The Old Dog Is Dead

As i am sure many people are aware, Western Greyhound ceased trading on Friday 13th March 2015. Here are a few photos from my recent visits to Cornwall when Western Greyhound were still operating.

Okehampton Optare

Okehampton's Optare is back, this time it is working for Jackett's Coaches on service 318 (Okehampton Town Service) The bus was previously with Carmel coaches and 1 or 2 operators before. Jackett's Coaches do not own this vehicle. This Optare Solo is being hired off Hazell Bus Rentals.

Plymouth CityBus April Service Changes

SERVICE CHANGE -12th April 2015

Date: 20 Feb 2015

From 12th April 2015 a number of our services will be revised. Full lists of the revisions are listed below.

The bigger changes will be to Saltash and Plymstock services, re-deploying resource to allow both to benefit from an up to every 7 minute service on the main corridor, increased from the current 10 minute.

The changes will also the see the introduction of a new cross city route, linking the current 43 and 50. This will be service number 50. We currently have a £2m order for new buses for this route, which will be delivered in the summer.

To allow the above to happen we have had to renumber some services, which are also listed below.

Finally the Go Cornwall Bus network will see changes, the biggest of which will be increasing the frequency of both the Plymouth to Callington and Plymouth to Liskeard routes to up to every 30 minutes.

PLYMSTOCK SERVICES

The below service 4/4A and 5/5A all both operate between Royal Parade and Plymstock Broadway providing an up to every 7 minute frequency.

Services 4 & 4A (NEW SERVICE)

City Centre – Plymstock – Hooe – Mount Batten 

Service 4 operates up to every 30 mins via Billacombe, serving the entrance to the development at Saltram Meadow, Plymstock School, Plymstock Broadway, Goosewell and Hooe.

Service 4A operates up to every 30 mins via Oreston, and serves Plymstock Broadway, Goosewell and Hooe.

Services 5 & 5A 

Plymstock – City Centre

Frequency to Elburton and Staddiscombe now up to every 30 mins each. The afternoon diversion to Plymstock School is removed.

SALTASH SERVICES

The below services 10/10A, 11 & 12 all operate commonly between Royal Parade and Fore Street, Saltash providing an up to every 7 minute frequency in both directions.

Both service 11 and 12 will serve Callington Road, providing a 15 minute service on Callington Road, as 10/10A will not serve Callington Road.

Services 10 & 10A 

This replaces the current 5/5A City Centre to Saltash section.

All journeys follow current 5 route outbound to Oaklands Green, and current 5A route inbound up to every 15 mins. 10 operates clockwise on Yellowtor loop, and 10A anticlockwise. Callington Road is now served by services 11/12 below.

Service 11 

This replaces the current 593.

Half hourly service Plymouth to Liskeard via Saltash. Alternate journeys continue to Looe & Polperro as service 72.

Service 12

This replaces the current 576

Half hourly Plymouth to Callington via Saltash, hourly Plymouth onto Launceston, and roughly 2 hourly onto Bude.

OTHER SERVICES

Service 16 

Departs from Royal Parade A1. Outbound serves Western Approach and inbound serves Cobourg Street and Viaduct. Monday to Saturday now up to every 20 minutes, Sunday up to every 30 minutes. 

Services 21 & 21A

Monday to Saturday early morning and early evening revisions to improve pacing.

Service 22

New 7 day service, 1 journey each way a day from Milehouse to Langage via St Budeaux, Crownhill & Eggbuckland. Starts 1st April, funded by EE for its staff, but is open to all fare paying passengers.

Service 27 / 28/A/B

These services will now depart Royal Parade from stop A17, previously A11. No other changes.

Service 33

Departs from Royal Parade A1 . Outbound serves Western Approach and inbound serves Cobourg Street and Viaduct. Monday to Saturday now up to every 20 minutes, Sunday up to every 30 minutes.

Services 34 & 34A

Increased frequency to Royal William Yard

Additional journeys 7 days a week between Royal William Yard and Royal Parade. Additional journeys between Royal William Yard and Derriford via Milehouse on Sundays only. Partly funded by Urban Splash and Plymouth City Council.

RENUMBERED SERVICES

Services 51/51A

Current service 29/29A

Revised running times between Holly Park and West Park. Services in Victoria Road will now be either 50 or 51/51A.

Service 46

Current service 11

Revised running times between Peter Tavy & Okehampton.

Service 50

New cross city route, current 43 and 50 combined

Revised running times. Current 43 / 50 route to be run by new double deck buses, currently on order.

GO CORNWALL BUS

Service 11

Current service 593

Half hourly service Plymouth to Liskeard. Alternate journeys continue to Looe & Polperro as service 72.

