21st February: Timetable changes to First three, 8, 10 and E1/E2. Full details here. Note that there is also a route change in the city centre for routes 8 and 10.
27th February: Xelabus X4 has its Saturday service cut to 2-hourly. New Saturday timetable here. That's one bus every 2 hours, not two buses an hour. This brings about the bizarre situation of a route that runs more frequently on Sundays than on Saturdays. The Sunday service between Eastleigh and Hedge End is First A, which runs roughly every hour and 10 minutes.
28th February: Bluestar 4 and 17 get new timetables. It's minor changes for reliability on the 4 to Romsey, but the 17 gets a frequency boost to every 10 minutes Mon-Sat daytimes, plus the current short journeys to/from Lordshill are all extended to Lower Brownhill Road. Detail and timetables here.
Looking further ahead, the Bitterne Hoppa services B1/B2/B3, operated by First, come to an end on 25th March.
From the same date, First M1 starts again for the summer. That's the seasonal link between Eastleigh and Marwell Zoo, but this year some journeys will start back from Southampton city centre and run via Bevois Valley, Portswood and Wessex Lane. Timetable here.
Rumours abound of yet another change to First 13 in April. Does that make Harefield's route the most tinkered-about-with in recent times?
It's not a rumour about First 13 as there is a registered change as from 10th April 2016.As for B1/B2/B3 I'm surprised this group of local routes within the Bitterne area of Southampton were not withdrawn many moons ago,and very few will even notice that they won't be there anymore.As for Bluestar 4 some changes are quite significant as to time changes mainly on Saturdays, although Monday to Friday most are not so significant.I wonder with Council cut backs how long the X4 will have a better timetable Sundays and Bank Holidays than it will Saturdays
ReplyDeleteX4 has no Sunday and Bank Holiday service. Lol
DeleteWho ever said that meant the service A.
DeleteIndeed should have state First A as opposed to Xelabus X4.Thanks for the correction to my posting
DeletePH1098723/75 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
ReplyDeleteVariation Accepted by SN: Operating between Southampton Pound Tree Road and Shirley Precinct given service number X12 effective from 29-Mar-2016. To amend Timetable.
68. PH1098723/85 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Southampton Bargate and Bishops Waltham Square given service number X10 effective from 29-Mar-2016. To amend Timetable.
69. PH1098723/86 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Eastleigh Bus Station and Bishops Waltham Square given service number X9 effective from 29-Mar-2016. To amend Timetable.
70. PH1098723/87 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Bitterne Sainsburys
Finish Point: Bitterne Sainsburys
Via: Midanbury, Sholing, Harefield
Service Number: Hoppa Service
Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride
Effective Date: 30-MAR-2016
Other Details: Monday, Wednesday & Friday, not public holidays.
Why on earth SCC would still wish to waste taxpayers money in still running B1/B2/B3 fails me.Would have been far better to have given Harefield a Sunday service to City Centre between about 1000 and 1700
ReplyDeleteTimes must be bad at worst bus,if as their Facebook page says,they feel the need to bribe the few passengers that actually use its awlful services,with a "Valentines goody bag",Oh please.First stick to your original routes and actually provide Harefield with a half decent service instead!
ReplyDeleteI was referring to the no.10 route!
DeleteYeah,it`s now known as despeRED!!
DeleteI refer to BS and First as the 2 main local companies irrespective of past name changes.
ReplyDeleteOver the years BS have cut many routes and now concentrate on their busier routes. Recently they have decided to challenge First
busier routes. This would seem to be the only way they can expand in this area.
First held most routes for a long time without significant changes. However, like BS they have now abandoned many quieter routes and concentrated on their core routes
What the 2 companies have done differently is BS have decided to expand in First territory and 'attack' on the mainly busier routes.
Historically First have been unable to run the country routes (especially the now BS1 and Sundays BS4) and there may not be any reason for them to improve this now.
As the current bus wars continue both companies must be making significant losses - lower per bus loadings and discount fares - making the future far less certain
Not sure I agree with your comment of BS attacking First. Think you will find that back in the old days, Citybus/First "sold" BS the Winchester route in return for not running services in the city apart from the 18's. This current war was started by First launching their number 2 around Millbrook. Also, funny how going back couple of years ago First used to run the 13 to Eastpoint, then pulled out saying there was no demand to run there, so where has the demand suddenly come from to warrant them running their 10 from Eastpoint? Funny how BS have turned their 7 into a viable service when First pulled out from Sholing saying there was no demand. Afraid First only have themselves to blame for the mess they are in with their constant alterations, surprised anyone knows what goes where on their network.
DeleteI thought the Watersider service started this.
DeleteFirst are already trying to pinch Bluestar customers with their no.2 and no.10 routes copying totally the 18 route.First are now copying BS,in getting involved in the Marwell zebra hunt!
DeleteYou blue-tinted glasses people have short memories don't you.
ReplyDeleteThe Watersider 11 came about by First submitting a lower tender to HCC for the Bluestar 8 than GSC/Bluestar/SBL (or whatever they were calling themselves at the time). Bluestar then suddenly decided that the 8 was wholly commercial (having been ripping off HCC taxpayers for years taking subsidies fro that route). That was where and when the "bus war" was started.
