Friday 24 March 2017

So long to Sundays in Swindon


This coming Sunday, 26th March, is your last chance to travel between Salisbury and Swindon by bus on a Sunday. It's the last day of Stagecoach 5, which is being withdrawn due to a subsidy cut by Wiltshire Council, wielding the axe that's been devolved to them by central government. Parts of the route will remain covered on Sundays by other services, such as Salisbury Reds X4, which runs from Salisbury as far as Durrington and Larkhill. On Mondays to Saturdays, you can continue to travel through to Swindon on Salisbury Reds X5.


In other news, almost all of our region's bus services will be running a Sunday service on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, but a notable exception is Bluestar, who will be providing a Saturday service on most routes on Good Friday. All Bluestar routes with the exception of the 6, 35, 36 and 39 will have a Saturday service. Unilink U1N will also run, although Unilink's daytime service will be on the Sunday timetable, as will Bluestar 6, with no service on the 35, 36 or 39.


In Bournemouth and Poole, More will also be providing a Saturday service on most routes on Good Friday. The exceptions are as follows:
  • A Sunday service running on routes 152, X1, X2, X8 and Bluestar 6
  • No services running on local routes 7a, 7b, 7c, 10, 24, 32, 38, 112, 128, Route One & Ringo

It'll be a Sunday service all round on Easter Monday.

It's Mothers' Day this Sunday and Go South Coast are celebrating by letting mums travel for free across all of their brands. Mums must however be accompanied by a paying child using a Dayrider ticket in order to qualify. The offer is valid on Bluestar, More and Salisbury Reds.


It's 30 years since Solent Blue Line launched in Southampton, so its modern day version, Bluestar, is holding a celebration at the Bargate on Sunday 4th June.


Stagecoach have announced some minor timetable changes to routes 69, 85 and 86 in Winchester from 30th April. Some schools and colleges routes are also affected.


Tuesday 14 March 2017

Boorley Park bus starts Monday

New homes are being built just north of Boorley Green:

July 2016

The new development is by the roundabout just north of Braxells Farm.

Some are already completed, so from Monday Xelabus launch a new route, the X5, which will connect the new development with Hedge End Railway Station.


The new development is right next to the Braxells Farm bus stop. Initially, it will only run at peak hours:


It enables residents of the new homes to catch the bus to Hedge End Station in time for these trains. You can also connect there for First 8 and Xelabus X9.

Just down the road from the development at the Pear Tree pub is where Bluestar 3 terminates.

The stops at Braxells Farm are also served between the peaks by Xelabus X15, which has a new timetable (with only minor timing changes) from Monday: