With the New Year soon upon us it is time, of course, to reflect on the 12 months of past and the 12 months of future. Over the last 12 months, I think we have seen how hard it can be to run a bus operation when a rapid increase in costs is coupled with a need to keep prices down.
I know, that despite the whining and moaning that people think I resort to on here; there is no way I could run my own bus company in the current or any other climate.
So notwithstanding; let’s have a look at a year looking in, towards the buses in our region.
Names that left us
We have, of course, lost (or are losing) some established operators in the region. Yellow Buses went into administration in August and most of the gaps that this left were swiftly taken up by Go South Coast’s morebus brand. The Yellow Coaches part of the business was split up by National Express Group’s Lucketts, and XelaGroup taking on the name and BCP Council’s supported bus services.
Some of the coaching operations were moved away from Bournemouth though. The Megabus services operated by Yellow Coaches were given up and operation of the M3 between Poole, Bournemouth and London was taken over by London operator AirSym Limited.
Although I understand the operation is running reasonably well and I have anecdotal evidence that the company is legit, I would not suggest searching for more information!
[For reference – this screenshot was taken on 30 December, but it has been the same for months.]
First Bus have also announced the closure of the Southampton depot and City Red operation from 19th February. Go South Coast are also picking up some of the City Red services, although First Bus will still have some services in the City from First Solent’s Solent Rangers X4 and X5.
Independent operator Southampton Mini Link also closed during the year, after a turbulent time of trialling services, having some success, but inevitably finding the business no longer viable.
Of interest is that the licence for Southampton Mini Link is still valid, despite owner Simon Gard previously saying it was to be surrendered. Maybe we will see some sort of revival in the coming years.
… and a name that nearly left us …
Although not a bus, and I only mentioned it on Twitter, the Hythe Ferry was announced as being a shock closure at the close of service on New Years Eve. it was cited as being financially impossible to continue operating the service.
The Hythe Ferry have since released a statement which states that they are now in negotiations with a party in confidential discussions.
As such, the Blue Funnel ferry will continue in service while the discussions continue and the usual use it or lose it applies if you live or commute in the area.
Takeovers and Purchases
Although some operators have ceased over the year, some have expanded.
XelaGroup added to their Xelabus operation in Bournemouth with the acquisition of part of the Yellow Coaches operation in the summer, but also acquired Seaview Coaches on the Isle of Wight. The company was quick to shuffle vehicles around and Seaview vehicles are as commonplace to see on the mainland as the green of the Xelabus operation is on the Island.
With a number of steady withdrawals from service bus work, XelaGroup is now predominantly a schools, contracts and coaching fleet; having closed much of the Eastleigh service operation and have registered cancellations in preparation for the pre-scheduled BCP contract review of their ex-Yellow Coaches (or was it buses) tenders in the new year.
Whether Xelabus will continue running the services in some form or not, we await to see.
Southampton Mini Link also took over a number of vehicles and services in Dorset run by Dekkabus. Even if you look at the Companies House record for Dekkabus, I am not even going to try and unravel beyond the fact that it is technically still active and accounts are overdue; albeit with an active strike off in process. I feel that the company previously being called National Distress Limited when Trevor Shore MBE incorporated it back in 2015.
Of course, Southampton Mini Link itself, is no longer operating buses due to it’s owners ill health.
Go South Coast of course added some of the Yellow Buses operation to it’s own. They originally did not take on any of the Yellow Buses vehicles to complete the takeover.
If I remember correctly a small number of buses joined them later including this Buster’s Beach Bus open-topper seen in Bournemouth in the summer, before everything collapsed.
Buster’s Beach Bus itself was also partly operated by morebus in the summer, however I would suspect a overhaul of the local open-top operation in 2023.
We also have the upcoming “blufication” of the City Red operation to watch.
Bus Service Improvement Plans
I think almost every council have been working on their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) in 2022. This was a Government led initiative which resulted in some funding for operators in the area.
In Portsmouth they have been extending the bus lane in Mile End Road, approving a new bus lane around the Cascades shopping centre and works between Portchester and Fareham.
First Solent were granted funding to purchase new all-electric buses for Gosport services 9 and 9A and Portsmouth services 1 and 3. The failure of Arrival, the preferred manufacturer (and collaborator for trials in the Didcot area) has meant that there is now an order placed for Wrightbus Kite GB Electroliners.
First Solent were granted funding to purchase new all-electric buses for Gosport services 9 and 9A and Portsmouth services 1 and 3. The failure of Arrival, the preferred manufacturer (and collaborator for trials in the Didcot area) has meant that there is now an order placed for Wrightbus Kite GB Electroliners.
Southampton City Council have also been busy, with prominent works around the Southampton General Hospital including new bus lanes and the Southampton West (NHS Staff) Park & Ride. I remember that the Council was also talking about a Saturday public Park & Ride service into the city centre; however I think that has gone quiet. Work under the Transforming Cities Fund in Bevois Valley was also completed.
The Council has also worked with City Red and Bluestar though to continue offering £1 evening single fares and the ‘Five for a Fiver‘ group ticket across the city. As far as I know, the £1 fare is still going, albeit with the £2 fare cap also implemented from tomorrow that might change.
