Monday 26 September 2022

Round up 26th Sep

 

Southampton Minilink 14 is withdrawn from 28th October, when the weekend-only 13A will go 7 days a week. Chartwell Green's loss is Harefield's gain. 


Minor changes from 16th October on First Solent routes 7, 8, X4, X5, F1 and F2. The F3 is withdrawn.

On 9th November there will be changes to routes 1 and 9/9A. More details as we get them.


First Wessex have some changes from 9th October on routes 3, 4, 8, X51 and X53. the biggest change is the loss of evening and Sunday services on the 4 and 8.


Southern Vectis have released details of minor changes to most of their routes from 2nd October.




56 comments:

  1. 13A Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays since Feb 22

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    1. Thanks for the correction, now incorporated into the main post.

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  2. Southampton Minilink C now confirmed as withdrawn from the 25th November 2022

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    1. Here today ! Gone tomorrow !

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  3. Was on the Echo site on Thursday about First axing the 9 route in Southampton and that it`s not final as the council may chuck money in to keep it going.

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    1. That doesn’t seem to be the case now according to their website

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  4. Mini link to cease trading this week

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    1. Important customer information

      Unfortunately due to unforseen circumstances Southampton Mini Link will close after service on 09/10/22.

      A limited service will be in operation for the rest of this week details will follow shortly.

      I personally have been suffering from some returning health issues over the past few months and my partner has been taken unwell over the weekend. I therefore am unable to dedicate the time to the business as I need to be at home to look after family. We are not a large operator and do not have access to large resources to allow me to do both so I'm very sorry I have to come to this decision.

      I thank all of our customers and staff personally for all of there hard work and hope another operator will come forward and step in to cover the routes we operate. The past year has been one of the highlights of my time in the bus industry and we have achieved so much with our popular services in Southampton.

      All of our creditors including employees will be satisfied in full with all payments expected to be made no later than 31/10/22. We will be in contact with everyone shortly with more details.

      Thank you

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    2. Yet another predictable business failure to add to his long list.

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    3. It was actually down to family illness is the reason Simon could not carry on

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    4. No it bloody wasn't

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    5. Please stay away from the public transport business forever.
      Gardbus, Southbourne Buses, Southampton Mini Link... all failed...

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    6. Didn't Southbourne Buses also close due to health issues? Or was that GardBus?

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    7. I wonder what operator will take over the C HCC are looking for a replacement

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    8. I don't think anyone wants it, not has the staff to do it.

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  5. First Southampton have announced the upcoming changes on its site along with new timetables.

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    1. Judging by the description on the website, it looks like the council won’t be saving the 9 after all.

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    2. On the bright side the 8 will extend to Aldermoor and the 13 will interwork with the 1.

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    3. Harefield will once again be stuffed after 7pm and on Sundays once again.

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    4. Sadly the 8`s extension won`t be serving any new roads and just copying the 3 and 17 on the west of the city.

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    5. I don't get why first did not consider routing the 8 though Hill Lane

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    6. I don't think the one will interwork with anything, until the roadworks at Redbridge finish just before Xmas. Stupid time to attempt it!

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  6. Looking at the 7 timetable it appears they still don`t know that the Hop Inn pub is in Bitterne Park and NOT Townhill.

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    1. If I'm correct they go by the name of the bus stops

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  7. So from the end of this month, Peartree Avenue will be without a bus service. I wonder if one of the following routes will eventually be diverted to serve it?
    - Bluestar 3 (this did previously serve Peartree for a time)
    - Bluestar 16
    - First 8
    - Xelabus X10
    Or alternatively a new route specifically to serve this road.

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  8. Southampton Minilink C will now run until the 28th October 2022

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  9. It’s no surprise the 9 isn’t making money at the Sholing end. By diverting it via Merry Oak and Woolston and reducing the frequency they’ve made it a poor alternative to Bluestar’s quicker (and more frequent) 7, for getting to the City Centre. Also how the 1 has survived is very suspicious, carry nothing other than air and pass holders most of the time. It doesn’t even serve the popular end of Central Station. I would be surprised if the money earned from it even covered the driver’s wages. Bluestar must be quaking.

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    1. Several times I have been on the 1 I have been the only passenger, I use the bus to avoid going through Millbrook Roundabout.

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    2. Bluestar have enough problems running their own buses, so hardly quaking!

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    3. First's 1 seems to run to a timetable where the passenger is an inconvenience. Half hourly and starting and finishing at times useless for anybody who works for a living. Or maybe they've timetabled it to very kindly hoover up all the pensioners to save Bluestar getting clogged up by them?

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    4. I went to Totton on Saturday and the First 1`s i saw were empty-how can they keep that running and yet do away with the 9?

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    5. I cannot understand how it is even legal to keep running the 1. The rules state that a service must be profitable but even the most creative accountant could not show it making money. This is surely a pipe dream from the previous management, which will have to be removed by First South West?

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  10. The new timetable for First 13 is appalling-don`t first boses consider that all those who live on the Harefield Estate might actually want to get out and about after 6.30pm and on Sundays.First are useless.

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    1. No doubt Reece will be along soon to defend them as usual.

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    2. Im not defending them at all I for one need to use the current last 13 back to bitterne but from November I can no longer do that

      Also I am not to pleased with the route the 8 will take to Aldermoor, it should be going along Hill Lane to the Hospital

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    3. There is no need for the 8 to go along Shirley High Street and Shirley Warren. This is simply a common section of a well frequent 3

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    4. Which is why it will pick up passengers along Shirley, instead of no one in Hill Lane!

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    5. The idea I had would be for the 8 to also Serve St James Road following the X11 to the hospital then go along Aldermoor Road to Lordshill this would be a service well used and go down well with hospital staff who would want a quicker bus to the city centre

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    6. They are a private company only interested in making money for shareholders on the most lucrative routes and the passengers seem to come way down the list,as well as logical thinking and providing a service for the community.

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    7. First should realise my post would make them money that route I suggested would work very well.

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    8. Reece-You should know by now that First make some very odd decisions-take the axing totally of the 12,which was every 15 mins and has now been replaced by the popular Bluestar 16-then you have them running empty buses to Calmore Estate-all whilst telling people that they are placing they`re resources where they are most in demand.

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    9. The 3 route certainly does not need to be increased to every 10 minutes as they have 3 double deckers to fit more passengers onto.

      Don't understand why first don't want the 13 serving Vincent's Walk as they pick up passengers at that stop.

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    10. Interesting to note that First 3 will be every 20 mins on Sundays-Don`t remember them mentioning that in their spiel.

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    11. Is that to allow drivers to have a 10 minute break at Lordshill and Thornhill

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    12. Er,probably more to do with the 8 going over the same route as the 3 in the shirley area and thus they will have the same number of buses as now on a Sunday.

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  11. From October 16th 2022 cutbacks on the X4 and X5

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  12. New management taking over Southampton Minilink from the 31st October 2022.

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    1. CPC holding Transport Manager, or "Manager"?

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    2. Won't be Andy Shaw he's very happy doing what he does at Bluestar

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    3. Not for much longer, so I hear! Watch this space...

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    4. Why would a manager with a major bus operator in the region go an manage a three vehicle operation instead?

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    5. Did let stop phil Stockly leaving SBL to start up Velvet

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    6. Phil left to start HIS OWN company, not run a company for someone else.

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    7. Simon Gard has announced he is retiring from bus driving tommorow due to his ongoing ill health

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    8. I clearly stated phil left sbl to start up the running of velvet

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