BusBack home

Latest news and service updates

Latest news and service updates

Changes to bus services from 3rd September 2023

There are changes to many bus services from 3rd September, including a number of improved frequencies. New timetables are available on the Stagecoach website: South West Timetables | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)

  • Exeter & surrounding area changes

    Journeys in the later evening are now provided with financial support from Devon County Council on services A, E1/E2and I/J, there are no change to the timetable for these journeys.

     Service A  Alphington – City Centre The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency of buses is increased from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes. Services A and E1/E2 will now offer 8 buses per hour between the City Centre and St Thomas, with a co-ordinated timetable There are changes to some early morning departure times and passengers should check the new timetable for further details.

    Service E1/E2 Exwick – Beacon Heath / Pinhoe via City Centre Following a review of the route of Service E1/E2 around the Farm Hill loop, from 3 September 2023, buses will operate this loop in a clockwise direction.

    Service H Exeter St David’s – Digby The timetable is revised to improve punctuality of the service. Journeys towards Digby will now operate directly to Tesco, no longer serving Digby Drive, Clyst Halt Avenue and part of Russell Way. Service I will provide a partial replacement (see below).

    Service I  Digby – City Centre – Digby Circular Monday to Saturday journeys on Service I between approximately 0930 and 1600 will additionally serve Digby Drive, Clyst Halt Avenue and part of Russell Way in a one way loop.

    Service P Crossmead – Pennsylvania via City Centre The timetable is revised to improve punctuality of the service.

    Service UNI Streatham – St Lukes via City Centre – from 18 September 2023 A new term time timetable begins from week commencing 17 September 2023. The timetable is revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the service. The night service will return for the new academic year, operating on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights only.

    Service 4 Exeter St Davids – Cranbrook via City Centre and Honiton Road Park and Ride The frequency of buses is increased across the week, with Monday to Friday daytimes enhanced from every 20, to every 12 minutes, providing an additional two journeys an hour.  On Saturday daytime buses are increased from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes, and on Sunday and Public Holiday daytimes buses are doubled from one to two buses every hour.

    The daily evening timetable is re-designed, following an increase in demand, to operate approximately every 30 minutes across the full route from Exeter St Davids to Cranbrook. This reinstates direct journeys to and from Exeter St Davids during the evening.

    There are minor changes to the frequency of buses during the early morning and a small number of late evening journeys are withdrawn from the timetable.

    Between Exeter St Davids and Honiton Road Park and Ride, Services 4 and 4A will provide a combined frequency of up to 7 buses an hour Monday to Friday, six buses an hour on a Saturday and a 20 minute frequency on a Sunday.

    Service 4A Exeter St Davids – Exeter Airport via City Centre and Honiton Road Park and Ride Following a review of the current Service 4A and the award of a tender by Devon County Council, there are changes to the route and timetable of Service 4A. Service 4A will operate up to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 60 minutes Sunday and Public Holiday daytime. The route of Service 4A will be amended to provide more direct and quicker journeys to and from Exeter Airport, operating via the A30 and will no longer serve Clyst Honiton.

    Service 6 Okehampton – Bude via Holsworthy Following a tender process,  Service 6 will continue to operate between Okehampton and Bude, under contract to Devon County Council. There are some minor changes to the timetable, including the 1510 Monday to Friday departure from Bude, which will additionally serve Budehaven School.

    Stagecoach will replace Go Cornwall Bus as the operator on Sunday and Public Holidays, offering an enhanced timetable to customers, providing three journeys in each direction across the entire route.

    Service 6A Exeter – Okehampton A number of enhancements are introduced between Exeter and Okehampton on Route 6A.

    Several journeys will continue as Service 6 from Okehampton to Bude, allowing customers to board the bus in Exeter and travel  through to Bude. Additional journeys are also introduced Monday to Saturday, with up to 11 journeys operating between Okehampton and Exeter, reducing time between departures to just one hour in a number of cases.

    Stagecoach will replace Go Cornwall Bus as the operator on Sunday and Public Holidays, offering an enhanced timetable to customers, providing three journeys in each direction across the entire route.

    Service 9/9A Exeter – Honiton / Seaton via Sidmouth A later journey will operate Monday to Saturday evenings at 2130 from Honiton to Sidmouth and 2210 from Sidmouth to Honiton, which will connect with rail services at Honiton Railway Station.

    Service 44/44A Exeter – Honiton via Ottery St Mary A later journey will operate Monday to Saturday evenings at 2030 from Exeter to Honiton and at 2245 from Honiton to Exeter.

    Service 55 Exeter – Tiverton The timetable is revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the service, including improved connections with Service 346 at Tiverton Bus Station.

