Plymothian Transit

Pain now - gain later?

2009-11-10T06:18:00.000Z

"will spell the end of buses queuing to get in and out of the hospital grounds”

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Jenni Wilkinson

Staff at Tamar Science Park have recently received an email advising them of forthcoming works at Derriford Hospital:
Anticipated date of commencement: 16th November 2009
Anticipated completion of the works: February 2009
Traffic Management summary:

Prohibition of the right and left hand turn into Derriford Hospital at the mini roundabout. All traffic diverted to the second entrance into the Hospital.
Closure of the entrance to Car Park A- current exit to Car Park A for access and way out with appropriate signage to advise motorists of the change in the car park
One way system in operation for all traffic heading to Derriford Road
Alternative diversionary route for general traffic accessing the A386 via Morlaix Drive and Brest Road
Prohibition of right hand turn for vehicles from Sheepstor, Kingstor, Haytor, Foxtor and Rowans

Plymouth City Council will shortly be issuing a press release advising the public about the works at Derriford and further schemes which will be delivered on Tavistock Road over the same period. In the notice Plymouth City Council will be advising the public to use public transport to access both the Hospital and the City Centre during the construction period or, where this is not possible, to consider alternative routes or times of travel. For information on public transport serving the Hospital is available from traveline and PlymGo, please see details below.
PlymGo: www.plymgo.com Traveline: www.traveline.info Tel: 0871 200 22 33

I should add that staff at Derriford Hospital itself have yet to receive anything but i am sure this will come out very shortly.

Plymouth City Council themselves give out more information:

Work gets underway on Monday 16 November to create a new section of bus lane at one of the two entrances into the hospital grounds. The £300,000 project, which is expected to be completed by February, will connect with the existing bus lane on Derriford Road.
The project is one of key improvements planned for the city’s Northern Corridor (the main route from Woolwell into the city centre) to be delivered by the Council this year. Once complete, it will improve journey time and reliability for people using buses to the hospital as well as provide better pedestrian access.
The new lane, which is around 125 metres long, is being built by widening the entrance to the hospital and will spell the end of buses queuing to get in and out of the hospital grounds. The scheme alongside other work on the Northern Corridor, demonstrates the Council’s commitment to keeping traffic moving on one of the main routes into the city. He added: “We are working closely with Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust to develop a traffic management plan that will reduce the impact of the construction works. However, because of the large numbers of people travelling to and from Derriford each day some disruption to journeys is expected”

I do like the line "will spell the end of buses queuing to get in and out of the hospital grounds". I can see how it will help buses getting out but not so sure how it will help them get in? We all know that traffic around Derriford is going to get a lot worse while these works continue. A lot of the traffic from Derriford Hospital will be directed out via Morlaix Drive which is very narrow. At the moment it is two way traffic but I guess this will have to be made one way for the duration of the works. This will then impact on the hospital staff park and ride service. Trying to get out onto Derriford Roundabout from this end is bad enough as it stands at the moment without all the extra traffic from the hospital trying to get out this way too.

On a further page the Council indicate how this fits in with other improvements:
Between June 2009 and March 2010 Plymouth Transport and Highways are undertaking transport improvement works in seven sections on the corridor.
Section 1: Woolwell Roundabout - Derriford Roundabout
* Opening a second entrance into the George Junction park and ride site to allow access from Plymbridge Road
* Working with public transport operators to improve the bus journey experience including installation of off bus ticketing machines at the park and ride
* Supporting the 'Northern Connect' service which links northern business parks with the main bus network and the 'Tamar Link' which connects the Rame Peninsula with Derriford Hospital
* A new bus lane at the access road to Derriford Hospital to improve journey time reliability for buses serving the hospital

The George Park and Ride entrance has already been opened and certainly makes it easier for us to use it. The Tamar Link service was only recently actually cut back to every two hours! The other sections are noted on their web site. I do hope that the extra bus lane does make a difference - it certainly should save a lot of time as buses can queue for ages to get out of Derriford Hospital. Making it a one way system should also make a difference and improve the flow of traffic. I am just dreading the journey home over the next few months!

Plymothian Transit: Dissapointing

Plymothian Transit: Pay Point

Plymothian Transit: Torpoint Travails
Plymothian Transit: Making life a little bit easier

Dissapointing

2009-11-09T06:49:00.000Z

"1 additional stop is planned to be equipped with a real time display within the next 12 months”

A few days ago I asked the question

"How many bus stops in Plymouth are actually fitted out with some form of Real Time Display?"

There were few comments left about congestion in Plymouth but only one stab at a guess with Prodigal Green suggestion "Probably only around 30-40". Well he is not far off the mark:

There are currently 68 bus stops within the City fitted with real time information displays. 22 of these displays have been recently fitted and are not yet in use. They will become active within the next few weeks. 1 additional stop is planned to be equipped with a real time display within the next 12 months. Only Plymouth Citybus and First buses are equipped with Real Time equipment. ©Terry Partridge

I must admit I was disappointed at just how low this figure is. Perhaps I was taken in by the promise of a real time information system that would let you know when the next bus was due to arrive. I expected that this display would not be at all the bus stops, but it still seems a very low number. None of the bus stops around our way have any form of RTP. I know there is the sms text service but it still seems that very few bus stops give any indication of the bus stop code needed. Even Derriford Hospital has still not got a working display (unless it has been switched on this last few days)and that is the second busiest bus stop after the City Centre.
I just cant help get the feeling that it is all a bit of a disappointment.

Another interesting anonymous comment
Your question should also say - how many of the stops fitted with real time information actually work. I think you will find it's very few, most only display timetable information if anything. But hey, it's only been in Plymouth for nearly NINE years

Has it really been as long as that? I guessed about five or six years?

