Stagecoach South West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jenifleur (talk | contribs) at 07:46, 11 October 2008 (→‎Free fare scheme). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

File:Stagecoach Devon logo.PNG
Company typePublic
Founded1994
HeadquartersExeter, Devon
Area served
East Devon
Torbay
Exeter
Websitewww.stagecoachbus.com
Footnotes / references
Subsidiary of Stagecoach South West. Brand name for services in the Devon area.

Stagecoach Devon Ltd, part of the Stagecoach Group, is a bus operator serving the East Devon and Torbay areas of South West England. It was formed in 1995 with the purchase of Devon General and Bayline. Its headquarters is in Exeter. It has an authorisation from the Traffic Commissioner to operate 310 buses. Stagecoach Devon seems intent to drive out other, smaller bus services using dirty tactics.

Summary

From a slow start Exeter has become one of the first cities in the UK to have a fleet of entirely low-floor buses after introduction of the buses to the A and H service; a number of radial services are also served with low-floor buses from Exeter such as the X46, 56, Culm Valley 1/1A/1B, the Sidmouth services 52, etc. from late 2006.

History

A Dennis Trident, Prince operating a short-lived X45 route.

The original Devon General

The history of the company dates back to the formation of Devon General Omnibus & Touring Co. Ltd in 1919 to operate buses in Devon. In 1920 the Torquay Tramways Company, part of the British Electric Traction group, was facing competition from Devon General and purchased its own buses, and in 1922 purchased Devon General itself. Devon General therefore became part of the BET group. Torquay's trams ceased to operate in 1934.[1]

In 1968 BET sold its bus interests, including Devon General, to the state-owned Transport Holding Company, and thus became part of the National Bus Company when it was formed in 1969. In April 1970 Devon General acquired the interests of the Exeter municipal operation adding another 60 buses to the fleet.[2] But soon after, in January 1971, the National Bus Company transferred the operations of Devon General to Western National. The Devon General name was retained as a brand name of Western National.

Privatisation

To prepare for privatisation, the National Bus Company split Western National into four new companies in 1983, one of which was Devon General Ltd, operating in the territory of the old Devon General in south and east Devon. Devon General became the first NBC operation to be returned to the private sector in August 1986 under the 1985 Transport Act. The company was sold to its management, who later formed a new holding company, Transit Holdings, which acquired a small portfolio of bus operations in Portsmouth, Oxford (Thames Transit) and latterly in London (Docklands). Devon General from 1984 became a major user of small 16-seat Transit minibuses and replaced all the older big buses with small ones seating up to 29 in the case of buses used on longer runs. By 1996 Devon General had only one double decker, an old PD2 Leyland acquired in open top form from Portsmouth Transport.

In 1996 Transit Holdings, including the Devon General and Bayline operations, was sold to Stagecoach.

A van derived Ford Transit minibus with Carlyle bodywork, used on 'Bayline' Devon General Hail and ride service from 1986

Stagecoach

During the late 1990s and early 2000s many of the old fleet of buses were refurbished to get the modern look of Stagecoach: this involved new style seating, exterior and more recently the LED scrolls.

The small minibuses have now been replaced with a mixture of midibuses, double deckers, and coaches, the most recent buses being the Optare Solo, the Alexander Dennis Pointer Darts, Dennis Tridents and Enviro400s, all Stagecoach Group standard bus types. Stagecoach injected some new buses after acquisition of the company including Volvo B6LEs (14), Volvo B10M coaches (6), Volvo B10M buses (7), Dennis Javelins (4) and Mercedes-Benz Varios (16) after which there were few more for some years. Stagecoach Devon's fleet was mostly cascades from other areas. Between 1997 and 2004 only 6 new buses entered the fleet (3 ALX200s for service 56) and 3 new Dennis Tridents for the 373 in January 2003). Since then however the company has invested heavily in new vehicles, taking on a large fleet of Dennis Tridents (21 initially) for the busy service 12 in Torbay and the new Culm Valley Connect services (formally route 54) — another 8 Tridents — and it was the launch customer for the Optare Solo Slimline with 30 going into operation on Exeter city routes. Later in 2006 the Exeter services were replaced with brand new buses; low-floor Alexander Dennis Pointers for the city services A and H displacing Solos onto other routes.

