Friday 27 March 2020

Coronavirus: Changes this weekend

It seems that not a day goes by without some pretty major changes in our bus service at the moment. Remember...


  • Please only travel if absolutely necessary, otherwise stay at home
  • Check the bus operator's website to make sure what level of service they are running
  • Please don't use cash. If you can, pay by contactless, smart card or mobile ticketing app


Here are the latest changes:


All Xelabus services are temporarily suspended after Saturday 28th March. This is sad to see, as Xelabus are the great survivor of Southampton's independent operators. Hopefully they'll be back on the road after the current restrictions are relaxed and will still be around in another ten years.

This does leave some significant gaps in the public transport network, mainly around Eastleigh and Bishops Waltham, but also in Lordswood and Bellemoor. Maybe another operator might step in to provide a skeleton service on the key routes.


Bluestar are further reducing services from Monday. There are new temporary timetables on routes 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. Routes 3, 4 and 7 are sticking with the temporary timetables from 23rd March. The 6 and other minor routes are still running a normal school holiday timetable.


First are moving generally to a partially enhanced Sunday service every day from Sunday (see our previous post). This would have meant the 13 in Southampton would be suspended, but First have listened and will now be running an emergency timetable on the 13 on weekdays only, meaning Peartree and Harefield are not cut off.

First Bath have a temporary timetable on the Discovery D1 service between Salisbury and Bath from Monday.


Unilink in Southampton reduced services yesterday. See the new timetables here.


Also reducing yesterday to generally a daily enhanced Sunday service is Yellow Buses of Bournemouth. See their full temporary timetables here.


Salisbury Reds and Stagecoach are reducing service on their joint Activ8 service between Salisbury and Andover from Sunday. See the new timetable here.


Stagecoach have until now been running a standard school holiday service in Winchester, Portsmouth and Havant. From Monday, that changes with the introduction of temporary reduced timetables on all routes. See the details for Winchester here and Portsmouth/Havant here.


Stay safe out there. Stay home unless your journey is absolutely essential.

129 comments:

  1. Wow, well done First, at least some sense on your decision.
    Bishops Waltham still has connections to Winchester (it belongs to Winchester council)
    But Burnetts Lane in Moorgreen, Curdridge and Durley will be completely cut off from Sunday, and I have no idea if any operator would serve that area.
    Please come back Xelabus when things are better.

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  2. From what I see, except council routes and services 5, 8, 17 and 18, all other routes from Bluestar have a hourly service.
    I am quite impressed with such brave decisions from them, however they need to go even further during day time on service 17 and 18. 30 minute service would be more than enough.
    I am also sure that even more cuts will be made on First.
    30-minute frequency on services 2, 3, 7 and 11 would be more than appropriate.

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  3. Why on earth do I get adds for Dating Sites appearing on this website

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FYI that is related to the content you search. There are things called "cookies" that track and memorise what you search.

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    2. You are not suggesting Reece spends his time scouring dating sites that bus drivers frequent....

      .... are you?

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    3. Uniform dating...phhwooaarrrr!

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    4. Simple solution. Clear cookies - use an internet cleaner like C-cleaner or block ads using UBlock or Adblock plus.
      Good to see First rethought the Harefield situation. As for Xelabus I would have thought a vast amount of their money is school cash with the commercial bus routes not providing much farebox anyway. Still, folk should stay at home! Perhaps BS could run a couple of peak trips on x4 or x10 "on hire" to Xelabus just for any keyworkers. Very difficult time though for all companies.

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  4. If First's emergency online 3 timetable is to be believed it will run DAILY which will actually mean both ends of the route will get a bus earlier on a Sunday than they do on a normal Sunday! 0559 from Lordshill & 0601 from Thornhill. Normally 0704 both ends!

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  5. Some other weird quirks showing up too. SC 23 service has later buses on Sun night than Mon to Sat emergency timetable!

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  6. Yellow Buses 21 ran today even though it doesn't normally run on a Saturday

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    Replies
    1. Yes it has been added in to give Burton something on a Saturday to help out. Ken Traveline

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  7. Does anyone know what routes the 69 plate E200s are on nowadays thanks?

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    Replies
    1. I have no idea but I wouldnt be surprised if they are now serving other routes like number 3.