This is a subject I will be coming back to, once I gather some more information!

Plymothian Transit: The other half
Plymothian Transit: Unreal Time Info
Plymothian Transit: Odds and grumpy old sod
Plymothian Transit: Making life a little bit easier

Flickr Sunday Best: Laira 1984

2009-11-08T10:38:00.001Z

"This is one photo which is well worth viewing at full size”

Stapleton Road Flickr
Omnibuses2.0
Rings a bellio?

Setting off before passengers have found their seats is not an indication of a rude or intolerant driver,

©Stapleton Road Plymouth 8th July 1984
37207+185 leave Laira depot in preparation to top and tail the Devonshire Dart Railtour along the Gunnislake branch. 37207 has the Cornish Railways logos and the Cornish Lizard on the side.

Its been a while since I last featured a rail photo on Sunday Best, but I think its well worth waiting for! This is one photo which is well worth viewing at full size, so click the image above to go to Stapleton Roads page and click the All Sizes button. Then explore his other photos! He does have a few photos taken in Plymouth...

Plymothian Transit: Gunnislake on Flickr

Plymothian Transit: Flickr Sunday Best: Laira
Plymothian Transit: First Chinook
Plymothian Transit: Flickr Sunday Best: Laira

Cheaper and Later

2009-11-07T06:17:00.000Z

"First are pleased to announce it will be reducing the cost …”

Leon Daniels
Wednesday Already
Omnibuses
Christmas
One Nation
PTOPA
Millbrook Meanders

The fare offers from First continue....

A day's unlimited travel in Plymouth only £2.50 from 8th - 21st November
First are pleased to announce it will be reducing the cost of it's FirstDay Plymouth ticket to £2.50 from 8th to 21st November. FirstDay Plymouth tickets offer a days unlimited travel on First and ugobus services within the Plymouth zone which includes travel to Saltash, Mount Batten, Elburton, Woolwell, Honicknowle, St Budeaux, Devonport, Chaddlewood, Estover, Mainstone, Southway and Ernesettle.

Also the new Ugobus routes now get extra evening services on Christmas Shopping Thursdays from this week (12th November) up until Christmas...

Additional Thursday late night shopping evening journeys for ugobus services 2, 12, 13,15 & 17 from 12th November 2009 First are pleased to introduce additional Thursday late night shopping evening journeys for some of it's ugobus services from Thursday 12th November. Additional evening journeys will operate on 12, 19, 26 November and 3, 10, 17 December 2009 for ugobus services 2, 12, 13, 15 and 17. Services will operate at up to 30 minute intervals with most last journeys back from the City Centre departing from Royal Parade at 2130.
©Terry Partridge

You can view the timetables on my Google Docs
2, 12, 13, 15, 17
or you can download them from First here

Better Transport Links Needed

2009-11-05T06:54:00.000Z

"PLYMOUTH has fewer three-hour train services to London than it did in the 1970s”

PLYMOUTH has fewer three-hour train services to London than it did in the 1970s, the city’s Cabinet member for transport says. Cllr Kevin Wigens called for more investment in rail, saying the lack of fast trains to London was a “significant handicap” for Plymouth’s economy. “Three-hour and sub-three-hour train journeys are vital for attracting inward investment. I’m dismayed when I think back to the 1970s, when three hours was the norm for many services. Mr Wigens blamed the Department for Transport, which he said set the core services that companies like First Great Western must provide.

“Plymouth City Council has been pressing the Department for Transport to increase the number of three-hour services.” Mr Wigens said journey times were increased when extra stops were added to a service.

Plymouth businessman Charles Howeson called for money to be diverted from roads to the railway. Mr Howeson, the chairman of the First Great Western Trains Advisory Board and also chairman of the Plymouth Area Business Council, said he fully supported the council’s call for more investment. “We’d love to see electrification,” he said. “Track speeds have not improved for many years because they are generally at the theoretical maximum without big investment in work like altering curves and signals. “Our railway was built in the Victorian era.” Stephen Kearney, chairman of the South West Devon Liberal Democrats, said: “We have to go down the route of electrification.

Devonport MP Alison Seabeck, who chaired the South West Select Committee, said witnesses had emphasised the vital importance of the A303, the second strategic road link. “In the short to medium term the far South West isn’t going to benefit from big capital outlays on rail so airports will continue to have a big role. Plymouth is the only small regional airport to have increased passenger numbers this year.”

Trains should be more reliable rather than faster, Roger Creagh-Osborne, local Green Party politician and a member of the Saltash Rail Users Group, said. “I don’t believe the lack of three-hour services is a limiting factor,” Mr Creagh-Osborne said. “I don’t think the extra 15 or 30 minutes makes an awful lot of difference to someone’s decision to use the train.

CALLS have been made for a “nationally significant” rail link connecting Plymouth to other major UK cities which is seen as vital to it becoming a regional economic powerhouse. The low priority given to train routes in the South West was holding Plymouth back from achieving its “full potential” MPs have been told. While progress had been made in recent years with journey times between Plymouth and London being cut to three hours, the city council has stressed the need for continuing service improvements to overcome the perception of the area’s remoteness.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into transport in the region, the local authority pointed out the coastal rail link at Dawlish had been damaged on a number of occasions by the weather, cutting the mainline to Plymouth and Cornwall. Meanwhile, a passenger group submitted to the Commons South West Select Committee a wish-list of improvements it wanted to see to train services in the area, including using the Teign Valley line as an alternative when the mainline to Plymouth was closed by storms.

The RDA pointed to official Treasury figures that showed in 2007/08 the South West received £258 of total public sector transport spending for each resident, compared to an England average of £323, £667 for London and £552 for Scotland.