    Service 57 Exeter – Brixington via Topsham and Exmouth Additional journeys will be provided at peak times Monday to Friday towards Exeter, plus an earlier first journey on Sunday and Public Holidays from Brixington to Exeter at 0750, providing an arrival into Exeter before 0900.

    Service 58A Exmouth – Exeter St Davids via Exmouth estates, Greendale, Exeter Airport, Science Park Following the award of a tender from Devon County Council, a new Service 58A will be introduced, operating between Exmouth and Exeter St Davids, providing new direct peak time journey opportunities for commuters and students. Buses will operate via Brixington, Woodbury, Exeter Airport, Science Park, Exeter College Technology Centre and Whipton Shops.

    Service 95 Exmouth – Sandy Bay Following the end of the peak summer season, the frequency of Service 95 will be reduced to hourly 7 days a week and will operate until the end of October half-term, when a further reduced timetable will be introduced.

    Service 97 Masey Road – Exmouth Town Centre – The Marles There are minor changes to the timetable to improve punctuality of the service.

    Service 173 Exeter – Moretonhampstead via Tedburn St Mary and Chagford The timetable is revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the service. The 1823 Monday to Saturday journey from Chagford will now operate the standard route and additionally serve Heath Cross, Whitestone and Nadderwater, with the arrival time into Exeter becoming slightly later.

    Service 222 Dawlish Warren – Teignmouth Service will be withdrawn for end of the 2023 season.

    Following the award of a tender, Stagecoach will take over operation of the Tiverton town network from Dartline, with minor changes to the current timetables The local network includes:

    Service 343 Tiverton – Cotteylands – Tiverton 

    Service 348/349 Tiverton – Cowley Moor – Higher Moor – Tiverton

    Service 352/353 Tiverton – Tidcombe

    Service 355 Exeter – Tiverton via Thorverton, Silverton

    Monday to Saturday journeys at 0730 from Exeter and 1745 from Tiverton, currently provided by Dartline will be operated by Stagecoach as Service 355.

  • North Devon and Torridge area changes

    North Devon and Torridge area

    Barnstaple Town Services

    Services 10/10A Barnstaple – Gorwell Circular, 11A/11C Barnstaple – Whiddon Valley, 29 Barnstaple – Bradiford – Bishops Tawton) and 62A/62C Barnstaple – Tower View and Woodville. Timetables are revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the services. Additional journeys will operate Monday to Saturday daytime on Service 11A/C between approximately 0930 and 1730 to provide a combined 20 minute frequency to and from Whiddon Valley and double the number of buses in Forches.

    Service 15/15A Bideford – East the Water Circular Following a review of services within Bideford there are a number of significant changes to the timetables of Services 15A/15C and 75. The current 15A/15C will be replaced by new 15/15A service.

    The new 15/15A will provide new direct links across Bideford between East-the-Water and Affinity Outlet, with each service operating every 60 minutes to provide a combined frequency of up to every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes.

    A new Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be introduced, provided three journeys on each service during core retail hours.

    These changes replace sections of route that are currently served by Service 75.

    Service 19 North Devon District Hospital – Roundswell via Barnstaple There are minor changes to the Monday to Friday timetable. A consistent 30 minute Monday to Friday frequency is offered throughout the day filling the current gap in buses around lunchtime. The frequency of buses during the main part of the day on Saturday will be doubled from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes, providing an additional journey opportunity each hour.

    Service 21/21A Ilfracombe to Westward Ho! / Appledore via Barnstaple and Bideford

    Service 21C Barnstaple to Croyde Bay / Georgeham via Braunton Following the end of the peak summer season, there will be a number of seasonal adjustments to the timetable of Service 21/21A/21C. During the main part of the day Monday to Saturday, Service 21/21A will serve Ilfracombe every 30 minutes, Barnstaple to Bideford every 15 minutes and Westward Ho! and Appledore every 60 minutes. Service 21C will operate every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime between Barnstaple and Croyde Bay, with the majority of journeys extending to and from Georgeham. A number of journeys will be operated with financial support from Devon County Council. The Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be paused until the start of the summer season in 2024.

    Service 31 Ilfracombe to Woolacombe – Mortehoe Circular The Sunday service operates until 17 September 2023.

    Service 75 Londonderry Farm to Great Torrington via Bideford Service 75 will only operate between Great Torrington and Bideford Quay via Dartington Fields and Burwood Estate, with an hourly frequency. Working in partnership with Devon County Council, a new Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be introduced, providing four journeys across the main part of the day. The small number of journeys that currently extend from Bideford to Barnstaple will no longer operate. The Bideford to Londonderry Farm becomes part of the new service 15/15A, which will provide new direct links across Bideford between East-the-Water and Affinity Outlet, with each service operating every 60 minutes to provide a combined frequency of up to every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes. A new Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be introduced, provided three journeys on each service during core retail hours.