The company faced an industrial stoppage in July 2003 which caused cutbacks in the period afterwards. The company recovered strongly positing excellent growth in passengers and a steadily improving financial position underlined by innovative marketing, engaging in community activities, promotions including telemarketing and this in turn has led the company to be a finalist in the 'Bus Operator of the Year' awards in both 2005 and 2006 (winner both times being sister company Stagecoach West Scotland). The CPT operators' federation stated that PR2 became one of the fastest growing bus services in the country and the company dominated rankings for the 2005 CPT 'On the Move' publication.

File:ServiceAbusExeter.jpg
An Alexander Dennis Pointer on route A in Exeter.

In this time passenger numbers have grown way ahead of the national average of 7.8%, 5.2% (2005/6) and the company is on track for 20% in 2006/7.

The company has also been a significant winner in the 'Kickstart competition': this is directly government funded to provide an upgrade to services which should eventually become self supporting. Stagecoach Devon won three such bids, the Culm Valley connect services in September 2004, the 12A South Devon College services in September 2005 and the upgrade of Exeter City services in spring 2006. It is quite unusual for a company to do so well from such schemes but they are reported to be doing very well and exceeding projections.

Additionally, the company has been active in gaining tenders outside the traditional boundaries of the Devon General area and has had buses based in Yeovil from 2005 and from September 2006 opened units at Barnstaple, Torrington and Bude after gaining many tenders in the County Council tender round.

The Company has had to deal also with the introduction of free concessionary fares to the disabled and those over 60 as well as the inherent organic growth in the business. This is putting considerable capacity demands on the company which is switching to double deck buses on many routes in order to cope; a series of older double decks have been imported for this purpose. The company has campaigned for a better settlement on the fare concessions and the reimbursement from the scheme is said to be amongst the weakest in the country whilst demand is also amongst the strongest. In six months concessionary demand increased 90% over the previous year.

In June 2008, Enviro400 buses were purchased and partially funded by Stagecoach and Devon County Council at a cost of £12.5 million. These were for use on the new go2 service from Exeter to Newton Abbot. [3] They were officially launched at Powderham Castle on 25 May 2008.

Changes

A Stagecoach Devon open top bus for service 200

In Devon there are regular changes to the bus service, usually to cope with an increase in passengers or the purchase of new - often larger - vehicles. In December 2006 Stagecoach announced that in 2007 The Exeter City Service P will split into two different routes, P1 and P2, due also to requests from residents in Crossmead complaining that the St Thomas health centre was inaccessible following changes in April 2003. Stagecoach spokesperson Mark Whittle said:[4]

"Details are still being confirmed but there will be a P1 and P2 and they will run in a loop, which effectively means that there will be a P bus running along Cowick Street every half an hour"

But in March 2007, it was announced that the new services would not begin operation until September.[5] Many customers were left in the dark about the changes, and eventually the idea of splitting the route was ultimately scrapped.

Several of Exeter City's services have been upgraded through the past years, ranging from services F splitting into two, the F1 & F2, and service A having the first Dennis Darts with Pointer 2 bodywork vehicles in Exeter.

With the release of new vehicles, Stagecoach continue to purchase them. The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 were purchased in May 2008 for the new 2 route which replaced the 85 and 85a.

bayfast Service

In August 2008, Stagecoach announced a trial for a possible new service from Torquay to Brixham using a 138 seat catamaran. [6] Following this, Stagecoach released a leaflet explaining the details of the tral - between the dates of 29 August and 27 September of this year.[7]

Cooks takeover

In May 2007 Cooks Coaches of Wellington were purchased by Stagecoach. However, in July 2007 the "Cooks Coaches" logos were removed from the buses, and replaced with the "Stagecoach" logo. And more recently some brand new 07 registration buses in Stagecoach Livery have appeared on Cooks routes especially Seaton Town Services. They are still being operated by the Cooks ex. staff. In mid 2008 they started operating some ex-Stagecoach Devon bus such as ex Hong Kong Citybus Dennis Dart and Volvo B10M/Alexander PS and also one ex-Stagecoach in Hampshire Northern Counties Paladin on the 60/61 route and are now coming under Stagecoach Somerset.

