Dorset rover

[johnnychips]

Hi I am going from Shaftesbury to Poole and back today changing at Blandford, but it is two different companies. Is there a sort of Dorset rover which would cover both?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Damory should sell it as well (hopefully) a zones A, B & C Dayrider £8.50 adults, £5.50 for kids. I say hopefully Damory will sell them as they're part of the same group as MoreBus. Ask the driver of the bus from Shaftsbury-Blandford if you can get one

 

[johnnychips]

Excellent! Thanks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks, worked perfectly. This forum is so good, after fruitless googling at 2 in the morning!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

If you're Bournemouth way next week, the Bournemouth Air Show starts Thursday

 

[johnnychips]

Hi I'm off to Bournemouth for four days next week. Am I right in thinking there isn't a day rover that covers all the county on multi-operators ? It seems like First don't even do a day ticket in the Weymouth area, More/Damory have their versions round Poole, and there is a ticket that does cover all buses in Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch whose name escapes me, but in urban areas only.

Any information or clarification gratefully received.

 

[iantherev]

First have a zonal fare system where a ticket between zones is valid on all services within a zone you pass through e.g a Weymouth - Bridport ticket its valid on all services via Dorchester or Abbotsbury although I don't think this covers the new tourist service510 which is more expensive.

 

[CD]

Hi I'm off to Bournemouth for four days next week. Am I right in thinking there isn't a day rover that covers all the county on multi-operators ? It seems like First don't even do a day ticket in the Weymouth area, More/Damory have their versions round Poole, and there is a ticket that does cover all buses in Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch whose name escapes me, but in urban areas only.

Any information or clarification gratefully received.

First Wessex do have a day ticket covering all their services.
It is called First Day Wessex Plus £12.
Don`t bother trying to find it on their website as the only place you will find it is on the 510 timetable, for which it is also valid.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thought I'd post here in the absence of a better place as I elected to have a day on the Dorset network of Damory before it disappears this week. In the absence of a day rover ticket like the Cotswold Explorer, Wiltshire Day Rover or AvonRider, I went for the Damory day ticket though with some other cash fares!

I started the day by driving to Bruton and dropping my car off in the free car park and then walked to the station. The train was the 07:07 to Weymouth that was an SWT159 though was clearly a GWR operation. It was nice and comfortable and the loadings light. There was one couple who were talking loudly and the bloke was half leathered at 07:30 on lager - they got off at Pen Mill, whereas I stayed on for a while until Yetminster.

I got off here and wandered off past the closed Railway Inn and into the village. I was catching the 08:11 74 to Yeovil, a service that will disappear into history this week. I waited patiently by the White Hart, the pub still open and waited for the bus. Wow, a Damory coach I thought but it was the 74R scholars bus apparently. The driver told me to wait as the service bus was running late but just behind him. It arrived two minutes later as Solo 3829, a three year version with nice comfortable seats. We were about 10 mins later as we looped around Bradford Abbas (me and one other passenger) before we collected another who we deposited at the industrial units near Yeovil Junction and then a couple more in Yeovil. For so few passengers, you can understand why Dorset are chopping it when budgets are tight.

I had little time in Yeovil so a nip to the gents before the 0903 X11 to Dorchester. To my mind, this was always the 216 and is due another renumber. I'd expected another Solo but instead we had a Dart, and an odd one in a former dual door East Lancs example 3352 that had been new for a shuttle service in Southampton. We headed off with a couple of others and regularly collected passengers from Sherborne and the many villages such as Cerne Abbas to the extent that we had about 30 when we arrived in Dorchester with as many as 4 cash fares! I had time for elevenses in Dorchester so had a coffee in South Street whilst a homeless woman sang beautifully whilst busking opposite. I left for Blandford which was always the 184 in my day, operated by red and white VRs. Now it is the X12 and operated by a Damory B7TL with East Lancs body (1806) and shortly to be run by both Damory and First as the latter won the tender. To be honest, the journey I was on seemed lightly loaded so how long with two operators be involved.

I had a lot of time to kill in Blandford so I went for a trip on the town service, basically a loop on the end of the main X8 to Poole and operated by newish e400 1611 in More livery. Then time for lunch and having killed an hour and a half, I went for the X9 outside the Crown Hotel to take me to Gillingham. A minute or two early arrived Omnidekka 1053, a refugee from Poole depot and still in More colours. This had previously worked on the Isle of Wight and before that was dual door in London with Metrobus. I enquired about the through working at Gillingham?

We left and headed through torrential rain and across the Dorset countryside though hitting some branches as we made our way. North of Iwerne Minster, a lorry came round a corner and on our side of the road. He swerved and nearly missed us - a thump but not a jolt.... we slowed and then moved on ahead. We passed through Shaftesbury and then to Gillingham where I descended and talked to the driver. The offending lorry had hit the mirror, removing the back cowling but we were otherwise unscathed. I give the driver my details (in case he needed it for the accident form) and he popped out for a fag; this journey operates through Gillingham to Sturminster Newton as the 309 so no worries about the connection. Once under way, it was a real struggle to get through the narrow roads around Marnhull but I had no worries on time.