In Saltash both service 11 and 12 will serve Fore Street and Callington Road, providing a 15 minute service on Callington Road.

Service 12

Current service 576

Half hourly Plymouth to Callington, hourly Plymouth onto Launceston, and roughly 2 hourly onto Bude.

Most journeys ending in Callington work through onto services 79/79A. No longer serves St Dominick or Downgate, see service 78.

In Saltash both service 11 and 12 will serve Fore Street and Callington Road, providing a 15 minute service on Callington Road.

Service 72

Current service 572

Operates via Devonport to provide a Saltash to Devonport link. In Saltash, serves North Road and New Road, not Callington Road and Grenfell Avenue.

Inbound services through St Germans follow the B3249 to the A38 at Heskyn Mill, left onto A38,around Trerulefoot roundabout.

No longer serves Hannafore and Pelynt (see service 73), now serves Camping Caradon.

Some services operate via Trerulefoot instead of St Germans to enable double decks to be used if required.

Service 73

Current 573

Now serves Hannafore and Pelynt. Most journeys continue from Liskeard to Plymouth via Saltash as service 11.

Service 74

Current 574

Some frequencies reduced to every two hours to improve reliability and provide resource for service 78.

Service 78 (NEW SERVICE)

New service linking Stoke Climsland, Downgate and St Dominick to Callington, taking in part of the Callington town service form 79/79A.

Services 79 & 79A

Loses northern part of Callington town service (see above), and works through into Plymouth via Saltash as service 12.

 

All timetables can now be viewed by clicking on the timetables tab at the top of the page.

The new network route map will be uploaded soon.

Printed copies of the above timetables will be made available via the Travel Centre two weeks before service change. Go Cornwall Bus timetables will also be distributed to Tourist Information Centres in South East Cornwall.

Please Note: all information on this post was copied from the Plymouth CityBus website

A Western Greyhound Update

So its been a very long time since my last post. hopefully now ill be back on track visiting more places.

All pictures taken 07/02/2015

Here are recent additions to the Western Greyhound fleet, as you know Western Greyhound were put up for sale a while ago with anything from Plymouth to Bude being sold to Plymouth Citybus/ Go Cornwall Bus. but the parts further down into Cornwall was taken over by Buses Excetra, So pink buses have started arriving from Velvet in Southampton.

 Above: S6 BVT, Ex London Volvo B7TL Plaxton President this vehicle was new as Y826 TGH, ( London Fleet number PVL226)

 Above: S6 BVT, Ex London Volvo B7TL Plaxton President

 Above: Ex Go-Ahead London VDL Cadet, still carrying London livery

 Above: SHZ 2046 Ex Brighton & Hove then went to Velvet to be transferred to Western Greyhound

Above: PJ02 RGZ, Due to the recent disappearance of Penine Buses, their fleet was put up for sale which 3 of their darts where purchased by Western Greyhound and as you can see they are still running around in their livery.

Above: Western Greyhound Optare Solo MX54 KXY Seen still carrying Velvet names

Kingsbridge rally 2014

20th September 2014

Kingsbridge rally was another success this year

It's nice to see more and more Enteries each year. 

All Change for First Devon

From the 7th September 2014 First Devon will be making some service changes.

full details can be found at

http://1drv.ms/1qonJqq

or

First Devon and Cornwall website

First Kernow Bus Service Changes

Bus operator First Kernow will be making changes to its services from Sunday 7 September, with further revisions being made later on Sunday 28 September when its summer seasonal services come to an end.

The most significant changes will be the introduction of Services U1, U2 and U3 which will operate between Falmouth and Penryn. Service U1 will operate between Falmouth and Truro via the Penryn Campus, while Service U2 will run between Falmouth and Redruth via the Penryn Campus. Service U3 will run as a supplementary peak time service between Falmouth and the Penryn Campus. 

The new U services replace First Kernows Services 41 and 88 and are available to students and local residents alike. They come as a result of a joint tender by Falmouth University (Falmouth) and the University of Exeter in Cornwall (UoE) for an inter-campus bus service through their shared service delivery partner, Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus). First Kernow won the contract, and with First Fal River (FFR) - a commercial arrangement between First Bus and Fal River Links - will operate the new bus services for a five year period. 

Commenting on the revised services, Alex Carter, Managing Director of First South West, said: "Students and staff from the Penryn and Falmouth campuses, together with local residents, were already using Service 41 and 88 so we are delighted that the new U services will also be available for everyone to use.

"They will provide a regular and reliable service between the Penryn Campus and Falmouth on Monday to Friday daytimes with a combined 15 minute frequency between 07.30 and 18.30, and at least every hour in the evenings and on Sundays."
Alex Carter added: "As well as minor timing changes on a number of other services, First will be stepping up its level of service between Newquay and Truro, and providing new links to the West Cornwall Shopping Park."

