Bus News Around Plymouth 008

Good evening everyone

This week Plymouth Citybus reveal their new timetable changes for the 3rd July

[GreenFlash 5/5A]

Service 5 Revised route and frequency: City Centre to Plymstock Broadway as per current route. From the Broadway via Furzehatt Road direct to Elburton Village. The service will then turn around at Elburton Roundabout back into Elburton Village and then follow current route to Holmwood Avenue. From Holmwood Avenue the service will use Challgood Rise to Green Park Road and Goosewell Road where it will then follow the current route back to the City Centre.
Service 5 [Mon-Sat]:  Continues to Devonport and St Budeaux and then onto Saltash where it will serve Fore Street, Callington Road, Liskeard Road and Oakland's Green.
Service 5A Revised route and frequency: City to Plymstock Broadway as per current route, then will operate the reverse of the Service 5 route around Plymstock. This service will not continue to Devonport, St Budeaux or Saltash.
This will now offer a combined frequency of up to every 10 minutes to Plymstock and up to every 20 minute to Devonport, St Budeaux and Saltash.
Service 20A Revised Route: Service to Plympton will now use Glen Road to  St Marys Bridge and Mudge Way rather than Moorland Road.
Service 27B Revised Time: The 1820 departure from Royal Parade will now depart at 18.40 due to passenger demand (Starts 10th July).
Service 28 Revised Time: The Monday to Friday 07.00 departure from Royal Parade will now depart at 06.55 due to passenger demand.
Services 40/41/42/42A/42B/42C & 44: Revised Times
The whole Crownhill corridor is being re timed to provide an even 5 minute frequency to and from the City Centre Monday to Friday.  Saturdays and Sundays are also being re timed to provide a consistent frequency.
Services 23/24/27B/28B: Revised Times:
Minor timetable amendments on a Sunday due to the inter working with services on the Crownhill corridor.

So, good night those in Europe and Africa, morning to those in Asia and Oceania, and afternoon/ evening to those in the Americas.

Bus Spotting on the 30th May 2016

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos I took today

 

Here is the land train (choo choo) 

Here is a German coach which is seen visiting the Barbican

And here it is next to another coach later on

Just a picture of a Solo bus this evening

Good evening everyone

Here is a picture of an Optare Solo that I have used on the blog previously

Copyright: Graham Richardson of Plymothian Transit

New timetables for the 3 and 90

Good evening everyone

Just to let you know there are timetable changes for Stagecoach South West bus routes 3 and 90

Plymouth Timetables
From Sunday 29 May, new timetables are being introduced on our 3 and 90 bus routes.

Route 3 Plymouth - Kingsbridge - Dartmouth

We are making some improvements to route 3, which connects Dartmouth with Kingsbridge and Plymouth. This is to improve reliability and to take into account the roads becoming busier across the summer holiday period. Afternoon departures from Plymouth will now be at 10 past the hour rather than just before the hour to help people leaving work, and there will be a new 0830 departure from Kingsbridge through to Plymouth that fills a large gap in the current timetable."

Route 90 Dartmouth town service

Timetable and route revised, all buses will operate as service 90 and we will no longer be running the 90A and 90B variants which currently operate up to every 15 minutes between 0900 and 1600. The busier 90 will continue to run every 30 minutes throughout the day and evening, including schools journeys to Dartmouth Academy.

Source: Stagecoach South West

Some photos of Dennis Darts

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos of Dennis Darts I have previously used on the blog

A Selection of the photos of ADL Enviro 400MMCs

Good evening everyone

Here are a selection of some photos of ADL Enviro 400MMCs for Buses around Plymouth

Target Travel's Wright choice for their 'new' Park&Ride bus

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos of a Wright Meridian bodied MAN to be used on the Target Travel park and ride



Copyright - Bradley Darlington

Bus News Around Plymouth 007

Good evening everyone

In latest 'bus news', here is some info from earlier on in the week regarding the Bus Running Day

Copyright: Plymouth Herald

Buses from across England and Wales will be travelling to Plymouth to commemorate the forthcoming closure of Bretonside Bus Station.

On Saturday, July 16, a cavalcade of buses and coaches will set off from Paris Street in Exeter, at about 10.30am and travel to Plymouth's Bretonside Station for a running day which will take place from 12.45pm to 5.15pm.