Government Funding Improvement Plans
For those of you reading this in 2023 then Good News for the first three months most of the bus companies in Hampshire and Dorset are subscribed to the £2 fare cap scheme.
Single fares will be capped at £2 for many services (usually tourist services and schools services are excluded – and anything run by Xelabus) so you can truly explore around you for cheaper!
I have heard from some parts of the country that bus operators feel there is too much paperwork to get involved and the Department for Transport did not bathe themselves in glory with the haphazard and incomplete announcement of participating operators. If you pop over to the Hants & Surry Bus Blog there is also a statement from Rotala as to why they are not taking part in the scheme this time around. There is also a comment from one of the blogs readers about the paperwork constraints of the scheme.
I hope to take advantage of this myself, I keep trying to boot myself into doing the Watersider around Hythe (and now I need to get a ride on the Hythe Ferry) and some other longer trips across Hampshire and Dorset. Maybe this is the kick I need!
Bus Service Defunding
Okay, okay, so it is not technically defunding, however Hampshire County Council possibly threw a spanner in the works by keeping the levels of support in many parts of the county at a stagnated level.
Back in July, I was reporting that Xelabus had slashed services from its Barton Park depot on the basis of funding levels from Hampshire County Council. This included the X15 to Hamble, services across Hiltingbury and Chandlers Ford and out towards Petersfield.
It did not take too long to see what the effect for other operators across the county could be, as a meeting of the Economy, Transport and Environment sub-committee rubber stamped their proposed changes that left funding levels as is, with a warning that this will means some supported services could be reduced to make the funding stretch to the increased costs.
Effects are already being seen, with First Solent already registering changes to Wickham 20, Hill Head 21 and Rowlands Castle 27 services from February 2023. Saturday services being withdrawn on two of them being the headline!
The question is whether this is a funding level to eradicate supported bus services altogether?
Certainly in 2022, we have seen internal statements from some operators saying “contracts are worth more than contracted services” and then cutting bus routes. We have also seen evidence that some (and in the minority) operators will take on contracts and then have ‘driver shortages’ for services.
If running a scheduled bus service is really that much of a loss maker, will we see bus services slowly ebb away over the next 12 months and only operate on the really profitable cores?
Ticketing and Technology Changes
With the development of technology, then we also have chances to make things a little easier, or a little better. I have continued to offer some criticism of the various apps and technologies that have been around.
First up, I am sure those of you on Twitter have seen my occasional complaint at First Bus about how restrictive their app is.
No-one can deny that staff recruitment and retention has been an issue in the bus industry. At least at the end of the year though, the First Bus app has improved and ((Live)) only now appears against services that are actually running!
I still get a little grumpy though when I am on a high-frequency part of the network with multiple bus routes. You still seem to have to select a bus route to see the buses on a map.
Hint: Use Bus Times for multi-operator areas. Can see everything!
At least on other operators, it is much easier to see all their services together on one map off the app! We digress though.
Tap In – Tap Out
Exacting fare and stop use data is improving for many companies as Tap In – Tap Out got introduced across the counties over the year.
From memory, First Bus have it active on the Eclipse and City Red operations and Go South Coast have it installed on Southern Vectis, morebus and Bluestar. It is interesting as Southampton City Council did have a small bit in their Bus Service Improvement Plan about cross-company ticketing arrangements close by to talking about ‘TITO’.
Now: to add to my wish list, integrate it with local Southampton train services and we are on to a big winner!
TheKey broke in the Lock
As with any technological advance though, there are going to be things phased out. GoAhead Group announced during the year that their smartcard system called TheKey is going to cease during 2023.
It is interesting that the bus smartcard technology, with TheKey actually being a spinoff from a trial run on Southern Railway. Many railway companies are now offering new products like flexi-season passes and managing their staff travel passes on smart card technology, whereas bus companies are making them the expensive option, or withdrawing them altogether.
Even though I still have my Stagecoach Smart Card, I now almost exclusively use the Stagecoach App for my tickets.
Alongside their flexi-bundles, you can also get your SolentGo tickets by app which are valid on First and Go South Coast as well! Personally though, I end up also considering railway PlusBus tickets.
Personally for 2023
Now, as you might have noticed, I have not been out as much as I would like in 2023. Sometimes having a young family, a job that is basically a 24/7 operation and finding time to get out is a pain.
As with many people through the pandemic, mental health was also an issue and I have yet to kick start that motivation of being an entirely contributing member of society for anything other than calling out idiots on social media.
Once the therapist has finished saying look into my eyes, not around the eyes, into my eyes once last time and then admits that they got their certification for £12.99 then I might feel more like a bus enthusiast again and less like I will only watch buses go by from the table outside the front of the pub!
That probably is all you need to know to go “So, that’s why he has turned into an a**hat in 2022” – may 2023 find us all enjoying sunshine, buses and more!
I also must remember that UniLink and UniBus are seperate entities to Bluestar and morebus – then I might find more completeness in my work!
Congratulations on yet another year of good covering of events with your blog.
Your blog is easier to read and to follow than SBU, although both make a good job covering an eventful year.
I am looking forward to see what 2023 brings.
All the best and happy new year