Solent’s misty shores
Wessex hills draped white with frost
Buses wind their way
Through Portsmouth, Gosport’s bright streets
Festive lights gleam on windows
Welcome from another AI generated festive ditty and this time it should be clear, that it is time for me to write, about First Bus’ Christmas Cheer.
Apparently this time around it wrote a tanka, which is an extended version of a haiku.
Once again Portsmouth City Council are financially supporting a Christmas Day service, and the First Solent services serving QA Hospital will be extended so that they can encompass both the 8am and 8pm shift changes. Strangely, there is no prominent announcement that this Christmas service page is available on the homepage, news and service updates pages, or the latest news stories page pointing here.
First Wessex also have their own Christmas service level page.
Frankly though, there are problems with both pages anyway. I will try really hard not to complain about it too much, but I am disappointed.
Monday 23rd December
First Solent are running a normal weekday service, with the exception of the H1 Hovertravel contract. The H1 will depart Commercial Road South at 0810 then hourly to 1810, then 1925.
Other times are available on the Hovertravel website.
First Wessex are running a normal Monday service.
Christmas Eve – Tuesday 24th December
Services on Christmas Eve are subject to Industrial Action
First Solent will run a Saturday timetable on Christmas Eve with an early finish on late evening routes:
| Service | Last full (or round) trip | Additional trips |
| 1 | From South Parade Pier @ 2108 From Gunwharf Quays @ 2042 | |
| 2 | From Paulsgrove @ 1959 From Gunwharf @ 2101 | 2019 Paulsgrove to Commercial Road South |
| 3 | From Fareham @ 1952 From South Parade Pier @ 2038 | |
| The Star 7 | From Gunwharf @ 2015 From Wecock @ 1909 | Wecock to Hilsea Lido (only) 1939, 2009, 2039, 2109 |
| The Star 8 | From Clanfield @ 1920 From Gunwharf @ 1938 | Clanfield to Cosham (only) 1940, 2000, 2018, 2038 Gunwharf to Waterlooville 2008 Gunwharf to Hilsea 2038 |
| Eclipse E1 | From Fareham at 2018 From Gosport 2035 | |
| Eclipse E2 | From Fareham @ 1958 From Gosport @ 2059 | |
| 9 | From Fareham @ 2000 From Gosport @ 1944 | |
| H1 | From Clarence Pier @ 1756 | Clarance Pier to Civic Offices 1826 |
Problem with the Page #1
Now, to add complication to the forest of trees; the First Solent Christmas webpage also says:
“No changes to any other services operating a Sunday timetable on these days.“
As all services are meant to be working on a Saturday timetable, that makes no sense to me.
Now over in First Wessex we have even less actual information on the Christmas service levels page.
Saturday service with an early finish – No list of which services are finishing early or when.
Christmas Day – Wednesday 25th December
First Solent will run a special service in the Portsmouth area.
- Service 1 – Hourly between approx 0800 and 1830
- Service 2 – Hourly between approx 0715 and 2056
- Service 3 – Hourly daytime service with some additional early morning and early evening short trips for QA
- The Star 7 – Hourly running to/from Gunwharf from approx 0730 to 1830 with additional short trips in the evening. Note No additional late trips north of QA for the 8pm shift change
- The Star 8 – Hourly between approx 0900 and 1900. Note No additional late trips north of QA for the 8pm shift change
[I am not criticising First Solent for not running a 7 or 8 to Waterlooville (or beyond) to get QA staff home – just pointing it out]
[Okay… maybe I should criticise them]
First Wessex have no services operating.
Boxing Day – Thursday 26
Services on Boxing Day are subject to Industrial Action
As per the last few years, First Solent will be running a special service on selected routes. You can see the timetables here on the First Solent website.
In Portsmouth, services 1, 2, 3, Star 7 and Star 8 will run half-hourly for similar operating hours as Christmas Day. In a similar vein the similar lack of services towards Waterlooville will affect the QA day shift workers.
In Fareham & Gosport, the Eclipse E1 and E2 services will run every 40 minutes each between 0900 and 1830.
Portsmouth’s PR1 service for Tipner Park & Ride will also run, although the PDF does not show a timetable. The Portsmouth Park & Ride site suggests that it is a Sunday service (First Solent are promoting it (Problem with the page #2) as a special reduced timetable). You could say #3 if you include the Park&Ride timetable not being on the Boxing Day PDF.