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    2. the e200's mentioned above have been noted on Bluestar 3-7-16-18 over the past week in looking at Bustimes.org maps

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  8. So many empty buses running today-why don`t they limit all routes to a maximum of one bus an hour until the lockdown is lifted?

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    Replies
    1. I agree with you, except for the urban routes with half-hour frequency (in Bournemouth M1/M2, in Southampton (First 2, 3, 7, 11), BS17, 18

      I even defend merging routes temporarily:
      Bournemouth YB 1b & 21; Morebus 5 & 6; Southampton First (2 & 11 ; 9 & 13).

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    2. Buses are for key workers only at the moment due to restrictions imposed by Boris and no routes justify a 30 min frequency as a result-just one an hour is all that`s required.

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    3. Routes that serve hospitals could do with a 30 minute frequency due to key workers needing to get there.

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    4. Plus i'd advocate suspending routes that are wholly duplicated by another operator. Bluestar did it with the 19 so perhaps First could do the same with their 2 and 11.

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    5. But that can be achieved in a slight different way. I read somewhere someone defending merging routes and the 2+11 in Southampton is feasible with a 30-minute frequency.
      First could also think of suspending their service 1 to Totton and Calmore, or make it hourly, being perfectly timed with Bluestar 12.

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    6. I expect further cuts if the Lockdown gets extended

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  9. Yellow Buses and Morebus made an arrangement to accept each other tickets on all of their service.
    Bravo!
    This is a step towards agreements to run joint routes, in my opinion.
    Well done to those involved.

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  10. It's becoming quite widespread elsewhere of operators excepting each others tickets as a temporary measure.Sharing each others routes may happen but only if things get worse I would imagine.But who knows?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By sharing revenues, companies tend to handle adversities a bit better.

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    2. Of course if you only have one operator there is no problem.Deregulation of bus services has over the years become a mess in some areas with great lose of public transport.Thanks to Coronavirus some sort of sense is coming back to it all for the wrong reason of something that's killing people.

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    3. It's only until the Coronavirus ends

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    4. Yes Reece.That's the unfortunate part about it

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  11. Coronavirus update 31 March 2020
    from Andrew Wickham | Managing Director
    We continue with extensive work across the company in line with our three objectives during the crisis:

    To protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all colleagues
    Continue to play our vital role in the community, so far as keeping a skeleton bus service on the road to enable key workers to get to their place of employment and enable others, including carers, people needing to buy food and volunteers to get to food shops, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and vets etc.
    Protect the business so it can continue to operate during and after the crisis. To keep as many colleagues, as possible, in employment without anyone being made redundant.

    HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING

    The enhanced cleaning regime of vehicles and property continues. (...) The front seats of buses have been cordoned-off in order to give some distance between drivers and customers whilst buses are in service. We are now fitting the coronavirus cab screens to our remaining active fleet. We continue to encourage customers to pay with methods other than cash to minimise contact.
    (...)
    It concerns me that some colleagues are having difficulty getting served in supermarkets. We are producing a letter stating that our employees are designated as key workers for colleagues to carry with them and produce as appropriate, which will hopefully help here.

    (...)
    PLAYING OUR PART IN SOCIETY

    (...) The number of people using our services does now seem to have stabilised at around 10%-12% of usual levels. We continue to reduce and alter services to meet these objectives. (...)

    The next reduction in services will happen this Sunday 5th April and we will update you via Hapi and the website in the normal way.

    I want to thank everyone for their ongoing cooperation and flexibility as we continue to bring in new timetables and therefore emergency rotas. We are planning one further change as we finesse the current arrangements, deal with some running-time issues where we can, and trim back to the very basics of network. This will mean a further rota change in the coming weeks but then we expect things to stabilise and we will continue to operate at those levels whilst it is safe to do so and until such time as we can start to rebuild our business.
    (...)

    PROTECTING OUR BUSINESS AND JOBS

    The changes we have made means the company, temporarily, is now a lot smaller. With customer demand so much reduced, our passenger income as decreased by a similar amount. We have now parked-up some 420 buses and coaches, with more to follow. (...)

