The 4

Last week, First Hants & Dorset announced on VOSA and the unofficial First Hants & Dorset forum that Eclipse wouldn't be the only massive route change taking place from Monday 23rd April. This is a date from which First services across the south coast will change hugely.

The 57 (Warsash - Portsmouth), 72 (Gosport - Southampton) and 80 (Fareham - Southampton) have been cut and will be replaced by the new  route 4. 

Route 4 will operate hourly from Southampton to Gosport, as route 72 does today. 

Route 4A will operate hourly from Southampton to Fareham. It will travel along a similar route as the old 77, travelling via Woolston, Sarisbury Green, Warsash, and then following the 57's present route to Fareham. 

The X4 will operate from Southampton to Portsmouth, and is the biggest change. From Southampton to Fareham, it will operate along the present route 80 route. From Fareham to Portsmouth, it will travel along the present X57 route, via the A27, Portchester, Northharbour (although the main road, not Tesco), before heading along the M275 to Portsmouth City Centre. It will also extend to The Hard. The route will operate half hourly throughout Monday - Saturday.

This means that combined frequencies:

* Southampton to Locks Heath sees an improvement to 15 minute intervals and 4 buses an hour. 2 via Warsash (4/4A) and 2 via Park Gate (X4). 

* Locks Heath to Fareham sees an improvement to 3 buses an hour (2 X4s and a 4A)

* Fareham to Portsmouth routes are upgraded - now 6 buses an hour (1A, X4 and 5), with the X4 adding 2 express services per hour.

* Stubbington to Gosport sees half hourly buses, as the 4 is interworked with the 34 to operate in tandem with the 34.

Dart SLFs will be the main allocation. It has been confirmed that the entire route will be operated from Hoeford depot.

Interesting times for FHD - and this is before we get into the nitty gritty of the timetables, or we talk about the Southampton city changes!