Branding

File:Optaresoloexeter.png
An Optare Solo, St Mary Major's in Exeter

The fleet is branded as "Stagecoach" sometimes with the additional "in Devon". "Bayline" is still used in Torbay to brand low floor services (e.g. Bayline 12, Bayline 32) and "Cityline" is the low-floor brand in Exeter (Cityline A, Cityline H etc.) All services are colour coded and this follows through into all publicity including Torbay Council's own guide. In Northern Devon, most low-floor buses are branded with either "Atlantic Townline" or "Atlantic Coastline" depending on whether the bus in operating services within Barnstaple or out on rural routes

Controversy

Free fare scheme

In 2007 it was reported that Stagecoach Devon drivers were issuing more expensive tickets to those holding free bus passes. The effect of this would be in increase the amount payable to Stagecoach Devon by the Local Authorities within the county wide scheme. Whilst not affecting the current amount paid to Stagecoach Devon by the local authorities future negotiations over fare reimbursement will be based on these longer, more expensive, journeys[8] Nowadays a fierce but needless competition between Stagecoach Devon and locally owned Turners Tours have led to Stagecoach using dirty tactics in an attempt to drive out their opposition.

2007 Route Changes

After several changes to routes in Exeter in September 2007, causing the service T to cease, and R and S to only run during daytime, caused outrage amongst residents of the affected areas. [9]

Following this, in October 2007 , Devon County Council announced that they would fund Stagecoach until March 2008, so they could run a partial service T and resume the R and S service in the evenings. This was due to the council receiving in excess of eighty letters from customers. [10]

The services are due to resume partially in late October [11] and fully in November [12] , before Devon County Council will review the service's usage once again.

Routes

Stagecoach Devon operates hundreds of different routes in Devon. They are classified in five different sections: Rural services, Stagecoach Cooks/Somerset services, Exeter city services, School services & Rural school services.