    Service 155 Barnstaple to South Molton There are a number of minor changes to afternoon departures from Barnstaple. The  1715 Monday to Friday journey from Barnstaple to North Molton will be replaced by the 1645 College Days trip from Roundswell to South Molton which will depart High Wall at 1650 and continue to North Molton.  The 1625 Monday to Friday College Holidays journey from Barnstaple to South Molton will now additionally operate on College Days. Saturday morning and early evening journeys will no longer serve North Molton and will now operate the standard route to and from Mill on the Mole. Working in partnership with Devon County Council, a new Sunday and Public Holiday timetable will be introduced, providing four journeys in each direction during the main part of the day.

     Service 317 Bideford to Okehampton There are minor changes to the timetable to improve punctuality of the service.

     Service 319 Barnstaple to Hartland via Bideford, Ford, Woolsery and Clovelly The timetable is revised to improve punctuality of the service. Additional Monday to Saturday journeys will operate at 0603 from Barnstaple to Hartland, and 1845 from Hartland to Barnstaple, ensuring a connection from Service 219 from Bude to Hartland, arriving at 1819.

    Service 372 Barnstaple to Bradworthy / Holsworthy via Bideford and Littleham Following a tender award by Devon County Council, there will be some enhancements to the timetable of Service 372, with four additional journeys operating Monday to Friday, including the extension of some journeys to and from Holsworthy.

    Service 646 Holsworthy to Ashwater Following a tender award by Devon County Council, a new Service 646 will be introduced between Holsworthy and Ashwater via Clawton. Service 646 will provide two journeys in each direction Monday to Friday.

  • Plymouth area changes

    Service 1 Plymouth to Tavistock via Derriford Hospital and George Park and Ride

    Service 1A Sherford to George Park and Ride via City Centre and Derriford Hospital

    Service 1S George Park and Ride to Tavistock School The timetable is revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the service.

    The frequency of buses on service 1A between Sherford and City Centre in the evenings Monday to Saturday and on Sunday and Public Holiday daytimes, is doubled from every 60 to every 30 minutes.

    Following an increase in demand for scholars travelling to and from Tavistock School, a new Service 1S will be introduced on Schooldays only. Buses will operate via the Service 1 route, additionally serving bus stops in Horrabridge. Service will depart George Park and Ride at 0735 to Tavistock School, and Tavistock School at 1520.

     Service X1 Plymouth / DHS Schools to Tavistock The timetable is revised to improve punctuality of the service.

    Service X38 Plymouth to Exeter via Buckfastleigh Services X38 and 39 will be replaced by new Service 38 and revised service 39. Service 38 will operate hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes between Exeter and Bovey Tracey, via the current Service 39 route, continuing every two hours to Ivybridge via Liverton, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and South Brent. On Sunday and Public Holidays, there will be 7 journeys in each direction between Exeter and Bovey Tracey, with three journeys in each direction between Bovey Tracey and Ivybridge. Every two hours Monday to Saturday daytime, a journey will continue beyond Bovey Tracey to Newton Abbot, as service 39 with a guaranteed connection.

     Service 86 Tavistock – Whitchurch A new Service 86 will be introduced, to provide a partial replacement in relation to changes to Service 89, which will no longer serve Whitchurch and Tiddybrook Meadow. Service 86 will operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime with departures from Tavistock Bus Station between 0925 and 1355, with a further departure at 1655.

    Service 87/87A Tavistock – Bere Alston via Bere Ferrers Following an increase in demand for scholars travelling to and from Tavistock School, additional journeys will operate on Schooldays only. Service 87A will operate at 0757 from Bere Alston Railway Station to Tavistock School and at 1522 on Service 87 from Tavistock School to Bere Alston Railway Station.

    Service 89 Tavistock – Bishopsmead  Service 89 will now operate from The Tors to Embden Grange via Tavistock Bus Station and Courtlands. Off-peak journeys will also serve Morrisons. The  new timetable will operate hourly Monday to Saturday between 0700 and 1900. Service 89 will no longer serve Whitchurch and Tiddybrook Meadows, with new Service 86 replacing this section.

    Services 104, 105 Tavistock – DHS Boys School via DHS Girls These services operated by Plymouth Citybus are withdrawn

    Service 198 Gunnislake – Princetown This seasonal service operates until 24th September 2023.

    Service GOLD Plymouth – Paignton via Ivybridge, Totnes The timetable is revised on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the service. A small number of additional journeys will operate, and on schooldays, one AM and one PM journey will additionally serve Ivybridge Community College, replacing current journeys on Service X38.

