VOSA September
Continuing our catch-up on VOSA activity you are probably expecting another weeks worth. In fact you are being brought right up to date as today you get the last two weeks worth of VOSA activity. Before you go thinking I am being too generous, its basically because the third week (14th-20th) saw no activity at all for our local operations. So what happened last week?
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 22 SEP 2014
PH0004983/35 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted: Operating between TORPOINT FERRY and PLYMOUTH Bus Station
given service number 81/81A effective from 02-Nov-2014.
To amend Timetable.
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 22 SEP 2014
PH0004983/396 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth City Centre and Woolwell, School Drive
given service number 15 effective from 27-Oct-2014.
To amend Timetable.
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 22 SEP 2014
PH0004983/429 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT
Variation Accepted:
Operating between Wembury and Burrator given service number 48 effective from 26-Oct-2014.
To amend Timetable.
I would assume that the 48 is the usual reduction in service from the Summer timetable to the Winter levels. The other two services are potentially more interesting as they are both in competition with Plymouth Citybus , although it may be fairly minor changes this time round! As for previously announced alterations Stagecoach GOLD introduced their new timetable from the 21st:
23 July 2014
PH1020951/199 - STAGECOACH DEVON LTD, BELGRAVE ROAD, EXETER, EX1 2LB Variation Accepted: Operating between Totnes Royal Seven Stars and Dartmouth given service number GOLD/Gold effective from 21-Sep-2014. To amend Timetable.
21 September 2014
Monday 22nd saw the start of the new Tavistock - Callington - Liskeard services from Plymouth Citybus and Western Greyhound mentioned recently. We can bring September to a close with three more notices, this time from First Devon & Cornwall :
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 30 SEP 2014
PH0004983/499 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Tavistock Bus Station and Callington, Callington School given service number 79 effective from 23-Nov-2014. To amend Timetable.ROUTE PAGE 79
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 30 SEP 2014
PH0004983/463 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Laira given service number 6/Purple effective from 23-Nov-2014. To amend Route and Timetable. ROUTE PAGE 6
Applications to Vary Existing Service: VOSA 30 SEP 2014
PH0004983/335 - FIRST DEVON & CORNWALL LTD, THE RIDE, CHELSON MEADOW, PLYMOUTH, PL9 7JT Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Saltash given service number 1/1A effective from 23-Nov-2014. To amend Timetable. ROUTE PAGE 1 1A
It will be interesting to see what route changes they are making to the 6, but otherwise nothing major here by the look of it. As usual we will have to wait and see!
Recommended Reading
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I would guess the 48 is the seasonal change, removing the Burrator leg from the route, likewise I think the 81 always has summer and winter variations. The 15 is very busy now so I would guess nothing major here, to be honest I think they (First) need more frequent service from Derriford to the city to cope with extra students and hospital staff etc. The 2nd part of the route from Derriford to Woolwell not so much though. I guess if rumours re PR1 going into Hospital are correct this might ease the problem a bit , but most staff etc seem to go Mutley way, so the current PR1 via Milehouse will be no good for these people.
ReplyDeleteThe 6 is interesting, perhaps a change to do the 'loop' along the lines of existing Citybus 8 or 9, or if it were me an extension of the route into Plympton.
I just want to have my say this morning Graham. The service 32 in the Torpoint area has become a bit of a joke. This week they have had a break down everyday so far. I have had to go back with First. Although there return is more expensive there reliability is far superior to the 32. Some of there horror stories for City Bus are as follows. Yesterday evening there was one being towed by Feild Services back to Plymouth that must have broken down somewhere. Yesterday morning the one infront of us broke down on the ferry which made us late as we had to back around it to get past. There where two on the ferry together in the afternoon and with there frequency that meant one was 30 minuites late. Plus in the morning every day they run two togerther on the same ferry on for Raleigh and the other says Kingsand. This trip is an out of service trip to Kingsand as it is a school bus but they feel they have the right to use the priority lane. This then stop my 81 service from getting on the ferry which then makes me late for work. The reliabilty to Millbrook is also suspect why register a time table if you cant keep to it. To add to the insult we now have to pay £5.50 to Millbrook thats a £1 more than when First ran it for a weaker service. I thinks it time to admit Mr Stevens that you have bitten off more than you can chew here and time to withdraw the service or reduce it to make it more reliable. If thing dont improve my next move is to write to Cornwall Council.
ReplyDeleteBeing so knowledgeable about this service you should know the fare is £4.50 return Millbrook to Plymouth a price set by Cornac as happpens with all tendered routes i think. Also you would know that the ferry operator would only allow one of each operators vehicles on when a situation arises of 3 vehicles waiting for the ferry arises.Regards the kingsand bus using priority lane that should not happen but thats a tactic passed on by 81 drivers.
