Hampshire

Gosport & Fareham Bus Network Review

FOLLOWING a recent review of bus services in Gosport and Fareham, which looked at the type and frequency of journeys made by customers and the reliability of services, a number of changes to the bus network are being made.

The changes, which come into effect on Sunday 30 August 2009, vary in scale. In some places the timetables are being altered to improve the overall reliability of services, whilst in other places the routes of some services are being altered slightly. Three existing commercial routes will, however, be withdrawn, being replaced either by re-routed commercial services or tendered services.

Richard Soper, Managing Director of First in Hampshire and Dorset, explains: "We have looked carefully at bus network and the types of journeys people make. This information has helped us build a picture of how people are travelling in Fareham and Gosport and the surrounding areas. Using this information we have relooked at the network and have changed it so that it better reflects how it is actually used.

"In this tougher economic climate its important that we best match the resources we have available to the needs of our customers. We have liaised with Hampshire County Council to ensure that they are aware of what is happening to the network, and will be posting full details of the changes on our website so customers can view the new timetables before they take effect.'

Specific changes (all effective from 30 August 2009)

Service 29/30: Since the closure of Haslar Hospital, it has become unsustainable to run commercial services between Gosport and Alverstoke. From 30 August, Service 29 / 30 will be replaced by a tendered service, operated by First under contract to Hampshire County Council. The frequency of services Mon " Sat will remain the same (every half hour), while the frequency of Sunday services will improve (from hourly to every half hour). Notably, all services will now be extended to Royal Clarence Marina, from where customers can reach the Explosion Museum and Priddys Hard. The new link also means that this part of Gosport will now have connections for the first time to the Gosport Ferry and Gosport town centre. The extension will run along: (from Stoke Road) Spring Green Lane, Mumby Road, Weevil Lane, Mumby Road to Priddys Hard.

Service 31: The route has been simplified meaning all buses will now run along (from Fareham Bus Station): West Street, The Avenue, Redlands Lane, St Michaels Grove, Longfield Avenue, Bishopsfield Road before arriving at Fareham College. Buses will continue to run every half an hour although the timetable has been altered slightly to improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 34: Buses will still run hourly throughout the day providing services between Fareham Bus Station and the Gosport Ferry, but the shorter journeys between Fareham and Cherque Farm/Fell Drive (running on the half hour) will cease to exist from 30 August. This is due to low customer usage.

Service 57: The route of Service 57 has been changed. Services running between Warash and Portsmouth via Fareham will now serve Primate Road. To avoid duplication, Service 57 will no longer call on Abshot Road or part of Warsash Road as Service 80 will now serve these roads instead at an enhanced frequency. The frequency of Service 57 remains the same (hourly) although the timetables will change slightly as more time has been added in to improve the overall punctuality and reliability of the service.

Service 72: The timetable has been revised slightly to improve punctuality and reliability.

Services 78/79 and 80: From 30 August 2009, Service 80, running between Fareham, Locks Heath and Southampton city centre, will replace Services 78 / 79. At present Service 78/79 operates hourly between Fareham and Southampton " interworking with an hourly Service 80. By increasing the frequency of buses on Service 80 though (to every 30 mins) it is possible to provide the same level of service overall. Service 80 will now operate from Fareham, Locks Heath, along Park Gate, Sarisbury Green, Lowford, Woolston and Southampton city centre. Customers in Bitterne wishing to travel to Fareham will need to change buses at Woolston or Southampton city centre, catching the 8/8A, 9/9A 11, 12 or 13 to complete their journeys. Customers living in the Highlands area of Fareham will need to catch service 26, 28, 93, 94 or 95 to Fareham bus station for onward journeys towards Southampton. Customers living in Peters Road or Heath Road will now have to walk to Locks Heath Centre to catch bus services to / from Southampton and Fareham.

Service 93/95 and Service 96: From 30 August, Service 96 will cease to operate. Customers living along Thorni Avenue will be able to use a re-routed Service 93 / 95 to travel to Highlands shops, Fareham railway station and Fareham bus station. Customers along Gudge Heath Lane will still be able to catch services 26, 28 and 94 to Highlands shops, Fareham railway station and Fareham bus station.

More information about all the bus services operated by First Hampshire and Dorset, including timetable information for all the new services, can be found under the service changes section of the website at www.firstgroup.com/ukbus. Alternatively customers wanting more general information and advice regarding their travel plans can call Traveline on 0800 200 22 33 or Firsts customer service team on 0870 0106 022.