The main change is a weekday morning peak diversion on journeys towards Southampton. Because the traffic on Portsmouth Road is so bad approaching Woolston, all X4 and X5 buses due to arrive in Southampton between 0700 and 0930 will divert as follows via Weston Lane and Archery Road:
At those times, the last stop to be served as normal is Laxton Close on Upper Weston Lane:
After the diversion, buses rejoin the usual route at Itchen Bridge Link Road:
The following stops will have no X4 or X5 buses towards the City Centre at those times:
Wrights Hill: the 5 and 6 will still stop here
The Swan: with the 6 having its own peak diversion (see below), only the 5 will still be stopping here in the weekday morning rush hours.
St Annes Road: the three and 5 will still be stopping here.
Fort Road: the three and 5 will still stop here in the rush hours.
Woolston Library: only the three and 5 will stop in the weekday morning peak:
Buses on route 6 due to arrive in the City Centre between 0730 and 0900 are already diverting away from Portsmouth Road as follows via Radstock Road:
See the new all-stops timetables here: X4 X5.
What a mess for the travelling public the Woolston area is in at peaks-So far not a mention from First about the changes on their website about X4/X5
ReplyDeleteI read on a website of a private individual,that according to a BBC local report,that Western Greyhound has ceased operating
ReplyDeleteTrue. Apparently they couldn't get finance to renew their insurance, the only alternative option being to pay up-front, so that was it.
Deletehttp://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Cornwall-s-bus-company-Western-Greyhound-ceases/story-26166593-detail/story.html
ReplyDeleteFunny that the cease takes place just before a PE and that according to a comment the fraud squad may be looking into Bishop and Smith
Yes-An enquiry on about the 23/24 March 2015 in Bristol.
DeleteFrom the Morning News website;
ReplyDeleteMr Bishop said he could not comment on matters relating to the previous owners - Mark Howarth, his wife Mari and Robin Orbell – but did say that the past is "related" to the sudden decision to cease trading.
Mr Bishop also declined to comment on issues relating to the repayment of creditors.
Mr Bishop and Mr Smith are a pair of highly dubious characters. Hopefully the police will catch up with them soon!
I understand that one of Mr Smith's companies is up in front of the SE Traffic Commissioner soon. These people are giving the industry a bad name.
Being, in someone's opinion, "highly dubious", is not, in itself an offence, and thus no reason to hope that anyone will "catch up with them".
DeleteYeah right Mr Bishop, or is it Mr Smith.........................
DeletePair of rogues!
Sorry - It's only the first 2 paragraphs that are from the website, the other words are my comments!
ReplyDeleteI note that Mr Bishop is reported to have stated that He wished to be open about what had happened-The whole episode is a joke-Only hours beforehand the Union had been in talks with the management over the pay and conditions at which there was no hint that staff on arriving at work at 0530 Friday morning would be handed redundancy letters-It's about time the Smith's and Bishop's of the industry were caught up with and dealt with,as they are making some aspects of the bus industry look very dodgey-Fortunetely from Monday 16th March 2015 bus operators such as Stagecoach.First and Go-Ahead have stepped in to save most of the wreckage caused-I believe in our hearts after the Velvet shamble with these people,no one expected Western Greyhound to survive that long-Thank goodness that ex Velvet routes are now operated by Xelabus,with a very noticable increase in passengers on most journeys they provide
DeleteFor any interested http://companycheck.co.uk/director/916955716
ReplyDeletegives Bishops directorships'
As to alias Smith and Jones has he actually held any director appointment?
Spotted today on the latest N & P's;
ReplyDeletePublic Inquiry (50345) to be held at Jubilee House, Croydon Street, Bristol, BS5 0GB, on 23 March 2015 commencing at 10:30(Previous Publication:(2525)
)
PH0006741 SI
WESTERN GREYHOUND LTD
Director(s): MICHAEL BISHOP.
WESTERN HOUSE, ST. AUSTELL STREET, SUMMERCOURT NEWQUAY TR8 5DR
PSV - S17 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - Sch.3 - Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - S28 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985)
PSV - S111 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 111 (The Transport Act 1985)
and
Public Inquiry (50360) to be held at Jubilee House, Croydon Street, Bristol, BS5 0GB, on 23 March 2015 commencing at 10:30(Previous Publication:(2525)
)
PH1075733 SI
BLACK VELVET TRAVEL LTD
Director(s): Michael Bishop.
SUITE A, BINNING HOUSE, 4A HIGH STREET EASTLEIGH SO50 5LA
PSV - S17 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - Sch.3 - Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - S28 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985
and also
TM Public Inquiry (EpisodeId:3150 PublicInquiryId:2504) for PHILIP JOHN STOCKLEY to be held at Jubilee House Croydon Street Bristol BS5 0GB, on 23 March 2015 commencing at 10:30 (Previous Publication:(6093))
Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009
Is this the same ex Velvet Phil Stockley? Won't do his reputation much good.
