BUS passengers in Teignbridge are set to benefit from new changes to timetables.

Operator Stagecoach South West announced improvements to its bus network across Devon from April 20.

Working in partnership with Devon County Council, and funded by Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the Department for Transport, customers across the county will benefit from more frequent bus services.

Dawlish and Newton Abbot and are among the areas to benefit from more frequent buses.

However, several services have been withdrawn due to low demand.

The operator will also be making a number of changes to timetables to improve reliability and punctuality.

Peter Knight, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West said: ‘We’re excited to launch our new timetables across Devon.

‘There are many improvements to the network, touching many of our market towns around the county.

‘We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Devon County Council to deliver these improvements through the Bus Service Improvement Plan and our DevonBus Enhanced Partnership.

‘We know customers value frequency of service together with reliable and punctual services and we’ve worked hard to ensure that these timetables reflect ever changing journey patterns and travel habits to ensure they are tailored for current levels of travel demand across the bus network.’

In Exminster, Service B Monkerton to Exminster via city centre, during school term time, one morning journey from Exminster and one afternoon journey towards Exminster will additionally serve Matford Brook Academy, providing a replacement to the current Service MBA.

There are a number of changes to early morning and early evening journeys, with some additional journeys, while others are curtailed.

For Service 2 Exeter to Newton Abbot via Dawlish, the the Monday to Friday daytime frequency will be increased from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes, providing an additional journey every hour, providing access to Starcross, Dawlish and Teignmouth.

Service 7 Exeter to Totnes via Newton Abbot will see the 0845 Saturday journey from Newton Abbot to Totnes extended to start earlier from Matford Park and Ride.

The 1816 Monday to Friday and 1816 Saturday journey from Totnes to Exeter will terminate at Matford Park and Ride but the 1930 Monday to Friday and Saturday journey from Exeter to Newton Abbot will be withdrawn due to low passenger demand.

Service 39 Bovey Tracey to Newton Abbot will see the 0721 Saturday journey from Bovey Tracey to Newton Abbot extended to start and run earlier from Matford Park and Ride at 0720.

Saturday morning departures from Newton Abbot are amended, with departures at 0625, 0725 and 0825, providing a more even spread of arrival times in Exeter and the 0709 Saturday journey from Exeter to Newton Abbot will depart later at 0800 and run later throughout.

On Service 53, Kingsteignton to Torbay Hospital and The Willows, the 1515 Monday to Friday school days journey from Newton Abbot College to The Willows will be withdrawn due to low demand.