Rural services

Route Destinations Wheelchair Access?
1 Culm Valley Connect - Exeter - Broadclyst - Cullompton - Willand - Uffculme - Tiverton Parkway Stn - Sampford Peverell - Halberton - Tiverton Disabled access
1A Culm Valley Connect - Exeter - Broadclyst - Cullompton - Willand - Uffculme - Halberton - Tiverton Disabled access
1B Culm Valley Connect - Exeter - Broadclyst - Hele - Bradninch - Cullompton - Sundays continues via Service 1 route to Tiverton Disabled access
2 go2 Exeter - Exminster - Starcross - Dawlish Warren - Dawlish - Teignmouth - Bishopsteignton - Newton Abbot Disabled access
5/5E Paignton - Foxhole (Circular) - 5E Operates via Maidenway Road evenings only
7 Paignton - Marldon - Maidenway Rd - Paignton
8/8A Forches-Barnstaple Town Centre-Barnstaple Railway Station-Woodville(8)-Sainsburys(8A)-Roundswell Disabled access
8E Whiddon Valley-Newport-Barnstaple Town Centre-Barnstaple-Railway Station-Old Torrington Road-Roundswell (Evenings/Sundays/Bank Holidays Only) Disabled access
9 Morrisons-St Michaels-Paignton-Oldway-Preston Down Road
10/10A Whiddon Valley-Tescos(10)-Barnstaple Town Centre-Gorwell Disabled access
12 Bayline - Newton Abbot - Kingskerswell - Torquay - Paignton - Brixham Disabled access
12A/12C Teignmouth / St Marychurch - Torquay - Paignton - White Rock(12C) - S.D College (12A)
17/17A Brixham-Wall Park(17)-The Quay-Furzeham
21 Barnstaple - Barnstaple Railway Station - Fremington - Instow - East-The-Water - Bideford
22/24 Brixham-Higher Brixham-Summercombe(24)-Hill Head-Kingswear
25 Goodrington-Paignton-Stoke Gabriel
30/30A/30B Brixham(30A)-Paignton-Castle Circus-Cuthbert Mayne(30A/B)-St Marychurch
31/34 Torquay-Hele-Barton-Watcombe-St Marychurch-Ellacombe-Torquay
32 St Marychurch-Wellswood-Torquay-Chelston-Shiphay-Torbay Hospital
X38 Exeter - Drumbridges - Ashburton - Buckfastleigh - Bittaford - Ivybridge - Plymouth Disabled access
39 Exeter - Chudleigh - Bovey Tracey - Newton Abbot
40 Chudleigh - Bovey Tracey - Newton Abbot-South Devon College
X46 Exeter - Kingskerswell - Torquay - Paignton Disabled access
50 Exeter - Cowley Bridge - Newton St Cyres - Crediton
51 Exeter - Exeter St David's - Crediton - Copplestone - Bow - North Tawton - Sampford Courtenay - Jacobstowe - Hatherleigh
52A/52B/52C Exeter - Heavitree - Clyst St Mary Church 52C - Newton Poppleford - Sidmouth - Sidford - Seaton 52A - Honiton 52B Disabled access Not 52C
55/55A/55B/55C Exeter - Stoke Canon - Rewe - Thorverton 55B - Silverton 55A/B- Tiverton 55/55A/55B - Cowley Moor 55/55A - Tiverton Business Park 55C - East Devon College 55C Disabled access
56/56A Exeter - Met Office - Exeter Airport - Woodbury Salterton - Woodbury - Lympstone (Higher Village) 56 - Jubilee Drive 56A - Exmouth Disabled access
57 Mainline Exeter - Countess Wear - Topsham - Exton - Lympstone Marine Camp & Saddlers Arms - Exmouth - Hospital Corner - Brixington Disabled access
57A/57C St Davids - Exeter- Countess Wear - Topsham - Exton - Lympstone Marine Camp & Saddlers Arms -Exmouth - Hospital Corner 57C - Budliegh Salterton 57C - East Budleigh 57C - Otterton turn 57C - Bicton College 57C Disabled access Morning trip only
58 Exeter to Littleham and Budleigh Salterton via Brixington
60/60A/60B Exeter-Exeter Airport(60B)-Clyst Honiton-West Hill(60A)-Ottery St Mary
60/61 Yeovil-North Perrott (60)-Crewkerne-Chard (61)-Ilminster (61)
66A/66B/66C St Marychurch(66/66A)-The Willows(66)-Torbay Hospital(66)-Torquay Community

College(66A)-Cuthbert Mayne(66C)-Torquay Grammar Sch(66B)-Foxhole-Roselands(66C)-S Devon CFE(66/66A/66B)-Goodrington(66C)-Kingswear(66A)