Read the full This is Plymouth article HERE

Isnt it really annoying

2009-11-04T06:43:00.000Z

"a combination of being a bus enthusiast and having a slight tendency towards fat lazy slobbism”

TGP:
Kew
Archive 2

Omnibuses
Mystery Shopper

I am a bus enthusiast. By definition that means I like buses. I like watching them, photographing them, and even riding on them. I could walk to work and save a lot of money in the process, but a combination of being a bus enthusiast and having a slight tendency towards fat lazy slobbism, I will always prefer to catch the bus. That enjoyment of bus catching doesn't stop me from suffering the same problems that many passengers moan about...

I am a quite patient bus passenger. I accept the fact that in Plymouth buses are going to be late occasionally. The buses I catch go through Derriford Hospital so late running buses are inevitable. As long as I am in a shelter if its raining, I don't mind waiting a while for a bus. However...

Isn't it really annoying when you see lots of buses going the other way while you are waiting? It really seems to rub it in! Tonight I was waiting for a bus at Leigham to make the short journey home to Keswick Crescent. I could have walked it in 10 minutes, but it was dark, damp and my son was tired so I was happy to wait 10 minutes or so for the 50 which was due at 18:00. In the end it turned up at 18:12. This was our steed home tonight.

Like I said, I don't mind that, it has to come from the City Centre at peak time so late running is almost inevitable. What was really annoying was that in the twenty minutes we were waiting we saw a Target Travel 52A, a Citybus 46, and no less than THREE Citybus 50's going the other way! The 50s all came within 10 minutes which just made it worse.

This isn't a complaint at Citybus. (On the way home from Derriford there were two Ugobus 15's following each other out of Asda so it happens the them too.) If you run a bus service which goes anywhere near Derriford Hospital it must be almost impossible to run to time. Last month First claim to have managed to run 88.4% of services on time. To be honest I find that quite impressive if its a true reflection. How anyone manages that in Plymouth amazes me. We are just about to get extended road works along the main road through Crownhill for a few months so it is going to get even worse then! (Hopefully the improvements they are making will help once they are completed next year).

I have just been reading the latest Omnibuses post ‘Mystery Shopping’ and noticed a comment from Big G: ”Passenger Focus are currently conducting similar monitoring and research in the South West. I am aware that they started this in Plymouth on the 2nd November.” It will be interesting to see the results of that!

Of course there is technology to help bus passengers… However I couldn't see a code to send a text to get the next bus time, and it would have been even better if there was a real time display at the bus stop, which leads me to a final question for you all to have a go at...

How many bus stops in Plymouth are actually fitted out with some form of Real Time Display?

Go on, have a guess and leave your answer in the comments box. Answer to follow in a couple of days...

Plymothian Transit: Great News!

Plymothian Transit: Oh what a circus!
Plymothian Transit: Failed.
Plymothian Transit: What the buses are up against
Plymothian Transit: Targeting Derriford
Omnibuses: Cost of Congestion

Omnibuses: From Bournemouth to Belgium
Omnibuses: Opportunity Lost?

Remember Remember the rest of November?

2009-11-03T06:09:00.000Z

"UNIONS intend to make November a month to remember ”

PTOPA
Torpoint has now gained a 3rd Dart

TGP New Blogs:
Lorries
Archive
Richmond

UNIONS intend to make November a month to remember to prevent the sell-off of Citybus. On November 7, Unite Deputy General Secretary Jack Dromey will visit the city to speak and meet with opposers at the City Bus Social Club. Following on from the rallying visit protesters say they will hold a number of events to highlight their campaign, including street stalls in the city centre to raise the awareness of the public. Mark Baskerville, Unite Branch Secretary at City Bus said recently: "We had 20,000 signatures on the petition and 350 people at the public meeting. "The public are behind us and the politicians need to remember they are up for election in May." The campaign will culminate in a march through the city centre followed by a rally outside the Guildhall on November 28.
This is Plymouth .

This is just the latest development in the ongoing saga on the Citybus sell off. October rounded off with Labour calling for a public inquiry:

OPPOSITION councillors are demanding a public inquiry into what they have called "breathtaking" conduct from the city's finance chief over controversial plans to sell Citybus. Top conservative councillor Ian Bowyer has come under fire for revealing one of the consortiums bidding to buy the council-owned bus firm was no longer in the running. But the Cabinet member for finance and budget would not tell the opposition group how he came to know the consortium, headed by Plymouth taxi boss John Preece, was no longer being considered as a bidder. After the meeting Labour councillor Bill Stevens vowed to "not let this matter drop" and called on Cllr Bowyer to "come clean and give a full account of his actions". He said: "This conduct from a cabinet member is breathtaking. Serious questions remain unanswered. But Cllr Bowyer hit back at the comments – and at the Labour group's demands at Monday's meeting for an updated report on the valuation status, which were blocked in a vote. "My statement at the last council meeting was clear," he said. "I have done nothing wrong.
This is Plymouth .

As always you can follow events so far on my Citybus Sale Time Line .

Meanwhile the pool of municipal owned bus companies gets ever smaller with the sale announced of Islwyn Borough Transport to Stagecoach. This recent development is explained nicely in Omnibuses latest post which also gives the opinion that "Industry insiders report that Stagecoach is likely to trump Go Ahead in the race for Plymouth Citybus, though Stagecoach’s bid is unlikely to top the looked-for £10mil council price tag"
Omnibuses2.0.

I have heard similar opinions expressed, although my sources could not really be described as industry insiders!