New timetables will be published and will be available to download via the website two weeks prior to the changes taking place. The new timetables will also be available from First travel shops in Penzance and Truro bus stations from the end of August

Details of the bus service changes in Cornwall from Sunday 7 September 2014 are:

Service U1 (Falmouth - Truro via Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth and Truro replaces First Kernow Service 88 with a revised timetable but current frequencies will not be altered. Night bus journeys between Falmouth The Moor and the Penryn Campus Tremough will operate five nights a week (Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to Saturday night/Sunday morning) during university term times. 

Service U2 (Falmouth - Redruth via Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth and Redruth replaces First Kernow Service 41 with a revised timetable but no alterations will be made to the frequency of this route.

Service U3 (Falmouth - Penryn Campus)
The new service between Falmouth The Moor and the Penryn Campus Tremough will provide one morning peak northbound bus on Mondays to Fridays during university term times. This service leaves Falmouth The Moor at 08.40 and operates "non-stop' between Falmouth Sainsburys and the Penryn Campus Tremough to provide additional capacity.

Service 1/1A (Lands End - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will continue until Saturday 27 September with minor changes to the timings of Monday to Saturday mid-afternoon journeys until Friday 26 September that will provide extra capacity for visitors to and from Land's End.
Service 2 (Falmouth - Penzance via Helston)

The timetable has been extensively revised to provide a two hourly frequency between Falmouth and Helston, and an hourly frequency between Helston and Penzance Bus Station.

Journeys will no longer serve Penzance town centre with the exception of school day journeys to and from Humphry Davy School. Existing through customers will need to change buses at Penzance Bus Station. Most "short' journeys between Goldsithney and Penzance on Monday to Saturday evenings, Sundays and public holidays will be withdrawn.

Service 6 (Mousehole - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will continue to operate until Sunday 21 September.

Services 10/10A (Morvah - Penzance)
- Mondays to Fridays, the 17.51 Service 10 Lower Boscaswell to Penzance Bus Station will operate as Service 10A via Madron (depart 18.23).
- The Service 10A 18.19 St Just to Penzance journey will leave two minutes earlier at 18.17 and will operate as a Service 10 not calling at Madron.
- Saturdays, the 17.51 Service 10 journey will depart at 18.06 and operate 15 minutes later throughout.
- Monday to Saturday evenings, Sundays and public holidays, there will be minor changes to the timings of southbound buses from Lower Boscaswell to Penzance Bus Station.

Service 11 (Penzance Town Service) 
The 09.00 journey, Mondays to Saturdays, from Penzance Bus Station will leave at 09.05 and operate five minutes later throughout.

Services 14/14A (St Ives - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
There will be minor changes to the timings of Monday to Saturday journeys. Extra 'summer' journeys on Service 14A will continue to operate until Sunday 21 September but with amended timings because of its diversion via the West Cornwall Shopping Park.

Services 16 and 16A (Penzance - St Ives)
Minor re-timings will be made to the Monday to Saturday journeys.

Service 17/17A/17B (Penzance - St Ives)
- Service 17 departures from St Ives Malakoff on Monday to Saturday daytime after 09.15 revert to 'winter' timings.
- There will be revised timings for all journeys between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff, Mondays to Friday evenings from Monday 8 September. The existing Sunday and public holiday timetable between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff will continue until Sunday 21 September.
- Service 17B will continue until Saturday 27 September.

Service 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Hayle)
- This service will be rerouted to operate between Connor Downs and Hayle. It will no longer serve Loggans Moor with the alternative route being Service 14 (St Ives " Truro) with journeys diverted via the West Cornwall Shopping Park during opening hours. 
- Service 18 buses will continue to serve Loggans Moor on Monday to Saturday early morning and evenings and on Sundays/public holidays.
- Monday to Saturday evening frequency between Camborne Bus Station and Penzance Bus Station via Hayle will be increased from two-hourly to hourly.

Service 27 (St Austell - Truro)
- The Monday to Friday journeys at 06.23 and 07.13 and Saturday journeys at 07.23 and 08.23 will be withdrawn between St Austell opposite Aldi and Carclaze opposite Claybourne Close.
- The 17.35 Truro Bus Station journey, Monday to Friday, will depart five minutes later at 17.40 and in response to customer feedback, will operate five minutes later throughout.

Services 35/35A (Falmouth - Helston via Helford Passage)
There will be a revised timetable to maintain current frequencies and routing.

