First City Red 1 Southampton-Calmore, in direct competition with Bluestar 12.
Bluestar 19 Central Station-Thornhill, in direct competition with the eastern half of First three.
We also have timetable and route changes on the following routes:
First Weymouth 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, X51, X53, X54, More 3, 4, 5/6, 8/9, 13, 16, 17, 38, 40, 50, 60, Unilink U1, U2, U6, Unibus U1, U3
First Weymouth have a new timetable booklet detailing their changes. Details of changes on More here, Unibus here and Unilink here.
Unilink U2 reverts to its old route on the terminus loop, turning left at the top of Lobelia Road instead of right, no longer serving Swaythling.
Being withdrawn at the end of the summer season are First Weymouth 55 and More 30 and 70.
Yellow Buses have some fare changes. It looks like they now charge a penalty if you want to save time by paying your fare via their app. Has this always been the case? Most other operators give a discount for using their apps.
See all upcoming changes across the region at-a-glance here.
As I recall, yellows have had the app tickets more expensive than the smartcard ones for a while, but now they're also more expensive than buying on the bus. I don't understand it...
ReplyDeleteWhat a day to look forward to tommorow First 1 vs Bluestar 12 and Bluestar 19 vs First 3
ReplyDeleteActually First 1 against Bluestar 8,11,12 and Salibury red X7/X7R as the real battle is in Totton
DeleteI think if First really wanted to hit Bluestar hard the best service in that direction to have competition with is (I know it dont go to Totton) is Bluestar 9 as the Bluestar 12 is far from the most profitable route which is why Bluestar are not worried
ReplyDeleteXelabus services will be fare free on Sunday 22 September to encourage more people to use buses on car free day.
ReplyDeleteFantastic offer and one I`ll make use of tomorrow.
DeleteThey are only doing it because they don't run much on a Sunday anyway nowadays so they don't have much to lose
DeleteAt least they are doing something for car free day ,Reece and what exactly are First doing?
DeleteStarting a brand new bus route
DeleteBrand new for First
DeleteDon't forget the 19 will be serving Central Bridge rather then Ocean Village
ReplyDeletePoint being? Bluestar are not stupid if they want to serve Ocean Village they will but as it is only going to central station at the moment they are obviously not looking to emulate the 3
DeleteI expect thwy will want to extend the 19 at Lordshill at some point Aaron
DeleteI find the Yellow Buses pricing very strange.
ReplyDeleteAre they trying to price people back into paying on the bus? Even online transactions are more expensive.
It's a bit like Stagecoach though. They brought out their range of smart cards and promoted them as being cheaper than buying on the bus. The thing is within a year they removed most of the discounts, started charging for new smartcards and made their new App cheaper.
Both the "New" routes launched in Southampton on Sunday seemed to get off to a slow start from my observations.
ReplyDeleteIt will slowly improve
DeleteAs they are both new routes it takes some time for the public to dawn upon them that they even exist.As the old saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day"
DeleteThe 1 will never be packed out as buses to Totton are generally sparingly used apart from peak times when there are more people travelling
DeleteExactly.I go Southampton to Totton quite often off peak and which ever service you use it's poorly in My view patronised.Hardly anyone along Millbrook Road on or off.
DeleteAccording to First Southampton on Twitter, a double decker full can remove 75 cars off the road... my question is: where are their Double Deckers??? Oh I know, the Cadbury Confectionery ones...
ReplyDeleteThey have none at all.
DeleteAll are Streetlies except for the buses for service 3.
But apparently they are getting Streetlites for the 3 as well (which looks like they have a lower capacity than the current Volvo Wright Eclipses) because they seem smaller
I can tell you the capacity is -4 compared to the Volvos.
DeleteNot a good start to Bluestar 19 today for the first week day. Major delays for all services coming out of Eastleigh depot due to an accident.
ReplyDeleteYes.All quite laughable really
ReplyDeleteLet's see how the 1 does today
DeleteTotton routes are not known to be the busiest
DeleteThat's why the old management of First pulled out of Totton
DeleteTo be honest Reece First were better off focusing somewhere else there is not much money to be made in Totton and Calmore
DeleteI can see them doing Winchester at some point.
