From Monday 20th April, we have new timetables on the following routes. Xelabus and Wheelers don't have the new ones on their websites yet, but we're linking to them on Traveline:
- Xelabus X4 - Cut to hourly Mon-Sat daytimes
- Xelabus X6/X7 - Rerouted to no longer serve Peverells Wood Avenue or Constantine Avenue
- Xelabus X11 - Retimed and rerouted in the city centre and Hedge End
- Xelabus X12 - Last bus cut on Saturdays
- Wheelers E1/E2
Here are a few maps to help make sense of the changes. First in Fryern Hill, Xelabus X6/X7 will run the full length of Oakmount Road in both directions with the exception of evening X7 journeys that terminate in Fryern Hill:
The X11 will run as follows in Hedge End, running clockwise around the loop and using stops A and H in the town centre:
The X11 will run differently in the city centre, but Traveline is disastrously showing the incorrect route, so see a description of the new route here.
The following Sunday 26th April is the Southampton Marathon, which will be causing a lot of disruption to bus services. Bluestar and Unilink have issued emergency timetables for that day only. First have also detailed their plans although there is some confusion around certain routes. First say the X4 and X5 will terminate in Woolston in the morning, but will run to Central Station in the afternoon, while Traveline says those routes will terminate in Woolston all day. The smaller operators must be relieved that they don't run in the city on Sundays.
Looking at the new Xelabus printed timetable and the map for X11 within Southampton City Centre,it seems a pity on the new routing inwards from Hedge End to Southampton they will not be serving the bus stop in Hanover Buildings by Houndwell Park for anyone wishing to alight for Debenham's-It would seem anyone wishing to get near to the Debenham's Store area will have to alight at West Quay or at the revised stop in Pound Tree Road-Also seems a bit silly to now seperate the stops of X11/X12 with one remaining as it is X12 in Vincent's Walk, and the other moving round the corner into Pound Tree Road X11 in the Shirley direction-However I have noted that Xelabus have already started putting up their excelent publicity within the City area for the start of the new routings-Wheeler's publicity for W1 is just plain awful and Brijan needs to attend to publicity for their service 7 which is well out of date where or if it exists in the area-I thought within Southampton publicity at bus stops was supposed to be a co-ordinated operation but lately this seems to have deteriorated rapidly
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteIn answer to this posting we made the decision to serve the West Quay area as that is from our investigations where customers wish to travel to and from. We carried out surveys and interviews at both Bargate St and Asda bus stops and customers welcomed the joint 30 minute frequency to Hedge End between Xelabus and Bluestar 3.
The X12 on arrival at City Centre will terminate at Vincents Walk and then run empty round to the new bus stop in Pound Tree Road and with the X11 depart from there for the Shirley/Lordshill direction so both routes depart from the city at the same point.
We have invested in new marketing with Bus Information displays and carry our timetables and or fares information, however where there is another service using that stop we will ensure their timetable is positioned.
We are looking at dispensers at the Bargate St, Asda and Civic CEntre bus stops and stocking timetables if infrastructure allows this.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Thank you for your reply-It's nice to know that both services in the Shirley direction will depart from the same stop in Pound Tree Road as from the revised timetable-Although the City departure points for X11 are clear in the new timetable,it's a little more vague on the X12-Also the more or less 30 minute frequency between Xelabus and Bluestar is inward only between Hedge End and Southampton-Because of circumstance outward between Southampton and Hedge End both leave for most of the day Bargate Street at 50 minutes past each hour, and from Bitterne run almost at the same time towards Hedge End-I fully understand that not much can be done about this-However a much improved route for X11 within Southampton City Centre for all
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. We are keen to build on our Southampton services and looking at the city overall.
ReplyDeleteWe have 4 further scania single deck buses due in early May for upgrading and we hope to withdraw our step Darts and one SPD.
The company is then in a position to meet DDA criteria from 1 January 2016. We intend to start looking at the double deck fleet from the Autumn.
We always welcome suggestions and comments from our customers and would be interested in every ones views on our services.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Out of interest, did you consider routing the X11 through Grange Park - Tollbar Way, Maunsell Way, Locke Road - rather than straight down Botley Road and Grange Road or is there not enough demand based on the First 8 service being (I believe) subsidised to cover that area at the moment?
ReplyDeleteThere is a timetable leaflet out for First revised 7 and 11 in Southampton-This also shows the new m2 to Marwell to be introduced which from Lordshill runs via Shirley,City Centre,Northam,Bitterne, Thornhill Park and Hedge End to Marwell(2 journeys each way)
ReplyDeleteYes there is also a new timetable book out dated 5th April 2015 for Southampton with all updates in it-PAC
DeleteBut it is not in the Soton bus shop. They offered me a Jan copy today!
DeleteI too visited the Southampton travel Shop today and they have no knowledge of a timetable dated as from the 5th April 2015 which is being shown on their website-They didn't even know that a version was available for download on their website-The usual First communication between one department and another
ReplyDeleteHi why does the Last X11 From Lordshill Terminate at the City Centre rather then Hedge End?
ReplyDeleteAlso why is there not a 1430 X12 deperature from the City Centre on Saturdays?
DeleteGood Morning
DeleteThe simple answer is that following our examination of route analysis the last journey to Hedge End was not supported along with the 1430 X12 on Saturdays. Its good housekeeping and enables us to better utilise the driving staff.
Good Morning
ReplyDeleteFor those interested - Xelabus is now the landlord of Brijan at their Chalcroft depot in Horton Heath. The original sale of Brijan collapsed and that company has now moved from Botley to Horton Heath.
On a separate notification - Xela fleet 421 and 422 both Omnicity scania single deckers will arrive next week for service commencing mid May. 419 and 420 will arrive shortly after.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
I like many others who view this site are very gratefull for the information provided about Brijan-There has been no information on their website about any recent events-Most of us seem to be in the dark as to who owns it, and no information on their site been given as to the fact the operation has moved from Botley to Chalcroft Park-In all this it's the drivers and other staff employed I sympathise with-It's about time someone on a higher level came along and sorted some aspects of todays bus operation with certain companies up and down the length of the UK out,and stop speculation about what might or is happening that can destroy certain operators business
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon
ReplyDeletePleased to report that 421 and 422 arrived today. Both Omnicity buses will enter service from next Monday. 419 and 420 coming one week later! Trials for the X11 start next week - so Scanias on lots of Xela routes very soon! With these now entering service Xela is set up for the start of DDA compliancy for single decks from 1st January 2016.
Double deck evaluation starts soon....
Two double decks to be branded - keep watching to see them on the road very soon!
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Good Afternoon
ReplyDeleteIn respect of Brijan we can comment as follows.
Brijans lease expired on the 29th April and after a failed purchase by Apec Travel of Cardiff the company was in need of a new home or they would not have been able to trade from the 30th April.
Xelabus had Chalcroft from the purchase of Black Velvet assets last January and Chalcroft was surplus to requirements.
Chalcroft was offered to Brijan (the owners are island Fortitude) and a very fast short term lease was agreed and put in place. The future is slightly uncertain but the legal people are working to Brijan taking over the full lease from Xelabus very shortly.
Had Chalcroft and our efforts not been forthcoming it seriously could have been a very different picture but we were pleased to ensure the company (Brijan) and the travelling public were not affected by that weeks events.
I am sure Brijan will comment about their position in due course but as far as we can see Brijan continue with business as usual.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Hi what buses will the 4 new Scanias be replacing?
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon
ReplyDeleteThe intention is to remove four step entrance buses allowing our fleet for single deck operation to be 100% DDA compliant 6 months before regulations dictate they have to be for local bus services.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited