It's currently operated by Xelabus under contract to the City Council. The X12 and Bitterne Hoppa are in the same position, but no mention has been made of their fate. Either way Southampton City Council call the shots, so the X11 will either move to another operator or be withdrawn completely. With just over a month to go, passengers need to know where they stand, especially those in these three areas for which the X11 is their only public transport service:
Lordshill North
Lordswood
Bellemoor and Hill Lane
We'll let you know as soon as there's any news on the fate of public transport in those areas.
See all upcoming changes across the region at-a-glance here.
We at Xelabus have had discussions with Southampton City Council and the X11 will continue until the tender renwal date which is December 2020. This will also apply to the X12 and Bitterne Hoppa.
ReplyDeletePhil Blair
Chairman
Xelabus limited
Well if above statement is true, then how come xelabus haven't updated their website message about the x11?
ReplyDeleteIt will be done tomorrow as agreement was only reached end of last week. No need to be concerned the X11, x12 and Hoppa will continue until end of the tender date.
ReplyDeleteIs the website going to be updated? The withdrawal announcement still appears on there.
DeleteIt's on the website now.
DeleteThat's reassuring to know. Thanks for setting the record straight.
ReplyDeleteA relief for those who use the service as it covers quite a number of spots which no other bus service does
ReplyDeleteI also like using the X11 service as well
DeleteThanks for letting us know Reece.
DeleteWhy Reece would you like the X11.It's no where you would go normally except to sit and bore the driver in chatting to Him/Her.Most drivers on the operators routes you travel on regard you as a pain in the arse.
DeleteI used to ride the S1 from Lordshill to City when Velvet operated the service many years back when their was Optare Solos
DeleteYes Reece has a reputation of distracting drivers, making them late. That used to infuriate me.
DeleteIt means Xelabus will have to re-register their service X11, which shows lack of professionalism from Xelabus, instead of doing the backstage negotiations and not launching an unnecessary chaotic message to the few that relies on this service X11.
ReplyDeleteI hope they learn a lesson and do the homework.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI will always express my opinion. If you don’t agree with it, it is absolutely fine. Now calling me stupid is beyond acceptable. But because you hide yourself under anonymity I can’t do anything but call you a coward.
DeleteTotally unacceptable. Claudio has himself been called out for this type of behaviour in the past, however he has moderated his approach and is welcome to express his opinions again. I suggest, with respect, that you do the same please! Name calling is simply not the way that this forum operates.
DeleteCheers Ian thanks for being on my side mate.
Deleteon your side, Reece? excuse me? is it acceptable that you keep distracting bus drivers? I am sorry but you should stop believe in every word the drivers say to you about future decisions in companies.
DeleteI speculate like every commentator in this blog. The common user of the bus do not bother to come here to read about changes, the bus companies do their job by publicly advertising their changes on their websites and shops (if they have one) or even on buses.
I would imagine it was quite expensive to operate the X11.More than likely Xelabus decided to withdraw from it early due to finance issues.This has now been sorted out with SCC so they are happy to continue to run it until the end of the contract.People should not snipe at a particular operator without knowing all the facts.With a 3 year contract a lot can happen to change orriginal agreement to a contract which could affect a small operator drastically in the pocket.
ReplyDeleteConversations between the parts are essential, not just withdrawing a route and saying “thank you very much, I had enough”.
DeleteIndeed, Claudio, conversations between the parts are essential - and if it happened to be the case that Southampton City Council decided they wished to take no further part what do Xelabus do then - continue to operate at a loss and jeopardise other services - I am sure Xelabus's passengers would be thrilled with some uncertainty about their future transport arrangements
DeleteWell Claudio lives in a fantasy bus world of His own.Nothing to do with the real world
DeleteNo, I point the facts. I no longer live in the UK but i still like to talk about buses.
DeleteFake facts more like - Contrary to Claudio's imaginings, the common user of the bus DOES bother to come here to read about changes, the bus companies DO NOT do their job by publicly advertising their changes WITH SUFFICIENT NOTICE or AT ALL in some cases on their websites and shops (if they have one) or even on buses.
DeleteI am always impressed with Xelabus who tend to have notices on buses up to 4 weeks notice and new timetables on buses and at the bus station. They change their web site closer to the date.
DeleteIndeed they do.Nice to have a timetable book as well instead of like Bluestar having to carry round wads of different size pocket timetables
DeleteEven with small changes I am told there will be a new bus timetable book out for the 23rd Feb changes. Rang up and told new book will be out 1st week in Feb.
DeleteCome on guys. This started as an informative update with positive feedback from the operator yet still developed into personal jibes. Sort it out please, it's playground behaviour that people don't want to see. Some of us are on here for the news, not the negativity!
ReplyDeleteThis is a result of some enthusiasts not living in the same world as the customer using the service.I don't see any future improvement to the site.i to view the site for news but rarely lately see anything that relates to the subject it is suppose too
Deletethis is a result of not knowing how to scroll down if they don't like what is being written.
DeleteFocusing now at Yellow buses, here is the main points of the timetable changes from Feb 23:
ReplyDeleteService 1 will do a loop via Railway Station for Falkland Square and no longer serve the bus station. It will operate a route around Poole High Street and Old Orchard to serve the Quay area of the town. (I guess having a stand in Poole was costing them too much!)
1a: additional late evening journey will serve Highcliffe and New Milton, Monday to Saturday
2: Journeys that operate as 2h are withdrawn; Sundays and Bank Holidays the 2 is extended through to Kinson
4a: Route 4a will no longer operate on Sundays.
6: An additional late evening journey will serve Wimborne Monday to Saturday; On Sundays and Bank Holidays the 6b that terminates at Bearwood is extended to Kinson to replace the 4a
19: withdrawn
all the rest is about increasing running times and changes to some frequencies...
Rather interesting move with Route 1 in Poole. It's almost like they are bringing the previous "Royal Line" Poole Quay variation route back in. Hopefully it pays off having a different route in Poole as I know that people have asked for the change before.
DeleteAlmost an element of nostalgia having a bus operate from Poole Quay directly to Bournemouth again (thinking back to the days of "Poole Bay Services" bus operation).
In regards to the rest of the stuff, it all seems about right (not surprised about the 4a tbh).
The 2 Sunday extension intrigues me - it was cut years ago as not profitable but now it's back but only Sundays? It's not as though the 14 doesn't run, I wonder what prompted that?
DeleteThe actual route from Poole Station is Towngate Bridge, North Street, Lagland Street, Old Orchard (for The Quay), New Orchard and West Quay Road back to the station. The service will not run along the Lower High Street and The Quay itself as The Quay is often closed for special events.
DeleteKen Traveline
Thank you Ken. Will it be a direct route Hospital - Kinson on the 2?
DeleteAlso 111 is withdrawn.
DeleteRoute 2 Sunday extension from Castlepoint to Kinson is direct along Castle Lane to Moordown then as 4a as far as Kinson.
DeleteKen Traveline
It means Northbourne will have a better service on Sunday than weekdays...
DeleteI actually believe that this is the plan from YB in the long term. Withdraw the 4a, half hourly extension of the 2 to Kinson direct via Castle Lane and Northbourne... and only one extra bus needed instead of the current 2 on the 4a
So there will now be two separate routes numbered 1 competing against each other around Poole Quay hmm...
ReplyDeleteAh. but one is a ONE and one is a 1!!! Easy :D
DeleteThing is though, More's RouteONE is actually displyed as 1 on the front of the bus.
DeleteAnon @1911 thing is though, RouteONE is actually displayed as ONE on the front of the bus
DeleteAnon@20.35 is correct.
DeleteONE is normally a light blue minibus displaying ONE on the front.
The other 1 is normally a yellow double decker displaying 1 on the front. There will be times other vehicles will be used, but I don't think there is much room for confusion.
Compare to Bournemouth town centre where you have m1, X1, 1, 1a and 1b (many of those having multiple terminus points to add to the confusion). At least A1 got renumbered!
Well I forgot about Route ONE by Morebus. Yes the R2 had a summer open bus from Boscombe to Poole Quay. I like when an operator tries to do different. Well done YB.
DeleteAre you all so stupid you can't tell one operator from another with a similar route number.Sad time indeed
DeleteI think you assume that everyone has your perfect reading ability, grasp of English, knowledge of the local area and the different bus operators and don't come from an area of collaborative bus operations.
DeleteThere are many reasons why someone might get on "the wrong one" in a town popular with tourists, foreign exchange student and old people.
Lots of visitors won't be able tell the difference between operators and route numbers and will think that is actually stupid.
DeleteThere is no need to insult.
DeleteRoute One Poole, m1, 1, 1a, 1b. How many other number 1 buses in the Bournemouth area are there?
ReplyDeleteYou forgot n1, N1, (Yes seriously n1 and N1 are different!!), U1, and X1.
DeleteHaving competing bus operators with the same or similar route numbers must be confusing to some people. Waiting at Fratton for a delayed train there was a clear repeated announcement that the service arriving was the 2142 to Southampton Central. At each station along the route there was a clear announcement stating that the train was heading for Southampton Central and above their heads was a visual display of this information - and yet with three pairs of eyes and ears between them, it was not until we had left Bursledon that some passengers realised that they were not on the 2203 to Eastleigh and so the train would not be stopping at Hedge End. I imagine such people also attempt to use buses.
ReplyDeleteYes.With some people it doesn't matter how clear information is they can't take it in.Due to the fact that there are many people around who are like this,Just what do you do to try to make them understand?.With bus operators having branded buses on certain routes it also doesn't help when the vehicle is put on another route.Also quite common in My experience is you gat whilst waiting at a bus stop someone ask you does the approaching bus go to a certain place.You say yes it does,but the first thing they do when boarding the bus is ask the driver the same question you have already given them an answer too.There is nothing more difficult than dealing with some of the British public at times.Working in a travel shop is hard work with some customers who don't seem capable of understanding the simplest of answers to their questions.
ReplyDeleteThe people that irritate me are those that ask for information and then dispute what you have said or who get upset when the answer you give is inconvenient to their plans and they act like it is your fault
DeleteFirst as of 26/1/20 are making minor frequency changes to the 7 & 11 as announced by themselves today.
ReplyDeleteSurprised the CR11 isn't every 12 minutes on Sundays
DeleteSurprised it runs at all with Bluestar 17 at a high frequency.There is no doubt within Southampton so many areas are very overbused.You only have to look at vehicles with just a few on board most of the day.Still this is a result of the stupid mentality that poloticians have created over the years.In fact poloticians create polloution in society because most are so useless in their job
DeleteAnonymous 14:10 I know what you mean I've been to other places in the country where bus services are evenly spread and works just fine, people say competition is healthy but I dont think it is as over busing certain areas is what it causes, there is also the argument that only having 1 operater will mean cut backs on frequencies which from what I've seen in other parts of the country just isn't true, the fares may go up but with inflation everything goes up not just bus fares
DeleteIt's Nice to see First soon to start running a 0025 City Red 11 from City Centre to Woolston on Monday to Friday Nights which will mean bus passengers can now have a late night bus back to Weston 6 nights a week.
DeleteThat was of course supposed to say Weston
DeleteWhich Bluestar has been doing it for more than a year now...
DeleteIt will mean nothing
Thanks Claudio I was about to point out the same but add Sunday to that.
DeleteYes-another unnecessary journey added to the 11.Few will use it and it's pointless and another stupid addition to the timetable.The only nights some odd bod would use it maybe Friday or Saturday.Late/early morning journeys have been introduced in the past and have been a disaster on most routes
DeleteReece25 January 2020 at 09:47 : IT always used to run on Friday and Saturday nights. So surprised to see it run every week night now.
DeleteAnonymous24 January 2020 at 14:10 : Why shouldn't First run CR11 through Weston - they were running services through Weston long before Bluestar decided to.
No reason at all why First should not run to Weston.Pity some time ago they wrecked the service by cutting it back from the Shirley area.Left it open for Bluestar to connect it up again as a through cross City route
DeleteThat was nearly a decade ago and you can see again what a daft idea it is to link Weston with parts of the city to the west. Bluestar reliability is just shot to pieces and why would you want to go to Shirley from Weston when you can get everything you need in the city centre !
DeleteThink you`ll find it is so that Weston residents can catch just the one bus straight to the General Hospital next....
