Improvements to Velvet route C

Starting Sunday November 1st, Velvet route C expands to provide better connections between Valley Park and Eastleigh on C3. C2 is rerouted to provide a more direct service to Hiltingbury. The overall frequency to Velmore and Hiltingbury is increased to 3 buses an hour weekday daytimes. Full details here.

Stagecoach C1 ends on Sunday 25th October to be replaced by Sunday services on Velvet C1 from 1st November.

Velvet also take over Sunday services on the E2 (Eastleigh-Winchester) from Stagecoach on 1st November, with some timetable changes, yet to be announced. The Monday-Saturday Bluestar E service is unaffected.

High Street in Southampton City Centre will be closed in both directions on Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st October 2009. Bluestar Citylink and Uni-link U1 and U6 will run via Orchard Place, Queensway and Bernard Street instead of via Town Quay and High Street in both directions. Please use the stops on Queensway instead. Stops at High Street and Briton Street will not be served during this time

Swaythling: Stoneham Lane closed from Monday

Stoneham Lane in Swaythling will be closed for drainage works from Monday 12 October for 4 weeks. This means that Bluestar 2 will run via the M27 junction and Stoneham Way. It will not be able to serve any stops on Stoneham Lane between the Concorde Club and Swaythling McDonalds.

Stagecoach are rumoured to be no longer running the C1 (Eastleigh-Hiltingbury) and E2 (Eastleigh-Winchester) Sunday services after 25th October. It's not yet clear what, if any, replacements will be provided.

Bluestar have mentioned an additional journey on Bluestar 2 between Eastleigh and Fair Oak. This will probably start on 2nd November, but is still to be confirmed.

Diversion in Boorley Green / Hythe back to normal

Velvet A is diverted in Boorley Green from tomorrow. Oatlands Road will be shut for two days, from Tuesday 6th October. Velvet A will not be able to serve the Maddoxford Lane stop all day Tuesday and Wednesday.

The road closures in Hythe are now finished, meaning that Bluestar 8, 9, H1, H2 and H3 are all back to their normal routes.

Diversions in Hythe & Bishopstoke / New timetables & ticket restrictions on Unilink

The long awaited Bishopstoke diversion to Bluestar 2 and F gets underway tomorrow. During this time, Bluestar 2 will not be able to serve Spring Lane, Hamilton Road or Sedgewick Road. Instead, it will run via Church Road and Stoke Park Road. The bus stops on Spring Lane and Sedgewick Road will be closed.

Also starting tomorrow are some road closures in Hythe that mean diversions on Bluestar 8, 9, H1, H2 and H3. Bluestar 8 & 9 will not be able to serve the Ferry Yard, New Road or South Street. Buses will pick up and drop off instead at Jones Lane/Brinton Lane, running out of Hythe via West Street. Baby Bluestar H1, H2 & H3 will use the Ferry Yard as normal but will run in and out of Hythe via South Street.

Unilink are no longer accepting Bluestar's day and week tickets. 30-day and 90-day Bluestar Freedom tickets can however still be used on Unilink.

There are also new timetables on Unilink taking effect today. More buses on U1 now run into Eastleigh. U6 now runs later in the evenings.

Brijan timetable changes from 5th October

There are changes to the following Brijan Tours services from 5th October:

7 Southampton - Bishops Waltham
The 0718 from Bishops Waltham to Southampton is withdrawn.
The 0720 from Southampton to Bishops Waltham will now leave at 0715.
The 1740 (weekdays only) from Southampton to Bishops Waltham is withdrawn.

17 Bishops Waltham - Petersfield
The 1757 from Bishops Waltham to Corhampton will no longer run.
The 0728 from Corhampton to Bishops Waltham is also withdrawn.

Unilink U1 and U6 divert in Swaythling Thursday-Saturday

Wessex Lane in Swaythling will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week, causing diversions on Unilink U1 and U6. U1 will run from Wide Lane through Swaythling Arch, along High Road and Burgess Road to join the usual route at the junction with Langhorn Road. U6 won't be running around the Wessex Lane loop but will stop at Swaythling McDonalds (towards the General Hospital) or opposite (towards town).

Minor change to early mornings on Velvet C1

From Monday 7th September, the 0715 Velvet C1 service from Eastleigh Bus Station to Barton Peveril College via Chandlers Ford, Hiltingbury & Valley Park will run ten minutes earlier, now departing Eastleigh at 0705. New timetable here.

Strikes off & diversions delayed

The strikes planned on Bluestar are off for now, but may go ahead at a later date.

The Bishopstoke diversions to Bluestar 2 are now delayed until 25th September.

Don't forget next Monday sees the start of the new X5 between Southampton and Ringwood, operated by Dorset Sprinter.