DAY TWO
It is its palm trees and supposedly Riviera weather that endears Torquay to its droves of summer visitors. Yonks ago it was a little fishing village clustered round a tiny harbour.
The town centre road network is incomprehensible; so much so that every time fbb has visited by car he has become utterly lost. But all buses meet up at "The Strand" alongside the harbour and beside Debenhams.
... but always smartly turned out. Over the years, uncle Brian has withdrawn from some of the less profitable local runs and these are now operated by "Local Link" a company based in Paignton,
... are smart and professional, excellent in all respects except one. The maps are awful. No, really awful.
The top (top) is actually the bottom (bottom) in reality and the intricacies of the route are quietly overlooked.
Their vehicles (mainly Optares) seem to be in good nick ...
... but in July several of the routes lose their Saturday service, in the words of the notice, "to ensure the viability of that on Monday to Friday". A money saving but passenger losing policy, maybe?
But the fbbs were waiting for the once a day route 100, yet another part of the Dart Rail, River and Bus empire. Impressively, a Dart River man arrived to meet and greet the twenty or so hardy souls who were to travel topless to Totnes.
The vehicle, an aged Bristol VR ...
As fbb has said, nothing very interesting about the vehicles he saw whilst waiting for service 100. But then something intriguing did appear.
More tomorrow, but, in the meantime, if you are waiting outside Debenhams in Torquay; and if you might be hoping to check on a timetable in the frame at the stop ...
DON'T BOTHER!
Unless you are 8 feet tall or are carrying a portable lightweight step ladder.
Unless you are 8 feet tall or are carrying a portable lightweight step ladder.
Or even a heavyweight one!
A comment writer suggested this service (AC1) was suspended because of a bodywork problem.
At Churston Station yesterday, a train-bound fbb spotted this vehicle ...
... lettered NT1 which operates a shuttle from Churston to the estate's gates via Greenway Halt.
This is NOT the same service but it does provide a useful link (free to train ticket holders) that avoids the scramble from Halt to House.
Stagecoach/Torbay Council
timetable reading kit
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Agatha Christie/Greenway Bus
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Agatha Christie/Greenway Bus
At Churston Station yesterday, a train-bound fbb spotted this vehicle ...
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Next Dart blog : Monday 29th June
For the avoidance of doubt, the VR was built as a convertible open-topper. The ridge below the upper-deck window line in the covered-top picture is the giveaway. www.opentopbus.net suggests that 18 out of the batch of 20 survives; not a bad return on the initial investment.
ReplyDeleteI am puzzled by the Dart on the Churston-Greenway service - the picture is clearly at Paignton bus station. Perhaps someone else photoed it - an acknowlegement of others' work would help to make this clear.
Unfortunately the use of buses on Saturdays has declined in many areas. Its no longer a 'traditional' shopping day thanks to on-line and seven day trading. there are also tend to be more cars at home. Without school/peak traffic the revenue may not be enough to make it financial viable to operate - particularly if the Monday to Friday service is marginal. This certainly applies to many rural and small town operations. If LA supported and cuts are needed it is likely to be the first casualty after Sundays and evenings. Isn't this one of the approaches that Dorset have taken?
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