Hard on the heels of Xelabus pulling its X13, X14 and X15 services, and the announcement that Wi-Fi is to be rolled out on Hampshire buses, Bluestar has announced its new route 16 service, linking Townhill Park, Bitterne Park and the city centre.
Pic: under CC2 by hamster!
Bluestar says three refurbished single-deck Volvo buses, complete with Wi-Fi, easy access for wheelchair and babybuggy users, and comfortable seating, will offer the service every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes in the evenings and Sunday daytimes from Sunday, September 30. The new 16 will provide a direct service between Townhill Park, Portswood and the city centre, and provide Wakefield Road and Cobden Avenue with a new link to the city centre. See the route map below.
Ed Wills, Operations Director for Eastleigh-based Bluestar, said that eight additional bus drivers have been recruited and are now undergoing training for the expansion to their successful network.
“We have listened to the growing number of customers who have requested a fast and reliable service between Townhill Park and the city centre and believe the time is right to emulate the successful formula we have applied to our other non- council subsidised routes,” he said.
“Customers who use the route will also be able to use our online key smart card to pre-purchase their weekly or monthly travel or pay the driver in the traditional way.”
Since the Go Ahead Group acquired the previously branded Solent Blue Line operation based at the Barton Park Depot, Eastleigh in 2005, the company has seen passenger numbers grow from around six million to over 12 million. It now employs almost 300 drivers, administration and engineering personnel to operate both the Bluestar and the Uni-Link network.
Links
More information about the service from www.bluestarbus.co.uk or from the Bluestar Box on Bargates in Southampton city centre.
'Sotonbus.blogspot’ compares route 16 with First's 7, and incudes reader comments on both routes.
Opinion on ‘sotonbus.blogspot’: Does First have a future? “Bluestar going head-to-head [with First] on a route they've never served before is a message both to First and to anyone thinking of buying their local operations here: that they are ready to move in on First's routes and they will compete for them”