As a result, bus travel is still reserved for essential travel only. See the tips and bus company links in our previous post.
First have announced an enhancement to their app which will enable passengers to see how full approaching buses are before they arrive. Sounds great if they can get it working right.
Xelabus start resuming their services from Monday 8th June. From that date, the X4 will run a Saturday service six days a week. Two weeks later, on 22nd June, the X6/X7 resume with a special timetable and the X9/X10 start again with a Saturday service six days a week. All other routes resume on 6th July, with the X11 having a Saturday service six days a week.
First Wessex have further changes to routes 1, 10, X51 and X53 in and around Weymouth and Dorchester from Sunday 7th June.
All quite funny really. The simple answer is just don't use the bus. The massage given out by Government and bus companies is don't use the bus. Just let them run round near empty until Government money runs out and then most will collapse. If you have a car get out and about in it and forget you ever used a bus. A bus today is a very unpleasent form of travel and should 100% avoided now and in the future.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the government's advice.
Deletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#public-transport
" 5.3 Can I use public transport to get to green spaces?
You should avoid using public transport wherever possible. Consider all other forms of transport before using public transport. If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers."
In other words don't use a bus. In most cases there a plenty of other ways to get about and people will be using them. It's quite clear you are not welcome on a bus so avoid them.
DeleteNot what it says at all. I've been using buses throughout the past few months and they have been plenty welcoming.
DeleteI won`t use any public transport unless I absolutely have to once face coverings are made compulsory on June 15 as I find it most uncomfortable.
DeleteFrom June 15 it's mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport in England.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it will be-So no more public transport journeys for me-My car is the future I'm happy to say.
DeleteMore walking for me in future.
DeleteOur human rights are being removed again for what appears to be little gain.
DeleteI'm gonna be a rebel and continue using the bus regardless of whether the journey is essential or not.
DeleteFeel sorry for the bus drivers who are going to have enforce this stupid-and some would say pointless measure considering scientists still don`t believe they offer any real benefit-especially if worn incorrectly-as I guess drivers will get lots of stick from passengers as a result.
DeleteI wonder if "masking up" will apply to school buses & also to any future vintage bus running days?
ReplyDeleteHopefully the virus will be a low risk and the wearing of Face Masks will no longer be required.
DeleteGuernsey hasn`t got any cases of covid now and bus passengers are still advised to wear face coverings.
DeleteWearing a face covering isn't as bad as you think. Besides, you can just make one out of a scarf like i do.
DeleteAnon @10:25 Wait until we get high temps of 30c and then face coverings will become very uncomfortable.
DeleteOn vintage bus running days, a suitably vintage mask will be required. On vehicles built before 1945, a gas mask should be appropriate for passengers to wear.
DeleteLooking at the Bluestar colleague updates the boss says that it looks like drivers are included in the face coverings rule-this means those wearing glasses and a mask will have glasses steaming up and be a potential hazard and another reason to avoid bus travel.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSoap Water should help with glasses not getting steamed up while wearing Face Masks
DeletePerhaps they should fit wash basins in bus drivers cabs
DeleteReece-How will that help while a driver is driving a bus at the time?Think the transport secretary was just giving into bullying from the useless London mayor by bringing this in as it is not thought through properly as he said those with breathing problems are exempt-how do people prove that that is the case as they are being denied travel on a bus say?
DeleteMight allow more bums on seats
ReplyDeleteWe don't want more bums on seats. We don't even want people to use buses for the moment. Avoid public transport even if you are a so called key worker. Walk,cycle or use a car if you have one.
DeleteThe blog article seems to suggest that First might not be able to get the capacity information working correctly on the app ? Or have I read the blog incorrectly ?
ReplyDeleteSouthbourne buses restarting on 15th June. New mobile app for payments too. There has been a couple of refurbished buses about in the past month as well one is FJ55BXL the other unknown?
ReplyDeleteAs they are no longer doing private hire and only appear to have one schools service....
DeleteThink they mainly do rail replacement now over quite a large area. School run is a public bus route afternoon run done by Southbourne term time and More in school holidays
DeleteYellows Open toppers on the road very soon
ReplyDeleteOnly for route 12 though? Still don't see how this can be allowed when the government trying to discourage bus travel. New Forest Tour and Purbeck Breezer open top services are cancelled until Summer 2021 at the earliest
DeleteYes No one should be using buses as they are not safe. keep way.
