Plymgo News RSS Feed

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Bus passengers in Devonport will be celebrating news that services are being reinstated in Mutton Cove and Mount Wise.

From Monday 1 March the service 14 – operated by Target Travel on behalf of Plymouth City Council – will provide an hourly link to Stoke and the city centre in one direction and Devonport, Keyham, North Prospect, Crownhill and Derriford Hospital in the other.

Mutton Cove and Mount Wise have been without a bus service since Citybus withdrew its service 34 at the end of October 2009. The new service 14 will not only operate to and from these areas but is also being routed along Granby Way and Queen Street to give residents in this part of Devonport a bus service for the first time for many years.

The changes will provide residents with links to the city centre, Marlborough Street, Stoke village, schools in Crownhill, Notre Dame RC School, UCP Marjon and Derriford Hospital.

The service 14 is operated with financial support from the Council but Target Travel is extending the route without the need for further subsidy.

Councillor Kevin Wigens, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Thanks to Target Travel, residents in Mutton Cove, Mount Wise, Cannon Street and Cornwall Street will now have a regular link to the city centre and north of the city – giving them better access to schools, shops and health services at the hospital.”

Hourly buses will run from Mutton Cove towards the city centre from 9.17am until 6.17pm and towards Keyham and Derriford Hospital from 7.49am until 5.49pm. The service will not operate on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays.

PlymGo will include options using the number 14 wherever appropriate to your journey, as soon as the service becomes available.

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

The Explore the Outdoors Team are now busy putting the finishing touches to the show in March which promises to be even better with some challenging activities to try like taste some real bush tucker, follow the Treasure Trail, and see how quick you can erect a tent to win some great prizes plus lots more! We are thrilled to announce Ray Mears will be opening the show on Saturday 13th March. Ray Mears has become recognised throughout the world as being an authority on the subject of Bushcraft and Survival and he will be telling of his adventures in our Speaker Theatre and will be available for a book signing later in the day!

When?	Saturday 13 March 2010 - 10am-5pm Sunday 14 March 2010 - 11am-4pm
Where?	Plymouth Pavilions

For more details and to book your ticket check out the event website http://www.explore-the-outdoors.com/

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

During 2010 and 2011 Plymouth Citybus will be initiating a number of alterations to its Local Bus Network with the goal to making the whole network simpler, more direct, and much easier to understand.

Your views are very important to us.

If you have any views, suggestions or ideas for the future please could they be sent to:

By post:

Peter Oliver, Commercial Manager
Plymouth Citybus
1 Milehouse Road
Plymouth
Devon
PL3 4AA

By Hand: Our City Centre Travel Shop on Exeter Street above the Bus Station. Letter to be marked for the attention of Peter Oliver.
By email: peter.oliver@plymouthbus.co.uk
Or the web: www.plymouthbus.co.uk through our contact us page.

We will not be able to reply to every correspondence but each idea and suggestion will be considered as we plan the future shape of your local bus network for the future.

Plymouth Citybus welcomes your views at all times, however we hope to be able to implement the first of our changes mid June 2010. Therefore any views received before the 12th March 2010 could have considerable input into how the next service change takes shape.

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

People of Plymouth - are you ready to rise to the challenge for Sport Relief 2010?

The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile is on its way back to Plymouth, where it promises to be an exciting, entertaining and energetic event in a stunning setting around the Promenade. And the best bit is, all the cash raised will help to transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people across the UK and in the world's poorest countries.

Set against some of the city's iconic landmarks, including the famous Smeaton's Tower and Naval Memorial, The Plymouth Mile is the perfect way to have loads of fun with your friends and family while raising cash to change lives forever.

So whether you are a seasoned athlete or just fancy a fun day out, we have a challenge to suit you - choose between doing 1, 3 or 6 Miles on the day.

Come on, what are you waiting for? Get your family, friends and workmates together and enter the Plymouth Mile today!

Date: 21st March 2010
Event Opens: 9.00am
Event Closes: 1.00pm

To enter and for more information visit: http://www.sportrelief.com/the-mile/plymouth-mile

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Plymouth Citybus is now using Twitter to broadcast any day to day problems or information to their customers.

Recently the new service was used to advise customers of areas where services were reduced or unable to operate due to icy conditions, but it has also been used for late running and other problems. It is possible to set up a mobile phone to receive a text whenever there is a post on Twitter from Plymouth Citybus.

Twitter now provides a great way for customers to get the latest information on Plymouth Citybus.

