From 1st September, there are some minor changes to Stagecoach 32, 33, 66 and 69. It looks like these are mainly to journeys serving schools and colleges. Click the route numbers above for the new timetables. Also, the summer season ends and with it Velvet M. More 112 reverts back to its usual almost useless timetable.
On 2nd September, Wheelers W1 gets its first amendment, but it's for the better.
- New additional short journeys are added between Romsey and Woodley
- The 0700 weekday journey from Romsey is retimed to depart at 0650
- The 1740 Mon-Sat journey from Romsey to Halterworth is extended all the way to Southampton
- There's a new 0738 weekday journey from Southampton to Romsey
- Most journeys from Southampton will now leave at 40 past the hour (previously xx38)
- The 1740 from Southampton, which currently only runs as far as North Baddesley, is extended all the way to Romsey
See the full new timetable here. Plus, Wheelers are happy for potential customers to know how much their fares are before they travel! This really should not be a rare thing in the bus industry, but sadly it is, so well done to Wheelers, Velvet and Unilink for setting the standard. See the W1's fares here.
On the same day, there are minor changes to Bluestar 1 and 5 (details here) and Salisbury Reds 34. Click the route numbers to see the new timetables.
9th September sees changes to all of Xelabus's routes in Eastleigh, including the X7, which is the only one for which the new timetable is currently available.
15th September is the last day of the New Forest Tour for this year. Plus there are changes to More X1.
22nd September sees several changes to some of Bluestar and Unilink's routes. Details here. Here's a summary. Click on the route numbers for the new timetables and route info, where available:
- 1: Minor changes
- 3: All journeys will run via Turnpike Way. Evening journeys withdrawn and Sunday service cut to just 4 journeys.
- E1/E2: Minor changes. Some journeys will run through to Romsey as the 5.
- 5: Minor changes. Some journeys will run through to Winchester as the E1/E2.
- 16: Frequency increased and route changed to more directly take on First 7. Bevois Valley will be served instead of Stag Gates and buses will run round the Midanbury/Townhill Park loop used by First. Retaliation for First 2's attacks on Bluestar 18 in Millbrook?
- 18: Minor changes.
- U1: Some journeys will terminate at the Wide Lane/Mansbridge Road roundabout during university term times, enabling a higher frequency between there and the city centre.
- U2: Minor route changes in Bassett Green and the city centre.
- U6: Minor changes.
stick to first bus if your traveling in southampton if you want friendly drivers dont use bluestar as their drivers are rude and dont wait until we are seated before setting off fact
ReplyDeletesome drivers are rude & don't wait until you`re seated, if you want good service I think overall Velvet seem to care more about their passengers.
DeleteThe Bluestar site says all 3 services will now run via Turnpike Lane. I wonder where that is ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/article.shtml?articleid=2819
Good work Wheelers!!and good on Bluestar,with its changes to the 16!!
ReplyDeleteNote to Soton Bus Update admin......... Can you please amend the side bar on your site? Its still saying that 22/09 sees the E1/E2 withdrawn........ Clearly not the case.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing that out Anon 2151. The side bar has now been corrected.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michael todd(19/8)08;44.I`d rather not generalise,i`m sure theres good and bad drivers working for both bus operators.Bluestar buses are generally more comfortable i find ,which is important.
ReplyDeleteDoes the changes on BS16 mean that Blue Line will now serve the Big Cheese roundabout?
ReplyDeleteI think that is the case, Anon 0850. The 16 will run to almost the exact same route as First 7, the only exception being that the 16 will use Cobden Avenue and the 7 will stick to Oaktree Road to get from Bitterne Triangle to the loop. Wakefield Road loses it's direct buses to town, but this change was always about the 16 getting to more stops currently served only by First in retaliation for First 2's attack on BS18 in Millbrook.
ReplyDeleteFirst has a new weekly ticket out. Bit surprisingly it is for the service 7. A weeks travel on service 7 ONLY for just £10. This started a day after the changes to Bluestar 16. Hmmm I wonder why that could be
ReplyDeletecould you consider one bus a hour to wakefield road so many older people cant get out now.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous" (16/08/13 at 14:44) stated "Xelabus pay low wages" but conditions are far worse for some coach drivers. I know someone who worked for a coach company in Woolston and had to put up with payday being late pay, low pay, or even no pay on some occassions. How was he expected to pay his bills when the pay didn't arrive on time?
ReplyDelete