- Adult single fares on the 8 between Hedge End and the City Centre cut from £4 to £3.50
- FirstDay Southampton rises from £4.20 to £4.30 and is no longer valid to/from West End, Hedge End, Netley or Hamble - its boundary is now the city boundary. Those areas' cheapest FirstDay ticket is now FirstDay Hampshire, going up from £5.90 to £6
- SouthamptonPlus weekly and monthly tickets will be introduced, covering the city plus West End, Hedge End, Netley and Hamble, costing more than the Southampton zone tickets that used to be valid, but less than the Hampshire zone tickets
Several First routes get a new timetable from Sunday. Timetables are in First's new timetable booklet and Traveline. Here are the main points:
- 1: Mon-Sat daytime frequency cut from every 10 mins to every 15 mins, but all buses will run beyond Lordshill to Adanac Park
- 2: Minor timetable changes
- 3: Some poorly-used journeys will be cut. The last bus of the night will run earlier
- 6: Sunday daytime frequency cut to hourly due to Hampshire County Council subsidy cuts
- 7: Minor timetable changes, plus and extra late evening journey
- 8: Evening route changes in Hedge End and some off-peak journeys are cut
- 9: Minor timetable changes
- 11: Revised Sunday timetable. Extra late evening weeknight journey
- 13: Minor timetable changes
The timetable booklet has some excellent route maps. Here's the one for the 8 to show the new route in Hedge End:
Daytime journeys terminate on the Hedge End loop. Evening journeys don't serve Charles Watts Way (marked A334 above) but run two ways from the superstores, via the railway station to Barleycorn and then Botley.
They're also holding an online 'Meet the Manager' session this Thursday in which you can put your questions directly to them.
In other news, Bluestar have some changes to routes 1, 2, 16 and 18 from 22nd February. We'll have more on those nearer the time.
Also travel next week all week on the Xelabus S1 for just £10
ReplyDeleteFirst should be more like Bluestar and get there services right in the first place,then like Bluestar just have occasional minor tweaks!
ReplyDeleteIf you read the changes First are making they very minor which is good and provides stability.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting it is to note that First publish a printed timetable booklet now available from their travel shop in Southampton,which commences on the 18th January 2015-However from the 17th January 2015 fares in Southampton change-That change in fares means that certain fare printed in the timtable book are already incorrect-One department at First not communicating with the other perhaps-Also although most time changes as stated are minor,a few are major such as the Sunday reduction in frequency to the 8 and somewhat less the 1 becoming every 15 minutes instead of every 10-The Bluestar changes in February either adjust certain running times or in a few instances a few extra journeys and no journeys withdrawn-I wonder which operator is the more stable, as I'm sure First will at some point this year have more changes-I also note that a managers online meeting was held last night, and in most replies the blame was being laid for a lot of their problems on the roadworks now taking place on Northam Bridge-Whilst this I'm sure has quite an effect on their services throughout Southampton and beyond, a lot of the problems people posted about have been on going for some considerable time, way before the latest with Northam Bridge-Interestingly also is the roadworks round Dock Gate 4-The works are more or less complete and were supposed to be an improvement in the area,but it on some days appears not to be so, as they keep on having to divert buses from Ocean Village on some days via Bernard Street and Central Bridge between the City Centre and Woolston because of the traffic problems-No easy answers I fear.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, indeed! Of course, an operator with any modicum of common sense changes timetables and fares on the same day. It's a great pity we can't expect that from First.
DeleteIt shows that First have been thinking about fares right up to the last minute which is hardly surprising with the fuel price debate. I would hardly call a couple of frequency changes major. It is unusual for any operator to make changes to fares and timetables on the same date. I am still looking for the BlueStar on line meet the manager event and am also waiting for BlueStar to allow posts on their facebook timeline. When you look at it BS do very little on customer engagement and even when they do it is relatively secret !
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael,but Bluestar do tend to only make very minor tweaks to improve their network ,or add an extra journey or two .Bluestar don`t keep on messing around with changes every 3 or 4 months,axeing sunday night buses to Bitterne for example ,before re-instating them,changing the route no`s every 5 mins to confuse passengers.Bluestar is a settled network unlike First which seems to have no stability whatsoever!First have owned the local Southampton network for 18 years now,you`d have thought they`d have worked out what works best for Southampton in that time!
