See all of the new timetables on First's website, as a PDF booklet or on Traveline.
The major route changes have already been mentioned in our previous post here.
From Wednesday, there's a new link between Bitterne and Bursledon in the shape of Velvet B4. It will run via Harefield, Thornhill and Sholing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, providing a new direct link to Tesco Extra in Bursledon. See the timetable here and full details here.
Went to Tesco at Bursledon this morning-Was going to use the new B4,but a friend offered me a lift there and back in His car-It was intresting to note that there is no timetable in the timetable case for this service yet and no number on the flag. There in the timetable case is a very poor shoddy timetable for Brijan service 15, which is not unexpected, as they are very poor for publicity unless someone does it for them,but Exelabus have managed to put on a good display for their shopper services although these could do with an update.-PAC
ReplyDeleteRevised times are now available on Timeline for Xelabus services as from 23rd june 2014 (i.e. X£,X4,X7)-PAC
ReplyDeleteFurther to my posting this morning,it should be noted that the X4 timetable on Timeline shows only the journeys operated by Xelabus-The evening journeys at 1845-1945 and 2045 ex Eastleigh which are contracted by the council are shown on Timeline under Velvet X4.Let's hope when Xelabus publish their own timetable these evening journeys are shown.- Happy Days - PAC
ReplyDeleteAnd the Sunday service is run by First under HCC contract, but still under the "A" brand. That'll cause confusion in Hedge End. Must be something First like to do as their 8 already clashes numbers with Brijan's 8!
ReplyDeleteYou would think that Velvet would actually announce they were still running the HCC evening service on the Xela X4 (or their old "A"). Although I'm wondering, did they actually forget they had the contract?
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.... how about this then?
ReplyDeleteDEAR LOYAL VELVET customer - we have sold off (is that legal?) the A between Hedge End & Eastleigh to Xelabus. They will call it the X4. Our A will still run between Soton & Hedge End. But in the evenings under a HCC contract we will be running the X4 (though should it still not be called A as do HCC need to give permission to change no's?). Anyhow, on a Sunday those jolly nice people at First bus will be running the original A route between Hedge End & Eastligh. Our new A won't run on a Sunday. Nor will Xela run the X4, but you'll have the old A back, so no problem there. However, if you've got a bus ticket that's a Purple pass, a Solent travelcard, a Plus bus ticket or a Discover ticket you'd better check with us, Xelabus & First in advance to ensure we'll actually take your ticket. Best do it in writing as we'll have a lot to sift through. P.s Just don't mention Stagecoach!
I'm constantly confused about the buses in Hedge End as it is. Around Hedge End Cetre/ Barlycorn we have the 8/ 8A/ A and the 8A goes to Soton from one side of the road the A to Soton from the other & Bluestar from around the corner, but you wouldn't know it was there unless you go and look.
ReplyDeleteNot forgetting that the 15:30Velvet A's blind scrolls "then Southampton Airport and Eastleigh" but only goes as far as the Supermarkets, although this seems to be an hallucination of mine as when I mentions it to one of the drivers I was told I was lying, yet I have hallucinated this several times.
I have given up know and just stand at a stop until a bus (other than Velvet's A as we have no idea how far it goes) going in the general direction turns up.
Well you don't have to worry about the First 8/8A as it dosen't serve Hedge End Centre anymore-Anyone in Hedge End Centre wishing to travel to Southampton would wait at the stop opposite Freegrounds Avenue, where Blustar 3 and Velvet A use the same stop, and always have done-The exception is on return from Southampton where at present you would alight the 3 or the A at Freegrounds Avenue,but after 22nd June 2014 you would alight the 3 as now but the A will be opposite the Barleycorn. Also although you can do it on the 3 at present, as from 22nd june 2014 you will also be able to join the A bus for Southampton at the stop just inside of Wlildern Lane by the Supermarket-Velvet have their new A timetable on their website together with a route map-PAC
DeleteForgot to add when I state 8/8A don't serve Hedge End Centre anymore,this is slightly wrong, as a few evening journeys on service 8 still do under contract on Mondays to Saturdays.On these journeys, if anyone uses them, you would board the Southampton bound bus outside of the Barleycorn, and on return alight opposite the Barleycorn.-PAC
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