Bluestar/GSC have form on this. They tried to run Velvet off the Boyatt Wood road with their Beep bus. Eventually succeeded but left a nasty taste and the residents of Boyatt Wood with no direct service to Southampton. What a success that was!
Face it, Bluestar management are an unpleasant bunch who resort to every trick in the book (a la Souter in the old days) when in competition.
So now they waste resources on ridiculous competition (like the 16 which must be costing them a fortune) whilst they leave the 18 service with an totally unworkable timetable at peak time which has let First compete successfully on the 10.
Both companies have been running to Millbrook for many years, although Citybus preceded Bluestar and were there first.
First did not pull out from Sholing; they reduced services and left a gap which GSC have filled with moderate success (although the First 9 carries more than the Bluestar 7 when I see them through Woolston at least).
I just wish both companies would sort out sensible sustainable services. Both are to blame and the only war GSC are winning is who can lose more money..............
Anyone who thinks differently is deluded. If GSC lose the Unilink contract to First or anyone else, Bluestar will be a dead duck!
Think you`ll find that BS16 is replacing First`s No.12 and providing a link between Townhill and Bitterne,after First ditched a link which has been there for as many years as most people can remember.
DeleteBluestar had Redbridge Hill area to themselves,until First started up their no,2 bus!
Delete>>I just wish both companies would sort out sensible sustainable services.<<
DeleteIs that possible under the current regulations?
I doubt it when you have so called top politicians responsible for it.A good example is an article today on this site under focus transport about electric cars which demonstrates they have no idea of what a bus is all about.I totally agree what focus transport has replied at the foot of the article
DeleteAlthough the Bluestar 16 was rerouted to replace First 12,it so far is not particularly good for passenger loadings.However recently the loadings on some journeys have started to improve.Unlike First if something does not perform to well Bluestar stick with it and hope it will get better,before they make a decission to lower the frequency or maybe abandon the route.At present Townhill Park is undergoing a rebuilding of housing programme with so many flats at the Townhill Way end of Meggeson Avenue empty ready for demolition and replaced by new buildings.I use the 16 quite frequently,and the one I was on today at about 1240 inward to City had a reasonable load on it.Although it runs every 15 minutes, which may be a little to frequent for present patronage,most of the day it's reliable,unlike the much more frequent First Red 7 which even after so called improvements by First,most of the day continualy runs with two buses together.It has been very rare over the last few months to have ever had a situation where they are more or less reasonabaly spaced out.In Southampton all the high frequency in my travels during the day are erratic in running.The routes that don't have high frequencies are much more reliable and tend to depart the stop you are waiting at more or less most of the day when they should.
ReplyDeleteI caught a no.16 today from City to Bitterne and the bus was pretty full!
DeleteWhat's the chances of Bluestar wanting to run a bus service in Weston as it is a first dominated area?
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, Reece, when I first moved to Netley in 1987, what was then Hampshire Bus, did run through Weston Estate on the Hamble service. The Southampton area was bought from Stagecoach by Solent Blue Line. From Woolston, the bus ran along Archery Road, then Weston Lane, Wallace Road, Ropley close and Ticklefored Drive before emerging on to Newtown Road.
DeletePete
PH1098723/56 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
ReplyDeleteVariation Accepted: Operating between Eastleigh Bus Station and Tesco, Swan Centre given service number X1/X2 effective from 05-Apr-2016. To amend Timetable.
PH1098723/60 - XELABUS LIMITED, UNIT 10, BARTON PARK ESTATE, CHICKENHALL LANE, EASTLEIGH, SO50 6RR
Variation Accepted: Operating between Eastleigh Bus Station and Chandlers Ford, Asda given service number X3 effective from 05-Apr-2016. To amend Timetable.
Xelabus Bitterne Hoppa timetable now on Traveline
ReplyDeleteYes,and a good example of how councils who are already strapped for cash in providing transport for local areas that need a bus service,and then wasting it on totaly stupid services that hardly anyone uses,and with the new timetables even less than the few who used them before,will use them in future
DeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteJust to update everyone that we are making the following changes:
Service X1/X2/X3 will revert to Tuesdays and Thursdays only from 5th April.
Service X4 reduces frequency on Saturdays to every 2 hours from this Saturday 27th February.
Service X9/X10 has a better timetable to aid reliability starting 29th March.
Service X12 is a very much reduced Tuesday and Thursday only timetable being financed by Southampton City Council starting 29th March.
Bitterne Hoppa - We will take over this service from 30th March operating Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except P Holidays). It is a reduced timetable to still provide a shopping service for areas where other services don't run. It is funded by Southampton City Council.
New Southampton City booklet and Eastleigh area guides will be available from 11th March.
Timetables will be published on web site from same date.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Where can we get Xelabus timetables from? The rack in Eastleigh Bus Station is always empty
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteWe fill that rack daily and it does empty very quickly. New timetables will be available from 11th March for the changes from Easter or from on board any of our buses.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Hello is it correct that only one of the Bitterne Hopper services will only have 1 Journey?
ReplyDelete