First M2: Details

First have released details of route M2, which will run from Lordshill via the city centre, Bitterne and Hedge End to Marwell Zoo. Here's the exact route it will take:

In Lordshill, it will start from stop LC and then run via Romsey Road, Wimpson Lane and Redbridge Hill:

It then goes through Shirley, using stops SI and SJ near the precinct. Then it's past Central Station and through the city centre using stops SA, SG, HE, AB, CB and IF. The blue line is for journeys towards Marwell:

Then it's over Northam Bridge and through Bitterne (stops BD and BE in the centre) and Thornhill Park:

Then it's to Hedge End Superstores and direct to Horton Heath:

Then onwards to Fair Oak and Marwell Zoo:

Here's the timetable from First's new timetable book:

Note the days of operation: Sundays from 1st May (not bank holidays - seriously?) and Wednesdays from 29th July with the last service running on 31st August (which is a bank holiday Monday!?!?)

Here is a list of all stops that will be served:

I hope this works out for First. It's been absolutely years since Southampton had a direct bus to Marwell Zoo (I remember the predecessor of Bluestar 2, then numbered 48, extending beyond Fair Oak to Marwell Zoo every Sunday when I was little), so this really does deserve to do well.

Marwell Zoo offer a 10% discount on the admission price to anyone arriving by public transport too, so keep your bus ticket handy when you leave the bus!