Like a few people on this thread, I've decided to take advantage of the £1 fares on the Falcon and use it to enable a trip on Stagecoach Devon.
Left the house and drove to Churchill for the 0640 trip south. Avoided the First A2 and a minute later, the Falcon appeared. Stuck my hand out in plenty of time but in the murk, the driver didn't see me until the last minute. Thought I was going to miss it but he stopped. Very chatty driver on 54326, had a nice talk and he explained how the service was run, breaks taken, etc. He was complimentary about the Elites; rear steer makes them very easy to drive and they have lane guidance and other safety measures.
In terms of passenger comfort, they were very assured. A little bit of rattling from the wheelchair zone but overall, really good kit. Picked up one passenger at Taunton for Exeter (I was the only one before that), before two joined at Cullompton and one at Exeter for Plymouth. Arriving into Bretonside, I took the opportunity to take some photos to remind me of that hellhole in future years.
A wander across to Royal Parade and stop A11 for the 3 to Dartmouth. Heard it was Tridents so no surprise when Stagecoach 18068 appeared. Got on, bought my Explorer, and headed off. This machine was hard worked on the 12 in Torbay and it did look a little frayed around the edges. Got into Kingsbridge and had a quick run to the shop during the 5 min break and then continued into Dartmouth. Oddly, the stops had Stagecoach timetables in the cases but the flags were still mainly First! Lovely route but lots of stops to negotiate tight spots and allow HGVs through.
A sandwich at Dartmouth and then a £1.50 trip across the Dart to Kingswear. Then I wandered up to the "Banjo" bus stop where Trident 18074 appeared on the 120. The driver then waited around because there's a driver swap with the Brixham to Kingswear bus. I headed to Paignton on the Trident before leaping off there and onto a non-descript e400 15667 on the 22 to Torquay.
A short coffee break there and then onto the Gold X46 at 1445 onto e400 15932. Sadly, the X prefix doesn't mean that it takes advantage of the Kingskerswell bypass as we wandered around. Off to Exeter and after a quick scout around the bus depot before I had a quick scoot to Pinhoe and back on the 1, more e400s (19008 and 19065).
Then a trip out on the Honiton Road P&R Red route with 10453 - that was an e400mmc with high back, soft "leather" seats and, I have to say, it was better than the Gold decker I had on the X46 and also better than the First ones I've experienced in Bristol. Very nice machines. That got me to Honiton Road and then a short wait for my northbound Falcon that, despite the recent concerns, was bang on time (54325) and swept me north.
You've got a few days to experience the £1 Falcon - go and do it while you can!!
This type of operation has to be flexible, or it will not work. Stagecoach are not the type of operator, these days at least, to pack up if things don't go well after the first few weeks, unlike some other operator(s) who announce new services to Bristol Airport from afield with great fanfare, then quickly jack them in within a relatively short space of time.