DeleteBus drivers are begging people not to use buses as well
DeleteWell some would as they are not very customer focussed and are overjoyed running round all day near empty.
DeleteAnon@10:46,buses won`t be safe if drivers wearing glasses are forced to wear masks and their glasses steam up and even more risky is coach drivers thundering along the motorway at the time-think I`ll give National Express a miss when they start up until the face coverings are no longer compulsory.
DeleteAnon 5 June... There has been absolutely no announcement about the New forest tour. Please stop confusing your own opinion (which might turn out correct), with hard facts!
DeleteThe New Forest National Park have had a recent marketing campaign to ask people to avoid visiting running the tour would go against all the measures in place to stop visitors. Many of the larger car parks are still closed.
DeleteAt the moment! In six weeks time, everything will be very different. Again, please do not put two and two together to announce what may or may not happen. There has been no official announcement.
DeleteLet's hope so Ian, we can't keep having buses that are 3 quarters empty mate.
DeleteYellows changes now online
ReplyDeleteSlightly disingenuous of them to say "no changes to the current arrangements" for the 21 Bransgore bus when they'll be no longer running on a Saturday.
Delete1b doubles in frequency (despite one poster on here suspecting this historic route would be axed). It hasn't regained it's extension from Christchurch to Somerford Estate though, which combined with the 21 change means the estate no longer has a service on a Saturday. The 1 will still only be hourly to Poole, a frequency I would argue is too low to really give it's revised route around Poole Town a chance. 1a's New Milton buses will now run all the way through to Bournemouth again, removing the slightly odd behaviour from the current timetable where the route was split resulting in two 1a's running in parallel on the stretch between Somerford Sainsburys and Christchurch in both directions.
The 12/BBB is still run with just one bus, but with every other service extended to Boscombe Pier, at the expense of the clockface hourly frequency between Alum Chine and Bournemouth (becoming "roughly hourly"). I doubt those along it's regular route will see that as an improvement (although at least they regain a Sunday service)
The 8 still isn't running at all. Gone for good? Funny to remember that the old 26-30 routes used to provide about five buses an hour between Boscombe and Winton, travelling on to Kinson or Poole. Now Yellows seem to have given it up completely against competition from the U3.
Good to see 6h and 31 maintained, and extensions to the 2, now reaching Kinson again. With the 6 extended to back to Wimborne Yellows now have twice as many buses going to Wimborne compared with those going to Poole - I don't think anyone would have predicted that a few years ago.
Anyone tried new Firstbus app? Just looked on it & it shows the 8 to city coming thru Townhill as being full.
ReplyDeleteChecked a 3 going thru Shirley as only 1 seat free.
Not all buses can be viewed though which is a bit of a pain
DeleteSo SALISBURY REDS introduce 3 new double deckers on their activ8 but in a turquiose livery. How barmy is that.
ReplyDeleteNo one should use buses from June 15 and use any other method possible to send a clear signal to the government that we will not put up with being made to wear a face covering on a hot sticky summer`s day and breaching our human rights for very little -if any real gain.
ReplyDeleteQuite agree. However those who make the stupid rules never use a bus. Little gain in wearing one I suspect.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I suspect there was a more stupid reason for the announcement. I also suspect there was a stupid reason for the new instruction that ALL NHS staff must now wear a face covering from the same date.
DeleteThe reason will be that they had nothing to announce, and each and every time they trump out a different Minister, that person has to make themselves look both busy and important.
[Note: I am trying really hard to not make this a political grumble]
From the point Boris started letting others run the briefing, they have been trying to make it into a party political broadcast, proving that they are worthy of their job.
Now; back to the buses.
I do not agree with Unknown about refusing to use buses as a protest against face coverings. We need some level of normality to return, so if you need to use a bus to get to work then do so.
Normality will return when We don't have to wear face masks,don't have to keep washing our hands and sit where we want to on any bus. Until then avoid bus travel as it's obviously according to the Governments hundreds of experts all with different views that come onto our TV screens unsafe to use.