As to Phil Stockley's case, I wonder it is not one of, "if you touch pitch you will be defiled". His reputation, hopefully, will not be damaged, as your certainty sugggests ?desires?!
DeleteDesires? I think it was common knowledge that Velvet were cutting corners in a few vital areas before their demise under Mr Stockley.
DeleteWould be interesting if someone could summirse what the relevent sections of the Transport act in question refer to, as well as Article 6?
Delete"Common knowledge" Anonymous17 March 2015 at 20:10
DeleteClearly the cases of both Stockley and Howarth have to be investigated to see if infringements have occurred and the degree of seriousness.
However the phrase used carries with it in many hearers/ readers of " rumour or hearsay", not infrequently for the audience targeted.
To use another phrase that you probably won't like - There's no smoke without fire!
DeleteThe fact that they have been called to a PI in it's self suggests that there is something wrong.
But the smoke may be from a small or large fire. Shouldn't one wait on the enquiry, before making any statement, which might tend to prejudge offence and outcome? Unfortunately, and I may be misreading you.for which I would offer my apologies should i be, the trend of your posts seems to point to an element of prejudgment.
DeleteAlso caught up but omitted from Anonymous 17 March 2015 at 09:38 is
ReplyDeleteMARK BURNLEY HOWARTH the extant directpr of WG when it was "rescued" by John Bishop He is also noted as a director of Confereation of Passenger Transport UK since 2005
Please take note that thr Brijan open day has been cancelled-See their website for details
ReplyDeleteI can't see anything on their website that says it's cancelled? - http://www.brijantours.com/index.htm
DeleteIf you go to the Brijan facebook page it clearly shows that it has been cancelled-PAC
DeleteSee:
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1060771753939210&id=129352243747837
It's on their Facebook page
ReplyDeleteI note from a posting on the Gardbus website that the 132 which should have ceased operation on the 19th April 2015,has now ceased operation as from today-The posting to this effect was published at 1737 yesterday
ReplyDeleteNot a good sign I'd have thought. He always seemed to slant his reasons for withdrawals, but underlying the published reasons there has seemed to be a bit of doubt in my mind of not facing reality. I do hope I am confounded by events.
DeleteI note that as from April 1st 2015 Hampshire County Council older peoples concessionary bus pases will not be accepted before 0930 on Mondays to Fridays-The exception to this will be on a route where say there is a bus due at the point of boarding at 0910,but then no other from that point until after 1031,the pass will be accepted-Let's hope the new arrangement is made clear to all drivers operating these infrequent routes,which is very doubtfull that it will-No change I note for Disabled Pass Holders
ReplyDeleteYes, the list of 'easements' (to borrow a term) can be found here
Delete:
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/routes.xlsx
As you can see in some cases (E1 & E2 for example) it is less than simple.
Might have been better to do what other LA's do, i.e. if there is no service on a route until 10:00 then the pass may be used on the preceding service whether it is 09:15 or 08:00, for example.
Trouble is, whatever you do, there will always be someone on the route who is affected by either a 0900 or 0930 cut off.
DeleteOf course, if pass holders wanted to travel earlier they could always pay????
10:31 does seem quite late. Does anyone know of borderline cases and what the effect on their users is. And I doubt the council's ability to look at the return journey times to see if a post 10:30 departure would leave adequate time to do what on may need at destination.
DeleteI think you're missing my point?
DeleteIf pass holders wish to travel, they still can do, but they will have to pay.
Until now, I have been in the habit of using the First 6, Hamble to Southampton, which passes through Netley at 0912 "ish". It is often quicker to drive to Hedge End, attend to matters there and drive home again than to wait for the bus. IE, I'm often home before the 6 gets me into Southampton. Little incentive to have the pass, I think!
DeleteNice to note that Xelabus will try this Summer a service to Paulton's Park-For the listed changes from 20th April 2015 could the X12 being shown as not running Saturdays be changed from 1430 to the 1445
ReplyDeleteGood Morning - Just to advise that from 20th April the X12 timetable is being revised with all City departures becoming 30 mins past the hour not 45. Therefore the 1430 will run M-F but not on a Saturday.
DeleteCustomer Services
Xelabus Limited
Now that the X12 situation has been clarified as to revised departure times to complement the revised X11 departures from the City Centre in the Upper Shirley direction could you advise Traveline to remove the 1430 journey from the Saturday timetable shown on there site-Regards
DeleteGood Afternoon
ReplyDeleteNews from Xelabus - NEW X24 service from Southampton to PAULTONS PARK starts Saturday 23rd May and will operate every weekend and bank holiday. It will also operate DAILY from 27th July until 6th September.
NEW - To celebrate 5 years of operation Xelabus will be holding an OPEN DAY at its Barton Park Depot on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2015. Plans are underway to have enthusiasts stands, preserved buses, bus rides and Xelabus fleet on parade. A booklet entitled "The first 5 years" will be available. All proceeds will be donated to the Naomi House Children's Hospice.
More information when we have this.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited