11th November is when changes happen to several Bluestar routes in Southampton, most notable of which is the 17, which is being amended to operate between Weston and Adanac Park.
Adanac Park, home to the Ordnance Survey, has been without a bus service since First withdrew the 1. The 17 is its nearest route, but will now be serving Adanac proper.
Weston was the scene of bus wars between what was Citybus and Solent Blue Line back in the late 80s, when a truce saw SBL left with the 18/19 Millbrook-Thornhill route as their only route wholly within the city boundary. Over the last few years, as First have floundered and reduced their network, Bluestar have gradually expanded onto more city routes. Sholing, Aldermoor, Oakley Road, Townhill Park - all used to be Citybus/First territory, now all with a Bluestar presence.
What makes this especially significant is that First's Weston route has until now been their only high-frequency route on which they have not faced direct competition. That changes in November.
The move will surely hit First's profits in our city and make it more likely that they will leave sooner rather than later. We just have to hope they sell rather than close down, as a Bluestar monopoly will be free to raise fares to the higher levels they charge outside the city.
There is no guarantee of Bluestar success:
ReplyDelete- First's 11 operates up to every 7 minutes against Bluestar's 17 at every 10 minutes
- The 11 only goes to the city centre whilst the 17 will bring with it the variance in reliability associated with Cross-City services
These anonymous people are to laugh at!
DeleteReplying to your comment:
- People are tired of the Streetlites: they rattle a lot, too small, struggle when overloaded (you need to get CR11 at 5-6pm, and then you’ll see: prams, people on their feet, the enormous queue to cross Itchen Bridge...)
- One bus every 20 minutes after 6pm is just wrong! They should keep a 10 minute frequency until 6pm. And the fact it is not a cross service, put people off to go to places. Believe me: loads are about to be drastically reduced with the arrival of Bluestar in Weston.
- Weston is begging for a cross-City service for a long time, and finally Bluestar heard their pleas.
-Bluestar 17 does not need any improvement in frequency: it will serve the area with 6 buses an hour, while First serves the area with 8 an hour... roughly any difference. On Saturday they actually match each other (6 buses for each company). I do believe though the frequency on B*17, on Sundays, will be increased to every 15 minutes, to match CR11. Perhaps the fact they have “only” 6 buses an hour will not affect too much on the reliability.
- However we may prepare to see any changes to First 11 timetable, and even a launch of a CR11 bus pass for £6 a week. Who knows if they start to terminate their CR11 at The Central Station, or even merge with the 11. Or even a drastic measure:
- First 3, the section between Vincent’s Walk and Thornhill, could be merged with First 2, making it First 1 (Thornhill - Millbrook via Sholing, Woolston, City Centre and Shirley)
-First 3, the section between Vincent’s Walk and Lordshill could be merged with First 11, making the First 3 (Weston - Lordshill via Woolston, City Centre and Shirley)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (is that enough?)
DeleteI presume you mean every 10 minutes after 6pm? (as you seem to contradict yourself)
Oh and people maybe tired of Streetlite but operators still buy them and when it is p*ssing it down with freezing rain would you really let one go by in the hopes that something better will come along?
The timetable for the 17 is now out, although First triumphs Mornings and day time (Monday-Friday), evenings are actually better on Bluestar, with later buses everyday (except Friday and Saturday, where First have a very late bus at 00:25 from Town).
DeleteSaturdays they are much break even and on Sundays, Bluestar wins by providing more buses through out the day. Christmas is fast approaching and for the first time in a few years, Weston and Woolston will have a New Year’s Day service, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if Bluestar runs 17 and 18 on Christmas Day.
Don`t think there will be any Christmas Day services this year as last year`s 18 seemed to be poorly used.
DeleteIf it is to annoy First, believe me, the cost of eventual losses on Christmas day are compensated with LOYALTY in the long term. In the end, this is a business and this Christmas day timetable would be an investment. Believe me, GSC is now keen to wave goodbye to First.
DeleteVOSA showing the BS 16 & 5 as having revised timetables from next mth as well.
ReplyDeleteHopefully a better evening service on BS16.
DeleteAgreed as not everyone wants to be home by 9pm(6pm Sundays).
DeleteThere is the CityRed 7
DeleteWell aware there is CityRed 7 Reece but If Bluestar want everyone to switch to their 16 they need to ensure travellers aren`t left to use the opposition to get home at a reasonable time.
DeleteMuch later 16s on the way in the November shake up.
DeleteI see no point in serving Adanac Park which has seen no buses for months now.The problem with First 11 is that it only runs to the City Centre.When it in various forms was a cross City route there were lots of people that went throgh to other points.All cross City routes are unreliable due to traffic but people prefer them rather than having to change bus.Even at present First at running every 7/8 minutes without even crossing the City is erratic with two buses running together in what I note observing it
ReplyDeleteA big Park & Ride site is being set up there for Hospital Staff...
DeleteIs it set up yet? The latest info I could find said there was no date - but that was just 30 seconds Googling!
DeleteThat said, I presume we don't know the timetable yet. It may be that they will only run a few journeys in the peak to and from Adanac Park in order to make it profitable. Which might just make it viable.
If this park and ride is going ahead, I hope they open it up to the general public as well. Just imagine the amount of cars it would take off Southampton’s roads.