DeleteWho Remebers the late night extension from Weston to Hamble
DeleteWhere ever you live up and down the land all cross Town/City routes suffer from re;iability.However most passengers prefer them due to not having to change bus along the route.The person who posted at 25 January at 1736 must live in a different world to most of us,and nothing daft about linking up other parts of the City on one side to the other.They obviously only travel between City and Weston and have no idea of what lies beyond I would imagine
DeleteIf that’s the case why isn’t Bluestar 1 linked to the 11 or 12 ? Why doesn’t Bluestar 6 link to something, why doesn’t the 16 link to something ? bus services are always more reliable when they don’t go across a city centre regardless of the city or town it’s the same up and down the country?
DeleteWell luckilly bus operators don't have your views.They also know that routes that don't cross the City are more reliable.However it's recognised that some do need to run across the City however at times they may get delayed.Long may cross Town/City services survive
DeleteAlso it's possible that the City Red 11 will extend to Central Station to give Weston Residents a much needed link for those train connections
DeleteNot good news this then for the person who posted at 2118 today
DeleteReece the 17 already goes to the station so you might want to re word that
DeleteReece says it`s "Possible the 11 will be extended to the Central Station"and it`s also possible I will win the lottery tonight but I didn`t -Lets just stick to facts please.
DeleteAaron the 17 is run by Go Ahead mate, I was referring to First Bus
DeleteThey already have that on the 17 Reece!
ReplyDeleteWell now they will have it additionaly on the CR11
DeleteNot needed!
DeleteAnonymous 22:44 that is not what Ian is getting at, I dont know if you have noticed but Reece is blinkered to the fact it's not just First that just operate in Southampton and I have no doubts Will do a direct copy of the 17 just like they tried with the 18 and 2
DeleteIan25 January 2020 at 22:38 - There is already a link between Thornhill and Central Station via CR3, but Bluestar felt the need to run their 19 to central station, following the same route. So why not extend CR11 to Central Station.
DeleteBecause very few use the existing link, so another service is just creating more pollution, just like the CR1 does. It is also inevitable that the 19 will be extended, creating even more duplication, within the next few months. The next six months will be very interesting, bringing the whole subject to a head. I fully expect an all out attack from Blue Star, to test Firsts appetite for a real battle.
DeleteJust so I get this right cityred 1 and a few extra journeys on city red 11 are just creating more pollution, but Bluestar 17 and 19 are not creating pollution just “duplication” - wake up and explore out of your bubble
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you lot all grow up.Under todays transport act any bus company can run if approved what they want.All this nonsense about saving the planet is rubbish.If it were true all these duplicate operations in the Country would be refused by the traffic commissioners.Sick of reading about saving the planet in all aspects by a load of loonies just because today it's the in thing to do
DeleteI'm not sure who needs to grow up. Nobody is disputing how today's system works, however they are rightly questioning whether it is the right system or whether it is causing unnecessary congestion and pollution. If you think a system where operators wage war on each other by flooding certain routes with clearly excessive and unnecessary numbers of buses is the grown up way to run the transport system of a modern city then we will have to agree to differ.
DeleteYes.Well tell the Consertave party this.It was them who created the present barmy transport polocy We at present operate and it was clear a long time ago as to what was happening.The present system in many areas is idiotick and is not improving.How operators make any money beats Me on some routes where on high frequencies the vehicle runs round most of the day with a handful of people on it.
DeleteIt`s Conservative,policy and idiotic-wish people could spell.
DeleteAnon at 1236, that is not what was said. Duplication creates pollution full stop. Your tone is, as usual, far too aggressive.
DeleteGo Ahead is to expand the Clean Air Filter operation to 6 more Towns and Cities by the Summer following a successful trial In Southampton
ReplyDeleteWonderful news Reece.We shall all be saved from pollution and will be able to sleep better at night because of this
DeleteWe will indeed the report suggested that over 100 days 100 grams of dirt the size of a tennis ball was collected from each filter - Bring on a cleaner Southampton.
DeleteIt's all nonsense and hype Reece. It may well collect pollution, but the extra weight of the unit cuts fuel consumption and increases pollution, defeating the object!
DeleteTrouble with Reece is,that if you told Him the world was square in shape He would believe it
DeleteAnyone would be daft enough to believe that there is life on Mars
DeleteWhy am I seeing only up to comment 29 January 2020 at 11:26 on my comp?
ReplyDeleteMaybe because no one has commented on this post since then????
Delete