    The process of colleagues being placed onto furlough is well underway. This has already happened where possible, and arrangements are well advanced elsewhere. (...)
    (...)
    I completely understand how difficult and worrying the current time is for everybody. I thank you for your sterling efforts in providing essential transport, be it as a driver or in a support role. What you are doing is also hugely appreciated by wider society. Thank you.

    (...)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don’t think it is appropriate to publish internal staff notices to be honest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Available here https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/staff
      For anyone who wishes to see.

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    2. Well there you go.Available for anyone to see.So evidently not inappropiate

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    3. When Andrew Wickham refers to "emergency timetable and rotas", is he referring to merging routes or just further reductions in frequencies?

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    4. I would have thought that would be obvious to most of us in reading His statement

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    5. Well, that's still mean to be see by staff only, as you can't get there from Bluestar website, unless you had told to add 'staff' after slash.

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  13. https://www.firstgroup.com/southampton/news-and-service-updates/coronavirus-covid19-service-information

    First So'ton from April 5th
    The 13 is going to run on Sat as well as M-F but only between 8:13-16:50

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 9 will not run on Sundays anymore but it has a 75 min-ish frequency.
      All services from First will not run after 10-11pm.
      Bluestar may keep their late evening services but we never know.

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  14. Somehow I think the schedule for Morebus will look like this:

    m1: Hourly service, extended to RB Hospital. Tickets also accepted on Yellow Buses route 3.
    m2: Hourly service, extended to Christchurch. Tickets also accepted on Yellow Buses route 1.
    3: No service.
    4: Hourly service, alternating between Corfe Mullen and Merley which each get a 2-hourly service.
    5: Hourly service
    6: Hourly service
    7A/7B/7C: No service
    8: Hourly service
    9: Hourly service
    10: No service
    11: No service
    13: Hourly service
    14: Hourly service
    15: Hourly service
    16: Hourly service
    17: No service
    20: No service
    40: Hourly service.
    50: Split into two separate routes: Bournemouth - Sandbanks (hourly) and Studland - Swanage (every 2 hours).
    60: Hourly service
    X1: 2-hourly service
    X2: 2-hourly service
    X3: Hourly service
    X6: 2-hourly service between Bournemouth and Ferndown only.
    X8: 2-hourly service. Diverted to serve Lytchett Matravers.

    Yellow Buses
    1: Hourly service between Poole and Christchurch. Tickets also accepted on More route M2.
    1a: Hourly service. No extensions to New Milton.
    2: Hourly service between Bournemouth and Kinson.
    3: Hourly service between Poole and RB Hospital. Tickets also accepted on More route M1.
    4: Hourly service
    4a: No service
    5: Hourly service
    5a: Hourly service
    6: Hourly service. Extended to Kinson from Bearwood instead of Wimborne.
    8: No service
    12: No service
    18: No service
    21: Normal service

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry guys I am just an enthusiast and I have no idea how things will work, but this is my forecast.
      Nope, I do not agree with the above comment, as it is not gonna be so drastic:
      30-min on core services (Morebus M1, M2; YB 1 (section between Bournemouth and Christchurch, 3)
      30-min combined frequency on: (Morebus 8/9, 16/17; YB 5/5a)
      60-min combined frequency on: (Morebus 4 (2-hourly via Corfe Mullen/Merley, 5/6 (these 2 routes should be combined temporarily), X1/X2)
      60-min frequency on: Morebus 13, 14, 50, X3, X6; YB: 1a, 1b, 2, 4, 6
      Limited service on: Morebus ONE, 15, 20, 24, 38, 40, 60, X8, X8A Ringos and other tendered services; YB: 1a (extension to New Milton), 6 (extension to Wimborne, no longer running to Northbourne but to Mountbatten roundabout, so better connections can be made to Poole, via service 14/X6 or to Bournemouth via YB6); 12, 18, 21, 33, 36, 737)
      No service: Morebus 3, 6, 7ABC, 10, 11, 32, Cangos in New Milton, 125, 191, 193; YB: 4a, 8.

      In Southampton:
      First already announced plans
      Bluestar:
      30-minute service on routes 17, 18
      60-minute service on routes 1, 2, 7, 9 (diverted at all times via Marchwood), 16, QuayConnect
      90-minute service on routes 3, 4, 11/12 (combined 45-min frequency)
      Limited frequency: 5, 6, tendered routes (35, 36, 39, H1/H2, T3/T4)
      No service: 8.
      Also, There is no obligation from them but Bluestar could run some extensions to Bishops Waltham (the best option is really on service 2).

