Major Devon bus shake-up as several Stagecoach services change hands in the new year

Several Stagecoach South West bus routes across Dartmoor and West Devon are set to move to new operators next year after Devon County Council confirmed a list of services due to transfer from 4 January 2026.

A briefing, understood to have been issued to Stagecoach staff and later circulated on social media, lists the Exeter, Exmouth, Tiverton and Okehampton routes involved.

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Devon County Council confirmed to The Moorlander that the changes follow its latest tendering round for supported bus services.

One of the most significant changes affects the 6A/6B corridor, which links Exeter, Okehampton and Tavistock and provides a key public transport route across northern Dartmoor.

Darragh Morris of Stagecoach South West confirmed to The Moorlander that the list circulating online reflects the services Devon County Council intends to transfer:

“Stagecoach South West can confirm that the list of services due to transfer to new operators from 4 January 2026, as published by Devon County Council, is accurate; however, these changes are yet to be registered with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner.”

Stagecoach also confirmed there will be no timetable or frequency changes before the handover.

“Ahead of the handover, there will be no timetable adjustments, and all Stagecoach South West services will continue to operate as normal across Exeter, Barnstaple, Plymouth, Dartmoor and West Devon.”

The company said staff levels will remain unchanged and that it will continue working with Devon County Council through the Devon Enhanced Bus Partnership to maintain reliable services.

Mr Morris added that customers will receive full updates in the run-up to the handover through the website, mobile app, onboard posters and bus stops.

The Moorlander contacted Devon County Council for clarification on the new bus timetables and contracts.

A Devon County Council spokesperson said: “There will be changes to the operator of several Devon County Council funded services from 5 January, following a recent tendering process.

“Devon County Council has also stepped in to fund most journeys on the Okehampton-Exeter service, after current operator Stagecoach deemed it could no longer operate these on a commercial basis. 

“Dartline will operate the new service 66 on our behalf, replacing most journeys on service 6A. Service 66 will operate to an enhanced two-hourly frequency Monday-Saturday, and in response to requests from residents it will also feature new earlier journeys into Okehampton.

“Stagecoach will continue to operate one college day journey on the 6A in each direction and will also continue to run the Sunday service on this route. The once daily 6B service between Tavistock and Okehampton will no longer operate. Alternative journey options are available via service 118, between Tavistock and Okehampton, operated by Stagecoach.”

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According to the notice, the following Stagecoach South West routes are set to move to new operators in January 2026:

Exeter Depot

• 6A - Exeter to Okehampton (majority of journeys)
• 173 - Exeter to Chagford and Moretonhampstead
• 360 - Exeter to Bridford and Christow
• 369 - Exeter to Morchard Bishop and Witheridge

Plymouth Depot

• 6A/6B - Exeter to Okehampton / Tavistock to Okehampton

An internal notice, shared with staff, said the transfers were “no reflection” on Stagecoach’s performance and that some services had been run by the company “for a number of years”.

It notes that some of the affected services have been run by the company “for a number of years”.