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Thursday, 3 April 2014
Marwell Zoo bus resumes
Velvet is still with us and from Saturday their route M starts up again for the summer, providing a direct link between Eastleigh and Marwell Zoo. Full details and timetable here.
Interesting to note that as from 12th May 2014 the Citylink service in Southampton between Central Station and Town Quay will have a reduced frequency, plus a charge to some passengers of £1 per single journey. Let's hope the 1 bus used will be of a larger capacity than the present 2 that are employed on the service. PAC
The reduced service appears to be as a direct result of funding cuts from the interested parties. As Red Funnel customers are the only ones who can now travel for free, I would guess that they are the only ones contributing? It will be interesting to see how much capacity is needed, with the new charge bound to put many off, but with the reduced frequency, I would have to guess that the numbers will still be high. Not much doubt that the existing buses will need to be replaced, as they surely cant operate with middle doors, or the driver will have no control over who has paid, and who has nipped in through the middle doors scot free?!.
I can see no reason why plus bus tickets cannot be used, but having said that, why would they pay the extra charge for it, when its only a pound to use the service? Where would the plus bus users be going? There is hardly any housing along the route.
As far as I am aware GSC have no ex unilink singles left. I think they have all now gone to Morebus. They would, of course only need one bus now anyway!
I cant think of a more direct route between Town Quay and Central Station, than the one now followed, and of course the majority of the trade does not go between the start and end points, with most being workers/shoppers for West Quay.
At last - the CityLink is being set up for what it was intended for - a link to Town Quay and the Red Jet - if people really need a better frequency, there is the U1C every 7 mins most days!!!
Ah yes the U1C, indeed all of Unilink.... The service that hardly anyone understands, except the students! Even Bluestar drivers, in the main, couldnt tell you anything about Unilink, except the colour of the buses. Big missed opportunity with this service.
Anon - if "only students" understand the unilink network, why do the buses carry so many people - not just students!? 19m passenger journeys a year in Southampton, of which circa 4m are unilink! Not bad for a service that no-one understands!!
Hopefully no monkey business from Xela this year with their own version of the service
ReplyDeleteIs there a Sainsbury's at Marwell now then ?
ReplyDeleteMight be an ASDA, or should that be an adder? LOL!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note that as from 12th May 2014 the Citylink service in Southampton between Central Station and Town Quay will have a reduced frequency, plus a charge to some passengers of £1 per single journey. Let's hope the 1 bus used will be of a larger capacity than the present 2 that are employed on the service. PAC
ReplyDeleteThe reduced service appears to be as a direct result of funding cuts from the interested parties. As Red Funnel customers are the only ones who can now travel for free, I would guess that they are the only ones contributing? It will be interesting to see how much capacity is needed, with the new charge bound to put many off, but with the reduced frequency, I would have to guess that the numbers will still be high. Not much doubt that the existing buses will need to be replaced, as they surely cant operate with middle doors, or the driver will have no control over who has paid, and who has nipped in through the middle doors scot free?!.
ReplyDeleteCan rail users use the service with Plusbus tickets?
ReplyDeleteSurely the plan was for GSC to supply two ex uni-link singles as replacements?
Why not re-route it and make it more direct if the other two funders have now dropped out.
I can see no reason why plus bus tickets cannot be used, but having said that, why would they pay the extra charge for it, when its only a pound to use the service? Where would the plus bus users be going? There is hardly any housing along the route.
DeleteAs far as I am aware GSC have no ex unilink singles left. I think they have all now gone to Morebus. They would, of course only need one bus now anyway!
I cant think of a more direct route between Town Quay and Central Station, than the one now followed, and of course the majority of the trade does not go between the start and end points, with most being workers/shoppers for West Quay.
At last - the CityLink is being set up for what it was intended for - a link to Town Quay and the Red Jet - if people really need a better frequency, there is the U1C every 7 mins most days!!!
ReplyDeleteAh yes the U1C, indeed all of Unilink.... The service that hardly anyone understands, except the students! Even Bluestar drivers, in the main, couldnt tell you anything about Unilink, except the colour of the buses. Big missed opportunity with this service.
ReplyDeleteAnon - if "only students" understand the unilink network, why do the buses carry so many people - not just students!? 19m passenger journeys a year in Southampton, of which circa 4m are unilink! Not bad for a service that no-one understands!!
ReplyDelete