It’s always strange to start writing a new blog from a blank canvas. Over the years I have followed the Southampton Bus Update on Blogspot as the author has covered service changes, bus controversies and put to bed some of the nastier rumours around the South Coast.
(You can guarantee that the day this post publishes, SotonBus will Return)
With the bus services starting to increase to near normal levels, the Updates have dried up. We do not know here at Hants Bus Blog what has happened and indeed if sotonbus returns then we will be frequenting there once again.
While I start to put more detailed pages together though, this is where the South stands in terms of it’s bus services and what you should expect when you go out to enjoy some Eat Out to Help Out, Ten Pin Bowling (scratch that…. Boris changed his mind) and more.
In most cases I do not have access to the pre-COVID timetables as bus operators were quick to remove them.
BlueStar
Being helpful, Bluestar does not have an up to date overall summary page at the time of writing. You could go to Bluestar COVID Page but it is at least a week out of date as services were increased the following Sunday:
services not back to normal:
- B*4 running a broadly similar frequency, but slightly different timings
- B*5 runs every 2 hours Eastleigh to Romsey
- B*16 running Every 15 Minutes daytimes (Every 30 Minutes Sundays)
- B*18 running Every 8-ish Minutes daytimes (Every 15 Minutes Sunday)
- QuayConnect appears to still be suspended as Red Jet is running what appears to be a 1 Boat Service (Every 80 Minutes)
- Unilink Everything except the U1 is running a revised service
- The New Forest Tour is now running again!
First Southampton
Like Bluestar, FirstGroup have a little bit of a haphazard approach to their services now. In the early days of the lock-down there was a nice, neat table front and centre of each areas page.
Edit: Almost as much I would like to think First Southampton have read this post already, within 48 hours there is a nice neat page of timetables again!
As updates have slowly filtered through though, there is no longer a quick glance, one-shot look at the current service levels. That means I am sorry if I miss something:
- CityRed services appear to be running a reduced frequency during the day – I regret that I do not have the pre-covid timetables to hand to compare.
- Some services are operating as frequently as Every 8 Minutes.
Stagecoach
Slightly more helpful, unless you are looking for a quick glance guide to service levels, Stagecoach have all their Stagecoach South changes listed on one page, with each area in it’s own separate tab.
In most cases though it is just a link to the temporary timetable and not any kind of description or summary.
Winchester
- Winchester Park & Ride appears to now be a normal service
- Normal Service: 6A, 46, 67, 240
- Normal Daytime Frequency but some revised times: 4, 16, 64, 66, 69, 85
- Other services reduced in the daytime & some early & late night services revised
Alton
- 9 – Altered Timetable – Running only Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
- 13/23 revised timetable
- 38 – Normal Non-Schooldays Timetable
- 65 – revised timetable but similar frequency
Basingstoke
- Almost all services are reduced in frequency – including the CentreShuttle
Portsmouth, Havant & Petersfield
- 21 – Reduced service on “short” workings Gunwharf to Anchorage Park / Farlington
- 23 – Reduced service on Saturdays
- 30 / 31 – Hourly each way around the Island
- 39 – Reduced Frequency
- 700 – Reduced Frequency
First Solent
Unlike their colleagues at Portswood, First Solent have a very clear detail, almost one-look update, about their current service levels. The main table was effective at the end of June, with just a handful of updates modifying that table and it is so very clear in the table itself.
Not that anyone at FirstGroup management will read this, but pat that marketing intern on the back!
(It might not be a marketing intern, but whoever it is…. please thank them)
The current timetables page shows that service timetables are only valid to the end of August. This means that over the late summer bank holiday, we should see any changes that are due to be effective for the new school term. This is probably obvious, as the schools don’t even know what they are doing for the new school term yet!
- No Service: 2A (The Portsmouth College service), F3
- Withdrawn: [6, 15, 16 – being replaced by the 25], 10
- All services appear to be a reduced timetable
- Some services (Star7, Star8, X4) terminate short around Commercial Road or Gunwharf
Other Operators
Xelabus
The Eastleigh operator is currently running special services across much of it’s network. Do be patient if you have problems loading their news post on changes as certainly, it took me a few attempts to get past their server wobbling.
- Saturday Service 6 days a week: X4, X9, X10, X11
- Special Service: X6/X7
- Normal Service:
- Fareham ASDA & Winchester TESCO,
- X12 Tuesday & Thursday,
- X15 Weekdays
- X17 Wednesdays
- Bitterne HOPPA
Wheelers
Does anyone know? There is no information on their Website and their Bus Routes link directs you to Ken’s excellent Traveline service.