In Southampton & Eastleigh, we have new timetables on the following routes, mainly with Bluestar:
Bluestar 4 - Southampton-Romsey - Complete timetable recast with more Sunday services
Bluestar 5 - Romsey-Eastleigh-Boyatt Wood - Minor changes
Bluestar 8 - Southampton-Calshot - Minor changes
Bluestar 9 - Southampton-Waterside - Minor changes with more evening services via Marchwood
Bluestar 11/12 - Southampton-Calmore/West Totton - Minor changes
Bluestar 16 - City Centre-Townhill Park - Minor changes
Bluestar 17 - Weston-City Centre-Adanac Park - Minor changes
Bluestar 18 - Millbrook-City Centre-Thornhill - Minor changes
Salisbury Reds X7/X7R - Salisbury-Southampton - Minor changes
Xelabus X10 - Southampton-Bishops Waltham - Minor changes
Stagecoach 46/461 - Winchester-North Baddesley - Minor changes
Stagecoach 66 - Winchester-Romsey - Revised times
Stagecoach 69 - Winchester-Fareham - Evening service introduced three nights a week between Winchester and Waltham Chase
In Bournemouth & Poole, we have changes on More and Yellow Buses...
More X3 - Bournemouth-Salisbury - Minor changes
Yellow 1/1b - Poole-Somerford - Fewer evening services to Poole. Somerford Estate cut off
Yellow 1a - Bournemouth-New Milton - Extra buses to New Milton
Yellow 2 - Bournemouth-Castlepoint - Minor changes
Yellow 3 - Westbourne-Bournemouth-RBH - Evening changes
Yellow 4/4a - Bournemouth-Bearwood/Castlepoint - Minor changes
Yellow 5/5a - Bournemouth-Kinson - Revised times
Yellow 6/6b - Bournemouth-Wimborne - 6a withdrawn. Revised times.
More Purbeck Breezer 50 - Bournemouth-Swanage - Reverts to mid-season timetable with ferry closure amendments
More Purbeck Breezer 60 - Rockley Park-Poole-Sandbanks - Seasonal change
More Purbeck Breezer 70 - Poole-Bournemouth - Now runs weekends only until 22nd September
In Portsmouth, Havant and Fareham, we have several changes on First, who have issued a new timetable book, plus on Stagecoach...
First D1 - Waterlooville-Hambledon - Route change
First D2 - Waterlooville-Denmead - Minor changes
First Eclipse E1/E2 - Fareham-Gosport - Minor changes
First F2 - Fareham-Highlands - Minor changes
First 1 - Southsea-The Hard - Minor changes
First 3 - Southsea-Fareham - Minor changes
First 13/14 City Centre-Baffins - Minor changes
First 20 - Fareham-Wickham - Minor changes
Stagecoach 20 - The Hard-Havant - Route change around QA Hospital
First 21 - Fareham-Hill Head - Minor changes
Stagecoach 21 - The Hard-Havant - Minor changes
Stagecoach 23 - Southsea-Leigh Park - Saturday daytime frequency cut to 12 mins, Sunday daytimes increased to 15 mins
Stagecoach 30/31 - Havant-Hayling Island - Minor changes
Stagecoach 39 - Havant-Wecock Farm - Minor changes
Stagecoach 69 - Winchester-Fareham - Evening service introduced three nights a week between Winchester and Waltham Chase
In Winchester, Stagecoach have some changes...
Stagecoach King's City Spring - City Centre-Springvale - Minor changes
Stagecoach King's City 1 - Stanmore-City Centre-Winnall - Fewer evening services to Winnall
Stagecoach King's City 3 - City Centre-Harestock - Minor changes
Stagecoach King's City 4 - Highcliffe-City Centre-Teg Down - The 0829 from Teg Down is cut
Stagecoach King's City 5 - City Centre-Badger Farm - Minor changes
Stagecoach King's City 7 - City Centre-Sparsholt - Minor changes
Stagecoach 46/461 - Winchester-North Baddesley - Minor changes
Stagecoach 64 - Winchester-Alton - Minor changes
Stagecoach 66 - Winchester-Romsey - Revised times
Stagecoach 67 - Winchester-Petersfield - Minor changes
Stagecoach 69 - Winchester-Fareham - Evening service introduced three nights a week between Winchester and Waltham Chase
Stagecoach 85 - Winchester-Andover - Minor changes
Stagecoach 86 - Winchester-Whitchurch - Minor changes
Changes on Salisbury Reds...
