Sunday 23 June 2013

First changes: Focus on Shirley

In the final post analysing the changes to First services from 30th June, we look at Shirley:


This corridor is currently served by First 1, 1A, 2, 2A and 3. This will change to routes 1, 2, 3 and 12. Competition is provided by Bluestar 4 and 18, which provide a combined 10 buses an hour Mon-Sat daytimes.

Here's how First's times will change:


A far better service over all. Look at the jump in daytime frequencies, down to First attacking Bluestar 18 head on with new route 2 running every 6 minutes. This situation may not be sustainable, so make the most of it while you can. Woolston has more First buses per hour, but less competition, making Shirley the undisputed busiest bus corridor in Southampton. Here are the main stops:


Live timetabled departure boards: SA, SB, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SI, SJ.
From town, all of First's Shirley routes use stop AF on Above Bar Street, outside the Marlands.

Here are the links for all of First's changes from 30th June and the new timetables for routes 1, 2, 3 and 12.

Throughout this series, most of the maps used have been cropped from Southampton City Council's public transport map 2013, with others taken from First's own route maps, Bluestar's website and Traveline. First should be commended on having the new timetables available well in advance, which has made this analysis possible. All of the changes described take effect next Sunday 30th June.

4 comments:

  1. Thats 35 buses in each direction along Shirley rd!wow,its gonna be BUSY!

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  2. Bluestar have announced a £3 dayrider ticket on route 18 from sunday!

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    Replies
    1. Yea between city-millbrook. Firsts £3.20 city rider much better value :)

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  3. Reminds me of when Solent Blue Line first started, and Southampton CityBus retaliated with their Routemasters. There were something like 35 buses an hour through Shirley then, too. I'm surprised the war is still going. It's been longer than the war in Afghanistan.

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