Wednesday 23 February 2011

VOSA Applications & Some Confusing Changes

>With all these government cuts and a 25% budget cut for Torbay, it's inevitable that some bus services will have to be withdrawn, be changed, or drastically reduced.
Whilst looking through some VOSA applications, I found some interesting and some confusing information about the future of Torbay's buses and buses around Devon:


  • Country Bus are due to operated the 359 between Exeter & Moretonhampstead from 11th April
  • Country Bus are also due to start operating a new route, the 149, between Torquay & Totnes from 11th April
  • Country Bus are also to extend their 184 service to Teignmouth Railway Station from 11th April
  • Country Bus have registered a new 76 service between Newton Abbot & Trago Mills from 11th April
  • Dial A Bus (Local Link) are due to take over the operation of the 25 service between Paignton & Stoke Gabriel from 4th April
  • Dartline are due to take over the 178 service between Newton Abbot & Moretonhampstead from 11th April
  • Devonian Motor Services are due to start operating a new 50 service between Paignton & Cockington from 11th April
  • Also, Devonian Motor Services will start running their 500 service daily again from 11th April, and they've also registered a new 501 service, which is presumably a variation of the 500 route.
  • Stagecoach Devon have registered a supposedly 'new' 34 service between Torquay & The Willows from 11th April. However, a 34 already exists as a circular around Torquay's suburbs, so this is an odd one
  • Stagecoach's 31 circular, which currently works with the 34 to provide a service in both directions, is due to have a timetable change from 11th April
  • The 66/A/B/C from Brixham to Newton Abbot is due to have a timetable change from 11th April, which is most likely to connect with 111 journeys in Marldon, but one can only presume
  • The Stagecoach 32/32C from The Willows to St.Marychurch are also due to have a timetable change from the same date
  • Stagecoach's 5/5E service from Paignton to Foxhole is also due to have a timetable change from 11th April. It was expected that there'd be a route change due to the supposed arrival of Optare Solos in April.
  • I certainly didn't know about this, but apparently, Local Link's 60 service had a route change from 7th February.
  • Stagecoach 28 is due to be withdrawn from 11th April. This is the service from Penwill Way to Torquay Grammar Schools. Passengers should take the Local Link 67 service, running the same route from the bottom of Penwill Way at Quaywest.  The service calls there at approximately 08:18, and then calls at Paignton Bus Station, departing at 08:25. The service then calls at all the usual 28 service stops between Victoria Park & Torquay Grammar Schools between 08:25 and 08:42. 
  • Also, Stagecoach 29 is due to withdrawn from 11th April. This is the service between King's Ash and Cuthbert Mayne School. The alternative for these passengers is to travel to Paignton Bus Station on a Stagecoach 12A, and then catch the 30A or 30B service from Paignton at 08:03. 
Well, the cuts that seem a bit drastic are Stagecoach 28 & 29. These services are always very busy. The strain that will be put on the Local Link 67 with all the usual 28 service passengers will be unthinkable, as the service sometimes turns up at the school in the afternoon with standing room only. The 29's withdrawal also seems unnecessary and completely unexpected.

What do you think?

For more, you can always visit torbaybusroutes.co.uk