Changes to Bus Routes For the Summer

A few comments on the above changes, first they don't happen until May 19th so don't expect to see 12A and 12C running up the Babacombe Road just yet and second they are only for the summer season which runs until mid September. The main difference for me as a 12 driver is the fact that the 12A will now no longer run to Brixham. What happened in the summer was the holiday makers would see Brixham on the front of a 12A and get on it to go to Brixham from Torquay or Paignton but it took 20 minutes longer than the 12. Also in Brixham the holiday makers would get on the 12A to go back to Paignton and Torquay and we would have to explain the extra 20 minute journey time. Most would wait for a 12 and the 12A would pull out with only a few passengers on leaving 50 people waiting for the 12, which only ran every 15 minutes. Now only the 12 will go to Brixham and run every 10 minutes. Will make life a bit easier for the drivers and the passengers. One problem that will occur is the 12A and the 12C will now go to the Harbour and not up Fleet Street to the top of town which the 12 will continue to do. From the Harbour they will go to Babacombe and St Marychurch replacing the 32. Passengers who board a 32 at the top of town and want to go to Babacombe will have to change on the Harbour. I hope through tickets will be introduced for the fare paying passengers doing this trip or lots of time will be spend selling tickets on the 12A and 12C on the Harbour.

One 12A and one 12C per hour will continue on from Babacombe to Teignmouth so passengers who would have used the 85 to go to Teignmouth will now get either a 12A or 12C but if they wish to go beyond Teignmouth to Dawlish or Dawlish Warren (where there are lots of caravan parks) will have to change to a number 2 (formally the 85A) in Teignmouth. The bus stop area in Teignmouth is not all that big so some congestion can be expected there.

The other change that will effect us driving the 12s will be the fact that the X46 Exeter Express will not go to Paignton as often as it used to so anyone in Paignton who wishes to go to Exeter will need to get a 12/12A/12C to the Harbour and change. Hopefully a notice will be put up in Paignton explaining this and tells the passengers to tell the 12 driver they wish to go to Exeter so we can sell them an Explorer Ticket (the cheapest way to get to Exeter) otherwise we will sell a return to Torquay and then the X46 driver will sell them an Explorer ticket.

Like I say, these changes are not till May 19th.