First have released the timetable for the new
X4 and
X5 services, which will replace the current
4/4A/X4 services from Sunday 27th July. See the new timetable
here.
See a full stop listing for both routes
here.
Route map from First's new Fareham & Gosport timetable booklet
At the last timetable change when the 5/5A between Fareham and Gosport was replaced by the 5 only,after it settled in from most comments I have seen,the majority of customers were quite satisfied with it in how it runs.With it now becoming X5 and extended to Southampton, I see reliability problems looming on the Fareham to Gosport section as getting in and out of Southampton can be a nightmare on most days. This is also the problem with X4 either at the Southampton or Portsmouth ends in getting in and out most days.I can imagine when it starts we will see complaints from customers on the Fareham to Gosport section, as to where is my bus, become more frequent.It's nice to have a 15 minute frequency between Southampton and Fareham but I feel at a cost to those customers between Fareham and Gosport.- PAC
ReplyDeleteThose going Gosport to Soton would probably be better off getting Eclipse to Fareham rail stn & crossing the rd & getting x4/x5 from there!
ReplyDeleteI see the new timetable booklets are now also on line in their timetable book section.
ReplyDeleteHow it stands out on the map of the lack of stops between Fareham(Broadlaw Walk) and Stubbington(Sumar Close)-Would have thought there would have at least been one near Rowan Way/Peak Lane/Longfield Avenue to serve the residents in this area-PAC
ReplyDeleteSince I posted about the lack of stops between Fareham(Broadlaw Walk) and Stubbington(Sumar Close),I have been advised by First that there are additional stops. I have asked them to advise Traveline to update the map on their site for new service X5 that this is so. When or if this happens we shall just have to wait and see.I find this Traveline at times,not always the best site to visit for upto date information.However I must suspect they can only go on what the operator(s) provide them.- PAC
ReplyDeleteHaving been one of the people to suggest the Southsea extension, I am quite happy, especially during the summer.
ReplyDeleteI see potential in the X5 as a scenic bus which I like, thanks for the route map
Well let's hope local people travelling to and from work will enjoy it as a scenic route.which I very much doubt.
ReplyDeleteBut who travels all the way from Gosport to Southampton for work. Not many me thinks !
ReplyDeleteHardly anyone,and from the timetable change no one in their right mind or from Lee-On-Solent or Stubbington.It's now time to invest in a car and leave the route to those who have the leisure time to enjoy the scenery until the next timetable change.
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for the opposition to try a replacement for the 4 (or 72 in old money). If I had the money to set up a bus co. it would be Soton-Bitterne-Tesco Bursledon-Locks Heath-Stubb-Lee-Gosport, with my other service going Soton-Bitterne-Whiteley-Fareham. But as I can't get the capital I'm assuming Xela or Velvet will drive-in & clear up! :>)
ReplyDeleteKnow how you feel, I'd do the same, thinking more about customers than money
DeleteI think all business put finance before customers otherwise they would not be in business.
ReplyDeleteYes thats the way it is and always will be-PAC
DeleteBut it's the amount of profit to please shareholders. Whereby a smaller operation may still require to make a profit it's not always the end of the world if profits aren't superdooper!
ReplyDeleteNo profit = no bus company = no bus service. Low profit = no new buses ever, The councils are withdrawing their funding from most places, so if it ain't viable, it ain't running. Look what's happened to Velvet, Padern, etc etc.
ReplyDeleteFair point. Sadly the no profit worry means that operators hardly ever gamble on new route(s) for new areas. Can't take the risk. But sometimes the gamble is taken like say the X4 replacing the 57 Portsmouth - Fareham & it does pay off. Think I'll take up Poker - may win enough to give First a run for their money, then Go-Ahead, then Stagecoach, then ..... we may get a direct bus from Bitterne to Fareham!
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, would it be better to run a Bitterne-Fareham bus via the main roads in Bitterne or through the houses?
ReplyDeleteMain roads, but if a small "through the houses" diversion seemed viable it would be worth a shot
ReplyDeleteWhy the obsession with a route from Bitterne to Fareham? When the 78 was still running it was lucky if there were enough people travelling to/from Bitterne to fill a car let alone a bus.
ReplyDeleteI used to use it from time to time and it was usually a Merc minibus which was more than sufficient.
Quite agree-Most days it was a waste of time-When I use to use it I travelled from Bitterne to Tesco at Bursledon and back for shopping, and at most times of the day there was myself and a few others on board-In this case it was correct that First decided to concentrate on the service(s) via Woolston and still do-PAC
DeleteBut when I used to get it, it was always busy with folk travelling to Park Gate/Locks Heath as it did a 'twiddly bit of routing around there that no other route did'.
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