Salisbury Reds R1 - District Hospital-City Centre-Bemerton Heath - Minor changes
Salisbury Reds/Stagecoach Activ8 - Salisbury-Andover - Minor changes
Salibury Reds X4/X5 - Salisbury-Larkhill/Swindon - Revised times
Salisbury Reds X7/X7R - Salisbury-Southampton - Minor changes
Salisbury Reds 44 - Salisbury-Woodfalls - Revised times
First Discover D1 - Salisbury-Bath - Minor changes
On the Isle of Wight, Southern Vectis has these changes...
Southern Vectis 2 - Newport-Ryde - Additional schoolday morning service to Newport
Southern Vectis 38 - Newport circular - Minor changes
We don't cover changes to routes run specially for schools and colleges, so check with the relevant operator or educational establishment for details on those.
See all upcoming changes across the region at-a-glance here.
Good to see the re-working of the BS4 timetable and hopefully result in much better time keeping.
ReplyDeleteThis season of changes seems to be of "minor changes". The BS19 and Red 7 seem to be isolated exceptions to the rule.
ReplyDeleteA new change registered today is the cancellation of Simon Gard / Southbourne Buses C1 at Christchurch from 25 Oct. You need a lot of passengers to pay for a half hourly service even if it is only 1 bus.
Farther away Stagecoach West's revamp of the Forest of Dean is more inventive. Cancelling a half hourly trunk service, with only additional local services as part replacements is definitively different.
Unbelievable that Mr Gard is cancelling a service. I truly believed that he was doing a good job, however, I understand the route wasn't profitable at all. And this is the end of bus routes through Somerford Estate.
DeleteIf you guys remember, back in 2016, there used to be a service 1c between Poole and Somerford every 15 minutes.
We get to the end of 2019 and the same estate gets no more buses.
I think a bus every 45 minutes would be better, so the driver would have less pressure doing the route.
I hope, however, that the route 24 from Morebus, could add Somerford Estate to its routing.
Minor changes?BS4 is having a brand new timetable-hardly minor then?
DeleteIt's the usual from Mr Gard.Anything introduced is short lived
DeleteDisappointing that it has failed, though it does show how difficult it is for smaller operators to get a foothold around here.
DeleteYet the following has been posted on Facebook today:
DeleteNext week we are introducing a new uniform for our staff. Let us know what you think??
16-72 seat coach hire in Dorset & Hampshire.
Call us for a quote 07493 142958 or email southbournebuses@outlook.com
Low cost local and independent coach hire.
Somerford Estate is not exactly cut off. The frequent Yellow 1a service is within walking distance of every house on the estate, and the Yellow 1b will still operate around the estate at peak times. Usual over-dramatic rhetoric from our biased blogger who seems to hate Yellows and First and think everything GSC does is wonderful
ReplyDeleteThis bias by the blogger is so obvious its incredible.
DeleteI can confirm that service C1 will be withdrawn after 25/10/2019 this is due to personal reasons resulting in the required sale of the business and Mr Gard leaving the UK bus industry to take up a new position. The business remains profitable and is in the process of being sold to another operator although they have expressed a wish that they do not wish to operate local bus services only the school and rail replacement part of the business and this is why the local bus service is being withdrawn.
DeleteI would be happy to work with any interested parties wishing to take on the service as there is the potential for passenger growth and expansion with another operator at the helm.
I would like to thank all of our customers past and present for there support over the years.
Help and advice with making alternative travel arrangements is available from traveline 0871 200 22 33 or www.traveline.info
Simon Gard
Southbourne Buses
All the best then!
DeleteThanks Simon for providing the background to the C1 withdrawal. It gives us more knowledge and less gossip.
DeleteBest wishes for your future.
Thanks Simon for explaining the reasons.
DeleteHope I wasn’t too harsh, and if I was I just want to apologise you. I hope the service is taken by another operator, as I believe, like you, of the potential on this route, very well planned.
All the best.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI'm really amazed that after the Cricket tonight at the Ageas Bowl the 2145 CityRed 8 cricket service did not carry a capacity packed bus despite the big crowd at the Cricket - Only 15 passengers got on yet the match finished 30 minutes after the departure
ReplyDeleteThem buses can only hold 41 people at a time and considering the Ageas Bowls maximum capacity is 25,000 and the 8 not being a frequent route or runs late I'm not surprised and this is an unbiased view
DeleteI remember when the 8B was running after the T20 Cricket matches finished those E200s were so packed full of cricket passengers some cricket fans had to stand up on the bus
DeleteYou also have to remember people will know what the buses are like round there now and probably drove instead
DeleteYes only 1 of the Cricket buses turned up there should have been 2 buses
DeleteJust as well it didn't turn up then as the one bus was more than adequate
DeleteSeeing as the Ahead Bowl pay for the buses 2 of them should have been running
DeleteMore than likely the bowl will only be billed for one by First
DeleteMore than likely only one bus was contracted.
DeleteWhy BS Took on a miserable ex-First driver who is grumpy and seems to think he doesn't need to open the middle doors on the 17 route buses I`ll never know.
ReplyDeleteHe`s not a middle-aged guy and well built by any chance?
DeleteIf it is then get your phone out and record his behaviour and send it to BS.
DeleteIt's very noticable with B* over the past few months how the standard of drivers being employed in recent times has fallen.A shame really as the majority of drivers are excelent,but now being let down by a few new individuals who speak to you sharply and have no idea how to smile.Let's hope the few like this don't last to long
DeleteIs he the the one that's wears glasses by any chance he's only been there a few months
DeleteIt might be one of the drivers I know very well
DeleteHe was there years ago at Solent Blue Line and always does Lates
DeleteNo he didn`t have glasses Reece.
DeleteWas it the dark coloured matey who had just left first by any chance
DeleteWhen did Bluestar 18 reduce from 8 buses an hour to 7 buses an hour?
ReplyDeleteThey are doing so well on that route that they can afford to save a resource to attack elsewhere, not that anyone would notice the difference. Yesterday was their timetable change.
DeleteI noticed as there are now less buses from Bitterne in the early evening.
DeleteComplete lack of bus and business knowledge above. You don’t reduce the frequency on a bus route when it is doing so well (as reported!)
ReplyDeleteBut how would you know any different the only ones who know the answer is Bluestar them selves
DeleteThey also don`t boost a route with extra journeys when it is very well used-take Southern Vectis 3 as an example.
DeleteI think you'll find the running time has increased due to increased congestion. If you work it out from the timetable you can see that the number of buses on the 18 is still the same as it was (17 buses to be precise) but they now have longer for each trip meaning the frequency is slightly lower.
DeleteYou do exactly that if it improves punctuality and allows an input into the bigger picture, which is far more important to keep sight of! Remember that the initial focus was to shore up the Winchester route around now, but as any threat to that avenue has evaporated they have shifted emphasis elsewhere.
DeleteTimetable at Cobbett Road bus stop has still not been updated to reflect the 18 changes and early morning bus on the 16
ReplyDeleteWaste of time updating it.won't make any difference to the appauling way the 18 operates most days.Fed up with long gaps in the service and then three come together.And in case roadworks are blamed for this,even when there arn't any it still runs the same.Nice vehicles on it but let down in operation at off peak.The peak I expect delays.
DeleteI have sent an email to Bluestars managers mail box to ask why the 18 Frequency has been reduced so I await reply.
ReplyDeleteIf you cannot meet the service requirements with enough drivers or buses then Traffic Commissioners will come down on you. So it might be better to operate with a more sensible frequency.
DeleteI actually think it is a good idea to reduce the frequency, and it is a shame it didn’t go far enough.
