Plymouth Citybus have put in for quite a few service changes from the 10th January 2016:
- PH0000135/94 - Variation Accepted: Operating between St Budeaux, Square and Eldburton/ Staddiscombe given service number 5/5A effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
Interestingly the start point has now changed from Saltash to St Budeaux Square although its actually only been running from Royal Parade to Elburton at the moment. - PH0000135/169 - Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH, ROYAL PARADE and PLYMOUTH, ROYAL PARADE given service number 10 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
Registration changed from service numbers 10 10A and 10B - PH0000135/166 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Liskeard, Post Office given service number 11 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
Reverts back to Royal Parade as start point. Previously was starting from Saltash - PH0000135/171 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Liskeard, Barras Street and Padstow, Station Road given service number 11A effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
Change of route number from service 75 - PH0000135/161 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Launceston, Westgate Street and Bude, The Strand given service number 12 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
- PH0000135/162 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Launceston, Westgate Street given service number 12 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
- PH0000135/95 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plympton/ Ivybridge given service number 20/20A effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
- PH0000135/100 - Variation Accepted: Operating between St Budeaux, Square and St Budeaux, Square given service number 21/21A effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
- PH0000135/146 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Derriford Hospital given service number 27/27A/27B effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable
Currently operates as 27 only - PH0000135/5 - Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and DERRIFORD Hospital given service number 28/28A/28B effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
- PH0000135/53 - Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and ESTOVER given service number 34/34A/34B effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable
New variant 34B - PH0000135/149 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Derriford Hospital/Woolwell given service number 42/42C effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
- PH0000135/8 - Variation Accepted: Operating between TAMERTON FOLIOT and ROYAL PARADE given service number 42A/42B effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
- PH0000135/150 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Cremyll, Edcumbe Arms given service number 70/70A/70B effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable
Previously route number 32 32B - PH0000135/159 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Liskeard Railway Station given service number 71 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
Previously route number 32A - PH0000135/164 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and West Looe given service number 72 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable
- PH0000135/163 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Liskeard, Lloyds Bank and Polperro, Crumplehorn given service number 73 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable
- PH0000135/165 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Liskeard, Lloyds Bank and Callington, New Road given service number 74 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
- PH0000135/170 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Callington, New Road and Callington, New Road given service number 78 effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable
- PH0000135/160 - Variation Accepted: Operating between Callington, New Road and Tavistock Bus Station given service number 79/79A effective from 10-Jan-2016. To amend Timetable.
There is also one new service registration:
PH0000135/176 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Plymouth, Royal Parade
Finish Point: Torpoint Ferry, Pottery Road
Via: Millbridge
Service Number: 32
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 10-JAN-2016
Other Details: Daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day
The 32 to Cremyll becomes the 70 70A 70B leaving the number 32 to a new route registration Royal Parade to Torpoint Ferry.
I am sure it wont be long before Plymouth Citybus give us the full details of what look to be some pretty big changes to some of the routes.
Pity the poor customer,who has to work out which bus goes where!! Still,like all bus companies Citybus are not interested in the customer.Thier only interested in making money!!
ReplyDeleteThat's not how I see it. Many of the changes are timetable-only so will still go to the same places. Although we don't have any detail left, I would imagine that the timetable changes are to address known issues with reliability, and/or to match frequencies closer to demand. That doesn't strike me as not being interested in the customer.
DeleteThere has been comment on Plymothian Transit before about the inadequacy of services in Torpoint following First's withdrawal, and also mention that Plymouth Citybus has been consulting with the local community about the future of services in the area. The new 70/70a/70b/71 must surely be the result.
Finally, it is difficult to assess the imapct of the changes purely from notices of registrations. As the actual changes don't come in for nearly two months that give PCB plenty of time to publicise the changes so that, yes, people CAN work out what bus goes where!
I agree with Anon 09:02 ,Would it have been a better idea to renumber the "Cornwall 32", to 30 or 31? Rather intresting change will be intresting to see what PCB come up with on this.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Green Flash then. I know that people go on about the number and frequency of changes that Citybus make. I collect their timetable booklets and with the January 2016 changes detailed above that will make 12 different timetable booklets issued for the 5 and 5A routes in a period of just 26 months - or about one every 10 weeks on average!
ReplyDeleteYou wont see any mention of Green or any other colour Flash on these VOSA notices. Its quite possible that one of the route/timetable changes mentioned will become green flash although the routes I had heard mentioned as possible flash routes (40/41/44 51) are not changing this time round so who knows?
