DevonBus
{{Short description|Partnership responsible for overseeing the bus network in Devon, England}}
{{Redirect|Devon Bus|a general overview of bus transport in Devon|Devon#Bus}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = DevonBus
| logo = File:DevonBus logo.png
| image = DevonBus liveried bus outside Exeter Bus Station on 31 May 2025.jpg
| image_caption = DevonBus Enviro400 MMC operated by Stagecoach Devon in Exeter
| parent = Devon County Council
| founded = {{Start date|2022|10|17}}
| headquarters =
| service_area = Devon, England, United Kingdom
| service_type = Enhanced Partnership (Bus Services Act 2017)
| operator = {{nowrap|{{unbulleted list|Axe Valley Mini Travel|Country Bus|First South West (FirstGroup)|Stagecoach Devon (Stagecoach Group)|Tally Ho Coaches|Dartline Coaches (Go-Ahead Group)|Filers Travel|Hatch Green Coaches|MD Buses|Oakley's Coaches|Plymouth Citybus (Go-Ahead Group)|Redwoods Travel|Taw & Torridge Coaches}}}}
| leader_type = Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport at Devon County Council
| leader =
| website = {{url|traveldevon.info/bus}}
}}
DevonBus is an Enhanced Partnership between local government and bus operators responsible for the development and improvement of the bus network in Devon, England.{{cite web |title=DevonBus Enhanced Partnership |url=https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/bsip/devonbus-enhanced-partnership/ |website=TravelDevon |date=17 November 2022 |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}
It subsidises most non-Stagecoach services as "Supported Services", and has control over timetable, route and fares on these services.{{cite web |title=how are bus services provided in devon? |url=https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/bus-services-in-devon/ |website=TravelDevon |date=9 September 2022 |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}
File:If you want a bus... - geograph.org.uk - 3648089.jpg
Traveline South West operates the "text for bus times" service alongside the real-time information service, which is jointly operated by bustimes.org.{{cite web |title=bus |url=https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/ |website=TravelDevon |date=5 September 2012 |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=interactive bus map |url=https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/interactive-bus-map/ |website=TravelDevon |date=30 March 2016 |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}
History
{{expand section|date=May 2025}}
= Background =
In early 2021, the Government announced the Bus Back Better strategy for buses in England.{{cite web |title=Bus back better |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-back-better |website=gov.uk |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=28 May 2025}} Part of the strategy included an expectation that local authorities would form Enhanced Partnerships, which were introduced with the Bus Services Act 2017, with local bus operators.
= Formation =
In June 2021, Devon County Council approved the creation of an Enhanced Partnership for Devon. Later, on 17 October 2022, DevonBus was formed.{{cite web |title=DevonBus Enhanced Partnership |url=https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/bsip/devonbus-enhanced-partnership/ |website=TravelDevon |date=17 November 2022 |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}
Members
There are 13 participating operators in DevonBus:{{cite web |title=Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme |url= https://devoncc.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/PublicDocs/Transport/EdhNPF2-gDFJo0EyanaIzE4BxOMpogOIZ6q4TC5CMP6gEw|publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=28 May 2025}}
{{bulleted list|Axe Valley Mini Travel|Country Bus|First South West (FirstGroup)|Stagecoach Devon (Stagecoach Group)|Tally Ho Coaches|Dartline Coaches (Go-Ahead Group)|Filers Travel|Hatch Green Coaches|MD Buses|Oakley's Coaches|Plymouth Citybus (Go-Ahead Group)|Redwoods Travel|Taw & Torridge Coaches}}
Brand
File:DevonBus branded real-time information display.jpg
A primary function of DevonBus is brand unification.
Most operators continue to run buses under their own brand, however a Stagecoach bus wears DevonBus livery as a celebration of the partnership.{{cite web |title=Stagecoach and Devon County Council celebrate partnership at Devon County Show |url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/south-west/2024/may/stagecoach-and-devon-county-council-celebrate-partnership-at-devon-county-show |publisher=Stagecoach South West |access-date=30 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Fleet list – Stagecoach South West |url=https://bustimes.org/operators/stagecoach-south-west/vehicles |website=bustimes.org |access-date=30 May 2025}} Most digital bus signage in Devon now displays the DevonBus brand where they previously displayed the Stagecoach or Devon County Council brand.
See also
{{portal|Devon|Transport|Buses}}