ReplyDeleteFrequencies of every 10 minutes are more than enough: it provides a reasonable number of services throughout the day and it increases profitability. So yes I agree that service 18 should be every 10 minutes at least until they have enough staffing, and I would also reduce frequency on services 1 and 2 to every 20 minutes, 9, 11 and 12 to every 30 minutes.
Other subjects: The Bluestar 19 is needed for competition, so is needed First 1, however I think the frequency on Sundays is ridiculous to be honest... and then they finish so early with workers from Tatchbury Mount wanting to go home.
Still no news about pricing on the CR1 (what ticket zone will it fall?)
And also brexit will impact somehow in bus services, as there will be mass movement from
The UK to elsewhere (and that includes patronage and drivers) and there may be some shortages locally (don’t know exactly where but there will be for sure, people don’t like uncertainty).
Have a good one!
Why do the public need competition.No competition on the Isle of Whight and everything there works well.The public there don't have to worry about buying one ticket for one operator or another ticket for a rival.Most who use buses today regard them as an essential service to get from A to B and would prefer just one operator where they can buy a ticket from for use on all services.Why so many think because of Brexit there will be a mass exit of people elsewhere I don't know.As for driver shortages,We have always had them
DeleteThe Isle of Wight is well known for its higher fares. Yes, you only need one ticket for buses all round the island, but even a day ticket is £1 more expensive than a ticket that would cover a large swathe of South Central England.
DeleteIt's never been anything different on the Isle of Whight even in nationalised days, so I don't see any reason for people keep harping on about the fact it's more expensive in whatever ticket you buy and always has been even back 50 years ago.
DeleteOf course the Isle of Wight is more expensive. Captive market, high barriers to entry and the additional cost of getting basic amenities to the Island.
DeleteReduce the frequency on service 1 - says the man who does not use the service and struggled to find a seat at times
DeleteNo frequencies ahould not be reduced
DeleteIf you are travelling frequently to the island then you just need to load a bundle of five day passes on a keycard for £26-works out at £5 odd for a day pass instead of £10-Great value I`d say.
DeleteWhen quoting Isle of Wight fares Alice should get the facts right - the Isle of Wight ticket is a 24hr ticket - that means you can go to the Island early afternoon to visit your parents, stay the night and return late morning, all on the same ticket
DeleteSounds good to me especially if you`re buying the bundle on the key card for £26 for 5 day tickets.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWonder what happened to the rumoured Morebus M2 extension to Christchurch and M1 to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital?
ReplyDeleteThose extensions only run on Christmas Day.
DeleteI thought I heard some time ago on this forum a rumour that the M2 Christchurch extension would run all year round.
DeleteDoes anyone know if or when Bluestar are operating the 1940 service 9 from Southampton via Marchwood as advertised on their website and timetable or are the drivers continuing to drive direct to Applemore - no reply received from Bluestar as yet
ReplyDeleteIt is clearly stated on timetable, website, and the drivers duty board that it runs via Marchwood. Why is it that you need to ask this question?
DeleteOn Monday the driver stated that the service did NOT go via Marchwood and refused boarding to two intending passengers
DeleteGo-ahead looking to buy First Bus https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/go-ahead-could-move-bus-16869864.amp ?
ReplyDeleteNo chance of them buying Empress Road
DeleteGo ahead profits reduced in regional bus and yet passenger and revenue up. Sounds like they have scooped up lots of services that other operators have ditched as not being viable ...and now its reflecting in the business.
DeleteIf you had the decency of reading the full article, you will find out that the reduction in revenue was due to the rail industry!!!!
DeleteEverybody knows that Go Ahead doesn’t do well in railways, and do well in buses, so I think it is an opportunity to do the best option: sell the rail operations and concentrate only in buses.
If you had the decency of reading the published accounts you would see go aheads regional bus division is down on profit by 2.8% despite revenue and passengers increasing - therefore the comments above remain perfectly valid. Have a read of the report!
DeleteThe accounts will look very different in the coming years, once they reflect the income from their new rail franchises on the continent together with the constant investment in the UK bus businesses. It is an incredibly strong business, which knows exactly where it is going and has great leadership. Don't dwell too much on single year figures, look at the longer game, which is exactly what they do.
DeleteFirstly there are significant cost pressures in bus operations at the moment which all operators are facing.
DeleteSecondly any weakness in Go Aheads UK bus result has come from less successful subsidiaries elsewhere in the country rather than the south coast operations.
..but the latest accounts for go south coast also show a sharp drop in profit margin ? So I am not sure your statement rings true ?
DeleteIf all of you had the decency of not hiding under an anonymous nickname this blog would be much more democratic, thing that this blog isn’t.
DeleteThe latest published Go South Coast accounts show a drop in profit, not sure I'd call it a sharp drop but yes a small drop. BUT those accounts are for the previous financial year. Go South Coast accounts for the year that the above report is about are not yet published. Therefore I suggest everyone stops speculating!
DeleteI shall be looking forward to Fairfax Court bus stop being clogged up in a few weeks
ReplyDeletein all due respect Reece the three clogs up Lordshill sometimes because so many go down there but don't come back
DeleteBe useful if they ran the 3 or the new 19 all the way up Hinkler road to either turn around at the roundabout Kanes Hill/Thornhill park road or actually run along Thornhill park road in a loop down towards Bitterne. If the bus did turn at the roundabout passengers from Thornhill could get to Thornhill park road shopping area (2 min walk). Better still would be buses extended to Hedge End Sainsbury's/M&S. Or down Kanes Hill towards Tesco Bursledon. But it will not happen as probably no profit in it!
DeleteYeah thats because some buses are running very late
ReplyDeleteBe interesting to see how Bluestar get on next week with all College buses back and then week or two later with the 19 and an increase in frequency on the 11! Already managers and supervisors are driving......
ReplyDeleteWhy would they increase the frequency on the 11
DeleteRight from its start as "Solent Blue Line" back in the 1980s, Blue Star has had managers and supervisors out on the road. It helps them to verify (or not!) what the drivers are saying and adjust running times and frequencies appropriately. No, I am not and never have been a member of that company.
DeleteIts not unusual for Supervisiors to be driving buses at all happens any time of the year
DeleteAnon at 1652.... They really do not need to do that these days, as they have fully tracked vehicles and immediate ticketing loading information available.
DeleteCollege boy here, yep they are suffering, they recently took on some xela routes and are now having to get more buses/drivers to cover
DeleteSo if the service requirements cannot be met as advertised with not enough drivers or buses then the Traffic Commissioners will come down on the bus company. So it might be better to properly operate a service on a reduced but sensible frequency.
ReplyDelete20 extra drivers on loan from the island will solve the problem over the winter, by which time city red will be in the hands of gsc. Yes, you read that right! Director has stated at a forum that they are actively seeking to purchase the Southampton operation.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of tosh .. go ahead cannot purchase CityRed. Do your homework and then come back!
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think that? GA bought the north west operation, so why could they not buy Hampshire and Dorset? My homework is always made up of fully verified news, I promise.
ReplyDeleteEliminating competition ... I rest my case!
DeleteI don't see a long term future for first Southampton, but go ahead won't be able to buy it on competition grounds. Another company could possibly make it viable and prevent a virtual go ahead monopoly.
DeleteFirst will never leave Southampton
ReplyDeleteWho knows what the future holds, regardless of what anyone says whether it be at the company's or on here
DeleteThe monopolies and merger commission would not allow that
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ with the above views. Bluestar will already be on every route that they want, with the possible exception of Hamble. There would be no competition question to answer if they agreed to shut down the First operation on takeover, as they are already serving all the routes. It could be interesting legally for a while, but ultimately the m and m commission would probably not see fit to intervene.