The event organiser Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group (PCTPG) is appealing for help from the public to get in contact and join the group if they have any interest in Plymouth's transport heritage or if they have any transport related items to donate.

The Preservation Group's annual heritage bus running day and classic vehicle rally in 2015

PCTPG is also looking for people's pictures and memories of Bretonside over the last 60 years of its existence.

Bretonside Bus Station was completed in 1958 and has been left largely unchanged since then. It is expected to close this year with a coach hub planned for the city's West End.

Chairman of Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group, Ralph Delbridge, said: "Say what you will about Bretonside, but it has been a hub of public transport for decades and is part of our history.

"The running day is the perfect opportunity to commemorate it."

• SHARE PICTURE

Chairman of Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group, Ralph Delbridge

Many of the beautifully-maintained vintage vehicles will remain in the city after the day, ready to appear at the Preservation Group's annual heritage bus running day and classic vehicle rally on July 17 at The George Park and Ride.

Free bus rides will be available on Saturday and Sunday giving people the chance to step back in time and travel in style on a vintage vehicle. Memorabilia stalls and model sales will also be set up for visitors to peruse.

Mr Delbridge said: "There will be a number of different vehicles on display and we hope it will bring back memories of buses and vehicles from people's childhoods that are now considered classics.

A Co-op Leyland coach at Bretonside in the late fifties.

"There was a time when everyone travelled on buses, but now families mainly travel mainly by car. Buses were always very utilitarian and now they're air-conditioned and cushioned. This event will show a new generation of people what buses used to be like and take them back to a golden age of transport."

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Bretonside-Bus-Station-closure-commemorated/story-29289177-detail/story.html#ixzz498PN8s5X 
Follow us: @heraldnewslive on Twitter | theplymouthherald on Facebook

Bus spotting on the 23rd May 2016

Good evening

Here are some photos of buses I took earlier today

Photos:
- An ADL Enviro 400MMC on the 101 (Top left)
- An Enviro 200 of Plymouth Citybus (Top right)
- A double decker on the 40 (Centre left)
- A Tally Ho coach on a school run (Centre right)
- A Dennis Dart (Bottom)

A photo of an Evolutionary bus of Target Travel

Good evening everyone

Here is a photo of a MAN/MCV bus of Target Travel.

Copyright: Bradley Darlington

This bus is due to leave Target Travel soon as a replacement bus is due (a MAN/Wright bus)

Here are some of Plymouth Citybus' buses just after they were acquired by Western Greyhound

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos of some Optare Solos after they were just acquired by Plymouth Citybus
(The ex-Western Greyhound ones)


207 WK58 EAF



208 WK58 EAG



209 WK58 EAJ

It's the Blue Flash today

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos I've taken of Blue Flash buses in the past for the blog

More details from the Herald about the Bus Running Day

Good evening everyone

Here is an article on the Plymouth Herald regarding the Bus Running Day

Buses from across England and Wales will be travelling to Plymouth to commemorate the forthcoming closure of Bretonside Bus Station.

On Saturday, July 16, a cavalcade of buses and coaches will set off from Paris Street in Exeter, at about 10.30am and travel to Plymouth's Bretonside Station for a running day which will take place from 12.45pm to 5.15pm.

The event organiser Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group (PCTPG) is appealing for help from the public to get in contact and join the group if they have any interest in Plymouth's transport heritage or if they have any transport related items to donate.

The Preservation Group's annual heritage bus running day and classic vehicle rally in 2015

PCTPG is also looking for people's pictures and memories of Bretonside over the last 60 years of its existence.

Bretonside Bus Station was completed in 1958 and has been left largely unchanged since then. It is expected to close this year with a coach hub planned for the city's West End.

Chairman of Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group, Ralph Delbridge, said: "Say what you will about Bretonside, but it has been a hub of public transport for decades and is part of our history.

"The running day is the perfect opportunity to commemorate it."

• SHARE PICTURE

Chairman of Plymouth City Transport and Preservation Group, Ralph Delbridge

Many of the beautifully-maintained vintage vehicles will remain in the city after the day, ready to appear at the Preservation Group's annual heritage bus running day and classic vehicle rally on July 17 at The George Park and Ride.

