Stagecoach Devon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stagecoach Devon Ltd is a bus operator in 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] History
The history of the company dates back to that of Devon General formed in 1919 to operate buses in Devon. It was taken over by the Torquay Tramways Co. who used the Devon General name for its bus services. Torquay trams ceased to operate in the 1930s. The company formed part of the BET group (British Electric Traction) owned by Emile Garcke and in 1968 formed part of the National Bus Company when the BET and Tilling Groups were merged under state ownership. Devon General acquired the interests of the Exeter municipal operation in November 1970 adding another 60 buses to the fleet. Stagecoach Devon is the successor of this directly due to the privatisation of the National Bus Company; in fact Devon General became the first NBC operation to be returned to the private sector under the 1985 Transport Act which broke up and sold off NBC. From this Transit Holdings were formed which acquired a small portfolio of operators also in Portsmouth and Oxford and latterly in London (Docklands). It was Transit Holdings which was sold to Stagecoach including the Devon General and Bayline operations.
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. At the time of purchase Stagecoach had only one double decker an old PD2 Leyland acquired in open top form from Portsmouth Transport.
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 and Dennis Tridents, 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 lead 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.
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.
[edit] Changes
Several Exeter City services are affected. Due to the increase of buses, Service P has started using Lo-liners and the Alexander Dennis Pointers, but still also uses the Optare Solos. 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 complaning that the St Thomas health centre was inaccessible following changes in April 2003. Stagecoach spokesperson Mark Whittle said:
"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 [2] Other services to be upgraded include the Torbay 32 which will become a 12 minute frequency from April 2007. There will be changes to 12/30 services in Torbay also and in early 2007 the coaches used on the X38 from Exeter to Plymouth will be replaced with high capacity double deck vehicles with toilets.
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 Alexander Dennis vehicles in Exeter.
[edit] Branding
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 attractive guide.
[edit] Routes
Stagecoach Devon operates hundreds of different routes in Devon. They are classified in four different sections: Rural services, Exeter city services, School services and Rural school services.
[edit] Rural services
| Route | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 1/1A/1B | Culm Valley Connect - Exeter to Tiverton via Cullompton |
| 2 | Paignton Circular |
| 7 | Paignton - Marldon - Maidenway Rd - Paignton |
| 8/8A | Forches-Barnstaple-Woodville(8)-Sainsburys(8A)-Roundswell |
| 9 | Morrisons-St Michaels-Paignton-Oldway-Preston Down Road |
| 10 | Whiddon Valley-Barnstaple Town Centre-Gorwell |
| 12/12A/2B | Brixham-South Devon College(12A)-Roselands(12A)-Paignton-Torquay-Kingskerswell-Newton Abbot |
| 17/17A | Brixham-Wall Park(17) - The Quay-Furzeham |
| 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( From April 1, 2007 will become the 12B) |
| 31/34 | Torquay-Hele-Barton-Watcombe-St Marychurch-Ellacombe-Torquay |
| 32 | St Marychurch-Wellswood-Torquay-Chelston-Shiphay-Torbay Hospital |
| X30 | Exeter to Okehampton via Tedburn St Mary |
| X38 | Stagecoach Express - Exeter to Plymouth via Ashburton and A38 |
| 39 | Exeter to Newton Abbot via Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey |
| 40 | Chudleigh-Bovey Tracey-Newton Abbot-South Devon College |
| X46 | Exeter to Torquay and Paignton via A380 (bypasses Newton Abbot) |
| 50 | Exeter to Crediton |
| 51 | Exeter to Okehampton via Crediton, North Tawton and Hatherleigh |
| 52A/52B/52C | Exeter-Heavitree-Clyst St Mary(C)-Newton Poppleford-Sidmouth-Sidford-Seaton(A)-Honiton(B) |
| 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) |
| X55 | Exeter to Barnstaple via Tiverton, South Molton and North Devon Link Road |
| 56/56A | Exeter-Exeter Airport-Woodbury-Jubilee Drive(56A)-Exmouth |
| 57 | Mainline Exeter to Exmouth and Brixington via Topsham |
| 57A/57C | Exeter-Exeter Airport-Woodbury-Jubilee Drive(56A)-Exmouth |
| 58 | Exeter to Littleham and Budleigh Salterton via Brixington |
| 59 | Exmouth-Pinhoe-Cullompton-East Devon College-Tiverton |
| 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 to Kingsbridge via Newton Abbot and Totnes |
| 70 | Bideford - Weare Giffard - Torrington -Dartington Fields |
| 70 | (Certain Journeys Only) Taddiport - Torrington - Dartington Fields |
| 71/72 | Barnstaple - Torrington - Stibb Cross - Holsworthy(71)/Shebbear (72) |
| 77/79 | Newton Abbot - Buckland Estate and Newton Abbot - Sandygate - Rydon Estate |
| 84 | Teignmouth-Kingsteignton-South Devon College |
| 85/85A | Exeter-Dawlish Warren-Dawlish-Teignmouth-Newton Abbot(85A)-Torquay(85) |
| 85(N. Devon) | Barnstaple-Bideford-Holsworthy-Bridgerule-Bude |
| 85C(N. Devon) | Barnstaple-Bideford-Holsworthy- St Giles on the Heath (College Service) |
| 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) |
