25 Jul 2012
·
New and expanded services to deliver vital bus links in North Devon
·
Improvements to be launched in September, creating some new jobs
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Pledge to build on track-record of investment and good value travel
Stagecoach
announced today (25 July 2012) that it is to launch an expanded bus network in
Devon in September, providing new services and creating a small number of
additional jobs.
The new network
will provide vital bus links in North Devon and build on the company's
track-record of investment and good value travel in the south-west.
Stagecoach employs
around 900 people and operates more than 320 buses on around 120 routes across
Devon and Somerset, and in the past three years has invested more than £13
million in new buses for the region.
The new and
expanded services will be operated out of the company's depot in Barnstaple,
which currently employs around 120 staff and runs around 50 buses. Around a
dozen extra vehicles will be added to the fleet and Stagecoach will also be
recruiting new drivers.
From Monday 24
September, the following enhancements will be introduced:
·
Service X7, an express direct service, will run hourly between South Molton
and Barnstaple Bus Station
·
Service X9 will provide a link between Bude, Holswothy, Okehampton and
Exeter, with services running approximately every two hours.
·
Service 21 will now operate between Westward Ho!, Bideford, Instow Quay,
Fremington, Barnstaple, Braunton, and Ilfracombe.
·
Service 21A will now operate between Appledore, Bideford, East the
Water, Fremington, Barnstaple and Braunton.
The expanded
network will bring a boost to people in North Devon, whose services are
currently under threat after First announced the closure of its Barnstaple
depot. Stagecoach will provide:
·
A 20min daytime service from Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple to
Ilfracombe with a 30min evening and Sunday service.
·
More links from Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Rail Station, particularly
during the evening and on Sundays.
·
A 10min service between Northam, Bideford, Barnstaple and Braunton, with
a 30min evening and Sunday service.
·
A 20min daytime service from Westward Ho! Bideford, Barnstaple and
Ilfracombe to Instow Quay and hourly during the evening and on Sundays.
·
A 20min daytime service from Braunton, Barnstaple and Bideford to
Appledore and a new hourly evening and Sunday service which extends to
Ilfracombe.
·
A 20min daytime service from Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Instow and Bideford
to Westward Ho! plus an hourly evening and Sunday service.
·
A 20min daytime service from Appledore, Bideford, East the Water and
Barnstaple to Braunton and West Meadow Road.
Michelle
Hargreaves, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, said: "We have a
long tradition of operating high quality services for people in the south-west
of England and attracting people out of their cars and on to greener, smarter
bus travel.
"It has been
our ambition for some time to provide a more comprehensive network for passengers
across the wider Devon region to improve services and connections for the local
community. To that end, we announced in March that we had reached an agreement
to acquire First Group's North Devon operations. This would have allowed us to
deliver a range of improvements to the wider bus network.
"However, we
decided we could not justify further management time and expense on pursuing
the acquisition following the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to refer
what was a relatively small transaction to the Competition Commission. Instead,
we have now registered new commercial Stagecoach services that will extend our
network in the North Devon area and provide more journey options for our
customers.
"The new
services, which have been registered with the Traffic Commissioner, will start
in September. We look forward to providing local people on our new routes with
a high quality bus service and value-for-money fares."
