Here's the timetable:
And here is a list of all stops served. Please note that it only serves the stops listed, so even though it runs through Peartree and Maybush for example, you can't board the bus there:
See local area maps with the stop locations here.
If you need to connect from another route run by a different operator, you can use a Solent Go regional ticket.
For those travelling from further afield, the X24 also calls at Southampton Central and Romsey railway stations.
Further buses to and from Paulton's Park are provided by Salisbury Reds X7, on which Solent Go is also valid.
Let's wish them luck-A nice bright DD with Pepa Pig theme to be employed on it which should go down well with the children-Nice to note that Romsey Rail Station to Paulton's Park is also connected with the service
ReplyDeleteIs this fully commercial or partly supported by Paulton's Park do we know? They have previously been very cool towards other offers to serve the park from the Romsey station area.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to the Xelabus website page it lists all who are supporting it
ReplyDeleteHi Xelabus I am just wondering why you didn't run an Extra bus on Friday night after the 20/20 match finished at Quarter to 10
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
DeleteWe only operate our X4 service as per the tender for evening services provided by Eastleigh BC. The last journey is 2125 from outside the Ageas Bowl. We do not intend to operate any later journeys which obviously does not assist you.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
More bad news I note for Hedge End residents coming up with the withdrawel on the evening extensions to Hedge End Village and Botley and Bluestar re-routing their 3 via Northam thus cutting off travel between Botley/Hedge End/Oaklands and Woolston-Time to get your car on the road
ReplyDeleteBotley residents do still have a train station with frequent trains into Southampton.
DeleteThe trains are only hourly and aren't direct. You have to change at either Eastleigh or Fareham, meaning it could well be quicker (and cheaper?) to travel using the bus.
DeleteIt's 37 minutes Botley to Central via Eastleigh or 41 minutes Botley to Central via Fareham (somewhat surprising me, I thought Eastleigh would be much quicker). I've no idea how that compares to the buses as I don't live in Botley. Rail Fares are £6.10 for a return, £5.80 for a single, so you'd probably have to have a railcard to make it competitive price-wise (unless the Botley buses are ridiculously expensive :p)
DeleteOT but have heard Xela have to appear at a PI in next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what OT or PI mean
DeleteOff topic
ReplyDeleteOublic Inquiry
Public Inquiry is this Thursday in Bristol. There is a raft of potential breaches including questioning the Transport Managers repute. I guess this is not a surprise.
ReplyDeletethough reading here and elsewhere one might have thought they were improving.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteTo put the position clear regarding the PI at Bristol next week. The Directors have requested a meeting with the TC to review the business at a five year review plus a request for five more operating licences to expand the business.
The breaches are not extensive as it refers to one vehicle and the traffic manager repute is as I say to extend his position for a further five years which is a normal arrangement for any company reaching a five year review.
The company continues to perform well and new intake of further newer vehicles reflects the healthy position.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Let's hope this statement satisfies the few who always seem to have the knives out for you-PAC
DeletePAC and others
DeleteI think the reason why sometimes people have the knives out for Xelabus is because of a certain lack of honesty.
Ok, so they have been called to a Public Inquiry. That means there are allegations of wrongdoing, but it can happen to many operators and doesn't mean they are fundamentally bad people.
But for Xelabus to spin it to make out that they have called the meeting themselves, and that the alleged transgressions are minor, is disingenuous in the extreme and actually quite disrespectful to the Traffic Commssioner.
Just to be clear, the Traffic Commissioner calls a Public Inquiry when he/she sees evidence of wrongdoing. An operator can't call a Public Inquiry.
It is not a normal part of a five year review - most companies get through their five yearly reviews without going near a Public Inquiry.
In this case, the roll call is as follows. It doesn't tell us anything about the detail - that will emerge at the PI. But this...
PSV - S16 - Consider attaching of varying conditions under Section 16 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - S17 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
PSV - S28 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985)
PSV - Sch.3 - Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
...extracted from Notices and Proceedings, is not the sign of an operator with a clean bill of health requesting a routine meeting with the TC.
I for one hope that Xelabus do not come off badly, and can satisfy the TC that any misconduct has been put right.
But for them to make out that they have been whiter than white and that the Public Inquiry is a routine event initiated by them is simply dishonest, and that's why they invite people to get the knives out.
Good Afternoon
ReplyDeleteIn reply to this last blog message I can confirm the company had an issue with one vehicle which is for the commissioner to consider but the company also had an opportunity to not have to attend. As a result both directors HAVE requested to attend to discuss issues on extending company licence, five year review. It is as simple as that.
