Well not really new, just someone with a spade and a bit of time on their hands messing about. It wasn't working too well, mostly because there are too many buses parked in too small a space. Years ago I spent a few months in Newton. One of the rules was you didn't have your meal break in the bus station. In effect what that meant was you drove out of the station and parked somewhere legal. I used to end up 5 minutes out of town parked in a bus lay by. No toilet, no cafe to buy a coffee and no where to sit down and eat lunch except on the bus. Back in those days I used to smoke so when it was cold, wet or windy you only need one guess as to where the post lunch ciggy was consumed.
Now there doesn't seem to be time to get out of the bus station and still have the required 30 minute break so drivers not only from our company but also from Country Bus stay in the station for lunch. Result; the place gets full a lot faster than the litter bin outside MacDonald's.
So now the place has been done up and the bus stops moved about in an effect to make it look like the local authority have spent millions on the place. Trouble is it does not disguise the fact there isn't enough room. The photo showed how close I could get to the kerb given the fact that I am trying to get a 34 foot long bus in to a 35 foot long space. Shame about the grid.
10 comments:
Hi, david love the site.
Living under the rule of the time & money wasting clots of Teignbridge Distric Council Iam never surprized at their total incompetance at doing anything other than sending out the bin police to check if youv'e got the right rubbish in the right bin!
Its a wonder they didn't make the spaces in sherbourne rd 30ft and expect you to get you trident into it.
The trouble with Newton Abbot, is that it is such an old town. There isn't really anywhere to PUT a bus station. They could put one out towards B+Q, but that's too far out of town. Ideally, it should be near the train station....but that would mean removing a popular park.
They could get rid of that cattle market, though. No need for that to be situated IN town. That could go out to the A380 or Kingskerswell.
I expect Country Bus and local stagecoach buses will be instructed to use the unused road outside Asda if it gets any busier. Or tell everyone to drive..either way
Should never have sold off Newton bus station and garage- but money talked back in the early days of privatisation.
David. I am the guy in the Electric Mobility Chair at the Torbay Bus Rally 2007. You have 2 Pictures of me. What Address do I contact your Torbay Manager on.
May I make the following points on latest content:.
What happens if someone trips while alighting from the bus at Newton Abbot? See your Graphic Photo.
Do you know when Route No.s 31 and 34 get Mobility Chair Access Vehicles? I would have thought a good Business Case could have been made, as on Route 32.
Once again many thanks to ALL Bus Staff for your Help.
IT IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED!
I've heard some Optare Solos are being cascaded down from upcountry.
Also, it's not too long before the new disability laws come in so 'stepper' buses will be effectively banned (hopefully anyway).
I'd be concerned if someone fell there to be honest. Pretty much all low floor buses kneel...and many are fitted with wheelchair access ramps.
Well...I've managed to fall down the stairs on a 12 bus and hurt both my ankles
Re the comment on alighting with a wheel chair in Newton Abbot; all number 12 and 12As have ramps which can be used to assist anyone leaving the bus in Newton and anywhere else. Also any bus driver who is carrying someone in a wheel chair will make an extra effort to place the bus in a suitable place to make leaving the bus as easy as possible even if this means temporary holding up other buses.
I do not personally have the information regarding the complete introduction of low floor buses to all of our routes, but I am sure this will be done as quickly as is posible. One problem is the number of low floor buses required nation wide, Ford may turn out a car every 7 seconds but buses take a bit longer.
Stagecoach in Devon,
Belgrave Road,
Exeter, Devon,
EX1 2LB.
is our Head Office Address.
Here in Torquay you can write to
Operations Manager,
Stagecoach in Devon,
Regent Close,
Torquay.
TQ2 7AN
Also you can click on the Stagecoach Timetables link at the bottom of the page and then click on "Contact Us" for phone numbers and email address.
May I thank everyone for their kind responses. re my queries!
Yours gratefully
I just double checked. It's hard to get this information but from what I gather the DDA says all new buses must be wheelchair accessible - all single deck buses in service after 2014 must be accessible, and all deckers must be accessible after 2017.
Perhaps this is why stagecoach are getting you some new enviros, to send the tridents to exeter? You'll know when the fares double anyway
Thanks for posting such informative and much useful safety products !!!
kerb ramps
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