So last week, we were talking about the changes to the Eclipse and high frequency services out of the Fareham. Portsmouth gets it’s own service increases next Monday as well, maybe Hilsea Depot felt left out or something? More buses for Paulsgrove, Waterlooville and well….. Paulsgrove.
[note: Yellow Buses announced changes for the same day WEEKS ago]
What hasn’t been re-introduced yet, much to the behest of many Twitter users, is the 17 from Ocean Park through to Southsea. That does not really surprise me as apart from the Ocean Park to Copner Road there are already high frequency routes 1 and 2 duplicating it. It does surprise me though that there is not a schools contract on the route for Admiral Lord Nelson School.
I actually wonder if the 17 is going to come back at all, or whether Portsmouth City Council need to hunt the sofa for some pound coins. I think that the fact the 17/18 route map has not been removed is a good sign, but we do wait and see.
Anyway – to business. There are both weekday and Saturday increases in service. All the timetables are now available on the Portsmouth & Fareham news page although I have a feeling it needs a bit of a tidy up, as it is still promoting service updates done back in July!
Service 2 – Saturday Increase
The “Paulsgrove to Portsmouth – the Long Way” service currently runs Every 8 Minutes Weekdays, Every 20 Minutes Weekends.
From Saturday October 3rd, the Saturday service will see an increase to Every 15 Minutes. It is still half of the weekday service, but it is getting there.
Service 7 – Weekday Increase
The Star is increases it’s weekday service between the City Centre and Wecock Farm from Every 15 Minutes to Every 12 Minutes.
This brings the weekday timetable into line with it’s pre-COVID19 service.
Service 18 – Weekday Increase
Now correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t the 18 a half-hourly service pre-pandemic? From Sunday the weekday service increases to Every 20 Minutes between 0830 and 1500. The hourly bus service remains at the weekend and the through connection with the 17 to Ocean Park is still severed.
Service 22 – 70 Minutes Frequency
The supported service between Cosham, Highbury and Farlington has been running a mostly normal daytime timetable, but with a gap in the middle of the day.
The missing trips are restored from Sunday as well as restoring the earlier journeys starting at 0730. This service is more of a lifeline contracted service than anything profitable, so I am sure that those that use it are thankful that it was not cut entirely.
Service F3 – Service Resumes
A little surprising, the F3 makes its return next week.
The F3 harks back to the days of the Peoples Provincial 25 which used to run from Fareham to Highbury via the back roads of North Portchester and North Paulsgrove. Dore Avenue has oft had threats of losing the service over the years and the F3 was only introduced after complaints from the less firm residents at the top of the hill.
[If I mis-remember that, please let me know in the comments]
This service will be hourly, between the schools runs, on Wednesdays Only. I was about to complain that it use to runs a few days a week, but I am sure it got reduced last year.
How Long Will It Last?
Are we heading towards Lockdown 2? Are buses going to be slaughtered again as more people are told to Work From Home?
We only have a few short weeks to find out, enjoy riding the buses while you can!