A Saturday in Portsmouth

For the first time in about three years, I did a long visit to Portsmouth yesterday, hopping around the city to get lots of photos. I had an excellent day - my only regret is that I didn't go to South Parade Pier at the end of the day - but then it would have been Portsmouth done for another three years, and we don't want that...!

My first stop yesterday was Highland Road, Eastney. There is a corner where, in the morning, you can get excellent shots of buses heading in both directions and Highland Road has the added bonus of having routes 1C, 6, 17, 18 and 19 - meaning a weekday allocation of 30 buses an hour in each direction. I start off with one of two Mercedes-Benz 709Ds new to Provincial left in service - 51726 (P726KCR) is pictured on route 19 heading for North End. The 19 is due to be cut from the middle April to one bus every two hours and a PVR of only one bus. Secondly, the main type of bus seen along Highland Road is the Scania Omnicity - forming the bulk of the allocation on the 1C and 17/18. Here is 65023 (YN54NZX) on what I think is a route 17. 65023 was new to Hilsea depot in late 2004 for Zip route 41 - replaced in 2009 by new Volvo B7RLEs.

My next stop was Palmerston Road, Southsea. Palmerston Road is served by the half hourly Stagecoach 700 and the 6-an-hour route 23 from Leigh Park. Enviro300 27562 (GX58GNJ) is pictured heading for South Parade Pier.

With routes 3 and 6 passing through, Palmerston Road is an excellent location to catch the recently acquired former Hong Kong Dart SLFs previously in service with FDC at Plymouth. Here is 42783 (S683SNG) heading up to South Parade Pier on route 3. Four more Dart SLFs from Plymouth have recently been acquired but this time for Hoeford - 40961, 42754 and 42757 are already in service.

My next stop was Southsea (Clarence Pier). I love Clarence Pier - and thoroughly enjoyed by chips on the beach yesterday! Hilsea seems to be a bit short of Darts or Mercs at the moment, and this saw Volvo B7RLE 69388 (HY09AOT) make a rare outing on route 6 - this time heading on the 6A variant for Hilsea. Pictured on Gordon Road - just down from Clarence Pier. Clarence Pier itself is served by routes 5 and 700 - with additional peak service X40 and Sunday 16A, along with the hoverbus service and Greyhound.

My next stop was Old Portsmouth and Portsmouth Cathedral. This is a lovely part of the city, and allows some special shots of routes 6, 19 and 700. My first shot shows former London and Beeline Dart SLF 41165 (R165TLM) heading for Hilsea on a 6A against a backdrop of the Spinnaker Tower. My second shot illustrates recently transferred former Leeds based Dart/Alexander Dash 40620 (M248VWW), passing through the streets of Old Portsmouth heading for Tipner. There is much debate as to whether the transfer of 40620 is permanent or a loan - I suspect the latter due to a lack of buses caused by the recent withdrawal of two Mercs - but I haven't got any evidence to back this up.

My final shot from Old Portsmouth illustrates former First Essex Mercedes-Benz Vario 52583 (V433GTW) against a backdrop of Portsmouth Cathedral. When taking this photo, the bells were ringing out and it was a lovely peaceful atmosphere in the glorious sunshine. 52583 has just gone to Old Portsmouth Point, which, from two Monday's time, will receive a better bus service on Sundays than it will in weekdays or Saturdays.

My final stop on my tour of Portsmouth was to The Hard Interchange. Greyhound no longer operate into Portsmouth every hour, but there are still departures to London. Here is 23321 (YN06CGU) en-route for Fareham via Portsmouth. Pictured with the HMS Victory - the world's oldest active fighting vessel - in the background.

Stagecoach have a strong prescence in The Hard, with the half hourly 700, six an hour 21, and half hourly 20, backed up by the Hovercraft services. The 700 in Portsmouth mainly sees these Scania N230UD/Enviro400 double deckers - here 15600 (GX10HBJ) arrives in The Hard from Brighton, heading for Southsea. The Enviro300s don't often get this far west, although I did see one in Palmerston Road as I was arriving. Secondly, one of many "Sail" branded Dart SLFs in service in Portsmouth, here is 34452 (GX53MWW), which has spent all of it's working life in Portsmouth. Pictured arriving in The Hard ready to take up a short 21 working to Anchorage Park.

The 13 and 14 (City Centre - Milton & Baffins) extend to The Hard on Saturdays - here is 40956 (S344SUX) arriving on route 14. 40956 is another Dart SLF recently acquired from Plymouth that was new to Hong Kong.

First in Portsmouth really is a mix of buses that were new allover the country. Here is Vario 52533 (S533RWP), new to First Midland Red, now one of 6 in service from Hilsea depot that usually see service either on the Cosham town services or routes 13, 14 and 19.

And finally, here is a shot of Volvo B7RLE 69391 (HY09AUV) arriving in The Hard on route 41 from Clanfield. I really enjoy taking photos at The Hard - although the sun for the bays is poor until the evening, there is the chance of some excellent shots as the buses arrive or leave The Hard. The Hard was always my favourite place to take photos when I was younger, and yesterday I rediscovered my love for it. It is even (arguably) better on a Saturday than weekday - although the 17, 18 and 41 are reduced and the X42 does not run, the 13 and 14 operate at every 15 minutes and the Park & Ride services also see action, bringing far more variety into The Hard than on a weekday. Thanks for viewing - comments welcome as always.