Stagecoach and Devon County Council celebrate partnership at Devon County Show

A brand-new liveried bus will be unveiled at the Devon County Show by Stagecoach South West and Devon County Council to celebrate the Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership.

The partnership was formed as a requirement of the Department for Transport’s (DFT) new National Bus Strategy.  It was set up to improve local bus services by working together to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), following a funding package of £17M from the DFT. 

Local bus operators and Devon County Council have identified and focused on initiatives that will deliver against key objectives including service enhancements, bus priority, bus stop infrastructure and journey times over a 3-year program.

Improvements and funding enhancements under the BSIP  have seen increased frequencies on various routes across Devon and the introduction of new services such as the X30 and 358.

In addition to service updates and bus priority schemes to improve punctuality of services,  BSIP funding has also allowed for bus station upgrades, new shelters, and enhanced passenger information systems including real-time updates.

ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas), a separate initiative announced earlier this year, sees a substantial investment from both Stagecoach and the DFT for the region with new buses for Torbay, Exeter, and Barnstaple, totalling 90 buses and a combined investment of £44.7 million which will be rolled out in the next 18 months.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach South West said “We believe our partnership with Devon County Council is a positive for the South West. It ensures that our bus services across the region are delivered to a high standard, with passengers benefiting from a high quality of information, improved journey times and frequencies, and that bus services are designed with a sustainable future in mind.”

Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport added: “The bus is certainly eye catching and hopefully it will help to raise awareness of what we’re achieving through the Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership. Our Bus Service Improvement Plan is providing a more positive experience for passengers and so far it has funded a number of enhancements to infrastructure, as well as the introduction of new services..”

A team from Devon County Council and Stagecoach will be at the show to talk to visitors about the Enhanced Partnership and the work we are doing through our BSIP.  The team also want to promote the bus as a travel choice and educate people as to how they can access information on local bus services.

to Sidbury to accommodate people visiting the show and providing a special timetable for those travelling from Exeter St Davids Station.9 service from Exeter Bus Station In addition to being at the Devon County Show Stagecoach will also be providing an enhanced

More information on the Enhanced Partnership and Devon County Council’s BSIP can be found at: National Bus Strategy - Devon's Response - Travel Devon