First - Transforming Travel across Dartmoor.

            So, how did First Transform Travel for me this year? As has been commented on previously in my photostream, I have had a less than happy time previously with First on the 82 across Dartmoor. This year, aside from a very slow trundle on a Volvo B6 from Exeter to Plymouth, I have no complaints with the outward journey. The comedy of the return journey defies belief. Firstly a bus runs into Bretonside showing 82 on the front. The driver says it's not this bus as he's going on his break, he then parks up over the far side of the bus station. Then one of the SN05 Darts turns up empty at the stop. The driver flashes up 82 Exeter on the destination. Bingo you may think, but no, this driver gets off saying that he would love to take us across the Moor but he doesn't know the route. He then goes and sits in the original bus over the far side. By now we are late, and we haven't got a driver yet. A fellow  passenger asks a National Express driver who is the only person visable in a First Group flouresent "flack" jacket, but he doesn't seem to give a toss. Enter an 86 who's poor woman driver collars a broadside from our digruntled fellow passenger. She phones control, who say that they know there is a problem and that a driver is on his way. Enter stage right the original driver, who opens the bus up grumbling that he should be on his break and that he's been told to come and drive us to Exeter. By now 35 minutes late, we passengers don't care, we just want to get on the bus and go home. Mr driver then drives at normal speeds through the suburbs of Plymouth, until he reaches Dartmoor. Queue the video clip as we raced through the Dartmoor lanes at breakneck speeds, exceeding the Dartmoor 40 restriction I would guess. Suffice to say we arrived in Exeter 5 minutes early and that was with a short stop at Longdown, Lamb Inn as we were about 8 minutes too early then. All in, our driver, Mr Schumacker, pulled back 40 minutes! I'll leave you to judge for yourself whether it was safe and legal!
   

Taken on: August 23, 2009

Tags:

First Devon And Cornwall

Dennis Dart

Sets appears in: • Bus (and tram) Interiors. • First Devon And Cornwall Buses.

Stats: 4,575 views / 4 comments

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