Bournemouth Airport, in comparison, is a poor relation. The local rag gleefully prints pictures of men in suits in front of a bus as it breaks the news that Yellow Buses' A1 express service is being replaced with a slower service from 30th October.
Currently the A1 takes about 20 minutes to get from the town centre to the airport and 30 mins to get back, thanks to a detour via the Aviation Park. When the 14 takes over, journey times will soar to about 50 minutes each way, as the new route takes the slow road through Winton.
No, not that Winton.
For early flights, the A1 can currently get you to the airport at 0641 each morning. From 30th October, the first 14 of the day will get there at 0656 - not much later, but might be enough to push some early flyers in to taxis.
Those arriving on late flights in to Bournemouth Airport currently have a mad scramble for the last bus into town at 2031. After 30th October, the last bus to Bournemouth will leave at 1908, so if your flight is due in after 1800, you can't really count on the bus to get you home any more.
See the timetable for the 14, along with the other Winton routes 4a, 4b and 4c here. From the same date Yellow 24 also has a new timetable.
On the plus side, Yellow Buses have produced a clear new network map:
I work at one of the businesses within Aviation Business Park, and I'm honestly not surprised the route is changing. The whole airport perimeter towards Hurn and the A338 is very unreliable at peak times, some of my colleagues have sometimes faced a 2 hour journey back to Bournemouth town centre on the A1.
ReplyDeleteWhile the route is slower, Christchurch Road toward Parley tends to be a lot more free-flowing. If it improves reliability then hopefully the 14 can be re-expanded in the future.
I think this a good move; workers at the Airport and Aviation Business park do not live in the centre of Bournemouth. Most "suits" tend to take cabs anyway because their firm is paying and holidaymakers likewise because they have luggage. The route is slower but I suspect will be much more reliable without the A338. Time will tell!!
ReplyDeleteThe new BS3 timetables are on the Bluestar website!Good news is that there`s a new late journey,after 9pm from Southampton,but the last journey from Hedge End to Southampton will be at 5pm!
ReplyDeleteQuite some sensible change to service 3 for once.All outward services will now not serve the Bullar Road,Gyratory Road outward and use the same stop in Bitterne Road West as all the other services,and more important between Superstores and Wildern Lane will serve Botley Road.Let's hope the new evening journey at 2110 from Southampton,receives as much support from the public,that Eastleigh Borough Council has deemed to give it.No doubt about EBC,where it can,it does support non commercial services of the operators in its area.Thanks to a new roundabout at Boorley Green, a much easier turn round for the bus drivers, rather than having to negociate Maddoxford Lane and Oatlands Road,and only for most travellers a short walk to the now nearest bus stops.
DeleteThe residents weren't very happy with the bus running via Maddoxford and Oatlands road, so I don't doubt they are happy with the route change
DeleteSouthern Vectis have revealed how they intend to operate over the Christmas period!Let`s see the other operators follow their lead,so travellers can make plans.
ReplyDeleteThe Isle Of Wight is completely different to the mainland in how it operates over Christmas.I'm quite sure the operators on the mainland,will provide the same level of service as they have done in prvious years,which means no service on Christmas Day.So if you are planning to use the services on Christmas Day you will be disappointed,because there won't be any,except if More decide to operate in the Bournemouth area, as I believe they did last year.
DeleteYour not kidding!A Sunday service on Vectis on Boxing day and New Years day!
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