With the Bank Holiday weekend upon us, families will be wanting to head to the beach with temperatures reaching a barmy 16 degrees and only some clouds (maybe) – so can you get there by bus (or even train)?
I even offer a few ideas for you if you are struggling with inspiration! I should point out that none of the attractions listed have sponsored me for including them, they are all from my own meandering imagination.
These are the service level changes running on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May.
National Rail
If you are heading to the coast from further afield, and maybe you have those super-rare, super-discounted Great British Rail Sale tickets then you have engineering works in these local areas:
- Eastleigh: On Sunday buses replace trains between Basingstoke & Southampton Central / Fareham, and between Romsey and Southampton Central via Eastleigh
- Southern services early on Sunday morning will be replaced by a bus between Southampton and Littlehampton
You can find engineering works further afield on our local operators at:
Is this information useful when I do the Bank Holiday Bus alterations? Let me know in the comments below!
First Bus
Across First Wessex, City Red in Southampton, and Solent in Portsmouth and Fareham; all services will be running to a Sunday service.
You could head to Marwell Zoo from Southampton or Eastleigh on the M1. Maybe you would lunch at Gunwharf Quays then head to Southsea on the 3 or 25. Weymouth and Portland also has some excellent sights!
Stagecoach South
A lack of reference on the social media, and I can’t put my finger on the page on their website, but Stagecoach normally runs a Sunday service on a Bank Holiday.
If you are heading to Goodwood Racecourse this weekend though, for the first racing weekend of the season; Stagecoach South will be running their free bus service from Chichester Railway Station. Buses depart from the railway station forecourt at 1015, then every half hour until 1415.
From memory, as I have not been to Goodwood in a few years, you might even find a few preserved vehicles running route 900. Don’t quote me though, and that might only be for the Revival weekend later in the year.
For the more traditional among you, grab a 30 or 31 into Hayling Island where Funland Amusement Park is open 11am to 8pm
GoAhead
All four brands of the GoAhead group, morebus, Southern Vectis, Unilink and Bluestar; are running a Sunday service across all routes.
You may find yourself heading up through Dorset to historic Salisbury (on the X3 as the X7 does not run on a Sunday), grabbing the train down to Bournemouth and then an open-topper into town, or even a trip down to Hythe or the New Forest.
Yellow Buses
Yellow Buses will also be running a Sunday service.
This does mean though that the open-top Buster Beach Bus and the New Forest Explorer will be running. It gives you a chance to take a tour along the beach and pick the perfect spot for the summer!
Other Operators
Southampton Mini Link will be running a Sunday service on Bank Holiday Monday. This means they will be running their service 13a instead of service 14; and Ringwood route 38 will not run.
Xelabus will also be running a Sunday service – I expect – there is nothing on their website or social media about it.