Major Stagecoach timetable shake-up set for Dartmoor and South Hams this April

Bus services across Devon will see timetable changes from 5 April 2026, with several routes affecting communities around Dartmoor, including Tavistock, Okehampton, Totnes and Newton Abbot.

Stagecoach South West said “the changes are primarily to strengthen punctuality and improve overall service reliability.”

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Running times on several routes have been adjusted to better reflect traffic conditions and passenger demand.

Tavistock and West Devon

Several services serving towns on the western edge of Dartmoor will see changes.

A new Service 84 will run between Holsworthy and Tavistock after the existing Service 85 is shortened to operate only between Barnstaple and Holsworthy.

Service 84 will follow the same route between Holsworthy and Tavistock, with Monday to Saturday departures from Holsworthy at 9.45am, 12.45pm and 6.40pm. 

Buses will leave Tavistock at 8.35am, 11.30am, 2.30pm and 5.30pm, with one afternoon journey continuing to Milton Abbot and Launceston.

Passengers should note that connections between Services 84 and 85 at Holsworthy are not guaranteed.

Changes are also planned to Service 118 between Tavistock and Okehampton. 

Three journeys in each direction will now additionally serve Bridestowe following requests from residents.

The 87 and 87A services between Tavistock and Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers will see a small timetable adjustment, with the 9.10am departure from Bere Ferrers moving slightly later.

Plymouth and Dartmoor routes

Routes linking Plymouth with Dartmoor towns will also see minor changes.

The Service 1 between Plymouth and Tavistock will have timetable adjustments, including additional recovery time in Plymouth to help reduce delays.

The Service 38, which runs between Exeter, Buckfastleigh and Plymouth, will also see some departure times changed, particularly on Saturdays.

Totnes, Newton Abbot and South Hams

A revised timetable will also affect routes through the South Hams and Teignbridge.

The Service 7 between Exeter and Dartmouth will incorporate the existing Service 92 route between Totnes and Dartmouth. 

From April the service will run up to every hour between Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Dartmouth, allowing passengers to travel through without changing buses.

Bovey Tracey passengers on Service 39 will also see timetable adjustments, with later evening journeys from Newton Abbot extended towards Exeter.

Additional early morning and evening journeys will also run between Matford Park and Ride and Newton Abbot.

Changes to Service 80 between Plymouth and Paignton via Totnes include a later Saturday evening journey from Plymouth extending through to Paignton, and a new late return journey from Paignton to Totnes.

Weekday journeys on this route will also serve Ivybridge Community College, with slight adjustments to departure times.

Aims of the changes

Peter Knight, managing director of Stagecoach South West, said the updates are designed to make services more dependable.

He said: “By refining timetables to better reflect real-world conditions and aligning services more closely with customer demand, we are strengthening punctuality and improving overall reliability.”

Full details of the timetable changes are available on the Stagecoach website and mobile app.