Here's a summary of the changes to our region's bus services taking place this weekend:
See the previous post for changes to Yellow Bus routes in Bournemouth, including the replacement of the A1 airport service with new route 14 via Winton.
- First A Eastleigh-Hedge End
This council subsidised Sunday counterpart to the Mon-Sat Xelabus X4 service is being withdrawn, signalling the final end of route A. It ran for the last time this Sunday just gone, having been run by First for years and Stagecoach before them. Does anyone know how far back we have to go to find the Sunday service between Eastleigh and Hedge End in the hands of the same operator as the Mon-Sat service?
Passengers needing to get between Eastleigh and Hedge End on a Sunday will now need to either take the train (replacement bus services will be running this coming Sunday due to engineering works) or use Bluestar 2 to Southampton and change there to Bluestar 3:
- Xelabus X4 Eastleigh-Hedge End
The X4 will continue to run Mondays to Saturdays, but with a new timetable. The last two journeys of the evening are cut, so the last bus from Eastleigh will now be at 1845, with the last bus from Hedge End at 1908.
- First E1/E2 Eastleigh-Winchester
These routes transfer to Stagecoach and have a new timetable from Monday. There are a couple of extra early morning journeys towards Eastleigh - 0647 weekdays Allbrook Knoll to Eastleigh and 0727 weekdays (0737 Saturdays) Twyford to Eastleigh - plus a later journey from Eastleigh at 1805 Mon-Sats to Twyford. The Portswood extension is withdrawn.
- Xelabus X10 Southampton-Bishop's Waltham
Only a minor change to the timetable. The 0741 weekday service from Waltham Chase to Southampton will now depart 10 minutes earlier at 0731.
- Xelabus X15 Eastleigh-Hamble
An additional journey will run at 1543 weekdays from Eastleigh to Hamble. New timetable here.
- Stagecoach 36 Winchester-Lockerley
Transfers to
- Wheelers H1/H2 Hythe-Applemore
Transfers to
- Wheelers T3/T4 Totton-Cadnam
Transfers to
All of these changes are from Sunday 30th October.
Yes it was 2008 when Solent Blue Line operated Red Rocket A
ReplyDeleteThe references to Salisbury Reds on route 36, and More regarding H1,H2,T3 and T4 are wrong. All these services will be run by Blue star, rather than their Go south coast cousins.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the link from the news item on the Blue Star website, the 36 will be operated by Salisbury Reds on Saturdays and in the School holiday, and by Blue Star on school days. Buses from both appear on the 35 and 39, as do those of Tourist Coaches. All Go Ahead south of course.
ReplyDeleteFirst Southampton appear to be amending nealy all routes, according to this weeks traffic commissioner report!?
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find it's to do with the 'Flying Santa' and subsequent closure of Hanover Buildings/Bargate Street - see https://www.firstgroup.com/southampton/news-and-service-updates/planned-changes/flying-santa-service-alterations.
DeleteThe new situation for people in Hedge End or Eastleigh wanting to travel to the other end, and having to go via Southampton is unlikely to be popular and I suspect many of those who do this journey will go by train. They do of course have the trek from Hedge End centre to the station!
ReplyDeleteI expect that both the relevant Council and the operators have decided it isn't viable, but how about a loop: Eastleigh, Swaythling, West End, Hedge End, Southampton, Swaythling, Eastleigh and vice versa?
With so many changes over the past few years by all the bus companies in Hedge End,the large majority of the population in the area have their own transport,and are better off for it.The layout of new districts in the area that have sprung up in recent times make it very difficult for bus operators to provide a reasonable service, serving all main points in one swoop.Many people complain about the Bluestar 3 being only hourly,however this on most days is more than adequate,as most usage is by the senior passholder brigade,and over the years even these have shrunk in numbers,as people in that age group as time has gone by, now have their own cars
DeleteRe the withdrawal of the A, my son drove for First for a year and in his experience he rarely carried more than three or four passengers per trip. Few of those were end to end trips, most to/from Hedge End were just to/from West End or Mansbridge, and to/from Eastleigh just local trips within Eastleigh or at most to/from West End.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the train is about 5 minutes Hedge End to Eastleigh with the same frequency and a similar price, I'm really not surprised.
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