There are new timetables from today on all Unilink routes. Full details here. The main change is a frequency boost on the U2, with an extra bus an hour on weekday daytimes, numbered U2X but not serving Avenue Campus on journeys away from the city centre.
Yes and nice to have all the services operated in a booklet,unlike Bluestar services where individual pocket timetables are issued for each route.
ReplyDeleteThis is to give full flexibility for changes to blue star services,without the need to reprint everything unaffected. Unilink is completely different with timings agreed for the whole year in advance.
ReplyDeleteYes,convenience for the operator,but inconvenience for the traveller in having to carry round many different pocket timetables of which some vary in size.First may not be the most popular operator in Southampton,but they still issue a timetable book which is excelent in every respect, and how many times do they change their services compared to Bluestar?
ReplyDeleteBluestar issue individual TTs but Southern Vectis abd More in Bournemouth/Poole both issue TT books (neither is up to First standard but still much better).
ReplyDeleteIf Bluestar are serious about Southampton they need to learn from First, SV and More. Bluestar marketing material is awful.
Odd to consider the First timetable books are of a good standard. The Southampton book has been created by someone who cannot count. Starts with route 2, then 3, 7, 10 then 11 then back to 1, X4/X5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13. Other than timetables and route maps its very sparse on information. Contrast that with the excellent Southern Vectis and More bus books - the only thing missing is individual route maps although this is made up for with excellent detailed network maps.
DeleteYes-What a shame Bluestar don't fall in line with More and Southern Vectis and this time as First are only interested in their red routes they have decided this issue to put all other services on the back burner.However the First timetable is very clear to read thankfully.
DeleteAlso First's Soton timetable misses off X4/X5 journeys that do not run to Southampton. For example ones that run from Portsmouth/Southsea to Locks Heath only.
DeletePersonally I consider individual route maps to be pretty important. Obviously GSC Marketing department don't agree; presumably too busy learning how to spell.
DeleteLooks like a nerve has been touched at Wirst marketing where ever that is based now? Norwich or somewhere equally far away from their customers. Now repeat after me 1, 2, 3, 4...
DeleteFor the benefit of Anon 25 sept 22:01, I was the author of the comment about route maps to which you posted a sarky reply. I do not/never will work for First; my honest opinion is that the route maps in First's booklet are very useful, and far better than B* who don't seem to try to bother with maps. This opinion clearly enrages you as a Bluestar groupie, but this does not entitle you to accuse me of not being numerate.
DeleteIt sums up B* that you have to resort to such pathetic wibble; First are dropping journeys that are unprofitable to them; if B* want to replace them, then good luck to them. If they can make money, good for them. However, Bluestar's strategy appears to be size is everything. Sometimes it is, but if you want profit then First appear to have the more coherent strategy, in Southampton at least.
Interesting comment from Anon at 09.30 on 22 September. Blue Star, Vectis and More are of course part of Go South coast, as are Salisbury Reds. I suppose it's too much to expect the marketing team to be integrated
ReplyDeleteAny news yet of what is happening to Wheeler's E1/E2 after 10th October 2015?
ReplyDeleteThat woman from Merry oak was on First Southampton`s FB page,claiming that First were out in Bitterne,apparently giving out dayriders,as long as users used the no.10.If it is true then First must be desperate!!
ReplyDeleteIf the no.12 was under performing on the Bitterne side,then they could have used this way of attracting more users to it ,rather than pulling a 15 min frequency service altogether,a route i might add ,that Bluestar feel there is a good profit to be made from.
DeleteIf First had given me a dayrider and told me i had to user it on the no.10,i would have ripped it up and threw it back at them .Why?because they just don`t appear interested in their passengers,whilst at the same time as making money,unlike Bluestar,who took over two of their abandoned routes!
DeleteI know someone who got banned from posting on First southampton`s fB page,after reminding First that they said there was insufficient demand,on two routes which have now been snapped up by Bluestar!They obviously hit a raw nerve there!
DeleteAnon at 22.11. I think you're right about Worst being desperate. I was told about three years ago by an employee of one of the other firms that the "others" gave them a few months before the whole group fell apart. Strangely, they do seem still to be hanging on, despite selling off several parts of the empire.
DeleteCan`t wait to see Bluestar give First a bloody nose,while fighting them on the General hospital route!It`s long overdue!
DeleteThe Harefield meeting took place last night about the service provided in the area.No one bothered to attend from First,however interestingly Bluestar did send a representative
ReplyDeletePocket timetables are now available at the Bluestar Travel Shop for the new 17 service to be introduced in October 2015. The revised 16 timtable for when it's rerouted as from 28th September 2015 has been available for some weeks now at the same outlet
ReplyDeleteWhen this week I view various sites about the recent First changes in Southampton which have not with many customers gone down very well,I wonder wether the local management should not be replaced as some of the reported statements by them beggar belief.The latest reported is a statement to the local Echo in which it's reported they are still looking at services within Southampton which they have reduced in frequency and will improve if the custom is still there and increases.Well there won't be much custom as they have reduced the level of service to a degree thats it's not much use to customers in the area affected.Who are these people who are responsible for First in Southampton?.They decipate services and still expect the public to use them.Some of the statements they are reported to make about services being commercialy viable beggar belief.
ReplyDeleteVery true!What great planning by First ,when kids can`t get to school on time,or have to get there really early !
DeleteFirst have told us two routes were poor performing,so they took them away,only for Bluestar to take them over.
First made controversial changes this month and conveniently changed their social media policy,so that disgruntled passengers couldn`t post on their Facebook wall anymore.
I feel sorry for those with no option,but to use First,i know i and i`m sure many others would far prefer to wait and catch a Bluestar bus.
I think in the future when Bluestar can recruit moe staff more routes will be introduced as it's quite clear First don't have much interest in certain parts of Southampton.They make great publicity about their red routes and how successful they are,but most buses I note on these routes during the day never have 4 to 5 people per bus on them,and they are usually elderly pass holders-First management is not in the same world as the rest of us
DeleteOne advantage First do have over Bluestar when it comes to city centre routes is depot location. Recently on a single drive from Bishopstoke to the city centre I passed six "Sorry not in use" uni-link / blue star buses. I presume first lose a lot less in dead journies than bluestar. It makes First claim that cutback routes are unviable when bluestar then operates them seem even more unlikely.
ReplyDeleteYes but how do you know Bluestar are operating them viably. Possibly Bluestar are happy to operate some routes at a loss (the 16 and the 3 for example) in an attempt to drive First out of town. It happened in Plymouth (although longer term I expect Stagecoach to be more profitable than GA in Plymouth) but I can't see it happening in Southampton. .
DeleteI suspect without Unilink propping up Bluestar financially, the profit figures might not look too great at present.
First must be taking a huge loss on the new no.10!I saw a no.10 at the six dials ,heading to Thornhill with just two passengers,a few moments later a packed Bluestar 18 went past in the same direction!
DeleteNot just BS at Eastleigh, with lost mileage got Totton as well, dead mileage from Totton-Calshot area as well, that's a fair distance
DeleteWhilst I was on a 10 last week that was full and standing The First 10 is certainly carrying more than the Bluestar 16 has ever done.
DeleteIs anyone slightly annoyed by the name of the U2X? I suppose it stands for "Xpress" oslt, except that it ruins the perfectly good pattern they had of the last letter representing the destination (or if it was absent, Highfield Campus).
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I can't think of a better name for it. It just annoys me ;)