Time's Running Out For Your Favourite Journeys - Plus A New Taxibus Service

Firstly, apologies for the lateness of this post - 4 days late!

As you're all probably now aware, a spate of cuts is happening in Torbay between Friday, 1st, and Monday, 11th April, 2011. These range from service improvements and new services, to service withdrawals and reductions.

The majority of people (by majority, I refer to people who use services like the 12, 12A and 12C) won't really be affected for the most part. But every now and again, people do like to go on a nice trip somewhere on the bus, like over to Dartmouth from Torquay, but these journeys will become a lot harder to make when the cuts hit.

So really, the title says it all - time really is running out.

I know I want to take the last 25 service journey operated by Rail River Link all the way from Young's Park into Stoke Gabriel. Yes, the service is still going to exist, but something just doesn't seem right about it being handed over to another operator. I don't know what it is; Rail River Link just seem the perfect operator for a service like the 25.

I also know I want to take one of the last ever trips on the Stagecoach 111 all the way from Torquay to Dartmouth. What better way to see all the sights on the way from Torbay Hospital and Stagecoach's Depot to the pretty town of Totnes and the lovely village of Harbertonford. What about the people who will come down on holiday this year, only to find that a bus they've always taken to Woodlands now runs from Paignton?

What's more, I always enjoyed a nice trip around Torquay on the 31/34, each working in tandem with each other - one going one way; the other going round the other. Yes, the timetable was a confusing mess. Yes, the services appeared to come at random times. And yes, the vehicles ranged from Mercedes Sprinters right up Dennis Darts. But there was something about the way they worked together like two good friends, with the drivers always exchanging a friendly smile and wave. So with the 31 doing the rounds of Barton and Hele, and the 34 now going off to The Willows via Watcombe and St.Marychurch, one can imagine that it just won't be the same. Gone will be the days of the classic phrase: "Yeah, you need to get the 31 or 34!" Not only that, but gone will also be the days when you could place bets on which one would come first!

But amidst all these changes and cuts that will upset many, there are some new services on the block!

Right, let's start with Local Link:

• New 60C/61C service operating from Friday, 1st April. Essentially, it's the 67C mixed with the 60, but running between The Willows, Queensway, Chelston, Livermead, Preston Down, Dolphin Court, Oldway, Paignton & South Devon College. The timetable appears to have an error in it, though. Can you spot it? (No prize for the winner: it's too easy!) View it here.

And now to Devonian Motor Services:

• New 50 service operating from Monday, 11th April. Operating from Paignton to Cockington Village. This should be a lovely bus ride on a vintage vehicle. There don't appear to be any timetables or exact route details yet, but it ought to be very busy this summer.

And finally this week, there's a new taxibus service form St.Luke's Road North to Torquay Centre. Residents and hoteliers alike are hoping that the new service, which replaces a bus service that has been non-existent for many years, will be just like the old one, but on a smaller scale. It will serve all the original stops along the road, as well as accept concessionary passes. It will operate 3 days a week. Torbay Council has agreed to trial the service, and have put it out for tender. Let's see where this one goes...

That's it until next time. Over and out.