Stagecoach South West introduces timetable changes
This Autumn local bus operator Stagecoach South West are introducing changes to some bus services within the region.
The changes, largely from Sunday 3rd November 2024, include some reliability and punctuality improvements as well as new tendered services in partnership with Devon County Council. Night buses also return in North Devon and Torbay for the festive period from the end of November.
In Torbay temporary timetables are introduced during the next phase of redevelopment works around Torquay Harbourside.
Full details of the services changing are provided below and timetables will be available via stagecoachbus.com shortly.
Exeter Areas
Service 4 (University of Exeter / Exeter St Davids – Cranbrook via City Centre)
The new Service 4, introduced on 1 September 2024 extending to the University of Exeter, has proved very popular, however, we are aware that a number of buses at peak times Monday to Friday are often running late due to traffic volumes.
In order to offer a reliable and punctual service there will be some changes to the timetable, especially at peak times Monday to Friday, with additional vehicle resource allocated to allow buses more time to complete their journeys and ensure they can start their next journey on time.
Service 38 (Exeter – Drumbridges – Ivybridge)
Following a tender round with Devon County Council, a number of changes to the route and timetable of Service 38 are introduced. Buses will operate a more direct route between Exeter and Ivybridge via RD&E Hospital, Matford Park and Ride, Drumbridges, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and South Brent, which will offer improved journey times for passengers. Buses will no longer serve Chudleigh, Chudleigh Knighton and Bovey Tracey, which will instead be served hourly by revised Service 39.
Seven journeys will operate per day, Monday to Friday and six journeys per day on Saturday between Exeter and Ivybridge. Six journeys per day will operate Monday to Saturday, between Ivybridge and Exeter. On Sunday and Public Holidays there will be departures from Exeter at 1105 and 1605, with departures from Ivybridge at 0930 and 1400.
Service 39 (Exeter to Newton Abbot via Bovey Tracey)
Service 39 will operate from Exeter to Newton Abbot via Bovey Tracey, following the current Service 38 route between Exeter and Bovey Tracey, before following the current Service 39 route between Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot.
Buses will operate hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes between approximately 0600 and 1900, with four journeys in each direction on Sunday and Public Holidays.
The Monday to Friday frequency between Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot will be reduced to hourly, better reflecting passenger demand. All journeys will be operated by double decker vehicles, with journeys at tailored departure times for commuter, school and college movements.
Service 95 (Exmouth – Sandy Bay)
Service 95 will end for the 2024 season, returning next year for the 2025 season.
Service 343 (Tiverton – Cotteylands – Tiverton)
There will be a minor change to the route for the two journeys that serve Broomhill Road, in order for buses to operate safely these journeys will now operate via Patches Road.
Service 358 (Exeter – Otterton)
Following a recent tender round, Service 358 will no longer be operated by Stagecoach.
Service 358 will be operated by Greenslades, who will operate a very similar timetable.
Service 358 will arrive and depart from Sidwell Street as opposed to Exeter Bus Station.
Service Matford Brook Academy (Exminster – Matford Brook Academy) – Monday 14 October 2024
From Monday 14 October 2024 the current closed contract service between Exminster and Matford Brook Academy, will become a public local bus service, where fares will be charged. On Monday to Fridays during term time there will be a journey from Exminster to Matford Brook Academy at 0805 and a journey from Matford Brook Academy to Exminster at 1610 (departs 1410 on Friday).
North Devon Areas
Service 21 (Barnstaple to Bideford) and 21B (Barnstaple to Ilfracombe) – Saturday 30 November 2024
Working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County Council, Torridge District Council, North Devon District Council and Vision Zero, we are pleased to announce that night buses will return in the run up to Christmas.
Service 21 Buses will depart Barnstaple Bus Station hourly from midnight until 4am and from Bideford from 0030 until 0330. Service 21B from Barnstaple Bus Station at 0030, 0200 and 0330 and from Ilfracombe at 0110, 0240 and 0405.
Buses operateon the following nights:
- Saturday 30 November 2024
- Saturday 7 December 2024
- Saturday 14 December 2024
- Friday 20 December 2024
- Saturday 21 December 2024
- Tuesday 31 December 2024
Service 71 (Barnstaple to Great Torrington via Newton Tracey)
The 1500 Monday to Friday (Schooldays and School Holidays) and Saturday journey from Barnstaple to Torrington School / Great Torrington Church will be advanced to depart 5 minutes earlier at 1455.