| 96/97 | Exmouth-Withycombe - Mount Pleasant (97)-Hulham Road (96)-Byron Way |
| 98 | Littleham-Moorfield Road-Exmouth |
| 99/99E | Exmouth-Moorfield Road-St Johns Road-Dinan Way-Pines Road |
| 103 | Barnstaple-Braunton-Ilfracombe |
| 111/112 | Torquay-Torbay Hospital-Marldon-Totnes-Blackawton(112)-Dartmouth |
| 120 | Paignton-Goodrington-Kingswear (for passenger ferry to Dartmouth) |
| 157/357 | Coasthopper - Byron Way(357)-Exmouth Bus Station-Budleigh Salterton-Otterton(157)-Sidmouth(157) |
| 173 | Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Chagford |
| 200 | Torquay-Paignton Seafront-Paignton Bus Station-Paignton Zoo-Totnes |
| 308 | Barnstaple to Croyde Bay and Georgeham |
| 315 | Exeter to Barnstaple |
| 316/7 | Barnstaple to Bideford and Atlantic Village |
| 319 | Barnstaple-Bideford-Abbotsham-Clovelly-Hartland(Continues to Bude(Summer Sundays) |
| 359 | Exeter - Dunsford - Moretonhampstead |
| 360 | Exeter - Ide - Dunchideock - Christow - Bridford |
| 379 | Exeter-Exeter Airport-Ottery St Mary-Honiton-Sidmouth (Sundays/Bank Holidays) |
| 380 | Exeter to Axminster via West Hill, Ottery St Mary and Honiton |
| 387 | Sidmouth & Ottery St Mary/Exeter - Honiton - Taunton |
[edit] Exeter city services
| Route | Destinations |
|---|---|
| A | CityLine - Thornpark Rise to Alphington via Heavitree and St Thomas |
| B | Marsh Barton to The Met Office via York Street, Beacon Lane and Pinhoe |
| D | Go Green - Digby to Exeter University via St Lukes Campus |
| E | Exwick to Lancelot Road via Redhills |
| F1 | Exwick to Savoy Hill via Stoke Hill |
| F2 | Exwick to Summerway via Stoke Hill |
| G | Hamlin Gardens to The Quay |
| H1 | Cowley Bridge to Exeter Business Park via St Davids station and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital |
| H2 | Bridge to Digby via St Davids station and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital |
| K | Pinhoe to Countess Wear via Whipton |
| M2 | Operates instead of PR2 on weekday evenings, to stop at all stops en-route from Honiton Rd park and ride to City Centre |
| P | (Until September-2007) - Crossmead to Pennsylvania via Okehampton Road and Blackboy Road |
| P1 | (From September-2007) - Crossmead to Pennsylvania via Okehampton Road and Blackboy Road |
| P2 | (From September-2007) - Crossmead to Pennsylvania via Cowick Street and Dunsford Road |
| R-S | City Centre to Rifford Road circlular (R runs Clockwise, S runs Anticlockwise) |
| T | Pinhoe to Topsham via Whipton and Countess Wear |
| X | (Early morning special) Topsham - Countess Wear - Heavitree - City Centre - St David's Station |
| Y | (Early morning special) City Centre - Beacon Heath - Pinhoe - Whipton - City Centre - Marsh Barton |
| Z | (Early morning special) Alphington - Broadway - Redhills - Exwick - City Centre |
| PR2 | Red - Honiton Road Park and Ride to City Centre (Does not call at intermediate stops) |
| PR5 | Matford Park and Ride to City Centre via Marsh Barton and Haven Banks |
[edit] Exeter school services
| Route | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 969 | Broadfields to South Lawn Terrace |
| 970 | Topsham - St Peters School Exeter |
| 971 | Okehampton Street • Exwick • Alphington • St Peters School Exeter |
| 972 | Pinhoe • Pennsylvania • Stoke Hill • Whipton • St Peters School Exeter |
| 973 | Okehampton Street • Exwick • Redhills • West Exe Technology College Exeter |
| 976 | Okehampton Street • Exwick • Whipton • St Peters School Exeter |
| 980 | Countess Wear • St Peters School Exeter |
| 985 | Exwick • St James School Exeter |
[edit] Other school services
Stagecoach Devon also operates some school services in other Devon areas.
| Route | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 28/29 | Torbay School buses - Penwill Way to Torquay Grammar School (28) -Kings Ash Road to Cuthbert Mayne (29) |
| 901/902/903 | North Devon School buses (Pilton School) |
| 907 | North Devon School bus (Swimbridge-Landkey-Park School) |
[edit] 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
[edit] References
- ^ [http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137015&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136999&contentPK=16125120&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
- ^ http://www.thisisexeter.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137199&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136986&contentPK=16947473&folderPk=79934&pNodeId=137002
[edit] External links
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| Wikipedia:WikiProject Stagecoach Devon |
| City Bus services operated by Stagecoach in Devon |
| A | B | D | E | F1 | F2 | G | H1 | H2 | K | P| R | S | T | X | Y | Z | PR2 | PR5 |
| School Bus services operated by Stagecoach in Devon |
| 969 | 970 | 971 | 972 | 973 | 976 | 980 | 985 |
| Rural Bus services operated by Stagecoach in Devon |
| 1 | 1A | 1B | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8A | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12A | 12B | 17 | 17A | 22 | 24 | 25 | 30 | 30A | 30B | 31 | 34 | 32 | X30 | X38 | 39 | 40 | X46 | 50 | 51 | 52A | 52B | 52C | 55 | 55A | 55B | 55C | X55 | 56 | 56A | 57 | 57A | 57C | 58 | 59 | 60 | 60A | 60B | 61 | 66A | 66B | 66C | X64 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 77 | 79 | 84 | 85 | 85A | 85C | 88 | 88C | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 99E | 103 | 111 | 112 | 120 | 157 | 357 | 173 | 200 | 308 | 315 | 316 | 317 | 319 | 359 | 360 | 379 | 380 | 387 |
| Related articles |
| Stagecoach Devon |