Free bus rides will be available on Saturday and Sunday giving people the chance to step back in time and travel in style on a vintage vehicle. Memorabilia stalls and model sales will also be set up for visitors to peruse.

Mr Delbridge said: "There will be a number of different vehicles on display and we hope it will bring back memories of buses and vehicles from people's childhoods that are now considered classics.

A Co-op Leyland coach at Bretonside in the late fifties.

"There was a time when everyone travelled on buses, but now families mainly travel mainly by car. Buses were always very utilitarian and now they're air-conditioned and cushioned. This event will show a new generation of people what buses used to be like and take them back to a golden age of transport."

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Bretonside-Bus-Station-closure-commemorated/story-29289177-detail/story.html#ixzz498PN8s5X 
Follow us: @heraldnewslive on Twitter | theplymouthherald on Facebook

A tiny teaser of what to expect here on Buses Around Plymouth

Good evening everyone

Coming up in the next few months

- Not all the posts will be on Buses that are around Plymouth, maybe not even the South West
- Some more photos
- And general updates 

Stay tuned over the next few months 

Bus News around Plymouth 006

Good evening everyone

Today some timetable changes are coming up

From Sunday 29 May, new timetables are being introduced on our 3 and 90 bus routes.

Route 3 Plymouth - Kingsbridge - Dartmouth

Timetable revised to improve reliability and new 0830 journey from Kingsbridge to Plymouth introduced.

Route 90 Dartmouth town service

Timetable and route revised, all buses will operate as service 90.

Copyright: Stagecoach South West

Bus Spotting on the 16th May 2016

Good evening

Its that time of week again where it is Monday and some of my photography makes it way onto the blog

Today is the front and rear shots of a Stagecoach ADL Enviro 400MMC

Stagecoach South West information regarding the Devon County Show

Good evening everyone

Here is some news for those off to the Devon County Show

Devon County Show 19-21 May 2016
13 May 2016 to 22 May 2016
If you're planning to visit the Devon County Show this year why not go by bus?

From Exeter, Sidmouth, Seaton, Honiton & Lyme Regis

Our 9/9A service (previously 52/52A) runs up to every half hour and goes right past Westpoint.

From Exeter bus station

As well as our 9/9A service, we will be running a 9W shuttle that will go between the bus station and Westpoint only.

From Exmouth

We are once again running our 59 service. This leaves on the half hour from Exmouth and on the hour from Westpoint. The first service leaves Exmouth and 0830 and Westpoint at 0900. The last service leaves Exmouth at 1730 and from Westpoint at 1800.

Tickets

If you live within Exeter, Westpoint is within the Exeter Megarider zone and a day ticket costs just £3.70.

A return fare on the 59 shuttle is £3, concessionary passes are not valid on this route.

An Adult Explorer - valid for unlimited travel anywhere on our network - costs just £7.70

A Group Explorer is £15.40 and allows up to 5 people to travel together.

You can also buy up to 3 £1 child add-ons per full fare ticket (not valid with concessionary passes).

Things will be back to normal on the blog next week

Good evening everyone

Apologies for the later blog posts on Tuesday and Thursday, and this evening. It's because I've been watching Eurovision on those days. Just to re-iterate the title of this post, things will be back to normal next week.

Webberbus has ceased trading

Good evening everyone

While technically not in the Plymouth area, Webberbus in Somerset has ceased trading.

Here are some snippets from the news:

BBC News:

A family-run bus company in Somerset which has been running for more than 50 years is to stop trading.
Somerset County Council said it had been told WebberBus would cease to operate from Friday morning "due to financial difficulties".
The authority said it would try to ensure "dozens of important bus routes" served by the company would be covered.
WebberBus managing director Tim Gardner said a statement would be issued later on Friday.
Affected services include those serving six schools, four colleges and more than a dozen public routes.
Councillor David Fothergill, who is responsible for highways, said: "WebberBus is by some distance the second largest operator in the county and organising replacement services at very short notice is a significant task."

Western Daily Press:
WebberBus has folded at short notice, leaving a huge hole in the county's public transport network.

The family-run bus company, based in Bridgwater, ceased to operate this morning "due to financial difficulties".

