Diversions: Otterbourne, Swaythling & Polygon / Velvet 22 slashed / Fares up

The main road through Otterbourne will be closed on 18th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 24th August, meaning diversions via the M3 for Bluestar 1 (City Centre-Winchester), E2 and E3 (Eastleigh-Winchester).

Swaythling has yet another diversion for next 3 weeks. Until 7th September, the bottom part of Stoneham Lane is closed northbound, so Bluestar 2 (City Centre-Fair Oak) is diverting via Stoneham Way and Bassett Green Road. First 7/7A (City Centre-Bassett Green/Millbrook) will need to divert too, but they've not publicised a diversion. Southbound journeys are not affected by this, but are affected by the ongoing diversion in the box on the right.

Archers Road in The Polygon is closed westbound until approx 24th August, meaning First 5 (City Centre-Lordshill North) is diverting via Wilton Avenue. City-bound journeys are not affected.

More fare rises are on the way. Velvet put theirs up on 29th August and Brijan Tours hike theirs on 1st September.

Two changes to Velvet on Tuesday 31st August:
Route 22 (City Centre-Millbrook Tesco) becomes the S2, with some journeys extending to Northam, but overall there will be fewer buses, especially on Saturdays when the last bus will run some 3 hours earlier than it currently does. There's a slight route change in The Polygon too. Timetable here.
There's a minor change to the C1 (Eastleigh-Hiltungbury) on the same day, but it only affects the 1625 weekday departure from Eastleigh to Hiltingbury.

ConDem rebate cut: First & Bluestar threaten fare rises, Unilink fares already going up.

Bad news for passengers in the Daily Echo tonight. The government wants to cut a fuel duty rebate that bus companies currently receive. If it happens then the operators will have to recoup those losses from somewhere else. First and Bluestar are both quoted as saying that fares could rise by 10% AND some services be cut as a direct result. How many ConDem voters are reliant on the bus I wonder?

As a taste of things to come, Unilink have announced what they call "New fares", which we all ruddy well know is a euphamism for higher fares. And thus on 28th August unto us shall come a price rise to £2 for a single journey and £3 for a Unilink day ticket. This brings about the frankly absurd and possibly unprecedented situation where First might no longer be the most expensive way to get from Swaythling into town.

Overnight diversions: Above Bar Street & North East Road

Two overnight diversions today and tomorrow only:

Above Bar Street will be partially closed 2000-0600 between Civic Centre Road and Commercial Road. First are diverting their affected routes via Civic Centre Road, Havelock Road and Commerical Road to the Cenotaph. The other companies haven't said what they're doing.

North East Road in Sholing will be closed 1900-0600 both nights. First 10A (Lordshill-Thornhill) will run along Kathleen Road, as per route 10.

Both diversions end at 0600 on Thursday morning.

First 5 diverted in Bellemoor

First 5 (City Centre-Lordshill North) is being diverted in Bellemoor until Saturday. City bound journeys are running from St James Road via South View Road and Wilton Road to Hill Lane. Outbound journeys are not affected.

Minor timetable change to Stagecoach 46 & 66 from 5th September

Stagecoach have announced new timetables on many routes operating out of Winchester from Sunday 5th September. For us, this affects routes 46 (City Centre-Winchester) and 66 (Romsey-Winchester), both of which only have minor changes.

Diversions in Swaythling, Maybush, Bevois Valley and for Skyride

High Road in Swaythling is closed southbound until 20th September. Bluestar 2 (City Centre-Fair Oak) is diverting via Thomas Lewis Way, running non-stop from Market Buildings to Machine Mart. First 7/7A (City Centre-Bassett Green/Millbrook Tesco) are diverting via Burgess Road and Langhorn Road. Bluestar 14 (City Centre-Bitterne) is running direct via Langhorn Road between Burgess Road and Woodmill Lane. Northbound services are not affected.

Romsey Road is closed in Maybush, meaning diversions to Bluestar 4 (City Centre-Romsey) until 13th September.

Sunday 25th July sees Skyride, a mass cycling event, come to Southampton. Many roads will be closed to accommodate the cyclists, meaning diversions to many bus routes. So far only First have made their contingency plans.

Part of Bevois Valley Road will be closed southbound from Monday 26th July until 30th August, meaning diversions for First 3 (City Centre-Townhill Park) and Unilink U6 (Dock Gate 4-General Hospital). Northbound services will not be affected.

Summer: Unilink diversions, New Forest Tour, First/Citybus memories

Unilink's Highfield Interchange has closed for the summer, meaning diversions and special timetables on all of their routes. The U2 (City Centre-Bassett Green) switches to its less frequent vacation timetable on Sunday 20th June. Night bus U1N (Leisure World-Airport) has already stopped running for the summer. They'll be back to normal from Monday 20th September.

Bluestar's New Forest Tour starts again on Saturday 19th June, running every day until Sunday 12th September inclusive. Times and fares information can be found here. It links Brockenhurst train station and Lyndhurst with Lymington, Beaulieu, the National Motor Museum and Exbury Gardens. If you use Wilts & Dorset routes 56/56A (City Centre-Lymington) or 112 (Hythe-Lymington) to get to the forest, buy your Tour ticket from the driver and your connection is free.

Bluestar 9 (City Centre-Waterside) will be diverted between Applemore and Dibden Purlieu for about a week from Wednesday 23rd June.

First are moving out of their depot in Portswood soon and are looking for your memories of the buses and trams that used to be based there.

First 26, 72, 80 changes on 6th June

First are changing some of their Fareham and Gosport routes on Sunday 6th June. Here's a summary of the ones that affect us:
26 (Hedge End-Fareham): Minor timetable changes.
72 (City Centre-Gosport): Minor timetable changes. Inbound journeys now run via Queensway instead of High Street.
80 (City Centre-Fareham): Most times changed. Extended to Central Station. Fewer buses on Sundays, starting later and ending earlier.