Following BlueStar's withdrawal of route A (Eastleigh - Hedge End - Hamble), in February 2008, three operators took over the service. Operating the weekday route, but with extensions to Botley rather than Hamble, were Velvet. Operating the Hamble-Hedge End section, plus the evening Eastleigh-Hedge End section, were First Hants & Dorset. Stagecoach in Hampshire took over the Sunday operation.
The old order on the Sunday route A. Here is Solent Blue Line 579 (SN03LDJ), pictured on Eastleigh Bus Station's stand A on Sunday 23rd September 2007. The Hedge End-Hamble section of route A on Sundays completely disappeared following the February 2008 changes.
Stagecoach in Hampshire largely operate Dennis Dart SLFs on the Sunday route A in Eastleigh. Route A operates at a frequency of hourly with a lunch gap, allowing it to use one bus and the same driver (a viewer of this blog, as it happens!). Here is Dennis Dart SLF 33027 (NDZ3017), pictured in Mansbridge on the second Sunday of Stagecoach's operation of route A.
Further BlueStar Sunday route withdrawals saw Stagecoach win the contract for two more Eastleigh services - the Sunday route C1 from Eastleigh to Chandlers Ford, and the Sunday working on route E2 from Eastleigh to Winchester. Velvet now operate these Sunday workings, but I was lucky enough to photograph Stagecoach Hampshire Enviro200 36016 (GX07FXD) in Velmore on route C1 on Sunday 27th September 2009.
Very occasionally, Stagecoach in Hampshire use their Tridents on route A, where extra capacity may be required - such as on Bank Holidays. Here is 18527 (GX06DYC) pictured in Eastleigh bus station - on stand A - the same location as the Red Rocket MPD is pictured in the first image. 18527 is pictured on Friday 2nd April, this year. I think Tridents have only been used on route A three times; twice were due to cricket matches at the Rose Bowl.If you fancy grabbing some shots of Stagecoach operations on route A in Eastleigh, here's the timetable.
ALX 33016 or Pointer 33027 expected to be operating tomorrow - nothing exciting I'm afraid!
ReplyDeleteI should also have mentioned that after the sale of Eastleigh and Southampton depots to Solent Blue Line, Hampshire Bus did have one other burst of operating into Eastleigh.
ReplyDeleteThis was on commercial service 74, which ran from Winchester via the 47 route to the top of Leigh Road, then down into Eastleigh and on to Bishopstoke and Stoke Common.
It was introduced when Basil Williams' Hants and Sussex operation was winning tenders in the Eastleigh area, and was the sole operator of Eastleigh to Winchester routes. Rather than compete on the same roads, the 74 provided some new links whilst trying to abstract revenue from H&S.
Basil of course sold out to Solent Blue Line shortly afterwards, and the Lynx and AEC Swifts were replaced with Iveco minibuses.
Thanks Andy - its a shame we don't live in an economic climate where similar routes aren't tested any more. The old 44/45 from Eastleigh via Chandlers Ford and then the route 47 (BlueStar 1) to Southampton has also gone.
ReplyDelete