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    2. I can see some logic in combining Morebus routes 5 and 6. You could divert the 5 to serve Tower Park after it has traversed Sherborn Crescent, then pick up its normal route from Culliford Crescent onwards. The primary purpose would be for people to get to the big Tesco at Tower Park since the entertainment complex is closed.

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  15. Predictions for other GSC operators:

    Salisbury Reds
    R1: Half hourly service
    R2: Hourly service. Extended to Bishopdown Farm and Laverstock.
    R3/PR3: Hourly service serving both Bulbridge and Ditchampton.
    R4: No service
    R5: Hourly service
    R6: No service
    R7/PR7: Hourly service if park & ride is open
    R8: No service
    PR9: Hourly service if park & ride is open
    R10: No service
    PR11: Hourly service if park & ride is open
    R12: No service
    R14: No service
    PR15: Hourly service if park & ride is open
    X3: Hourly service
    X4: No service
    X5: 2-hourly service. Diverted via Bulford and Larkhill
    X7: 2-hourly service
    X7R: No service
    Activ8: 2-hourly service. Hourly from Tidworth to Andover

    Southern Vectis
    1: Half hourly service.
    2: No service
    3: Hourly service
    4: No service
    5: Hourly service
    6: 4 journeys per day
    7: Hourly service via Shalfleet only
    8: Hourly service
    9: Half hourly service
    11: Temporary loop route from Newport serving Shorwell, Brighstone, Calbourne and back to Newport. 4 journeys per day.
    12: No service
    22: No service
    24: No service
    32: No service
    37: 4 journeys per day
    38: Hourly service
    39: No service
    No Island Coaster or open-top Breezers until further notice

    ReplyDelete
  16. The frequencies are out for salisbury reds
    30 min: R1
    60 min: R2, R4, R5, R6, R10, 2 to Devizes, PR3, PR7, PR11, PR15, X4 (120 min on Sundays), X5, X7/X7R

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  17. I wonder if i'll ever get to ride Buster's Forest Explorer at this rate...

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  18. I would concentrate on staying alive rather than wondering if you will ever get to ride the Buster Forest Explorer

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  19. First and Bluestar no longer advertising for new drivers

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  20. On the revised emergency timetable there is now a bus on the City red 3 at 0449 on a Sunday from Thornhill & 0450 from Lordshill! Got to be "the winner" for an earliest Sunday morning bus!

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure First will not have thornhill Fairfax court to them selves for ever, Expect Bluestar to bring back the 19 when everything is back to normal

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    2. I would imagine the 19 will never return or I will be surprised if it does.In fact when things return to normal several bus services will have been changed forever

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    3. 0420 m1 from Castlepoint is the winner I think!

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    4. I must admit, the Bluestar announcement about the 19 when they first suspended it, sounded more terminal than temporary.

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  21. Go south coast have announced the closure of Ringwood depot from 04/04/20

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    Replies
    1. Okay, so where do they run the X3 from? That will involve a change of timetables of bus routes based in Ringwood, or a HUGE dead mileage, that companies cannot afford.

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    2. Bournemouth & Salisbury. Additional cuts to timetables and services from 05/04

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    3. Yes, fine. But what about service 38? and the Ringos? it is not as simple as it might seem. We need to see the broadcast of their plans.

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    4. I'm sure when they are ready they will explain their plans to all.So for the moment it's just wait and see what they publish when they do

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    5. Many of the Ringwood drivers actually live closer to Poole and Salisbury, Ringwood being seen as a desirable posting. Running X3 from one end may mean the dropping of the short trips but the revised service will be based on known passenger loadings. I'm expecting the information later today and there's an Traveline data build on Friday going live Saturday which I hope I can get clear for. It should all be on the web sites tomorrow. Ken Traveline

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    6. Thank you for your wonderful job Ken

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    7. Ringwood was always a temporary fix although it has taken more than a few years to sort out
      now depots are located in Bournemouth,Poole and Salisbury the operation of service X3 is easily covered by other depots
      Ringo's and 38's are easily covered from other depots






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  22. More UniLink cuts from next week

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  23. National express no longer in operation after April 5th as well...