DeleteUp against the buses Bluestar have do me a favour
DeleteFirst won't ever run to Winchester. Bluestar would stamp them out in a heartbeat.
DeleteEastleigh, maybe. But again Bluestar would put up a hell of a fight there too.
First should focus on areas where they were previously much stronger than Bluestar. Lordshill, Portswood, Woolston and Townhill Park being examples.
Anonymous 14.44 I live in Lordshill and they have no chance of winning it back
DeleteFirst should get back to Bassett Green now that Unilink have cut back there.
DeleteYou never know what's going to happen it would be nice to see First back there.
DeleteDoubt that. Unilink U2Cs were empty after Lobelia Road. The Bluestar 2 covers the Market Buildings side of it. It would be silly to reinstate the 5.
DeleteWho is looking forward to Tuesday nights EFL Cup match between Portsmouth and Southampton us or the bus operators?
ReplyDeleteYou do know it's at Fratton Park not St Mary's
DeleteYes I do but the author now likes to cover bus services in Portsmouth
DeleteJust gone past a CR1 @ train station towards city... only 2 passengers on it! Few hrs ago in similar area it had say up to 10 passengers on it.
ReplyDeleteI saw no less than 15 number 1s today.... One had 8 people on, three of whom were Bluestar drivers catching a lift into town! Saw 2 with two people on, two with one person and ten that were completely empty. One lady complained that at six o'clock in the morning, four men jumped out of a car at her bus stop, frightening her witless, trying to bully her into catching a red bus!
DeleteIf that's true its rediculas because the more you do that the more people wont use your service
DeleteFor all the fanfare around the launch, it's important to remember that this is still the first couple of days of the route. It's not going to be packed full right away, and yeah, you'll see emptier buses at first.
DeleteI suspect over the coming weeks we'll see better loadings as people get to know the new service, and in 6 months or so, it'll probably reduced to a more sustainable frequency if necessary.
Alice let's be real Totton buses are rarely packed out full stop
DeleteLet's be even more real, in six months time the service will have been withdrawn completely, as head office will be fed up with the even bigger losses that it will have created. Bluestar have a depot and many well liked drivers who live in that area and operate that route. My opinion is that it was ill judged to challenge that area, and even more ill judged to throw the kitchen sink at it! Stick to what you know and are quite good at, the old corporation routes.
Delete“Corporation routes” - you are 33 years late I’m afraid!
DeleteI also has 4 men jump out of a car at me early in the morning. Very scary when it was still dark. I already had a weekly for Bluestar but they insisted I take a promotional leaflet.
DeleteI'll be honest, Aaron - last time I got a bus in Totton, it was either the Citybus 6 or a scattering of 30-something Blue Line buses run with minibuses, so I'll defer to your knowledge on that!
DeleteAnd, given that the train (to Southampton) is quicker and often cheaper, it's hardly surprising people don't get the bus
The trains are Hourly though
DeleteAnother new route coming soon...Whiteley to Fareham to Portsmouth shuttle https://www.lucketts.co.uk/whiteley-connect/
ReplyDeleteThe fares are pretty good on it too
DeleteAnother bad day for First's brand new route due to flooding affecting Millbrook Road earlier.
ReplyDeleteThat must be the same road as Bluestar too. So bad day for Bluestar too ...but why spoil some good first bashing !!!
DeleteThe previous incarnation of First's route 1 to Adanac Park has somehow managed to make a comeback on their website, listed right below the current one!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.firstgroup.com/southampton/plan-journey/timetables/?operator=30&page=1&redirect=no
Yes.all the other services doubled up as well.Still the residents in the Aldermoor Avenue area should be delighted to get their 1 route back
DeleteI doubt it they are happy with their 17s
DeleteWrightbus collapse it would seem?
ReplyDeleteLet's hope they get thrown a lifeline
DeleteThat will be down to Boris Johnson
DeleteGone into administration this morning. Another example of a once great manufacturer who failed to keep up with the times due to ineffective management. ADL have run rings around them in recent years. Reminds me of our local bus situation in Southampton!
DeleteIs it the end of the Shittie-lites?
DeleteI expect not as most are only between 4 and 7 years old
DeleteLet's hope there are enough spare parts available for maintainence over the coming years.
DeleteThe leyland Atlanteens carried on ok without any problems till the year 2005
DeleteAtlanteans were quality buses though.
DeleteCR1 will no longer serve Parkside Avenue bus stop towards City Centre. After Totton Rail Station will be King Georges Avenue.
ReplyDeleteBit of a strange move to make
DeleteJust shows how poor they really are. I wonder whether the service will still exist by the time Redbridge re opens, and what they will do then. As I heard a very senior GSC official say yesterday, "It's the final wag of the dinosaurs tale."
DeleteIt's not been running any time yet and already making a change.It was obvious in the first place at peaks it would have difficulty to get back into the correct lane if someone wanted to board or alight at Parkside Avenue.
DeleteYellow Buses have registered a new route, 21, to run between Christchurch High Street and Bransgore via Burton starting November 4th 2019...interesting...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this is a sort-of replacement for the C1. Though Bransgore...seems a bit random
Deletewell now Yellowbuses is run by its own local management they can now try other things to see how it goes.Good luck to them.
DeleteAbsolutely! I vaguely remember their last Bransgore route, the fortnightly Friday night number 89. I imagine this time will be at somewhat more reasonable times!
DeleteThe 89 was a rendered route I believe
Deletemight have some success,125 is well loaded on the south section too many passengers for the small solos to cope
Deleteyour right.
Delete89 was run by christchurch buses,a y/b sub company
.yellows did run through recently on c11 brock college contract
Local authorities covered by route... Poole Borough Council ��
DeleteThis seems like a sensible move (dependent on the timetable) it's clear from loadings on the 125 that there is demand for a bus service from Bransgore, which is exceptionally poorly served for it's size.
It's Bournemoth Christchurch Poole Council or BCP for short. It's been 1 big unitary since April.
DeleteVery true but "VOSA" (https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/) haven't caught up.
DeleteThey have the "Local authorities covered by route" listed as Bournemouth Borough Council, Hampshire Council and Poole Borough Council.
First still need to update on the website that Southampton Plus can be used in Totton and Calmore as well as the First bus ticket app
ReplyDeletePH2027102 SN Dekkabus Limited
ReplyDeleteDirector(s): Trevor Royston Shore MBE, Alan James Barnley, Colin Bennett
Barnley House, 51 - 53 Sterte Avenue West, POOLE, BH15 2AJ
Operating Centre: The Oaks Garden Centre, Queen Anne Drive, Merley, POOLE, BH21 3BA
Authorisation: 4 vehicle(s)
Transport Manager(s): Simon Gard
Well,what can you say?
DeleteThat's the oddest non-transport job I have ever seen!
DeleteI see the Weymouth-Poole X54 now states operated under contract to Dorset Council in First's new winter timetable book. When did it become supported? It used to be commercial (since 2013 anyway) & AFAIK Dorset reduced to only supporting six main trunk routes (+ Bridport-Crewkerne)?? Any ideas???
ReplyDeleteYou will see that a X54 morning journey to Poole and one in the afternoon pick up on Schooldays from Purbeck School. I believe this happened with the six main trunk routes were introduced.
Deleteas for first's website - the book shows no service on Saturdays or Sundays (as happened last year) but the website jorneys for the X54 shows 4 journeys each way on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Yet another fare increase in the First Solent region again next month.
ReplyDeleteLack of competition in Pompey and Fareham area.
DeleteAlways amazed in Gosport and Fareham when HCC tenders come up for renewal no one else but First seem to bid for them.why by other operators there should be such a lack of interest must be for some good reason unknown to the general public
DeleteSame sort of prices as Bluestar where there is no competition .....
ReplyDeleteAnd just to add to the confusion I had to explain to a recent mover from London, unfamiliar with the local buses, why the return ticket bought on a City Reds bus from Totton to Southampton was not valid for travel on a City Reds bus from Southampton to Totton, a blue bus being required, because there are now two companies operating buses branded City Reds between Totton and Southampton, this person having bought their ticket on an X7
ReplyDeleteSalisbury Reds ≠ City Reds
DeleteTime for GSC to rebrand the X7?