Delete5/5a will be green flash. 2 x e400 and 5 or 6 e200 in green
Delete5/5A is being branded as Green Flash with
Delete4 Enviro 400s
4 Enviro 200s
Stagecoach are also providing extra capacity on the 2/2A with new Enviro 400s being drafted from North of England
Stagecoach service no.3 is being branded as Stagecoach GOLD as am addition to Stagecoach GOLD to Torquay
A driver for Stagecoach has also said that the 'Older-Style' Tridents are soon to be replaced
Stagecoach are going into Torpoint, this from an official source this morning
ReplyDeleteI have heard this so many times - from the day it was announced that SC were moving in, and yet no sign of it so far. Its one of those things that I will believe when I see it. just for the record - I am one of those that would like to see SC take on more routes in Plymouth. a bit of healthy competition is needed.
DeleteI certainly hope Stagecoach aren't daft enough to go into Torpoint. I would have imagined that they would have more sense. I don't get why so many people are so desperate to see yet another wasteful bus war. We've had three already since 1988 and history shows they don't last, they cost the bus companies a lot of money and they merely spread the overheads more thinly against proportionately lower revenues for the increased costs.
DeleteBoth Citybus and Stagecoach would be far better concentrating on encouraging people out of cars rather than trying to nick each other's customers and to develop what they already have. Both companies are more than capable of doing that. As Stagecoach knows full well the last bus war cost First it's Plymouth business - why would they want to risk the same thing happening to them?
You have to wonder why Stagecoach didn't register Torpoint immediately and why they would wait four/five/six months having allowed the remaining First customers to switch to Citybus. Worryingly the only logical reason would be that they couldn't source sufficient buses, which is something that may not be a problem come the new year. I do hope it's not the case, Plymouth desperately needs some stability now after all the upheavals of the last three or so years.
I agree with Graham, If the source is that official would you care as to say what this source is!
DeleteI can understand not being able to quote who may have been the source of the information, but if its the same source as all the previous reports then may be treat it with a hint of caution!
DeleteAnon 13:39 is also right. If SC are wanting to increase their presence and move into more areas then there are richer pickings than Torpoint to be had. Sensible competition on coridors that can take it will benefit us all. SC will want / need to make money on their Plymouth operations.
On a seperate subject. It is nice to see Stagecoach running some services on Boxing Day this year. Services 1 - Plymouth - Tavi and Service 2/2a, Plymouth - Saltash and plymouth - Plymstock/Mountbatten. Well done Stagecoach.
ReplyDeleteWhilst correcting services to iron out problems is goo, Citybus do seem to be over the top on changes. First never changed services like this and I sincerely hope Stagecoach won't either. If you need to change things 12 times in 26 months you are doing something wrong I would suggest!
ReplyDeleteThe Torpoint services will be going straight along Union street I've been told, and the 5/5a also running through devonport to st budeaux to relieve pressure on 21's
ReplyDeleteOne driver told me a few weeks ago that it was likely the 32s would change and the torpoint buses will serve union street. He also told me each bus on the 21/21a carries about 1800 customers a day (thats 19 buses times 1800 people thats 34200 people riding 21/21a per day - no wonder they want to relieve the pressure). I wonder if the 5/5a will become a full double decker route as a result. Prehaps the new enviro 200s will arrive in green for 40/41 (green on route map).
ReplyDeleteExpect the new 32 will only be single decker
ReplyDeleteFirst did change their services through Plymstock/Staddiscombe/Elburton quiet a bit too. It was the 5 and 6 then 1 and 2 extended to Saltash then back to the 5 and 6 and finally just the 6, before they cancelled the service altogether. Makes me wonder why there seems to perhaps be a problem with this particular service?
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the 2a mount batten to city centre then devonport then around barne Barton to Saltash!!
Delete7E I believe it was
DeleteBoxing day is supposed to be for family's to spend time together. Poor drivers who have to work on this day. I would get the breathalyser on standby.
ReplyDeleteMost operators run Boxing Day services with drivers who've volunteered to work. Certainly, from what I've heard, Stagecoach have had more than enough volunteers in Exeter and Torquay in previous years. Not everyone makes a big thing of Christmas, some people don't celebrate it and not everybody drinks. The sheer numbers of people who go shopping on Boxing Day suggest that not everone wants to spend time at home with their families. Indeed, perhaps some of the drivers' partners will be working too (shops, pubs, restaurants etc.) and perhaps they don't get a choice in it.