DeleteInteresting to see on the RMT`s Facebook page that Mick Cash has written to the transport secretary about the new rule on face coverings on public transport-which begins on June 15.In the letter Mick asks who is going to police it as it`s members should not be used as police and he doesn't want his members put in confrontational positions with passengers-he also wants to know who is going to police this for those boarding at unmanned train stations and onboard driver only trains and how it`s members will be able to tell who is genuinely exempt-as anyone could just say they have breathing difficulties?-as the RMT were pushing for this move you would have thought they would have thought about all these points first.I think the whole thing is poorly thought and seems to be more a headline grabber.
ReplyDeleteA typical RMT reply. Many members of RMT are in the bus industry but as usual they rarely get a mention. Bus drivers are also being put in confrontational positions also. I have breathing problems that any form of cover over my mouth or nose is going to cause Me a serious problem. Some may have cards to show the driver this but I don't,the only thing I have is an inhaler. Will drivers accept this if shown as not having to wear a mask?
ReplyDeleteI would expect an inhaler would be good enough to show the bus driver though it may be difficult if you need to catch a train from Southampton Central say and the guard shouts that you can`t board without a covering,in this situation would you have to start waving your inhaler at them-it`s all very well saying people with breathing difficulties are exempt,but you would have thought they would have made it clearer on how to prove it and what about if you get stick from other passengers if they have all got to cover up and see someone else who is not?
DeleteExactly. No clear information for those who might have breathing problems. On television the worse programme is the 1700 Conivirus update. I have now seen so many different people on it all with different advice it gets to a point who do you listen too. There is no clear message to anyone on certain issues. It's no wonder people do their own thing. Next Monday should be very interesting on buses and trains with staff being put in the firing line due to all these experts views none of which are clear and concise in how to implement it.
DeleteThe simple answer is that it is not going to get policed at all. Had a driver tell me today that they virtually passed out at the wheel, due to lack of oxygen while wearing a mask. This whole situation is ridiculous. None of the drivers are policing who sits where on the bus, so can't wait for the chaos on Monday. No bus driver should be put in this position.
DeleteThe RMT should have thought about this before campaigning for all passengers to wear a covering-bit rich to then moan that it could also mean it`s members receiving a fine for also not complying-didn`t these idiots see this coming?
DeleteI presume the RMT boss must have had the backing of a majority of His members. therefor I presume most are happy to monitor it. Imagine wearing a face mask/covering for an 8 hour shift. Glad it's not Me
DeleteNo vote will have been taken about it. You can wear the thinnest of cloths and not have it against your face at all. This has no effect, but complies with this stupid law.
DeleteIf you wear glasses you got to make sure you totally wear the mask mask correct the same way.
DeleteIf you wear glasses, you wear it any way you can get away with. This law makes no sense three months into a pandemic. It's like asking a man to wear a sheath at the baby shower!
DeleteIan have you started to wear Face Masks yet?
DeleteI know someone who has anxiety attacks when surrounded by people wearing face masks/coverings and won`t be able to go anywhere until this is over.
DeleteIn postive news New Zealand is now free of Coronavirus
ReplyDeleteGoing 2 work this am, in city centre I saw a 17 saying "sorry bus full".
ReplyDelete1st time I've seen that.
That has happened lots of times. By Monday, it will be rare to see one without it! Passengers will be waiting for hours at some stops on low frequency routes. Great excuse any you were late for work though!
DeleteYes. bus companies just can't keep duplicating services as not enough staff or buses. Must be costing a fortune. When people keep getting left behind they will find other means to get to work etc,and bus companies more than likely will loose there custom completely.
DeleteHigh Frequency routes will surely go the same way as well
DeleteHow long are the government going to continue subsidising the bus and trains companies to run "empty" buses and trains around? When they get bored of paying for it what will happen then? Will they just close down completely? Interesting times ahead.
ReplyDeleteHuge hikes in fares should help to kill bus travel for those who are left at present. A gloomy outlook ahead for bus operators and the few customers left.
DeleteThere will be plenty of customers but not enough seats. I predict most things will return to near normal within a few short weeks. The virus has nearly run out of potency, the same as every virus in history, or we would not be here to talk about it!
DeleteThe sooner the virus does one the sooner I can send my Face Mask packing
DeleteSo if all the buses are practising social distancing and leaving a 2m gap between other passengers,windows are open and driver is behind a screen then I don`t know why they have made face coverings compulsory-unless it was just to shut the London mayor up .
DeleteStrange is it not. For 12 weeks we have not had to wear a mask on public transport. Now things are slowly improving someone decides we have too.Myself when out I at times come closer to people in a Supermarket than I ever do in a bus,but don't have to wear one. What sort of messages are those in charge sending out to us?
DeleteAnonymous 9 June 2020 at 23:51: As powerful as the London Mayor is, I doubt he had the power to change the WHO guidance.
Delete“In light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments.”
I travelled on three forms of public transport yesterday - train, bus and hovercraft. While the train and bus were largely empty and there were no issues social distancing, one of the hovercraft journeys was busy and although everyone spaced out as much as possible every set of two seats was in use. I estimated between 20-25% were wearing face masks, and although there was no issues/coughing etc. I certainly would have been more reassured if more were wearing face coverings (in defence of Hoverlink they do publicise their busier times and next week I understand are moving from a first come system to a reservation one).
I think we have to accept as society relaxes further that 2m is fast becoming a target not a compulsion. Certainly going round some supermarkets recently there's plenty of people who have stopped trying entirely. As we cannot be sure what (public transport) related situations we may be forced to be in closer contact, then it makes every sense to carry and wear a facemask to try to protect those around you.
Let's face it, if you're sat on the top deck of a double decker by yourself then no-one is going to call the police if you lower the mask from your face. But once a bus is busy and people are passing by those sitting down nearer the front regularly then the responsible thing is to wear a mask.
Mark the bus:As you say in your response the WHO give advice to governments-which they can go with or ignore-and their advice was to encourage use of face coverings on public transport-not force everyone travelling to wear one.
DeleteI think that's more a case of diplomatic language rather than anything else. It's not really the WHO's place to tell governments HOW to encourage use of face coverings, whether it be by law or not.
DeletePlenty of key workers have been wearing face masks eight hours a day for weeks now. Providing it's a good fit it's far less of an issue (for most people) then many on here seem to find it.
For those of you Drivers who have whinged about wearing masks in the cab this is not required
ReplyDeleteif the bus is fitted with a screen and it is in the closed position a mask is not required
The only time drivers are required to wear masks is when they are travelling passenger on a vehicle in service or assisting disabled passengers board buses and changing drivers
For those who have whinged about wearing masks when travelling as a passenger on a bus grow up
I'm sure if you decide to boycott buses the majority of passengers who will be additionally protected won't give a fig
Those who due to medical grounds are unable to wear masks will also benefit from the majority wearing them
I would suggest assistance cards already issued by companies such as Stagecoach would be of benefit from a card stating their exemption from the face mask rule
Face masks on Public Transport is Mandatory from 15th June in England
Those who don't want to comply stay away you won't be missed
Well there you are everyone. Wilco has told you all. He reminds me of someone called Trump in the so called USA
DeleteThink Wilko just wants the bus to themselves by the sound of it.
DeleteYes. plenty about like that,and bugger everyone else.
DeleteThe requirement is about getting the economy going rather than your health-they want to reassure workers that it`s safe to travel to work-if it was about your health then face coverings would be mandatory in shops but they need to encourage people to shop in the high St so that won`t come at the moment.
DeleteHe has given some useful information, but has a very unfortunate lack of tact. Let him have his point of view and we are then all entitled to have ours.
DeleteThis site survives with people that have a lack of tact in most recent posts. In fact It's all getting rather boring to most of us.
DeleteFirst let you print your own "no face covering" card
ReplyDeletehttps://www.firstgroup.com/help-and-support/coronavirus-information/face-coverings
Bluestar suggest getting a Helping Hand card
You`ll just get all the bus passengers printing one off and showing the driver and it will make a mockery of the new conditions of travel.
DeleteIt is going to be a mess anyway. Bluestar has told their drivers to inform people who are not wearing one, that they should be doing so, and then just let them on anyway! Cue the first person taking court action against the operator, because they took the virus home and it killed someone.
DeleteWell for the past 12 weeks youhave not had to wear a face covering so you could have caught covid on a bus. Just because now everone should wear a mask doesn't stop you from picking it up on a bus. All it does is slightly lessen the chance you will,or so the so called experts think. One things for sure is that buses just can't keep running round with restricted numbers on board for an extensive period of time without continual financial help from the Government.
DeleteThis time last year there were adverts everywhere telling people to carry a bottle of water whilst using public transport to keep hydrated-this year instead they aren`t and you must wear a face covering even though it will be uncomfortable and hot during the summer.
ReplyDeleteExpect buses to be much busier today as non-essential retailers start opening their doors. Since Boris is encouraging people to spend their money with confidence, it makes sense to apply the same mindset to bus travel as well.
ReplyDeleteI think not-just seen a Bluestar 4 coming from town to Shirley with one person aboard and an 18 with three people-think they are all put off travelling by having to wear a hot and stuffy face covering.If I wanted to travel from Shirley to town then I`d rather walk than bus it now.
DeleteYes-A lot of reaction on facebook pages about the wearing of face coverings. I expect passenger figure will fall yet more. Most buses I have seen today have had very poor loadings.
ReplyDeleteI caught bus to work this am. 2 women already on there gassing away to each other. The 1 on the left had mask only covering her mouth, the 1 on the right had her mask barely cover her chin.
ReplyDeleteWell at least they both had a mask
DeleteI wear my mask out and about
DeleteWell you would
DeleteBeen on several buses today and much busier than previously. Have to feel for the poor drivers though, as they have got the job of trying to enforce the new laws on masks to the public, many of whom do not seem to have a TV, radio or computer! Loads claiming to know nothing about the need to wear face coverings and then loads more putting one on to get past the driver and then taking it straight off again. Also witnessed several idiots take their mask off just as they went to get off and sticking their heads round the plastic screen to thank the driver. And we wonder why some drivers get grumpy! I do struggle with how very dim the public are sometimes.
DeleteThat's the British public for you. You can't beat them for stupidity. Bus companies spending money in publicity to help protect people,all the tv and radio for sometime now informing people that use public transport about wearing a face covering and on the day it comes in force some know noting about it. For all the money spent on education,might as well keep all the Schools closed for good,because it's obviously a waste of money.
DeleteNot surprised that people know nothing about face masks on public transport. People these days have a greater choice of what to watch on TV so many choose not to watch the News either because they are not interested or fed up with relentless news about Covid or fed up with constant news about Trump - and all media is so peppered with a multitude of adverts that people have become adept at ignoring any distractions. Social media breeds some people who are unaware of any world beyond their "friends" who tend to share the same opinions and lack of information
DeleteWell looking at Bluestar facebook page yesterday, most complaining about face coverings and not knowing were regular users.
DeleteAnon @10:10-i agree as work with youngsters who are only interested in sport and playing computer games and watching You Tube videos and consider the news to be boring.
DeleteSo everybody who had their day out to the day trip to Primark
ReplyDeleteUnless face coverings actually fit snug & a made of a material impervious to the virus they are really not worth wearing. It is an airbourne virus that will settle on surfaces. If someone wearing a mask coughs & the covering is not super tight the "cough draught" will just go to the sides & not in front. Might stop a few snot-heads from picking their nose which is always a good thing though!
ReplyDeleteJust avoid bus travel UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTLY ESSENTIAL-how many times have the government got to tell people-use your feet if you can.
ReplyDeleteExcept people are going to ingnore that when there are operators using open top buses
DeleteFirst will stop accepting Bluestar tickets from Mon.
ReplyDeleteI would bet that Bluestar will retaliate, but their thinking so far seems to have been that they are keen to show First customers how much nicer the blue buses and drivers are, using it as a new business opportunity!
DeleteUmm bluestar decided to end the agreement
DeleteTo be correct the decission to end acceptance of each others tickets was made because frequencies are now in most cases back to normal. Why people such as anon 16 June 2355 post such nonsense beats Me, and then our old friend Reece 17 June 0847 comes back with an equally ridiculous posting.
DeleteBut what Reece said was true if you read the article?
ReplyDeleteWhat article?
ReplyDeleteOn the First Southampton website and Facebook Page
DeleteOnly a temporary arrangement which is not neccessary anymore with both companies frequencies on common sections of route near back to normal. That's why more than likely Bluestar informed First it was not now neccessary to keep the arrangement.
DeletePretty poor show of bluestar to cancel the arrangement though - hardly helping the good citizens of Southampton get about especially when the maximum buses can carry is about 10 or 11 at the moment. A shame really.
DeleteNot at all a poor show. Timetables are more or less back to normal on once busy routes.
DeleteSo you are saying it’s not poor show to make life more difficult for bus users ? How strange ?
