Blue to the zoo? Noo!

In a couple of weeks time, many zebra sculptures will start appearing in and around Southampton as part of a summer-long promotional event by Marwell Zoo.

What does this have to do with buses? Well, Bluestar are ever so proud to be sponsoring one of the zebras, which will indeed be bright blue.

This new tie up means that if you fancy a day out at Marwell Zoo, surely a Bluestar bus is the obvious way to travel. Except they don't go there. The only bus route to run right to the entrance of Marwell Zoo is First M1.

The nearest Bluestar will get you is the top of Sandy Lane on the 2, which is a 40 minute walk away, much of it on narrow lanes without footpaths. Awkward!

New Forest Tour / First price freeze / 46 to go

This weekend sees the launch for the summer season of the New Forest Tour, again with three circular routes which between them cover most of the forest. The easiest way to access them from Southampton is by using Bluestar 6 to connect in Ashurst, Lyndhurst or Lymington; or Bluestar 8 & 9 or the Hythe Ferry to connect in Hythe:

First have decided to continue with the promotional price of £9.50 for their FirstWeek Southampton ticket. The equivalent Bluestar/Unilink weekly ticket for the city is £15 from the driver or £14 on The Key or their app, although their network does cover more of the city.

More 112 becomes the Beach Bus again from 24th July, running more often between Hythe and Lymington, with some journeys via Lepe Beach and Beaulieu National Motor Museum. See the new timetable here. The new summer route:

Hampshire County Council cuts loom in September: Stagecoach is withdrawing the 46 and the 36 is revised from the 3rd. This will probably leave North Baddesley and Valley Park with no direct link to Winchester. More as we get it.

Solent Bus Update: Regional Round Up

Here's our regular monthly look at bus service changes coming up right across South Hampshire, Salisbury and Bournemouth & Poole.


5th June:
More 50 Bournemouth-Swanage
Term-time schedule resumes after the half-term holiday.

6th June:
More 125 Ringwood-Christchurch
Minor changes.

10th June:
More 13 Bournemouth-Wimborne
A change was scheduled but has possibly been put off.

More 4 Poole-Wimborne
A change had been registered, but may have been abandoned.

25th June:
More 30 Swanage-Dorchester
Summer seasonal service starts.

New Forest Tour
Seasonal service starts.

1st July:
Stagecoach Winchester Park & Ride
Change not yet clear.

3rd July:
First F1 Fareham-Highlands
Minor changes.

Our next Solent Bus Update will appear on Sunday 3rd July, by which time we will have more details on the following:

17th July:
Stagecoach 85 Winchester-Lugershall/Andover
Stagecoach 86 Winchester-Hatch Warren
Stagecoach/Salisbury Reds Activ8 Salisbury-Andover

24th July:
More 112 Lymington-Hythe

25th July:
More U1 Bournemouth University service


Here are links to the websites of the bus operators serving the wider region:

• Stagecoach South/Swindon
• More
• Salisbury Reds
• First Hampshire/Somerset/Wessex
• Wheelers
• Mervyn's
• Emsworth & District
• Shaftesbury & District
• Herrington Coaches
• Beeline Coaches
• Frome Minibuses
• Yellow Buses
• Discover Dorset

Wider region local transport authorities:

• Hampshire County Council
• Wiltshire Council
• Bournemouth Borough Council
• Poole Borough Council
• Portsmouth City Council