We arrived on time and in pouring rain at Sturminster Newton and I bade my driver for the last few hours goodbye. I went for a coffee as Stur on a wet Tuesday has few options or enticements. I waited for the X10, my last Damory vehicle of the day on a route network that will largely disappear. It was a Solo but older than my first in 3776, a standard 57 plate version and off we went through the rain, passing an older First example (50466) in Marnhull. Credit to First - since they introduced the 59 to Marnhull at the expense of some journeys to Wincanton, they have put up bus stop flags and timetable cases.

I continued onto Henstridge Ash before exiting and then nervously waiting for the next bus which was the 58 to Wincanton. This was operated by First and all white Darst 42953 appeared ghostly out of the gloom. Relieved of £4.20, we headed to Wincanton and I nervously checked my watch but we arrived in time at the Memorial Hall terminus. I exited and then paid £2.10 for a Nippy Bus Solo YJ64DXK. The fare was cheaper but the seating was awful. A reason why I had the bus to myself as we headed back to Bruton.

I've meant to have a trip out on Damory for years and been too busy or too lazy but their impending disappearance on many routes provided the catalyst I needed. Some routes and places I'd not been on since Southern National days! Who knows what the future will bring though

 

[CD]

The Damory X12 which will be commercial involves just a single vehicle.
It does a through trip Salisbury to Weymouth. It then heads to Dorchester and back before returning to Salisbury.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

@TheGrandWazoo a day trip that might be worth looking at (I don't know if it's doable as a day trip).

* Wherever it is you started - GWR to Weymouth
* SWTs to Wareham
* Swanage Railway to Swanage
* Walk to Swanage Pier
* Boat to Poole Quay
* Route One bus to Poole Bus Station (or walk through the High Street and Dolphin Centre)
* Morebus Route 52 to Sandbanks Beach
* Breezer (Morebus) Route 50 to Swanage
* Either Swanage Railway to Wareham or Breezer (Morebus) to Wareham Train Station
* SWTs to Weymouth
* GWR from Weymouth to wherever

The bit that would make it iffy is the boat from Swanage to Poole Quay as there's only a couple each way per day so it might mean an overnight stay in Swanage.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Damory X12 which will be commercial involves just a single vehicle.
It does a through trip Salisbury to Weymouth. It then heads to Dorchester and back before returning to Salisbury.

So a return to the old through route (albeit on an infrequent basis) as it always was (as the 184).

Interestingly, the Shaftesbury to Blandford was always the X13 or 139 - the number varying depending on if it went to Poole or to Wimborne and Bournemouth. The bus stops now carry the 83 (as it was in Damory days about 6/7 years ago, and is now changing from the X9 to the new South West Coaches X3.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

@TheGrandWazoo a day trip that might be worth looking at (I don't know if it's doable as a day trip).

* Wherever it is you started - GWR to Weymouth
* SWTs to Wareham
* Swanage Railway to Swanage
* Walk to Swanage Pier
* Boat to Poole Quay
* Route One bus to Poole Bus Station (or walk through the High Street and Dolphin Centre)
* Morebus Route 52 to Sandbanks Beach
* Breezer (Morebus) Route 50 to Swanage
* Either Swanage Railway to Wareham or Breezer (Morebus) to Wareham Train Station
* SWTs to Weymouth
* GWR from Weymouth to wherever

The bit that would make it iffy is the boat from Swanage to Poole Quay as there's only a couple each way per day so it might mean an overnight stay in Swanage.

That's an interesting one - I have done trips before with a ferry or boat involved but not such a long trip!!

Been a while since I did the Sandbanks Ferry bus - it was still the 150 then!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

That's an interesting one - I have done trips before with a ferry or boat involved but not such a long trip!!

Been a while since I did the Sandbanks Ferry bus - it was still the 150 then!

Last time i got the bus on the ferry was back when it was the 150, the bus ride was a little bumpy in the winter when they used Optare Metrorider.

I was on the 150 once, in the lane on the ferry to the left, was an Audi (think it was a TT), it looked like the seagulls had made their feelings clear about Audi cars

We had fish & chips in Swanage a couple of years ago from a place by the waterfront, near to the pier, they were really nice.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Last time i got the bus on the ferry was back when it was the 150, the bus ride was a little bumpy in the winter when they used Optare Metrorider.

I was on the 150 once, in the lane on the ferry to the left, was an Audi (think it was a TT), it looked like the seagulls had made their feelings clear about Audi cars

We had fish & chips in Swanage a couple of years ago from a place by the waterfront, near to the pier, they were really nice.

I know the place you mean

First time I visited Swanage, the depot had convertible Olympians and LHs (plus some VRs)! Times have changed

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I know the place you mean

First time I visited Swanage, the depot had convertible Olympians and LHs (plus some VRs)! Times have changed

I was on the 152 once on a wet day, think it was one of the buses that W&D got from a company near Manchester, it had a nice waterfall down the stairs as it was an open topper! They were a bit quirky buses as the drivers had to give them very high revs when initially reversing

 

[LordCreed]

Out of curiosity, is it still the case that First day tickets are valid on Morebus and vice versa like they used to be?

