Friday 2nd January 2026

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For one last time this festive season, as some of you are awaiting the snow to fall and others praying that it doesn’t, we look at the seasonal changes for bus services for Friday 2nd January 2026. From tomorrow normal schedules should resume, although if you are in Basingstoke they will change more permanently in the coming weeks.

It was interesting though to see a little discussion on Facebook yesterday as to why First Solent ran no buses in Gosport and Fareham (except the 3) but other operators did. It was one of those conversations of two equal camps – one suggesting that there is a reasonable expectation that people want to travel and others saying bus drivers should be allowed a day off.

As we head towards that mythical creature known as the Hampshire Unitary Authority, maybe more support will be offered to operators to run better bus services in areas that might need them. When the dust settles I wonder what the usage of the Christmas Day and New Years Day buses in Portsmouth and Southampton was like.

I have also made myself a little resolution that I will try and expand what I post on this little blog in 2026. Whether I use a little help from a chatbot (or “AGI” if you prefer the term) I want to do some sort of news feed or roundup for the stories hitting local press about bus and other transport services. Apologies in advance if it turns out rubbish, but I feel I need to use this little £120 a year experiment for more than ranting and minimal information.

Sorry – where was I – must stop ranting and start telling you about Friday 2nd January.

Alton, Bordon and Petersfield

Saturday service except:

• Services 18 (run from Aldershot), 23 and 65 (run from Guildford) will run a weekday service.
• Service 38 runs a special timetable.

Andover

Stagecoach South will be running a Saturday service on most services. A weekday timetable will run on:

• Service 66 & 67 between Tidworth & Salisbury
• Service 87 between Andover and Salisbury
• Service 5 will run two trips (only) at 0945 and 1245

Basingstoke

Saturday service except:

• Stagecoach Service 16 will also run on Monday out to Dummer and Steventon.
• Newbury & District Flightline 731 to Frimley & Heathrow will run a weekday timetable

Bournemouth & Poole

A Saturday service will run across the morebus network with the following (usual) exceptions:

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

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

Fareham & Gosport

First Solent will be running a Saturday service across the majority of the network. Some of their contracted and supported services will be running to a weekday timetable though:

• Service 11 between Gosport, Elson, A32 & Fareham
• Service 21 to Stubbington and Hill Head
• Service 28 & 28A for Segensworth & Whiteley

Stagecoach South service 69 is running a Saturday service.

Isle of Wight

Southern Vectis will run a normal weekday timetable.

Portsmouth & Havant

Both First Solent and Stagecoach South will be running a Saturday service across most of it’s network, with two exceptions. The following services will run a weekday service:

• Hoverbus H1 serving Hovertravel
• Tipner Park & Ride PR1
• (Closed Service) QA1 for the NHS Staff Car Parking
• Service 27 between Rowlands Castle, Havant and Emsowrth

As it is Friday, with a Saturday service, the assumption is that Friday “night bus” services will run. I know, I am joking…. I would suspect they will run.

South Dorset

Since originally posting that First Wessex had this strange “Saturday service except where stated on the timetables” message along with posting weekday timetables…. they are now running a weekday service.

So – First Wessex are running a weekday service. I think.

Note to self – Abandon any hope of Edward Street getting it right next year.

Damory are running a weekday on Damory 1, 2, 6, CR7, CR8, CR9 & 20.

Southampton

Bluestar will run a Saturday service on most of it’s commercial network. Normal Tuesday timetables will run on the usual group of financially supported services:

• Bluestar 6 through the New Forest to Lymington ( or from Lymington…. as it is managed by morebus’ Lymington depot)
• Bluestar 21 services through Shirley
• Service 35 in Romsey
• Services H1 & H2 in Hythe
• Romsey and Salisbury routes X7 and X7R
• Quayconnect

PR1 Park and Ride will not operate

First Solent are running a Saturday service on its routes into the city on the X4 and X5.

I presume Xelabus are running the Hoppa(?)

Winchester

A Saturday service will operate on Stagecoach in Winchester, except the Park & Ride which runs it’s Christmas weekday special service.

In Hedge End, the 49 & 49h will operate a weekday timetable.

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If you have been putting up with my drivel for the last 12 months congratulations. I don’t know how you have managed it. If you are staying for the next twelve months of drivel then feel free to leave condescending comments, patronise the lack of service at times, and convince your marketing teams at Hoeford, Taunton (is that where Weymouth is based now?), Chichester and Otterbourne that I am not always obnoxious…. just usually.

To 2026 – or something – I will get to raise a glass of alcohol-free sparkling wine when I eventually get a day’s break over New Year!