DeleteYes 18 years where they have systematicaly destroyed it in some areas by constant re-routing of services that the passengers in most cases didn't want-As an example one housing estate that being Harefield has been messed around with so much that on observation the passenger numbers have dwindled to all low levels, where the residents are so fed up with it all so have found other methods of travel
DeleteOverheard a Bluestar driver say that Bluestar look after their employees much better than First!Although thats just hearsay,if you see more misearble drivers on First ,than Bluestar,that could be a reason why!
DeleteBluestar stopped the posts on Facebook after some idiots kept posting under false identities etc,wasting everyones time!if anon has concerns about aspects of Bluestar,he/she can always have a chat with Jeff in the Bluestar travel shop at the bargate,he is friendly and approachable and should be able to assist you.
ReplyDeleteYes,that's the reason Bluestar stopped the posts-As stated Jeff in the travel shop at the Bargate is the best person to voice any concern over, and will make sure the management recieve any complaint He may recieve by anyone that comes into His shop-Great chap is our Jeff.
DeleteFirst has a bigger city network than Bluestar so by definition things will change/tweaked at a high frequency. The reason bluestar stopped facebook posts is because they didn't want be open and transparent with customers. The story about people posting with false identities maybe true but they could have just blocked the individuals concerned so I don't buy this argument. If you look around you will observe first have the better fleet by age and quality and simpler fares for the network they provide.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously have`nt observed the buses used on Bluestar 1,which are far superior to any of Firsts fleet,Michael!!
DeleteHardly ...probably about the same but not better. In the city though first are far better on quality. If people think bluestar service only get minor tweaks then you need to look more closely at their changes to the network.
DeletePerhaps you can give some examples of recent major tweaks with Bluestar services?
DeleteHow about service cuts this month. You may say that tendered "doesn't count" I which case you can exclude service 1 of First. How about BlueStar 6 Lym to Soton ?
DeleteBluestar service 6 was cut due to HCC funding cuts-The point most commentators are making is that Bluestar mainly make tweaks to their commercial operation, and don't keep changing their routes with these services-As another commentator has correctly stated, First have had 18 years in Southampton to get it more or less right and are still at it-How many years does it take to obtain a more or less stable network-A while back they took off the evening service between Townhill Park and Bitterne and when people complained, they stated that it was not commercially viable anymore due to lack of passengers-Within about 6 months of this it was put back on again in the form of the re-routed 12-Something wrong perhaps in their planning department?
DeleteIt is such a shame this blogs gets so unpleasant when it comes to First. If customers and some contributors on here are so anti first and pro bluestar why have first just not pulled out and let Southampton go. (Wouldn't under Moir Lockhead, but it's now run as a commercial business). It maybe better to rename the blog Bluestar fan club ! Finally there has been only minor changes to the core first network since June 2013.
DeleteSome of the comments written above have been by myself and First receive so much comment sometimes because of the way their so called planners behave-They may have lovely new buses which I and others I'm sure are very grateful to them to have-I find no complaint myself with most services run in Southampton but some aspects of their operation need attention-If people see what they might regard as stupid decissions, even if they might not be as far as the operator is concerned,they post a comment wether it First,Bluestar,Xelabus,Wheeler's-It's just seems over the last few days it's been first because of circumstance on this blog-I for one even with my postings would not like to see First leave Southampton as I'm sure others wouldn't either
DeleteI am certain Blue star would not be happy if First pulled out of Southampton. They would dread having to defend the area to Arriva for example!
DeletePeople are quite right to criticise First!Before First came it was possible to get a bus from bitterne centre To Portswood and from Portswood to Shirley,journeys you`d think were straightforward,but no under First ,it takes two changes and a lot of extra hassle to make these journeys!Progress?Don`t get me started!They probably had a better network in the 1930`s ,than First has left now!These idiots don`t know what they are doing and have wrecked a perfectly sound network ,when they came along in 1997!
DeleteBear in mind First are a huge international transport firm ,does anyone seriously believe they have Southamptons best interests at heart?Really?Take of those rose tinted galasses and face reality!They have shareholders to keep happy,who want a huge return,not really caring if loads of people in some city in the south of England,are inconvenienced!WAKE UP!!!