DeleteFrequencies have gone back to pre covid levels. it is therefor no more point in the arrangement of accepting each others tickets. Bluestar on their website have explained the reason why the acceptance of each others tickets will be withdrawn from next Monday 22nd June 2020.
DeleteDoesn’t really answer the question on why bluestar are making more difficult for bus users?
DeleteNo it is you that are making things difficult by not understanding why Bluestar has decided to go back to normal practices. Perhaps you could give an example of how it affects you
DeleteIt’s very simple to work out really. With the reduced maximum number of people allowed on each bus they are full much quicker. Being able to use your ticket on either operator means you can get home from work much quicker.
DeleteExactly another reason for stopping the arrangement. With limited capacity why should Bluestar carry First passengers at the expense of their own. You will also note that from 21st June 2020 NHS workers will no longer be carried free of charge on First buses. Things are getting back to normal slowly. As stated no longer any need to accept each others tickets.So if you have a First ticket you will have to wait for a First bus and if you have a Bluestar ticket you will have to wait for a Bluestar bus. All very simple to understand really for the majority of us.
DeleteOr if you have a bus pass you can use any operator you like fellas
DeleteWe would not have known this Reece. Thanks for letting us all know.
DeleteIt's what I do my friend
DeleteI cannot wait until the day the government reduces the 2 metre rule to 1 metre and drops the message for people to avoid public transport.
ReplyDeleteIf not, this blog will turn into Southampton Facemask Rant Update, and it's already kind of happened.
Not until daily cases fall below 1,000 and there is no more deaths a few months off yet I should imagine
DeleteBoth the Government and Bus companies are killing bus travel off in only telling people to use public transport as a last result. Plenty of future bus cuts ahead as less and less use them. Of course the Goverment over the next few weeks will state the wearing of face coverings has been a great success and popular with most travellers,which in travelling in the past few days certainly has not. Most detest wearing them as can be heard in their conversations on the bus.
ReplyDeleteWith all the comments on Bluestar facebook page about wearing of face coverings on buses and how his drivers are handling it,perhaps Andrew Wickham should issue a public statement in what He expects from His staff in handling customers.
ReplyDeleteAnon 17 June @ 12:28 - So how will you feel when thousands more poor people, elderly and vulnerable are struggling to live because they can't access the supermarket due to their local bus service being withdrawn? What about people who physically cannot drive. How are the government going to support them if they are killing off bus travel?
ReplyDeleteBy telling them to move like a councillor on the Isle of Wight when services were withdrawn from Calbourne or to take driving lessons as Reece suggested to me on this blog even though that would be illegal
DeleteI should address your comments to the Government. It is they who keep ramming into us about avoiding public transport. Bus cuts will come as you just can't keep running buses in the present manor with hardly anyone on them. Thousans have already over the past weeks desserted bus travel even if only on shopping trips. Perhaps you have an answer to it,but it's clear the Government don't at present.
ReplyDeletePlease stop this doom and gloom people! At this moment in time, bus operators are being fully supported by government. They may be making nothing, but they are not losing. There are a surprising amount of people that are using the bus, absolutely normally. Things will return a lot closer to normality as the year progresses and government support will then be reduced. Yes, there will be reduced numbers on buses, even then, because some will have found a new way of working, and to compensate for this our operators will need to cut some of the fat from their businesses. Bluestar have already started doing this by cutting the 19 route, and you can expect them and others to do more, particularly where there is duplication of services. Expect the extra layers of management to be cut back hard and a rethink within groups of how centralised management can avoid duplication of tasks. Yes, some very poorly used trips may go, some of which should never have been introduced! Buses will adjust to the reduced levels required, with far fewer redundancies and cuts than people are predicting.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. A rosey future ahead.
DeleteCity Red 2,3 and 11 Saturday Service to be increased to every 15 Minutes
ReplyDeleteWalking from Shirley to the city today-rather than catching a bus-not only did I save money and got some welcome exercise but also saw loads of buses on the way most with just one person on board and we the tax payers are paying for this.
ReplyDeleteYes. Lovely news. We don't want people using buses. Quite right the tax payer should be paying for this. As a Country governments have always been good at throwing taxpayers money down the drain. long may it continue.
ReplyDeleteNot so good at Go Ahead - all H&D Engineering staff been issued with letters saying their jobs are now at risk. Is this the start of major cuts which will include management and bus services?