It is believed that the company was more than £1m in debt. Dozens of staff, including drivers, workshop and admin workers face an uncertain future as efforts are made by FirstBus and Buses of Somerset to fill the gaps.

Many drivers did not know the company had folded as they completed yesterday's journeys.

Somerset County Council (info also reproduced on Plymothian Transit)
Please be aware that we have been informed that one of the main bus companies in Somerset has ceased to operate today (Thursday 12 May), affecting a number of services.  We have responded immediately to this difficult situation and our staff are working hard to arrange for other operators to pick up these services where possible. We are confident that all services taking students to schools and colleges will be covered by replacement services from tomorrow morning. There should also be cover for the public routes where there are no other reasonable alternatives. On routes already covered by other operators, they will be doing their best to fill the gaps. 
Below is a list of the affected Webberbus services, and replacements where they have been arranged. We will keep this page updated as replacement services are added or changed. We apologise for the disruption that this has caused. 
Public Service Routes 
10 Minehead – Porlock First are providing a replacement service.
12/15 Wellington – Taunton – Bridgwater Use First services 21/21A/22/22A, extra capacity will be provided where necessary
16/24 Minehead – Bridgwater Please see First service 15 for Minehead/Carhampton/Williton/Watchet/Nether Stowey to Bridgwater College  First service 14 and X14 operates between Bridgwater and Cannington
18 Minehead – Taunton Use First service 28, extra capacity will be provided where necessary
19 Bridgwater – Street First will replace journeys previously operated by WebberBus
26 Wells – Weston-super-Mare Use First service 126, additional capacity will be provided for Easton to Wells Blue School journeys
27 Creech – Taunton Use First service 29
34 Yeovil – Bridgwater Hatch Green service 16 is available
37 / 375 Bridgwater – Street – Wells First will reinstate service 37/375 and provide additional capacity where necessary
38 Taunton – Street – Wells Use First service 55
62/66 Weston/Axbridge – Bridgwater College Crosville Motor Services will provide these services
67 Wells – Burnham-on-Sea First will provide replacement service
75 Weston – Burnham – Bridgwater Use First routes 20/21/21A, additional capacity provided where necessary
76 Weston – Burnham Use First service 20
101 Minehead Town Service First will provide this service
623 Wellington – Bridgwater College First will provide replacement service
Bridgwater Town Services First will provide replacement services
Taunton Town Services Use existing First Taunton Town services
School services are detailed on the Somerset web site. 

It's a cascade and a new bus

Good evening everyone

Going in more depth on some of the photos I took on Monday:

'The Cascade' - this is an ALX400 Dennis Trident from Stagecoach Devon

'The New Bus' - and here is an ADL Enviro 400MMC on the Park & Ride service 101

Bus events coming up

Good evening everyone

Here are some bus events coming up, as mentioned by PCPTG

SWANSEA MUSEUM OPEN DAY - SUNDAY 22ND MAY 2016
We are planning on attending this event in Swansea. Times TBC, but will be an early start and a long journey.

BRETONSIDE  CLOSURE - SATURDAY 16TH JULY 2016

BRETONSIDE  CLOSURE - SATURDAY 16TH JULY 2016

The first of our weekend of events, is a special event to celebrate the closure of Bretonside Bus Station. More details can be found on our dedicated July 16/17 pages.

The first of our weekend of events, is a special event to celebrate the closure of Bretonside Bus Station. More details can be found on our dedicated July 16/17 pages.

PLYMOUTH HERITAGE BUS RUNNING DAY AND CLASSIC VEHICLE RALLY  - SUNDAY 17TH JULY 2016
1000-1600 - Preserved and service buses running FREE routes into the City and across the Moors and classic vehicles on display
Family entertainment / Trade and enthusiast stalls / Model displays / Food incl Ice cream / Plenty of FREE parking and FREE City link Bus and more............

