Changes at First Solent

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It was a bit saddening to see the First Southampton cancellations filtering through the service registrations this week as the City Red network is brought to a close. Over in First Solent land, there are also a number of service reductions which are planned to take effect in the New Year. One of these we have already talked about, but the rest are new.

Changes to 28 in January

Updated: First Solent have now published their timetable.

The now fairly established 28 and 28a services to Segensworth and Whiteley have, to be fair, changes a few times as developments and working practises have changed over the years. It’s been to Warsash, Park gate and Locks Heath. Shuttles within Whiteley have come and gone and it was at one point merely a commuter service for workers.

In fact, the first service 28 back in 2010 was only two-hourly and wound it’s way around all of the above before reaching Sarisbury Green. When the COVID pandemic hit back in 2020, the service gradually reduced to what it is today, a small timetable with commuter trips and then a few off-peak round trips. This largely 1 bus service is extended from Sunday 8th January.

From Sunday 8th January the 28 will extend beyond the Solent Hotel (possibly no longer calling in Tesco, but on Whiteley Way) along the Bluebell Way new housing developments to Curbridge Skipper Road (Is the Horse & Jockey any good as a pub? is it worth the trip out on a 28a?)

There will also be a peak time extension to Botley Railway Station, presumably to provide connections to trains, Winchester and London Waterloo.

The new service, which is not yet shown on the First Solent website, shows that the 28 variation via Fareham’s Highlands and Gudge Heath Lane areas, and the 28a via Fareham College and Greyshott Avenue still run.

The off-peak service, which runs as a 28a (as does the whole Saturday service) will also run hourly (with a small afternoon gap) during the day, restoring what I think was the pre-pandemic service although if you are one to want to ride all the way to Botley then you need either the 0620, 1525 or 1815 services from Fareham (or 0745, 1645 and 1920 from Botley) on a weekday.

A link to the First Solent timetable will be available here once it is published by First Solent, although you can find it on Traveline.

Changes in February

Changes registered across First Solent to start Sunday 12 February are also now showing in registrations. Hampshire County Council admitted in their funding recommendations that the lack of funding increase will potentially lead to the reduction in services; which is probably what we are starting to see.

• Service 20 between Fareham, Knowle and Wickham is showing as a minor amendment to afternoon timetable – which is banking on the fact that after a collision a few weeks ago, an Optare Solo is available to run the service.
  
  A shortage of available vehicles has more recently meant that the service is diverted away from a restricted bridge in the Funtley area.
  
• Service 21 between Fareham, Stubbington and Hill Head will have a revised weekday timetable, but the Saturday service will be withdrawn.
  
• Service 27 between Rowlands Castle, Havant and Emsworth will also see a revised weekday timetable and a withdrawn Saturday service.

These changes are of course, not unexpected. At a time when Portsmouth City Council are investing in service enhancements in the city, benefitting both First Solent’s network and Stagecoach services with new very early services 6 days a week and new later night weekend services for revellers.

Timetables will appear when they are published.