DeleteIt would appear this is the case with all 17s going to Adanac Park
DeleteThis is identical to First’s former route 17/17A, but without the Millbrook section now covered by BS 7.
ReplyDeleteI wonder which roads it will be serving between City Centre and Itchen Bridge?
ReplyDeleteCentral Bridge and Bernard Street, at a guess.
DeleteAccording to Bluestar new map, yes it will go via Central Bridge and Bernard Street
DeleteAnd it wasn’t just drivers chitchat... it was real, and I saw it coming. Although this is a thing half of the city knew already. It is just a matter of time until we say “ta-ra” to First. But, as I saw here before, I do not want Bluestar reigning in this city without strong competition, as I don’t think Xelabus can deliver any good service.
ReplyDeleteI turned myself an anti-Xelabus, after the most rudest ever experience with them, after asking by email if they plan to divert any service to Sunday’s Hill Bypass (off Heath House Lane). They just replied with a very empty “No.” I just want them to go bankrupt.
You are yourself "rude", as already mentioned, everyone has there own opinion,
DeleteYou ask a question to xela, you got an answer, what was you expecting, Gareth to come round to your house, do a dance for you and read out an 500 page answer, get off your high horse Claudio, a bus derive, is a bus service and most places are lucky to have a bus service in this day n age.
You want strong competetion in Southampton Claudio,yet want to see the end of First,you don't like Xelabus because in a question you asked they just replied with a plain No,so in the end as you seem to be so well up on things,do you see as an operator being strong competetion against Bluestar?
DeleteIF (it's a big if) First leave, I really doubt there will be any form of competition. Xela might pick up one or two routes where Bluestar don't run, particularly ones closer to their main area, like the 6 and possibly 13. Xela will *never* try and emulate First's network to compete with Bluestar.
DeleteNo big firm will want to come in and replace them. It would be really bad economic sense to see a company pulling out of the town because they can't make money due to the strong competition and say "Oh, we'll set up a whole new operation there".
IF (again, a big if) that happens, Southampton will likely see the end to any promotional fares and possible service reductions as Bluestar no longer need to compete with First's prices and frequency on their routes.
Hi Alice, it's really not an if at all. When you look at their constantly shrinking route map, and then consider the suitability of their fleet for our clean air act, it will be a major surprise if they are still here next spring. I know I read somewhere that the man currently in charge, is the guy who closed their operations in Northampton and Plymouth. Regarding fares, see the comment near the bottom of this section. It is completely true that a weekly ticket for the Southampton zone, was around £15 five years ago, so a return to at least that level seems likely. First started the silly prices, and ultimately look likely to perish as a result of it. They have been mismanaged over a very long period, and have been consistently out thought by go ahead, in my opinion.
DeleteWhy would Xelabus want to divert any service via Sundays Hill By-pass? You asked them a question they sent you a relpy stating No.What's rude about that?
ReplyDeleteHello fecking anonymous.
DeleteBasically, it is a brand new estate with more than 300 dwellings and with a potential of more than 500 people a day with the right services in there. Andrew Wickham, GSC manager, didn't rule out that option and perhaps we could have their service 3 diverted via Sundays Hill bypass. As for Xelabus with their cold "No", they demonstrated they don't care about customers. Do you understand why, now?
So your reply to Me is as rude as Xelabus reply to you in your opinion
DeleteIs that the estate rumoured to be getting a train station as ot.on the botley line?
DeleteClaudio, 300 homes is absolutely nothing. Probably 15 people wanting to use a bus from there. Look at the massive Abbotswood estate at Romsey, and then look at the minimal loadings that operators get there. People moving to areas like that already have their transport sorted, and it's normally a car or a bike! It's not until many years later, when the offspring deliver offspring, that a market emerges.
DeleteFinally mate, please be nice to others on here. We are all allowed an opinion, as are you. It's not personal against you in any way. We are all enthusiasts, just by being on here, and, as I have pointed out before, many people have to hide behind the anonymous cover, as their employers forbid them to discuss matters on public forums. Please back off a bit and stop making things into such a drama.
Very true 1 or 2 of my friends and former workmates got disiplined for expressing(via social media) views on there companys policy on nameing moters at random rather then staff who had passed away whilst in employment
DeleteIf this estate is where I think it is [Dodwell Lane/Heath House Lane area of Hedge End] no it won't be getting a train service for many years, because it is nowhere near an existing line.
DeleteWhat date does the 17 Change appear on VOSA?
ReplyDeleteReece, you need to search for "Bluestar 17" on their search tool.
DeleteWill be good to see a decent Bluestar presence in Woolston.
ReplyDeleteAnother timetable change on Southern Vectis and once again one of it`s more popular routes-the no.2 stays with a poor frequency despite many journeys having a full double deck loading and no evening service.
ReplyDelete2 and 3 combined operate 4 buses an hour 7 days a week, and the 3 provides the evening service half hourly and the weekend night buses and even the Christmas Day service. Hardly a poor service.
DeleteHow often should the number 2 run then?! One bus every 30 mins seven days per weeks seems more than adequate whenever I use the service.
