Passengers' anger at Plymouth bus timetable changes
Bus passengers have hit out at Plymouth Citybus after many were left waiting in the rain following a timetable overhaul.
The bus company launched its new-look timetable and revised routes on Sunday. But yesterday morning customers reported chaos as some services failed to turn up and others arrived late and crammed full of people.
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Plymouth Citybus
A key vehicle also broke down, causing a string of delays, while a school bus set off an hour late thanks to a mechanical fault.
Citybus boss Richard Stevens last night apologised to those affected but said much of the feedback from customers had been positive. The company has spent £500,000 on its biggest timetable shake-up in five years. But angry commuter Wayne Edgar told The Herald the Number 34 service between Stoke and Crownhill was “shocking”.
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Mr Edgar said the bus showed up 35 minutes late during the morning rush-hour.
Others took to Citybus’ Facebook page to complain about the morning’s delays.
Katey Northcott, who was in Woodford expecting the Number 20, said she was “left standing in the rain for 45 minutes waiting for a bus that never turned up”.
“If you’re going to change the buses at least make sure they actually turn up,” added fellow passenger Paige Bolt.
Martin Thomson claimed he had to wait for an hour and ten minutes to catch a Number 29.
Nayomi Mumford, who waited for the same service after failing to get on a packed Number 152, said she was late on the first day of her new job.
Anaël Devieux described the new Number 21 A and B routes as “a complete useless nightmare”.
And Alex Bond said some people had stood at a stop in Estover for an hour and a half in wait of a Number 34.
Citybus’ school service Number 121 from Dobwalls had failed to start at Liskeard. That bus set off for the city an hour late, making dozens of pupils late for class.
An early morning Number 5A also broke down, triggering a knock-on effect of delays, managing director Mr Stevens said.
Mechanical problems also hit the Number 34 service to Derriford, which returns as a Number 29, he said.
Mr Stevens said: “To those who have had a poor experience I’m really, really sorry.”
But he added: “Generally the feedback has been positive. From our perspective, considering the volume of the change and the enormity of the change, it’s gone extremely well.”
Mr Stevens said the majority of services began running smoothly after the initial rush hour problems, caused by the breakdowns. There were also delays on the Number 42 in Southway, however, as a result of a road closure in Dunnet Road.
“Those two incidents have marred an otherwise positive day,” Mr Stevens said.
“It was a momentous day – the biggest timetable change for Citybus for at least five years. There’s no doubt there has been some confusion but the overall aim of this timetable change was to make the services more reliable.
“It’s going to take a few days for things to settle out so we can get a grip on what’s gone well and what hasn’t gone well and then we’ll work to improve on that. We’ve got work to do and we’ll spend the next few days taking our feedback and looking at what’s not quite right.
“We are really interested to know what people have found from today’s experience and we’ll learn our lessons from there.”
The Herald revealed in June how Citybus was reviewing all its services.
Mr Stevens said the changes were not about saving money or making cuts but “to invest in reliability and to get people the links that they wanted”.
Comments
by legalreasons
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 5:08PM
“Excellent service on the new 33 route, as far as I'm concerned. Started using buses again this summer after years driving and find them, comparitively, fast and inexpensive. And, for me, the new timetable is even more convenient than the old one.”
by blackbeard9
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 4:41PM
“IF WASN'T FOR HAVING TO STOP TO PICK UP PASSENGERS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT WOULD RUN EXACTLY TO TIME....................................Except in Plymouth where the road system around Charles Cross and Drake Circus is so bad it could upset the best timetable at midnight on a Sunday”
by DoctorT
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:58PM
“Hermes_001 - The 'bus' service in Venice is excellent, too! [and before someone says the obvious, yes, they do call it a bus service.]”
by bilbobaggins
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:11PM
“Why should they care profit before passengers,as it always is.”
by lemon_entry
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 2:14PM
“Public transport would be greatly improved if they stopped certain sections of the public using it.
Am I right or am I right?”
by AirpisViable
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 2:08PM
“I have to agree with Foldart on this one, the changes to my services are fantastic, drivers had been giving out timetables to everyone that has used the route for the past few days and I have to admit that i've seen a considerable amount more people using it since the changes took affect.
Well done PCB, overall i'm very happy.
Lets not forget that these timetables and routes are new to the drivers, it'll take a few days for everything to settle down, although, lots of people moaning for the sake of it I feel, Plymouth Citybus is not a PSO (Public Service Obligation) and is such a company with an aim of making money, they do not have to provide a serivce to any area what so ever, so be happy with what you have.Imagine if they pulled out of Plympton, you'd all be stuffed then!”
by paperlantern
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:38AM
“As someone who has been into Debenhams three times to pick up the new time tables only to be told they were not ready yet, what exactly have you spent the £500,000 on.
Also I noticed yesterday that the No. 29 now appears to be a double decker. Bearing in mind that this bus is mostly used by the sick and elderly to get to and from Derriford Hospital is this a wise move?”
by hlbee
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 10:44AM
“@imalady, I doubt it's a case of sitting down and doing a spreadsheet!!
My buses have improved amazingly...but you can't please everyone I guess.
I saw posters at the bus stops and even some on the bus..it was all over their Facebook too and in The Herald so I don't know what else they are supposed to do.
I haven't lived here long..the people here are miserable as anything! They look at you wrong for smiling! Moan Moan Moan! Get a life.”
by Foldart
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 10:29AM
“The buses for Plympton have reverted to, more or less, the same as they were 5 years ago except they have changed the numbers. The 20 goes to Chaddlewood via Glen Road and the 21 and 21A (used to be the 21 and 51) go to St Maurice and district in opposite directions. Nothing complicated in that. They cover all the main arterial routes, and some minor routes too.
Perhaps the bus company didn't put out enough publicity for the changes although they did included their timetable, directed specifically at the areas affected, with the latest Plymouth Magazine. Maybe they weren't sent out soon enough.
@emaphant - Sorry to hear that the changes weren't to your liking. You can't please all the people all the time, I guess.”
by imalady
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 10:23AM
“£5000,000 Im absolutely Gob Smacked Who on earth were they employing to do this work a Premier League Footballer??? I could have sat down with a spread sheat & done it in a week. The saying Blind leading the Blind comes to mind. Sorry all you blind people out there.”