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    Replies
    1. I wonder how long for

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    2. Their first forecasted date to resume their service, with emergency timetables is June 1st.

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    3. The letter sent by National Express to all local authorities says that services will resume on Saturday 1 August 2020 subject to government advice on the Covid-19 situeation. Ken Traveline

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    4. Let's hope so and also by that date everything will be back to Normal Service

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    5. Hey Ken. First I would like to thank you for the job you have been doing, as the operators are changing their timetables so often you must be doing a tremendous effort to keep everything up to date.
      I just wanted to clarify that when I said June 1st, I didn't say out of the blue, as this date is available on National Express Website, on https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/live-service-updates
      Under the section "new timetables" you will have something like this "These restricted timetables will then resume from 1 June 2020, however, these services are for essential travel only and are subject to change depending on Government advice."
      As I said also on my comment, it is a forecast so no certainty at all.
      Anyway, I hope that you keep up with your wonderful job.
      Regards

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  24. Rumours another operator to take on some xelabus services from the end of next week?

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    Replies
    1. Well did you see any registered routes from another operator?

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    2. At the moment the usual route registration process doesn't apply and there are special guidelines laid down by the traffic commissioners.

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    3. Fine but don't just drop information like that without sources. And if you don't have information, or just speculating, please stop, nobody needs it, especially Xelabus which they are fighting for survival.

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    4. Xelabus supposedly closed for the safety of there employees yet they are still operating rail replacement services. Are routes like Eastleigh - Chandlers Ford & Eastleigh - Hedge End not essential to allow people without cars to reach shops & buy food. Parts of these areas and Velmore are now cut off all to save money and park vehicles up. At least other operators are continuing to provide essential services.

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    5. If you look at First many of their services no longer run. Larger groups are a bit better off in this respect and for the moment run.Other operators as well no longer run some routes.Xelabus only under normal times run a quite restricted service.They don't have large reserves of cash to keep running without custom.If you live in Hedge End you can still get to Eastleigh on Bluestar 3 although slightly longer journey.If in West End although you can't get to Eastleigh you can still get to Superstores or Bitterne/Southmpton.The only ones cut off are in Velmore,Curdridge,Durley to any main shops.Not great but for the moment that's the way it is.However in Durley and Curdridge I would assume most have a car at their disposal as those throughout the Meon Valley

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    6. I notice various comments and rumours about our operations and to put the record straight we are not running any rail replacement services following the suspension of our network of services. Passenger numbers on all routes were 97% below the normal use age and areas like Velmore, Curdridge and Durley had simply no use.

      There is also no truth in rumours that any of our services will be operated by another bus operator as the current Bluestar, Stagecoach and First operations are still being operated but at constantly reduced frequencies because of little or no use.

      Very sad times and we are anxious to get back to normal.

      PHILIP BLAIR
      Chairman
      Xelabus Limited

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    7. With government funding being made available in approx 10 days time most operators are likely to increase frequency on key routes.
      You only have to Google Xelabus to see how many bad reviews about the service provided there is so maybe its time for another operator to pick up the pieces and give the public a decent bus service.

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  25. We don't under present circumstances need rumours.Ony accurate known information please

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  26. I'm just waiting impatiently for the announcement of emergency timetable/route changes on GSC companies.
    Unilink and Salisbury Reds have already announced their plans.
    Do you expect something extreme or not so?

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  27. Not times to be impaitent about.I'm sure when they are ready they will post their intentions.At present things change daily which has to be taken into account.There will be obvious tweaks to current services of which some may be large or others just small.I don't know but would imagine some late evening services will be most vulnerable to more cuts as no point in running buses with nothing open after in many cases 2000.Even in Southampton with Unilink cuts there is still a very good service.Let us all be grateful for what we still have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well if I was working for the NHS, and relying solely on buses to get to and from work, I would be really concerned and impatient. I know they would still cover those people starting shifts very early, however... until we see the final tweaks for this change of timetables, I would be really concerned. 😟

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    2. Absolutely. I have no idea whether I will be able to get to work on Monday by bus, and until GSC put up their timetables (we know they are changing but not how) I won't know. GSC are normally prompt at customer communication but given First have put their timetables up already, they are too slow. If I won't be able to get to work on Monday I need to have told my employer already! I use the 3 route and there are no other buses now running where I live. Not good enough GSC.

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    3. I wonder you live in one of the areas where Xelabus was your alternative but they ceased their services temporarily...
      If I was living where I was before, and working on the NHS, it would be a nightmare to go to Moorgreen Hospital to make the food for the patients admitted to Southern Health Hospitals.
      I am no longer affected by any changes in Southampton, as I am out of the country for nearly a year, but I am still curious on how the services are running (sorry for being an enthusiast).
      If you want really to know, there are a reduction in bus services here in the Netherlands, but not as near as in the UK. I wonder for how long...
      I shall keep myself updated and then pass the message to my Portuguese friends in Bournemouth and Southampton who rely on buses to get to work, especially those working on housekeeping and nursing in the NHS hospitals.

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    4. Well get in touch with GSC if you are not happy.Just a case of keeping your eye on Bluestar site for when they do post changes.Should inform your employers of your current predicament which I suspect many others are in also.

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    5. Bluestar have updated their info from this coming Sunday... only affecting Sun times?
      Main change is no weekend services for the 6, only a limited M-F service.

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    6. All the panic by some posters on this site about Bluestar,However most changes are pretty minor under the circumstances.Should be noted 6 runs Saturdays at reduced frequency like Mondays to Fridays-No changes to the 3 which is good as it connects up so many places now-Well done Bluestar.

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    7. Well that service 3 must be one of the longest in mileage, as it covers a lot. How much? 15 miles long?

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  28. Ken Traveline here.
    The morebus changes from Sunday all got to me in time to get Traveline updated in today's data build and they should be available to view Saturday morning. The BPC area real time is also updated ready for Sunday.
    A few snippets of information, m1 is not extended to the hospital, m2 is not extending beyond Southbourne, the 50 is split in two with Bournemouth to Sandbanks on Monday to Saturday, and Swanage to Studland daily.
    60 runs between Sandbanks and Poole only, not Sundays and most other services are running hourly. No services are withdrawn except the Lyme Regis town service 71 although X6 and X8 will not run Sundays. X6 will run between Poole and Ringwood only. Ringwood depot is not closing this weekend (late decision)
    There's no announcement on the morebus home page yet but it looks like the new timetables are available from the timetables page by selecting a route and a date next week.
    Following the governments announcement that funding will be made available to operators to maintain acceptable frequencies, I have been forewarned of more changes (improvements) to come. As yet nothing that can be made public.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Details now available on morebus homepage

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  29. Bluestar snippet to max frequencies from Sunday April 5:
    1, 2, 9 - hourly Monday to Saturday, 2-hourly Sundays
    3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 16 - no changes
    6 - withdrawn on Sundays
    17, 18 - 20 min Min - Sat, 30 min Sundays

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  30. Additional comment to Bluestar 6: 2-hourly Monday to Saturday.

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  31. Yellow Buses have won the Highcliffe School Contact from Solent Coaches

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    Replies
    1. I can only see 2 yellow services,anyone know who got the other 3 east bound services?

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    2. Oh I didn't realise there were more than those two sorry

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    3. Although I did see on Facebook the other day that dekkabus have won a school contract that they're trying to find an optare tempo or a similar single decker

