Stagecoach South West launches consultation on East Exeter services
Stagecoach has announced a consultation on significant service enhancements for bus services in East Exeter, Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, with revised timetables commencing 3 September 2018.
The enhancements are centred on route 56 and route J. They are primarily designed to increase access to employment to areas on the east of the city including the Science Park, Exeter Airport and businesses located in Middlemoor, Digby and Pynes Hill.
Summaries of the proposed changes to each service are shown below and, where relevant, customers can view the draft timetables by visiting the website.
All feedback must be received by 13 July 2018 either by email (exeter@stagecoachbus.com) or by writing to the depot team at Stagecoach, Matford Park Road, Exeter, EX2 8FD.
Route 56 Exeter St David’s – City Centre – Exeter Airport – Woodbury – Exmouth
Improved transport links are vital in supporting planned business development between Exeter St David’s, the City Centre, Met Office and Exeter Airport. To this end, East Devon Council and the East Devon Growth Point have come together in a ground-breaking arrangement to fund significant improvements to the 56 bus route.
From Monday to Saturday the off-peak frequency will double to every 30 minutes, matching the peak time Monday to Friday frequency. There will also be new journeys very early in the morning and a new evening service introduced to provide a connection for all flights and associated key worker hours.
The route between the Met Office and Airport will be amended to serve Clyst Honiton instead of the A30. Combined with route 4, this will provide twice the number of buses serving the Science Park. The timetable is coordinated with route 4 to provide a regular 15-minute Monday to Saturday frequency from Exeter.
There will be some minor changes to the timetable between the Airport, Woodbury and Exmouth and, in Exmouth, buses will start and finish at the Parade and will no longer serve the Leisure Centre.
Route J Digby Tesco – IKEA – The Rydons – Countess Wear – Exeter – Whipton Barton
Funding from the Rougemont Park housing development on Hill Barton Road will allow the J to extend from Whipton Barton via Hill Barton Road and through to Digby. Here, it will meet J buses from the other direction to create a circular route.
Buses running clockwise (outbound along Pinhoe Road & inbound along Topsham Road) will be route J. Buses running anti-clockwise (outbound along Topsham Road & inbound along Pinhoe Road) will be route I.
Buses will run every 20 minutes in both directions, providing a combined 10 minute frequency from IKEA to the City Centre. When combined with route K, there will also be a 10 minute frequency between Countess Wear, the City Centre and Whipton Barton.
Route 58 Budleigh Salterton – Littleham – Sowton – Exeter
All buses in and out of Exeter will serve Sowton Industrial Estate and Honiton Road Park & Ride, providing a much wider range of options for people working in these areas. All buses will also continue to/from Budleigh Salterton and a new evening journey from Exeter will be introduced at 1900.
School holiday journeys will be replaced by route 58C via Rifford Road and Topsham with buses running throughout the year.
Route 98 Exmouth – Littleham
The frequency on the route will be reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. This is to allow alternate journeys to extend from Littleham Green to Rodney Close.
The route will be amended to serve Withycombe Village Road instead of Moorfield Road. This will allow larger vehicles to be used on the route and also avoid the regular issue of Moorfield Road being blocked by cars at school closing time.
The minibuses on this route will be replaced by newer and larger vehicles. This means, despite the frequency change, there will be more seats available per hour and there will also be more space for buggies.
Route 99E Littleham – Exmouth – Brixington
This service will be withdrawn and will be replaced by journeys on route 98 between Exmouth and Littleham with route 57 providing a service to Brixington.
Route 157 Exmouth – Budleigh Salterton – Sidmouth
There will be some minor timetable changes with most buses leaving Sidmouth 10 minutes later to improve reliability.
Route 357 Hulham – Exmouth – Budleigh Salterton
There will be some minor timetable changes with buses generally leaving Budleigh 10 minutes later. When combined with the 157, this will help maintain a regular 30 minutes frequency between Exmouth and Budleigh.
The route will be extended in Exmouth to provide a new cross-town link to Hulham Road and Byron Way throughout the day. This will be in addition to the current evening service. Buses will no longer serve the Leisure Centre, instead starting and finishing at the Parade.
Route K Countess Wear – Exeter – Whipton Barton
Funding from the Tithebarn housing development will allow this route to extend from Whipton Barton to Cumberland Way, Tithebarn Lane and Exeter Science Park. Buses will continue to run every 20 minutes along the extended route.
Routes R and S Exeter – Rifford Road
Due to the significant increase in the number of buses serving Heavitree Road, R and S frequencies will be reduced from every 12 to every 20 minutes in each direction. They will still combine to give a 10 minute frequency from Rifford Road to the City Centre. Routes D and H also provide alternatives from some parts of these routes.
There are no changes proposed to other Exmouth routes 57, 95 or 257.