Plymouth - Citywide

http://www.twitter.com/PlymouthCitybus

www.plymouthbus.co.uk

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

During periods of severe weather bus passengers are advised to call Traveline, call bus companies direct, or use the web links below for the latest travel information and advice on any disruption to services.

Traveline - 0871 200 22 33
Plymouth Citybus - 0845 077 2223
First Devon and Cornwall - 0845 600 1420
Target Travel - 01752 242000
Western Greyhound - 01637 871 871

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

This year Plymouth Citybus will be operating a mixture of Saturday and Sunday services over the Christmas period.

Normal Services up to and including Thursday 24th December 2009

Thursday 24 December 2009 Normal Service**
Friday 25 December 2009 NO SERVICE
Saturday 26 December 2009 NO SERVICE
Sunday 27 December 2009 Sunday Service
Monday 28 December 2009 Sunday Service
Tuesday 29 December 2009 Saturday Service
Wednesday 30 December 2009 Saturday Service
Thursday 31 December 2009 Saturday Service**
Friday 1 January 2010 NO SERVICE
Saturday 2 January 2010 Normal Service

Full School day Services resume from Monday the 4th January 2010

Please go to www.plymouthcitybus.co.uk or call 0845 077 2223 for timetable information. Travel information on PlymGo will automatically be updated, so your journey planning can continue as normal.

Please note that season tickets topped up via Paypoint will still be valid on days on non operation; please be mindful of this when purchasing season tickets to operate over the Christmas period.

7, 28 and 90 day tickets topped up on the bus or at the City Centre Travel Shop will have an additional 3 days of validity for the period Christmas Day to New Years Day.

** As on previous years Xmas Eve and New Year eve Plymouth Citybus will be terminating services from around 20:00

For more News from Plymouth CityBus please visit http://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/Service_News.asp

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Park and ride services will operate throughout the evening every Thursday until 17 December with buses from The George, Milehouse and Coypool sites every 15 to 20 minutes until 8.20pm.

Special fares will apply on park and ride buses from 7pm - an adult return ticket will be £2.20 from The George, £1.60 from Coypool and only £1.40 from Milehouse. A family ticket for up to two adults and three children will be available for just £3.20 from any of the sites. Last buses from Royal Parade will be at 9.17pm to Coypool and at 9.35pm for Milehouse and the George on all of the six late night shopping Thursdays.

Plymouth Citybus are providing extra vehicles on busy routes as required and their recently enhanced services 5/5A and 26 now offer buses every 30 minutes throughout the evening to Plymstock and Saltash. First Devon and Cornwall will be running special evening services on late night shopping Thursdays on their Ugobus services 12, 13, 15 and 17.

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Torpoint ferry tolls will be suspended from midnight on 24 December to midnight on 25 December.

The following ferry schedule will operate over the Christmas and New Year periods:

24 December - normal weekday service until 8pm then half hourly service will operate on the hour and half hour from Torpoint and quarter to and quarter past the hour from Devonport
25 December - half hourly service
26 December - 15 minute service from 6.30am to 9.30pm then half hourly service will operate on the hour and half hour from Torpoint and quarter to and quarter past the hour from Devonport
27 December - normal Sunday service
31 December - normal weekday service
1 January - 15 minute service from 6.45am to 9.30pm, then half hourly service will operate

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Once again as Christmas approaches Plymouth will be operating its evening Christmas Park and Ride service for shoppers. Extended services run every Thursday from 12th November to 17th December inclusive.

From the George Junction there are frequent buses on Service PR1 with the last departure from the George at 8.20 p.m and from Milehouse at 8.35 p.m.

The last departure from Royal Parade (stop A12) is at 9.35 p.m

From Coypool there are frequent buses on Service PR2 with the last departure from Coypool at 9.00 p.m.

The last departure from Royal Parade (stop A11) is at 9.17 p.m

Tickets available from the driver giving great value travel for families to enjoy shopping in Plymouth

- only £3.20 off peak for 2 adults and 3 children!

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

From the 25^th October 2009:

New Service 5 and 5A for Plymstock (includes evening services)
Increased frequency for the Service 43 (Ernesettle to City Centre)
Increased frequency for the Service 26 with new evening and Sunday Services (Saltash to City Centre via Devonport)
Change of route on the Service 34 (Service withdrawn from Mutton Cove and is instead to operate to Torpoint Ferry)
Change in route and frequency of the Service 25 (Reduced in frequency but extended to Drake Circus and Mayflower Street)
Service 52 to be withdrawn. (Plympton to Derriford Hospital)

For more information please visit http://www.plymouthbus.co.uk/services/ServiceNews/PassengerInfoServiceChange(25Oct09).pdf

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

Date: Saturday 26th September

Times: 0900 - 1700

Location: Piazza, Armada Way

An event to provide advice to people on all aspects of sustainable transport from electric vehicles to public transport options. There will be a free prize draw to give away a Sat Nav system! Please contact Paul Papworth on 0800 512012 for more information.

