Changes to Stagecoach bus services in Devon

Stagecoach South West announced today that, starting 29 May, there will be a number of changes to bus routes on its Torbay network, including faster journey times, more connections and new destinations.

The Hop11 will be merged into the 22, which will be rebranded Hop22. From Monday to Saturday, buses will continue to run across Torbay up to every 20 minutes with one bus an hour extending to Shaldon, Teignmouth, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren. On Sundays, buses will run from Torbay to Dawlish Warren up to every hour. Short journeys between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish will be discontinued.

The Hop22 already goes directly past many of the Bay’s main attractions, such as Paignton Zoo, Torre Abbey and Babbacombe Model Village. Extending it onto Dawlish will provide additional days out opportunities further along the coast as well as providing a direct service right across Torbay for the many visitors who stay in Dawlish and Dawlish Warren. From Teignmouth or Dawlish, passengers can also easily connect onto our Hop2 service that will take them straight into the heart of Exeter. The last bus from Dawlish Warren to Torquay will leave at 2010 and the last bus from Torquay to Dawlish Warren will leave at 1900, 7 days a week.

An amended timetable is being introduced on the Hop12, which reflects the faster journey times that are now possible following the opening of the South Devon Link Road and the introduction of the Torre one-way system.

The 66 route will become part of the 13 with the route renumbered 13/13B/13D and extended from Totnes to Brixham. All buses serving Brixham will also go to Newton Abbot, creating a new link between both locations. The current 13 service between Brixham and South Devon College will reduce in frequency to every 2 hours. A new two hourly 13B service will run direct from Brixham to Totnes.

South Hams District Council Offices will be served at the start and end of the day only. In the morning, the 13B leaves Newton Abbot at 0726, arriving at Follaton House at 0836. In the afternoon, buses leave Follaton House at 1616 and 1706.

We are introducing an amended timetable on our X46 route, which will create a regular frequency and reflects the faster journey times now possible following the opening of the South Devon Link Road and the introduction of the Torre one-way system. There will also be new Friday and Saturday evening journeys. These are at 1910 and 2200 from Torquay and 2040 and 2330 from Exeter.

From Monday to Friday, the 23 will continue to serve South Devon College before 1000 and after 1630 but will not serve it during the daytime. From Monday to Friday, buses will run up to every 20 minutes before 1000 and after 1630 and half hourly at other times and at weekends.

We have also made some minor changes to our 27 and 30A/30B schools services.

Robert Williams, Commercial Director of Stagecoach South West, commented: “Following the opening of the South Devon Link Road and the introduction of the Torre reversal scheme we saw an opportunity to make some changes to our Torbay bus network.

“I’m particularly pleased to launch through journeys on the Hop22 from Dawlish Warren right across Torbay and to introduce the Friday and Saturday evening journeys on the X46, both of which I hope will encourage locals and visitors alike to enjoy a day out by bus.”

Timetables are available to view on www.stagecoachbus.com (www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-west/torbay-timetables), with the printed versions following shortly. For travel updates on the go, follow @stagecoachsw.