Tuesday 17 August 2010

Diversions: Otterbourne, Swaythling & Polygon / Velvet 22 slashed / Fares up

The main road through Otterbourne will be closed on 18th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 24th August, meaning diversions via the M3 for Bluestar 1 (City Centre-Winchester), E2 and E3 (Eastleigh-Winchester).

Swaythling has yet another diversion for next 3 weeks. Until 7th September, the bottom part of Stoneham Lane is closed northbound, so Bluestar 2 (City Centre-Fair Oak) is diverting via Stoneham Way and Bassett Green Road. First 7/7A (City Centre-Bassett Green/Millbrook) will need to divert too, but they've not publicised a diversion. Southbound journeys are not affected by this, but are affected by the ongoing diversion in the box on the right.

Archers Road in The Polygon is closed westbound until approx 24th August, meaning First 5 (City Centre-Lordshill North) is diverting via Wilton Avenue. City-bound journeys are not affected.

More fare rises are on the way. Velvet put theirs up on 29th August and Brijan Tours hike theirs on 1st September.

Two changes to Velvet on Tuesday 31st August:
Route 22 (City Centre-Millbrook Tesco) becomes the S2, with some journeys extending to Northam, but overall there will be fewer buses, especially on Saturdays when the last bus will run some 3 hours earlier than it currently does. There's a slight route change in The Polygon too. Timetable here.
There's a minor change to the C1 (Eastleigh-Hiltungbury) on the same day, but it only affects the 1625 weekday departure from Eastleigh to Hiltingbury.

Monday 9 August 2010

ConDem rebate cut: First & Bluestar threaten fare rises, Unilink fares already going up.

Bad news for passengers in the Daily Echo tonight. The government wants to cut a fuel duty rebate that bus companies currently receive. If it happens then the operators will have to recoup those losses from somewhere else. First and Bluestar are both quoted as saying that fares could rise by 10% AND some services be cut as a direct result. How many ConDem voters are reliant on the bus I wonder?

As a taste of things to come, Unilink have announced what they call "New fares", which we all ruddy well know is a euphamism for higher fares. And thus on 28th August unto us shall come a price rise to £2 for a single journey and £3 for a Unilink day ticket. This brings about the frankly absurd and possibly unprecedented situation where First might no longer be the most expensive way to get from Swaythling into town.