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

A new bus service to Derriford Hospital is being launched as part of a £750,000 package of improvements at the George Park and Ride site. The service will start on Monday 6 July.

The new number 60 bus link, operated by Target Travel, can be used by members of the public as well as hospital staff and will run every seven to eight minutes during peak morning and afternoon travel times. Buses will run every 20 minutes throughout the rest of the day and a return ticket will cost £1.20.

Plymouth City Council has extended the car park at the site to provide 250 dedicated spaces for NHS staff using the service as well as an additional 60 spaces for members of the public. The NHS car park is accessed by barriers which are opened using special passes issued to hospital staff.

There is also a new, second entrance on Plymbridge Road, meaning that motorists approaching the park and ride from Derriford no longer have to drive up to the roundabout near Tesco and back down Tavistock Road to access the site.

Councillor Kevin Wigens, Cabinet Member for Transport said: "The George park and ride terminal was a design first for the Council, combining some of the latest eco-friendly features with high-quality facilities for customers. Ever since it was launched in 2006 it has been enormously popular with passengers, offering a reliable, comfortable and efficient bus service into the city centre.

"This second park and ride bus link will provide a hassle-free way for staff and visitors travelling by car to get to and from the hospital, helping to reduce congestion around the site and alleviating some of the pressure on its car parks.

"We are also really pleased to be responding to the needs of our customers and improving access to the park and ride site by providing a second entrance on Plymbridge Road.”

Andrew Davies, Facilities and Environmental Services Manager for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust added: "The Trust has been a supporter of the George park and ride ever since its conception and has seen it as a viable alternative for staff, patients and visitors.

"This extension is the culmination of over two years of working in partnership with Plymouth City Council to meet the needs of those that use the Northern Corridor routes. The Trust is also pleased to be working in partnership with Target Travel, who will provide a direct and regular service from the park and ride to the hospital for all staff, patients and visitors who have chosen to use the facility."

The Council will be carrying out landscaping improvements at the site later in the year.

The new-look park and ride site and hospital bus link mark the start of a programme of improvements planned for the city’s Northern Corridor (the main transport route from Woolwell into the city centre) this year and next year.

Other plans include new off-bus ticket machines at the park and ride, a new bus lane at Derriford Hospital, a new bus and cycle lane on Tavistock Road (between Charlton Road and the Crownhill flyover), road resurfacing, improved pedestrian crossing facilities, better road signage and road layout changes to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.

A leaflet has been published by the Council with details about the Northern Corridor improvements and will be available soon from community centres, local libraries, doctors surgeries along the route. It will also be sent out to everyone who took part in the Council’s 2007 consultation exercise on improving transport links from the north of the city. If you would like a copy of the leaflet call 307751.

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

A number of Plymouth's bus routes will change from Sunday 5 July following a review of City Council subsidies.

Most of the city's bus services are run by private companies on a commercial basis, with the exception of 19 (less than five per cent of the total network) which currently rely on financial support from the Council. Some of these are Monday to Saturday daytime services and others are evening and Sunday extensions to existing, commercially run services.

The Council has been working with local bus companies to carry out a detailed review of these services, looking at current passenger demand and the cost of each subsidised journey to ensure that it is getting the best value for money for local residents.

Subsidies play an important role in providing access to local services and helping local residents travel around the city. However, we have a responsibility to Council taxpayers to balance cost against demand and ensure that routes with low passenger numbers are only supported where there is a genuine community need and the costs are not excessive.

Local operators were invited to submit tenders outlining options for changing routes and services to maximise the Council's subsidy investment while also meeting the accessibility needs of the local community. Companies were encouraged to look at the subsidised bus network as a whole and package services together where possible to provide better value for money. They were also asked to consider innovative and practical solutions such as taxibus services to make routes with fewer passengers more viable.

The tenders have now been evaluated and new contracts awarded to First Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth Citybus and Target Travel.