DeleteYou should be thankful you aren't in London then. On Christmas Eve buses do not pack up early but a full service is provided until just after midnight. Buses then resume on Boxing Day - not a few buses on selected routes, but a full Sunday service. And on New Year's Eve the buses do not disappear into the garages just as people might want to use them, but a full service operates again until midnight and extra (yes, extra) buses run after midnight to get people home again. And there is a full Sunday service on New Year's Day, a day when the sales are in full swing in the shops and people want to get around and about.
DeleteThe only time there are no buses in London is from midnight Christmas Eve until 06.00 on the 26th - and people still complain!
In Switzerland they run a full bus and train service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Public transport at it's best.
DeleteLooking at Traveline, the 21/21A will be reverting to a combined 10 min frequency, all serving Barne Barton. The 5/5A will be combined 15 min St Budeaux - Devonport - City.
ReplyDeleteThe 27/28 changes are interesting.
The daytime services, combined every 15 mins:
28: Hr Compton - Deer Pk - Austin Fm - Culver Way - Bowden X - Crownhill - Derriford
27: Lr Compton - Austin Fm - Shallowford - Austin Cres - Crownhill - Derriford
28A: Hr Compton - Deer Pk - Austin Fm - Culver Way - Bowden X - Mainstone - Asda
27A: Lr Compton - Austin Fm - Shallowford - Austin Cres - Asda
The 7-day existing evening service moves to Lr Compton.
Sunday daytime increases to hourly, alternating Hr/Lr Compton
Much better service for Lr Compton at last!
The 72 on sundays becomes 2 hourly Looe to Polperro instead of twice daily Plymouth-West Looe. Maybe something else replaces it between Plymouth and Looe that isn't online yet but I think not.
ReplyDeleteOn a Sunday you need to go to Liskeard on the 11 which then carry's on as a 73 to Looe. Is a longer way around but only adds about 20 mins to the journey. This is just for the winter I think.
DeleteSeems to be a few timetables for 2016 missing, expect they will appear in due course, good to see Union Steet has been stenghened, as a user of the 21 I can also back up the busyness off the service, not unusual to see two buses turn up together through running late due to heavy loadings
ReplyDeleteGreat thinking by Plymouth Citybus there. Run the 5/5A through Devonport aswell so that Plymstock gets a shoddy service aswell as Plympton. Come on Stagecoach your missing an opportunity here.
ReplyDeleteIt's not unusual to wait an hour to get a 21/a from Plympton Ridgeway into the City centre at 5pm on a weekday Plenty of Red flash buses going past, but they all have not in service up even when they have some passengers on. Guess they are trying to make up time. Fully understand they might be running late, but why delay you already delayed passengers even further.
DeleteIt is the same on 42 blue flash, try catching one going into town after 4pm, most not in service, give up and catch stsgecoach i find the best option. Customer service is pathetic
Deletetorpoint is getting new buses double dealers
ReplyDeleteI seen one on the ferry orther day doing trails on and off ferry to see if ok to broad ,or need ferry lift
these buses will run Plymouth to rame head
Why have PCB chosen to get all brand new buses for Torpoint? Must have been a good reason why they decided to do it, would be intresting to know as didn't think Torpoint made that much in revenue
DeleteThe current vehicles they use with high ferry lifts are very unreliable, often breaking down, especially on the ferries (non starters) the other deckers don't go up as high and are being sold off anyway, so maybe they thought Investing in new buses was the best option.
DeleteThe current B7TLs were designed for use in London on flat ground, and for that reason are not suitable for Plymouth,they are not powerful enough which is why the struggle on the hills and very often break down, they also have limited seats down stairs due to the twin door arrangement..they maybe falling apart with seats missing from the rear of the bus upstairs, 401 didn't sound to healthy either, but for 15 years old you have to give PCB some credit for keeping them going even if they aren't the best buses in the fleet, sure like First B6s people will miss them when they are gone!
DeleteThis is actually true enviro 400's going onto Torpoint services, they've been testing them on the low and high tides
ReplyDeleteI wounder if there be called torpoint flash or the rame head flash
DeleteAnyone know what is in the spray shop and whats likely to be next?
ReplyDelete486 just back from Hants and Dorset in plain red awaiting swoops. 485 is the only remaining Brighton liveried Trident left. Then Darts 53 and 54.
DeleteDid not think that the finish of 486 was anywhere near as good as Milehouse when viewed up close.
DeleteI guess 485 will go to hants and dorset to be painted. Are 53 & 54 being done here? Are any other darts going to get done, eg 31, 32, 71, 72, 75, 78, 57 (random selection! ) for example? Or are the shortex-London ones due on soon?