DeleteThat should read GLASSES,obviously!
DeleteIn terms of providing sub district to sub district direct journeys if it was commercially viable then First or BlueStar would provide it. We are now post 1986 and this is the reality of the commercial bus network. As there is no direct service there can be little demand. I think you will also find bluestar have shareholders to feed - an a huge challenge this year or next year in making £100million profit from their bus division. Watch the squeeze ! As a shareholder I also want my return from Go Ahead so operating loss making routes to make you "feel good" is not an option which shareholders tend to support
DeleteI would not imagine in Southampton you would get much return as a shareholder what with First and Bluestar battleing it out on Millbrook and Townhill Park and forever giving discounts on fares to out do each other, to the detroment of people in other areas of the City-The statement that as there is no direct service anymore between certain points because of little demand is nonsense, because between certain points when it was there it was well used,although I accept between certain other points it was not well used-There is nothing the public hate more than forever changing bus to get from a to b, although here again you can't connect every point up with a direct service-Although you and I realise that since 1985 things have changed and it has to be run commercially,you will never get the large majority of the public to accept this as they see transport as a public service, and not a business, just a way of getting about
DeleteIndeed, the lack of a direct service merely proves that no-one has identified an opportunity to provide one, not that no demand exists at all. Given that the three suburbs mentioned earlier are linked to together by A-roads through the centre of a large city suggest that the demand is there. The challenge is to profit from servicing it in a way that potential customers would find convenient.
DeleteAnd of course there are new developments of housing/shopping etc which change the need for direct services. These are not always taken into account!
DeleteIf there is sufficient demand then I'm sure buses would be running direct between districts. Haven't seen any ?
DeleteHow do they know unless they try?
DeleteUnfortunately buses don't just magically appear to meet demand. Bus company management have to spot an opportunity, and then decide whether to take advantage of it or not. If they don't, someone else might decide to give it a go, or else no-one will and nothing will happen.
DeleteThe fares within Southampton on Bluestar are simple enough and comparable in simplicity with First, and they may now have a better fleet of modern buses, but I'm sure shortly Bluestar will catch up with more upto date buses on the 16 and 18 of which the current vehicles are not that old-They do have a bigger network of services, but here again by constant change it's beginning to shrink, unlike the Bluestar network which has not shrunk not that I have noticed in recent times
ReplyDeleteApart from the 3, obviously, off the top of my head.
DeleteIndeed yes the 3, but some time ago and very little chance of it recovering to it's previous level-Did not perform very well insiders inform me and just about holds it's own-However much more improved recently I'm told due to the Velvet demise where passengers have decided for the moment in the Hedge End area to switch back to it-Yet again it could change with Xelabus introducing from Monday 19th January 2015 a £10 weekly ticket on the now S1, which next month will be renumbered X11-It's been nice to note this week with Xelabus operating former Velvet routes how well it's been operating with good looking vehicles and nearly all journeys on S1 that I have noted, on or more or less to time-If it contiues this way, as I have no reason to believe it won't,I'm sure passenger confidence will return in the Hedge End area,and the introduction of a £10 weekly ticket is a bargain
DeleteI am pleased to report that its day 3 of the offer being available for £10 weekly tickets from anywhere on Route S1 and I am delighted to report that they are selling well. Confidence is returning to the S1 in particular and passenger numbers have remained steady for first week but now climbing day by day. We are finding new customers are waiting for our bus and already some really nice comments sent to us about the routes now operating with at least the same coloured bus! Our next phase starts on 9th February with the re-numbering. A new leaflet out early February.
DeletePHILIP BLAIR
Managing Director
Xelabus Limited
I`m not surprised,it`s a great deal!Keep up the good work,Mr.Blair!Clive
DeleteGood news! Both the old A and S1 feel like areas crying out for a decent stable bus route. Bring that to them and show people you actually want to serve them (£10 ticket a great start) and I'm sure numbers will continue to grow.