DeleteThe 2 provides a much faster journey between Newport and Shanklin and Sandown than the 3 which along with the 8 are notoriously slow.Would like to see the 2 running every twenty mins and in the eves as the 3 is so slow.
DeleteThe 8 is supposed to be more direct between Newport and Sandown however.
DeleteAnnon @ 21:21 - the 2 is timetabled 55 mins Sandown High Street to Newport bus station. The 8 is timetabled 45 mins to reach Newport from Sandown. So how is the 8 notoriously slow?! I can't see there being enough demand for six buses an hour between Sandown and Newport to make it commercially viable, even in the height of summer.
DeleteThe 2 is far quicker than the 3 between Newport and the ever popular Shanklin.
DeleteAs a regular user of bus services throughout parts of Southern England, I stated the truthful observation that the service levels and ticketing arrangements of Southern Vectis are overall superior to any other operator I have travelled with but the truth seems to be unacceptable and gets deleted from this site
DeleteHave you tried to buy a return fare on most of the routes on the island??
DeleteHave you tried to buy a return fare on e.g. Unilink in Southampton? Day tickets have replaced return tickets in many cases and these tickets on Southern Vectis have the advantage of being valid for 24 hrs from time of purchase and there is also an excellent option for 48 hrs
DeleteUnilink has never had a return ticket - only single and all day.
DeleteI would like to see fares return to their normal level, in other words, back to the levels that they were, before First started the silly battle that they conclusively lost. 6 and 10 pound tickets are simply not sustainable for a whole week of travel. I hope the levels return to around 15 pounds, which is where they were before. Please keep that figure in mind, when anyone has a go at Blue Star, as fares start to rise. It will probably take 3 years to get back to the price they were at 4 years ago, once First pull the plug!
ReplyDeleteThe £15 week ticket still exists, if you wanted to buy it..
DeleteWhat plà nt are some people on that a be like going to lidl and asking to pay heinz prices for lidl brand beans remember as someone pointed out 127+ drivers fhad employ in southampton aswell as surporting staff. Not all are going to be able to get other employment easy with a high influx (before anyone says there fault for working for first i wouldent want to be seen dead in lidl that my consumer choice but id have no ill feeling towards there staff). but the drivers may have benifits with first that makes it worth there while sticking it out ie pensions travel purks i know hilsea staff get £6* day tickets to use on gwr
Delete(*=conditions and some restrictions apply) and when you look at some first depots ie yeovil what they have in southampton is a fair size operation
A bit more meat on the bones of the Blue Star changes emerging today... The 17 will travel both ways on Brownhill Rd, giving a terminus for EVERY trip at Adanac Park. Also the 5 will do a midnight run from Romsey to Eastleigh. The 8 at 9pm is scrapped, with the 9 10pm number 9 diverting through Marchwood instead. Lots more 9s going down to Calshot, just like they used to. The biggest surprise is the introduction of a Sunday 11 service at last! Perhaps they do read this blog after all!
ReplyDeleteI did contact Bluestar about a Sunday service on the 11 and so it appears they DO listen to feedback.
DeleteRe anon @ 00:41 -Fully aware of timetable changes for Bluestar services via VOSA but what is your source for above changes you've stated? Sounds like insider knowledge.
ReplyDeleteNot really... They have given their drivers most of the info, and told them to tell their passengers, which is how I got it. Always good to keep in with friendly helpful drivers. Mine took a picture of the internal release and showed it to me, so it is all legit.
DeleteI'm surprised Bluestar haven't made public all the changes from next month.
ReplyDeleteThe secret to successful business is to provide what the potential customer wants. First failed to provide the cross city services which customers want and even dictate where they can go based on running time - central bridge instead of ocean village and no Ingleside service in peaks, just to name a couple. First's business is doomed to failure.
ReplyDeleteAnd a go ahead route in my area not gsc have just cut a route to a retail park on saturdays due to heavy traffic getting into tesco
DeleteIs it My imagination or does Wheeler's W1 get a drastic cut back in November 2018?
ReplyDeleteYep sadly the W1 is being reduced but not to surprising with lack of passenger numbers after Chilworth.
ReplyDeleteIt is rare that any more than a couple of passengers gets on a W1 in the Science Park or in Chilworth outside the peak hours so, sadly I doubt the out of peak hours service will last for long. I'd like to be proved wrong of course.
DeleteWhen Bluestar 14 was operating I was a regular passenger. Then came the W1 and my public transport costs more than doubled overnight for a less reliable service operating at less convenient times so I revised my shopping habits and never use the W1
DeleteI hope Bluestar expand their network even further in the east of the city with routes to Peartree, Harefield and West End.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else noticed that the much heralded hybrid deckers at Xelabus, have gone missing? The official line is that they were sent back due to reliability issues, but someone who witnessed them being removed from site has said that burly, security like staff attended the Eastleigh compound, armed with official paperwork, making it look a whole lot more sinister. Not another local operator in trouble, surely? Whilst their business model looks risky, with lots of subsidised work, I cannot see why they would be in difficulty at this point, unless they have over committed?
ReplyDeleteThis is libellous.
DeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteI can categorically say that the three Hybrid buses are with Volvo for mechanic checks following their arrival for service after so many miles in use. The dealer is also having the buses at their premises for technicians to learn the detail behind hybrid. At present we have three Enviro deckers to replace them prior to their return which will commence next week.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Nothing sinisterafter all then.this must be a disappontment for anon 5 Oct 22.33
ReplyDeleteAs mr trump would say FAKE NEWS
DeleteWhen First do finally close the doors and Bluestar are left to it. You watch the prices go up and up and up. It happened on the waterside when First stopped running there...
ReplyDeleteWith Xelabus there a small family run company without the massive cash injections of money made by university contracts that keep the rest of the company well above water level (bluestar)
Regarding the 'hybrids' they've all developed serious mechanical issues that are all being covered under warranty and no doubt Xelabus will not accept them back until they are fixed properly. That's a volvo problem not Xela. As for rumour mills going around Xela aren't in any money troubles either they are careful in using there cash flow so they don't make the same mistakes that other small operators made.. As for the Blairs. They work long hours ensuring everything works and aren't scared to get there hands dirty either. I recall Gareth this morning working early driving a bus in service. Along with alot of other drivers.
Oh and the big burly men that took the hybrids away... Well hate to disappoint I'm not a big burly man. I took 2 of them to Volvo Mc Truck and I was on the Xelabus payroll at time. So was the person who picked me up in a Xelabus liveried van
There was never a price war on the waterside routes, surprisingly! Prices even now, are only slightly higher than they were back then. I think the posters who are advocating higher rates, are simply recognising reality, that you cannot run a decent service at ridiculously unrealistic prices, with First being the perfect example of this. They are falling on the sword that they crafted.
DeleteAnon 6th October
ReplyDeleteGareth can be seen quite often driving the bus services. Even the X5/9/10 if he has to.
Who it was that hopes the weekly tickets go back up In price.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want everyone to pay more then they should have to?
Shareholder perhaps?
DeleteI do hope the prices go up a little bit, to make the journeys viable. I would rather pay £15 a week and have a frequent service than £10 and have cuts everywhere.
DeleteBluestar are expanding NOT cutting Claudio!
DeleteYou did not get my point. I do not want Bluestar to commit the same mistakes as First did. Because of this silly cut in bus passes and fares, we have now a small whiff of what was First when they bought the operation in Southampton.
DeleteDetails of Bluestar changes are now shown on their website.Service 17 timetable shown
ReplyDeleteFrequency of 15 minutes on a Sunday impressed me a lot, also the very late buses and early Sunday are impressive too. I sort of tried to make a timetable myself and it is not this far but I wasn’t expecting all of this to come.
DeleteMore than likely due to Bluestar listning to those who they carry or potentialy could carry.First have never been customer friendly and that's why they are such a disaster in what they operate.First give the impression of like it or lump it
DeleteVery impressive Sunday timetable especially in the evening.
DeleteGSC have had a lot of success at building up routes by running a really comprehensive timetable with attractive frequencies at all times of day and all days of the week. Look at Southern Vectis and the m1 and m2. The same is increasingly coming to Bluestar it seems.
DeleteBluestar seem to be effectively switching off First`s life support machine and not before time.I don`t think any rational person would be sad to see the demise of First and their dreadful bus"Service".
DeleteWouldn`t say Southern Vectis offers attractive frequencies with most routes offering a half-hourly service,or in the case of others the route is split just like the 1 and 7 and 9!
DeleteWhat frequencies do you think should operate on the Isle of Wight? They are not urban routes. Most other rural counties haven't got anywhere near the level of service that the IoW has. And evening and weekend service levels are exceptionally high.
DeleteThe routes are connecting major resorts on a very popular holiday destination and the heavy loadings on some routes with full double decker`s suggest a 20 min frequency would be better ,especially in peak season.
DeleteWell they're very busy in the summer although a lot are concessions of course. And in the winter when all the tourists are not there they are just routes between fairly small towns. You say that they should be every 20 minutes but of course Newport-Cowes is every 7/8 minutes, Newport-Ryde is every 10 minutes, Ryde-Sandown/Shanklin is every 15 minutes, and Newport to the Sandown/Shanklin area has 5 buses an hour by three different routes. For a comparison look at services in tourist areas in Dorset, Somerset, Devon or Cornwall. You will find that in most cases they are much worse!
DeleteWith a very poor frequency to Blackgang Chine even in the peak season.
DeleteIf you want REAL rural areas then head to Scotland where the nearest town could be ten miles away unlike the Isle of Wight.
DeleteIn many places in Scotland the nearest town is much more than 10 miles away. What this has to do with bus services on the Isle of Wight I'm not quite sure.
DeleteHalf-hourly can not in any way be called poor, particularly between smaller towns and villages. I would not complain...
DeleteAt least Bluestar are giving out info regarding any changes a lot earlier than Firstbus would've done. I & others have had to force First's hand so to speak when it came to their previous changes.
ReplyDeleteBit slow putting the new timetables up on their site considering they are on Traveline already.
DeleteWell as you have it to hand on Traveline doesn't really matter whether Bluestar decide to put theirs up later
DeleteThe Bluestar 16 will be running till Midnight once the new timetable starts.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get this info from, Reece
DeleteExactly my thought! Nice but a tad extreme going from early evenings to a midnight finish! I'd be interested to know how much earlier they're going to run the 16 on M-F am.