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  32. Morebus snippet to max frequencies from Sunday April 5:
    M1/M2: Mon - Fri 20 min (combined 10 Min), No official details from Saturday (maybe the same as Mon-Fri), 30 Min Sunday (combined 15 Min)
    4: daily hourly service (2-hourly via Corfe Mullen or Merely)
    5/6: Mon-Fri Hourly (30 Min combined), Saturday no data as yet, Sunday hourly, routes will be combined (running as service 5 to Tower Park, as service 6 from Tower Park)
    7ABC: no changes
    8/9 : hourly (combined 30-min)
    10: 2-hourly
    11: 2-hourly, Sundays Withdrawn
    13: hourly Mon-Fri, no data Sat, 2-hourly Sun
    14: no change
    15: no change (no data from Sat yet)
    16/17: hourly Mon- Fri (combined 30 Min), Sat no data yet, Sun 2-hourly (combined hourly)
    20: 2-hourly
    24 & 32: no changes
    38: irregular frequency (no pattern, service is reduced, though)
    40: 2-hourly daily
    50: 2-hourly between Bournemouth and Sandbanks, no service sundays, 2-hourly daily between Studland and Swanage.
    60: 2-hourly Monday to Saturday, Sunday withdrawn
    112,119,125,191,193: no changes
    Route ONE (Poole): 30 minutes
    Ringo's: 30 minutes combined
    X1/X2: 2-hourly (combined hourly), Monday to Friday, no data yet Saturday, no changes Sunday
    X3: hourly Mon- Sat, 2-hourly Sunday
    X6: 2 hourly Mon-Sat, Sunday service withdrawn, Ringwood-Bournemouth withdrawn
    X8: 2 hourly Mon-Sat, Sunday service withdrawn
    X8A, Asda, Cangos: no changes

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  33. Bluestar to operate temporary timetable on x4 and another operator to operate a temporary timetable on x5/x6

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    1. Is there a link to these Timetables?

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    2. Where is the reference to that?

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    3. Not clear as to this posting.Are we talking about Xelabus X4 and X5/X6.There is no X5 anyway.Stop posting things without clarity as to what it refers too

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    4. He or she would have meant X6/X7

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    5. Well maybe but speculating like this is helping no one.
      Xelabus, Bluestar, local authorities and patronage covered by those routes.

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  34. It will all become clear when the local authorities give details next week. It looks like Bluestar 2 hourly x4 & x6/7 Eastleigh to Fryern Arcade hourly with a yellow coloured operator

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    1. Wheelers perhaps

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    2. That is unfair, why don't they give that subsidy to Xelabus? They are still technically on business.

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    3. Xelabus were asked to continue operating a reduced service and that funding was likely to be made available in the near future they declined. It is very unlikely they will turn to the road. The managers constantly lie to employees and buses are disappearing that so they say have not been reposessed! Has anyone seen those scanias since they disappeared for mot??

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    4. What a load of rubbish. Xelabus were NOT asked to run a reduced service. In fact the authorities were fully aware of their request to suspend services and UNDERSTOOD the reason. Why are the managers constantly lying? As one we keep a daily email trail with all our staff and help is offered if needed. Buses are NOT disappearing! The Scanias 412 - 415 came off their lease and 419, 421 and 422 are stored until their lease expires end of July.

      Now stop making up rumours!

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    5. Why would you store perfectly good vehicles that are still within the lease agreement? Something doesn't add up unless you have not been paying the lease fees?

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    6. Well we will need to see what will happen in the near future, but all cards are now in the table for Xelabus.

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    7. In my opinion Xelabus has done the right thing to protect their staff. They are a well run business and that shows in their presentation on the roads. This is a very difficult time for all bus companies and I really hope this business returns to continue providing such an important service for the area.

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    8. Why the hell do people keep knocking Xelabus.Phil Blair has given the current stuation why keep disputing what He posts.For Gods sake leave Xelabus alone.

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  35. Being a key worker and travelled on Bluestar tonight and those virus announcements every few mins certainly got on my nerves.

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    1. They get on my wick as well.

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  36. It is not available on the announcements for some reason, but services 4 and 7 will now run every 2 hours on Sundays.

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  37. Whoes service 4 and 7 will run 2 hourly on Sundays?

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  38. strangely the BS Sunday timetable for example 1 and 2 show a 2hourly service
    The timetable for 4 shows as unchanged ie hourly

    The facility where you can check buses by date seems to be have been disabled

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  39. Both Bluestar 4 and 7 are reduced on Sundays to every 2 hours in each direction.Difficult times I know,but would have thought by now someone at Bluestar would have corrected the information

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  40. I notice today Sunday 5th April 2020 still no update to Bluestar information regarding service 4 and 7

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  41. I just went onto Bluestar site, clicked on 4 timetable, it warns that this is for a past date, click here for today's times, it indeed does show up as every 2 hrs.
    The number 7 isn't highlighted so can't click on it, but it says it is still the same as March 23rd?

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  42. But if u click on the 7 timetable on the usual list of times... It is only every 2 hrs only between 9:32 & 17:32 from Aldermoor turning circle.