DeleteBut they would intervene as it is highly likely to increase prices reduce frequencies and ultimately that is not in the public interest. Sainsbury’s and Asda merger was blocked for this type of scenario
ReplyDeletePossibly, but rememnber the North Devon scenario of not so many years ago where Stagecoach agreed to buy out First in the area and the MMC stepped in and would not allow it. Conseqently First just shut up shop and Stagecoach registered and operated the routes at no acquisition cost Despite the MMC being anti Stagecoach following their Preston antics, they were made to look very foolish as a result. GA are not "bad boys" in the eyes of the MMC so for the reasons stated above a purchase could go through without too much problems. Regarding higher fares, B* would not be foolish to overprice their products ( unlike the special cicumstances on the Island - which everybody wants to ignore and keep quoting high fares). Their is nothing to stop Xelabus/Stagecoach/Wheelers/etc operating competitive services against GA if there is an opportunity to beat them on pricing.
DeleteExactly. First say they will close it if no buyer comes forward, and the only one to emerge after four years of trying, is GA group. No competition question to answer and both groups go away satisfied. Fare increases will happen but gradual, as they will not want to attract potential competition.
DeleteWhat competition have First got in Fareham and Gosport?
DeleteLimited on one route to Wickham lol. (Stagecoach 69)
DeleteFirst have never said they would close and first has not been up for sale prior to June this year. It’s not a question of whether companies are good boys or bad boys - it’s a question of the area and competition.
ReplyDeleteFirst has been offered to Stagecoach three times in the past four years to my certain knowledge! At no time was the price realistic for a shrinking operation. They are desperate to be rid of it as they have no answer to the competition despite the odd little flicker of resistance.
DeleteWhat absolute rubbish...your being fed a line - hook line and sinker ! If it was as bad as you say they would close it down.
DeleteNo, I know it for certain. The investment of recent years has to be covered somehow, even if it is by running down the depreciation.
DeleteBluestar are worring about the fact they will be losing passengers to the Impressive First CityRed 1 bus
ReplyDeleteI think the only people that should be worried are the bus users of Totton.
DeleteA short term rivalry, which will cause fluctuations in price and service level for a few months. When the war is over though, and red or blue are victorious, what will be the cost afterwards?
Reece they are not worried at all that's why they have not made massive changes to the time table
DeleteAbsolutely not worried at all Reece. They know that Reds cannot make money on the route even if they take every passenger off the 12, so they will sit tight and watch the one route crash and burn within six months.
DeleteI shall make the most of the CityRed 1
DeleteEnjoy having the bus to yourself Reece lol.
DeleteSame principle applies to the 19 really
DeleteI will indeed :)
DeleteI rekon first 1 wont last very long I think vegans will use bluestar mostly as they cant travel on leather seats im looking foreward to bluestar 19 more blue buses to woolston bluestar just need a route via first 7 route next
Delete������
DeleteVegans would not notice what the seats are with all due respect. First are in this for the long term.
DeleteAt least bluestar are using brand new buses for its 19 whats first using crappy streetlites
DeleteI have got to like the Streetlites in the 6 years they have been with First Southampton
DeleteLOL - leather seats.... they feel like cheap plastic.
DeleteFirst's seats are e-leather which is vegan-friendly (it's a plastic material designed to look and feel similar to real leather).
DeleteThe same applies to the touches of e-leather that Bluestar use on their fleet. It's all vegan friendly.
Does anyone know what the ticket zone of First 1 to totton will be? Southampton, Southampton plus, Hampshire?
ReplyDeleteExpected to be Southampton Plus
DeleteIf that's the case then there is no incentive for anyone to move over as it will be same as Bluestar
DeleteWhat is the point of starting up a bus service in the city if you already know you have no chance? You are going to be trodden on by the big boys.
ReplyDeleteWhat service is this aimed at
DeleteCityRed 1 I would have thought
DeleteTalking of pollution- the branded "three" 09 reg buses, claim to have Euro6 engines? But every time I see a three in Shirley recently, there's often a lot of 'smoke' coming out of the exhausts.
ReplyDeleteJudging by their age (09 reg), they are actually Euro 5, not Euro 6
DeleteThey are soon getting replaced by Strretlites in a few months
DeleteThey have all been upgraded to Euro 6 recently (there's a nice green sticker on the back that states this!).
DeleteI do agree with anonymous above tough, one in particular does appear a little 'smokey'. I presume there's a leak of something from somewhere which is causing the 'smoke'.
