I was debating, I was planning, I wanted to write a piece about some of the good and bad parts of our local bus companies updating their COVID service. I had been inspired about posting on this excellent post by Roger French after commenting about the fact on the post. I had wanted to start moaning about how almost every part of Hampshire and Dorset has had a problem at some point – BUT – City Red has just announced next Monday’s changes in the right place at the very beginning of the change.
Changes from Sunday 24 January
Now… Call me a paranoid person, but when the extension of the City Red 11 was put back a week, I felt something more was afoot. Whether it is a coincidence or not I do not know, but there are changes.
Saturday Service 6 Days a Week
Some services are going to be running a Saturday Service on weekdays. This is a logical step, based on the fact that people are meant to be working from home wherever possible, and many key workers will be working across a shift pattern or across 7 days.
City Red 1 between Southampton and Calmore
City Red 7 between Southampton and Townhill Park
City Red 9 between Southampton, Woolston, Bitterne and Sholing
City Red 13 between Southampton and Harefield
Revised Service
City Red 2 has a revised weekday service although still every 10 minutes from 0600 to 1830(ish) – the timetable service on firstGroup is still down, so I will be trying to find my alternatives downloads for a comparison shortly.
City Red 8 has a route revision in Hedge End, presumably because the vehicle reduction negates a frequency change. Now, at the time of writing, City Red 8 is being advertised as:
Hedge End bound buses to operate from the Superstores direct to Hedge End Station via Tollbar Way, and return to Southampton via Tollbar Way and the Hedge End Superstores.
https://www.firstgroup.com/southampton/news-and-service-updates/coronavirus-covid19-service-information – retrieved 18-01-2021
To me, having a vague recollection of Hedge End, that means avoid the entirety of the housing around the east of Hedge End village and Locke Road? It does not sound right, the timetable allowing extra time between Hedge End Station and the West End.
What I think it means is that the route diversion will go into the Superstores on the way to Southampton as well as from it. Hopefully either First Southampton, or the First Group open data feed will be able to clarify soon!
City Red 11 has, as previously known, the extension from West Quay to ASDA and Central Station (the north side, not where the U1 calls) and back from Central Station to Above Bar and Vincents Walk.
No Change
There are no changes to City Red 3 or City Red 6.
I fear though, that I will be back to my piece on the quality of online information in no time.
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