Citybus and Paypoint

2009-11-02T06:45:00.000Z

"

Exclusive to Paypoint

”

Plymouth Citybus now have more details on their Pay Point service starting this week:
From the 5th November Plymouth Citybus customers will be able to advance purchase our very popular DayRider ticket and top up a number of Freedom Card products at any one of the 137+ Pay Point outlets across Plymouth and Saltash. View the details here or you can download the PDF from Citybus here

All customers will be able to purchase Adult, Child and Family Dayrider Paper tickets.
Exclusive to Paypoint it will be possible to advance purchase a DayRider for use up to seven days in advance.

Sunday Best on Flickr: Plymouth MCO661

2009-11-01T06:06:00.000Z

“Basking in the sun at Plymouth’s Bretonside bus station”

Richie B Flickr

Leon Daniels

Half Term

Busworld Photography

Omnibuses

Invasion?

Is it worth it?
Photography Clarity?

Just to be clear we didn't withdraw from bidding for Plymouth Citybus. We didn't actually start!

©Richie B.
Basking in the sun at Plymouth’s Bretonside bus station before a 12 mile trip to Shaugh Prior is MCO661, a 56 seat Metro-Cammell bodied Leyland Titan PD2, which was new to Plymouth City Transport, along with 23 others, in 1956 as No.61. In 1965 it was renumbered 661 and it carried this number until withdrawal in 1972. The bus will be heading on a not unpleasant journey to villages and hamlets in china clay country within the Dartmoor National Park. Although long gone a sister vehicle survives today and is in fact still in service. It is MCO658 (No.358) and its longevity can almost certainly be attributed to its open-top configuration, a result of an unfortunate accident early in its life

Dont forget to click the photo above to explore more of Richie B's photos.
Sorry for the gaps in posting this past week. The planned post for Thursday disappeared completely - no idea what happened to it! Not even in my drafts folder so complete mystery to me.

Finally - I am aware that the site was unavailable for a time on Saturday. This wasn't just me, it was a Blogger issue which affected the whole of Europe apparently!

Escape in the Eighties

2009-10-31T06:45:00.000Z

"I would be more than happy to take a ride in either of these two over anything on offer on the same journey today”

Another photographic posting this morning ©AecRegent. Trathens 61 BDV861Y
©Ian Kirby MCW Metroliner DR130/3 Bretonside Bus Station, Plymouth 4th February 1989
If you wanted to escape from Plymouth in the late 1980's you had a great choice of coaches to choose from. I personally always preferred the Trathens Skyliners but also had a soft spot for the Metroliners, which always seemed a bit dull, but gave a nice ride. I would be more than happy to take a ride in either of these two over anything on offer on the same journey today.
As always click on the photos above to visit the Flickr collections and explore further - they have some great photos to see!

Seeing Doubles

2009-10-28T06:29:00.000Z

"They are certainly going for high visibility in Saltash ”

Ian the Rev Flickr

Busworld Photography
The three-axle MCW Metroliner was impressive without being too flashy

Omnibuses2.0
So, what is a reasonable bus fare?

A lot of the focus this week has been on the new 5 and 5A route, but it isn't the only line of attack from Plymouth Citybus. The 26 service is one which sees big changes:

This service is going from strength to strength and as a result will be increased from 4 to 6 buses per hour operating every 10 minutes between Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Devonport and the City Centre. Services to Saltash will also be increased to operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday. In addition evening services will be introduced operating every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday along with a new Sunday daytime service also operating every 30 minutes.
The result of this is that Plymouth Citybus will be operating in excess of every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday with 8 buses per hour and every 15 minutes during the day on Sundays and Bank Holidays with 4 buses per hour between St Budeaux Square, Devonport and the City Centre.

They are certainly going for high visibility in Saltash with this service as it gains the new Volvo double deckers. They really do stand out! ©Brian George

The Tamar Bridge sees more double deck action these days on Sundays at least as due to heavy loadings, new Western Greyhound 576 Launceston - Plymouth service is now booked Enviro 400 double decker on Sundays, worked from Launceston outstation using d/d spare off 510. 576 remains Solos on Mon-Sat. At the moment the full service into Plymouth only runs on Sundays but from the 8th November the full timetable will start. It will be interesting to see if Solos will cope or if something a little bigger is planned. ©Ian Kirby

Plymothian Transit: Bus Wars: Citybus strike back
Plymothian Transit: Fury at buses 30-mile limit
Plymothian Transit: Enviros in favour
Plymothian Transit: Awarding
Plymothian Transit: The hound gets bigger
Plymothian Transit: The dog takes over this weekend
Omnibuses: Barmy

Fare enough

2009-10-27T06:44:00.000Z

"We know that nobody likes it when prices go ”

Sludgegulper Flickr

Omnibuses2.0
Upon hearing the latest from the Competition Commission, I wonder whether First is kicking itself. Withdrawing from Plymouth Citybus sales contest, First has instead ratcheted up its competition against Citybus, to protect First’s market position or to warn off potential competitors. More…

First have provided some more information on the fare rises that have occurred this past weekend.

Single and return bus fares on the Plymouth UGOBUS routes, and all season ticket products in the city are unaffected by the changes (with the exception of the FirstDay Plymouth Child ticket which will increase by 20 pence to £2.40). Similarly, FirstDay and FirstWeek tickets in North Devon are unchanged.

The decision to review fares was not taken lightly. Marc Reddy, Managing Director of First Devon and Cornwall, says: "We know that nobody likes it when prices go up and we offer our sympathy to those customers who are struggling in the face of the recession, but unfortunately we have no option but to review our fares at this time. Like other businesses in the UK, the tightening economy has forced us to look closely at our operating costs. We have made a number of efficiency savings across our operations, but in order to ensure the long term sustainability of our services we must increase fares on our commercial routes. We have kept increases as small as possible.

