Changes to the 88 Bus Service
This is to inform you of a specific change to the 88 bus service (Newton Abbot – Ashburton – Buckfastleigh – Totnes).
Stagecoach have historically operated this service on a commercial basis. They recently declared they could no longer do this. In response DCC tendered for a replacement supported bus service funded by the Department for Transport’s Local Transport Fund. This tender was won by Country Bus who will take over the operation of the service on Monday 4th September 2023.
Please see below the new timetable for the service. Given that it is effectively a new service, there are some key changes as set out below.
- The new 88 service does not operate a through service to South Devon College (SDC). The new timetable has been timed so that the 88 bus will connect at Totnes with the specific peak Gold buses that serve SDC.
- To improve reliability and to maintain the current frequency of the core service, the new 88 service will not be able to serve the Bridgetown estate at Totnes, apart from one loop in the late afternoon. In addition to this, the Bridgetown estate is still served by Bob the Bus’s B1B town service on a commercial basis, so DCC would not wish to commission a rival bus service.
Country Bus also won the tender for the 88A bus service ( Newton Abbot – Bradley Barton – Highweek Circular Town Service) which was previously operated by Stagecoach as a supported bus service. Country Bus will commence operating this service on Monday 4th September 2023 – there are no changes to this timetable.