  • Torbay and South Devon area changes

     Service 2 Exeter – Newton Abbot via Dawlish, Teignmouth 0625 and 0655 Monday to Friday departures from Newton Abbot to Exeter are advanced to 0615 and 0645 respectively, which is designed to improve reliability and punctuality.

    Service 3 Plymouth – Kingsbridge and Service 93 Dartmouth – Kingsbridge Following the award of a tender by Devon County Council, a new timetable will be introduced with revised departure times on all days of operation to improve punctuality of the services. An additional later and last journey will operate Monday to Saturday on Service 93 from Dartmouth to Kingsbridge at 1845. Guaranteed connections will be offered for passengers travelling beyond Kingsbridge in either direction allowing customers to remain on the vehicle, with reduced waiting times in Kingsbridge.

    Service 7 Exeter – Totnes via Newton Abbot A number of additional or amended journeys will operate.

    0741 Monday to Friday from Newton Abbot – Totnes.

    0815 Saturday from Newton Abbot – Totnes.

    1830 Monday to Friday from Newton Abbot – Matford Park and Ride.

    1830 Monday to Saturday from Exeter – Newton Abbot is retarded to 1845 and extended through to Totnes.

    1915 Monday to Saturday from Totnes – Newton Abbot will be extended to Matford Park and Ride.

    1940 Monday to Saturday from Totnes – Matford Park and Ride.

    2040 Monday to Saturday from Totnes – Newton Abbot.

    2140 Monday to Saturday from Totnes – Newton Abbot.

    Most journeys will continue from Totnes to Dartmouth as service 92.

    Service 12 Newton Abbot – Brixham via Torquay and Paignton There are some minor changes to Monday to Friday late afternoon journeys.

    Service 13/13C/13D Torbay Hospital – Brixham Service 13/13C/13D will additionally serve the bus stop at Aldi on Wilkins Drive in both directions.

     Service 18 Brixham – Kingswear 0753 Monday to Saturday journey from Kingswear to Brixham will be delayed to 0810 to accommodate passenger requests and school movements.

    Service 22 Dawlish Warren – South Devon College via Teignmouth, St Marychurch, Torquay, Paignton Minor timetable changes are introduced.

    Service 39 Bovey Tracey – Newton Abbot Following a review of current Services X38 and 39, these services will be replaced by a new Service 38 and a revised Service 39. Service 39 will operate every 30 minutes Monday to Friday daytime and every 60 minutes Saturday daytime between Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot, following the same route as current Service 39. There will be four journeys in each direction on Service 39 on Sunday and Public Holidays. Every two hours, a Service 39 journey will continue beyond Bovey Tracey to Exeter as new Service 38, with a guaranteed connection.

    Service 41 Chudleigh – Totnes Due to low passenger the journey offered by Service 41 during South Devon College term time will be withdrawn, however, Services 7, 13D and 39 will provide alternative journey opportunities.

    Service 88/88A/88C Newton Abbot – Totnes via Ashburton, Buckfastleigh Following award of a tender these services will be  operated by Country Bus with revised timetables. Service 88C is withdrawn and most service 88 journeys will no longer serve Westonfields in Totnes.

     Service 90 Dartmouth – Townstal Due to low passenger demand, Monday to Saturday journeys prior to 0830 will be withdrawn. The 2330 Monday to Saturday journey from Dartmouth Pontoon to Carey Road will continue to the Park and Ride site. The Sunday and Public Holiday timetable, will be simplified with buses follow the standard route.

    Service 92 Dartmouth – Totnes The timetable is enhanced with buses operating hourly for most of the day. A number of additional early evening journeys will also be introduced, providing later journey opportunities in both directions. Most service 92 journeys will continue to Newton Abbot and Exeter as service 7

  • Falcon Service changes

    From 3 September 2023, passengers wishing to make journeys on the local bus network in Exeter or Plymouth with a Falcon ticket will need to purchase an add on ticket through megabus.com at the time of purchasing travel on Falcon. Falcon tickets will not be able to be purchased on board the local bus network and travel on the local bus network with a Falcon ticket will only be possible with the purchase of the appropriate add on ticket. While there will be no change to the route and timetable for Falcon, there will be changes to the onward travel provided on the wider Stagecoach local bus network.

  • Get around for £2 – now extended until October 2023

    Pay less to travel by bus! From 1st January to 31st October a single bus journey
    will cost no more than £2 on most routes across Devon. Find out more about the government backed bus fare cap scheme.

    National Bus Strategy

    Find out more and keep up to date with Devon County Council’s response to the National Bus Strategy “Bus Back Better”