Good morning from Southampton, where I am currently on the hunt for a little red or white bus. Yes, I am heading out to see how recently new Southampton Mini Link service 13a is getting on now that it also runs on Saturdays.
The 13a was originally a Sunday only service, replacing parts of the City Red 9 and 13 routes. City Red only run 6 days a week, so I presume that First Bus don’t see any benefit to running on the Sabbeth.
Southampton Mini Link’s 13a also crosses a number of other injecting areas, Bitterne Shops for example, competing with a plethora of various routes. It runs alongside Xelabus X10 through the West End; although if you consider Southampton Mini Link has lent Xelabus drivers during the shortage we can’t call it competition.
Heading Out
So arriving in Southampton, I wanted to be your typical local. I wanted to head in to town for a few hours from where I was in Beauworth Avenue. The bus stop however had no indication that it stopped there. No sticker on the flag, no timetable.
City Red 13 stops there, as does the X10. Needless to say I opted to walk a stop further around the route, to the only newsagents that does not accept a card. The question I had, after a few trips on the 5 to Ringwood, is contactless working now?
It is!
A bit fiddly grabbing the ticket machine from its holder, and half holding it past the perspex screen, but it works. It also does not accepts First Bus tickets. Not a surprise to you and me, but a surprise to the family that boarded at the next stop. A fiver lighter and they also joined me and 2 Concessionary Pass holders for a trip through Harefield Estate.
Do remember though, as the sign politely reminds us, Video Cameras are in operation on this bus. TfL also reminds us that we should all move down the bus to make room for others.
Through the West End
It was a nice quick jaunt through Harefield and the West End. Simon did not spare the horses, mainly because stopping was few and far between and we did not do much in terms of custom.
Bitterne has a little custom. Some return ticket holders clearly know the service exists, even if the problem they had was with the legroom. A load of 8 leaving the precinct can be seen as quite healthy.
Where the 13a changes between the 13 and 9 routes now brought a problem though, with City Red bunny hopping with our little red bus along Spring Road. Saying that, if they come face-to-face along Bishops Road it would be a very Mexican standoff.
An aside (as always)
Having grabbed a few shots of Southampton Mini Link’s 13a in a few places, I took a wander down towards Ocean Village. In among the back streets, not far from Genting Casino is The Grapes. I was looking for food, albeit I was not going into the The White Star, didn’t fancy the menu.
The Grapes does not do food, but it does do a nice clean pint of beer. The leather chairs to lean back in, the fact it has sports on three screens, a pool table and still feels nice.
The Afternoon Return
So having wandered about Southampton and caught the 13a in a few places, it was time to head home. The trip of choice was the 1450 from Vincent’s Walk because – well because.
The driver and his son were on board to welcome me, albeit the passenger behind me wanted to board the little red bus with his City Red ticket. Like the family in the morning, he was disappointed.
It was a little disconcerting. With 10 minutes to go the driver had the front of the bus open, trying to cure an alarming beep and something that was finally declared ALIVE!!!! I can only assume he meant the bus and not THE BUS.
In the minutes we had between the bus being ALIVE!!!! and leaving our on time departure, the driver got chatting with either a local, or a First Bus driver. Overall he said today was really quiet, compared to the football last week. Indeed we only left the City Centre area with a few others on board. A few kids looked interested, asking lots of questions about the 13, but decided not to join us.
SolentGo, Not Go!
It’s the first time I had confirmation of SolentGo being valid. “No, you can’t, you can’t.”
But it’s SolentGo! Okay then. Maybe I should try the same with the Southampton PlusBus.
The promise of a Mexican standoff across Bishops Road unfortunately did not materialise, unless you count the desperate hatchback drivers. I fear the driver might need the gatling gun if anyone ever changes the timetable. Otherwise the trip back was uneventful if not very quiet.
I actually got off at Bitterne on the way back rather than all the way in to Harefield. Time was getting on and buses from that part of town infrequent. Needless to say not many were there to replace me and…
… this not City Red bus departed into the night depths of the West End once again.
Hello I was the driver this afternoon. I do like your honest and truthful review 👍
Thank you Paul.