What's the 6A for anyway?

Amongst the bus services seeing a cut in subsidy from Hampshire County Council on 17th February is the Stagecoach 6A in Winchester. It drops from three days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) to two (Mondays and Thursdays).

On the days it runs, there are only two journeys anyway, with a gap of 67 minutes in the city centre before the last 6A runs back to Abbotts Barton. Useful for shopping maybe, but not much else. Note also how short the route appears to be...

The northernmost stop, Colley Close, is 1.5 miles from the bus station, which is about a 32 minute walk. This route must fill in some pretty big gaps in Stagecoach's commercial network to justify the council subsidy...

But no, Stagecoach's frequent Spring service runs along Worthy Road on its way to and from Springvale every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytimes and hourly evenings & Sundays. It's supplemented by the 67, which has between 4 and 6 journeys each way Mon-Sats although this is also being reduced in February.

So the point of the 6A seems to be to cater to people on the side roads off of Worthy Road who for whatever reason can't walk the short distance to Worthy Road to catch the Spring. As few of them are likely to be fare payers, I have a feeling more cuts will come to this route.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!

Changes from Monday / Christchurch preview

This coming Monday, 28th January, sees new timetables on the following routes:

Bluestar 17 - Extra early morning and evening journeys

Salisbury Reds 26, 27, 29, 29A - Minor changes



Looking further ahead, Southbourne Buses launch their new C1 route in Christchurch on 4th March:

The route links the centre of Christchurch with Burton and Somerford, including Sainsbury's. Burton's only bus currently is More 24, which runs weekdays only, is rather infrequent and finishes by 3pm. Somerford's Hunt Road is currently only served by Yellow 1B, which has a bizarre 40-minute frequency on weekdays and no service at all on Saturdays.

This has more of a chance of being a success for Southbourne than the Ringwood incident.


Timetables for the services being reduced on 17th Feb due to Hampshire County Council/government cuts are now available on Traveline. More on those before they bite.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!

Changes this week and cuts to come

A few changes were implemented at the start of this week...

In Weymouth, a new timetable with only minor changes started on Sunday on First 2. 

In Bournemouth & Poole, Yellow Buses have had some major changes to most routes since Sunday. New timetables: 1/1b, 1a, 2, 3, 4/4a, 5/5a, 6, 7, 8, 18, 33, 36, 737, N5.

New timetables started on Monday on More 13 and Unibus U3, while the X8A was rerouted in Blandford. 

In Portsmouth, First 6 and 12 have launched while there is a new timetable including a Sunday service on the 13/14.

From next Monday 14th Jan, we have new timetables on:

Stagecoach 38 (Petersfield-Alton)

Stagecoach 64 (Winchester-Alton)

Hampshire County Council are continuing with austerity as they slash bus subsidies in 2019. Cuts will happen on the following routes from 17th Feb: 

Stagecoach E1/E2 (Winchester-Eastleigh)

Stagecoach 6A (Winchester-Abbots Barton)

Stagecoach 46 (Winchester-North Baddesley)

Stagecoach 63 (Winchester-Owslebury)

Stagecoach 66 (Winchester-Romsey)

Stagecoach 67 (Winchester-Alresford)

Xelabus X4 (Eastleigh-Hedge End)

Xelabus X6/X7 (Eastleigh-Hiltingbury)

Xelabus X8 (Eastleigh-Boyatt Wood)

Xelabus X9 (Eastleigh-Bishops Waltham)

Xelabus X10 (Southampton-Bishops Waltham)

Xelabus X17 (Bishops Waltham-Petersfield)

...and from 3rd March on First Fareham routes F2, F3, 10, 20, 21, 27 and 28/28A.

Details of those as we get them, but it won't be pleasant.

See a summary of all upcoming service changes here.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!

New Year's Day 2019 bus service levels

Looking for New Year's Eve? Click here.

See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

Here's how our region's buses will be running on New Year's Day 2019:

Southampton & Eastleigh:

Bluestar: Special service on routes 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17 and 18. No service on other routes.
First Southampton: No service.
Salisbury Reds: No service on routes X7/X7R.
Stagecoach: Full Sunday service.
Unilink: No service.
Xelabus: No service.

Special timetables:

Bournemouth & Poole:

Damory: No service.
First Wessex: No service.
More: Sunday service on routes 5, 6, 16, 17 and X3. Special service on routes M1, M2, 8, 9 and 13. No service on other routes.
Unibus: No service.
Yellow Buses: Special service on routes 1/1A, 2, 3, 4, 5/5A and 6 only. No service on other routes.

Special timetables:

Portsmouth, Fareham & Havant:

First Portsmouth: No service.
Stagecoach: Full Sunday service.

Winchester:

Bluestar: Special service on route 1.
Stagecoach: Full Sunday service.

Special timetable:

Salisbury:

Damory: No service.
First Bath D1: No service.
Salisbury Reds: Sunday service on route X3. On Activ8, only Stagecoach Sunday journeys will run. No service on other routes.
Stagecoach: Sunday service on Activ8.

