Through misty downs the morebus glides,
By coastal towns where joy resides,
Its windows glow through winter’s haze,
While laughter warms December’s days.
From Poole to Ringwood, Bournemouth Bay,
It weaves through lights that softly play,
Each traveller bound by season’s cheer,
As Dorset dreams when Christmas nears.
Yes, it is another rubbish ditty as I move from the Bluestar website to the one at fellow Poole-based subsidiary morebus. Before we get onto the service levels, I wonder (as I did on the Bluestar service update) whether GoAhead have made changes to, or previously had issues with Concessionary Pass holders on non-Saturday, Saturday Timetables….. so on Christmas Eve, 29th & 30th December, New Years Eve and 2nd January – Concessionary Pass restrictions continue to apply regardless of the service level.
Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24th December
There is a bit of a mixed bag for Christmas Eve out of Poole Bus Station (and associated) depots. Some are Saturday services, some are nearly Saturday services and some are not Saturday services:
| Saturday Timetables | All Services Except those below | Extra Morning Trips will run on services: * 1a to Somerford & Christchurch * 8 for Turin Moor and Upton * 13 to Ferndown & Wimborne * 14 between Poole, Kinson and RBH * 16 & 17 through Alderney & Rossmore * 22 to RBH & Castlepoint 00:10 service 1a from Central Bournemouth will not run |
| Wednesday Timetables | * Services 18, 24, 33, 737 in Bournemouth * Rural service 38 extending outside the BCP area * New Forest services 119, 120, 125, 191, 193, RINGO * Longer distance services X1, X2, X3, X6, X8 Damory Services 1, 2, 6, CR7, CR8, CR9 & 20 | |
| A Reduced Timetable | Evening services on m1 and m2 | |
| Services Not Operating (That normally would on a Saturday) | Nightbus N1, N2 and N5 | (The night bus drivers need to be in bed for Santa to visit too!) |
Christmas Day
Bournmeouth & Poole will run their usual special service, covering a small number of commercial routes:
- Services m1 & m2 with the usual m2 extension to Two Rivers Meet leisure centre
- NEW for 2025 Service 5 between Bournemouth and Ensbury Park (only)
In all services the fares will be £3 single or £6 return for both adults and children. The publicity does not say whether Concessionary Passes or period tickets are valid.
Boxing Day – Friday 26th December
morebus will run a Sunday timetable on most of it’s commercial network:
- Services 1a, 1b and 1c to Somerford, Southbourne and Christchurch
- Services 3, 4, 6 and 13/a for Wimbourne
- Services 5 for Kinson
- Service 8 & 9 for Turlin Moor and Upton
- Service 11 to Canford Paddock
- Service 12 to RBH and Castlepoint
- Services 14, 16, 17, 22, 25, 26 around Bournemouth and Poole
- Service X3 between Bournemouth, Ringwood and Salisbury
- Service X8 between Poole and Blandford
A special timetable will run on services m1 and m2 (3 buses an hour on each route), Breezer 40 (every 2 hours) and Breezer 50 (every 2 hours)
Night buses N1 & N2 will operate – No mention of the N5, so presumably not.
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th December
Normal Saturday and Sunday timetables.
Monday 29th to New Years Eve
A Saturday service will run across the more network with the following (usual) exceptions (except services newly introduced this year) (yes, lots of festive brackets)
Weekday Timetables:
- Services 18, 24, 33, 737 in Bournemouth
- Rural service 38 extending outside the BCP area
- New Forest services 119, 120, 125, 191, 193, RINGO
- Longer distance services X1, X2, X3, X6, X8
- Damory Services 1, 2, 6, CR7, CR8, CR9 & 20
Extra morning trips run on
- 1a to Somerford & Christchurch
- 8 for Turin Moor and Upton
- 13 to Ferndown & Wimborne
- 14 between Poole, Kinson and RBH
- 16 & 17 through Alderney & Rossmore
- 22 to RBH & Castlepoint
New Years Day – Thursday 1st January
morebus will run a Sunday timetable on most of it’s commercial network:
- Services 1a, 1b and 1c to Somerford, Southbourne and Christchurch
- Services 3, 4, 6 and 13/a for Wimbourne
- Services 5 for Kinson
- Service 8 & 9 for Turlin Moor and Upton
- Service 11 to Canford Paddock
- Service 12 to RBH and Castlepoint
- Services 14, 16, 17, 22, 25, 26 around Bournemouth and Poole
- Service X3 between Bournemouth, Ringwood and Salisbury
- Service X8 between Poole and Blandford
A special timetable will run on services m1 and m2 (3 buses an hour on each route), Breezer 40 (every 2 hours) and Breezer 50 (every 2 hours)
Night buses N1, N2 and N5 will operate.
Friday 2nd January
A Saturday service will run across the morebus network with the following (usual) exceptions (except services newly introduced this year) (yes, lots of festive brackets)
Weekday Timetables:
- Services 18, 24, 33, 737 in Bournemouth
- Rural service 38 extending outside the BCP area
- New Forest services 119, 120, 125, 191, 193, RINGO
- Longer distance services X1, X2, X3, X6, X8
- Damory Services 1, 2, 6, CR7, CR8, CR9 & 20
Extra morning trips run on
- 22 to RBH & Castlepoint
- 1a to Somerford & Christchurch
- 8 for Turin Moor and Upton
- 13 to Ferndown & Wimborne
- 14 between Poole, Kinson and RBH
- 16 & 17 through Alderney & Rossmore
Saturday 3rd January
It will all be over for another year and the normal service resumes.