ReplyDeleteLooks like 425 has been withdrawn as it's parked behind the tramshed with other withdrawn B7s. 428 was reinstated for at least 1 day on the 17th when it deputised for a failed vehicle. Now parked with the other B7s behind the tramshed in the lower yard.
ReplyDeleteOk if this "New buses for Torpoint" is true, maybe somebody can reveal as to when these new buses will commence service......find it hard to believe it's true I personally would think that the service 8/9, 40/41 or 10 would be next for new "Flash" buses
ReplyDeleteMark
It is true. Due at the end of January. They are being built now in Falkirk.
DeleteBrian George himself has been down at the ferry trailing these buses, also new buses coming for 5 and 5a
Deletewhat the point no one uses the 5/5a buses
Deletethe new buses with benfit people in keyham and Devonport
Where is your proof then Nobody uses the 5/5A. Both of the services are well used and these buses do run at Full capacity at times, these new buses have to go somewhere! A good move by PCB, would be wasted on routes such as the short and very pointless 34A
DeleteAnon 24 Nov 2015 at 17:56
DeleteWhat a silly immature comment to say "no one uses the 5/5a buses", of course they do and have you not noticed that two double deckers have recently been added to the route allocation to enhance the capacity thereon. Citybus would not regularly put double deckers on a route that nobody used.
Obviously, new buses will benefit people on whatever route they get allocated to...
why shouldn't torpoint get new buses from citybus , it couse its cornwall
ReplyDeletefirst bought new buses so why not citybus
I believe the mauve buses First had for Torpoint were part paid for by Cornwall County Council. But just the same, a premium service for Torpoint will do no harm - do I scent a 'Battleship Grey Flash' coming along?
DeleteInteresting that the Torpoint services are being renumbered as 70s - although the historical numbers for services from Torpoint are 73/4/7/8, it is still a step in the right direction. 11A for the Padstow service is a bit undignified for such a core route, though - is there through running from Plymouth to Padstow? If so, that may be reflected in the new timetable Gaps still exist in the series - maybe 76 and 77 will come back at the next timetable revision. It would be good if the new 12 timetable restored St. Dominick's morning and evening journey-to-work connections to Plymouth which were lost when First pulled out.
It is True! Personally think it's a good idea, I find the buses pretty comfortable, I'm fortunate enough to have to live on the 21 route and have no complaints on the buses!
ReplyDeletePlymouth has an interesting year ahead New vehicles themselves along with the Stagecoach Fleet having 26 New Vehicles with the addition of 12 Brand New Megabus Coaches joining the Fleet,I presume Plymouth City Bus are 100% DDA.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the most logical step would be to cease the bus crossing on the ferry, with frequent services either side.
ReplyDeleteI think that would lose the service a lot of passengers - people do not like changing. The whole point of the original Ferrybus service with Leyland Nationals was to give passengers the comfort of one ride right through. Imagine getting on a nice warm bus at Great Park, getting off at the ferry, walking in a gale-force wind with it raining sideways, waiting for the ferry - and a wet and windy walk to an inadequate bus shelter on the other side. Better to jump in the car, spend 75p to cross the river and either drive into the city or go to the Argyle park-and-ride.
DeleteThey're unlikely to lose many given the cost of the ferry and parking, even without the overhead of a car. The time taken by the buses on the very is expensive and unproductive. I'd wager that in a few years there will be a nice waiting area both sides for bus passengers and no buses on the ferry!
DeleteI agree with Keith. It would be a disaster. Passengers are very fickle and want simplicity and convenience. Something like like this would lose people in droves. It's not dissimilar to what's happened in Exeter when occasionally they've tried removing a city service from the High Street - passengers just fall away. A bus service has to do want passengers want and take them to where they want to go, otherwise they will find an alternative or not make the journeys at all. Your assertion that's it's 'logical' and 'unproductive' meets no customer service criteria at all. It might make things nice and cosy for the operator but that should be a side issue. First and foremost they should be operating services that benefit the customers and doing what the customer wants them to do, not running things for their own convenience that passengers are expected to put up with. Any operator who forgets this doesn't deserve to stay in business. It's not 1972 anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe Torpoint Ferrybus service started in 1979 with Bristol LH's, then came Leyland Nationals (mainly from Midland Red West). If you think Torpoint would accept a 'town service' and going back to crossing the river as a foot passenger and boarding a 5/5A/5B you have another thing coming! This is 2015, not 1975!!
ReplyDeleteIve often wondered about these aquabuses you see online, normally found in Canada, that would be the next step.
ReplyDeleteI remember stagecoach toying with the idea of a catamaran across Torbay a few years ago