This means the changes mentioned in the most recent post below will now be run by Xelabus.
How the news was announced on Xelabus's website.
Hats off to Xelabus for having a timetable leaflet already prepared for what will be the ex-Velvet routes.
In other news, First have new timetables on many routes from Sunday 18th January. Details here.
It should be interesting to observe within Hedge End what the fare structure will be as certain aspects differ from Velvet,such as half fares for senior citizens before 0900 and the local £1 flat fare-PAC
ReplyDeleteWell one of their replies on twitter today strongly suggests that fares will be the same for the time being:
Delete"@Xelabus Hi! What about the fare, will it remain the same?"
@SpitfireK5054 yes everything will remain the same for the time being "
https://twitter.com/Xelabus/status/553257253953077250
Good news for Hedge End then and well done to Xelabus - would be great if you're reading this Mr Blair, if you could change your website to show the new X6 and X7 timetables - you're showing the ex-Velvet ones but still, not the "new" X6/X7 - this is not a dig just an observation - cheers
ReplyDeleteThe timetable for X6 is there but is in with X7-As a footnote I note on the S1/S2/B4 timetables it shows in the small print as the services being operated by Xelabus on behalf of Western Greyhound
ReplyDeleteI suppose if you run a subsidised service you can't just give it away to someone else without the council re-tendering, but maybe you can subcontract it out instead?
DeleteHow sad it is today that on the last day of operation of the Velvet A, that as I write no purple buses have been employed on the service-SCC council have put up new vinyls on the flags along the Bitterne corridor which now show S1-However they still show Velvet as the operator-Things change so quick don't they-PAC
DeleteThere was a pink double decker in operation today on the A - Reece
DeleteRevised First fares as from 17th January 2015 now shown on their website-PAC
ReplyDeleteFirst should`nt be raising any fares OR freezing fares!!All fares should be lowered,as the price of fuel has decreased significantly lately!These greedy gits (That includes Bluestar!),should pass on savings to their customers!They are all too quick to put up fares citing increased fuel costs,so time they played fair with their customers!
ReplyDeleteLarge bus operators buy fuel at hedged prices, in that they buy however many million litres at a set price. If those operators have tied into agreements they might now be paying more for fuel, given that the barrel price has dropped so much recently.
ReplyDeleteI notice today on the Xelabus twitter site that the S1 will be operated by green buses with Velvet drivers-On another site it states they will still operate from Chalcroft Park as there is a 5 year lease on it,and it's possible that Xelabus might take over 6 ex Velvet vehicles-PAC
ReplyDeleteGood Morning - To put the rumourmongers right may I let you all know that we were approached just before Christmas about taking over the Velvet routes. A great deal of work has been done behind the scenes to ensure continuity and it was agreed to start from the date of the service change i.e today. The take over is made up of the three routes, staff and continuing the lease at Chalcroft. We are deploying our own vehicles for the routes with back up of the remaining Velvet buses. We have borrowed them for a short time and will be looking to run our own buses only. Chalcroft also gives us new opportunities. By the way the three Enviro 200's are now in service giving a £750,000 investment in seven buses for the local area. I hope you will all agree a very big investment for a small family company. Finally comment about the fares. We have made small adjustments to the X6/X7 corridor but otherwise have kept our fares the SAME and no change for 3 years something our colleagues at other operators have failed to do.
DeleteKeep an eye on future developments - it promises to be an exciting time for Xelabus!