DeleteThe man working in the Bluestar Travel Shop Claudio
DeleteAnon 1624, there will be one earlier journey, about half hour earlier than the current earliest, and 4 extra (hourly) evening journeys. 8pm-midnight ish
DeleteAt long last bus passengers will be able to bus it straight to Morrison`s in Totton on a Sunday thanks to the new Bluestar 11 Sunday service.
ReplyDeleteCan`t come soon enough.
DeleteJust heard Airlynx have lost their licences and have 30 days to close down!
ReplyDeleteThe Echo reports that it relates to drivers' hours offences and there is a 10 year ban.
DeleteSomeone did this comparison between Bluestar 17 and First 11. And there is a good point to retain. Bluestar can deliver better capacity than First at most times. It is on Scribd! https://www.scribd.com/document/390606875/Comparison-F11-BS17
ReplyDeleteOh I’ve done it and it took me a while but it was well worth. Now I am supporting 100% with Bluestar move.
DeleteBluestar have under provided before 0800 from Weston especially 0650-0750 but no doubt it will get increased after a couple of months.
DeleteThey are using double deckers so overcrowding shouldn`t be an issue.
DeleteWell if they have under provided you will still have First 11 to use as an alternative
ReplyDeleteNew timetables on services 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18 are now available on Traveline. It looks like service 4 will move from Totton Depot to Eastleigh. 8 suffers a huge cut on sundays to have those extra services on the 11.
ReplyDeleteMarchwood still has the 9 diverting through it during the eves though.
DeleteSunday services on service 8 are generally lightly loaded - service 12 buses are often well-loaded and some of the passengers would find service 11 more convenient - seems Bluestar are responding to demand
DeleteLiking the new early 16's M-F but slightly later on Sat.
ReplyDeleteSat 18's are gonna be too early for us, currently 5:53 but will be going at 5:48 in future, with next bus still at 6:18
Tad annoying when starting work at 6:30, as in way too early or too chancey.
But guess I can't moan seeing as M-F is bulk of working wk, whereas Sat is just 1 day.
Are you one of those drivers who mainly do the 16?
DeleteThink Anon is a passenger Reece-suggest you read the post again.
DeleteYes I am a passenger as I don't drive. Work downtown starting @ 6:30 & I was referring to 18's arriving in town @ 6ish & next arrives @ 6:30 hence too early or too chancey. Just have to talk to my boss I guess, about our Sat shifts? Others start even earlier than me, so they'll be pleased...
DeleteSimon Gard has registered another bus service today
ReplyDeleteSorry Reece but the information that you have been given is incorrect.
DeleteWe have registered changes to existing service s38 from 031218.
Customer services
Southbourne buses
01202428828
Does this guy never give up
ReplyDeleteBecareful what you say about that man as remember the threats he made to mainline 421! After he pulled the plug early on ringwood town route
DeleteI think it's just an amendment to the existing schoolday S38 service
DeleteIt is just extra journeys in the afternoon... nothing major.
DeleteAlso More did a lot of modifications to local routes, bringing in on their 38 later journeys. Southbourne changes could be related.
DeleteA war can be redeclared between Mr Gard and Morebus. As much as I can try to defend small companies, Mr Gard should just give up and retire from the industry. GardBus was a fail, Southbourne buses will be a fail... and I could give you more examples: Wheelers, Xelabus...
DeleteWhy should Wheelers or Xelabus fail? Great deal of investment by the latter company??
DeleteI don't think you could at present regard either Wheeler's or xelabus as a fail-Xelabus rely on School contracts which they seem to do very well at-Wheeler's also rely on various contracts which they also seem to do well at-In the case of Simon Gard,he seems to have been a total let down to everyone passenger wise who supported Him-best off sticking to His taxi business I would have thought.
Deleteleave him alone,s38 is a sound operation, filling the massive gap that morebus walked away from....
DeleteWheelers have their coaching but bus network is quite a way from their depot. Xelabus has contracts but a bus network within its local area and easy to serve. although I am not a real fan of any of the operators the smaller companies do fill a void where the big companies dont bother with. xela has done well with its network and over 40 buses with Wheelers have about 30 buses too. I salute both companies.
DeletePersonally I don’t like either company. But they do fill the gap where the bigger companies are not interested in doing so.
DeleteI wouldn't say Xelabus fill gaps where the bigger companies aren't interested being true. The Chandlers Ford corridor, West End/Hedge End, X9/X10 are all very good routes and without doubt a smaller company like them with investment is in my view up with the big boys!
DeleteDo they run anything commercially? They seem to survive on council contracts.Remember the Velvet versus Bluestar clashes a few years back? One imagines that any attempt by them to take on the 'big boys' will only end one way.
DeleteXelabus and Wheeler's have never tried to take on the so termed big boys that i'm aware of.It's obvious both these operators are quite content in what they provide.I would not imagine either operator would wish to take on the big boys,it's just certain persons that post have this vivid imagination or fantacy
DeleteStatement from Southbourne Buses, Customer Services.
DeleteWe can confirm the changes to service s38 from 03/12/18.
Minor timetable changes to school time journeys to accommodate delays caused by additional traffic diverting via Ferndown to avoid the a338 roadworks at Blackwater.