Reece - why replace them when they have been upgraded? Have you any firm confirmation of this?
The Volvos will have had their exhaust systems upgraded - reducing emissions to Euro 6 levels - and not new engines. That's a fairly cheap thing to do (especially with funding from local or national government).
DeleteI believe the plan is/was to transfer the "The Star" branded Streetlites in Hilsea once a fleet of Enviro200 MMC have arrived to displace them.
This would allow First to have a more reliable fleet, one would assume the Streetlites (given their age) would be more reliable than the Volvos; would allow First to increase the value of their Southampton fleet; and would allow First to stock fewer spare parts (as the entire fleet would be Streetlites there'd be no need to stock Volvo parts).
Only another week to go till First no.3 faces competition on the rest of it`s route-will be interesting to see how it pads out.
ReplyDeleteI think its going to be awesome when the route takes off
DeleteOnly another week to go until Bluestar face competition on their calmore and totton services. Will be interesting to see how it pans out ?
ReplyDeleteWe know how it will pad out and most people give it till January at the best.
DeleteCalmore and Totton both begin with capital letters.
DeleteAnonymous @ 21:44 - Nice to see that someone else on this site has exacting standards when it comes to the written, or in this case typed, word.
DeleteSome increases in fares for unilink coming up next Sunday to bring them in line with Blue Star pricing including adult single now £2.20 and increases in multi-trip prices 36 trips now £50, nothing yet on Bluestar about fare changes so 36 trips still shows as £47
ReplyDeleteBluestar have launched a ticket giveaway aimed at keeping passengers on BS12-passengers need to look out for a special envelope placed on seats at random to win a day or weekly pass.
ReplyDeleteBluestar dont have much to worry about I read on another post that the Calmore route is far from the most profitable route so you cant really see First staying around
DeleteIs it me or do I happen to be in possession of a crystal ball at the moment?
ReplyDelete2020 First withdraw route 1 due to low patronage.
2021 Bluestar attack First by launching a City - Portswood - Townhill route to compete directly with First 7.
2022: First fight back and withdraw routes 9 and 13 to free up buses for their more profitable routes.
2023: Bluestar eventually divert their route 3 via Peartree Avenue to make up for the withdrawal of First's services along that road.
2024: Bluestar feel greedy and increase the frequencies to every 6 minutes on all their city routes to take patronage from First.
2025: First fight back YET AGAIN and increase their city red frequencies to every 5 minutes. In order to do so, they have to sell routes 6 and 8 to Xelabus.
2026: Xelabus is bought by GSC.
2028: First Southampton puts itself up for sale after two years of dwindling patronage and profits, but no buyer is found.
2030: First eventually shuts up shop, leaving all the remaining city red routes to be picked up by Bluestar.
2040: For the first time, Bluestar is seeing its profits fall after ten years of sky-high prices and dwindling patronage.
2050: B*3, 5, 7, 8 and 11 as well as all the former Xelabus routes are withdrawn in a desperate effort to cut costs. Private car usage and CO2 emissions skyrocket as a result.
2060: Bluestar declare themselves bankrupt, leaving the city with no public transport.
2070: Southampton becomes uninhabitable due to rising sea levels caused by C02 emissions from the very vehicles that buses were meant to keep off the roads.
2080: The end of civilisation.
Bus Drivers will probally be a thing of the past by 2035 at least the way thimgs are going
DeleteI am sorry if I am harsh, but that was a waste of time writing that comment above stating the future of bus services in Southampton.
DeleteNo point Bluestar launching a route to compete with cityred 7... As that's what the 16 used to do yrs ago, & besides we all know how awful the traffic is on the 7 route especially on approach to Cobden Bridge...
Delete2 evenings ago I saw a convoy of 3
no 7's all leave Big Cheese roundabout at same time!
Does anyone ever thought of a management buyout at First Hampshire?
ReplyDeleteFAO Claudio...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN1W00AA
Indeed I read a similar article today, but I never saw this option discussed in this blog.