Service 372 (Barnstaple to Bradworthy / Holsworthy via Bideford and Littleham)
Under contract to Devon County Council a new Wednesday timetable will be introduced, with one journey in each direction:
0920 Wednesday journey from Bideford to Holsworthy via Bradworthy.
1245 Wednesday journey from Holsworthy to Bideford via Bradworthy.
Plymouth Areas
Service 1A (Sherford to George Park and Ride via City Centre and Derriford Hospital)
To utilise new bus priority infrastructure and to provide new journey opportunities, the route will be amended slightly in the Derriford Business Park area, providing improved access to the Royal Eye Infirmary and new retail facilities.
Journeys towards George Park and Ride will operate from William Prance Road via Alpha Way and Derriford Park to Brest Road.
Journeys towards City Centre and Sherford will operate from Brest Road via Derriford Park and Alpha Way to William Prance Road.
Service 2 (Saltash to Mount Batten via City Centre)
Following a comprehensive review of Service 2/2A, there will be a number of changes to the route and timetable of Service 2 within Saltash.
All daytime journeys will operate an extended loop within Saltash, serving both Latchbrook and then St Stephens (as per currently on Sunday and Public Holiday daytime), whereas evening journeys will continue to just serve St Stephens. Within Saltash, all sections of route will benefit from a frequency of up to every 15 minutes, which in some cases is double the current frequency of every 30 minutes.
Between the City Centre and Saltash an improved and co-ordinated frequency of up to every 15 minutes will operate. Daytimes, buses will operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday, every 20 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sunday and Public Holiday. The revised frequency will provide an additional journey opportunity every hour between Mount Batten and the City Centre. There are no changes to the daily evening timetable, however, the section of route between Mount Batten and the City Centre will be operated with financial support from Plymouth City Council.
Passengers are advised to check the new timetable before travelling, especially if travelling early in the morning, where a number of journeys are revised.
Service 2A (Saltash to City Centre)
Service 2A will be withdrawn from 3 November 2024, however, changes to Service 2 will provide an improved service for passengers who currently use Service 2/2A.
Service GOLD (Plymouth to Paignton via Totnes)
There are a number of changes to the timetable for Service Gold to improve reliability and punctuality, with a number of departure times amended, to ensure buses leave on-time.
Due to low passenger demand, a number of early morning and late evening journeys operating the short journey between Plymouth City Centre and Sugar Mill / eighteen 87 will no longer operate. In addition to Monday to Friday journeys from Plymouth to Paignton at 0450 and 0520 and from Ivybridge to Plymouth at 0620 are withdrawn. Two Monday to Fridays journeys from Paignton to Plymouth will be curtailed; at 0620 to start from Ivybridge at 0712 and at 0650 to start from Totnes at 0709.
Torbay Area
Cary Parade and Fleet Street will be closed for redevelopment works Torquay between Tuesday 15 October 2024 and Friday 29 November 2024. During this time there will be temporary changes to a number of our routes in order to continue operating buses across Torbay.
Service 12 (Newton Abbot – Brixham via Torquay and Paignton)
For journeys towards Brixham, buses will operate normal route until Torquay Library before operating via Tor Hill Road, Tor Church Road, Lucius Street, Belgrave Road and Torbay Road to Torquay Pavilion. Buses will turn at Torquay Pavilion before heading back along Torbay Road and resuming normal route.
For journeys towards Newton Abbot, buses will operate normal route until Torquay Pavilion, before heading back along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road, Lucius Street, Tor Church Road and Tor Hill Road to East Street before resuming normal route.
As a result of the diversion, Cary Parade (Harbour), Fleet Street and Abbey Road will not be served and passengers will need to use nearby alternative bus stops and buses will serve all bus stops along the diversion route.
As a result of working in partnership with a number of local stakeholders, overnight journeys will operate on Saturday night / Sunday morning.
Buses will operate hourly between Torquay (Pavilion) and Brixham via Paignton Bus Station, departing Torquay from 0030, until 0330 and Brixham from 0059 until 0359. These journeys will operate on Saturday nights between 2 November 2024 and 21 December, Friday 20 December and Tuesday 31 December 2024.