The following additional afternoon journeys will be withdrawn.
1620 FERNDOWN - RINGWOOD MHL
1715 RINGWOOD MHL - FERNDOWN
1750 FERNDOWN - RINGWOOD MHL
Details of arrangements for customers who have purchased season tickets to claim refunds for affected journeys will be posted on facebook and our website this week. Customers looking for alternative travel options should contact traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or www.traveline.info
Customer Services
Southbourne Buses
01202 428828
Sounds like it could be more of a temporary thing then.
DeleteWheelers W1 service will be cut back to run between Chilworth and Southampton only
ReplyDeleteTimetable for revised W1 on Traveline.Next step more than likely complete withdrawell
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the W1 is not the route itself but it is not part of a bigger network. If it was part of, shall we say, Xelabus, the connection to Romsey could be restablished.
DeleteThere is a problem with the W1 in the fact it carries very few customers and that's why it's being cut back.I don't see in being part of Xelabus would make any difference
DeleteUnless you expand Service W1 to Eastleigh via North Baddesley and Chandlers Ford...
DeleteWhy would anyone want too when most of the route is covered by bluestar 5
DeleteThere is also a nice quick train service seven days a week.
DeleteBus services run by small companies do not operate on a level playing field for fare-paying passengers. I use Bluestar so when the tendered service was the route 14, I was one of the most frequent users of the service. When the tender transferred to route W1, I had to find an extra £500 a year or change my travel plans. I do not have an extra £500 a year so the W1 has lost several journeys a week.
DeleteHave you thought about doing driving lessons?
DeleteSurely that is completely against the logic.
DeleteThe point is that a contracted service has passed from one operator to the other. Surely if the service is essential enough to need contracting then provision should be in place to promote use.
Maybe, if HCC were to mandate that contract holders should subscribe to (for example) SolentGo or similar, then it would help those who live on an independent run contract route.
Think you will find it was Southbourne Buses drivers having to direct lost GSC Damory drivers at Brockenhurst yesterday because they had been given incorrect route training
ReplyDeleteApologies Simon for the mistake the new version on VOSA get's confusing at times but hopefully you are doing well with your new business mate.
ReplyDeleteI miss seeing the Gardbus operations though partucally in Southampton when you operated a route to Ringwood on Sundays.
Well done to Southern Vectis for being the first to reveal their Christmas schedules within the new timetable book.
ReplyDeleteGood ole Vectis.
DeleteThey always do show their Christmas and New Year timetables in their Autumn issue iof the timetable book,so I don't understand why some people get so exited
ReplyDeletePerhaps not everyone knows this so pipe down son.
DeleteNo place for this type of aggression here, or anywhere else for that matter! Yes the original comment was a bit sharp too.
DeleteWell done to Bluestar for launching the "Bluestar promise" working with businesses to offer cheaper fares to employees switching from their car to a Bluestar bus.
ReplyDeleteGood idea though will never change the really lazy people and those who think waiting at bus stops is only for poor people as I heard recently.
DeleteDidn`t help when an 80`s prime minister famously said"If you`re a man over 40 and still using the buses then you`re a failure".
DeleteYeah but most sensible people realise that we are 40 years forward of that sort of thinking, and buses have heat, light, internet access etc etc.
DeleteBuses in the 80`s had heat and light and there was no demand for internet access in those days.
DeleteI think that the point being made here, was that back then buses were draughty noisy bone shakers, with none of the mod cons of modern day luxury vehicles, and the world has moved on apace since those bad old days!
DeleteBack in the 80's todays most modern tehnology was not even invented.At that time buses were the most modern for their time.As for the comment noisy bone shakers,try travelling on todays modern buses,some of which have more shakes and rattles than any vehicle I remember using in the 80's.Certainly nothing remotely luxury about some of them In many cases today I think I would prefer the so termed bad old days
DeleteThe sensible people that Anon refers to are limited in number. As a travelling professional, I was recently accused of being both sexist and racist by a black woman because she refused to believe that I took the bus back to my hotel.
DeleteAs for the standard of bus travel the two stand-out improvements in my lifetime have been accessibility of vehicles and on-board information although the improvements are moderate compared to those in rail industry. I am opposed to privatisation but have to concede that it is the best thing that ever happened to the rail service, many of the journeys I undertake on a regular basis would have been simply impossible in the 1980s
Am I the only one who thinks, or some (or all services) on Bluestar 4 are moving depots? Otherwise, how can you justify a midnight one way journey from Romsey to Eastleigh on the 5?
ReplyDeleteThey are all being moved to Eastleigh operation, to allow for the extended 17 route to be run out of Totton. Unfortunately, Totton does not have room for both routes. Neither does it have a workshop high enough to maintain double deck buses, which will turn out to be the biggest problem.
DeleteTotton has all ready got a few Double deckers
DeleteWho knows if it is just a temporary thing? I actually see Bluestar buying First depot once the latter ones close down.
DeleteAccording to various sources, that scenario is already being discussed at high levels, with implementation possible by the time of the clean air act next spring!
DeleteOh is next spring the latest date when first pull out of Southampton according to some on here? Looking forward to that date being reached and passed, just like all the other dates we've had so far. They were according to various sources as well.
