There's another set of changes and cuts to hit Torbay, and this time, it falls on Monday, 23rd May.
One that surprised many was the withdrawal of Stagecoach 111.
After having changing the route to run from Paignton (not Torquay), this service is now to be withdrawn. This should come as a surprise to many: not only was a Sunday service due to come into effect the Sunday of 29th, but it's been little more than a month since new timetables, route maps, stickers for the stand in Paignton Bus Station, set-up of ticket machines, new destination blind settings and information informing people of the change were all set up.
In fact, the "new" 111, as some refer to it, will only have operated for 42 days. For those of you in the know, you'll have guessed what's going to be said next... but for the benefit of others - the minimum time to register a change/cancellation to/of a bus service with VOSA is 54 days. Therefore, Stagecoach would have had to have known they were going to withdraw it 12 days before it started running from Paignton with a Sunday service. Of course, VOSA can grant these things under short notice (so it can be fewer than 54 days). But neither @blytheski on Twitter nor I could find anything under Section 3.5 (Cancellation of Existing Services) or Section 3.6 (Cancellation of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice).
It came as a surprise to many, I'm sure, that the 111 was to be withdrawn after such a service change. However, if you then look into it further, it does start to become clear as to perhaps why Stagecoach has decided this will be the 111's fate. Firstly, First (that's not a pun!) extended their X81 service (originally between Torquay & Totnes) all the way to Dartmouth, running the same route between Paignton & Dartmouth. It appeared that Stagecoach have tried to hit back at this by providing services on double deckers: something that was never before seen under usual circumstances on the 111's original route.
But there's more: all 111 and X81 journeys in the morning and into early evening are timetabled at the same timing points throughout the whole route with a five minute gap either way. That means that if you've just missed an X81 in Harbertonford, then never fear: a 111 is no more than 5 minutes away! This is clearly a huge competition, but Stagecoach should have the upper-hand. They have been running the 111 for a very long time, and most have Stagecoach passes, which aren't valid on First. Moreover, everyone was used to the 111. Suddenly, the people of Dartmouth and the villages between there and Totnes have got an X81 coming through, and it seems to have confused some.
From my own observations one early Saturday morning (07:55 from Dartmouth, in fact), people were waving on the X81 and hailing down the 111. I thought: "But people are choosing the 111 over the X81! Why is it being withdrawn?"
There's also another area that Stagecoach must have been wary of when making the decision to withdraw the 111: remember the X45? Stagecoach launched an express service between the Bay & Plymouth, in competition with First's X80. What did First do? They increased to every 15 minutes and dropped the fares to rock bottom prices. They even had radio adverts playing on the local radio (which also played on the 12's during the summer), advertising that their tickets were cheaper between Paignton & Torquay than on Stagecoach's buses. Yes, Stagecoach did make sure the radio stations were turned off! But then what happened when the X45 was withdrawn? Up went the fairs. Down went the frequency.
So perhaps Stagecoach is now scared that First will start to add lower fares, higher frequencies and many more journeys to their X81 - things that Stagecoach may not necessarily be able to compete with. So it could be seen as quitting while their ahead. It seems very much like de-ja-vu of the X45 days, so maybe that's what Stagecoach is frightened of. But I'm sure they could put up a fight against First: the passengers seem to want the 111.
Anyway, rant over. Until next time. Over and out.
Why lose out on profits and complete against First though. It's surely better for Stagecoach to stick with routes which are profitable, and not have to risk losing money because of First. Let First win, worry about other routes and have investmentment there.
ReplyDeleteStagecoach monopolise the 12 in the bay, if First were really clever, they'd compete on that stretch, but, they know they cannot which is why they're targeting the not-so-popular routes such as the 111 and the X45.
I do find it all very strange. Firstly the Sunday service on 111 that should have started on 29th may and the new X81 sunday service are financialy supported by devon county council. Surely this would have been put out to tender? Did stagecoach win the tender then change there mind?
ReplyDeleteThe competition did seem pretty pointless but maybe first didnt want the extra competition on the paignton to totnes stretch of the route. I will be interested to see if first continue the hourly service to Dartmouth long term or weather it will become less frequent over time.
All these issues over ticketing would be less of an issue if we had an intergrated transport system. Tho i cant see it happening.
I allways belive the competition is the motor car not the bus.
That is an interesting point, Nathan. Stagecoach does only operate routes where it's deemed economically viable and profitable, so the 111 in the winter may not fit that. But in the summer, the route was always busy (especially with the Dartmouth Regatta), so I reckon they could have put up a fight until the summer and then saw who would really have won.
ReplyDeleteThe other point is that the passengers seem to want the 111. They were waving on the X81 and getting on the 111. So I don't think anyone wins when Stagecoach is going, because the passengers have no choice but to get a First bus, and they'd probably much rather have got the 111. Of course, the passengers' other option is to travel over on the ferry and then catch the 120 into Paignton. This may seem like a long way round, but it would be much quicker. I'd definitely do that, but then again, that's only because I have a Megarider ticket - not valid on the X81. I have no idea of the ticket prices, so I can't say anything on that front.
But all in all, I think the 111 will be missed. Sometimes, I think, it doesn't always have to be about the profits, but rather what would truly have been in the best interests of the residents of Dartmouth. As the other comment points out, the new X81 Sunday service and the 111 Sunday service (which will now not operate) were both subsidised by DCC, so must have been put out to tender. I can only think (as they say) that Stagecoach won the tender, and then changed their mind.
That's also an interesting point, David. I reckon Stagecoach must have just changed their mind about the tender, thus letting First have it.
ReplyDeleteThe competition was (well, is) fairly silly at the moment, and it is leaving people confused. I think perhaps First saw the move to operate the route along through Paignton Zoo and Collaton St.Mary as competition, and so they then extended the X81. I always originally thought (I don't know about you) that the 111's new route would be Paignton, Maidenway Road, Marldon, Berry Pomeroy and Totnes.
This could have then freed up more money available to the council by being able to withdraw Country Bus's 7 service, and it would also have meant that Marldon & Berry Pomeroy still had their original bus service in one direction at least.
That brings me onto your next point about an integrated transport system. I truly believe in this principle, and I do think it's the way forward for Torbay. All too often, holiday makers and residents are confused as to where their tickets and passes are valid. An integrated system would end this, with the introduction of interoperable tickets between all operator of the bay. This would also be likely to lead to lower prices, as it would ben the council who would deal with things like timetables on stops and other publicity.
A great example would be the Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive (which is now called Transport for Greater Manchester). Flat fares are offered on all services for children at a price that wouldn't even buy a single ticket between popular places in Torbay. If Torbay introduced something like this (and not just in the evenings like the Niterider), then there'd be a definite increase in bus users.
But is this likely to happen? No. At the moment, it's all in a dream world. But things do change, and time does go on, so maybe one day something like this will come along. Well, you can only hope!
I was expecting the 111 to go from Paignton to Dartmouth via Marldon and Totnes. There wouldnt have been a need for country bus to run the 7 or the 149. Passengers for Torbay hospital could have changed to a 66 at Marldon. Anyone for Torquay could have changed to a 12 at Paignton. Yes i agree a PTE like transport for Manchester would be benifical for the bay but i agree i dont see it happening anytime soon
ReplyDeleteThat's also what I was expecting. Your ideas for what the routes could've done is exactly what I thought was going to happen!
ReplyDelete