Changes and Concerns at First Wessex

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As you know, I try really hard not to push much of an opinion when I am talking about service changes. Having started to see the timetable changes at First Wessex, and having seen some of the complaints of their social media feed, I have to say that I wonder if the summer uplift is going to strain the staffing levels somewhat.

I had seen the First Wessex registrations start to filter though for their June timetable change. These were filtering through a few weeks ago, however I refrained posted because I was interested more to see what the “summer level of service” would be.

Changes from 05 June 2023

So there are a few small changes that are not timetable only. So let’s go through them first.

Service 3 – CANCELLED The daytime service around Westham is to end.

First Wessex have since stated that the 3 will continue on a 3 month trial of Use it or lose it!

As part of the trial, the route is diverted after Westham via Southhill’s Mayfield Close. I regret, I do not have enough local knowledge to comment further.

Service 9 & 9a – CANCELLED The First Wessex replacement for the South West Coaches 206 & 206a has lasted just 6 months and the Wyke Regis service is being withdrawn.

There was lots of hype, and Concessionary Pass holders, in the first few weeks. I have not yet found much evidence beyond that though and the benefit of it being worked between schools services could have saved it. Alas it does not appear to be the case.

Summer Timetable Changes

Portland service 1 will see it’s usual timetable change with substantial extra running time. The frequency will not change though at every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sunday’s.

---

Sunday services will once again be a feature on Preston’s Service 4. Long gone are the days of the 4a to Sutton Poyntz!

The summer timetable of a bus every 20 minutes, seven days a week recommences with the evening timetable running approximately every 35 minutes from 1815 to 2110 (from Weymouth).

[South West Coaches are also re-introducing their service between Weymouth and the Haven Holiday Park site at Seaview – and close by to Weymouth Bay as well]

---

Chickerell service 8‘s timetable change sees additional buses leaving Weymouth Monday to Saturday at 1910 and 2000, with an hourly Sunday service introduced.

There will also be a Sunday service running hourly from Weymouth between 0820 and 1820.

There are no route changes to accommodate cancelled service 3 though. There was a time when an evening service 8 would divert around Westham as well….

Dorchester & Poundbury service 10 will see an extra bus per hour Monday to Saturday.

• Every 15 Minutes Monday to Friday
• Every 20 Minutes Saturday
• Every 30 Minutes Sunday

There was also be a later round trip leaving Weymouth at 2315

---

The Portland Coaster (formerly the 501) is finally back to an hourly timetable. With the first departure at 0940 and then hourly (not even missing one for a lunch break) the last round trip leaves Weymouth at 1740 Portland at 1840.

A bit like the Southsea Coaster 50, I would imagine that it will be a pair of drivers on most of the day, with a break driver over lunchtime.

---

Lulworth Cove’s X50 service also returns with an hourly service this year between Weymouth, Dursley Door, Lulworth and Wool.

[I am not sure whether this was planned or accidental, but the X50 leaves Weymouth 15 minutes behind Go South Coast’s X30 rather than running at an even headway]

Jurassic Coaster X51 between Weymouth, Dorchester, Poundbury and Bridport will have some timetable changes to accommodate longer running times.

Jurassic Coaster X52 and X53 sees the re-introduction of the X52. Running with open-top buses (subject to weather and maintenance) this provides an hourly service on the X53 route between Weymouth and Bridport.

The timetable for the X53 changes to accommodate longer running times as well.

Jurassic Coaster X54 will not serve Durdle Door or Lulworth Cove during the summer months, but will loop around Monkey World and the Bovington Tank Museum (calling at Wool Station both before and after the loop).

There is also one additional mid-morning trip, however most timing points change because of the different route.

Some timetables will be increased in July

The summer uplift for the Sunseeker 12 to Haven’s Littlesea Holiday Park and Sunseeker 13 to Waterside Holiday Park do not happen until just before the schools break up.

Timetables for both services increase to a 2 bus, half-hourly service from Saturday 2nd July.

First Wessex has the Summer Bus Guide on it’s website

You can either head to the First Wessex website and download it from there.

Or you can trust me no Robbob has corrected me, and just download it from this direct PDF link.