ReplyDeleteYou never know,it could be the start of the end of the bus industry. Better off in having shares in places that make bikes or footware for walking as these are what the Government would prefer you to have shares in.
DeleteWe need to save the buses let's all do our bit and board those buses and let covid 19 know it won't win
DeleteDon`t think you realise how dangerous buses are at the moment Reece-why do you think face coverings are compulsory as well as keeping a 2m distance onboard?
Deletestrange how face coerings are not compulsory in Scotland and Wales olthough adived to wear one. Buses are in no way dangerous to use and a myth spread by poloticians and scientists who can't even give the public clear direction on anything covid related. The only danger to using a bus is people like anon 18 june at 2249 who spread this nonsense to others.
DeleteIt looks as if Go South Coast are to close most of the coaching operations with many redundancies too. All coaching brands now redirect to excelsior who have also now started operating the Lyme Regis town service. Plymouth City coach issued redundancy notices to all staff earlier on the week and the rest of the South Coast coaching operations are imminent.
DeleteAnon@00:12-Face coverings will be mandatory on all public transport in Scotland from next Monday as was announced yesterday with Wales expected to follow.
DeleteWhat will happen to the 032 my mate drives that route and he is currently on furlough?
Delete032 will not exist when National Express returns 035 are to divert via Southampton and Heathrow on way to London. Most services will be run in house by National Express from there own depots at Bournemouth and Fareham
DeleteDoes this mean route 205 is being withdrawn?
Delete205 and 206 withdrawn
DeleteHow will people from Bournemouth and Poole get to Portsmouth, Chichester and Gatwick then?
DeleteTrain (change at Southampton)
DeleteReece, the 032 will running between Southampton and London from July 1st 2020 --- see the timetable at https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/032/London-Southampton/O/2020-07-01--2020-08-30
Delete@ Anonymous19 June 2020 at 07:06
DeleteThat isn't the case. The Excelsior website also includes Damory and Tourist, it is just that three sites have been merged into one. The Dorset rural bus services are still run by Damory, and that will include the 71 when it returns.
Does anyone now doubt on this site that bus cuts in the future are on the way with job losses into the bargain. Not a very bright future ahead it would seem.
ReplyDeleteI believe it will be nowhere near as severe for buses. Coaches, yes it's not going to be good!
DeleteExciting announcement from Xelabus coming soon
ReplyDeleteAdministration?
DeleteThey have paid all there creditors?
X21 to start running next month
DeleteAs X21 will be a contract service mainly for a specific set of persons it's hardly an exciting anouncement. Timetable for it on Traveline.
DeleteAnyone Is allowed to board and first 100 users recieve a voucher for ASDA
DeleteI expect Reece you will be on it then talking to the driver.
DeleteNo not at all you are not allowed to sit close to the driver these days.
DeleteAnon@23:30-we could always pair Reece up with Wayne from Shirley who always seems to be hassling bus drivers at the back of Primark-they could become best mates.
DeleteI know Wayne Fewell in person
DeleteBus drivers must be delighted with covid19 in the fact it keeps these bus spotters who continually talk to them away from them. It's luck that at present they dont use buses anymore
DeleteAnyone in the right frame of mind would not want Covid 19 to be present
DeleteYou are probally aware he now owns his own car
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know a bloke called Daniel Leyland he is known for waving to passing traffic such as Cars, Motorbikes etc used to walk around with a Manchester United bag?
ReplyDeleteXelabus service X6-X7-X9 and X10 back on the road as from Monday 22nd June 2020. Timetables shown on Traveline. they also have a new timetable book which can be obtained off the driver.
ReplyDeleteReece, please stop using people's full names on here. You could be compromising both their security and safety!
ReplyDeleteBluestar fav stops disappeared so I added some back on. Then I went to track a bus & noticed that it had a status saying the bus is quiet, almost empty.
ReplyDeleteCompared to 18 going thru Shirley it said it's busy & social distancing is difficult. So not quite like First app when it says 3 seats free etc but it's a start.
It does feel like bluestar are lagging behind in this area and also about social distancing on the buses too.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I caught 18 to city from Bitterne earlier today. Sat upstairs & only 3 "legal" seats left, & yet loads more came up later on & went back downstairs. So I can only guess all seats were taken? So why didn't driver say sorry full up?
