A whole raft of changes to bus routes in Plymouth are to come into place from April. Bus operator Stagecoach South West will be introducing a number of timetable changes across their network, which are predominantly centred around improving the punctuality of their bus services.
A review to provide robust new timetables, which reflect post-pandemic traffic congestion and demand patterns, has been carried out. And from Sunday, April 2, new services and routes will come into place.
The changes will see residents of Sherford will enjoy up to six buses per hour in a redesign to the local network, with a new Service 1A between the new town and the George Park and Ride via City Centre and Derriford Hospital being created. In Plymstock, changes are introduced to the route of Services 4A and 4B, designed to reduce delays caused by inconsiderate parking and unsuitable roads.
To coincide with the opening of the Forder Valley Link Road, the route of Service 52 will be amended. It will therefore no longer serve Leigham and Estover, as the route change will provide a new direct link between Coypool Park and Ride and Derriford Hospital.
The X38 will be amended to operate via Elburton and Sherford using Billacombe Road, Elburton Road and Hercules Road, and no longer operating via the A374. It will also additionally serve Matford Park and Ride in Exeter, which follows requests from passengers and provides a number of new journey opportunities.
A full list of the bus timetables changing on April 2 are listed below by area, with any additional changes over and above the punctuality adjustments detailed. Stagecoach are asking travellers to please check the new timetables carefully as some departure times may have changed..
Plymouth Area
Service 1 (Plymouth to Tavistock via Derriford Hospital and George Park and Ride)
Service 1 between Plymouth and Tavistock will continue to operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, with a 60 minute frequency on Sunday and Public Holidays.
Journeys that currently operate between George Park and Ride and Plymouth City Centre will be extended to Sherford, following the current route of Service 2A between the City Centre and Sherford and will be re-numbered as new Service 1A.
NEW Service 1A (Sherford to George Park and Ride via City Centre and Derriford Hospital)
The introduction of Service 1A will increase the frequency of buses between Sherford and the City Centre from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes, providing an additional journey opportunity every hour and a new direct link between Sherford and Derriford Hospital. Up to six buses per hour will be provided between Sherford and the City Centre with Service 1A and the changes to the GOLD and X38.
Service 1A will operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime between Sherford and George Park and Ride via the City Centre and Derriford Hospital and during the evening and on Sunday and Public Holidays, every 60 minutes between Sherford and the City Centre only.
Services 1 and 1A combined will continue to provide a service up to every 10 minutes between the City Centre and George Park and Ride via Derriford Hospital. The new service will replace short journeys on Service 1 between Plymouth City Centre and George Park and Ride and Service 2/2A between Plymouth City Centre and Sherford.
Service X1 (Plymouth / DHS Schools to Tavistock)
The current duplicate bus operating alongside the morning journey will be withdrawn due to insufficient demand for two vehicles. The afternoon will now start from DHS Boys and the departure time is amended to operate 20 minutes earlier at 1535 and will operate earlier throughout.
Service 2 (Saltash to Mount Batten via City Centre)
Service 2 will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 60 minutes in the evening and on Sunday and Public Holidays between Mount Batten and Saltash via City Centre.
Service 2A (Saltash to Sherford via City Centre)
Service 2A will be revised to operate between the City Centre and Saltash only, operating every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 60 minutes during the evening and on Sunday and Public Holidays. The current section of route between Sherford and the City Centre will be served by new Service 1A, which will provide an enhanced level of service.
Service 4/4A/4B/4C (City Centre to Plymstock via Saltram Meadow)
Changes are introduced to the route of Services 4A and 4B, designed to reduce delays caused by inconsiderate parking and unsuitable roads. In Plymstock, Service 4A and 4B will operate a more direct routes, the 4A via Mount Batten Way and no longer serving Stanborough Road, Dunstone Drive and Under Lane. Whilst the 4B will operate via Broadway East, Dunstone Drive and Springfield Road and no longer serving Southernway and Stentaway Drive. In addition, Service 4B will no longer serve Nightingale Close due to extremely low passenger demand.
Service 52 (Plympton to Derriford Hospital)
To coincide with the opening of the Forder Valley Link Road, the route of Service 52 will be amended from 2 April 2023. Service 52 will serve Coypool Park and Ride and then operate via the Forder Valley Link Road to Derriford Hospital and will therefore no longer serve Leigham and Estover. This route change will provide a new direct link between Coypool Park and Ride and Derriford Hospital.
Some departure times are amended to facilitate the above route change and to avoid congestion at Coypool Park and Ride.
Service X38 (Plymouth to Exeter via Buckfastleigh)
The route within Plymouth will be amended to operate via Elburton and Sherford using Billacombe Road, Elburton Road and Hercules Road, and no longer operating via the A374. The new route will provide a number of new journey opportunities.
Service X38 will additionally serve Matford Park and Ride in Exeter, which follows requests from passengers and provides a number of new journey opportunities.
Service 200 (City Centre to Coypool Park and Ride)
Minor changes to the timetable to improve punctuality.
Service GOLD (Plymouth to Paignton via Totnes)
The route within Plymouth will be amended to operate via Elburton and Sherford using Billacombe Road, Elburton Road and Hercules Road, and no longer operating via the A374. The new route will provide a number of new journey opportunities. Following a review of demand for evening journeys, some Monday to Friday journeys (2110 from Plymouth to Paignton, 2210 from Plymouth to Totnes and 2245 from Paignton to Plymouth) will be withdrawn, however, these journeys will continue to operate on a Saturday evening.
Want more of the news you love? Sign up to our bespoke newsletters here.
READ NEXT:
- Beinhaker firm buys £435k flat in Sutton Harbour block from company family also controls
- Eight Plymouth businesses that went bust in February 2023
- Landlord turfs Samphire Brasserie vegan restaurant out of city centre premises
- Midas collapse: Wait goes on for hundreds claiming £50m
- Plymouth faces wave of companies going bust in 2023