First Wessex have no services operating.
Friday 27th December
First Solent will run a Saturday Service on this day. That is except services affected by the footnote:
* Note: Some routes will operate a weekday timetable instead of Saturday. Details of this are attached in the individual service summaries.
If anyone knows where the individual service summaries are, because really they are not (Problem with the page #3) actually shown on the Christmas page either where to find them or what services they could be.
First Wessex will operate a Saturday service, unless the service runs Monday to Friday only – which means it will run a weekday service.
Saturday 28th December and Sunday 29th December
The relevant Saturday or Sunday timetables will apply on the relevant day.
Monday 30th December
First Solent will run a Saturday Service on this day. That is except services affected by the footnote:
* Note: Some routes will operate a weekday timetable instead of Saturday. Details of this are attached in the individual service summaries.
If anyone knows where the individual service summaries are, because really they are not (Problem with the page #3) actually shown on the Christmas page either where to find them or what services they could be.
First Wessex will operate a Saturday service, unless the service runs Monday to Friday only – which means it will run a weekday service.
New Years Eve – Tuesday 31st December
First Solent will run a Saturday timetable on Christmas Eve with an early finish on late evening routes:
| Service | Last full (or round) trip | Additional trips |
| 1 | From South Parade Pier @ 2108 From Gunwharf Quays @ 2042 | |
| 2 | From Paulsgrove @ 1959 From Gunwharf @ 2101 | 2019 Paulsgrove to Commercial Road South |
| 3 | From Fareham @ 1952 From South Parade Pier @ 2038 | |
| The Star 7 | From Gunwharf @ 2015 From Wecock @ 1909 | Wecock to Hilsea Lido (only) 1939, 2009, 2039, 2109 |
| The Star 8 | From Clanfield @ 1920 From Gunwharf @ 1938 | Clanfield to Cosham (only) 1940, 2000, 2018, 2038 Gunwharf to Waterlooville 2008 Gunwharf to Hilsea 2038 |
| Eclipse E1 | From Fareham at 2018 From Gosport 2035 | |
| Eclipse E2 | From Fareham @ 1958 From Gosport @ 2059 | |
| 9 | From Fareham @ 2000 From Gosport @ 1944 | |
| H1 | From Clarence Pier @ 1756 | Clarance Pier to Civic Offices 1826 |
Problem with the Page #1 (again)
Now, to add complication to the forest of trees; the First Solent Christmas webpage also says:
“No changes to any other services operating a Sunday timetable on these days.“
As all services are meant to be working on a Saturday timetable, that makes no sense to me.
Now over in First Wessex we have even less actual information on the Christmas service levels page.
Saturday service with an early finish – No list of which services are finishing early or when.
New Years Day
If you are in the Fareham and Gosport area on New Years Day – The Provincial Society are once again running their Ale and Ride bus service; a free heritage route linking some of the great pubs around.
This is not a paid advert and i have no connection to the provincial society
You can find out more information on the Provincial Society website, as well as pictures from previous events. You can also visit their Facebook Page.
First Solent will run a special service in the Portsmouth area.
- Service 1 – Hourly between approx 0800 and 1830
- Service 2 – Hourly between approx 0715 and 2056
- Service 3 – Hourly daytime service with some additional early morning and early evening short trips for QA
- The Star 7 – Hourly running to/from Gunwharf from approx 0730 to 1830 with additional short trips in the evening. Note No additional late trips north of QA for the 8pm shift change
- The Star 8 – Hourly between approx 0900 and 1900. Note No additional late trips north of QA for the 8pm shift change
[I am not criticising First Solent for not running a 7 or 8 to Waterlooville (or beyond) to get QA staff home – just pointing it out]
[Okay… maybe I should criticise them]
Portsmouth’s PR1 service for Tipner Park & Ride will also run, although the PDF does not show a timetable. The Portsmouth Park & Ride site suggests that it is a Sunday service (First Solent are promoting it (Problem with the page #something) as a special reduced timetable).
First Wessex have no services operating.
From Thursday 2nd January
First Bus will return to a normal weekday service with the exception of Hovertravel’s H1 service which will be hourly, leaving Gunwharf at xx:03 and Commercial Road South at xx:10.
Depends on the strike action going ahead over Christmas,or whether it can be sorted out and cancelled.
I would like to think we still have time to save Christmas