"In the past year we have invested £4.3 million in new vehicles for Devon and Cornwall, including £2.2 million in Plymouth alone, and in the coming years we need to replace a further 68 vehicles at a cost of more than £7 million to ensure that we are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (which demands all buses must be low floor, easily accessible by 2015)*.'
It is clear that Plymouth and North Devon are spared most of the fare increase. In North Devon the company continue to face competition from Stagecoach whilst in Plymouth... well I am sure I don't really need to explain that one! From Sludgegulpers Flickr stream.

Plymothian Transit: First Fares and Feet

Plymothian Transit: Special Fares for Special Passengers
Omnibuses: Fares: a History
Omnibuses: Fares: a History Pt 2

Pay Point

2009-10-25T10:49:00.001Z

"Looks like another good idea”

* * * * * * * * * * *
This post was meant to go live on Saturday but for some reason it didn't make it!
* * * * * * * * * * *

Tomorrow sees the start of Plymouth Citybus 5 and 5A service which is their retaliation to First's new Ugobus services started two weeks ago. I must admit I am surprised not to see any special fares being promoted to get them started, although I guess with First putting their general fares up from tomorrow they might not feel the need to. Having aid that First have reduced fares on their Plymstock services to try and head off the new Citybus routes.
Meanwhile the new Ugobus routes carry on and certainly the 15 seems to be picking up more passengers now, although the £1 flat fare ends tomorrow so may see a decline. I took Zak to McDonalds Crownhill this afternoon on the 15 (nice not having to change buses at Derriford) and both drivers were pointing out £5 week ticket to all passengers that boarded. We did have a long wait for a bus on the way back, but the driver promptly apologised and explained that traffic at Manadon was 'horrendous' which is why he was running so late. We didn't see a single 7 service either in this time. Not sure how Citybus were doing as there was no Citybus timetable at the bus stop.
Doing my regular run of the local bus company web sites I have noticed this advert on the Citybus site: Looks like another good idea which I am sure passengers will find useful. The website does not give anymore details just yet but I am sure it will soon. Looks like Christmas is coming!

The final stages?

2009-10-23T17:41:00.001+01:00

"yesterday 12:00 was the deadline for bids for Plymouth Citybus”

Ian Kirby Flickr
IoW Sparky Flickr

Omnibuses2.0
Route One
Dorset Sprinter
Bankfoot Banged

Leon Daniels
Advertising Pays

It remains to be seen if and when we get an official announcement from the City Council, but yesterday 12:00 was the deadline for bids for Plymouth Citybus. It is widely expected that the two final bids will be from Stagecoach and Go Ahead Group.

A short while ago Omnibuses Blog ran a quick poll asking the question 'who poses the greatest threat to Ugobus? Stagecoach, Go Ahead or the status quo of Citybus on their own. Not surprisingly just over two thirds saw Stagecoach being the greatest threat.

Stagecoach Devon are already in competition with First in North Devon having made a big move into the area a few years ago. There have also been spats between the two on the Plymouth - Torbay corridor, which most observers felt was going Stagecoach's way until they unexpected pulled their Plymouth - Paignton route. Having a base in Plymouth would fit very well with the Exeter based Devon fleet. The company would be able to make fairly easy savings by centralising many of the backroom support services, and possibly even things like maintenance and repairs with Milehouse being well placed to pick up work from within the enlarged company. Of course any savings like this would possibly seem some non driving jobs being lost too. Sadly this is likely to happen who ever takes the company over as they strive to make savings.

From a passengers viewpoint Stagecoach operation in Plymouth will bring benefits with greater availability of through tickets across the group. With Stagecoach already having agreements with Western Greyhound in Cornwall it makes a Stagecoach Day Explorer even more useful. You could also see the company reinstating the link between Plymouth and Torbay. We would almost certainly see investment in new buses into Plymouth. New double deckers would be nice. Stagecoach being big buyers of Alexander Dennis Enviros. Sadly any new buses would be in Stagecoach livery so we would see the end of the Citybus red livery.
©Ian Kirby. Alexander Dennis Trident/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 Exeter Bus Station 1st August 2008

The other question asked by Omnibuses was 'Who would serve Plymouth better?'
Slightly under two-thirds felt that Go Ahead would offer the city and its residents a better service overall.

Go Ahead seems to be the enthusiasts favourite from what I can gather across the groups. They have shown impressive levels of investment in their fleets with lots of new Scania double deckers entering service in their Southern England fleets from Brighton to Wilts and Dorset and Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight. They also maintain good strong local identities in their fleets rather than a standard group livery. There is no reason to suggest this would be any different for Plymouth so the Plymouth Citybus 'brand' would almost certainly continue in some form or other. For Go Ahead there is probably less scope for savings in maintenance and repairs at least as Plymouth would remain a separate fleet with no near neighbours within the group.
©IoW Sparky Southern Vectis Scania OmniCity 1106 (HW58 ARX) 'Linstone Chine' seen here in Sandown on the No. 8 Route
(These would look great in red!)
Of course, we may all be wrong and find that another group has bid, or even less likely that the council decides not to sell, but the smart money is on Citybus going to either Stagecoach or Go Ahead. As for me? Well if it has to be sold, my heart says Go Ahead but my head says Stagecoach!

Good Bad and So So

2009-10-21T06:58:00.000+01:00

"This does seem a bit of bad timing ”

Omnibuses2.0
Nat Express Crisis
Beet it
Force to be reckoned with

First the good news...

From Sunday 25 October First are also introducing a special offer on all ugobus services in Plymouth, where the FirstWeek Plymouth ticket is reduced to £5 for two weeks (until Saturday 7 November). To take make use of this special offer please purchase your £5 FirstWeek Plymouth ticket from your driver as from Sunday 25th October using the special coupon which can be downloaded from a link on their web site HERE
This is a good offer which I am sure will be popular especially as it is not restricted to the new Ugobus services like the previous weeks offer was.