X64 Exeter - Newton Abbot - Totnes - Kingsbridge - Salcombe(sundays only)
70 Bideford - Weare Giffard - Torrington -Dartington Fields Disabled access
70 (Certain Journeys Only) Taddiport - Torrington - Dartington Fields Disabled access
71/72 Barnstaple - Torrington - Stibb Cross - Holsworthy(71)/Shebbear (72) Disabled access
77/79 Newton Abbot - Buckland Estate and Newton Abbot - Sandygate - Rydon Estate(79 being withdrawn from 29th september)
84 Teignmouth-Kingsteignton-South Devon College
85(N. Devon) Barnstaple-Bideford-Holsworthy (Continues to Bridgerule & Bude on certain journeys only) Disabled access
85C(N. Devon) Barnstaple-Bideford-Holsworthy- St Giles on the Heath (College Service/College Days Only)
85C Bishopsteignton-Teignmouth-Cuthbert Mayne School
88/88C Newton Abbot(88)-Ashburton-Buckfastleigh-Totnes-South Devon College(88C)-Paignton(88)
95 Exmouth-Seafront-Littleham-Devon Cliffs (Sandy Bay) Disabled access
98 Littleham-Moorfield Road-Exmouth
99/99E Exmouth-Moorfield Road-St Johns Road-Dinan Way-Pines Road Disabled access 99E
111/112 Torquay-Torbay Hospital-Marldon-Totnes-Blackawton(112)-Dartmouth
120 Paignton-Goodrington-Kingswear (for passenger ferry to Dartmouth)
155 Exeter-Tiverton-Witheridge-South Molton-Barnstaple Disabled access
157 Coasthopper - Exmouth Bus Station - Budleigh Salterton - East Budliegh - Otterton - Colyton Raliegh - Newton Poppleford - Sidmouth Disabled access
173 Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Chagford
308 Waveline - Barnstaple-Chivenor-Braunton-Saunton-Croyde-Croyde Bay-Georgeham Disabled access
315 Exeter-Exeter St David's-Crediton-Copplestone-Bow-North Tawton-Winkleigh-Dolton-Torrington-Bideford-Instow-Fremington-Barnstaple
319 Barnstaple-Bideford-Abbotsham-Clovelly-Hartland (Continues to Bude On Summer Sundays Only) Disabled access
337 Barnstaple-South Molton-Bampton-Wiveliscombe-Taunton
357 Byron Way (357)(evenings& Sundays) - Exmouth Bus Station - Cranford Avenue - Knowle Village - Budleigh Salterton Disabled access (evenings& Sundays)
359 Exeter - Dunsford - Moretonhampstead Disabled access
360 Exeter - Ide - Dunchideock - Christow - Bridford
379 Exeter-Exeter Airport-Ottery St Mary-Honiton-Sidmouth (Sundays/Bank Holidays Only)
380 Exeter - Clyst Honiton - Rockbeare - Marsh Green - West Hill - Ottery St Mary - Alfington - Honiton - Wilmington - Kilmington - Axminster
387 Sidmouth & Ottery St Mary/Exeter - Honiton - Taunton

Stagecoach Cooks/Somerset services

Route Destinations Wheelchair Access?
FLY Silk Mills Park & Ride - Musgrove Park Hospital Unknown
FLY Silk Mills Park & Ride - Taunton Unknown
PR4 Exeter - Sowton Park & Ride - City Centre Paris St Disabled access
9 Wiveliscombe - Wellington Unknown
9A Wiveliscombe - Taunton Unknown
14 Chard - Tatworth - Thornicombe Unknown
16 College Days's Only - Ilton - Yeovil College Unknown
20 Taunton - Wellington - Culmstock - Hemyock - Dunkeswell - Honiton - Wilmington - Shute - Colyton - Seaton Disabled access
50 Steamlink - Taunton Railway Stn - Bishops Lydeard WSR Station Unknown
51 Taunton (Musgrove Park) - Stoke St Gregory Unknown
97/98 Chard / Canonsgrove - Tanton Unknown
99 Taunton - Chard - Crewkerne - Merriott Unknown
204 Yeovil - Thorncombe Unknown
343 Tiverton Town Service Unknown
347 Tiverton - Bickleigh - Cheriton Fitzpane - Crediton Unknown
348/349 Tiverton Town Service Unknown
382 Wimple - Feniton - Ottery St. Mary - (West Hill) - Tipton St. John - sidmouth Disabled access