The key changes are as follows:

Plymouth Citybus will take on four services on a commercial basis, meaning they will no longer require subsidy support from the Council. These are evening services on the 20, 23/24 and 25 and Sunday daytime services on the 42.
Target Travel will increase their presence on the subsidised network, running nine of the 20 services.
First will now operate just one subsidised service – the number 4.
Service 17, a commercial service withdrawn between Keyham and Derriford Hospital by First Devon and Cornwall in January, will be reinstated as part of the subsidised network as service 14. It will be operated by Target Travel.
There will be two more taxibus services, operated through Target Travel.

The Council has made every effort to reduce frequency rather than cut services altogether but there will be some loss of network coverage during off peak times where there is very low demand. The main areas affected by the changes are Steer Park (which will no longer be served by evening or Sunday daytime buses) and Churchill Way, Pendeen Crescent, Shakespeare Road and Truro Drive, which will no longer be served.

Wherever possible the Council has tried to provide alternatives to reduced or removed services, including changes to routes and timings, as well as taxibus links. In some cases, passengers will have to change buses where they currently have a direct service.

The new contracts were awarded on Monday 8 June but changes will not come into force until Sunday 5 July. A leaflet explaining the changes will be available soon from the Citybus Travel Shop on Exeter Street, the First Travel Shop at Bretonside bus station and on affected bus services.

Read the original article and download additional information

Wed, Mar 10th 2010, 13:47 GMT

On Sunday 24th May, the Plymouth Half Marathon will be taking place. This will result in a number of road closures, some of which will affect bus services.

City Bus Information

Service 50A

Both Direction: this service will not serve Cattedown, and will run via Exeter Street and Cattedown Roundabout.

Exeter Street and Prince Rock: between 09:30 and 10:45

Service 21, 51 and 50A will run as follows:

Outbound: From Royal Parade, Exeter Street Viaduct, Ebrington Street, Beaumont Road, Heathfield Road, Lanhydrock Road to Embankment Road, then as normal Route.

Inbound: from Plympton to Embankment Road, then reverse of outbound diversion.

Hoe and Barbican: 07:30 – 12:00

Service 25 will be suspended for the duration of the Marathon

The Crescent: 07:30 – 12:00

Service 34

Inbound: From Millbay Road, via Martin Street, The Octagon and Union Street to the City Centre.

Outbound: From Royal Parade, operating the reverse of the inbound diversion to Millbay Road.

Further City Bus news

First Group Information

Service 2

Departures from Royal Parade

Last full service to Mount Batten Pier prior to closure 08:50. Service then operates as timetabled commencing at Pomphlett Foresters Road to Mount Batten Pier.

Normal service from 10:50.

Departures from Mount Batten Pier

Last full service to Royal Parade prior to closure 08:50. Service then operates as timetabled from Mount Batten Pier terminating at Pomphlett Foresters Road.

Normal service from 10:20.

Service 6

Departures from Royal Parade

Last full service to Goosewell Holmwood Avenue prior to closure 09:00. Service then operates as timetabled* commencing from Oreston Road to Goosewell Holmwood Avenue

Normal service from 10:30.

Departures from Goosewell Holmwood Avenue

Last full service to Royal Parade prior to closure 08:29. Journeys then operate as timetabled* from Goosewell Holmwood Avenue terminating at Oreston Road

Normal service from 10:29.

*Between 09:30 " 10:45 service 6 will divert after leaving Plymstock Broadway Lidl via Dunstone Drive, Dolphin Court Road, Furzehatt Road & Springfield Road until Reservoir Road (and reverse journeys).

Service 48

The 09:45 departure from Wembury will run as timetabled and terminate at Plymstock Broadway. Passengers will be unable to travel through to Burrator on this journey. However passengers wishing to travel to Royal Parade will be able to stay on the bus until the road is opened, arriving at approx 11:05.

The 10:19 from Royal Parade to Burrator will be operated with a separate bus and will operate as timetabled from this point.

Service 93

The 09:40 departure from Bretonside bus station will leave at 09:10 and will operate 30 minutes early at all timing points until Brixton Post Office. It will then operate as the published timetable.

Service X80

The 10:10 departure from Bretonside bus station will operate via Kinterbury Street, Exeter Street Viaduct, Charles Street, Drakes Circus, North Hill, Alexandra Road, Lipson Vale and Old Laira Road rejoining the published route on Plymouth Road at the Texaco garage.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused due to circumstances beyond our control.

For timetables for the above services please click on 'timetables' in the left hand menu or call 0845 600 1420 (Mon - Fri 0800 - 2100, Sat 0800 - 1400)

Further First Group news