Now the bad news...

Most fares on First services in Devon and Cornwall will change by 5p or 10p as from Sunday 25th October 2009.

This does seem a bit of bad timing with the new routes having just been launched. There is already a difference between Citybus and First in the city and this will just get a little bigger, until Citybus have their next increase at least. It will be interesting to see how the passenger loadings fare next week on the new routes when the normal fares kick in.

So so news....

I have seen a note tonight which suggests that yesterday was the last day in service for E215/6BTA the wonderful Volvo Citybus double deckers which have served Plymouth so well. It seems that they are being converted to open top, which if true, will at least mean they will last a while longer and wont just be scrapped just yet. E216BTA seen back in October 2006, it still looks pretty smart. One of these two is usually on the Estover school run which I see each morning as I leave for work. Shortly after this posting goes live I will see what has replaced it. I guess one of the K-LAE batch of Olympians which have been transferred from Bristol.

No life after Plymouth

2009-10-20T18:44:00.000+01:00

"If I wasn't an anorak…”

Alredbus on Flickr

©Alredbus. Two of the first (1960) batch of Plymouth Atlanteans TCO 521/523 await disposal after seemingly having been ever so slightly bruised.
It was too cold today to hang around and wait for my Taxibus home so I walked across to Derriford where I had a choice of transport home. A Citybus Dart on the 50 (boring) A First Wright Eclipse on the 15 (mmmm) or Volvo Citybus 174 on the 50. No contest really!

With the newer Volvo double deckers coming into service the chance to ride one of the older DDs will rapidly disappear. At least these buses will go on to see service elsewhere as Citybus have buyers lined up to take them. Clearly the Atlanteans above were not to be so lucky!

I must walk across to Derriford Hospital more often as there is usually a double decker working on the 50 which will probably give me my first chance to try a new Volvo DD at some stage soon. Quite why we get a DD I have never worked out as there is rarely anyone on it as, just like today, it often follows a standard 50 all the way into town. Most passengers preferring the newer Darts to the older double deckers. If I wasn't an anorak I probably would myself!

Plympton Coachlines

2009-10-18T05:50:00.000+01:00

"John Preece doesn’t intend giving up his desire to operate Plymouth city services, not without a fight”

This is a Guess post by Omnibuses2.0:

At Omnibuses2.0 we aim to reflect in bite-sized pieces, the many facets of the UK bus industry. The first posts date from 2003 and since the summer of 2005, we’ve been examining the bigger picture almost daily...

This is a guest post by the Omnibuses Blog

John Preece doesn’t intend giving up his desire to operate Plymouth city services, not without a fight. Though it appears the council has rejected his bid to buy Plymouth Citybus, he threatens court action. Preece himself says he’s been waiting for Citybus for 21 years. It was in 1988, one year after his Plympton Coachlines bought Western National (with a little help from Badgerline) that Preece as MD began what was to be a doomed combative action, throwing at Citybus much that was second hand, plus a half-dozen or so brand new Leyland Lynxes. But that wasn’t the first time Plympton Coachlines had tried. No, the first time was back in regulated 1983…

Back then, Preece didn’t appear as Plympton Coachlines’ front man. Plympton Coachlines was one of a handful of operators who tried to exploit the Transport Act 1981 that made it easier for operators to gain stage carriage road service licences (as they were then called). Though the 1981 Act is famous for deregulating express coaches and for trial bus service areas, the forgotten provision was that it allowed start ups to challenge established operators, through the traffic courts. Stagecoach famously tried and only marginally succeeded. Plympton Coachlines completely failed.

Plympton Coachlines applied for two licences, one from Plymouth to its airport and the other between Plymouth & an area in outer Plymstock. Both offered something new. Opposed were Plymouth council and Western National, (partners in the then Plymouth Joint Services) and Devon council.

There were concerns, too, about abstraction. The only way, for example, that Plympton Coachlines might make either service pay was by abstracting along its route. Solicitors were successful in persuading the traffic commissioners that Plympton Coachlines’ lower fares and hourly frequency would force PJS to lower theirs. Since the city council expected PJS to break even, there would inevitably be compensatory cuts elsewhere, between £375,000 and £1mil worth per annum. The traffic commissioners were not prepared to see such damage inflicted upon Plymouth and refused Plympton Coachlines’ applications.

One of defendants’ main arguments was Plympton Coachlines’ zero experience in operating bus services. To think that in just four year’s time, Plympton Coachlines would have all the knowledge it would ever need, upon the take-over of Western National and the 1988 bus war that ensued.
©Terry Partridge. Plympton Coachlines HFX424V Ford R1114 Plaxton at Bretonside

Life after Plymouth: K104SFJ

2009-10-16T06:36:00.000+01:00

"

A few of the Dennis Dart fleet have escaped Plymouth

”

Retrobus on Flickr
(Some great Penzance shots uploaded recently)

Omnibuses2.0
On-board wi-fi may just hold the key to encouraging motorists to use bus & coach services.

It has long been the case that local operators are keen to get their hands on former Citybus vehicles as they are seen to be very well looked after. A few of the Dennis Dart fleet have escaped Plymouth so far, although I am sure several have recently been put back into service, no doubt to free up buses for the new services starting shortly.

I am currently ‘between cameras’ as mine died on me at Kingsbridge which has been a real nuisance when there is so much going on at the moment. So it is great that there are lots of people out there who allow me to share their photos on Plymothian Transit. Retrobus is just one of several regulars whose work can be found here from time to time. As always please explore their photo collections using the links or just by clicking on the photos as there are loads more that are well worth a viewing. Thanks once again to all of you who have been willing to share their photos in this way.