Exeter city services

Route Destinations Wheelchair Access?
A CityLine - Thornpark Rise - Heavitree - City Centre - Cowick Street - St Thomas - Alphington Disabled access
B Digby Retail Park - Sowton Industrial Estate - Met Office - Pinhoe - Union Rd - Pennsylvania Rd - City Centre - Alphington Sainsbury's - Marsh Barton Disabled access
D Go Green - Digby - Digby & Sowton Stn - Heavitree - Exeter University St Luke's Campus - City Centre - Exeter Central - Exeter University Disabled access
E Lancelot Road - Old Tiverton Road - City Centre - St Thomas - Redhills - Exwick Disabled access
F1/F2 Savoy Hill (F1) / Summerway (F2) - Stoke Hill - City Centre - Buddle Lane - Farm Hill Exwick Disabled access
G Hamlin Gardens - Ladysmith Road - City Centre - Quay Hill - The Quay Disabled access
H1/H2 Met Office (H1)- Digby Tesco (H2)- Broadfields - RD&E Wonford - City Centre - Central Stn - Exeter College - St David's Stn - Cowley Bridge Disabled access
K Pinhoe - Whipton Barton - Pinhoe Rd - City Centre - Tospham Road - Countess Wear Disabled access
M2 Operates instead of PR2 on weekday evenings, to stop at all stops en-route from Honiton Rd park and ride to City Centre Disabled access
P Crossmead to Pennsylvania via Okehampton Road and Blackboy Road Disabled access
R Clockwise Circular - City Centre - Heavitree - Rifford Road - Topsham Road - City Centre Disabled access
S Anti-clockwise Circular - City Centre - Topsham Road - Rifford Road - Heavitree - City Centre Disabled access
T Pinhoe - Whipton Barton - Pinhoe Rd - City Centre - Tospham Road - Countess Wear - Topsham Disabled access
X (Early morning special) Topsham - Countess Wear - Heavitree - City Centre - St David's Station Disabled access
Y (Early morning special) City Centre - Beacon Heath - Pinhoe - Whipton - City Centre - Marsh Barton Disabled access
Z (Early morning special) Alphington - Broadway - Redhills - Exwick - City Centre Disabled access
PR2 Honiton Road Park and Ride to City Centre (Does not call at intermediate stops) Disabled access
PR4 Stagecoach Cooks - Sowton Park & Ride - City Centre Paris Street. Disabled access
PR5 Matford Park and Ride - Marsh Barton - Haven Banks - City Centre South Street Disabled access

Exeter school services

Route Destinations Wheelchair Access?
969 Broadfields to South Lawn Terrace No
970 Topsham - St Peters School Exeter No
971 Okehampton Street • Exwick • Alphington • St Peters School Exeter No
972 Pinhoe • Pennsylvania • Stoke Hill • Whipton • St Peters School Exeter No
973 Okehampton Street • Exwick • Redhills • West Exe Technology College Exeter Disabled access Sometimes
976 Okehampton Street • Exwick • Whipton • St Peters School Exeter No
980 Countess Wear • St Peters School Exeter No
985 Exwick • St James School Exeter Disabled access Sometimes

Other school services

Stagecoach Devon also operates some school services in other Devon areas.

Route Destinations
10A Whiddon Valley-Park School (North Devon School Bus)
28/29 Torbay School buses - Penwill Way to Torquay Grammar School (28) -Kings Ash Road to Cuthbert Mayne (29)
57C St Davids - Exeter- Countess Wear - Topsham - Exton - Lympstone Marine Camp & Saddlers Arms -Exmouth - Hospital Corner - Budliegh Salterton - East Budleigh - Otterton turn - Bicton College
901/902/903 Bideford- East-The-Water -Instow-Fremington-Pilton School (North Devon School Bus)
907 Swimbridge-Landkey-Park School (North Devon School Bus)

Future

Later in the 21st century, Exeter is expected to have laser guided buses operating via two bus-only bridges crossing the River Exe. The plans have been drawn up for some months now. In 2005 the plans were halted, as funding was not available. However in December 2006 the plans were back on track, and work is due to start in 2007

References

  1. ^ Torquay Tranways Co. Ltd 1907-1934 by Peter Gould
  2. ^ Trams and Buses in Exeter
  3. ^ http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137015&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136999&contentPK=20955080&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
  4. ^ "P Just Perfect As Bus Campaigners Are Told Service Will Be Back". 2006-12-07.
  5. ^ "Bus Delivery Hold-Up Dashes Bid To Reroute P Service By Easter". 2007-03-24.
  6. ^ http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/media/press/pr2008/2008-08-11/
  7. ^ http://www.stagecoachbus.com/devon/index_5330.html
  8. ^ "Mystery over free bus tickets won't be solved till May". 2007-04-18.
  9. ^ http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137015&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136999&contentPK=18525496&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
  10. ^ http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137199&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136986&contentPK=18696178&folderPk=79934&pNodeId=137002
  11. ^ Devon - Marks & Spencer Bus 26th January
  12. ^ Devon - Timetable change - service 308

External links

Template:Stagecoach Devon