Fares are going up on More from Sunday 20th February. Details here.
Minilink will not now be going to Marwell. First have officially registered to run the M1 service this year starting on 9th April. More on that as we get it.
Minilink are instead now planning to run a service from 4th April between Southampton City Centre and Chartwell Green, via Woolston, Merry Oak and Bitterne. Looking at the planned timetable, it doesn't seem much use to anyone other than morning shoppers with the first bus getting to the City Centre at 0946 and the last one leaving town at 1255. It's not yet registered, and frankly I'd be surprised if it does actually run. Again, watch this space.
It is defantly happening the 14 Route all Route info and Timetables are on display at bus stops
ReplyDeleteOh ye of unabated faith.
DeleteWhat are you going on about I actually saw Simon Gard doing the publicity.
DeletePH1146678/10 14
ReplyDeleteThank you, I stand corrected. Minilink 14 is indeed officially registered: https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/590768/
DeleteLike everything he has ever done, I suspect it won't last. Should stick to running shiny old buses on rail replacement in my humble opinion.
DeleteTbh he has done very well with the 13A long may it continue
DeleteReech, has he though? We all know Simon's history on this sort of thing. It won't last. He is running a timetable that would only suit oap's. And once First extend their Southampton boundary to include Chartwell Green, and thus have the same cheap fares as the rest of the city, there will be no need for his bus.
DeleteFirst wont care about a 14 route that only runs for a few hours as the 8 is only a few hours a day
DeleteAnd the 8 runs all day near enough
DeleteNo Reece, but a bus company with styling and logo so very close to another; Simon Gard is skirting very close to a misrepresentation claim.
DeleteI don't wish to get involved in that kind of stuff tbh. I know Simon quite well and I don't wish to discuss him on here
DeleteReece, it's a bit late for that. We all know Simon quite well. We all remember his previous attempts to run a bus service (or not as the case maybe!!)
DeleteHe's doing very well with the 13A I was told 80 passengers boardarded on the Saturday gone past on the 13A service by one of the regular drivers
DeleteLet's do some fag packet maths. In each case I will use an optimistic scenario.
DeleteLets assume every passengers bought an adult return. 80*£3 is £240
Driver (driving time and published rate of pay) 8*£11 an hour is £88
Fuel (10mpg - approx 10 mile round trip) 8 trips = 8 gallons = about £50
So that's £100 "profit" before cost of contactless transactions, share of servicing, clesrning and tax costs. That's also before we consider employer 13.8% National Insurance contributions (which technically SML is, I hope things are done by the book), any Yard fees, etc, etc.
My accountant would be rubbing his hands with glee at all that profit.
I am sure Simon Gard is doing very well with the buisness
DeleteReece, sure looks like the Anon commenter with a fag packet is actually on your side.
Delete@Reece. The Saturday just gone, there was a football match. Everyone does good on Football day.
DeleteIt would be lovely to assume that all 80 passengers brought tickets, but in reality, we all know that at last half had a free pass.
I'm sure Simon is doing well. But running passenger services as a small private operator isn't where the money is. He would be better off sticking to trying to win more contracts and rail replacement.
He does a lot of rail replacement work in all fairness tbh even does some driving himself
DeleteBluestar are increasing the frequencies of the 1,2 and 16 from the end of Feb.
ReplyDelete13A 7 days in April
ReplyDeleteWhere did you hear thix as it is actually the new route 14 that starts running Monday to Friday in April?
DeleteWell done Reece,First double decks now confirmed. Very ugly buses though and new livery looks like a throwback to the 1980s!
ReplyDeleteNo worries Ian looks like they will mainly be on the 3 route
DeleteNothing like a bit of 80s nostalgia Ian; just need to throw them on that nice smart motorway for a bit, slap 727 on the front and have call it Southampton City Bus!
DeleteYou are so right, that is just what they look like. There is a lot of it about, perhaps we also take a Xelabus and pop X27 Bournemouth on the front, to take us back another 10 years?
DeleteDid Xelabus do an X27? I don't remember that one.
DeleteStagecoach and Southampton City Bus - I remember them doing a joint limited stop X27; Bournemouth - Southampton - Portsmouth - towns to Brighton.
That was after the 727/747 finished, but before TGM tried the Southampton to Portsmouth section again, using coaches based out of Fratton.
Tellings used Single decks to
DeleteYes, it was Volvo/Plaxtons, then ALX300s, then bought by Arriva and closed down if memory serves.
DeleteI think though there are very few untapped markets for any kind of replacement now though. NatEx and the Railway have it fairly well sown up in terms of existing custom.
Don't forget first X4 as well
DeleteWell yes, that exists Reece. It's a very different target market though, with its meander through both Portchester, Locks Heath and Woolston.
DeleteThis was more of a reminisce than current services as well.
My X27 reference was to the former Hants and Dorset service which operated in tandem with the X17 to Bournemouth eleven times each day, back in the 1970s. It took one hour twenty five minutes to get there and hurtled through the forest using dual purpose Bristol RE vehicles. I even remember the fleet number of 1643, UEL 563 J. That one really shifted! It's twin 1644 is preserved.
DeleteBlue Star had an omission on the 4 at 8.30 to Romsey (24 Feb) - it was not timetabled. Phoned customer services about 0840 and they said thats right it does not run despite it being on vehicle tracker, then said it might be a late running service (no that was shown
ReplyDeleteat Baddesley). Left conversation that they did not know the answer but would look into it. Success it reappeared within 24 hours