Weymouth:

Damory: No service.
First Wessex: No service.

Isle of Wight:

Southern Vectis: Full Sunday service.




For the remainder of the week, Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th January inclusive, normal service resumes except for on the following operators, which will have a Saturday service:

• First Southampton
• First Portsmouth
• First Bath D1
• Yellow Buses (except routes 1B, 18, 33, 36 and 737, which will have a weekday service)

See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!

New Year's Eve bus service levels across the South

See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

Here's how our region's buses will be running on New Year's Eve 2018:

Southampton & Eastleigh:

Bluestar: Saturday service except for routes 6, 35, 36, 39, H1/H2, T3/T4, which will have a normal Monday service. Extra morning journeys on routes 5, 9 and 12. No early finish.
First Southampton: Saturday service with early finish around 2000.
Salisbury Reds: Normal Monday service on routes X7/X7R.
Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for route 46, which will have a weekday service. Early finish on all routes by about 2100.
Unilink: Saturday service with early finish about 2100. No night buses.
Xelabus: Saturday service on routes X4, X9, X10 and X11. Weekday service on routes X6, X7 and X15. No service on X5 or Bitterne Hoppa.

Bournemouth & Poole:

Damory: Normal Monday service.
First Wessex: Saturday service on the X54 with early finish around 2000.
More: Saturday service except for routes X1, X2, X8, 24, 38, 112, 119, 125, 191, 193 and Ringo, which will have a normal Monday service. Extra morning journeys on routes 5, 8, 9, 13, 14 and 16. Amendments to late night journeys on the X3. Night buses N1/N2 will run.
Unibus: No service.
Yellow Buses: Saturday service, except for routes 1B, 18, 33, 36 and 737, which will have a weekday service. Early finish around 2000 on all routes.

Portsmouth, Fareham & Havant:

First Portsmouth: Saturday service with early finish around 2000.
Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for route 38, which will have a weekday service. Early evening amendments to 38. Early finish on all routes by about 2100.

Winchester:

Bluestar: Saturday service on route 1. No early finish.

Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for routes 6A, 46 and 63, which will have a weekday service. Early finish on all routes by about 2100.

Salisbury:

Damory: Normal Monday service.
First Bath D1: Saturday service.
Salisbury Reds: Normal Monday service, but with evening amendments to X3 and Activ8.
Stagecoach: Saturday service. Early finish on all routes by about 2100.

Weymouth:

Damory: Normal Monday service.
First Wessex: Saturday service with early finish around 2000, except for route 6, which will run a weekday school holiday service, and route 7, which will have no service.

Isle of Wight:

Southern Vectis: Normal Monday service, with night buses.

See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!

Bus service levels across the South for Thursday 27th & Friday 28th December 2018

Looking for Boxing Day bus service details? Click here

See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

Here are details of the region's bus service levels this Thursday 27th and Friday 28th December...

Southampton & Eastleigh:

Bluestar: Saturday service except for routes 6, 35, 36, 39, H1/H2, T3/T4, which will have a normal weekday service. Extra morning journeys on routes 5, 9 and 12.
First Southampton: Saturday service.
Salisbury Reds: Weekday service on the X7/X7R.
Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for routes 46 and 63, which will have a weekday service.
Unilink: Saturday service. On Thursday night, the last U1C at 0030 and the U1N will not run. Night buses will run on Friday night.
Xelabus: Saturday service on routes X4, X9, X10 and X11. Weekday service on routes X6, X7, X8 and X15. No service on X5, X12 or Bitterne Hoppa.

Bournemouth & Poole:

Damory: Normal weekday service.
First Wessex: Saturday service on the X54.
More: Saturday service except for routes X1, X2, X8, 24, 38, 112, 119, 125, 191, 193 and Ringo, which will have a normal weekday service. Extra morning journeys on routes 5, 8, 9, 13, 14 and 16. Amendments to late night journeys on the X3. Emergency timetable on route 50.
Unibus: No service.
Yellow Buses: Saturday service, except for routes 1B, 18, 33, 36 and 737, which will have a weekday service.

Portsmouth, Fareham & Havant:

First Portsmouth: Saturday service.
Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for route 38, which will have a weekday service. Early evening amendments to 38.

Winchester:

Bluestar: Saturday service on route 1.
Stagecoach: Saturday service, except for routes 6A, 46 and 63, which will have a weekday service.

Salisbury:

Damory: Normal weekday service.
First Bath D1: Saturday service.
Salisbury Reds: Weekday service except for route X3, which will have a Saturday service with evening amendments, and Activ8 which will have a Saturday service.
Stagecoach: Saturday service on Activ8.

Weymouth:

Damory: Normal weekday service.
First Wessex: Saturday service. No overnight journeys on route 1.

Isle of Wight:

Southern Vectis: Normal weekday service.



See a summary of bus service levels throughout the festive season here.

We've now joined Facebook, so make sure to like us!