DeleteReece you ask people not to mention peoples names on here. But you are doing the same yourself. Also on a different matter,leave bus drivers alone they have enough problems anyway with what's happening without people keep telling them what and what not they should do. If you don't like what you see then keep off the buses and use other means to get round.
ReplyDeleteI never tell them what to do at all
DeleteFor you information I have actually been walking everywhere I once walked all the way to Shirley and Aldermoor and I certainly enjoyed the pleasure of doing it
DeleteI walked from Bitterne to Shirley to avoid catching a bus via St.Deny`s,Portswood and the Common.
DeleteDid you enjoy your walk?
DeleteIt was a pleasant walk Reece and healthy and not just to my bank balance.
DeleteYes. keep off the buses and walk
DeleteA lot more of us will be doing this now and also a lot of cycling which is the way forward.
DeleteGone off buses now Reece. Good news for bus drivers as they won't have to put up with you pestering them all the time.
DeleteNot the case they are only for Key Workers
DeleteRubbish. They are for all to use who need them. Not in your case though as you only wan't to talk to drivers and no other purpose for travel.
DeleteThat is not the case I use buses to go where I want including going to Football and Cricket Matches bring on 2021 at the Ageas Bowl
DeleteYou don't use buses anymore because you are to frightened to use them because of covid19. You walk everywhere because you are to scared to use a bus in case you get covid because of what other idiots have told you. Grow a pair of balls and grow up because you are becoming boreing.
DeleteJust don`t use the buses midweek this week as there`s going to be a heatwave-bad enough on a bus-but with masks thrown in...
DeleteReece, have you ever thought about taking up weights at the gym and getting a six pack?
DeleteWhat has a gym got to do with this my friend?
DeleteI'm not frightened to use them mate I like my walking a lot more now.
You Reece are frightened to use them because you believe all the idiots who tell you they are not safe to use. Others are simular to you with the same belief,and like you paethetic.
DeleteNo that is not the case at all I don't use them because at the moment people need them seats more then I do.
DeleteInteresting to note bus travel this week has been down 20% on last week. With most retail outlets opening this week again this is not good news.
ReplyDeleteCould it be anything to do with face coverings by any chance?
DeleteMore than likely
DeleteAnd the max capacity of 10 on Single Deckers
DeleteAll these ardent bus spotters now seem to be like rats deserting a sinking ship. Still most bus drivers will hope they never see them again as they regard them as pests. Plus at present the added advantage of a few more seats on the bus for those who have a purpose in travel.
ReplyDeleteFirstbus tweeted about Above Bar & Civic Centre stops are closed due to bus stop infill works...
ReplyDeleteSaw that. It's going to make driving more interesting around above bar, not. While I understand the need to increase the space for people on the pavements, surely the number of buses that use Above Bar outweighs the need for this somewhat. Otherwise it's just going to be chaos.
DeleteAlso saw sign about June 29 for 12 wks, Northam Bridge roadworks! Oh wot fun, not!
ReplyDeleteTrust me, you don't want to know what changes they're doing to Northam Bridge.
DeleteWell it's no secret that this week from 22nd June until 25th June 2020 overnight work will start to create a bus lane each direction between Northam Union Road and Bitterne. The order comes into force from 27th June 2020. No knowledge about 12 weeks of roadworks on Northam Bridge to follow.
ReplyDeleteYes, but it's stupid. The traffic flows poorly in the evening rush hour as it is. With half the capacity for cars the queue will probably trail all through New Road and all the way to Central Station.
ReplyDeleteIt will likely take an hour from town to Bitterne by car.
Great if you are travelling by bus or bike, but like all road changes in Southampton the council is saying a big "F YOU" if you travel by car
29/06-18/9 from the southbound exit of Northam Bridge to approximately 70m south of Kent St... major cycle infrastructure improvement!
ReplyDeleteThat's the reason for the warning sign as I went across bridge towards city centre then. GROAN!
As for making the left lane as bus, bike, cab only on Northam Bridge...has the council thought about when drivers have to turn left into industrial estate for the sorting office etc? Unless they put merge arrows down on rd, there could be an accident? Perish the thought.
ReplyDeleteWhat about when vehicles turn left onto Bullar Road?
DeleteThey still can. Normal each way over the rail bridge as no way could this be reduced in road space. No bus lane between Rampart Road and Cobbett Road library
Delete