All change please!

And it looks like you might have to be doing it quite a lot. This is the new pre-production timetable for A-Line's new batch of services starting in April, so I'll give you a brief overview of what's going on! 

We'll start with the biggest change, this being A-Line's takeover of the current 581 run by Western Greyhound, which will  become the 80B. The old 80B from St Germans to Trago Mills will in part be replaced by the new 80A which is effectively an 'express' service of the 80B, running straight along the A38 on the quickest journey of the day, with the other going going the quick way, but adding in St Germans to the route. 80B will stick to the same route as the 581 and 181 have done, doing the 'long' way via Crafthole, Downderry etc. This will hark back to the old 270 that A-Line used to run, which took in all of these villages on its way through to Trago before the 181 was introduced. After that point, loadings became lighter on the 270, and therefore the 80A/B was introduced going via St Germans. This will be the first time in A-Line's life that a service will not be serving Trago, which is unfortunate, but there will be a service operating from Liskeard, both from Western Greyhound, and the winner of the 'other bit' of the current 581 contract to St Neot which DAC Coaches will take on. The express journeys on the route will be used to connect with the early morning train down into Cornwall for commuters, although many wanting to do this would currently use the 81 into Plymouth to make this journey. If the price is competitive enough we may see more people taking this option. I've worked out why there is no timing point for Torpoint Depot on all services apart from one, a silly mistake by myself! 181 and 581 go 'up the back road' via Marine Drive, joining Trevol Road just outside the Carbeile Inn, hence no timing point for Torpoint Depot, but will serve the stops from then on towards HMS Raleigh. Simply me not engaging my brain enough...

There are also changes to the 80 which currently acts as a peak time circular serving Cawsand, Millbrook and Anderton on its way to Cremyll in the morning, and vice versa in the evening. These will stay the same other than a small change in the afternoon peak with all services leaving all stops 5 minutes earlier than the currently do, to allow better connections with the Cremyll Ferry, which undoubtedly will be much appreciated! I experience the 8 minute wait in Cremyll daily, and although its not the end of the world, its enough for people to attempt to find lifts from other ferry users, or alternatively, will prevent people getting as wet as they currently do while waiting for the 80. The bigger change is that out of the peak the 80 will run two circulars from Cremyll serving Millbrook, St John, Antony, HMS Raleigh, Whitsand Bay, Cawsand and back to Cremyll in both clockwise and anti clockwise directions, which is why the timetable is somewhat hard to follow on this portion. These time in with the Cremyll Ferry each half hour (apart from the long 80 missing out 2 of these) and will void the gap of First no longer serving Cremyll on the new 81C. So plenty of changes, and a fair expansion on A-Line's current operations, we just have to wait and see now if it will be a success!