DeleteWhen I travel by bus most people don't know what operators bus they are on.Unfortunately today there are a lot of thick people around as can be seen by idiotic questions asked on websites to operators,when what the operator has posted is very clear
ReplyDeletePlenty of thick people use buses including those who start pressing the bell to signify that they want the bus to stop just as it`s passing the stop.Wondering why passengers insist on sitting at the front of the top deck of a bus then just play with their phones all the time instead of enjoying the views.
DeleteGoing on from this, it is quite amazing how many folk ring the bell for the bus to stop when its next stop is the terminus! One of my friends used to drive the Unilink buses. He used to say every year that the new intake seemed to be even thicker than the previous lot.
DeleteSure are clueless folk about. Eg outside So'ton Asda, I'll be asked if the 4 to Romsey has gone by? I have to inform them they're waiting at wrong stop & need to by Yates's, but but but it dropped me off here over the rd earlier they'll moan!
ReplyDeleteOr again I must have 1 of those pick on her faces- as someone may ask if the 8 has gone by? I'll say which, the BS8 or First 8?
And yes plenty of thickos on Twitter, but I think that's because they look only at BS or First's own tweets, instead of looking at tweets & replies tab which is what I do.
We all know about First tweets being from Leeds. Had to laugh the other day when somebody asked where the 3 is? Waiting from Ocean Village to town they were. First replied by saying it's running 7 minutes late & is near Springford Rd. Someone else replied saying u have no idea where that is!
ReplyDeleteSaw three Cityred 1`s today having left the city with one carrying one passenger and the other two were empty-try running to Harefield on a Sunday and you might have more luck First.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the same sort of loadings seen on Bluestar 19 as well and not forgetting Bluestar are losing mileage all over the place
ReplyDeleteBoth BS19 and Cityred 1 are pointless!
DeleteThe CityRed 1 is more pointless because there wasnt much to make from Totton the first place but I dont see how Bluestar are losing mileage
DeleteCityred 1 is pointless because the frequency is way to generous to make it profitable and there`s no real evening service and BS19 is pointless as it is less frequent than its rival,isn`t a cross-city service and has no real evening service.
DeleteI used it last sat, it was good,well used and a quick way in to town....
DeleteQuick into town?Perhaps that`s because it couldn`t have stopped to pick up many passengers unlike Bluestar.
Deleteno...
DeleteBluestar are losing vasts amount of mileage from driver shortages - just read their twitter feed
ReplyDeleteRather than run a service to compete with Bluestar 11, all First had to do was drop their fares against Bluestar on the new 19. It would have worked out cheaper to do that than run a load of additional buses with staff costs for minimal return. Its just a tit for tat situation both companies have created! First could have done from Thornhill to City a £1. SINGLE and £1.50 RETURN. That would have been more of a challenge against Bluestar for sure!
ReplyDeleteBoth companies have no interest in the public they serve,just interest in bashing each other.About time it all stopped and both inproved in what they operate to thit will ine public.Most estates in Southampton are over saturated with buses to epedemic proportions,which is no advantage to the enviroment.Why people support this nonsense beats Me.In the end it will be mass destruction by both main operators as I'm sure it will in other parts of the Country
ReplyDeleteOnly 5 estates have 10 or more buses an hour
DeletePoor old Harefield can only dream of having a decent bus service.
DeleteIt would have if over the past few years First hadn't killed it
DeleteIt's all about the long term end game. Bluestar know that First are there for the taking. They have systematically eaten into all of Firsts cash cow routes, and now they are happy to watch them throwing their funds down the drain on a failing challenge on Totton. The fulcrum point has been reached, and now it's just a waiting game until it's game over!
DeleteGood points especially on Totton but with First separating their bus operations how will that effect things
DeleteWhat absolute tosh!
ReplyDeleteThe truth to be fair
DeleteUnless you work for First in a senior position, you have no idea what you are talking about. If you do, which I very much doubt, I suggest you don't post under a name. From my observations, CR1 is doing marginally better than BS19, but neither is making money.
DeleteNo and neither likely to do so.All rather senseless in My view.About time the government had a different view on how buses run and put a stop to this nonsense.The new buses on Bluestar 19 would have been far better employed on something else
DeleteBluestar would've expected the 19 to be a slow starter and this would need to be verified but I would've thought the CR1 being more direct would use slightly more fuel then the Bluestar buses to Totton
DeleteThere is a huge difference between the methodology used by the two operators. Bluestar have used brand new buses on their 19, but at a frequency that stands a chance of paying for itself after gradually tempting customers from First, before a controlled expansion to tighten a stranglehold. They will have budgeted to lose money for a few months at least. First have thrown everything at a frequency that had no chance of ever being profitable which will fail and add to their losses. One company is being progressive, whilst one is being desperate. The CR1 is averaging 2.5 passengers per trip, based on my observations, which does not even come close to covering the driver cost, let alone all the other overheads.
DeleteAnon 11:18 you might want to do more observations as First say it's very popular or it could just be a PR stunt
Delete2.5 pax per trip ??? You must work at first and have access to the ticket machine information to be able warrant that ?
DeleteAnd most of the passengers on City Red 1 are Bluestar drivers travelling to or from duty start/finish in City !
DeleteWhy are First saying its popular then because if what your all saying is true then it means it's just a PR stunt
DeleteIt's all spin. Both operators do it... Bluestar have made huge political news out of their dirt catcher bus, which over a few months removed pollution the size of a tennis ball, but what no one mentioned was that the heavy apparatus on top of that vehicle caused the fuel consumption to rocket, possibly outweighing the benefit. I know many First drivers are feeling totally cheated, as this was supposed to be their big fight back, but instead they are driving pointless near empty buses for most of the day! Even they can see that it was a complete folly to choose this route and flood it with frequency. They also cannot understand why they are still trying to flood Weston with buses, when the challenge has moved elsewhere. They call it the boredom route, because there are so few passengers to carry.
DeleteI noted also Bluestar stated there would be more buses fitted with the pollution removing device,but as yet no more have been noted with such equipment It amazes Me that certain people believe all the spin bus companies post about their product to the public
DeleteAnon @0047 I assume you are a late turn Bluestar driver with that comment. What rubbish! If first drivers are feeling totally cheated I assume that no one would wish to operate their service 1 ..but I am told that’s not the case at all ...best you get some sleep?
DeleteAnonymous at 18:58 money buse drivers get is enough incentive for anyone to work whatever their feelings on certain things plus also its different scenery after all the years without a new route
DeleteDrivers only wanted to go on the new route 1 rota because it's the only rota at first that offers a decent work life balance. No other reason.
DeleteYes you are right about the work and life balance, with such an early finish on that route, it must be very pleasant indeed, even if it is commercial suicide to stop running at that time or even to attempt the route at all! Anon at 1858, you could not be more wrong, as you should know that employed bus drivers are not allowed to comment on public forums, but once you have retired.....!
DeleteAh got it. Sacked from First then ? Although I think you call it retired? :-)
DeleteYes.Long have gone the days of democracy in this Country and with it freedom of speech
DeleteUsers of the 13 to Harefield, normally when the 13 is driving along Maybray King Way slip road towards Bitterne shops- it'll turn left onto West End Rd to carry on its trip to Woolston, correct?
ReplyDeleteWell why on earth when I was walking past Bitterne shops did I see the 13 to Harefield turn right out of Maybray King Way & then onto West End Rd?! I can't see any diversion which would have caused that much of a diversion! I would've tweeted it to First So'ton but pointless when they're in Leeds. So no wonder u never get any buses there if driver's are this lost?!
Got to love the Daily Echo as on their site there`s a letter about the Cityreds and the Echo have a picture of a Bluestar 1 bus to accompany it.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was in Southampton and I sampled bluestar 19 service to woolston the outbound journey from the city was nearly full and the return had 3 people on-board I personally pefer to use bluestar over first I find first very boring with streetlites and volvos and bluestar offer a good mix of buses double and single Decker
ReplyDeleteYou will be pleased to know that very few bus users decide on operator by vehicle type
DeleteExactly.Normal everyday bus users have no interest on what type of vehicle is on the service.It's only so called bus enthusiasts that seem concerned about the vehicle type used
DeleteI disagree as I have deliberately caught another bus as a vehicle had very few windows and it was scorching hot on the day in question.
DeleteOnly one of the very few that would bother as stated before very few would be passengers would be in the least concerned about the vehicle type.On an exceptionaly hot day a rare event most vehicles are hot inside even with all the windows open
DeleteOn a 30c day most people who had to travel by bus would look for the least uncomfortable bus to travel on if they had any choice/common sense hence the post above.
DeleteNo choice in some cases if the service is of a low frequency
DeleteI actually somewhat disagree on the 'normal passengers don't choose based on bus type analogy.
DeleteI bet even is the 'normal category you get a good proportion that subconsciously have a preference.
I do not like in Southampton, so I use a PlusBus ticket when I come to head to somewhere like the General.
I won't run at Central Station for a 3, but I will for a 17, because they feel more comfortable to me, regardless of what the vehicle brand is.
If I am stood at the bus stop though, I will only let the 3 go if I can actually see a 17 come around the corner.
What a strange person you must be
DeleteI'm surprised. The dual door deckers on the 17 are totally unsuitable for that route. They have very few seats downstairs and even fewer accessible ones; not good for a route passing the city's main hospital. By contrast the Volvos on the 3 are very comfortable and actually have decent suspension unlike any ADL product I have ever experienced. Much needed given how appalling Southampton's roads are, courtesy our incompetent council.
DeleteAnonymous 16:51 I cant see them being the long term solution
DeleteWhat is strange about exercising a choice?
ReplyDeleteI choose to prefer the 17. If there is a 17 there I will make an effort to catch it, if there are no 17s about I will get a 3.
What I find strange is that you find freedom of choice strange.
... and yes I see I made spelling mistakes in my 0643 post.
ReplyDeleteI obviously meant I do not LIVE in Southampton
Most normal people will board the first bus that comes along.They like me have no interest who manufactured the vehicle,how many it seats,what colour it is or anything else about it.nothing to do with freedom of choice.If you want to hang about waiting for what you want so be it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange person you must be, not having a preference on comfort and making a decision on it. I will send you a wooden bench to sit on for your next bus ride.
DeleteI find the seats on the 17 more comfortable, I find the seats on the 3 hurt my back.
I don't care that one might be a Mercedes and one might be a Streetlite; I care I am going to be sat on it up to half an hour.
I bet you also find it strange that I prefer to walk to a Green King pub for a beer rather than just go to the nearest Wetherspoons....
There are two types of normal people - 1 = those who do not have to pay or use buses infrequently - they will normally get the first bus, 2 = frequent users who have to pay - they will use the services that best suit their needs and wallet. I am in group 2 and regularly travel to many parts of Southampton and I last got on a First bus on 9th Jan 2010
DeleteHow sad that you remember the date. I don’t think are representative of the general public
DeleteThat should say.. “I don’t think you are representative of the general public”
DeleteWhy do you need to compartmentalize and define "General public"?
DeleteAre you trying to troll yourself into justifying your comments?
Like most members of the general public I recall memorable occasions - in this case an epic football match - and like many members of the general public, I am capable of using the Internet to determine the date of said football match
DeleteFrom a ten minute straw poll whilst sat outside central station at 1630. First 1 - empty, a handful of people on each. Over the past few weeks I've never seen a bus with more than a handful of punters.
ReplyDeleteBluestar routes to Totton - populated, not full - but with significantly more people.
However, a Bluestar 19 drove by that was empty...but then again I assume most would've jumped off back in the city centre.
I am a normal person & will specifically choose a route depending upon variables like - fares - is First or BS cheaper - frequency - no point saving 10p if got to wait half hour - type of bus - yes, some seating arrangements are better than others especially if travelling with the girlfriend who has mobility issues. The First seats can become rather hot as the buses can on a hot day. And even whereabouts the buses stop in city centre to 1.change buses & 2. nearest stop to desired shop.
ReplyDeleteIt is a planned trip usually & not a jump on whichever bus turns up. General Hospital can be the U6H if going eye dept as less to walk. So that is a BS day ticket as changing buses.
Anon at 0037, your final sentence has hit the nail on the head as to the reason for Bluestars success. It's the daily and weekly tickets giving so much more choice and value for money. With a first ticket, you are restricted to their few routes which are most likely to contract, but with Bluestar you have no less than 15 choices, and likely to expand.
ReplyDeleteOh, forgot the 4 unilink buses operated by Bluestar, plus the X7 operated by Salisbury Reds, but in fairness also forgot about the Hoeford X4 and 5! I make that 20 playing 11.
ReplyDeleteAhhh but (Anon at 0037) I would not need to worry about price or anything like that. As I said, I arrive by train and use a PlusBus ticket that is valid on both operators at the same time. This is something I said right at the beginning about having the choice.
DeleteI also said about getting on the bus at Central Station because I dont libe in Southampton and I come in by train. Both services call there so it's not about the closest stop to whatever shop I am in.
Also, going to the B Level Eye Department, the difference in distance for wall it not to much of an issue.
I have guided my other half with her cane across over far longer distances.... although our visits to the Neuro team are usually less planned and we get a private bus down the motorway at speed.
But then that has been normal for us for over 20 years. At the moment, normal is preferring to get a 17 over a 3 if both are immediately available.
That's the thing. If you have a period ticket, you're likely to favour a particular operator. To be honest, call me old-fashioned but what I'd prefer is a London- or Germany- type system in which the local authorities regulate the bus routes, and a period ticket could be used on all operators. I was in the Rhein-Neckar region of Germany recently and such tickets were valid on all buses, trams and local trains!
DeleteWell here you are in the Uk.Such a system of a ticket valid by all operators would be nonsense.In fact anything which would be sensible in the UK as to ticketing accepted by all operators would be regarded as stupid.Convienience to travelers is the least consideration in the UK unless you live in another Country.There is a country close by which some may of heard of named London.However this Country is completely seperate from the rest of the UK in all respects.here the residents enjoy a rather good public transport system whils the rest of the UK suffer a poor and shoddy transport system
DeleteOxford manages just fine with partnerships on key routes, integrated ticketing and only 2 routes into the city which the Smartzone ticket isn't valid on! It's improved the services for everyone, although frequencies have been reduced slightly in some areas.
DeleteResidents are very happy with the system, with most people I know who live in the city using the combined ticket for both operators, as they both have fairly equal presences on 2/3 of the main corridors into the city.
I note the new Yellowbuses 21 route will operate 3 return journeys Mondays to Fridays to Bransgore.Let's hope it's a success for Bransgore residents and those in Burton
ReplyDeleteWith any luck, yes. It gives Bransgore over three times as many bus journeys to Christchurch, so let's hope so!
DeleteWho is looking forward to Christmas Day buses?
ReplyDeleteMost people are busy celebrating with relatives to give a toss.
DeleteIt will probably be the More M1/M2 and Bluestar 18 running on their "special" routes on an hourly service. Just like the last few years.
DeleteI doubt the Bluestar 1 will be running.
I actually think that the BLUESTAR 17 may run at Christmas, and even extending to Totton via the M27. I may dream too much, but we have to consider everything.
DeleteI don’t agree that the 1 may not run. It will.
In what form the same 1X again perhaps
DeleteUnilink U6 definitely stops nearer to the eye dept at Soton General than other bus routes on main stops outside. Less to walk all through the hospital. Much better.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had any problems with the bustimes website. The location of the buses on the map doesn't seem to be displaying any of the First buses (Just Bluestar/Uni Link and Xelabus)
ReplyDeleteFirst buses used to show up, until recently?
I've noticed they haven't been showing in Leeds for a while. And recently, only certain Yellow Buses routes were showing, but that's fixed now.
DeleteI guess there must be issues with the RTI they use
So does anyone still think the CityRed 1 won't last
ReplyDeleteReece, the CR1 will certainly not last. It had no chance of making a profit before it started, which is why Bluestar have made no attempt to defend against it. The maths just do not add up, which is where First always go wrong! Evening rush hour buses are close to empty which is a very sad reflection on their marketing and planning. People still remember what they have done on their previous two services that ran through Totton. Yes, scrapped them. Only pensioners and children are catching it generally speaking. It is doomed before Easter, if Aberdeen let the agony persist that long.