DeleteI think I have suggested it in one of the earlier posts, it might have been another blog, either way it was rubbished that these things don't happen any more....
DeletePrices on City Red 1 (I will be only referring to Totton and Calmore)
ReplyDelete- £3 single (£3.70 on Bluestar)
- £5 return (£6 on Bluestar)
- £5.50 daily both app and with the driver (£6 on Bluestar)
- £15 weekly on the app (£17.50 Bluestar)
- £18 weekly with the driver (£19.50 Bluestar)
- £66 monthly on the app (£62 Bluestar)
- £70 monthly with the driver (£75 Bluestar)
As expected, lower prices on CR1, but not a huge difference. First have created a Totton & Southampton Zone on purpose. The £8 will apply between Redbridge and City Centre, that will make a HUGE difference for people travelling from Millbrook and Redbridge, going down from £14.50 a week on Bluestar.
Finally saying that CR1 will not serve Redbridge Roundabout nor Millbrook Roundabout, making it slightly faster than Bluestar 11/12.
Interesting stuff. Of course the downside to not serving the roundabouts is you're missing some of the more popular stops on the route. Will those currently using those stops walk further to save money?
DeleteThe bus stops along this route are very much configured towards not using the flyovers. It's going to be somewhat challenging in certain traffic conditions to pull out of the Parkside Avenue stops and cross two lanes to use the flyover, particularly heading towards the city (copy and paste below into browser to see)- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.9192516,-1.4614488,3a,75y,125.99h,70.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swV8doBGMD24FoRj8kU3vFA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Where did you get the price info?
DeleteReece, the price info is from the leaflet on the City Red website: https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/news-attach/cityred%201%20tt%20leaflet%20594x210%20PROOF.pdf
DeleteCheers for that mate
Delete@ Mark
DeleteThat looks impossible except in the early mornings and evenings. Trying to pull out across two lanes in an instant is asking far too much of the drivers surely? It's not like that can pull out into one straight away and do the next shortly after, they've got to pull out into the second lane and pretty much stop until they get into the third lane. Surely they'll end up going through the roundabout anyway.
I don`t expect Bluestar to take this lying down.
DeleteBluestar won't worry to much if First are not running a Late night service
DeleteRather intresting to see the Clean Air bus on the 18 tonight
ReplyDeleteAstonishing, I agree. Bus with filter mechanism runs on alternative bus route. Whatever next eh?
DeleteMore than likely being employed to clear the Bursledon Road of pollution that all the road works have created
ReplyDeleteWill the roadworks finish in time to let the 19 run its new route properly from day 1 I wonder?
ReplyDeleteVery unlikely.
DeleteAlso apparently Kathleen Road is closing again tomorrow for 5 weeks.
Yes.It would seem also the diversion for 19 will be different from the 3.Whilst the 3 will serve most stops in Kathleen Road the 19 won't.Source of this is twitter information on the operators sites
DeleteBluestar have said they may alter the diversion
DeleteThey have indeed altered diversion according to their latest reply to somebody's tweet from y'day...
DeleteThe war is on, Bluestar have reacted:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/revised-fares-sunday-22nd-september
I don’t call it a war because they are just matching prices with First on single and return tickets.
DeleteFirst will still be slightly cheaper on day and weekly tickets.
Indeed.More price changes to follow I suspect
DeleteClaudio the month one is cheaper on Bluestar
DeleteYes if you noticed, Aaron, I haven’t mentioned the monthly tickets because Bluestar wins on the app (£62, against £66 with First) but loses on acquiring the pass with the driver (£75, against £70 with First)
DeleteTime that the bus operators were made to charge the same price regardless of how one pays.
DeleteGreat to see that Xelabus won`t be charging fares for those using its services this Sunday,22 Sept due to car free day!
ReplyDeleteI would not expect many car users to leave their car at home due to the fact Xelabus won't be charging any fares.Their Sunday operation is so small and will encourage very few if any to do so.
DeleteFirst has removed the map with the different fare zones, but has updated the network map. https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/maps/city%20reds%20network%20diagram%20a4.pdf
ReplyDelete