- Change result of route data analysis, staff and customer surveys
- Benefits include improved reliability, new links and increased Sunday frequencies
- New timetables and journey plans via the app and website will be available shortly
Stagecoach South West has announced that, from 3 September, there will be changes to its bus routes across Exeter. It is the first significant revamp of the city network in several years and is the result of analysis of the bus company’s route data alongside staff and customer surveys.
The revised network of services will see a number of benefits for customers and help to improve overall reliability. It also takes into consideration Exeter’s continued growth with provision made for the openings of both the Lidl distribution centre and new IKEA.
Bob Dennison, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, commented “These changes are the outcome of an in-depth review of our city services. I hope with their introduction we are not only tackling current issues around congestion and reliability but also putting measures in place for the future development of Exeter.”
Residents of Pinhoe, Cowley Bridge and Digby will see a number of changes to their local services. Across other routes there will be a mix of increased Sunday frequencies, extra peak time journeys and some minor alterations to timetables.
In Pinhoe, residents will be served by extended B and F2 services with a combined frequency of four buses an hour providing new links to Morrisons, Stoke Hill, Cowick Street Exwick and Matford. The 1 service will continue to serve the main road every 20 minutes. The B will continue to serve EDF Energy during the morning and evening peaks only.
Services J and K will no longer go to Pinhoe. Instead they will operate on a loop from Whipton shops to Sainsbury’s Junction and finish in Whipton Barton. The frequency to the Rydons will increase from every 30 to every 20 minutes. This is in response to growth along the route and in anticipation of the new IKEA store opening early 2018.
In Cowley Bridge, the 5 will replace the H to serve the Wrefords Lane / West Garth Road loop. Local residents can also continue to catch the 5A/5B/5C, 55 and 155 from Cowley Bridge Road into the city centre.
The H will also no longer service the University, with the route now finishing at St David’s Station. Depending on the direction of travel, most buses will change between route H and D at the Digby Loop. Therefore, passengers traveling to/from the loop will normally need to catch route D to the city centre and route H to get back.
Sunday frequencies on routes E, F, R and S will increase from every 30 to every 20 minutes to tackle congestion and improve reliability as well as offering better links into the city centre on what has become a busy of the week.
On the Red Park & Ride, morning and afternoon stopping journeys will continue but will labeled ‘Red’ rather than ‘M2’. Buses will also return to their previous route to improve reliability and will no longer serve the Met Office.
The P will see a reduction in frequency to every 30 minutes to help improve the reliability along the route.
Services A and T will see minor changes to timetables to improve reliability.
There will be no change to the G timetable but newer buses will be allocated to the route.
Customers travelling into the city on the Hop2/2B, 4 and 5 will also see some minor alterations to their timetables.
There will be changes to early morning and afternoon peak journeys on the Hop2 with earlier departures from Teignmouth at 0547 and from Newton Abbot at 0620. In the afternoon, there will be an increased number of departures from Exeter at 1706, 1726, 1746 and 1811. On the 2B, afternoon services have been retimed with departures at 1716 (Exminster), 1740 (Exminster) and 1800 (Teignmouth). This means the combined Hop2/2B will provide a 10 minute afternoon frequency between Exeter and Exminster.
The 4 service will see an extra early morning journey from 16 October in connection with the opening of the Lidl distribution centre.
On the 5, as well as the changes in Cowley Bridge already mentioned, additional 5 journeys will run at 1810 from Exeter and 1849 from Tuckers Close to reduce the current gap in the timetable. The 1815 5A and 1835 5B from Exeter will move 5 minutes to 1820 and 1840 respectively.
New timetables will be available to view at www.stagecoachbus.com and in print shortly. Customers can also download the free Stagecoach app - available in the App and Play stores - or use the website journey planner to plan their journeys. New timetable information will be available via the app or journey planner from mid-August.
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