More First Fare Deals

2009-10-15T06:58:00.000+01:00

"First are pleased to announce it will be lowering fares on ugobus services 2 and 6”

Leon Daniels
It's been an Aberdeen day…

Omnibuses2.0
Clayton Jones is back.

As well as being busy promoting their new services, First are making sure that their existing services dont suffer from the competition with Citybus. They have introduced new lower fares on the Plymstock services which will soon be joined by Citybus service 5 5A.
First are pleased to announce it will be lowering fares on ugobus services 2 and 6 in Plymstock from Sunday 11th October Examples of some of our lower fares include
Service 6
Elburton to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Goosewell to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Broadway to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Oreston to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Pomphlett to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Service 2
Mount Batten to City Single £2.40 Return £3.20
Hooe to City Single £2.20 Return £3.20
Broadway to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
Foresters Rd to City Single £2.00 Return £2.90
It would be nice if First could lower their fares across all their Ugobus services but this is a start and will be welcomed by passengers. It will be interesting to see what fare offers, if any, that Citybus make to promote their new services.

So far so good

2009-10-14T06:12:00.000+01:00

"The real test will come when the special fares end”

Plymouth Local History
This very rare photo shows a tram at Saltash Passage in 1929 …

Omnibuses2.0
Stagecoach or GoAhead - You choose! another Plymouth related post!

From This is Plymouth
BUS firm First Devon and Cornwall has launched its four new Plymouth services – with help from some of the people whose faces will appear on the vehicles. The company is extending its Ugobus network by running services from the city centre to Chaddlewood, Ernesettle, Mainstone and Southway. The expansion has brought 22 (nearly) new vehicles, and 60 jobs, to Plymouth. Around 40 people have already had their pictures featured on First's Ugobus vehicles, and the idea is being extended to the new vehicles. Another 11 people, plus Plymouth Argyle mascot Pilgrim Pete and Barne Barton bus-catching cat Casper, will find themselves immortalised on an easy-access, low-floored vehicle. And some of those city folk met First managing director Marc Reddy when the vehicles were launched. They included Holly Chilton, Alan Parsons and David Cumbers, from Plymouth's Disabled Bus Users Group, Jordie Davarian-Cross and Emma Jones, children of First employees, and Pilgrim Pete
©aecregent One of the Volvo B7RLEs brought in to the Plymouth fleet of First to augment the Ugobus fleet.

I have caught the 15 to Derriford Roundabout for the last couple of days and have seen that passenger numbers are slowly creeping up. A few people who on Monday let the bus go by, caught it to Derriford this morning. The low fares are also being talked about especially for runs into town. The real test will come when the special fares end and normal fares come into play. From my stop to Derriford Hospital is apparerently £1.20 on First, compared with 80p for Citybus, £1 Taxibus and anything from 50p to £1 on Target Travel. With my bus pass its not an issue for me so I will be using the service as a back up for when I miss the Taxibus as it saves me changing buses at Derriford Hospital. The buses are nice though.

The Fifty Two Blues

2009-10-13T06:39:00.000+01:00

"It also has a very vocal group of passengers who use the service ”

TGP
Classy Glass

Omnibuses2.0
First is in a classic Catch 22 position. That’s the simple conclusion regarding today’s full Ugobus Phase 3 launch, which sees a significant escalation in the Plymouth Citybus v First Devon & Cornwall bus war.
More….

One of the less positive changes to Citybus services on the 25th October sees the end of the Citybus 52 service linking Plympton with Derriford Hospital. It is a service which has had a volatile history to say the least. It also has a very vocal group of passengers who use the service and have fought hard to keep the service as it is and have used every opportunity to let Citybus, and other operators know what they want.

The previous reduction in the service to peak hours only saw Target Travel come in and take up the day time workings that Citybus gave up. The morning and evening runs on the target Travel 52A are very popular with their regular passengers. The Citybus duties also seem to carry a fair few passengers when I have seen them. However it is understandable in the present circumstances that Citybus want to make much better use of their resources so their 52 comes to an end in just under two weeks time.
The news of the 52 demise has been well publicised at Derriford Hospital so I was waiting for the backlash. Sure enough...
"After ringing Target to ask if they will be adding the 52's times to their timetable their response was NO. After many discussions on the bus with the regulars who use this service, we thought it would be a good idea if we bombard Target Travel with e-mails and hopefully will let them know there is a need for the extra buses at peak times"

It remains to be seen if Target do fill the gap. When they started it seemed that they did want to run the full service if Citybus gave up their runs, but of course since then they have taken on a lot of extra work in Plymouth so may not have the capacity to take on extra runs at the moment. I am looking forward to the next bus users meeting (well overdue!) as I am sure the 52 will be brought up! Of course before Citybus ran the service it was with First where it was a lot less reliable but a lot more interesting in that you never knew what would turn up on it....

©Terry Partridge July 2003
(Not actually on the 52 at the time of the photo, but they made plenty of appearances on the route for a while.)

Plymouth Newest Bus

2009-10-12T18:06:00.000+01:00

"it has been bestowed the highest honour of becoming Casper the Cats bus”

Eastleighbusman on Flickr
Omnibuses2.0
At risk
TGP
Rock Pools
Highton-Ridley
Lakeside in Colour

©Eastleighbusman. "seen 150609 in commercial rd in pompey"
This morning a lot of passengers will be greeted with one of these smart Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban buses for the first time. They are certainly going to be noticed to begin with at least as they do stand out in the see of Pointer Darts that have ruled the streets of Plymouth for so long. This example has recently joined us from Portsmouth and has now become Plymouth's newest bus. This is probably why it has been bestowed the highest honour of becoming Casper the Cats bus.

woops - sorry this post should have gone live at 06:00 this morning but it didn't work!

