More interestingly, on the same day, First will launch new route 11 from central Southampton to Hythe, treading well and truly on Bluestar's toes. We have no further details on the route yet but we can fairly safely assume that it will by-pass Marchwood and compete head on with Bluestar 9. Bluestar 8 is under contract to Hampshire County Council, so if First were to run via Marchwood, HCC would cut the subsidy and Bluestar would cut the route, unless they decide to run it commercially to try and get First of 'their patch'.
Hythe has expanded greatly since this map was put together.
Watersiders have long complained about high fares on Bluestar, so with some clever pricing, First could make big inroads here. They will of course also be taking on the historic Hythe Ferry, which is much quicker for direct journeys from Hythe to Southampton.
Regarding the route, apart from the Marchwood option, there is also the question of whether it will run direct between Totton (assuming it will serve the town centre) and town or whether it will run via the General Hospital as First 10 currently does. If it does run via the General, it will be far less attractive to Watersiders heading in to central Southampton, but will provide a new direct link from the General Hospital to Hythe.
My guess is that this is indeed retaliation against Bluestar for Townhill Park and that First 11 will be head to head with Bluestar 9. As soon as the exact route is revealed, we will let you know.
Bluestar is starting to get a bit too greedy.
ReplyDeleteI can't help feeling that Go Ahead are taking there eyes off the ball with regards to their if you like to call it "traditional" core Solent Blue Line inter urban network, now i know as a business to generate more revenue you must explore new market's eg Townhill Park etc but let's look at what has happened to Blue Line's past network dominance in places like Hedge End and to a lesser extent Eastleigh and Hiltingbury, will the same thing eventually happen in the Totton and Waterside areas..... leaving Bluestar effectively hemmed in by First as well competing with them within the city?
ReplyDeleteLooks like the cosy arrangements in Southampton have been torn up then...even though Hythe is in Hampshire,you get my drift.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt the Hythe Ferry owners will be in the Echo as usual.Time for Red Funnel to take them over perhaps,and divert the Red Jets to call in at the pier to/from the Island.In fact,they could now surely ?
There has never been "cost arrangements" in Southampton. To suggest so is as daft as it is slanderous as such arrangements are illegal under competition law.
ReplyDeleteHants and Dorset (forerunner of Blue Star) did have to charge higher fares for that part of a journey within the City (then Town)area. As an aside in Bournemouth they were not allowed to carry passengers solely within the corporation area
Delete@Anon48: such agreements have been illegal for years, it's the kind of stuff you would go to prison for indulging in cartels therefore just doesn't happen any more. You are referring to a time prior to 1986, a lot has happened since then including the 1987 Southampton bus war and it looks like another might be brewing 25 years on.
DeleteLooks like bus wars are back in Southampton!! Just like the time with Velvet and BlueStar with their B service a couple years ago. I sincerely hope first wipes out Bluestar and takes over all waterside routes and their services to Eastleigh and Winchester as well!!
ReplyDeleteAs for the 16 by Bluestar = Epic Fail!
11 for First = Epic Win especially if the £4 day rider and £16 weekly rider is valid all the way to Hythe!
I believe the First 11 is a rival to the BlueStar 8 through Marchwood, leaving Southampton on the hour to complement the 8 at half past.
ReplyDeleteThe 8 is indeed tendered, and the renewal is at the end of October (new Tenders for Romsey and Waterside services start on 2nd November 2012). I'm guessing that when First were looking at the tenders they decided that Southampton - Marchwood - Hythe was worth a punt commercially, and the 11 is the result.
If First's proposed service meets all the criteria tha HCC are looking for, then I suspect that the 8 won't be awarded, at least not the full service.
Anonymous at 1844 I really hope First does not wipe out Bluestar then all buses will run late and will be really old and break down.
ReplyDeleteYou really must work for First for whilst Bluestar are not the best their drivers are friendly and they at least don't have buses over 10 years old.
Bluestar have T reg buses = 13 years old, R reg = 15 years old and I'm sure I saw a N or M reg recently. The 2 route is run with buses that are 11 years old, thats when they bother to turn up of course.
DeleteAnonymous at 1644 with response to your other post no I do not work for First. I'm not a bus driver either. I am just a normal bus user and where I live in Southampton First is the main service provider in that area, there is a service provided by Bluestar but is is not as frequent and can't get me to work when I have to start at 6:30am
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't object if first used routmasters to ran this route.
ReplyDeleteNOOOOOOOOOOO! We don't want routemasters! Not low floor & draughty old things. Think modern days not London in the 60's!!
ReplyDelete