DeleteI gave up of trying to guess anything regarding First. But one thing I realised at Traveline is when you search for any First service in Southampton it appear as “First Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham”. I don’t believe the operation in Portsmouth is that bad, despite the latest changes, so I don’t believe it will close. Not so sure about Berkshire, Southampton and Weymouth...
DeleteSeems that way the annuel spring clean of first southampton been discussed but never implemented i for 1 wont be going to empress road with my end is nigh sandwich board. As to 80s buses i grew up with vr & atlantions and would rather still have them then e200s and streetlights as to bone shackers early e200 rattled like hell the 1s stagecoach had new in winchester in 2007 were horrendus the assult screen you could put up in broadway and by rhc hospital it had worked its way down again
ReplyDeleteYour English is appalling. I didn’t understand half of it.
DeleteAnonymous19 October 2018 at 09:18
DeleteYes, there are deficiencies in the post, but I certainly had no trouble in understanding it.
I think all you wanted, was to post a rude insulting post.
No, it's definitely gibberish.
DeleteIt's not great English, but for those of you who are too stupid to understand some slightly erratic English here's a 'translation'.
DeleteSeeing how the annual 'spring clean' of First Southampton has been discussed but never implemented, I for one won't be going to Empress Road with my 'end is nigh' sandwich board. As to '80s buses, I grew up with VRs and Atlanteans and would rather still have them rather than the bone-shaking e200s and streetlites. The early e200s rattled like hell - the ones Stagecoach had new in Winchester in 2008 were horrendous. The assault screen you could put up in Broadway and by RHC Hospital it had worked its way down again!
Don't be too quick to judge, not everyone has great grammar but there could be legitimate reasons behind it. No need to leave comments on the end - if you can't understand this yet you're complaining that the English is bad then I'd say it's you being the stupid one!
What’s wrong with First?
ReplyDeleteThere are some posts (I spotted two at Castleway and Pound Tree Road) saying: feeling blue? City Red want you!
A sensible driver that knows Southampton is aware that the operation lives huge pressure from competition, especially now that Bluestar is expanding to Weston, and just a few areas exclusive from First: Ocean Village, Merryoak, Cobden Bridge/Bitterne Triangle (the U9 is infrequent), Peartree Avenue, Harefield and Kathleen Road.
Bluestar/Unilink exclusive areas are Oakley Road, Waterloo Road, Swaythling, University, The Avenue, Bassett, Millbrook bypass and Central Station South.
Is this the last breath of First?
People seem rather unhappy about the unreliability of cross-City services, but it is compensated by the convenience of such service. Hence the good expectative from people in Southampton for the expansion of Bluestar 17.
I am sure it will be a success but the early morning services (Monday to Friday) needs to be better addressed, as First offers 14 buses between 7-9 am while Bluestar offers only 5 buses, and that’s their Achilles Heel.
The early morning service probably needs beefing up a little bit but I count 10 Bluestar journeys in the period you mention, not 5?
DeleteI take it that the advert you have spotted is to try to attract drivers? If so, it is totally wasted. All the talk you hear from Blue Star drivers, is how nobody trusts a word that First management spout. Last year they were telling their drivers about the massive expansion plans and new fleet that they are getting, but all that has happened is the closure of their travel shop, more cuts, and not a new bus in sight. It all points to managing the business down to nothing, whilst using enough spin to keep enough staff aboard until they make the final quit decision, in my opinion.
DeleteFirst management is poor. Hear others moan about the '3' route being busy- doesn't help that they don't have any double deckers, does it? Think I last saw one on the former 12 route!
DeleteAt least BlueStar are investing & have plenty of d/deckers. Someone asked First boss Marc Reddy about timetable booklets on Twitter? His reply- no more of them as most passengers only use 1 route. Contemptuous he is, no wonder drivers are switching sides.
I wonder if the Empress Road operations manager is Happy at First Bus As well?
DeleteIn the article I did regarding First CR11 vs Bluestar 17, it is 10 blue buses between Weston and town, against 16 red in the same period. If Bluestar applied the same max frequency as First, it would be 12 buses in that period and I believe we may have more buses in the future from Weston, but starting in Town (WestQuay).
DeleteThis is just a scenario and we will only know when they start running them from November 11th. Did I mention the road between West Quay and Vincents Walk will be closed from November 10th at certain times due to the flying Santa thing...
Apologies, it starts on the 15th, not on the 10th. And I would like to add that Mark Reddy, in my point of view, is okay staying at First, otherwise he would of making a move already after the failure of CR2 matching the whole BS18.
Deletewhat some of you seem to have overlooked is that BS will be running double deckers to Weston and First will be running their dinky little single deckers so BS won`t need so many buses
DeleteI was told that the rush hour in Weston doesn't apparently begin until the Jeremy Kyle show has finished.
Deleteanon @18:27-why do you NEED a timetable booklet?Most operators now just issue individual timetable leaflets as they work out cheaper.
DeleteMost people seem to go online to view bus timetables in 2018 anyway.
DeleteYou would be amazed how many can't!
DeleteAnon 23/10 @ 21:28... If you read what I said, "someone asked Marc Reddy etc etc.
DeleteThat means someone else asking, not myself enquiring about booklets.
I don't NEED as you stated, as I have insufficient First service in my area.
