More buses will be running in our region than ever before on Boxing Day. Here's a summary:
Bluestar: Special timetable on routes 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 16 and 18 only. No service on other routes.
Brijan Tours: No service.
First: Special timetable on routes 2, 3, 7 and 11 only. No service on other routes.
More: No services in our region.
Salisbury Reds: No services in our region.
Stagecoach: No service.
Unilink: No service.
Velvet: Sunday service on routes A (between Southampton and Hedge End only), E8 and X7.
Wheelers: No service
Xelabus: No service
Here are those elusive timetables themselves:
Bluestar:
First:
Velvet A:
Velvet E8:
Merry Christmas to all at Southampton Bus Blog, the most useful source for unbiased public transport information in Southampton. Merry Christmas to everyone at the bus companies who work hard all year round to move us around the city... Special thanks to the 3 companies; First, Velvet and Blue Star who are for the first time *ever* all running services on Boxing Day and New Years Day. As the old saying goes; "The city could not exist without the heartbeat, which is it's public transport system." Have a great day folks!
ReplyDeleteHow sad it is to note, that even today on a restricted timetable Bluestar have had to cancel journeys on their service 18.
ReplyDeleteMakes you wonder if staff were rostered to work, and not volunteering to work?
DeleteIt does seem that way
DeletePublic transport and leisure centres etcetera are services for the people, this means they have to cater for need, anyone working in these sectors should take this into account when taking a job that relies on other people being off work
DeleteSince Christmas day and Boxing day are about spending quality time with family and friends,its a great shame that shop workers and bus drivers are being deprived of that,just so a load of saddos cant manage without shops being open for two days!
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with Anon 26/12 20:31.
ReplyDeleteWe carried a three figure number of passengers on our Boxing Day buses - many going to the sales, but some also going to work and some visiting friends or relatives who might not otherwise have been able to do so.
Our buses were staffed with drivers who had volunteered to work - at rates which reflected the significance of the date - and all had a thoroughly enjoyable day with good-spirited passengers and no traffic problems.
It seems to me that we are a service provider, and if there is a demand for that service and staff willing to supply that service, who benefits from us depriving them of the ability to do so?
Well said Mr Phil Stockley, and thanks too all operators that ran, and their staff. PAC
DeleteHi Phil, I think it is indeed right that people who wish to work are undoubtedly given the right to do so.
ReplyDeleteMy concerns come from when enough volunteers don't come forward and the company has committed to providing a certain level of service, say, because a competitor does so.
In that instance I would take issue with rostered drivers and supervisory staff, plus engineers who want to have a public holiday with their families. We don't all have the benefit of working for an enlightened small operator.
This does work the other way too, with people not wishing to spend the time with their families, who no doubt are the ones volunteering?
Operating buses can be a frankly impossible job at times, and there's very few days where the industry doesn't actually work. Christmas is one of those times -whereas Easter Sunday sees no shops open (in my experience) and buses on a Sunday frequency, which just run empty with depressed loadings.