures. First Norfolk & Showbus Special One of a total of, correct me if I'm wrong, seven heritage liveried buses from the big operators included First Hadleigh Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 33191 LT52XAB. Ipswich Update - Ins and Outs Since our previous Ipswich Update, a large number of First Ipswich vehicles have been sent away and returned, so many that I've almost lost track; I'll give it a shot anyway!
• SOUTHAMPTON UPDATE: Wheelers W2 is no more The most direct route between the city centre and the General Hospital is now once again First three.
• EAST NORFOLK: Better Late Than Never! The annual Showbus event at Duxford took place last Sunday and unlike most blogs we are a bit late in posting a review due to work and other duties along the way! Darting Back in Time The Dennis Dart is slowly becoming a vehicle of the past, so in its honour we go back to 2005 and a trip to a damp wintery February in Norwich. Our Photo special looks at the Pointer versions that ran in the city that year.
• BRITISH BUS BUGLE: Council check: North Yorkshire County Council There are no maps of any description, but this page lets you search by location for a list of all routes serving it. The results are rather cumbersome however, as only 5 results are shown per page
• DENNIS BASFORD: Another 'Scene' in Eccles 84 units have been delivered and another 32 have been authorised to be delivered up to 2016. Costing £2,000,000 each they are fast, powerful and comfortable. The trams alone are worth the cost of the ‘Wayfarer’ ticket
• STEVES BUS AND TRAIN PAGE: Weekly News Round Up. There has been much talk about the new livery for the Norwich Network, where buses will have their fronts painted according to the routes they work. Except that's not quite it. It has transpired that the new Streetlites will be devoid of any branding whatsoever