Bus News Around Plymouth 005

Good evening everyone

In the news at 10, there isn't anything bus related to report

Bus Spotting on the 9th May 2016

Good evening everyone

Here are some photos of buses I took earlier today

First here is a Tally Ho coach. Tally ho


And here is an ADL Enviro 400MMC on the X1


Lastly here is a photo of a Plymouth Citybus (don't know which one it was) and an ADL Enviro 400MMC

What to expect in the next week

Good evening everyone

Here is what to expect on the blog in the next week

- Photos of buses as always tomorrow
- News as it comes
- And lots lots more

On Youtube, you can see what Plymouth Citybus get up to behind the scenes

Good evening everyone.

Have you ever been interested to see what Plymouth Citybus get up behind the scenes?


Here is a link to some videos on Youtube which outlines just that:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgBReWFgzStRho6PZAaEJA

Anything you would like to see on the blog this summer?

Good evening everyone

Today I would like to ask if there is anything you would like to see on the blog this summer

Any suggestions let me know in the Comments section

A new arrival in the PCTPG - I am the one and only '138'

138 - LEYLAND ATLANTEAN (EAST LANCS)
"PHILIP CURTIS V.C."
The annual order of Leyland Atlanteans were arriving later and later each year as Roe struggled to keep up with demand, most notably after hundreds were ordered by NBC subsidiary, London Country.

Plymouth City Transport - getting frustrated at this - turned to East Lancs Coachbuilders instead, and 138 formed part of the first of three batches of East Lancs bodied Atlanteans for Plymouth, consisting of no.'s 136 - 147 (VJY136-47V). In total Plymouth ordered 36 of these, over 3 years. 138 arrived at Milehouse depot in December 1979.
Both 138 and 143 had their wheels painted red and in January 1980 they were allocated names and these were worn above the front destination blinds in cream. 143 was named "NANCY LADY ASTOR", and 138 became "PHILIP CURTIS V.C."

138's livery was modified in October 1982 to the new Citybus livery, owing the launch of the Citybus services that same month. The cream around the lower deck windows being extended downwards and the red and black Citybus fleetnames applied. The wheels were also painted black to match the rest of the fleet.

When 138 was withdrawn it passed into the ownership of Guide Friday, who operated open-top bus tours in many towns and cities across the UK, including Plymouth. Surprisingly, unlike the majority of Guide Friday's buses, 138 was not converted to open-top, and it is not thought to have ever entered service with them. It subsequently passed onto Stratford-on-Avon Gliding Club, Warwickshire, still wearing its final Citybus fleet livery, where it spent 12 years. The bus acted as a control vehicle on flying days, monitoring wind speeds and communicating between the gliders and launch crew.

It entered preservation in 2016 when it was purchased by Group Member, Paul Furse.

Now for some pictures (courtesy of the PCPTG):

Images & text: PCPTG

For more information: http://plymouthcitytransport.co.uk/138/4592296560

PCTPG Update April 2016

Good evening everyone

Here is the latest news from the PCTPG


Firstly, an exiting new development this month sees East Lancs bodied 138 (VJY138V) join the PCTPG. See The Fleet page for a link to 138's History. Work has progressed well on 458's new engine - the old one from East Lancs bodied Atlantean 153 (ATK153W) which was scrapped in Cornwall last year. It has been converted from power-steering to non-power-steering, and broken pipes and engine mounts have been replaced along with the torque converter. Its almost at a point where it can go onto 458, but this can only happen after the gearbox is re-fitted. It is hoped a photo will follow soon. Meanwhile 214 has been shifted outside to enable messy jobs to take place. The inside panels have started to be sanded down ready for repaint while work continues on exterior repanelling.

Bus News around Plymouth 004

Good evening everyone

It's Telegram Tuesday again and it's been quiet this week.

Previously mentioned include the Stagecoach prices from last week's edition and the new timetables.

Good night those in Europe and Africa, morning those in the Middle East, Asia and Oceania and evening those in the Americas.

Also, today/tomorrow, happy Star Wars Day. May the 4th be with you

Coming up in May

Good evening everyone

Here are my plans for the blog this month:
- More photos for the blog
- Timetables when they come in
- And lots lots more

Stay tuned this month for more information

Just another announcement from Stagecoach

Good evening everyone

Here is an announcement from Stagecoach South West in advance of the Bank Holiday.

'Due to resurfacing works commencing Thursday 28th April 2016 until Monday 2nd May 2016, service 48 will terminate at the Dam and leave from the bus stop at the Dam.'