Stagecoach double Gold bus frequency

Stagecoach South West has announced it will be promoting the recent service improvements to its flagship Gold bus service with two roadshows during half term week (week commencing 26 May 2014).

Responding to passenger demand, Stagecoach has doubled the frequency of the service’s Torquay to Plymouth connection with buses now running to up to every half hour, 6 days a week and an hourly service on Sundays.

The operator has also introduced an earlier, pre-9am arrival, into Torquay to provide improved links for commuters. Last departures from Plymouth will now leave 30 minutes later at 10.30pm to coincide with theatre finishing times as well as providing further late evening connections to Ivybridge.

These changes - coupled with Gold’s well -deserved reputation for stylish bus travel - make the service an ideal way to enjoy a half term day out shopping in Plymouth or soaking up the sun on the English Riviera.

To promote this, Stagecoach will be taking a Gold bus to Torquay, Union Street (27 May) and Plymouth, The Piazza off Royal Parade (28 May). Not only will people have a chance to look around a Gold bus for themselves, they will also be able to pick up a copy of the new timetable, information on visiting Plymouth and the English Riviera plus other giveaways.

In addition, the first 100 visitors to each location can claim their very own ‘Golden Ticket’ – a Family Explorer voucher which gives up to 2 adults and 3 children a day of unlimited travel on the luxury bus service.

Michael Watson, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, said: “Our Gold service has been running for less than a year and there’s already a need to provide even more connections between Plymouth and Torquay. I’m absolutely delighted at how residents have taken to Gold and I hope they enjoy using it to explore Devon during half term week.”

Gold also provides regular connections between Dartmouth and Totnes and, in partnership with Devon County Council; Stagecoach will be running a ‘Summer Sunday’ service along this section of the route from 25 May to 14 September 2014.

A day of unlimited travel on the entire length of the Gold service starts from just £7.50 for an Adult Explorer. For regular commuters, a one week Megarider Gold provides 7 days of unlimited travel is just £26.00. Both of these tickets can also be used for unlimited travel on any of the operator’s other services within Devon.

Customers on board Gold enjoy a ‘5 star’ bus experience with a dedicated team of smartly uniformed drivers, free Wi-Fi and comfortable seats with lots of extra leg room. Stagecoach Gold is also characterised by its ‘Customer Promise’ which enshrines the service standards customers can expect from the company, vehicles and drivers. Details of the Customer Promise, along with the Stagecoach Gold timetable and route map, can be found online at www.stagecoachbus.com/southwest.