Service 37 (Redruth - The Lizard)
The following journeys will be withdrawn:
- 10.36 Helston Coinagehall Street to Redruth Railway Station
- 11.45 Redruth Railway Station to Helston Sainsburys
- 12.30 Helston Sainsburys to Redruth Railway Station
- 14.00 Redruth Railway Station to Helston Tesco

Services 41 (Falmouth - Redruth)
This service will be withdrawn and replaced by the new Service U2 from Falmouth to Redruth.

Service 42 (Camborne - Redruth)
This service will be withdrawn with the alternative service being Service 46 (Camborne " Truro via Redruth).

Service 46 (Camborne - Truro via Redruth)
There will be some changes to the routing of this service:
- The current diversion via Beacon is withdrawn - journeys operate between junction of Mount Pleasant Road/Trevu Road and the junction of Fore Street/Tregrea/Trevu Road direct via Trevu Road.
- Some journeys omit the existing routing via Montague Avenue, Murdoch Road and Strawberry Lane. These journeys will operate between the A30/A3047 junction and Tolgus Hill via Close Hill, North Street and Plain-an-Gwarry.
- Journeys between Lanner and Gwennap are diverted via Trevarth.
- One journey in each direction between Camborne Bus Station and Tuckingmill is diverted via Weeth Road and North Roskear Road.

A revised timetable will operate to maintain current frequencies, reflecting routing changes and further improving punctuality and reliability.

Service 47 (Troon - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
There will be a revised timetable, maintaining current frequencies and routing, to further improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 68 (Falmouth Town Service)
Minor re-timings to Monday to Saturday journeys will be made to further improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 69 (Falmouth - Truro via Mylor Bridge)
The 15.10hrs Falmouth The Moor to Mylor Bridge journey on school days only will be retimed.

Service 88 (Falmouth - Newquay via Truro)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative services being the new Service U1 (Falmouth - Truro) and Services 89/90 Newquay - Truro (see below)

Service 89/90 (Newquay - Truro)
- The routing of new Service 89 is identical to the current service 88 routing between Newquay Bus Station and Truro Bus Station in both directions. 
- New service 90 follows the same routing as existing service 88 and new service 89 between Quintrell Downs and Truro Bus Station, but it operates between Newquay Bus Station and Quintrell Downs via Porth Four Turns and St Columb Minor.
- New service 90 will operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime, including peak periods.
- New service 89 will operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime, except during morning and evening peak periods.
- First Kernow will operate on Monday to Friday every 30 minutes from Newquay Bus Station to Truro Bus Station between 09.40 and 15.40 and every 30 minutes from Truro Bus Station to Newquay Bus Station between 09.40 and 14.40.
- First Kernow will operate on Saturday every thirty minutes from Newquay Bus Station to Truro Bus Station between 0940hrs and 1640hrs and every thirty minutes from Truro Bus Station to Newquay Bus Station between 0840hrs and 1540hrs. 

Service 300 (Lands End - St Ives)
- Service 300 will continue to operate until Saturday 27 September 2014. The service will be reduced from three journeys to two journeys in each direction on Monday to Saturday and from four journeys to three journeys in each direction on Sunday. 
- The service will not divert via Geevor Tin Mine on Saturday as the attraction is closed on this day.
- The revised timetable provides good connections at Lands End with service 1A journeys to and from Penzance via Newlyn and Porthcurno and at St Ives with service 17B journeys to and from Penzance via St Ives Holiday Village and Marazion.

Details of the bus service changes in Cornwall fromSunday 28 September:

Services 1/1A/1B/1C (Lands End - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will be withdrawn.

Service 6 (Mousehole - Penzance)
Additional 'summer' journeys will be withdrawn.

Service 14A (St Ives - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative journeys provided by Services 17 (Penzance - St Ives) and 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Redruth).

Service 17/17B (Penzance - St Ives)
- Revised timings will be put in place for all Service 17 journeys between Penzance Bus Station and St Ives Malakoff on Monday to Saturday evenings from Monday 29 September 2014 and on Sunday and public holidays from Sunday 28 September.
- Service 17B will be withdrawn with alternative journeys available on Services 2 (Falmouth " Penzance via Marazion) and 18 (Penzance " Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
- No First Kernow buses will serve St Ives Holiday Village from Sunday 28 September

Service 18 (Penzance - Truro via Camborne and Redruth)
Sunday and public holidays frequency between Camborne Bus Station and Penzance Bus Station will be increased from two-hourly to hourly from Sunday 28 September 2014.

Service 300 (Lands End - St Ives)
The service will be withdrawn with alternative journeys available on certain sections of the route on Services 1/1A (Lands End - Penzance), 10/10A (Lower Boscaswell " Penzance) and 16/16A (Penzance " St Ives) an 18 (Penzance " Truro via Camborne and Redruth).

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