ReplyDeleteThe bus to kingsand in the morning is a service bus!! It turns round there and comes back to take the whitsand bay kids to school, there is another 32 leaving mol rook the same time going direct (missing out whitsand) to the school, how about you check the timetable anon 08:24!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is no underhandedness both the citybuses are timetabled to cross at similar times torpoint school has 3 school buses served by citybus 1 32a from Liskeard 1 32 from kings and in and 1 32 from millbrook direct (ie missing out whitsand) a simple look at the timetable although it is a complicated timetable will show this!
ReplyDeleteI see Citybus are changing lots, any ideas what the change to Blue Flash 42 is this time ?? Perhaps something to allow more time so it actually runs somewhere near to the timetable ??
ReplyDeleteAlso does anyone know what the changes are to Firsts 15, PR1 and later the 6 (interested to see what change of route brings for these, exclude 15 that is!)
Blue flash will have extra time slotted in to address reliability issues. service 6 being extended to marsh mills roundabout to use up the layover time at laira
Delete"Blue flash will have extra time slotted in to address reliability issues. service 6 being extended to marsh mills roundabout to use up the layover time at laira"
DeleteSo Mike, is it asking a bit much of Citybus to properly plan the introduction of a revised high profile route so that you don't need to return to a screw up within 4 weeks of changing it?
It isn't hard to run buses and plan a service change properly.
The 42/A/B combination is nothing short of appalling. Late running is almost guaranteed - the 15:40 42 yesterday that should have come in at 15:35 came in at 15:45 and didn't leave until 15:50; that's before it picks up all the girls from PHSG.
DeleteIt really hasn't worked at all. They have massively underestimated the amount of time these routes need; you just expect them to be late - the times are just impossible to stick to.Still, at least they've very quickly realised the need for more time and are quickly acting on it.
"It really hasn't worked at all. They have massively underestimated the amount of time these routes need; you just expect them to be late - the times are just impossible to stick to.Still, at least they've very quickly realised the need for more time and are quickly acting on it. "
DeleteIf it was properly planned in the first place, you'd have no need to revisit it. It smacks of massive incompetence.
Can Plymouth Citybus really be this poorly run?
Even if you don't check the timetable, you should know that a bus bearing a route number and destination is in service (in this case Kingsand)!
ReplyDeleteDo note, Cornwall Council do NOT set fares on tendered routes, nor do Plymouth it is only Devon CC that set fares on tendered routes., so Citybus are more expensive than first used to because they choose to be.
ReplyDeleteHow can I be so sure of this, I work for an operator in their commercial office
This is very true, Plymouth citybus drivers have been saying that the 4 stopped because first's prices wher too low and the council took the route from them, which is completely un-true and unacceptable in my opinion, that's why people didn't use it.
Deletenot quite sure I get what you are saying? The council would not have been able to take the 4 from First as it was a commercial route.
DeleteCheers Mike. I would have extended the 6 into Plympton if it were me. So from this I take it you mean simply out of Laira, along the Embankment around the roundabout for Sainsburys and back to Laira/Efford again? Any news on 15 or PR1 changes ?
ReplyDeleteAnon 04/10 09:06 That is totally out of order you are right. If that is the case then Citybus should be reported to the traffic commissioner for it as it totally against regulations and is anti competitive. Citybus are using any tactic they can to get First out of Plymouth and it is NOT working nor is it going to !
ReplyDeleteAnon 03/10 19:09 Citybus are awful at planning routes hence constant changes, who ever is in control of planning etc at Milehouse should be up in front of management at Go Ahead by now as clearly they just can not do the job. I have never seen a bus company change routes/times etc so much. If you look at First it is less than once a year if not longer before any changes happen, Citybus every other month. If First can do it why not Citybus ?
As I understand it, City bus service 33 was about to be axed when First pulled the 4. First admitted they screwed up the service, mainly by built in unreliability linking it with the 15, guaranteeing it would run very late. At least they put their hands up now when they go wrong. If they should happen to ask for suggestions from the drivers as well, they might do OK.
ReplyDeleteno the citybus service 33 wasn't being axed at all. the only reason the 4 got taken off was because citybus was carrying more passengers! if first admitted they screwed the 4 up then that explains an awful lot.
Deleteanon 21;01 that is correct. just down to sainsburys marsh mills and back to laira.
Yep a race to see who could get out first, not enough profit in it for the shareholders. Citybus now have some sort term PR, and long term an area with declining passenger numbers.
DeleteFirst pulled the 4. First admitted they screwed up the service, mainly by built in unreliability linking it with the 15. Complete rubbish the 4 interworked with the 15 but no reliability issues existed with this other than in the early weeks, A fix allowing a 15/20 minute drop back in the AM peak addressed that issue. Quite frankly the demographic along the route seemed to have changed over the years and the number of users dropped off long before the frequency change and the introduction of the 33. The decision to pull it was based purely on the usage which didn't alter that significantly when the 33 started. The resource being used elsewhere for better results.
ReplyDeleteWhere have First used this resource. I can think of several First free areas in the city that could benefit from A First service, when will First expand ?
Delete