First City Red 10 is being incorporated into the 2, which will run cross-city between Millbrook and Thornhill, just like Bluestar 18. This is a bizarre choice as it throws away the advantage that traffic in Shirley doesn't affect the 10 and traffic in Bitterne doesn't affect the 2, which both affect the full route of the 18.
First 1 is indeed being withdrawn, which cuts off public transport to the Ordnance Survey's headquarters at Adanac Park. It also ends public transport in the heart of Coxford, away from the main roads. Here's a map of First's current routes in that area so you can get an idea of the gaps that will be left when the 1 goes:
The ludicrous decision to reverse the 7's terminus loop in Midanbury and Townhill Park back in February is being reversed. I bet none of you saw that coming!
In better news, the 9 gets a Sunday service. The 6 is diverted due to traffic congestion at Ocean Village. There are minor timetable changes to the three and 11.
Bluestar 18 has the advantage in that it offers contactless payments.
ReplyDeleteThis month I believe first are going contactless
DeleteYes delays are the main drawback to cross city routes and the debate for commercial route planning in Southampton has always been to run cross city or terminate in city centre. The success of Red 3 and Bluestar 18 proves which is correct ! In the 80's and 90's the Southampton Citybus boast was that passengers could travel from any district centre to any other without changing buses.
ReplyDeleteNow you can`t travel from Bitterne shopping centre to Portswood ,without having to change buses.
DeleteYou couldn't before could you ?
DeleteAbout 20 years ago, citybus had the 4, 6 and 20 running from bitterne to portswood without having to change or go via town. Showing my age now!
DeleteWhen Southampton had a decent bus service and they were privatised then as well!Then First came along....
DeleteThe 6 was a very fast link between Portswood and Bitterne.It went via the triangle,Bullar rd and Lances Hill to Bitterne,it`s high time it was brought back!
DeleteA sad day for the Maybush area. Until I was 12 (1983) I used to go with my Mum and brother regularly to the bus stops in Palm Road - we had the 7s going one way to town and the 9s the other way, so you had to cross over the road depending which came first. I think they were at least every 10 mins combined, if not better. Now Palm Road and Olive Road look like they will have nothing. I wonder if Ordnance Survey at Adanac Park (on its old Romney Road site when I lived there of course) will get a replacement as there may be developer funding, but perhaps that's run out and insufficient people use the bus to sustain continuation. Another deterioration to public transport to or near to Nursling Industrial Estate which has never (apart from a strange but welcome spurt in the 1990s(?) been good.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I think there will be some changes. I'm sure Bluestar won't take this lying down.
DeleteI think one of two things will happen
1. Bluestar will whip their 17 route around Olive Road, Palm Road and Aldermoor Avenue.
2. Bluestar will expend their 7 route to Lordshill along the current 1 route. This would be ironic as it would be very similar to the old citybus 7/27 routes.
As for Adanac Park. I also think the 17 will be changed to serve Lower Brownhill and Adanac Park both directions and leave out Brownhill Way.
As said Bluestar will not take this lightly because of the changes to First 2 and 10.
When you say Bluestar won't take this lightly. I'm not sure I get what your trying to say. It suggests the changes by first are a big attack on Bluestar ? Maybe I have missed some news but I cannot see it ?
DeleteThose in Coxford should have used the bus,now that it`s going I feel sorry for pensioners,unable to walk far who will now be stranded.
DeleteWhy not divert 17 via Redbridge Lane, Hillyfields and Frogmore Lane instead of Brownhill Way, serving new development and close to Survey and no requirement for extra vehicles
DeleteWhy not divert the 17 via Redbridge Lane, Hillyfields and Frogmore Lane to serve the new developments in the area, also only a short walk to the Survey
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great idea! I would also divert it via Maybush Corner instead of Warren Avenue so it can serve the Mapmakers housing development.
DeleteThe sad thing is that the route through coxford lasted for nearly 30 years as Citybus 7/27 and as First 8/8A. These routes were heavily used. These were the most popular routes from Lordshill as it was the quickest to Shirley and town. It's only since it's been route 1 and due to frequency cuts that the route stopped being used. If it was every 10 minutes as it used to be, it would have been used.
ReplyDeleteThese people will now either use Bluestar 4 or 17 depending where in Coxford they live. They won't use First 12 unless they need to go to Millbrook.
I foresee First curtailing service 12 to terminate at Aldermoor/General Hospital as most Aldermoor Road residents must use Bluestar 17 as it is more frequent and quicker to town.
This will leave Lordshill with just one First service, the three.
I remember when Lordshill had fen services run by First. 5 5A 8 8A 10 10A 17 17A 21 and 22. Totalling 24 buses an hour by first, now there is 8. A 1/3 of the service levels. The 17 by Bluestar has helped with the service levels though.
I always thought Adanac Park would be a great place to have a park & ride, should Southampton need one.
ReplyDeleteReplying to Anonymous on 8 September 2017 at 08:43
ReplyDeleteI honestly think Bluestar will turn tables and start competing with the THREE on most of its route. Have a look on my map (not 100% accurate on the City Centre *can't introduce any routes through Vincent's Walk*)
https://goo.gl/RoSXg4
They do not need to increase any frequency, actually a 10 minute service is more than enough on the whole route.
And the diversion on peak times could be done via Weston Lane - Archery Rd - Centenary Quay - Bridge Link Road (like First X4 and X5)
Meanwhile no detail of imminent changes to Unilink services in Southampton, which start in less than 10 days time, including a route change to the U2. Some but not all timetables on Traveline yet! Pretty poor show if you want to use their service, Bit of a contrast with First's early announcement of their changes.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this blog should be more critical of GSC and less so of First! Just a thought............