When I used to live that way I used to get the X53 from Exeter to Poole and then the 37 back towards Verwood. Was a bargain for around £8.00

 

[CD]

Out of curiosity, is it still the case that First day tickets are valid on Morebus and vice versa like they used to be?

When I used to live that way I used to get the X53 from Exeter to Poole and then the 37 back towards Verwood. Was a bargain for around £8.00

Not for many years I'm afraid.

 

[LordCreed]

Not for many years I'm afraid.

That's a shame.

I phoned First bus and Morebus after posting to find out. The First bus customer services were of the opinion that it was still the case, however Morebus said it wasn't the case. However they did remind me of the Getting About ticket which is valid on all operators in Bournemouth and Poole.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

That's a shame.

I phoned First bus and Morebus after posting to find out. The First bus customer services were of the opinion that it was still the case, however Morebus said it wasn't the case. However they did remind me of the Getting About ticket which is valid on all operators in Bournemouth and Poole.

The "Getting About Ticket" sounds like an ideal ticket to get on Air Show days next month, to save having to worry about what tickets are valid on whose services

 

[CD]

The Damory X12 which will be commercial involves just a single vehicle.
It does a through trip Salisbury to Weymouth. It then heads to Dorchester and back before returning to Salisbury.

Interesting tweet from Damory today.

7 hours ago Service X12 will now continue UNCHANGED with the current timetable in operation until further notice. Great news for our loyal passengers

As this is to be commercial, DCC may be likely to withdraw the tendered FHD 12?

 

[johnnychips]

Going right back to my original post almost a year ago, once again I would like to have a day out from Shaftesbury to Poole on a Saturday in August. I suppose this time I'll have to buy two tickets if Damory aren't doing Shaftesbury to Blandford any more.

Don't really mind that but I hope the connections are still as good.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interesting tweet from Damory today.

7 hours ago Service X12 will now continue UNCHANGED with the current timetable in operation until further notice. Great news for our loyal passengers

As this is to be commercial, DCC may be likely to withdraw the tendered FHD 12?

Given the financial position and the rules on support, the tender is likely to be pulled. Perhaps the money saved will be used for the 40?

 

[Peter Philips]

Interesting tweet from Damory today.

7 hours ago Service X12 will now continue UNCHANGED with the current timetable in operation until further notice. Great news for our loyal passengers

As this is to be commercial, DCC may be likely to withdraw the tendered FHD 12?

Damory website changed to: X12 & 187 will continue to be operated by Damory beyond 24 July on a short term basis pending a tendering exercise by Dorset County Council!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Going right back to my original post almost a year ago, once again I would like to have a day out from Shaftesbury to Poole on a Saturday in August. I suppose this time I'll have to buy two tickets if Damory aren't doing Shaftesbury to Blandford any more.

Don't really mind that but I hope the connections are still as good.

Just had a quick look, it looks like there might not be any buses from Shaftsbury on Saturdays anymore. Looking at the few services that Damory have left it wouldn't surprise me if Damory were merged into Morebus

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just had a quick look, it looks like there might not be any buses from Shaftsbury on Saturdays anymore. Looking at the few services that Damory have left it wouldn't surprise me if Damory were merged into Morebus

The timetable on SWC's site has departures at 08:50, 10:50, 12:50 and 14:50 on the X3 returning at 09:45 and every two hours til 15:55 (not 45) for Blandford.

The X2 to Gillingham operates every 90 mins on a Saturday as does Wheelers 29 to Salisbury

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Damory website changed to: X12 & 187 will continue to be operated by Damory beyond 24 July on a short term basis pending a tendering exercise by Dorset County Council!

Hmmm..... intrigued to know what's going on with this one.

 

[Peter Philips]

Hmmm..... intrigued to know what's going on with this one.

Indeed...meanwhile First is still advertising its new seven year supported hourly 12 online as starting 24 July! I wonder if it is short of drivers again in Weymouth or has further union woes?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Indeed...meanwhile First is still advertising its new seven year supported hourly 12 online as starting 24 July! I wonder if it is short of drivers again in Weymouth or has further union woes?

I doubt it's union issues - that was all put to bed.

Damory put in a tactical registration that has undermined the tender. Do First run it commercially??

 

[baza585]

Indeed...meanwhile First is still advertising its new seven year supported hourly 12 online as starting 24 July! I wonder if it is short of drivers again in Weymouth or has further union woes?

Possibly, although GSC in its various disguises has much form for losing contracts and then miraculously deciding that the work was commercial after all. They may have decided to run the X12 commercially for the time being. Not sure what DCC would do; they wanted an hourly service and GSC aren't providing that, so we may see both 12 & X12 for a while. Farcical.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Possibly, although GSC in its various disguises has much form for losing contracts and then miraculously deciding that the work was commercial after all. They may have decided to run the X12 commercially for the time being. Not sure what DCC would do; they wanted an hourly service and GSC aren't providing that, so we may see both 12 & X12 for a while. Farcical.

All firms have form for it, TBF - First did it with the Sunday 31. However, I seem to recall that GSC lost the 187 to Yellow Buses then registered it only to then pull it anyway.