DeleteYes-It's a pleasure to see the old A now the S1 running well with decent buses on it and with the same livery instead of the horendous state it was in laterly with Velvet-I'm also delighted to note that on the twitter site Xelabus take no nonsense with students who have a complaint,which is fair enough,but decide to post it with foul language-I'm sure they are upset when things go wrong,but there is a correct way to send a message to Xelabus or any other operator and some of the postings I have seen sent to them are a disgrace-Well done in the way these are handled-PAC
DeleteI have to smile sometimes-First have just revised their fares as I'm sure most are aware-Although it's not much of a change in the Southampton area,the 6 and 8 route go outside of Southampton to Hamble-Le-Rice or Hedge End(Part of for most of the day) and this is where it's hit most in the change to the day ticket validity,where you now have to buy a First Hampshire day tiket instead of being able before to buy a First Southampton day rider-This has upset looking at their website today many customers because the First Hampshire ticket is considerably higher in cost-So on the 17th January 2015 they get this thrown at them, then the next day a timetable change on the 18th January 2015 for the 6 and 8 reducing the services even further in frequency on Sundays in the main, although with the 6 this is due to HCC cuts-There is nothing like promoting bus travel is there in difficult times.
ReplyDeleteHedge End is also similarly disadvantaged by the Solent Go ticket, being outside the City boundary with a higher flat fare. It seems that no-one really liked the place.
DeleteAt First allows their customers to communicate with them on socia media in an open way. Can't really say that for other operators in the City !
DeleteGiving crap replies as well!Someone complained about to First about having to pay extra on Route 6,the reply was just that they had changed the boundaries.Why?is it to fleece the poor First customer even more?There was no explanation as to why it was changed,dont First customers deserve an explanation then?
DeleteAnyone who complains on First`s Facebook page is usually asked to report the details through a link,so is that much different from Bluestar asking people to e-mail the managersmailbox?I think not!
DeleteAnd blue star customers need an explanation on why fares are so expensive when you leave the city. Wouldn't be anything to do with no competition would it.
DeleteFirst do indeed communicate on the social media with their customers which I thank them for-However some replies given by them to their customers are just plainly dreadful and do nothing to improve their image-You get the impression in reading some replies, it's a question of like it or lump it.
DeleteAnon at 21.12 on 20 January actually gets replies (even if they are crap) from First, does he? Remarkable. I have used their website comments box on several occasions in the last year or so. Apart for the "autoresponder" which mentions a considered reply in about two weeks, I have never had any reply from them. I've given up, and I, for one, would happily use an alternative service if there was one on their 6 route
DeleteTo the fact that Bluestar fares are more expensive outside of Southampton, even before buses were privatised this was always the case, and even if you use First outside of Southampton you will note the fares are higher-Even when for a short period First and Blustar were in competition on the Waterside nothing much happened fare wise in a reduction to fares not that I noted-In Hedge End area for an example there are four operators,but I note as yet no fare war between them, apart from the S1 which has a low local fare within Hedge End which could hardly be called a fare war-Even with Xelabus introducing a £10 weekly ticket as of this week on the S1 I don't notice Bluestar for the moment introducing any reductions on their 3 which is not surprising as it just about at present holds its own
DeleteAt least you get a reply. You don't even get the opportunity with blue line. Very poor. Especially considering the DfT has paid for the entire fleet to be fitted with wifi for the customer. Poor judgement
ReplyDeleteAnon 21 Jan@06.50-You can always pop in to the Bluestar shop at the bargate and i`m sure helpfull Jeff will assist you and pass your concerns to management.I`m not defending either company,both need to improve their customer service !That`s First and Bluestar!
ReplyDeleteTake note of revised opening times for the Bluestar Travel Shop in Bargate Street as from 2nd February 2015 now shown on their website-PAC
ReplyDeleteNice little timetable book issued by Wheeler's but with the noticable absence of the W56 Eastleigh to Hamble-le-Rice. Pity the roadside
ReplyDeletepublicity isn't up to scratch
Problem solved with the W56. It's being taken over from 26th February 2015 by Xelabus and renumbered X56-PAC
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to read reports that Wheelers book is attractive. You may be interested to know that PB Bus Marketing, sister to Xelabus designed and printed the guide. We did offer Wheelers bus stop publicity but they declined and wanted to do this themselves.
PHILIP BLAIR
Managing Director
PB Bus Marketing Specialists