I wouldn't waste my time asking First etc about anything anyway.
Always look online @ traveline SW site & so on for times.
Oh and another person asked First Soton about times the other day- when they told him to look online. His reply?
"No access on my cheap phone!"
Can you actually pick up printed First timetables anywhere other than the central library now that First`s travel shop has closed?
Deletehttps://roadworks.org
ReplyDeleteLook up on here the chaotic roadworks for So'ton! Change dates as in next 2 wks, or 3 mths for example...
Does anyone know when First stopped using Pinefield Road in Townhill Park as drivers on the 7 no longer seem to pull into the Turning Circle for a few minutes break.
ReplyDeleteReece, I've been retired 10 years, and I'm sure they stopped using the turning circle before that. Others may have more recent knowledge.
ReplyDeleteCity Red 11 will be increasing the frequency to every 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteA hilarious response! Where are they getting the staff and buses from? All this will do is increase their costs, decrease their profits etc. When will they just accept that their operation is second rate?
DeleteWhere is that? This is ridiculous! There is not demand for 7 minutes, I can’t believe 5... why do they need 12 buses an hour?
DeleteTheir Sunday timetable is just awful, one bus per hour after 7:45pm, Bluestar are going to annihilate First!
I am just sick and tired of fake news. This can’t be true... There is not enough drivers nor demand. Even a £6 weekly ticket is a bad move. I’d rather see first leaving town than see this ridiculous move.
ReplyDeleteIf not fake news First would be better off combining the 2 with the 11 and putting back the through service-Nothing better than cross City links whatever the traffic conditions as most people detest changing buses
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, one thing is your wishes, other thing is the reality. There is no announcements, no change on VOSA. And admit, a 5 min frequency is not feasible!
DeleteThey need to review their evening services (especially on sundays, where a bus every hour is just ridiculous)
Regarding the merge of 2 with 11, it wouldn’t be welcomed my Millbrook guys as they saw many changes to their services in less than a year. And don’t forget, it was this week a year ago that first has done their worse move ever, by merging the 2 and 10. Fail fail fail! No more 10 service around.
I don’t want first to close down, I want them to sell the operation, as someone can do better.
You can just hear the thinking at Firsts offices..... We have known about this move for ages, so what is the answer? Cheaper rates or increased frequency?
DeleteThere is no innovation with these guys and they have no idea why Blue Star are making their move. Do they really think that the blues are that interested in Weston? They obviously want the through traffic from Woolston and the bottom end of town onto their 17, to further dent the 3 route. The Weston link is just a bonus to them.
When will First wake up and get rid of their safety screens, leather seats etc? When will First provide a full service on Christmas and New year's eves? Not while their current management remain, obviously! They just keep on playing straight into Bluestars hands. Not long now til they have to get rid of their boast that they have the youngest fleet in Southampton either....
The sorely missed cross-City service in Weston will be a thing of the past. People do not care if they can catch a bus every 5 or 10 minutes.
DeleteThey want new transport opportunities (or restoration of such) and the move from Bluestar was clever. Finally First has virtually competition everywhere.
And they need to update that “we run nearly 15 services”. 9 services (including service 40) or 11 services (including X4/5) is not nearly 15....
Claudio-Who do you imagine would want what's left of First's Southampton operation-You state you don't want them to go but advocate them selling off the operation
ReplyDeleteFirst is struggling and do not appeal to anyone. Whoever buys first operation will experiment slightly higher loads as people tend to try the new (of course there is some who stick with the old). Then if people like the new services they will stick with it. If people don’t like it, they will return to its original provider. Come on it is basics of how market works.
DeleteArticles in this website appointed some operators who may be interested And I appoint mine:
- Stagecoach
- Transdev
- RATP
- Arriva (I doubt it.)
Stagecoach know how to run services properly, hence their stability in Portsmouth/Chichester/Winchester/Andover.
Do you agree?
Well Stagecoach are stable in Chichester,Winchester and Andover as they don't have much opposition with other operators except in Andover with Wheeler's-In Portsmouth they live comfortabily with First as each operator respects what each operates-First struggle in Southampton due to many factors,but in other areas up and down the Country are very successful-So what's the problem with Southampton?
DeleteBad and irresponsible management from first is the main reason of such bad performance of First in Southampton. It is their own fault, as they started with cuts and cuts and reducing prices of bus passes, making business less viable. It is good for us, users, to have such fiercely competition, but First will reach a point of no return. I believe that Stagecoach may be interested in purchasing all 9 routes run by First and NOTHING will go to Xelabus (nope services 6 and 8 will stay with First and will be included in an eventual sell-off).
DeleteFirst changes come into effect November 4th.
ReplyDeleteWhat changes? Those due to Christmas Market?
DeleteDespite local management, is everything still controlled by Aberdeen? I ask because it used to be said that whatever Aberdeen wants local managment to do, they do or they leave. I have the book Signalman's Trilogay by Adrian Vaughan, who was a signalman on the Western Region in the late fifties and early sixties. One of his phrases sticks in my mind and it relates directly to what seems to be happening at First. BULLYING STIFLES INITIATIVE. It may be that local management have plenty of ideas, but they are frightened of making the suggestions.
ReplyDelete