DeleteAnonymous 01:27 I also would of thought the CR1 being more direct it would also use slightly more fuel then the Totton Bluestar buses
DeleteI would have thought totally the opposite, but the difference is tiny. The fact that CR1 misses out two very busy stops is another example of what is wrong with First. It must save all of one minute off of a twenty five minute trip, so about four per cent, but excludes about eight per cent of potential customers. Crazy First strike again!
Delete8% of passengers - you must have all the bluestar data ...therefore probably got somewhat of a biased opinion on this ? Where does Aberdeen feature ?
DeleteMine is not biased but talking in facts as the 1 goes over the fly overs which in no doubt burns more fuel than stopping at the 2 round abouts
DeleteAberdeen made the decision to cut the 2 almost 2 years ago to only serve City Centre to Millbrook.
DeleteAnd are you one of the Bluestar Drivers who uses the City Red 1 on the way to start work in Town?
As you know Reece, drivers are not allowed to comment on these forums! I would not be seen dead on one of those horrid red things either mate.
DeleteIt nice the 1 buses don't have those Driver Screens that's for sure.
Deletewell I stood at the Central Station this morning between 1100 and 1200 and the passengers carried were in dimal numbers.Most left towards Totton empty a few had no more than three on board in the oap bracket.even inward the most observed on any bus were three again of the oap bracket.The four Bluestar 19's that passed arrived and left empty
ReplyDeleteThe Bluestar drivers use the 1 as well to go into Southampton
DeleteHardly surprising the 19s were empty. It is right at the beginning/end of the route.
DeleteI've caught a few 19s so far and only once was it really quiet. At the moment I prefer the 19 to the 18 as Bursledon road is a nightmare due to all the temporary traffic lights. (I live in Thornhill and usually do shopping in Bitterne, hence the use of Bluestar buses)
Well if you shop in Bitterne there is no other option than Bluestar unless you walk or have your own transport
DeleteFirst 8,9 and 13 serve Bitterne as well as Xelabus X10
DeleteOnly the First 9 goes to Bitterne from Thornhill, and it's not as frequent as the 18 and it has a diabolical Sunday service.
DeleteFirst 9 doesn't go to Thornhill it serves Sholing and takes ages to get to town after going through Merry Oak and Woolston first.
DeleteBluestar do have Bitterne to themselves on a Sunday evening though.
DeleteThe person who lives in Thornhill staed they use Bluestar to Bitterne.Another stated if you live in Thornhill you have no other option than Bluestar.What the hell has the 8-9-13 and X10 got to do with the person posting at 2137 8th Oct and the reply by someone at 2150 8 Oct
DeleteI do apologise for not reading a commement correctly.
DeleteThe Reason the author allows anyone to post as an unkown name is so that Bus Drivers can comment on here and provide us with useful information.
ReplyDeleteYou say that but if true when they give useful information they are in turn called biased
DeleteAnon 1 Oct 2019 1719 - perhaps the driver made an error - bus drivers are human beings not robots and occasionally they make mistakes - they forget what route they are on, they forget to change the route indicator, they fail to stop when the bell has been pressed. Yesterday I even saw a bus go straight through a red light at a junction while the pedestrian phase was operating - fortunately the pedestrians had finished crossing and there were a few vital seconds before the lights changed for the opposing traffic.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else seen the article in Wed`s Daily Echo about the two buses getting stuck together trying to pass each other in Thornhill?
ReplyDeleteSouthern Vectis are running the same Christmas Day services this year as they did last year!
ReplyDeleteI`m sure Bluestar will announce their Christmas services in the next two or three weeks.
DeleteMy money is on First running a Saturday service on all weekdays from 23 Dec-3 Jan with no service on Christmas and New Year`s Day,a special service on routes 1,2,3,7 and 11 on Boxing Day and an early shut down on the two eve`s-First are so predictable!
DeleteThat sounds pretty much spot on.
DeleteBluestar I reckon will run the 18 on Christmas Day (extended to Hospital) and maybe the 1 and 17. Sunday service on Boxing Day. Special service on 1,2,4,9,12,16,17,18,19 on New Years Day and Saturday service on weekdays until 3rd Jan.
Will it be the same 1X service that runs?
DeleteI'm sure last year Bluestar done normal weekday service over the Christmas Holidays
DeleteErm .. first being predictable ...other commentators on here have said the opposite about first ??
ReplyDelete