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  43. Yes.All a bit of a muddle for those who don't know other means of viewing revised timetables.Indeed if you know how both correct Sunday times for 4 and 7 can be viewed.

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  44. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07338043/filing-history/MzIxMDQyMjk5NWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0


    For those that don't believe this is who is calling in the charge on a certain Eastleigh based operator

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    1. It will be interesting if any bailiffs will actually take this on during the current crisis....

      ... The Civil Enforcement Authority members have current dedicated to the cause of helping NHS on a voluntary basis.

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    2. Someone can't leave this Eastleigh based operator alone.What on earth have they done to you to cause them such grief in postings?

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    3. Leave Xelabus alone. This document is from 2018!!!

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    4. Well said Claudio. The continued Anonymous attacks on Xelabus at this of all times is repugnant. I honestly don't understand what is wrong with some people. Whoever is carrying out this vendetta has been proved wrong at every turn and they need to stop and look at themselves.

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  45. I just had a play with Bluestar timetables, & if u change date to Mon 6th for example, it does display as every hr for the 4 & 7.
    Trouble is too many people are reliant on bus stop digital displays, which operators have said will probably be wrong.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly, hourly Monday to Saturday and 2-hourly on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

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  46. I have to say, I very rarely go on this site - but just recently I have been informed about some very negative comments being made about my Business.

    Just for the record and in the great scheme of things especially with whats happening in the world right now, its not that important - Xelabus is on a very sound footing. NO buses have been repossessed. Prior to all the issues surrounding COVID-19, I enter a new partnership arrangement with Yellow Buses and that they would be carrying out all our MOT's going forward. They are a Earned Recognition operator and I wish for our business to learn from them on how they strive to maintain that accreditation. The single deck scanias have to go back off lease with at least 6 months MOT, so the buses were sent there after our last service change to be prepped and tested when dates become available. Yellow Buses are currently unable to test anymore vehicles and they needed all the space available whilst they run a reduced network of timetables, so we agreed to go and collect the buses at Yeomans Way and return them to our premises. The two buses mentioned above are currently parked on our wash bay. You are more than welcome to come and see.

    From Week commencing 23rd March we started to operate a Saturday service and include shopper buses. We found that our patronage dropped by 90% and as such and regtretfully with Local Authority support, we suspended ALL services after Saturday 28th March. This was to protect our staff and their families from this virus. We felt this to be the best thing to do.

    However, not ALL staff are furloughed, our office staff are still as busy and working from their homes. In fact if you ring our landline number, you will go through to our customer services representative who will help you with your enquiry.

    With regards a company in 2018 taking out a charge on Xelabus. This is a company called Calverton Finance. From 2018 we were finding our clients taking too long in making payment so we put a invoice factoring company in place so it protected the company and its cashflow. That is all this is.

    We have now turned down an amount of rail replacement, as any operator knows this is lucrative work and again this is purely to protect our staff and not put them in positions of possible harm with the virus. Yes, we actually put our staff before money!

    It is our 10th anniversary this year and we planned two major events in which we and all our staff were looking forward to with the launch of a brand new bus. These have now been shelved until such times everything looks better.

    Now, I hope that has put a squash on the rumours that the keyboard warriors on here like to spread. If they had any real information that wouldn't be scared to hide behind the "Anonymous" tags constantly. Should you want to know anymore in depth information about Xelabus, please feel free to contact me direct gareth@xelabus.info.

    I will be happy to help! All the best to everyone and stay safe.

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  47. I would also like to add that we fitted driver protection screens to all our single deckers last week in readiness to return our buses to the streets very soon.

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    1. When are you expecting your bus services to be up and running again?

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    2. More than likely Reece when they feel it's safe to do so and the likelyhood of carring some customers.As Gareth Blair has given all a statement here on comments He has been reading about His company,I trust those who have been posting detremental comments will now cease to do so.Thanks to Mr Blair for posting and trust you all your family and all staff keep safe during these aweful times

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    3. Hi Reece - no date as of yet although we are already having conversations with colleges.

      Thank you - yes, touch wood all well. Very strange working from home but making us even more keen to return to work when we can.

      Regards to all and thank you for your support.

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