Our normal range of fares and tickets will be available on these journeys, including the popular £2 single fare.
Service 22 (Dawlish Warren – South Devon College via St Marychurch and Paignton)
For journeys towards St Marychurch / Dawlish Warren, buses will operate normal route until Torquay Seafront then operate to Torquay Pavilion before heading back along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road, Lucius Street, Tor Church Road, Tor Hill Road,
Union Street, Market Street, Princes Road, Hoxton Rd, Ellacombe Rd, Victoria Road, Hatfield Road and St Marychurch Road to St Marychurch before resuming normal route.
For journeys towards South Devon College buses will operate normal route until St Marychurch Chilcote Memorial before operating via St Marychurch Town Hall, Manor Road, St Marychurch Road, Tor Hill Road, Tor Church Road, Lucius Street, Belgrave Road and Torbay Road to Torquay Pavilion. Buses will turn at Torquay Pavilion before heading back along Torbay Road and resuming normal route.
As a result of the diversion the section of route between Babbacombe Road and Cary Parade (harbour) will not be served, however, a temporary shuttle bus Service 22S will provide an alternative service.
Service 22S will operate between St Marychurch and Torwood Street and will operate from early until late 7 days a week and up to every 20 minutes.
Passengers will be able to use Service 22S to connect with Service 22 at Torquay Pavilion or St Marychurch Town Hall.
While normal fares will apply on Service 22S, passengers wishing to connect between Services 22 and 22S will be able to use their single journey ticket to transfer between services within 90 minutes of time of issue.
Service 31 (Torquay – Watcombe via Barton)
For journeys towards Torquay Harbourside, buses will operate normal route until Torquay Library before operating via Tor Hill Road, Tor Church Road, Lucius Street, Belgrave Road and Torbay Road to Torquay Pavilion, where the service will terminate.
For journeys towards Watcombe, buses will start at Torquay Pavilion, before along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road, Lucius Street, Tor Church Road and Tor Hill Road to Castle Circus before resuming normal route.
As a result of the diversion, Cary Parade, Fleet Street and Abbey Road will not be served and passengers will need to use nearby alternative bus stops and buses will serve all bus stops along the diversion route.
Service 32C (St Marychurch – Torquay Grammar School)
In the morning, Service 32C will start from Torwood Street and operate via Babbacombe Road, St Marychurch Town Hall, St Marychurch Road and Castle Circus before resuming normal route at Union Street.
In the afternoon, Service 32C will operate normal route until Union Street and then operate via Market Street, Victoria Road, Hatfield Road, St Marychurch Road, Fore Street, Babbacombe Road before terminating at Ten Pin Bowling Alley on Torwood Street.
Due to the change of route, it is necessary to also make changes to a number of departure times and passengers are encouraged to check the timetable before travelling.
Service 35A/35C (Torquay – The Willows via Torbay Hospital)
For Service 35A journeys towards Torquay Harbourside, buses will operate normal route until Falkland Road before operating via Belgrave Road and Torbay Road to Torquay Pavilion, where the service will terminate.
For Service 35A journeys towards The Willows, buses will start at
Torquay Pavilion, before along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road, Lucius Street, Tor Church Road and Tor Hill Road to Union Street before resuming normal route.
For Service 35C journeys towards Torquay Harbourside, buses will operate normal route until Market Street before operating via Abbey Road, Tor Church Road, Lucius Street, Belgrave Road and Torbay Road to Torquay Pavilion, where the service will terminate.
For Service 35C journeys towards Torbay Hospital, buses will start at Torquay Pavilion, before along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road to Falkland Road before resuming normal route.
As a result of the diversion, Cary Parade (harbour), Fleet Street and Abbey Road will not be served and passengers will need to use nearby alternative bus stops and buses will serve all bus stops along the diversion route.
Service 110 (Torquay – Totnes)
In the morning, buses will start at Torquay Pavilion, before operating along Torbay Road and then via Belgrave Road, Lucius Street, Tor Church Road and Tor Hill Road to Castle Circus before resuming normal route.
The afternoon journey is not impacted and will operate as normal.
In addition to the above the following minor changes will be introduced on Monday 4 November 2024:
Service 30 (Cuthbert Mayne School Service)
Intermediate running times are revised for both the AM and PM journeys to improve reliability and punctuality.