I trust this will put those who have an interest correct on their assumptions.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Well done Xelabus-PAC
DeleteGood Afternoon
DeleteFor those of you who have an interest in our fleet you may be interested to know that Scanias 419 and 420 have been delivered and being prepared for service from next Monday. That will mean we have an average age of 5 years for all our single deck fleet and well ahead of the DDA compliancy that starts from 1st January 2016 for single deck buses.
We also have two further ex Brighton and & Hove Tridents to join our fleet to be numbered 528 and 529 one of which will be an all over advert. This gives us an opportunity to start withdrawing aged Olympians.
Olympian 505 will shortly also be an all over advert for another customer.
From the Autumn our plans are to make inroads into the double deck fleet and look towards full DDA compliancy for these type of buses which will come into effect from 1 January 2017.
We are displaying four buses at Southdown 100 on Sunday 7th June and we will have models of our buses to sell with all proceeds going to Naomi House Hospice. Try and pop along and see us.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Again some flannel - you don't get called to a PI for an issue with just one vehicle unless there is a catalogue of failures behind it. This is usually when a PG9 is "S" marked which suggests there are systematic failures. If the TC wished to discuss matters on a low key approach then she would call the operator to a private preliminary hearing or what used to be called "in chambers". A public inquiry is called when the TC is not being satisfied regarding the systems, repute or financial standing are in question.
ReplyDeleteIt is also helpful to consider that a public inquiry can be called by the TC if they deem it appropriate to do so. It is a more recent phenomenon for issues to heard at PI where previously they would not have been. It an also be dealt with by an in chambers hearing as the poster above suggests.
DeleteAll we know is that this is an S.28 call up. That suggests there are some unresolved issues in the operator's maintenance systems.
It will only come out after the PI - most likely in Route One or another trade mag. Until then, it's mere speculation. Too much speculation would be unwise until the PI is heard.
Xelabus are a major schools and college contractor and use a fleet that would be considered older to service this work. Operators of older vehicles do attract more interest from DVSA - but that is the same everywhere regardless of the operator. There is a more longer term history of instability with their service offering (though that is a lot more stable now as they've matured and it not under discussion as S.26 is not listed) and in more recent times there has been investment in more modern fleet.
This can be interpreted as a means of addressing the 'issue' at hand - younger vehicles tend to be more reliable, and have lower maintenance costs whilst being more acceptable to the customer. But that doesn't always ring true, some types of modern bus seem to like more engineering attention than others.
It might be that the operator has had a succession of PG9s over a fixed period - and once you reach a certain number, you're called to PI.
Is the operator applying for more operator licence discs? That can be a reason for a call up and is a possibility given that Xelabus wish to expand further. Has this triggered a DVSA fleet check?
As I've said above, it's mere speculation until the PI is heard.
Whilst 'maintenance issues' can sound alarming it is worth remembering that PCVs are subjected to an MOT equivalent inspection every 4 to 5 weeks at the most with defects rectified as required. The average private car doesn't benefit from this level of attention in between the time it's MOTed.
The standard of PCV safety is therefore exceptionally high (as indeed it should be) and they remain a very safe means of transport.
Dear Customer
DeleteFollowing discussions with the Traffic Commissioners, Xelabus have been informed that there is no requirement to attend a Public Inquiry. The company has provided and worked with the TC and they are satisfied with the outcome.
The company now will work towards an expanded network in the future.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
To be fair Thames Travel (part of GA group) is also up on not too dissimilar matters, What is a little disturbing, is whether TCs may become super strict to Justify their existence at a time councils are forced to use lesser operators to run supported services because of lower costs. My fear is that those operators may be forced to incur unnecessary expenses, which will reflect in their offers, and the councils will be unable to afford.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that the purple bus company once of Eastleigh always used to poo-poo various portents of doom right up until Doomsday.Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteThe revised timetable for Bluestar 3 as from 22nd june 2015 is now being shown on Traveline-PAC
ReplyDeleteWhat I particualrly find amusing is the postings from "customer services" at Xelabus as I am surprised given a lot of their drivers have not heard of this.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service is no doubt aka one of the directors who normally post on this blog and otherwise cover up the poor performance and missing services.
I expect Xelabus have the same operating difficulties at times that major operators have and services go missing or run very late-I don't know which service(s) you are referring too,but where I live on the X11, I don't observe many journeys missing,however a few do at times run late due to heavy traffic
DeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteCustomer Services answer and act for public relations on behalf of the company. The directors release information that is for the public and CS will ensure this is positioned with the relevant media.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Yet to see the X24 observe Botley Road in Romsey to reach Chambers Avenue. Normally seen going via the A27.
ReplyDeleteGood morning,
ReplyDeleteIs the Solent Go travelcard definitely valid on the Salisbury reds service?
Just they are not listed as an accepting operator on the solent go website.
Many thanks