PHILIP BLAIR
Managing Director
Xelabus Limited
Thank you for your statement-May I say today as I write what a joy it has been in seeing your smart buses on the S1 and S2-I hope as soon as possible the A stickers and timetables will be removed from stops within Southampton City Centre that the new S1 no longer serves, and that the S1 timetables will be put in along the route and the A ones removed-I'm completely aware this may take a few weeks-However it's so nice to see decent buses operating the former Velvet routes, and with most of the former Velvet drivers-I can only see the new arrangement going from strength to strenghth, once it's settled in-Nice to know people in Hedge End and along Thornhill Park now have a direct service to the Central Station and for that matter the General Hospital-Let's hope the Northam Bridge roadworks don't for the moment cause too many problems-They very best to all-PAC
DeleteHi Peter - We already have bus stop posters to be displayed and we are starting this week. We do also intend to re-number the S1 = X11, S2 = X12 and B4 = X14. These have been approved by SCC and we have new white on green squares to also display. We are aiming for 9th February to have the number changes. We are also introducing a low price weekly unlimited travel pass from next week and these will be displayed on all bus stops in and around Hedge End. We are going to be in talks with employers and colleges on the routes and hope to boost use age over the next few months.
DeleteThank you for your kind comments and yes we will do our very best to rejuvenate these routes.
PHILIP BLAIR
Managing Director
Xelabus Ltd
I thank you for your reply and for putting a clear picture of what is going to happen-Kind regards-PAC
DeleteHi Philip are there plans for a 30 minute frequency on the S1 between City Centre and Hedge End in the future
DeleteSadly not at present as the service has been sadly allowed to become unreliable and low quality. We do intend to look at the performance of each service and will be looking to make some bigger changes from Easter. At the moment its staying as it is following the service change. All we are doing from 9th February is to re-number the services into the Xela brand. we are looking at daily operation and intend to discuss with various companies for staff requirements and college students. By Easter our plan would be to improve the quality of the bus service further with higher quality vehicles, low fares and better timing, but it does depend upon the review we are carrying out.
DeletePHILIP BLAIR
Managing Director
Xelabus Limited
Hello Mr Blair
DeleteMany thanks for taking the time to update readers and informing of the number changes to these routes. It is much appreciated.
I just wanted to express my delight (and relief) that I can return to the S1 service again, having complete confidence in the safety of your vehicles.
Also, I hope that you agree that the Velvet drivers will be an asset to your business and I wish you all continued success.
I didn't travel yesterday but have been told that the S1 was spot on time in both directions.
Thank you!
Thanks once again for putting all in the picture-You I'm sure know what is needed to address the situation,but I hope when it's changed in the future that the route in Hedge End is somewhat changed where it keeps crossing over itself-However as stated it's now a joy to see it operating correctly with the size of the bus now employed for the present being correct-It's also great now to have the B4 operating Monday to Friday a very handy service for connecting up the estates with Tesco with more than enough time to do shopping in Tesco before returning home-I this morning have now off the driver the timetable leaflet-PAC
DeleteAnon(10/01/2015 at 23.35)so what about the smaller operators then ?Have the likes of Brijan and Xelabus responded accordingly and slashed their fares?That`ll be a no then!
ReplyDeleteIf Xelabus (as Mr Blair says above) have frozen their fares for 3 years then assuming that inflation for each year has been a +ve value then that has in 'real terms' been a price reduction.
Delete(RPI for Jan - Nov 2014 ranged 2.0 - 2.8 according to HCC, the gov for political reasons prefers CPI which ranged 1.0 - 1.9)
Anyone know whether the Feb Bluestar changes are going to be major,or just the usual minor tinkering?
ReplyDeleteNothing to get excited about-All is now shown on their website-PAC
DeleteFuel costs represent around 15 per cent of an operator's total costs. So even a 10 per cent drop in fuel prices only saves between 1 and 2 per cent of an operator's total costs. Even in the best of times a 2 per cent reduction in costs is hardly going to result in sweeping fare reductions. Given that most other costs (parts, insurance, wages, property costs) remain on an upward trend, and revenue streams are under pressure from dwindling local authority budgets, I would think that most operators will just be breathing a sigh of relief that at least one thing is going the right way!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see Philip Blair's Xelabus plans for the future. Sound good. Hopefully now a period of stability, which is a positive thing for all bus users. The x14 linking to the x11 at Bitterne Park rd offers a link between Tesco Bursledon & Hedge End (or onto Eastleigh) when Brijan 15 not running as it's now a 3 day a week service.
ReplyDelete