Wheelers W3 is set to be withdrawn from 22nd April. Boyatt Wood loses its direct link to Southampton, but the rest of the route is already covered by other services.
Wheelers W1 gets a new timetable on the same day. Some journeys are diverted to serve Chilworth Science Park. See the new timetable on Traveline.
Wheelers W2 gains an additional weekday afternoon journey from Southampton to Hiltingbury.
First have timetable and route changes to several routes from 1st June. The R1 is put out of its misery and there are changes to routes 2, three, 4/4A/X4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13.
Velvet launch a new route on 4th June: the
See an always-updated list of changes on the way here.
Yet another Firstbus timetable change in Southampton so soon after the last one, although I suspect Hampshire County Council funding could affect service 8/8A/8B-Strange Velvet should number a service 15, when at present Brijan operate a service 15 between Hamble-Le-Rice and Hedge End Superstores,although at present 8 seems to be a popular number between operators in the Hedge End area. I wonder wether First planners will ever get their act right in Southampton. A brave attempt by Wheeler's with the W3 but no surprise at its withdrawel. PAC
ReplyDeleteOur 15 is not a Tesco free bus. It's an off peak service tendered by Southampton City Council, providing a new route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays linking Bitterne, Harefield, Thornhill, Sholing and Tesco. As we understand, the purpose of the route is to fill a number of perceived gaps in the network that have arisen following successive changes to the commercial network, that reportedly cause hardship to many people wishing to access health and shopping facilities.
ReplyDeleteThe route was tendered and awarded as the 15 by Southampton City Council, but in all fairness the route as tendered terminated in Sholing and didn't go to Tesco - therefore no clash would have arisen. The extension to Tesco was suggested by us as part of our tender submission, to give a more meaningful southern terminus and fill what we perceive as a gap in the network for travel from the eastern side of the City to this store.
After the registration was submitted Hampshire raised the point about the service number that we had somehow between us missed, and a further application will now be made to the Traffic Commissioner to renumber the service B4 (bringing it into line with the Bitterne local network operated by First on SCC's behalf).
Depending on its frequency it should be popular as a very useful route-Glad its to be B4 in line with the other Bitterne local services.At least it will carry passengers unlike the ridiculous R1 which is being withdrawn.People in Bitterne,Harefield and Thornhill will be pretty pleased at being able to also get to Tesco PAC
DeleteIf anyone is curious to see a map and timetable for the B4 (15!), I've uploaded a rough-and-ready copy (straight from the registration documents) to www.philstockley.co.uk/B4_preview.pdf
ReplyDeleteYes it's a nice little timetable as a shoppers service and I hope residents in the area it is to serve use it. Nice to see a bus back again along Valentine Avenue which I hope will please residents in this area in now being able to shop at Tesco,which I'm sure will please those on Thornhill/Hightown as well. PAC
DeleteProbably not now as a new LIDL has opened on Bursledon road next to the Range. Easily walkable from Thornhill/Hightown area
DeleteIt will i'm sure affect the people who might have gone to Tesco, as by the numbers useing the new Lidl have i'm sure affected Bluestar 18, who use to have to travel into Bitterne and use Sainsburys as their nearest food outlet,or walk to Tesco. I have visited the new Lidl 3 times now from Bitterne Manor,and each time it's been packed,but when I have visited the Sainsburys in Bitterne at my usual time of day, I have noticed a notable drop in people useing it. Mind you Sainsburys in Bitterne needed some competition nearby,as over the past year their prices have rocketed on many day to day items,so although a bit further for me to travel the new Lidl is a boon, and I have no quible with the quality of their products. The new connection to Tesco will allow me an extra choice of outlet,and on the days of operation I shall definetly be using it once it gets started. PAC
DeleteWell done that man.
ReplyDeleteFor ages & ages I have been bleating on at operators to run a service to Tesco from the above mentioned areas. It's as if the bus passenger only stays within SCC area. Escape now available to Tesco!
It'll need some decent publicity to get word out about the bus to Tesco & I'm wondering looking at the map if around the Warburton rd area of Thornhill if a new bus stop or two may be needed as especially if you are going the "wrong way" around the Bluestar 18 terminus loop. Might be better to go the same way on both in/out journeys. Might nap a few BS18 passengers going to Bitterne!
ReplyDeleteSo Velvet are having a new timetable on the A. Its section Hedge End to Southampton has suffered by breakdowns and long traffic delays - not the sort of things anyone wants especially commuters
ReplyDeleteSome of the delays are caused by the route taken out of Eastleigh where the Leigh Rd traffic lights are an ongoing cause of delay. Obviously there is a need to serve Barton Peveril with students contributing much to the passenger numbers. Would it be an idea to reroute from Eastleigh via Derby Road thus missing the stops in Leigh Road and Fleming Park both of which are covered by the competition.
As far as Hedge End is concerned early morning passengers accept delays en route into City provided the bus is on time at H End - similarly in the evening commuter journeys from City must leave on time which leaves late running problem from H End to Eastleigh.
There are no quick fixes but I am sure PS is on the case
Wow, the W3 lasted long(!) As I said, it basically duplicates a combination of the U1 and the 2 (probably along with a few others, I'm not quite sure of the Eastleigh end). I never thought it would really get much traffic. Despite living relatively near, I never had need to use it.
ReplyDeleteI note that the 2014 version of the Southampton City Council is now available. Being published once a year,It's dated as updated February 2014, so it's already out of date due to recent service changes, and in June will be even further out of date due to operators service changes in May and June. When you view this map you will find many errors in routes shown and frequencies. As most operators seem to have route changes early in the year I feel it would be better to publish the map in June each year,although I must admit more than likely by August/September it would be out of date again. PAC
ReplyDeleteSome of the service changes for Southampton for start date 1st June 2014 beggar belief-However if Velvet is still with us by that date they have done a great favour for their service A in what they have done within Hedge End and along the Bitterne Road corridor by the rerouting yet again of service(First) 8-I'm now fully convinced that the planners at Firstbus live on another plane, although changes in Hedge End are more than likely due to Hampshire County Council cuts. PAC
ReplyDeletePart of the 8/8a is paid for by contributions from developers I believe as well as a bit of HCC
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