Ugo more places from tomorrow

2009-10-10T17:52:00.001+01:00

"First will be hoping to get a good head start ”

Jeff Day on Flickr

Omnibuses2.0
Live and Kicking 2
Live and Kicking 3

Plymothian Transit Extra

©Jeff Day: First Devon & Cornwall B7RLE/Eclipse on Royal Parade, Plymouth on 1A.
Tomorrow is one of the more important day for Plymouth bus services as it sees the start of First's new Ugobus services. Apart from a few minor incursions on each others traditional operating areas this is the first major outbreak of competition since the last great Bus War back in the 1980s.
First will be hoping to get a good head start with flat fares of £1 for the first two weeks which of course takes us up to when Citybus start their new service 5 5A into Plymstock.
The new services have of course been covered on Plymothian Transit but they now also have their own route page on my sister Plymothian Transit Extra Site where there are new up to date maps and links to timetables etc.

Ugo 12 Plympton
Ugo 13 Ernesettle
Ugo 15 Mainstone
Ugo 17 Southway

I guess we now just sit back and watch, and wait to see what happens next...

First Thoughts

2009-10-09T06:55:00.000+01:00

"This whole thing seems to be a total disaster”

Omnibuses2.0
Live and Kicking
Leon Daniels
Bus and Coach

Highton-Ridley
Get Your Pony Mug

GOSSIP / RUMOURS
Interesting comment left on a recent post was that the main players left in the process are Stagecoach and Go Ahead. I have heard this from a couple of other sources too, although it is still just a rumour until anything gets confirmed!

The bidding process set up by Plymouth City Council to find out how much Plymouth Citybus is worth has been "a shambles" and could end up costing "many millions of pounds", Marc Reddy, managing director of First Devon and Cornwall, said yesterday.

Mr Reddy said the council had released so much commercially confidential information that it should abort the process and start again. At the same time Cllr Ian Bowyer, the city's Cabinet member for finance, told The Herald that a consortium led by Plymouth taxi boss John Preece was "no longer in the running". And a report to the Cabinet revealed that the council had received several bids "well in excess of £10million".

"They need to sit back and say to themselves: If we're serious about selling, let's restart the whole process," Mr Reddy said. "Or they could decide to keep the asset and let it pay a dividend every year. They don't have to sell. There's no shame in that.

"The whole process has left me gobsmacked. That they let John Preece know that his consortium wasn't shortlisted through The Herald. "They've even mentioned prices. This is a process that should be totally confidential.

"The council has said it is prepared to spend just under £1million on this process. "The price will run into many millions when you take into account legal fees and the way it is likely to drag out. "This whole thing seems to be a total disaster.

First is in the middle of a programme of developing new services, but Mr Reddy denied that he was deliberately targeting Citybus to spoil the sell-off. He said First had looked at the market and begun a programme of investment in April 2008. Since then, the company had boosted passenger numbers by 7.3 per cent. "I'm not trying to target Citybus in any way. It's just about trying to develop something new and attractive – and with simpler routes and timetables."

He said he was surprised that the council wanted to sell Citybus. "If it's such a good asset, why are they selling it – particularly in a recession?" The council spokesman said: "The exercise to find out the value of Citybus has been carried out in a fair and transparent way and expert advice and support has been used throughout. "We have always been aware of the possibility of legal challenges which is why we have ensured we have followed a very robust process.

This is Plymouth

As usual the comments left on are pretty entertaining, my favourite being

“Can we keep Citybus and sell the council?”

Special Fares for Special Passengers

2009-10-08T06:30:00.000+01:00

"
any single journey is just £1.
It really is that simple!
”

Omnibuses2.0
Cannibalism
Looking to 2017

With the launch of the new services this Sunday I was expecting to see some offers and special fares being promoted. The promotion on their web site at the moment offers a large saving if you have the cash available:

To purchase a First6Month Plymouth pass simply visit the First Travel Shop in Bretonside Bus Station (passport sized photo required - facilities available in Travel Shop) and you can take your pass away that day. The Travel Shop is open Monday - Friday 0900 - 1730 and Saturday 0900 - 1400.

The second fare promotion is perhaps more what I was expecting...

First are delighted to launch their 4 new ugobus routes in Plymouth with a special £1 flat single fare
Travel on any of our 4 new ugobus services;
Ugobus service 12: Chaddlewood to Ridgeway to Marsh Mills to City
Ugobus service 13: Ernesettle to St Budeaux to Milehouse to City
Ugobus service 15: Mainstone to Estover to Derriford Hospital to Mutley to City
Ugobus service 17: Southway to Crownhillto Mutley to City
from Sunday 11th to Saturday 24th October and any single journey is just £1.
It really is that simple!
Whether you're travelling from the Ridgeway shops to the City, from Lakeside Drive in Ernesettle to the Train Station, from Asda in Estover to Mutley Plain or from Southway Shops to the City Centre (and all the places in between!) any single journey is only £1!
For timetables for your new services please click on 'timetables' in the left hand menu or visit our Travel Shop in Bretonside Bus Station

Terms and conditions: The £1 single flat fare is only available on the new ugobus services 12, 13, 15 and 17 and is applicable for adults and children. Standard fares apply on all other ugobus and First services in Plymouth. Offer available 11th - 24th October inclusive.

The one pound flat fare is a good deal which I am sure will be welcomed by many passengers on the new services. I know several people were looking forward to the 15 to Derriford although from my own home to Derriford on the 50 is only 80P. It also makes we wonder how many people will catch the 7 between Derriford and the City Centre while the 15 is so much cheaper. I guess we will also see something similar for the first week or so of the new Citybus 5 service later in the month.

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